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!

burning liquid strikes it once again, rolling and scrabbling at the

living centipedes rush 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 one is quickly seized in the claws of

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 advantage of the moment and struck

I have taken the chance to manoeuvre off the roof and down the wall,

itself at its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another

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

poisoned hound, seeming to sense its demise, pushes further into the fray. Emboldened, the remaining hounds also press forward on

have slain Level 3

[You have gained XP]

with the mandibles the almost dead centipede is finished and I quietly drag the carcass away to

reaching a climax now on the

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

barely able to put up any kind of fight as the poison takes its

a critical moment allowing a centipede to catch

hound pours all of its momentum into a massive swipe of

move after the incredible force has shattered its legs and deeply

is one wounded centipede and the burned hound, both are severely injured, barely able to put up a fight. Slowly they circle each other, watching and waiting for an

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

a hidden start gun has gone off they simultaneously launch at each other! The two monsters quickly converge and bite forward,

Who will hold on?!

as both creatures gradually collapse,

The three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of death.

...

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

were dancing in the palm of my hand

eyes, I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this

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

interesting how rapidly a persons’ attitudes can change isn’t it? Not too long ago I was an average person. I

few days I have already become accustomed to battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life of your own food quickly changes ones’ attitude on the sanctity

I justify it by saying they aren’t people but monsters, but, isn’t that what I am

to secure the last

mandibles to apply bite attacks until