image [https://imgur.com/21vhMwe.png]

The Lord’s Vessel moved steadily over the gently waving grasses. The target, while still far ahead, was held unwavering in its telescopic vision. It seemed like the target had some kind of reality distorting skill that affected the world in a sphere, or at least a dome, around them. Possibly a range of three hundred cubits in all directions. The Lord’s Vessel would stay at a range of four hundred cubits to be entirely outside the range of the skill.

The Lord’s Vessel stopped moving, and began to power up the skill [Beam]. The white lights dimmed, then flashed with intense energy, as a beam of pure Infernal Energy blasted out towards the small and distant target. It was possible that the target would have a movement skill or a shield skill or- the beam of light struck the target directly. The area around the target was engulfed in flames. The Lord’s Vessel continued to channel the [Beam] skill. For a level fifty Chosen Hero it could take up to five seconds of sustained output to completely burn through their skills and body. The Lord’s Vessel kept the [Beam] skill going for ten seconds. The skill clicked off, and the Lord’s Vessel waited. The air was full of heat, smoke, and crackling particulates. Something was moving inside the maelstrom. In disbelief the Lord’s Vessel moved forward slightly, straining its telescope sight. The target still lived, and held his sword out in front of him with the tip of the blade glowing, sweat dripping down his face. He looked angry, but was also smiling? “My first enemy!! Take… THIS!”. The sound reached the Vessel distantly, and it began to move back, bracing itself.

The boy slashed, the air in front of him ripping apart, but nothing occurred. Outside the sphere the target’s skill had no effect, as calculated. The Lord’s Vessel had already used up sixty Infernal energy out of its available two hundred and forty. Its most powerful skill, [Erase], eliminated everything inside of a two hundred cubit range, and would be its last resort in this encounter. It also required one hundred infernal energy, an amount that was taxing to use all at once. The target was looking with some confusion at his sword.

The Lord’s Vessel deliberately pointed a finger. “[Kill].” Another twenty infernal energy gone, but if the target stayed in one place for even a moment, it could not fail. An orb of darkness would appear inside the center of the target, then expand rapidly until it was one span across before imploding. The orb of darkness was harder than any mundane forged metal. The target suddenly winced, a pained expression passing across his face, then he pounded his chest and coughed, a small black dot coming out and landing on the ground. The black dot imploded and was gone. The boy coughed again, and then wiped his mouth, now glaring at the Lord’s Vessel. “Gross! Did you just do that? Fine! If you won’t come to me to fight-” The Lord’s Vessel began to back up rapidly. “THEN I’LL COME TO YOU!” The target was suddenly at the edge of his sphere of control, and just like that the sphere moved with him. The Lord’s Vessel was now inside the sphere, and then the boy was in front of him. “Take… THIS!” The boy swung, and the Lord’s Vessel raised an arm to block. The plain metal sword was swung by the boy without any additional skills activating. The sword passed through the arm easily. In disbelief, an emotion the Lord’s Vessel did not know it could feel, the arm fell to the ground with a resonating boom.

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“ERASE.” The ultimate skill of the Lord’s Vessel activated instantly, and a wall of corrupting death attuned infernal energy blasted out in all directions. This skill was so powerful it would even damage the outer layer of its own body, but this was clearly the time. The target’s eyes widened in surprise, and then the incinerating light washed over him. Everything the light touched would be broken down, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. Darkness flickered over the eyes of the Lord’s Vessel.

Crackling static filled the audio input of the Lord’s Vessel, but something coherent could just barely be heard. “What a dirty fighter you are! You need to be taught how to act like a real hero!” The eyes of the Lord’s Vessel locked back down on the target. Who was still alive, glaring up. The Lord’s Vessel immediately brought down a crushing fist… a crushing fist that was shaped more like a hand than it had ever been before. The boy slapped it away with his sword. “I think goodness can be found in all people! Are you willing to try to be good? To be a hero, like me?” The boy was grinning at him, deflecting the blows that were desperately thrown.

The Lord’s Vessel licked his lips. His lips? Licked? He brought his fingers to his mouth. “Ah.” He had lips. They were soft. His skin was still the color of stone, there were still intricate designs on it, but he was softer now. A… a man? He was a man now?

The boy was looking at him, smiling widely. “Hey. What do you say?” The Lord’s Vessel paused, shaking his head. “I… I do not know. I had never thought about being a hero. Never thought I could be.”

The boy laughed. “Ha! Same here! But I’d be happy to teach you!”

The Lord’s Vessel looked at his hand, slowly turning it. He would be happy to learn.