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!

howls miserably as the burning liquid strikes it once again, rolling

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

vicious tail around to slam the centipede away. Too

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

poisoned hound howls in anger and throws itself at its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the side it is brutally slapped away with a

other badly burned, the hounds are very much the worse for wear. Of the four centipedes, one is hanging on by

isn’t any pause in the carnage however as the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its demise, pushes further into the fray. Emboldened, the

slain Level

[You have gained XP]

is finished and I quietly drag the carcass away to a

reaching a climax now on

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

put up any

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

itself into the centipedes, suffering bites and claw attacks as it does so. Enduring the pain, the hound pours

force has shattered its legs and

wounded centipede and the burned hound, both are severely injured, barely able to put up a fight. Slowly

point, the centipede isn’t much

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

Who will hold on?!

turns out neither, as both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent,

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

...

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

dancing in the palm of

own eyes, I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this has all worked

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

how rapidly a persons’ attitudes can change isn’t it? Not too long ago I was an average person. I lived in a normal society and wouldn’t consider harming another person, I had never been in a proper

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

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

I need to secure the last hit on these

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