Matt only remembers a brief flash before he died. But if he dug deeper into the annals of his memory, he could see it, the tower of flesh, amorphous and free, with tentacles waving wildly as if caught in the act of prayer. A worship interrupted by Matt’s presence, a transgression he paid for swiftly.

Then Matt’s thoughts turn toward another troubling sign: no sign of the Kapa that made it to this chamber. Was it this thing that ate them? Meat, bone, and shell?

Matt’s mind wants to race, to fly to conclusions that lead to one definitive destination. Run. Run down the stairs, run past the Kapa boss, run deep into the bowels of hell, and hope this thing won’t follow.

Or that’s what Matt’s human mind would have done. The Liche, however-

“Unholy Light!”

The spell rockets into the air before another tentacle from the black mass whips and shatters it.

Pandemonium.

Greg is the first to respond, “Shoot it!” he commands the archers. Only two are ready to fire their arrows, and the projectiles fly within seconds, only to be struck down.

“BOSS!” Doug shouts, and the warriors rush the writhing mass, shields held out in front and spears and swords at the ready.

11 soldiers rush in, and 11 soldiers are knocked down. Three meet the Void.

Skeletal warrior has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

Skeletal warrior has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

Skeletal warrior has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

3x Skeletal Warriors have returned to the Void.

Doug sees his brothers-in-arms get their skulls smashed in by the tendrils whipping and slashing as the creature grows and grows. Doug mourns them in his own way by dashing in to avenge them. Not out of emotional necessity but an instinctual desire as he leaps over his fallen brothers and Shield Bashes the growing Floor Boss.

No growing the wrong word; it is stretching, expanding, towering over the chamber with its height, making everything seem so small in comparison. Even Doug’s turtle shield doesn’t register in the System as damage, and Greg, watching this in horror, wonders if the beast even sees Doug at this point, as the tentacles dance high in the air and a gaping maw for a mouth forms.

And then the second attack comes.

Skeletal Archers has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

Skeletal Archers has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

Skeletal Archers has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

Skeletal Archers has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

Skeletal Archers has suffered Critical Piercing Damage

5x Skeletal Archers have returned to the Void.

Greg had instinctively blocks the strike with his Kapa Shield, the effort knocking him on his ass. He looks over and sees Matt, who somehow dodged the attack, with a tendril buried into the cobblestone next to him. Relief would have washed over him if another fact didn’t dawn on him-

Only 0.2 seconds have passed, and half their number is dead.

Greg’s Kapa Shield shatters as the tentacle retracts. Doug lands a single hit before one second expires-

Boss Mimic has suffered Insignificant Piercing Damage

Followed by Matt’s Acid Arrow-

Boss Mimic has suffered Insignificant Acid Damage

Greg and Matt scream in unison,

“RALLY CRY!” shouts one.

“UNHOLY CIRCLE!”

And the tentacles whip out to finish the NecroParty once and for all-