If a spell or ability with one or more targets states that you "may pay" some amount of {E}, and each permanent that it targets has become an illegal target, the spell or ability won't resolve. You can't pay any {E} even if you want to.
Aethergeode Miner
{E} is the energy symbol. It represents one energy counter.
If an effect says you get one or more {E}, you get that many energy counters. To pay one or more {E}, you lose that many energy counters. You can't pay more energy counters than you have. Any effects that interact with counters a player gets, has, or loses can interact with energy counters.
Magic: The Gathering · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · Illus. Winona Nelson
Card data via Scryfall. Rarix is fan-made; not endorsed by the rights holders.
