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!

acid is 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 tries to free itself

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

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

I have taken the chance to manoeuvre off the roof and down the wall, cautiously approaching the outskirts of

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

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

sense its demise, pushes further into the fray. Emboldened, the

Level

[You have gained XP]

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

reaching a climax now on

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

poisoned hound is labouring hard now, barely able to put up

marks and several bites, stumbles at a critical moment allowing a centipede to

the pain, the hound pours

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

the burned hound, both are severely injured, barely able to put

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, the hound is crunching down just behind the centipedes

Who will hold on?!

creatures gradually collapse, completely

a scene of ridiculous carnage. The 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 of my hand

still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this

creatures are on a sliver of health. Effectively 1 HP. This is an unprecedented

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

become accustomed to battles just like this. Being

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

need to secure the last hit on these hounds before the poison

using my mandibles to apply bite attacks until the familiar and