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!

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

seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a beat too

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 and struck down with its

to manoeuvre off the roof

in anger and throws itself at its attacker, striking with fierce claws and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the side it is brutally slapped away with a

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

in the carnage however as the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its

have slain Level

[You have gained XP]

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

battle is really reaching a climax now on the other

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

is labouring hard now, barely able to put up any kind of fight as

final hound, suffering from claw marks and several bites, stumbles at a critical moment

the pain, the hound pours all of its momentum into a

stunned creatures can barely move after the incredible force has shattered its legs

injured, barely able

by this point, the centipede

gun has gone off they simultaneously launch at each other! The two monsters quickly converge and bite forward, latching

Who will hold on?!

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

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, are similarly disabled, unable to

...

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

were dancing in the palm of

I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this

health. Effectively 1 HP.

an average person. I lived in a normal society and wouldn’t consider harming another person, I had never been in

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 sanctity of

saying they aren’t

I need to secure the last hit on these hounds

using my mandibles to apply bite attacks until the