History

Being a gas giant, Lothwiel’s pale purple storms remain more of a watcher to its four children’s escapades. Although the environment is rather harsh, the violent, icy wind of the satellite Mithuran is the only object within Lothwiel’s pull to birth sentient, intelligent life. The inherently greedy humanoid creatures known as Mithurans began a rapid expansion technologically, being able to make their lives vastly easier through shelter companies and large families of workers. The Mithurans soon bit the forbidden fruit and formed their societies around a corruptive capitalist system. People born into engineering families found pleasant lives in dense cities around the warmer equator. Protected from the raging storm outside, they had parties and entertained themselves while commoners unable to get a solid education froze outside. The gap between the rich and the poor only expanded as technology improved.

Lothwiel viewed from Etheltide's surface

The ruler of Lothwiel, Gilt Ares, stood atop his golden throne, high above the storm of frost bitten peasants below. His shimmering citadel of metal and quartz stood on giant pillars, unable to be reached by the shriveling mass of people that he called vermin. Despite the aching cries for help he smiled, showing his gleaming pearl teeth. His armor of pristine and polished silver and gold placed on pure white cloth sparkled in the light of the High-Warlock’s eternal gaze. Without a care in the windswept world he began to think of his next expansion plan. Using one of his many loyal cabinet ambassadors, he struck a trade deal with the close by trade planet of Limehold. With this newfound interplanetary relationship, Gilt learned of something that could make him even richer. For the hefty price of several tons of tungsten, Limehold offered information which made him aware of the fact that Anihla, the overlord of the planet Crimwol, was in possession of one or more High-Warlock crystals. With his deceptively clean, greedful grin, Gilt sent an ambassador along with hundreds of dying peasants to Crimwol to break yet another trade deal. Shortly after, the ambassador gladly returned with a shard from the Warlock and a thank you letter signed by Anihla herself. The peasants, of course, did not return. Sporting his signature, smug, smirk, Gilt consumed the crystal that his ambassador had graciously brought for him. He wondered if the gods hated the peasants below him as he realized which element he could control as the universe’s newest bishop. With the swing of his ironically gold clad fist, tons and tons of molten gold resting above Lothwiel’s core rose through its violet atmosphere and formed a mini sphere of riches in Mithuran’s weak orbit. The dying commoners attempted to crawl up the sleek metal that plated the countless support columns beneath Gilt’s elevated empire while Gilt jumped with joy at his new, god-like powers.

Despite his money, abilities and fame, it was nowhere near enough. Power wasn’t in his immediate taste though he definitely needed something to do. Something exciting now that he had become an individual ascended even above members in his own family. Out of sheer boredom he ordered the creation of a large scale prison. Although it was initially described as punishment, it was more of a game to Gilt and his wealthy clan. This cruel game show toyed with intelligent lives but at least there was a minuscule chance of seeing paradise. This ”prison” which Gilt called the “Nebula Gauntlet” took place over the other three of Lothwiel’s satellites. Geylaira, the starting point, acted as a war zone, filled with blood and vile living beings clawing at each other to survive. After reaching a certain point within the range of a gateway that was placed in the upper atmosphere, the convict would be transported to Kimaakh. This cycle would happen once more before the convict finally made it to Etheltide, a paradise full of life and fresh food. Expansive bodies of fresh water that haven’t been claimed and made into paid commodities. People reaching Etheltide was incredibly rare if not impossible. The few people that do are hardly considered people anymore. Running the nebula gauntlet changes you. The blood left on these scarred individuals hands are permanent. The Nebula Gauntlet was not designed with the intent of giving people happy endings after all.

The dying commoners were “sentenced” to a life in the Nebula Gauntlet for simply being poor. They all knew the actual reason however. Gilt just wanted to see the peasants below him die. Oh, how they perished. On the Warfront they were dropped on, doomed by sheer numbers and confusion. On the Boneyard some lucky ones made it to, devoid of breathable air and infested with murderous scavengers. On the Garden the elite could just barely reach, empty and alone after a life of violence. Gilt couldn’t help but cackle at the hopelessness of the lowly game pieces at his feet. A trial with no winners but himself, forced to run eternally.

The sound of screams shook and echoed within Gilt’s newly built gauntlet viewing chamber. Nobles from a worrying variety of planets gathered to watch the prisoners brawl for their life. The harsh pressure of Mithuran was lowered within the chamber so as to not crush the rich alien folk inside. The lack of resistance in Gilt’s joints only made him feel more powerful. He felt weightless in the pressure that was apparently normal to the rest of the people here. Although they had money, none of the people there were bishops. He was. None of them could survive in the deepest parts of Mithuran’s blue haze. He could. Not only was he leagues above the animals running the gauntlet but he was also way above the very nobles that bought tickets to be in his presence. His crooked smile basically forced its way onto his guiltless face.

Ares’ funds continued to bloat as more and more “people” came to view the gauntlet. Though his money was growing, he did not feel the previously plentiful excitement from watching the gauntlet anymore. There needed to be something new to switch it up. After hearing about the brilliant Pseudo-Pylons that were mined by the slaves on Tangda, Gilt fantasized about the amount of blood, sweat and most importantly, tears of the slaves coughed onto the magical gems that they were forced to mine. It must've been a beautiful sight indeed. He thought of how gut fetchingly, knee slappingly hilarious it would be to unfairly cut down the prisoners within The Gauntlet using a dexter rod which utilized a crystal mined by pained slaves. Rather impulsively, Gilt purchased one of the very few off-world Tangda-mined Pseudo-Pylons from the Order of Cobalt Sorcery using his immense riches. After commissioning an engineer, he soon had a golden dexter rod within his crooked hands. After igniting it proudly, he couldn't help but smile at the pure white, twisting blade of plasma. The crystal, now known as the Sweat of Tangda pulsated with blinding and undeserved light. Using this powerful new weapon of his, Gilt descended to the prison that he created and cut down an unheard of amount of people who did not have the strength or weaponry to fight back. This soon became a tradition of his. As a sort of twisted celebration, on the anniversary of the Gauntlet's creation, Gilt Ares dusts off his golden blade before committing to his carnage-filled entertainment.

The Gauntlet

"Filthy criminal, you have failed to live up to the standards of our illustrious society. For burdening our grand civilization with your slovenly ways, you are hereby sentenced to serve your life as a fighter in the Nebula Gauntlet." You had heard these words a million times before, on the daily log of people tried for crimes against the state. The verdict was always the same. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. You didn't show even a sliver of surprise. The second you went into custody was the second your fate was decided. Crawling along the three inner moons, fighting an endless battle for the entertainment of the rich. It wasn't even your fault. You were simply too poor for Lord Ares' aristocracy to bear the sight of you. If you had known that this would be your fate, wouldn't you have done something more worth the punishment? You rattled off the names of the ones you would have killed in your head as the transport ship departs.

Geylaira - The Warfront

The Warfront glowers with deep sea-green flora splattered across its sands like blood.

You woke up as the ship landed in the fortress of Quickbone. Awful aqua green skies lay the sickening canvas for the blooming clouds to float. You saw a raging arc of light in the sky, near the horizon. A Leyline. The time for observation ended quickly, though. The officer that damned you to this living hell passed a familiar, bloody weapon into your hands. A voltage gun. Clearly used before, very recently. The rusty stains of life encrusting the weapon were just another reminder of the nature of your sentence. The officer spoke, his voice a harsh, gravelly grunt.

"You will be released from Quickbone Fortress at the next dawn. Those of you who die immediately after, try to keep your vile fluids off of the guns. They will be reused, so be courteous to the other disgusting peasant that has to take your place."

You didn't sleep. The rage and anxiety were too much. The most populous moon in the Gauntlet, Geylaira. Called the Warfront for its culture of constant rumbling and bloodshed. Although it had the most infrastructure and the most livable climate of the moons, it was also the one the most people died on. You watch the light of the Warlock creep over the horizon, the signal for you to leave. Even before the officer gave the signal, you ran. Sprinting as fast as you could, gun in hand and absolute hatred for the king of Lothwiel, you made your way towards the Leyline like your life depended on it.

Another body hit the ground. 23 days had passed since your arrival on the Warfront. 23 days spent travelling over vast beige dunes and dark teal steppes and sparse keppel-colored forests. No more did the remorse of killing your fellow commoner tug at your blackened heart. All that remained was the onyx crystal of rage, festering in your core and pulling your fingers back on the trigger. You never bought any new guns or ammo. Nebulite was a fake currency, but participating in any economy was giving that prick Gilt what he wanted. All you did was kill and loot. A new gun came into your possession. Then two more. Buying shit is the easy way out, you thought. Killing was more worth it. You earned it. Each rise of the Warlock's light, the Leyline appeared closer and closer.

You awoke to another day in this living hell. Stuck on the Warfront, you looked up, trying to catch a glimpse of your only salvation, the Garden, Etheltide. However, you were not greeted with its faint mauve light. You instead saw the two symbols of your oppression. Lothwiel, the shackle that lingers eternally in the sky, always in the same place. And next to its rings, you saw Mithuran looming, its city lights spitting in the face of your sentence, laughing at your trials. Your crime was a fabrication by the courts of the rich. And yet, what did it give you? A life to be put on display for a whole nation to see? To have your shame broadcast across the Cosmos as you struggle to survive? To have the brutalities of your days and nights witnessed as a game by the wealthy bastards who put you here? The mere sight of that hovering cyan ball filled you with rage. The Leyline isn't far off, you thought. Just a few more days before you could hopefully face the next Moon's trials. Kimaakh, the Boneyard.

Under the Leyline, you travelled to the intersection with its companion. One of the two Gateways to Kimaakh. Government-supplied shops existed here, making the Gateway seem more like a bustling city than a portal to the most dangerous place around Lothwiel. Oxygen tanks were sold in droves, but buying things wasn't your way. Trailing a weak-looking wretch who had just bought a whole tank and breather set, you decided your prey. What to kill with, what to kill with. Which weapon would leave the least mess on my new tank? You eventually set your mind on the old voltage gun you started with. A simple shot to the back of the head. Little noise, tiny puncture wound and instant brain-frying. The deed was done before you even knew you had reached for your trusty weapon. Picking up your freshly attained life support, you headed towards the Gateway proper, just a few opulent blocks away.

Kimaakh - The Boneyard

The tiny Boneyard twinkles with its thousands of active volcanoes and shattered canyons.

The transport through the Gateway left you nauseated, yet you had no choice but to get up as soon as your body rematerialized on the Boneyard. It was aptly named, a land of desolate grays and jagged calcified rocks formed into shattered mountain ranges and canyons. Even more aptly named, as your first steps on the barren pebble were over the desiccated skeletal corpses of Gauntlet prisoners long gone. The thin blue atmosphere revealed a faint noise. Footsteps. Low air density. Combustion and plasma weaponry is less efficient. Limited options. Evaporator? Evaporator. Pulling the aquatic torture device out of your weapon sack, you loaded it up with more stolen water and let the boiling begin. You notice two sets of steps. The attackers moved in unison to try to cover their tracks. Scavengers? You heard the sound change direction. Two silhouettes appeared over the nearest hill. You fired two shots. One hit the tank of the left fighter, the 500 degree ice pellet exploding into it and letting the near vacuum do the rest. The other pellet hit the right one square in the abdomen, just below where you aimed. The screams of pain from both were muffled by the deathly thin sky between you and the faceless hunters. After a thorough search of their bodies, you find nothing of use but extra batteries for the weakened voltage gun and spare parts to repair your plasmic arc, though it wouldn't even work on Kimaakh. The goal was now apparent: Get to the other side of the moon and get to the Gateway that leads to Etheltide.

Another heavy breath leaked from you. Covered in wounds, barely able to patch yourself up with the scraps you could get from the vultures' corpses, you tried to calm your pounding heart. Each one had used a different weapon, faking their targets to lure you in and then surrounding you. How you made it out was beyond you. Kimaakh was the Boneyard indeed. Your bones would have littered the creviced ground below if you had not gotten as irrational and unpredictable as you did. Instead, the bones of more scavengers would slowly creep out from withering flesh and skin.

You missed the first week, when scavengers worked in groups that surprised you with synergy. You had to work in those days, fighting tooth and nail and knife and bullet to survive. Now, each new set of footsteps was simply the beat to another dance of blades and blood. You had even stopped using guns just to challenge yourself. Using the Boneyard's low gravity and natural silence to your advantage, you had created a whole style of fighting in the air with seemingly useless calcium blades. One cut across the necks of the clearly blind vultures was all it took. Free oxygen for you, quick release for them. The Leyline above was a beacon for the scavengers to take out inexperienced travelers, maybe each other in hard times. But now you had left it a trail of blood and empty bodies. You were an avatar of competence and bloodlust. Kimaakh was barely a challenge to you.

The other Leyline peeked over the horizon just as the Warlock set. You contemplated maybe staying on the Boneyard. Maybe it was only right that you should stay and be a scavenger yourself, after killing so many. Set an example. You could clearly get enough oxygen just by killing. In the end, you decided not to degrade yourself by sinking to the level of those fodder. You took one last night to rest, one last place in this glorious battlefield, before you would take your place in the Garden of champions.

Etheltide - The Garden

The Garden smirks, looking upon the sinful warriors who manage to reach its waters.

The Gateway spit you out atop a beautiful mountainscape. The sky was a bright lilac, so close to that of Lothwiel itself, but ever so subtly different. The sounds of living creatures and the feeling of actual wind caught you by surprise. It had been months since you could hear this much, feel this strength. The increased gravity made you kneel to its majesty as you took off the heavy tank of air you no longer needed to breathe.

Pale moonstone savannahs and rivers of real, free water awaited you below. Water you didn't need to kill for. Grass the color of the cracked Boneyard's bleached skies. Life abound everywhere, and not another person in sight. Nobody left to kill. No need to kill. You didn't have to kill any more, you didn't need to fight any more. For the first time in what felt like decades, your jaw fell open and you spoke.

"Oh God. I... killed people." People just like you. Just as poor and innocent as you once were. Stacked with unused Nebulite, you could buy out the whole stock of every settlement on Geylaira. You could probably even bargain your way to freedom. But I got it from killing, by doing exactly what that BASTARD king wanted! You realized the weight of all the lives you took. The way your heart twisted into an empty husk, only fillable by blood. You remembered the faces of each and every corpse you made, the bodies you saw as mere treasure bags. Each one had a story, just like you. Each one corrupted in the sick game Gilt Ares crafted with the torment of the destitute.

A tear fell from your left eye. Then another from your right. They flowed faster and faster, until you found yourself quaking, lamenting with screams in this bounteous nacreous paradise. You became a murderer, as vile as they came. You were retroactively worthy of the punishment you were given, earning your spot in the Garden through your sins in a vile twist of irony. Alone in a world with no more chance at redemption, no more repentance for what you had done. Another pawn in the grand game of Ares.

False-economy

The Nebula Gauntlet, being created by the overwhelmingly greed filled Gilt Ares, obviously needed some form of economy to run efficiently. However, Gilt refused to relinquish even a sliver of gold to the writhing vermin in the Gauntlet. They would die within a few years, regardless of the money they had. It was the opposite of real society, where money could protect you from literally any and all stress or hardship. Gilt's advisors came up with a solution, one that would allow for capitalism to take root in the three desolate prison moons and not cost so much as an atom of gold. The fake currency, ethereal and just as transferrable as real money, Nebulite.

Nebulite is a sort of score attached to each convict, implanted as part of a microchip set directly into the brains of each person sent to Geylaira. The symbol used for Nebulite in signs for transactions or generally to get the idea of money across within the Gauntlet is ⛛. Convicts earn Nebulite at a passive rate of 1⛛ per day, at the rise of the High Warlock from their position. While technically farmable if one moves fast enough, this is a much slower way to obtain the Nebulite needed to survive. Killing a fellow convict grants the killer half of their Nebulite, as well as a bonus 10⛛. This measure was to prevent inflation within the Gauntlet from spiraling too quickly. On rare occasions, Gilt causes a bloodbath by reducing everyone back to 0⛛.

Basic commodities such as water and food go for high prices. A single day's worth of supplies is worth 12⛛. While it is technically possible to survive on Geylaira like this by looting dead bodies for any equipment and selling it back to the vendors, a service that is often called Unlooting, the incentive to kill is still ridiculously high.

Most of the things people can buy from the shops on Geylaira are weapons, however. Ranged and melee weapons are both sold in massive quantities, each using different concepts as weapons for greedy Mithuran's entertainment. While the innovation is commendable, the practicality of these weapons is far outclassed beyond the moons of Lothwiel.

Some convicts have purchased camera drones to follow them, allowing their experience to be recorded more closely than typical Gauntlet entertainment. This lets them earn more Nebulite through directly contributing content to the wealthy, but a common problem arises with most. They get too sympathetic for the people, too relatable. When this happens, experienced military operants enter the Nebula Gauntlet as hitmen to snuff out the possibility of the convicts gaining the support of the upper class.

Ranged Weaponry

Voltage Gun - 0⛛

The Voltage Gun, most familiar weapon in the whole Gauntlet

There is only one weapon no prisoner need buy. Upon transportation to the first moon of the Gauntlet, each prisoner is handed a Voltage Gun and two extra cartridges of ammo. The Voltage Gun was originally supposed to be a straightforward lightning gun, but the energy required for that made it an insane idea for a starter weapon. However, the idea and visuals behind it remain similar.

The Voltage Gun needs two types of ammo to function properly. First is a heavily ionized battery. These batteries are contained in such ingenious casing that they degrade at a similar rate to uranium. The battery supplies the energy needed to convert atmospheric gas to plasma. The gas is taken in and compressed through the back.

The second type of ammunition required for the voltage gun to function is cobalt nano-beads. While Lothwiel has to constantly import tons and tons of cobalt from the Order of Cobalt Sorcery, this puts little strain on the overall economy. The cobalt beadlets act as a conducter for the plasma to arc around and latch onto. A railgun mechanism accelerates the bead to ridiculous speeds, spinning it as the new plasma coils around it in what looks like a miniature bolt of lightning.

On Kimaakh, where the atmosphere is so thin that none can breathe, the reloading time for the gas compression is greatly increased.

Afterburner - 400⛛

The Afterburner, cheapest and yet most fuel-costly weapon in the Gauntlet

The Afterburner is often called the ammo guzzler for its extremely costly fuel supply. Filled with a slurry of just about every flammable compound and liquid known to man, the Afterburner sprays burning globules of sticky death to cover and immolate any unarmored foe. The fuel goes for around 2⛛ per liter, which is already a hefty price considering its short range. The globules stop burning after around 45 seconds, given nothing else to spread to.

A more premium fuel source is a form of napalm jelly, which burns hotter and faster than the regular fuel, but is much more costly. The napalm gel globs burn for only around 17 seconds in isolation, but they burn at temperatures of around 6,000 degrees C. Not only that, but the napalm-esque jelly is stickier and can actually function as an adhesive if not ignited. The cost of this premium gel fluctuates from day to day, but is usually between 7-12⛛.

The Afterburner does not work on Kimaakh, due to the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere.

Evaporator - 650⛛

The Evaporator, the gun that weaponizes the liquid of life.

The Evaporator is uniquely easy to get fuel for. While other guns have dedicated ammo and possibly battery charge required, the Evaporator runs almost entirely off of water. Granted, this does mean that the user has to give up some of their most precious resource, the destructive power is immense. While in the boiling tank, the water is superheated to over 300°C. Around 10% of a tank is siphoned into a compression chamber, which applies so much pressure that the vapor becomes a hellishly hot ice pellet. Up to 5 ice pellets can be stored in the ammo chamber, which is both pressurized and superheated, at a time.

The pellets are possibly the deadliest water-based projectile to ever exist. Upon impact, they somewhat shatter, giving them a piercing capability. However, once inside the body, the pellet rapidly sublimates, venting almost 300°C steam at insane pressures through the body. Just one puncture into the torso can cause massive damage to several organs.

This weapon is notoriously useful on Kimaakh. The scarcity of air to radiate heat from the gun allows the pellets to reach even higher temperatures, as well as speeding up the boiling process. The lower gravity and air pressure increase its range dramatically and let the pellets stay hotter and faster for longer.

Neon Flash - 950⛛

Another ammo sink, the Neon Flash is one of the most flamboyant weapons in the Gauntlet. With its sleek and colorful design, it seems straight out of another world. The ammo also helps this appearance. Little pellets of glowing lime-green liquid fill the ammo tank of the Neon Flash. A full reload of the Neon Flash costs around 5⛛, which is relatively cheap for an ammo-based weapon.

The liquid pellets in question are filled with an extremely reactive compound. Upon oxygenation, the liquid immediately and violently explodes in a vibrant chartreuse blast of flame and rubble. This sudden bright explosion is where the gun truly gets its name. Just a few of these popping would be enough to kill a whole room full of people. The range on the Neon Flash was prioritized for this reason. The drawback is that if any sharp metal particle were to get into the ammo chamber of a loaded Neon Flash, a chain explosion that could demolish a building or more would occur.

The Neon Flash somewhat works on Kimaakh. While there is very little oxygen in its thin atmosphere, there is enough that the fluid sparks. This normally doesn't cause much damage to people before they can get the fluid off of them. If it were to hit a Gauntlet runner's oxygen tanks, however...

Plasmic Arc - 1K⛛

A fairly unique type of weapon in the Gauntlet is a bow. Whereas most areas of the Gauntlet are dominated by high-speed and high-accuracy gun combat, a few isolated fighters choose the primitive path of sword and bow. The Plasmic Arc is the most famous of these bow weapons, known for the piercing arrows of light it sends streaking across the sky.

There is only electricity required for the Plasmic Arc to work. Typical batteries one could find anywhere in the Nebula Gauntlet on bodies. No ammunition or arrows are needed. When pulling back the tense wire, the elastic energy is used as a signal to begin the arrow charging process. In the center of the ringnock of the Arc, electricity and magnetic fields ionize the air into a thick plasma. The ringnock's internal mechanisms begin to spin, cycling the plasma into a thin vortexlike spire of light. The rotation forces additional energy into the arrow as its tail reaches almost all the way back to the drawn back string.

When released, the magnetic shock sends the plasma arrow arcing through the sky, spinning fast and dense enough to pierce even the toughest armor sold in the Nebula Gauntlet. To get this maximum power out of the Plasmic Arc's arrows, they must be held stable for a minimum of 7 seconds and allowed to spin to their maximum rate.

On Kimaakh, the Plasmic Arc is pathetic. Arrows take full minutes to even begin forming, and they travel mere tens of meters before dissipating entirely.

Negativity Charger - 100K⛛

The Negativity Charger uses a ridiculous amount of energy. Heavy duty specialized batteries are required for this weapon to function at all. The reason for this is the insane concept behind its destructive potential. Using concentrated electrons to obliterate any foes in the user's path, the Negativity Charger is one of the deadliest weapons in the Nebula Gauntlet.

Though it usually uses atmospheric gas, any inert matter can work as a charge base for the Negativity Charger. The back of the gun uses immense magnetic fields to strip electrons away from their nuclei and channel them to the front. At the business end of the gun there are three magnetic prongs that direct the electrons into a condensed ball. As a charge weapon, it has no set destructive power, but charging for longer than 30 seconds is not advised.

At two and a half seconds' worth of charge, the electron blast is powerful enough to eviscerate an entire Mithuran body. At just 12 seconds, its power is enough to destroy a whole floor of a building. 30 seconds or charge, the advised limit, is enough to reduce an entire building or two to powdered rubble in an instant.

While Kimaakh has a very limited amount of gaseous fuel for the Negativity Charger, a simple mass of powdered rock will do just fine to substitute.

Event Horizon - 875K⛛

Whoever designed the Event Horizon must have been either an idiot or a comedic genius. A concentrated magnetic field and a little bit of cobalt powder is all this infamous design needs to create an actual singularity. A microscopic black hole that lasts for around 15 seconds is created and fired outwards at incredible speeds. The technical wizardry needed to condense matter so much for so little energy is beyond the comprehension of all but the smartest technical engineers of Mithuran.

Strangely enough, there is an alternative use for the weapon. Short-lived wormholes can be created, which last for 7 seconds precisely. While this allows for travel and momentum exploitation beyond normal, it cannot be used to bypass any of the Nebula Gauntlet's containment mechanics. If one were to stand on Geylaira at its closest approach with Kimaakh and fire one end directly up, it would not even breach the outer atmosphere before disappearing.

This is one of the few weapons unaffected by the different moons of the Gauntlet. However, the price is so high that only 8 people have ever obtained it in their lifetime.

Nebula Blaster - 1M⛛

The Nebula Blaster, most famous and powerful weapon in the entire Gauntlet.

The pinnacle and most iconic weapon in the entire Nebula Gauntlet, this draconic cannon is the definitive symbol of power and status on every moon of Lothwiel. As the first and most cared after design of the Nebula Gauntlet's weapon series, the Nebula Blaster is recognized the most out of every weapon. With only 36 users, rumors of its incredible power and beautiful annihilations spread even beyond Lothwiel. Tourists pay good money to see it in action, even in the corner of one of the thousands of camera satellites' fames or in a demonstrative exhibit.

To live up to its name, the Nebula Blaster takes inspiration from the nebulae of Sinister. Using condensed hydrogen and helium gel to do its job, a tank at the back accepts the fuel. It travels along the long barrel through a series of electromagnets that twist and heat up the gel into a thick plasma. By the time it reaches the maw of the cannon, it is a violent superheated cyan ball of crackling energy held in place only by the magnetic fields activated at the front.

Once the charge is full, the eyes of the gun flash deep red and no further fuel is injected into the blue-hot plasma ball. Once released, the roof of the mouth and tongue of the Nebula Blaster activate their hidden railgun-like accelerator fields and release the ball at half the speed of sound. It tears through the air in a flash of light, leaving a whirring noise in its wake.

Upon collision, the plasma shocks the air around it into a temporary vacuum, causing an implosion. The air blooms bright cerulean as it falls into the plasma ball. The shock of contact between the two causes the matter to violently erupt into a prismatic explosion of gas, flame, and sometimes even lightning. While charging each shot takes a full 10 seconds, the range, power, and control of the Nebula Blaster make it easily the undisputed king of weapons in the Nebula Gauntlet. It isn't even affected by Kimaakh's atmospheric differences, only having a slightly less flashy finish to its explosion.

Melee Weaponry

Plasma Edge - 575⛛

While this little knife may seem the least practical and useful of the Nebula Gauntlet's weapons, it is one of the top ranking weapons in terms of kill count. Though it is not very large, the Plasma Edge's advantage comes from its superheated and plasma-coated edge. When active, the air around it will sizzle and whine as it is magnetically and thermally forced to become a plasma. The seemingly short range lures people into a false sense of security, or even just a larger chance to miscalculate if they do know. When swung, the plasma arc around the knife extends and moves forward, seemingly extending the blade's range. The searing cuts it leaves also cause muscle spasms, and with enough skill, the plasma blade extension can be manipulated like a bladed chain. Some wielders have been seen attaching the knife to the end of a chain to use it in an entirely new way.

While it does not work well on Kimaakh with the plasma extension, it is still a very popular weapon for sneak attacks and the generally stealthier scavengers.

Hyperfrigerator - 7K⛛

By far one of the least practical designs in the Gauntlet, the Hyperfrigerator is a large and unwieldy scythe that utilizes liquid nitrogen or helium within the blade to give it a frigid edge. While one would think that the impractical wielding and the fact that all wounds are frozen shut nearly instantly would make the weapon useless, it is actually one of the more popular melee weapons within the Nebula Gauntlet. The threat of frostbite keeps opponents on their toes when fighting a Hyperfrigerator user. Because of its specific shape, it can even be thrown quite far and accurately. The only downside to it is the need for costly frigid fuels.

On Kimaakh, there is little air to draw heat from. In the quiet and thin haze, the Hyperfrigerator reigns supreme as the most threatening melee weapon. The heat stolen by its gelid blade takes so long to return that just one cut is almost certainly fatal.

Shock Gauntlets - 15K⛛

The shortest-range weapon you have access to is your own fists. Your brain is the electrical machinery that sends little lightning into your arms to make them punch. What the Shock Gauntlets do it make that lightning big and external. Sending millions of volts into the opponent on each hit, the Shock Gauntlets are optimal for convicts who were street brawlers in their past life.

While the involuntary muscle jerking and slow lobotomizing of the gauntlets' victims may be enough to put them at an instant disadvantage, this can all be circumvented by simply breaking the gauntlets or cutting off the user's arms. The Shock Gauntlets are very much a skill-based weapon.

With no real reliance on atmosphere, the Shock Gauntlets are unaffected by Kimaakh's environment, though their usage does accelerate the oxygen use rate of the wielder quite a bit.