Lair by Carl Stubblefield (recommended reading TXT) 📕

were a lost limb in a Tarantino film. Gus whipped the naginata around with Ether Leash, managing to separate another leg at the joint near the torso. A rebound swing hit another leg and triggered Wreck-tums! Gus hit it again and it hung limp. The leg with the severed tip was moving much slower, so Gus could focus on attacking the last leg. Waiting for it to attack, Gus blocked and activated Counter Attack. He chopped the leg off at the first segment, leaving a tiny stub, waving ineffectually. Screaming in pain and anger, The One lifted his body up by tentacles and heaved himself away from the center of the room. “Anyone tell you that you’ve got them moves like Jabba?!” Gus taunted.

Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

Damage vs zombies/Dark Nth increased x 64.

Gus smiled as the beginning words of the song began. “Tonight I’m gonna have myself a real good time…” Good times indeed. Dashing forward, Gus threw the naginata straight at The One’s chest. Instead of dodging, The One brought his hands together and caught the blade between his pressed palms. Gus yanked as hard as he could with the Ether Leash, which barely slid the naginata out of The One’s grasp, but he also pulled himself forward unintentionally as well. Tentacles lashed out and wrapped around his arms and legs, pressing them to his side. The One lifted Gus to his level, exaggerated dark bulbous eyes visible under greasy unkempt hair.

“Have you wondered how I have sustained myself, little worm? I have the abilities of all the Dark Nth… because I would consume them and incorporate them into myself.” A tentacle came up to Gus’ face, thin as a razor, and gouged into his chest, tearing his suit and into his skin below. Gus watched in horror as black particles dripped off the tentacle, crawling in the wound.

He flung Gus into the corner. “Now I’ll let you get nice and tenderized, we’ll have a nice bite to eat, and then I will take the manor.” The One had only one ambition; to get off the island and feed. Regaining his brood and consuming everything. With Methiochos’ memories, it knew exactly what to do. The floor resonated as The One laughed deep and low. Gus lay coughing in a pool of his own blood, which rippled from the vibration of the laughter, mocking him, face down and gasping.

The area he had been stabbed began to heat up like he was being branded. Gus finally pulled in a breath only to let it out in an agonized scream and the vibrations increased. So close! I almost did it. Liquid fire flowed through his veins and Gus began to seize on the cavern floor. All too soon the process was over. A tendril grasped his leg and lifted him high above the cavern floor, drawing him closer.

The One lifted the tentacle above him and unhinged his jaw, retracting it like a snake and preparing to devour Gus whole. When Gus’ head was right at the opening of the gaping maw, Gus popped his head up and yelled “Surprise!” and jammed the naginata he had been loosely holding down the gullet of the monster. The blade began to spin more and more as the two ether leashes Gus had wrapped around it over and over again were pulled, turning the weapon into a whirling drill of death.

The blade of the polearm shot out and bore into the soft throat lining of The One, shredding, slicing, and tearing—hitting the spine after chewing up the back of the throat and continuing to burrow downward. Gus felt the tentacles spasm tighter, then slacken, dropping him to the hard floor. The One slumped there, the very tip of the naginata protruding from his mouth, slowly spinning to a stop, while black slime bubbled and oozed out around it.

Gus lay there while his log filled with a multitude of messages. It was over.

“Your hybrid-Nth say, ‘You’re welcome,’” Nick quipped.

Really? Snarky now? Gus looked down to his chest and saw the pristine skin exposed by the jagged tear in his suit. Apparently, Nick was right. Hybrid-Nth were resistant to hacking. They had surrounded the infectious Dark Nth particles and burned them out. Painful as hell, but better than the alternative.

Gus looked back at the remains of The One, and with an Ether Leash, he lifted the naginata out of the gore. It was almost totally black with the sticky ichor coating it. Instead of having to clean it with his hands, he was able to manipulate the ether to clean the naginata completely of the black slime. A chime sounded.

Due to its composition of Kroutonium, your naginata has obtained a new ability from having vanquished a boss!

Vampire’s Kiss (Level 1)

Upon critical hit, transfer damage dealt into health for the wielder of the weapon. Higher levels deal more damage and higher rates of transfer.

The shaft of the weapon had acquired an ebony tone to it, glinting like polished obsidian, having absorbed something from the boss it had just killed. It spun there and glistened with a menacing black sheen. Gus had a name for the naginata pop into his mind. Jet. Referring both to its speed and color. Gus pulled the weapon to him. As he grabbed it, he felt a tingle in his hands, as if locking in the special ability to him specifically.

“Gus, reset those settings at Site B,” Nick yelled.

Climbing to his feet, he swung the naginata, gathered the limp hand of The One and made his way to the console. He pressed Methiochos’ hand to a sensor panel on the far side of the room, and reset the magma channels. He couldn’t see under the hardened magma to know if it had worked, but hoped that whatever had diverted power away from the manor was restored, and that it would be enough to keep the volcano from erupting.

He was ready to make the climb out of the cave.

“I know you haven’t found anything