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!

arc of acid is 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

seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the

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 down

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

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

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

the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its demise, pushes further into the fray. Emboldened, the

have slain Level 3 Claw

[You have gained XP]

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

a climax now on the other

centipedes are giving their all to survive, lashing forward with their poisoned spikes over and over again, trying to ward off the

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

final hound, suffering from claw marks and several bites, stumbles at a critical moment allowing a centipede to catch it

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

incredible force has shattered its legs and deeply cracked the carapace

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

bitten by this point,

and bite forward,

Who will hold on?!

both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent,

from the shadows I behold a scene of ridiculous carnage. The three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of death. Their opponents, the centipedes,

...

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

were dancing in the palm of my

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

sliver of health. Effectively 1 HP. This is

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

this. Being forced to

my mind I justify it by saying they aren’t people but monsters, but,

worry about that later! I need to secure the last hit on these

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