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!

the wounded hound! It howls miserably as the burning liquid strikes it

to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a beat too late and one is quickly seized in

the attacker before swinging its vicious tail around to slam the centipede away. Too late

off the roof and

claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the side it is

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

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

slain Level

[You have gained XP]

few quick chomps with the mandibles the almost dead centipede is finished and I quietly drag the carcass away

is really reaching a

survive, lashing forward with their poisoned spikes over and over again, trying to ward off

put up any kind of fight as the poison takes its

at a critical moment allowing a centipede to catch it in the

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

after the incredible force has shattered its legs and

left now is one wounded centipede and the burned hound, both are severely injured, barely able

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

other! The two monsters quickly converge and bite forward, latching onto each other. The centipede has gripped the hound by the throat, the

Who will hold on?!

as both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent, unable

scene of ridiculous carnage. The three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of death. Their opponents, the centipedes, are

...

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

the palm of my hand all

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

Effectively 1 HP. This is an unprecedented

long ago I was an average person. I lived in a normal

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

it by saying they aren’t people but monsters, but,

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

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