The air was thick with tension as Yome and Elara made their way through the deserted city. The buildings around them were crumbling, remnants of a once-thriving civilization. Shadows danced in the corners of Yome's vision, making him jump at every small sound.

As they walked, Yome couldn't help but ask questions, his curiosity burning despite the danger.

"Elara," Yome began, glancing at her. "What happened here? How did the humans and elves get wiped out? And who exactly is the Demon King?"

Elara's expression darkened as she prepared to respond, but before she could speak, a low growl echoed through the empty streets. Yome and Elara turned to see a herd of monstrous wolves with glowing red eyes emerging from the shadows. Their fur was dark and matted, and their teeth glowed with an eerie, fiery light.

"Bloodwolves!" Elara exclaimed, drawing her enchanted sword. "Stay close to me, Yome. These beasts are incredibly dangerous, especially under the Blood Moon."

Yome nodded, gripping his broken sword tightly. The wolves circled them, their growls growing louder. The leader of the pack lunged at Yome, but he managed to dodge just in time. Remembering his training over the past few days, he summoned his wind blade.

"Wind Blade!" Yome shouted, slashing at the nearest wolf. The gust of sharp air cut through the beast, making it yelp and fall back.

Elara engaged the other wolves, her sword blazing with fire. She moved with grace and precision, dispatching the monsters with ease. Yome was in awe of her skill, but he couldn't afford to be distracted. Another wolf lunged at him, and he quickly activated Wind Step to dodge the attack, moving with a burst of wind-powered speed.

"Gale Barrier!" he called out, forming a defensive shield of wind around himself as more wolves charged.

As Yome fought, he felt a surge of energy. He remembered his unique skill, Echo of the Fallen. Seeing an opportunity, he defeated one of the wolves and activated the skill.

"Echo of the Fallen!" he cried, feeling a rush of mana as he tried to absorb the wolf's power. A screen appeared before him, showing the new skill: Firebite. But as he tried to integrate it, he felt a sharp pain, and the skill was rejected.

"What's happening?" he gasped, his mana returning to normal as the absorption failed.

Elara noticed his struggle and shouted, "Yome, your Grimoire is wind-based! You can't use fire element skills with it!"

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The remaining wolves seemed to sense their hesitation and attacked more fiercely. Yome gritted his teeth, focusing on his wind-based skills. He used Wind Blade and Gale Barrier repeatedly, his movements becoming more fluid and confident.

Elara, seeing Yome hold his ground, unleashed her powerful fire skills. "Flame Burst!" she shouted, sending a wave of fire that incinerated several wolves at once. The leader of the pack lunged at her, but she countered with Inferno Strike, burning it to ash.

Finally, the herd was defeated, their bodies littering the ground. Yome collapsed to his knees, exhausted and breathing heavily. Elara sheathed her sword and walked over to him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, helping him to his feet.

"I think so," Yome panted. "But why couldn't I use that skill? What's wrong with my Grimoire?"

Elara sighed and began to explain. "Your Grimoire is at the Base level and aligned with the wind element. At this level, you can only use skills related to that element. Echo of the Fallen allows you to absorb skills, but you can't use those that don't match your Grimoire's element."

"So I can only use wind skills?" Yome asked, feeling a bit disappointed.

"For now, yes," Elara confirmed. "As you level up your Grimoire, you'll be able to use more elements. Each level increases the number of skills you can hold and the variety of elements you can use. When you reach the next level, you can merge your Grimoire with another higher-level one, allowing you to use multiple elements."

Yome nodded, absorbing the information. "How do I level up my Grimoire?"

"You need to merge it with a higher-level Grimoire," Elara explained. "But it can't clash with your rank. As you gain experience and complete challenges, you'll earn the right to higher-ranked Grimoires."

Yome glanced at his Grimoire, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. "I'll get there," he vowed. "I'll become strong enough to use any skill I need."

Elara smiled at his resolve. "I believe you will. But for now, we need to keep moving. The Blood Moon is rising, and we're not safe yet."

They quickly gathered their belongings and set off again, making their way through the deserted streets. The city's eerie silence was occasionally broken by distant howls, reminding them of the dangers lurking in the shadows.

As they reached the midway point of their journey, Yome couldn't help but ask more questions. "Elara, can you tell me more about the Demon King?"

Elara's expression grew grim. "The Demon King is a powerful and mysterious entity. No one knows where he came from, but he unleashed chaos upon our world, filling it with deadly monsters and destroying entire civilizations. Most of humanity was wiped out, and many elf tribes were also decimated."

"Why does he do it?" Yome asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No one knows," Elara replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "Some say he seeks to control the world, others believe he revels in destruction. Whatever his motives, he's a threat to all living beings."

Yome felt a chill run down his spine. "And no one knows where he is?"

Elara shook her head. "Many have tried to find him, but none have succeeded."

They walked in silence for a while, the weight of the information heavy on Yome's mind. He glanced at Elara, admiring her strength and determination. Despite the bleakness of their situation, she remained resolute.

Finally, they reached the midway point of their journey, stopping to rest briefly. Elara handed Yome some food and water, which he accepted gratefully.

"We'll make it through this," Elara said, her voice filled with determination. "We have to."

Yome nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "We will. Together."