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 and scrabbling at the rocks as it desperately tries to free itself

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

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

I have taken the chance to manoeuvre off the roof and

anger and throws itself at its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches

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

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

slain Level 3

[You have gained XP]

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

is really reaching a climax now

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

able to put

bites, stumbles at a critical moment allowing a centipede to

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

force has shattered its legs and deeply cracked

left now is one wounded centipede and the burned hound, both are severely injured, barely able to put up a fight.

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

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?!

as both creatures gradually collapse, completely spent, unable to continue the

collapsed, exhausted

...

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

You were dancing in the

eyes, I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this

of health. Effectively 1 HP.

an average person. I lived in a normal

few days I have already become accustomed to battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life of your own food quickly changes ones’ attitude on the

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

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

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