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!

as the burning liquid strikes it once

so fast the creatures almost seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a beat too late and one is quickly seized in the claws of

hound tosses its head 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 roof and down the wall, cautiously

fierce claws and fangs. When

and other badly burned, the hounds are very much the worse for wear. Of

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

Level

[You have gained XP]

centipede is finished and I quietly drag the carcass away to a secluded

really reaching a climax now

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

now, barely able to put up any kind of fight as the

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

launches itself into 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

after the incredible force has shattered its legs and

is one wounded centipede and the burned hound, both are severely injured, barely able to put

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

if a hidden 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,

Who will hold on?!

out neither, as both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent, unable to continue the

three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and

...

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

dancing in the palm of my hand all

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

sliver of health. Effectively 1 HP. This is an unprecedented harvest of

an average person. I lived

battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life

by saying they aren’t people

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

hound to hound, using my mandibles to apply bite attacks until the familiar and soothing refrain of