diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index dba872d..1e4de70 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -172,17 +172,7 @@
                     idle: !currentClipUrl
                   }"
                 ></div>
-                <div class="pulse-tentacles">
-                  <span
-                    v-for="(level, index) in tentacleLevels"
-                    :key="index"
-                    class="tentacle"
-                    :style="{
-                      '--level': level.toFixed(3),
-                      '--index': index
-                    }"
-                  ></span>
-                </div>
+                <div class="pulse-rays"></div>
               </div>
               <audio
                 ref="player"
@@ -280,8 +270,7 @@ export default {
       mediaElement: null as HTMLAudioElement | null,
       rayLevel: 0,
       rayHue: 200,
-      isAnswerClip: false,
-      tentacleLevels: Array.from({ length: 10 }, () => 0)
+      isAnswerClip: false
     }
   },
   computed: {
@@ -357,7 +346,6 @@ export default {
       this.frequencyData = new Uint8Array(analyser.frequencyBinCount)
       this.pulseLevel = 0
       this.rayLevel = 0
-      this.tentacleLevels = this.tentacleLevels.map(() => 0)
     },
     teardownAudio() {
       if (this.rafId) {
@@ -378,7 +366,6 @@ export default {
       this.isPlaying = false
       this.pulseLevel = 0
       this.rayLevel = 0
-      this.tentacleLevels = this.tentacleLevels.map(() => 0)
     },
     startPulse() {
       if (!this.analyser || !this.analyserData || !this.frequencyData) return
@@ -418,19 +405,6 @@ export default {
         this.rayLevel = this.rayLevel * 0.78 + rayTarget * 0.22
         const hueTarget = 180 + highAvg * 120
         this.rayHue = this.rayHue * 0.8 + hueTarget * 0.2
-
-        const bandCount = this.tentacleLevels.length
-        const binSize = Math.max(1, Math.floor(freq.length / bandCount))
-        for (let i = 0; i < bandCount; i += 1) {
-          const start = i * binSize
-          const end = i === bandCount - 1 ? freq.length : start + binSize
-          let bandSum = 0
-          for (let j = start; j < end; j += 1) bandSum += freq[j]
-          const avg = bandSum / Math.max(1, end - start) / 255
-          const shaped = Math.pow(Math.min(1, avg * 1.4), 1.6)
-          this.tentacleLevels[i] =
-            this.tentacleLevels[i] * 0.65 + shaped * 0.35
-        }
         this.rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick)
       }
 
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index 2e1ed72..3f9b3b3 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -443,35 +443,41 @@ audio.hidden-audio {
   animation: pulseGlow 1.6s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 
-.pulse-tentacles {
+.pulse-rays {
   position: absolute;
-  inset: 0;
-  display: grid;
-  place-items: center;
+  inset: -5%;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, hsla(var(--ray-hue, 200), 95%, 72%, 0.35) 0%, transparent 40%),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, hsla(var(--ray-hue, 200), 90%, 68%, 0.25) 0%, transparent 55%),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, hsla(var(--ray-hue, 200), 85%, 65%, 0.2) 0%, transparent 68%),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, hsla(var(--ray-hue, 200), 80%, 60%, 0.16) 0%, transparent 80%),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08) 0%, transparent 30%);
+  opacity: calc(0.18 + var(--ray, 0) * 0.65);
+  filter: blur(calc(10px - var(--ray, 0) * 4px));
+  transform: scale(calc(0.85 + var(--ray, 0) * 0.9));
+  transition: opacity 0.12s ease-out, transform 0.12s ease-out, filter 0.12s ease-out;
+  mix-blend-mode: screen;
   z-index: 1;
-  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
-.pulse-tentacles .tentacle {
+.pulse-rays::before,
+.pulse-rays::after {
+  content: '';
   position: absolute;
-  width: 10px;
-  height: calc(50px + var(--level, 0) * 180px);
-  background: linear-gradient(
-    to top,
-    rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 0%,
-    hsla(var(--ray-hue, 200), 90%, 70%, 0.55) 40%,
-    hsla(var(--ray-hue, 200), 95%, 75%, 0.85) 100%
-  );
-  border-radius: 999px;
-  filter: blur(calc(2px - var(--level, 0) * 0.8));
-  opacity: calc(0.2 + var(--level, 0) * 0.85);
-  transform-origin: 50% 100%;
-  transform:
-    translateY(calc(-30px - var(--level, 0) * 30px))
-    rotate(calc(var(--index) * 36deg))
-    scaleX(calc(0.6 + var(--level, 0) * 0.6));
-  transition: height 0.08s ease-out, opacity 0.08s ease-out, transform 0.08s ease-out, filter 0.08s ease-out;
-  mix-blend-mode: screen;
+  inset: 8%;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 2px solid hsla(var(--ray-hue, 200), 90%, 70%, 0.25);
+  opacity: calc(0.1 + var(--ray, 0) * 0.6);
+  transform: scale(calc(0.7 + var(--ray, 0) * 0.9));
+  filter: blur(calc(2px + var(--ray, 0) * 2px));
+}
+
+.pulse-rays::after {
+  inset: 20%;
+  border-width: 3px;
+  opacity: calc(0.08 + var(--ray, 0) * 0.55);
+  transform: scale(calc(0.8 + var(--ray, 0) * 1.1));
 }