Plan Gone Wrong

With only one hour of enhanced power remaining, Vael made his way towards Lord Zephyrian's tower. He anticipated encountering strong guards, but his 'Shadow Step' technique would allow him to evade most of them. However, as he approached the tower, an unsettling sight greeted him – there were no guards. The usual guards were absent.

"This is strange," Vael murmured to himself, a sense of unease settling in.

"Are you sure we should just go through the front?" Moxy asked, her voice laced with concern.

Uncertain but resolute, Vael decided to proceed. As they entered the tower, they were met with an eerie silence. The interior was completely deserted. Vael's eyes widened in realization.

"He knew I'd come here," Vael said, a hint of frustration in his voice. His mind raced, connecting the dots. "And if he knew that, then that means..."

He couldn't finish the sentence, his thoughts abruptly turning to Elrik and Lyria. Without another word, Vael turned and sprinted towards the town square. His friends had walked into a trap, and the situation was dire. Alone, they stood no chance against Lord Zephyrian and his guards.

Vael arrived at the town square, and the devastation before him was staggering. Buildings that once held the previous Vaels cherished memories were now in ruins. The ground was strewn with the bodies of innocent Elysians, victims of the Sable Serpents' ruthless slaughter.

In the midst of this carnage, Vael quickly crafted a bow and arrow from the acid element. Spotting a Sable Serpent guard pursuing a terrified woman and her child, he released two arrows, striking the guard dead in an instant.

As Vael scanned the area for his friends, a Sable Serpent tried to ambush him from behind. Relying on his heightened senses, he dodged the guard's grasp, dropping low to execute a swift sweep kick that sent the attacker to the ground. Without hesitation, Vael plunged his acid dagger into the guard's chest, absorbing the essence as the guard lay lifeless. "3/1000 Essence Consumed," a message flashed in his mind.

However, his brief moment of victory was interrupted as two more Sable Serpent guards charged towards him. These guards were different; they were shrouded in what appeared to be armor made of acid. "Touching them could be dangerous," Vael realized.

Quickly drawing his bow once more, he aimed and fired, but as the arrows made contact with the acid armor, they disintegrated.

Realizing the guards' proficiency with their element, Vael had a sudden idea. "If they can coat their bodies with acid, perhaps I can further reinforce my weapons," he thought.

Quickly, he crafted two katanas, infusing them with the acid element. The swords glowed with a green hue, a testament to their enhanced power. "I didn't practice much with swords in my previous life, but this should give me the edge I need," Vael muttered to himself.

The first guard lunged at Vael with a powerful acid-coated fist. Vael, reacting swiftly, crossed his swords in an "X" formation to block the attack. The force of the impact pushed him back, but he held his ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, Vael spotted an acid orb hurtling towards his face. Instinctively, he thrust his hand forward, activating the 'Absorb' ability. The maneuver, however, forced him to drop one of his swords, which dissolved into the ground upon leaving his hand.

As he leaped backward to craft a new sword, the Sable Serpent guards continued their relentless assault, giving him no rest.

Determined to gain the upper hand, Vael decided to reinforce his hands with acid, amplifying the strength of his sword swings. The two-on-one combat was challenging, but he was resolute.

Unleashing a flurry of slashes, Vael focused his assault on one guard. One of his strikes succeeded in piercing the acid armor, cutting into the guard's flesh. Seizing the opportunity, Vael propelled acid from his free hand directly into the wound. The guard howled in agony as the potent acid rapidly corroded his flesh.

Capitalizing on the guard's momentary distraction, Vael executed a swift spinning slash aimed at the guard's throat, slicing through it with lethal precision.

The second guard lunged at Vael, but his attack was abruptly interrupted by a ferocious roar. Moxy, in her transformed state, pounced on the guard, engulfing him whole with a powerful bite.

"Good girl," Vael said, relief evident in his voice as he affectionately patted Moxy. She responded with a contented purr, reminiscent of a kitten, before reverting to her miniature form.

"That was tougher than I thought," Vael admitted, catching his breath. His thoughts quickly turned to his friends. "But where are Lyria and Elrik?"

As the sounds of conflict echoed in the distance, Vael quickly made his way towards the source. Approaching closer, he discerned two figures amidst the chaos. "Lyria... Elrik..." he called out, relief in his voice as he recognized his friends.

They appeared to be catching their breath after a fierce battle with two Sable Serpent guards. Elrik, noticing Vael, eagerly asked, "Vael, did you do it? Did you defeat Lord Zephyrian?"

Vael was about to respond, relieved to find them safe, when suddenly, Lord Zephyrian materialized behind Elrik with a sinister presence. "Were you looking for me, brat?" he sneered, his voice cold and menacing.

Before anyone could react, Lord Zephyrian extended his sharp, acid-coated nails and plunged them into Elrik's body. Vael and Lyria's faces contorted in horror as they witnessed the attack. Elrik's body shuddered from the impact before collapsing to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth.

The shock of the moment hung heavily in the air, transforming the scene into a tableau of despair and anger. Vael's gaze locked onto Lord Zephyrian, his emotions a mix of grief and burning rage.