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!

onto the wounded hound! It howls miserably as the burning liquid strikes it once again, rolling and scrabbling at the rocks as it desperately

forward, hundreds of tiny legs skittering so fast the creatures almost seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a beat too late and

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

I have taken the chance to manoeuvre off the

itself at its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the side it

hound possibly fatally poisoned and other badly burned, the hounds are very much the worse for wear. Of the four centipedes, one is hanging on by a thread and the other three

its demise,

slain Level

[You have gained XP]

almost dead centipede is finished and I quietly drag the carcass away to a secluded fold in the

is really reaching a climax

all to survive, lashing forward with their poisoned spikes over and over again, trying to ward off the desperate

barely able to put up any kind of

a critical moment allowing a

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

can barely move after the incredible force has shattered its

are severely injured, barely able to put up a fight.

forelegs are badly bitten by this point, the centipede isn’t much better, several legs

gun has gone off they simultaneously launch at each other! The two monsters quickly converge and bite forward, latching onto each other. The centipede has gripped the

Who will hold on?!

both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent, unable to

I behold a scene of ridiculous carnage. The three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of

...

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

were dancing in the palm

still cannot quite comprehend exactly how

these creatures are on a sliver of health. Effectively 1 HP. This is an unprecedented harvest of

person. I lived

days I have already become accustomed to battles just like this. Being forced to fight and

in my mind I justify it by saying they aren’t people but monsters, but, isn’t

later! I need to secure the last hit on these hounds before

my mandibles to apply bite attacks until the familiar and soothing