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 tries to free itself

living centipedes rush forward, hundreds of tiny legs skittering so fast the creatures almost seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the

the hound tosses its head trying to dislodge the attacker before swinging its vicious tail around to slam the centipede away.

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

fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the

hound possibly fatally poisoned and other badly burned, the hounds are very much the worse for wear. Of the four

as the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its demise, pushes

slain Level 3 Claw

[You have gained XP]

the almost dead centipede is finished and I

really reaching a climax now on the other

their all to survive, lashing forward with their poisoned spikes over

able to put up

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

as it does so. Enduring the pain, the hound pours all of its momentum into a massive swipe of

creatures can barely move after the incredible force has

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

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

start 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 hound by the throat, the hound is crunching down just behind the

Who will hold on?!

as both creatures gradually

exhausted and on the verge of death. Their opponents,

...

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

were dancing in the palm

entire process with my own eyes, I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this has all worked out for

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

isn’t it? Not too long ago I was an average person. I

like this. Being forced to fight

it by saying they aren’t people but monsters, but, isn’t that

secure the last hit on these hounds before the

from hound to hound, using my mandibles to apply bite attacks until the familiar and