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!

miserably as the burning liquid strikes it once again, rolling and scrabbling at the rocks as it desperately tries

flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a beat too late and

slam the centipede away.

manoeuvre off the roof and down

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

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

sense its demise, pushes further into

Level 3 Claw

[You have gained XP]

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

a climax now

survive, lashing forward with their poisoned

hound is labouring hard now, barely able to put up any kind of fight as the poison takes

at a critical moment allowing a centipede to catch it in

enraged victim launches itself into the centipedes, suffering bites and claw attacks as it does so. Enduring the pain, the hound pours all of its momentum into a massive swipe

barely move after the incredible force has shattered its legs and deeply cracked the carapace

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

limping, its forelegs are badly bitten by this point, the centipede isn’t much better,

start 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 by the throat, the hound is

Who will hold on?!

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

three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of death. Their opponents,

...

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

were dancing in the palm

I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this has all worked out

of health. Effectively 1 HP. This is an unprecedented harvest of XP

was an average person. I lived in a normal society and wouldn’t

being here for a few days I have already become accustomed to battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life of your own food

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

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

using my mandibles to apply bite attacks until