"Is that a…?" His voice trailed off, eyes wide. "A—no, that's not just a hole… it's a f—massive crack," he muttered, staring in awe at the enormous fissure in the ground.
It was hundreds of meters wide, an abyss that seemed to swallow all light.
"How deep does this thing go?" he whispered, leaning over the edge, his heart pounding. "This is very odd. Why does such a big crack exist here?"
He commanded the chains he was riding to descend into the crack.
Descending deeper and deeper into the crack, a chill crept up his spine.
But before he could react, an unseen force struck him with crushing force, hurling him violently against the jagged stone.
It didn't cause much damage, but he felt pain for some reason. If he hadn't been harmed falling onto a planet from outer space, why was he affected now by such a small impact?
He raised his hand to investigate what had hurled him against the wall.
Through the swirling darkness and mist, a towering silhouette emerged, cloaked in an ethereal haze that ebbed and flowed in shades of gray, deep blue, and ominous black.
Its form shifted fluidly, an unsettling presence that seemed to warp and change with every heartbeat.
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[Nixtel, The mistborn]
Details: A being from beyond the stars, responsible for the planet's eternal mist and the death of its inhabitants. A living nightmare.
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Looking at the panel that had suddenly appeared before him, displaying information about the creature, he felt no fear—only a sense of uncertainty. It was his first encounter with such a being, yet the absence of fear was telling. After facing an outer god, this entity seemed insignificant in comparison.
"..."
"Don't tell me you want me to fight this thing." he muttered to himself, his voice full of anxiety.
[Don't worry, you can do it…]
"I really don't think now's the time for a motivational speech," he muttered, his gaze flicking between the misty creature and the message.
Nixtel, drifted closer, the air around it growing thick with a dense, heavy chill.
The Unseen Chains obeyed as he called them, forming a protective circle around him as he steadied his breathing. His mind raced.
chains were his best bet, though he wasn't sure if they'd hold.
Taking a deep breath, he focused on the chains, commanding them to extend out like tendrils.
"Come on," he whispered to himself, watching as the chains slithered forward, seeking to bind the creature.
As they wrapped around Nixtel's shifting form, the chains trembled, vibrating with a barely-contained energy.
He clenched his fists, struggling to keep them under control.
But Nixtel merely looked down, a deep, unsettling rumble filling the air. In an instant, the invisible chains shattered like brittle glass.
A pang of fatigue washed over him, his body feeling heavier as if part of him had broken with the chains. He staggered, gasping, "Voice, seriously, any help here would be good."
[Suggestion: Use Absolute Nullification on its aura. This will reduce its suppressive effect.]
"Nullify... its aura?" His heart hammered in his chest. If he couldn't even bind it, trying to nullify its aura sounded reckless. But he didn't have another plan.
With one last deep breath.
He extended his hand, envisioning the suppression dissipating, and— A shockwave pulsed outward. The mist surrounding Nixtel thinned, and he felt a slight ease in the enviroment.
But as relief washed over him, so did a splitting headache, and his vision blurred. His body felt like it was dipped in ice, cold and aching from the strain.
Nixtel's, its form twisting, and he had no doubt it sensed his actions.
"I really hate this."
He stared down Nixtel, teeth gritted against the ache spreading through his body.
The mistborn being shifted, ethereal tendrils extending like fingers, and the swirling mist around it began to contract and condense, darkening as if it is preparing an attack.
The chill in the air thickened, and he could feel a tangible malice emanating from the creature.
"Alright… Let's try something stronger," he murmured, tightening his fist. If nullifying its aura had worked, maybe he could push further, erase this creature entirely.
As he prepared to activate the full power of Absolute Nullification but stopped because of the alert.
[Alert: Attempting to nullify a being of Nixtel's nature may result in catastrophic backlash. Proceeding will induce extreme excruciating pain, risking severe damage to your body and mind.]
"…"
His jaw tightened. "So... what am I supposed to do, then?" he hissed, but before he could finish, a blinding flash of purple tore through the mist—a beam of pure energy, slamming into him like a freight train.
Pain exploded through his body, his vision blurring as he was hurled backward, crashing against the ground with a force that rattled his bones.
His skin stung, nerves on fire as he struggled to catch his breath.
he forced himself to his feet and summoned the Unseen Chains beneath him.
They twisted and tightened, forming a quick platform that lifted him just high enough to escape.
"Change of plan," he muttered. "Retreat." The chains shot forward, carrying him away as he struggled to maintain his balance.
But the Mistborn was relentless, its dark form closing in through the thick mist. Despite his efforts, the distance between them was shrinking, and he could feel its hunger, its intent to devour him.
He was beginning to realize just how unprepared he was to use his powers at full strength.
Ahead, a faintly glowing stone embedded in the rock caught his eye, casting a dim light that created a shadow—his shadow.
His shadow seemed to shift unnaturally.
Nixtel drew closer. Its tendrils reached out, brushing against the shadow as if to seize him. In that instant, the connection was made—
A sudden, overpowering darkness radiated from the shadow, extending like tendrils that coiled around the Mistborn.
In an instant, the Mistborn's form began to unravel, its essence shattering as if torn apart by an unseen force.
He looked back at what was happening. He had no words. What?
How had the tables suddenly turned? Wasn't he the one running? Why was the Mistborn the one getting destroyed?
"What is happening?" he demanded, still trying to process the scene unfolding before him.
[Did you forget? An Outer God Lives in your shadow. How could a being like Nixtel, born from a mere nebula, hope to survive against an entity of such magnitude?]
"…"
"You could've mentioned this earlier," he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm. "I would've just brought a lantern or something."
He winced, clutching his side. "Damn, it still hurts."
With a frustrated sigh, he added under his breath, "And I'm useless—two powerful authorities, and I can't even use them properly."
[This is perfectly normal; you're still a newborn constellation. Let me give you a real-life example. When you were a child in your previous life, around four or five years old, could you lift a bucket full of water?]
[No, right?]
[Then how can you expect to wield these authorities at full power when you're nothing more than a nameless constellation? These authorities hold immense potential, but it's up to you to harness them and unlock their true strength.]
"…I guess you're right."
"But seriously, what was that creature? And what happened to this planet?"
[The creature was a Mistborn, born from a nebula. It's an unintelligent lifeform, driven by instinct. It drifts from planet to planet, covering each one in a dense mist that slowly wipes out all life. Over time, it absorbs the planet's energy, growing stronger with each it consumes.]
"So that's why it was so strong," he muttered, his expression darkening. "It must've destroyed countless worlds to get this powerful."
[...No. That was just a baby Mistborn.]
His breath hitched, and he froze for a moment. "Wait, what? That was just a baby?"
He rubbed his forehead, the weight of the revelation sinking in. After a long pause, he sighed and looked up. "So… is the mission done or not?"
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[Mission Available]
Objective: Discover the source of the endless mist that shrouds this planet.
Reward: Mist of Depravity or Mist of Morality
Note: Upon completing the mission, you may select one of these spells. Only one can be chosen, The effects of each spell will be revealed upon completion..
[Completed]
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[You have successfully completed the mission, You now have the option to select one of the following spells.]
"What are the effects of each?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
A screen appeared before him, displaying the information.
Mist of Depravity: Creates a crimson mist that corrupts those within, making them commit immoral acts. The more depraved their actions, the stronger the caster becomes.
Note: This spell can be used remotely, letting the caster gain power from a distance, but it's unpredictable and may backfire if the depravity grows too strong.
Mist of Morality: Summons a golden mist that boosts allies' strength and calms enemies, making them act kindly. The caster gains power based on the positive actions of those affected.
Note: The caster must stay within the mist, draining their life force to maintain it. Its power is controlled but limited in range and duration.
[Please choose one]