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

this moment the three 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

furiously the 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 advantage of the moment

manoeuvre off the roof and down

itself at its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the side it is

wear. Of the four centipedes, one is hanging on by a thread and the other three

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

Level

[You have gained XP]

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

reaching a climax now on the other

with their poisoned spikes over and over again, trying

put up

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

does so. Enduring the pain, the hound pours all of its momentum into a massive swipe of the tail, catching two centipedes and

has shattered its legs and

injured, barely able to put up a fight. Slowly they circle each other, watching and waiting for an

hound is limping, its forelegs are badly bitten by this point, the

simultaneously launch at each other! The two monsters quickly converge and bite forward, latching onto each

Who will hold on?!

as both creatures gradually collapse, completely

exhausted and on the verge of death. Their

...

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

You were dancing in the palm of my hand all

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

of health. Effectively 1 HP. This is an unprecedented

I was an average person. I lived in a normal society

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

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

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

bite attacks until