Constellation: Sunder

Type: Destruction, Chaos, Entropy

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Affinity: Severing, Destruction

Description: Unlike most of the other Constellations, Sunder is amongst the first to appear amidst the chaos and command respect from everyone. It is described as shining with thousands of small stars within, hinting at a complex and possibly fragmented nature. Information regarding this Constellation is either unknown, redacted, or hidden.

Familiar: [Viper]

Known Effects of Connection:

Grants the title: The Unveiled – This title signifies your ability to withstand the direct gaze of a Constellation, an incredibly rare feat.

Grants the skill: [True Perception] – You will know what is real and what is not. This skill allows you to see through illusions and deceptions, perceiving the true nature of reality.

Grants the skill: [Psionic Resistance] – This skill bolsters your defenses against mental attacks and manipulations.

[Affinity]: Sunder grants an affinity for severing magic, and more.

Grants the innate ability: [Sever]

Digesting the information, Ethan looked over at the [Familiar’s] information page:

Viper (Unnamed) — Lvl 0

Species: Viper

Length: 2 ft (0.6 meters)

Appearance: Base scales are a deep obsidian black with an iridescent sheen. Running down the length of its body are shimmering cracks, glowing faintly with a chaotic energy that mirrors the Sunder constellation.

Abilities:

[Severing Bite] : Can deliver a magical bite that severs magic and magical protections and weakens enchanted materials.

[Chaotic Aura] : Passively disrupts nearby magic, causing minor fluctuations and malfunctions.

Ethan whistled, a low sound that echoed in the stillness of his room. Sunder, huh? Sounds ominous. He flipped back through the information, his eyes scanning the redacted sections. Why would information about this one be hidden? And what’s up with the fragmented nature? Multiple stars… multiple personalities? Or am I looking too much into things?

He glanced at the [Familiar]: Viper. Not something I’d expected, but cool, I suppose. Just don’t bite me.

Chuckling to himself, Ethan frowned. The Unveiled… that title… is it a double-edged sword? Withstanding the gaze of a Constellation is impressive, no doubt, but what if they don’t want to be looked at? What if there’s a reason we can’t look at Constellations? Well, everyone else, I can look now, but that’s beside the point. Even with the title, I can’t get too comfortable. Maybe that’s why the information is hidden by the system—too powerful, too dangerous to understand.

He pondered the skills granted by the Connection. [True Perception]—that was a game-changer. No more illusions or mind games. But what did “more” mean under the Severing [Affinity]? Could it sever Connections? Not just magic? Could it… sever runes?

A shiver ran down his spine. Man, if I can do that, doesn’t that mean I have the perfect combination? Make runes with [Basic Rune Creation], and break them apart with Severing. I need to figure out how to use it, though.

Ethan closed the system screen with a sigh. Absolute bananas. It was absolutely bananas as a first Connection. Okay, it’s a weird Constellation. I don’t know if I should even reveal it to Derrick, but then again, he’s under an [Oath] and I think I should exploit that as much as possible. After all, so long as he’s under the [Oath], I can lay all my secrets to him. However, I will not do that. If I can leave loopholes in, so can someone else. It’s better to tread lightly and see how Derrick reacts, and what his intentions are regarding me. I do not mind trusting people so long as they prove trustworthy.

“Alright,” Derrick’s voice boomed through the room, shattering the contemplative silence. “Tell me, how’d it go?”

Ethan flinched, startled out of his thoughts. Taking a breath, he calmed himself, staring at Derrick dryly. The old man just shrugged. “Yeah, uh, it went well. Though, let’s just say I almost—” a shiver ran down his spine, “pissed myself on multiple occasions.”

Derrick’s lips quirked up into a smirk. “So, standard Constellation Connection then?”

Ethan scowled. “Standard? You make it sound like this is a regular Tuesday afternoon occurrence!”

“What’s Tuesday?”

“Never mind.”

“Well, regardless, for those attuned to the system, this kind of is standard,” Derrick shrugged. “Except, maybe not quite as… terrifying as yours seemed to be.”

Ethan threw his hands up in exasperation. “Why the fuck did you not tell me it was going to be that terrifying?”

The amusement in Derrick’s eyes only intensified. “Because you wouldn’t have gone through with it otherwise. Trust me, it’s better to just jump in headfirst rather than overthink everything.”

Ethan grumbled, a low sound of discontent. There was some truth to that, he grudgingly admitted. But still...

“Alright, alright,” Derrick chuckled, clapping his hands together. “Enough chit-chat. Time to move on.”

Ethan blinked, momentarily derailed. “Wait, what? You’re not gonna ask which Constellation I Connected to and what [Familiar] I got?”

Derrick blinked back, a furrow appearing on his brow. “Why would I ask that?”

Ethan stared at him, dumbfounded. “Isn’t it normal to ask for details?” said Ethan as realization slowly dawned on him.

Derrick’s expression morphed into one of utter bewilderment. “Sharing them? With who? My lord, that’s incredibly personal information, something you never, ever disclose to anyone unless you have an absolute, unshakeable trust in them.”

Ethan felt a pit forming in his stomach. “Uh, huh?”

“Listen closely, this is important,” Derrick said, his voice turning serious. “Back in the early days of System Holders,” he began, “Constellations were these mythical beings, shrouded in mystery. People believed they held immense power, like gods gazing down from the heavens. When someone formed a Connection, it was a sacred thing, a reflection of their deepest self. Sharing that Connection with another was like baring your soul—a sign of incredible trust.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He gestured with his hand, emphasizing the point. “But trust, as you know, can be a fickle thing. There have been stories. People who used the knowledge of another’s Constellation for their own nefarious purposes. It turned out, a Constellation’s name isn’t just a label, it’s more like an arcane fingerprint. Knowing it allows someone to do lots of things. Terrible, terrible things.

“Thus, in the world of System Holders, it’s considered extremely rude and disrespectful to pry into someone’s Connection details. Constellations and Familiars are deeply personal things, reflections of our very souls. Asking about them directly is like asking someone about their deepest, darkest secrets.” Derrick cleared his throat and launched into a detailed explanation. “So, a code of honor developed. You wouldn’t pry into someone’s deepest Connection unless they offered it freely. Why? Because even mentioning your Constellation’s name to someone else can be self-sabotaging given that it’s akin to giving someone your arcane footprint, using which they can do a lot of things. Imagine walking into a room and announcing your deepest emotional scars to everyone present. That’s kind of what revealing your Connection is like.” He spoke of the culture and lore surrounding all of this, how revealing one’s Connection and Familiar was a major social faux pas, a sign of disrespect, and a potential vulnerability. He explained the historical reasons behind the custom, tales of betrayal, and stolen power. He finished sternly, “Never, under any circumstances, reveal your Connection or Familiar details to anyone, my lord. It’s for your own safety.”

The weight of Derrick’s words settled heavily on Ethan. Here he was, ready to spill the beans, and Derrick was looking at him like he’d grown a second head. “Anyway,” Derrick continued, seemingly oblivious to Ethan’s internal turmoil, “Let me do a check-up and see whether there’s any signs of possession, loss of control, night terrors, or arcane corruption,” Derrick said.

Huh? Is this some kind of a magic disease? Again?

“Go on.”

A glow covered Derrick’s hand as began running his hands along Ethan’s arms a distance away, channeling some kind of diagnostic skill. It seems messing with Constellations is no joke. Why the hell did he not tell me the dangers beforehand? Ethan sighed.

“You see,” Derrick lectured as he worked, “when you form a Connection, you’re essentially allowing an unfathomable cosmic force to etch itself into your very essence. It’s an exchange of power, but it’s also incredibly invasive and destabilizing.”

Tendrils of azure light snaked from Derrick’s fingertips, wrapping around Ethan’s limbs and torso like ethereal vines. Ethan couldn’t help but shiver at the strange, tingly sensation.

“What would the Constellation gain in this exchange of power?”

“We are not sure. But it is all part of the system, and thus, there’s little to question. Regardless, when you form a Connection, your spiritual channels, the pathways that circulate your mana, become forced open and reshaped by the Constellation’s influence,” Derrick said gravely. “It’s like someone took a sledgehammer to the delicate plumbing of your soul. If the process isn’t handled correctly, or if your spirit is too weak, the cosmic forces could overwrite your identity entirely. It is not their intention. They have no need, it’s simply the human beings that are too weak.”

Ethan felt a lurch in his gut as he processed that horrifying notion. Was that what Derrick meant by “possession”? Having his very self erased by some alien power?

“Worse still,” Derrick continued, brow furrowed in concentration, “are arcane corruptions. Think of them like... malignant growths, but on a spiritual level. Stand still, would you?”

As Derrick began weaving his hands and activated some kind of a skill, Ethan couldn’t help but compare the scene to documentaries he’d seen about MRIs. The swirling energy Derrick conjured felt uncomfortably similar to the electromagnetic waves used in those machines.

Derrick placed a glowing hand on Ethan’s chest, and a wave of nausea washed over him. His vision blurred at the edges, and a prickling sensation spread through his body, like a million tiny needles buzzing just beneath his skin. This wasn’t right. The documentaries never mentioned patients feeling like they were being swarmed by angry bees. Though, admittedly, it didn’t sting. It was not... physical pain. It wasn’t even “pain”. It was just weird.

“Hmm,” Derrick muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. “There’s definitely some… residue. This Constellation of yours packs a punch.”

“Residue?” Ethan croaked, his voice tight with a growing sense of panic. This whole “Connection” business was starting to sound less like a superpower.

“It’s not uncommon,” Derrick said reassuringly, though his voice lacked conviction. “The Constellations’ power can leave a mark, a sort of… magical aftershock. Usually clears up within a day or two.” He paused, his brow furrowing further. “Though, this does seem a bit… intense.”

Ethan felt another wave of nausea hit him, and a metallic tang filled his mouth. This wasn’t just aftershocks. This felt more like his insides were being rearranged with a rusty spork. Not his innards, but something more... spiritual. Perhaps it was related to his pathways?

“So, what happens if it doesn’t clear up?”

Derrick’s expression remained grim. “That’s… uncommon, but not unheard of. In severe cases, the Constellation’s power can become… unbalanced. It can start to… corrupt the host’s magical pathways.”

“Corrupt?”

“Imagine your mana veins, the pathways,” Derrick explained, tracing a line along Ethan’s arm, “like rivers. They carry magical energy throughout your body. Normally, the flow is smooth, and controlled. But if the Constellation’s influence is too strong, it can be like… a dam breaking. The flow becomes chaotic, uncontrolled.”

Ethan’s mind conjured images of overflowing rivers, raging floods tearing through a peaceful landscape. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.

“And what happens then?”

Derrick hesitated, then sighed. “In the worst-case scenario, the magical energy becomes… stagnant. It pools in certain areas, blocking the flow entirely. These blockages… well, they act like corruptors. They disrupt the flow of magic, causing immense pain and eventually… system failure.”

System failure. The words echoed in Ethan’s mind. Did that mean… death? He didn’t want to think about it.

Sensing his fear, Derrick placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not a guaranteed outcome, my lord. It’s actually very unlikely. It’s just a possibility. Most Connections settle down after a while. We just need to monitor you, and make sure the residue dissipates. Here, drink this.” He grabbed and offered a vial filled with a shimmering, azure liquid.

Ethan took the vial hesitantly, the metallic tang in his mouth making even water seem unappealing. He downed the liquid in one go, grimacing at its bitter taste. It felt like it settled in his stomach like a warm stone.

“This will help regulate your mana flow for a bit,” Derrick explained. “We’ll keep an eye on you for the next few days. If the… aftershocks don’t subside, we’ll need to take more… aggressive measures. These corruptions fester in the damaged channels,” Derrick explained, “twisting and replicating in unpredictable ways. They leech away at your mana reserves, cause uncontrolled spellbursts, warp your mind and body.” His lips pressed into a grim line. “I’ve seen people lose limbs to these things. Worse, I’ve seen them lose their sanity.”

Ice ran through Ethan’s veins as he pictured the horrors Derrick described. Magical cancer that could devour you from the inside out... It appeared to be a tragic blend of sickness and madness. He thought of the real-world scourge of cancer, how it wrapped tendrils through the body, hijacking cellular machinery to spread and consume. Was this magical version a similar insidious invasion, but on a magical scale?

“Thankfully,” Derrick’s voice cut through Ethan’s macabre thoughts, “you seem to be in the clear. No possession, no corruptions, just some destabilization in your channels from the strain of the Connection.” He exhaled in relief, retracting the azure tendrils, falling back into his seat. “A few purification rituals and some rest, and you’ll be right as rain. We’ll be doing the rituals daily. It’s... good to see that you will not die, my lord.”

Ethan felt the knot of tension in his chest loosen, allowing himself a shaky exhale. So he’d survived the initiation, the cosmic hazing ritual of connecting with a Constellation. A small, grim voice at the back of his mind whispered: But for how long?

Magical cancers, cosmic invasions, identity death... was that the dark underbelly of cultivating this strange new power? He’d naively imagined it’d be all fun and games, shaping reality with a flick of his wrist. Now, harsh reality was setting in. This path was fraught with peril, with existential hazards lurking in every cosmic cranny. One wrong step and he could end up a withered husk, a mindless wretch, an empty shell devoured by the very forces he’d sought to wield. Ethan shuddered. No, he couldn’t afford to be naive anymore. If he was going to walk this path, he needed to be prepared, to steel his mind and fortify his spirit against the coming onslaught.

“That’s, ah, that’s good to hear,” Ethan managed, still reeling slightly. “I don’t think I’d want to lose any limbs. Or my mind.”

Derrick snorted, giving Ethan a look that suggested he had some choice words about Ethan’s sanity already. “Well, that’s enough of that doom and gloom for now. Why don’t you rest up and we can go over some basic exercises tomorrow? Start putting that new Connection of yours through its paces, eh? This would be it for today, my lord.”

Ethan nodded. “It was a pleasure, Derrick, really.”

“Indeed,” Derrick smiled. “Now, I must leave. I am sure you are quite excited to summon your [Familiar] and experiment with your Connection.”

Ethan smiled. “Indeed.”

Derrick clapped him on the shoulder and took his leave. He was left alone with his thoughts, which immediately began racing. Ethan remained seated, thinking. He appeared to think of a lot of things. Then, he sighed, and looked at his [Familiar].

“Now, how to summon you, little one?”