As we descended, Fussze hit the back of his hammer, causing it to glow with a soft blue light that provided plenty of illumination without hurting our eyes. These guys had so many useful skills and abilities, and they were just NPCs. In that moment, feeling like I had little value offer and being in a creepy cemetery dungeon, all I wanted was to be back in my old bed, snuggled up with my family. I was spiraling into another pity party when I snapped back to the present, mentally slapping myself to stay alert. I was going to manifest my fears of never seeing my family if I stopped paying attention.

As we descended the stairs, I noticed a vine growing along the stone wall. The vegetation increased as we continued, until the stairs were completely covered in plants with no stone in sight. Braar took the final step, his footsteps soft on the grassy moss. His pause prompted the rest of us to stop as well. He looked around, then took another step. The moss began to illuminate, slowly spreading light from where Braar stood to the other side of the large room, bathing everything in an amber glow.

In front of us were ten infected humans, resembling the cleric and the acolytes from above but with larger, more grotesque mushroom growths. They were dressed similarly to the townspeople, with swashbuckler vibes. At the other end of the room stood a man who looked like a druid. He had a wooden staff that splintered out at the top into many thin branches, and he wore leather armor and a thick green cloak. With his medium-length hair and slightly pudgy appearance, along with his glasses and other features, he looked like a nerd turned adventurer.

“Tyler? Are you the one that has caused this mess?” Brail said, surprise evident in her voice.

“I should have known he would bring you. I told you he doesn’t care about you enough to even protect you. I would never put you in danger if you were with me,” Tyler said, his voice nasally.

“Why are you doing this?” Braar said. “Put an end to it, Tyler.”

“End? I’m just getting started. You’re really the one to blame, or the one that I should thank. When you rejected my application to join the watchman, I decided to take matters into my own hands. You’re just a bunch of worthless NPCs. I got all the trivia questions right, received a nice bonus, and got myself a new class - Sentient Hive Mind Spore. It’s a druid class, but I know this doesn’t mean anything to you. Looks like you caught me monologuing,” Tyler said with a laugh.

He paused for a moment, his face and body relaxing.

“It’s not too late, Brail. Come with me and see the world I will create. It will be everything you could ever wish for,” Tyler said, pleading.

“Tyler, we can talk about this. I am sorry that our rejection was so hard on you. You have only been here a few weeks, and we have not fully gotten to know you. Let us go back to town and-” Brail said, being interrupted.

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“It’s too late for all that,” Tyler said, interrupting her. “As we speak, I can feel the spores infecting your boy toys mind, and also his little lackey here. I was told there were downsides with the class, but man do I feel great,” Tyler said, clenching his fists.

“Tyler,” I spoke. “I’m a user too. Let’s talk this out man,” I said.

“Another user? In this town? I assumed it was one per town. How interesting,” Tyler said, rubbing his chin. “My interface also said something interesting would happen if I infected another user. I am sorry for your sake that as part of my class, the urge to spread this infection is unstoppable. Even for the love of my life, I am having a hard time controlling myself. It must spread to all corners of all the levels. WE WILL BE ONE,” As Tyler said the last part, the other infected humans chanted along with him.

“If you don’t, cough, stand, cough, down, we will have no choice, cough cough, to take you out,” Braar said, his cough getting worse.

“Tough words from a walking dead man. Just so you know, the infection works the same if you’re dead or alive, but I’d rather you not attack the other parts of us. Can’t we just sit here and wait until you are one of us,” Tyler said.

Braar looked back at us, his eyes finally meeting Brail’s for a long moment. He then turned and charged towards Tyler, holding his large sword in two hands. Brail took out her bow, igniting her final arrow. I was good for one more spell in this fight, my potion toxicity still having hours before I could drink another.

Tyler laughed a maniacal laugh, taking no steps to protect himself as Braar charged him. I don’t know who this Tyler guy was, but he had some balls if he could stand unflinching with Braar charging. Tyler then hit his staff to the floor, and the ground started to undulate vines with the same mushroom growths as on the infected, opened up spores becoming thick in the air. When the spores settled a bit, I could barely see Braar now, trapped by vines on his knees, a vine around his neck and mouth. Braar’s eyes were open wide in panic as he tried to struggle.

Brail pulled back her arrow but hesitated to shoot it. I knew she must be afraid of hurting Braar. Fussze was beside me, but he now held a small flask of amber liquid in his off hand. The infected humans that were making their way towards us stopped and turned, kneeling towards Tyler with their backs now to us.

“For the pain you have caused me by breaking my heart, I will now repay by breaking yours,” Tyler said.

With a jerk of Tyler’s hand, the vines constricted around Braar’s head until his head popped, blood and chunks of brain painting the ceiling.

“Nooooo!” screamed Brail, tears welling in her eyes.

Fussze screamed as well in rage as Tyler laughed and laughed. The infected humans got to their feet and turned back towards us, making their way in our direction once more.

“I can’t watch this next part,” Tyler said. “I loved you. Love at first sight. But I will have you by my side after all once you are one of us.”

“You shoot the bastard, and I’ll throw this catch fire,” Fussze whispered to Brail.

The infected started to move towards us as Tyler turned his back to us. The infected were blocking Brail’s shot.

“Give the bottle to me and you clear a path,” I said, outstretching my hand.

I knew I didn’t have a great shot of a good throw with my Athletics skill where it was, but it was a large room and it’s not like I could really miss. Famous last words, I bet. Fussze handed me the bottle and he charged, using his shoulder to temporarily create a line of sight for Brail and her bow. As she pulled back her bow, I duplicated the flask mentally sighing in relief that it was not magical. I threw the flask aiming for Tyler.