diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index ddff407..dba872d 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -172,7 +172,17 @@
                     idle: !currentClipUrl
                   }"
                 ></div>
-                <div class="pulse-rays" :class="{ active: isPlaying }"></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>
               <audio
                 ref="player"
@@ -270,7 +280,8 @@ export default {
       mediaElement: null as HTMLAudioElement | null,
       rayLevel: 0,
       rayHue: 200,
-      isAnswerClip: false
+      isAnswerClip: false,
+      tentacleLevels: Array.from({ length: 10 }, () => 0)
     }
   },
   computed: {
@@ -346,6 +357,7 @@ export default {
       this.frequencyData = new Uint8Array(analyser.frequencyBinCount)
       this.pulseLevel = 0
       this.rayLevel = 0
+      this.tentacleLevels = this.tentacleLevels.map(() => 0)
     },
     teardownAudio() {
       if (this.rafId) {
@@ -366,6 +378,7 @@ 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
@@ -405,6 +418,19 @@ 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 3f9b3b3..2e1ed72 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -443,41 +443,35 @@ audio.hidden-audio {
   animation: pulseGlow 1.6s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 
-.pulse-rays {
+.pulse-tentacles {
   position: absolute;
-  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;
+  inset: 0;
+  display: grid;
+  place-items: center;
   z-index: 1;
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
-.pulse-rays::before,
-.pulse-rays::after {
-  content: '';
+.pulse-tentacles .tentacle {
   position: absolute;
-  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));
+  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;
 }