The Beauty of Vexalis

The underground corridors of Musk were a refuge of buzzing energy as Kael, Jorik, and Lira ducked into their makeshift workshop, hearts still pounding from the chaos of the battle. The distant echoes of explosions above still rang in Kael’s ears, but he had little time to process them. His mind was fixed on one thing: Jorik’s lost arm.

Jorik, calm and composed, tried to brush it off, his single hand clapping Kael on the shoulder as if to assure him it wasn’t his fault. But guilt gnawed at Kael anyway. "I can’t just leave him like this," he murmured to himself once Jorik and Lira settled into the workshop’s cluttered but cozy space. A powerful sense of purpose gripped him, and without another word, he slipped out into the sprawling junkyard market that wound through Musk.

The junkyard was a maze of discarded machines, Kran-infused devices, and forgotten tech, their faded glows casting an otherworldly light across the market. Kael sifted through endless piles of metallic arms, claws, and scraps of machinery, scanning for pieces that could handle the complexity of what he had in mind. He could almost see it in his head: an arm that wasn’t just a replacement, but an upgrade—something with a mix of utility, power, and a few of Kael’s signature quirks.

After what felt like hours, Kael finally spotted the right components. A nearly-intact metal arm frame, weathered but sturdy, lay beneath a pile of gears. He snatched it up along with a few Kran-infused metal alloys, a powerful hydraulic base, and enough wiry scraps to complete his vision.

Back at the workshop, Jorik raised an eyebrow at the growing pile of parts. "You look like you’re building a tank, not an arm."

"Trust me, you’ll thank me for it," Kael said, grinning as he set to work.

For the next several hours, Kael tinkered, assembling each part with precision and an almost manic energy. The arm’s frame began to take shape, a fusion of old junkyard parts and sleek Kran-infused alloys. Once the arm itself was solid, Kael began the real work: installing the Vexalis modules.

First, he fitted a Gun Vexalis, compact but potent enough to release a powerful burst in close quarters. Next came the Blade Vexalis, which sprang from the wrist in a gleaming arc, retracting seamlessly back into place. The Shield Vexalis followed, a shimmering, blue-tinted shield generator that hummed with energy. Finally, Kael added the Grapple Vexalis—a series of retractable hooks and cables for scaling walls and pulling heavy objects.

With a satisfied grin, he held up the completed arm, marveling at its potential. "This," he said, looking over at Jorik, "is gonna be your best friend."

Jorik’s eyes widened as he tested the arm. Each Vexalis module whirred to life as he activated them, a look of admiration breaking through his usually stoic expression. "Kael… this is incredible."

But just as Kael was admiring his work, Lira’s voice piped up from behind him.

"Hey, where’s mine?" She smirked, tapping one of her metal legs. "If Jorik’s getting an upgrade, I want one too."

Kael rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling. "Alright, alright. What do you need, princess?"

"Speed," she replied without missing a beat. "I want to move faster than they can see."

The idea sparked a new burst of inspiration in Kael. He got to work, dismantling one of Lira’s legs to replace it with a sturdier frame. He modified it with sleek Kran-infused metal, keeping it lightweight but durable, then carefully integrated a Speed Vexalis module. This Vexalis would boost her speed, enhancing her reaction time and allowing her to dart through the battlefield with ease.

He added a special shock-absorption mechanism to stabilize the leg, ensuring it would handle the intense force of high-speed movement without wearing out. After a few hours, he attached the finished leg and had Lira test it.

The moment she activated the Speed Vexalis, she was gone in a blur, zipping across the workshop in a flash. "Oh, Kael, this is perfect!" she squealed, skidding to a stop with a grin that rivaled Kael’s own.

"Just don’t go knocking over my stuff," he warned, laughing as he watched her zip back and forth.

With the upgrades finished, Kael looked at his two friends, feeling a mix of pride and relief. Jorik, with his new arm, looked stronger and more determined than ever, each Vexalis module in the arm a reminder of what they were fighting for. And Lira, with her Speed Vexalis leg, looked like she was ready to take on any challenge Empyra could throw at them.

"You didn’t have to do all this, you know," Jorik said quietly, his eyes serious. "Especially after what happened."

Kael shook his head. "I did, though. I had to. You’re not just… some muscle or another pair of hands out there. You’re family."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the word hanging in the air. Musk might’ve been a broken city, filled with rubble and refuse, but in that small, cluttered workshop, surrounded by makeshift tools and flickering lights, Kael had found something that felt like home.

After a beat, Kael slapped Jorik on the shoulder and grinned. "Alright, who’s ready to test these babies out?"

Jorik flexed his new arm, the metal glinting under the light, while Lira darted across the room, laughing as she adjusted to the speed. Their upgrades weren’t just tools—they were symbols of the freedom they were fighting for, a promise that they’d keep standing up, no matter how many times they were knocked down.

Kael looking at both of his friends and smirk "I know a perfect place to test these babies out".