Kevin McLaughlin

Chapter 90 - The Mycelial Net

Alex hovered there in the middle of the room, unable to continue. He had three strands of the green goop wrapped around his right leg. Below him, more rose slowly from the mesh of green that...

Chapter 89 - Fire and Water

I picked up a piece of the ‘chest’ from the floor, examining it. Only the outside of the thing looked like a wood surface. The interior was a fleshy yellowish color, sort of like the ins...

Chapter 88 - Burning Out

The pain in my hands was spiking further. A bit of grey mist rose from them, and the faint hissing was turning into a sizzling sound that reminded me uncomfortably of cooking bacon. I needed...

Chapter 87 - Everyone Loves…

We pressed on through the chamber, everyone as alert as we could be. None of us wanted to get close to the fungi which seemed to be growing from every wall and most of the floor, but oddly e...

Chapter 86 – Crystals of Life

I spun back toward the team and felt my stomach drop.

Spots of angry red had already blossomed across exposed skin. The damage was evident on foreheads, wrists, and even the V at the t...

Chapter 85 - A Draining Experience

We hadn’t gone very far before we noticed the path ahead of us had some sort of illumination in the distance. Whatever it was we were headed toward, there was light, at least. The others w...

Chapter 84 – Into the Green

Alex left the rest of his people arrayed across the steps. They fanned out to either side of the entrance, gas masks on, weapons up, eyes on the darkened opening. It was a sensible precautio...

Chapter 83 - White Crystals

My outstretched fingers were closing on the creature’s blackened, crispy body. Between the gasoline and the spells, we’d done a serious number on the thing. It smelled and looked somethi...

Chapter 82 - Fungus Among Us

Suddenly the thing surged forward. It rushed at Alex. Maybe it was all the orders he was shouting that got him the unwanted attention, but whatever the cause, the creature was headed right f...

Chapter 81 - Rampant Growth

The doors swung inward, revealing a huge open space inside the structure. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this! I’d figured there might be monsters inside. May...

Chapter 80 - Dungeons and…

I eyeballed the structure as I approached, trying to get a feel for what I was looking at. Was it a new feature of Alex’s Domain? That was a reasonable guess, but I’d just eaten breakfas...

Chapter 79 - A Test of Might

I spent a few minutes psyching myself up for what I was about to try, because I’d never done anything quite like this before.

According to Alex, once someone hit tier five in a clear...

Chapter 78 - A Blinding Flash

I had a plan to wipe out the remaining pill bugs, but it wasn’t going to be a simple, one-step process. In theory, I could just wade into the creatures, smashing them all up, but their ran...

Chapter 77 – Audience in the Tunnels

The ratkin guide moved with his head low, his tail tight to his legs, and his ears pricked for trouble. Even with NightVision turning the tunnel into a dim twilight, I had to keep reminding ...

Chapter 76 - You Squish Bad Bugs?

Our conversation about that dreadful first day had gotten me thinking. I’d left some unfinished business during those early days. Where was the Rat King these days, anyway? What was he up ...

Chapter 75 - Space to Heal

I woke with a start, surprised to see sunlight dappling the bed covers. I'd slept through the night. I shook my head, trying to clear it. For a moment, I couldn't remember the last time I ha...

Chapter 74 - Dark Awakening

This one gave me the feels to write. I love dogs, and hate seeing bad things happen to them. I'm not sure how Cerberus's story ends, but time will tell. I hope this chapter works as wel...