Having retrieved the last Vault Key fragment, we swiftly made our return back to Tannis.
I guess that means we effectively skipped having to deal with Krom in Krom's Canyon, as was in cannon.
Arriving back at Tannis' abode once again, we were greeted by the 'insanely smart' woman attempting to repair the Vault Key into a singular piece.
Based on the fact that Steele took the Vault Key from Tannis, she as a Siren must have been able to repair the Vault Key, especially since this Vault Key was unique and was the Pandora Vault Key specific for this planet which is The Great Vault and the ultimate prison of The Destroyer.
Although, with her genius i have no doubt Tannis would still be able to achieve the same result even if she isn't a Siren.
"Having trouble putting that together?" I teased as I held out the last Vault Key fragment, of which she snatched out of my hand within an instant.
"Thank you, now shoo with you as I complete the Vault Key."
"You know…the Vault Key, Sirens and Eridians are all linked to one another. Why not letting our resident Siren here make things easier?" I said as I turned my gaze towards Lilith beside me.
Lilith slightly flinched and became a little shy, "Uh me?"
"Of course you. Who else?"
"But I don't even know what I'm supposed to do?" Lilith said as she was nervous with all the stares from everyone in the room.
"It should react with your power instinctively, just channel it into the fragments and it should do the rest."
Tannis raised a curious eyebrow. She was interested in seeing how things would play out and to learn more, and this would be a perfect situation.
Tannis gestured her hands to the Vault Key as of serving cuisine to someone in a restaurant.
Lilith couldn't really refuse now when everyone was eagerly waiting for her.
Lilith stepped forward and touched the Vault Key fragments one at a time while channeling her power through her arm instead of using it normally across her entire body.
The fragments began to glow a rhythmic pulse of purple, as they began to levitate, and slowly lock into place with one another like a puzzle.
"Great job Lil!" Brick's celebratory voice called out.
Meanwhile, Bloodwing cawed in agreement while Roland and Mordecai kept to nodding and giving hums of approval.
"Most impressive, now we should be discussing of the matter of which you all came here in the first place. The opening of the Vault." Tannis said as she took on a more serious demeanour.
To that response everyone gave their agreements and gathered around the table or took a spot in the room to occupy.
"Since Spectre here had arrived before you all did, and as we waited for your arrival, he had explained to me that you all are aware that the Vault Key naturally charges itself once every 200 years." Tannis said.
"Yeah, and also the fact that the Vault we are after is actually one of the two most dangerous ones in the entire universe." Mordecai sarcastically chipped in as he stroked Bloodwing's chin, leaning by the window.
"And just to remind everyone, this is supposed to be a 'sacrificial Vault' meant only to feeding the creature inside. Doesn't really sound like we'll be getting any treasure out of it." Lilith added, sitting on a table with legs crossed, off to the side.
"Once we open this Vault, and beat back The Destroyer inside, Eridium, the substance that forms the inner crust of Pandora and Elpis, will erupt from across the surface of Pandora. This mineral will be incredibly valuable, and it is a potent substance for enhancing a Siren's power if properly absorbed as I mentioned before." I reminded everyone of my previous explanations to them.
"Eridium?" Tannis asked having only heard about it now. Sure she knew about the substance as it was first found on Pandora years ago, but she wanted to know what else we they knew about it that she did not.
"Eridium was first created when a Siren from ancient times, at the Erdian race's request, used her power of PhaseLeech to drain the life force of the entire Eridian race to charge a weapon that imprisoned The Destroyer within Pandora which acts as it's prison to this day. Eridian is made only when the PhaseLeech Siren drains the abundant life energy within a living being which crystallises it. Whatever source Siren's draw their power and energy from. It's likely powerful enough to trap an Immortal Extra Dimensional being such as The Destroyer. While it's trapped it needs to be fed to appease it's restless hunger. That is why the Vault of Sacrifice is a trap for beings searching for it across the ages. Even we are in the same position as all it's previous victims all to prevent The Destroyer from growing hungry and desperate enough to try and break free on it's own accord. But while it is within our Universe it needs a Host body, and that means it can be harmed." I have given them my lengthy explanation, mostly to Tannis since the others already knew this by now.
I stood up and made my way to the door under everyone's curious stares.
"Where are you going? We still need to make a plan to deal with the Vault monster." Roland asked.
"That's exactly what I'm going to prepare for, we need a Plan B after all. Go ahead and make up the plan, I'll be fine with whatever role you assign. You are the most strategically adept out of everyone present." As I said that I departed as I teleported high up in the sky above a new location.
*********************
It took a while but I had returned to the others.
They asked me what I had done but I remained quiet on it, it would over complicate things.
Ignoring their annoyed grunts of dissatisfaction with my reply, we had gone over the plan in detail, making minor amendments when I arrived.
Since we will have to deal with the Eridian Guardians ourselves, this would be significantly more dangerous.
I had strongly urged Tannis to come along with us in person, naturally such a decision was met with strong disapproval by everyone.
Strangely though, Tannis agreed and we amended the plan to where I would defend Tannis along with Lilith, since both our powers were great at protecting her from harm.
With the plan set, we left and made our way across various terrains to reach the Salt Flats and then to the Eridian ruins that lured us down it's path directly to the Vault.
Our tight formation and expertise dwarfed that of the latter generations of Vault Hunters.
Wilhelm was the major exception being severely modified and enhanced while the first generation Vault Hunters weren't.
It didn't take us long, having dealt with the near endless waves of Eridians, we finally reached the Vault. I had been protecting Tannis using a special barrier that reversed Vectors around the body like a second skin.
Taking out the Vault Key from my storage space, I prepared for the fight that would come.
!
Death!
That sensation flared and overtook me as my PhaseTime power acted subconsciously, detecting danger from a few seconds into the future just like Spiderman's Spider-Sense.
I teleported from the spot sideways within an instant, looking behind me I saw Steele herself, flanking her sides were Baron Flynt and Krom. Then beside Steele is Master McCloud, a high ranking officer.
Then behind them were dozens of armed subordinates from both the Crimson Lance and the Bandit tribes.
We didn't kill all the Eridian Guardians on our way here, thus the reason we can hear distant gunfire and fighting in the background.
I looked back to where I had been previously, the Vault Key dropped to the ground while a silver materialised glowing dagger had lodged itself into the mountain side along the trajectory i had been standing in.