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!

launched through the air 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 of

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

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

taken the chance to manoeuvre off the roof and down the wall, cautiously approaching the outskirts of

its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from

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

any pause in the carnage however as the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its

Level

[You have gained XP]

and I quietly drag the carcass away to

is really reaching a climax now

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

is labouring hard now, barely able to put up any kind of fight

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

the hound pours

barely move after the incredible force has shattered

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

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

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?!

both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent,

hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of

...

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

in the palm

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

sliver of health. Effectively

I was an average person. I lived in a normal society and wouldn’t consider harming another person, I had

accustomed to battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life of your own food quickly changes

aren’t people but monsters, but, isn’t

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

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