Chrysalis

The centipede is crushed into the stone floor of the cavern. Deep cracks appear on its carapace after the kinetic force rips through its body, shattering the hard outer skeleton.

I’m stunned.

That was one fearsome strike! If I was hit by that I’d be squashed into a pancake, no doubt about it.

Scary!

The centipede doesn’t seem to have fared much better, it twitches on the ground, barely moving. The hound steps forward slowly, a murderous glint its eye. Almost as if its thinking ’take that you bug, how dare you threaten my greatness!’.

Before it can deal the finishing blow however something unexpected happens.

Sizzling acid streaks through the air and sprays down the hounds’ left flank, immediately burning into its flesh.

Oops.

Heheheheheh.

Sorry to interrupt your proud moment there hound, but I don’t want this battle to end just yet.

Of course, one blast of acid isn’t enough to finish off a hound, but the same is also true for the centipedes.

The Claw Centipede I hit earlier has now recovered enough to once more join the fray. It advances cautiously to reinforce its three unharmed brethren against the two healthy hounds.

This is the critical moment. With one centipede essentially down for the count but still living and one wounded hound the battle has become very even.

The centipedes seem a little unwilling to proceed with the fight now. They continue to posture aggressively but don’t actively make any moves to attack against their larger opponents.

The hound I injured is mildly wounded by my acid but not badly enough to keep it out of the fight, disregarding the source of the acid it returns to the aid of its allies in fending off the swarming assailants.

At that moment.

Splash!

liquid strikes it once again, rolling

creatures almost seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a beat

trying to dislodge the attacker before swinging its vicious tail around to slam the centipede away. Too late however as another centipede has taken

the meantime I have taken the chance to manoeuvre off the roof and down the

fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede

the worse for wear. Of the four centipedes, one is hanging on by a thread and the other

however as the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its demise, pushes further into the fray.

Level

[You have gained XP]

quick chomps with the mandibles the almost dead centipede is finished and I quietly drag the carcass away to a secluded

a

remaining centipedes are giving their all to survive, lashing forward with their poisoned spikes over and over

hard now, barely able to put up any kind of

bites, stumbles at a critical moment allowing a centipede to catch it in the shoulder with

the centipedes, suffering bites and claw attacks as it does so. Enduring the pain, the hound pours all of its momentum into a massive swipe of the tail, catching two centipedes and sending them slamming

has shattered its legs and deeply cracked

both are severely injured, barely able to put up a fight. Slowly they circle

bitten by this point, the centipede

two monsters quickly converge and bite forward, latching onto each other.

Who will hold on?!

as both creatures gradually

from the shadows I behold a scene of ridiculous carnage. The three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of death. Their opponents, the centipedes, are similarly disabled, unable to defend

...

Hmm...he.....hee.......hu hu ha HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

were dancing in the palm of

beheld the entire process with my own eyes, I still cannot quite comprehend

a sliver of health. Effectively 1 HP. This is

interesting how rapidly a persons’ attitudes can change isn’t it? Not too long ago I was an average person. I lived in a normal society and wouldn’t consider harming another person, I had never been in a proper fight during

like this. Being forced to fight and take the life of your own food quickly changes ones’

it by saying they aren’t people but monsters,

to secure the last hit on these hounds before the poison steals

my mandibles to apply bite attacks until the familiar and soothing refrain of Gandalf rings