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!

arc of 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

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,

furiously 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

meantime I have taken the chance to manoeuvre off the roof and

and fangs. When another centipede approaches from the side it is brutally slapped away with

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 all injured to some

seeming to sense its demise, pushes further into the

Level 3

[You have gained XP]

almost dead centipede is finished and I quietly drag the

is really reaching a climax now

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

put up any kind

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

does so. Enduring the pain, the hound pours all of its momentum into a massive swipe of the tail, catching two centipedes and sending them slamming

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

centipede and the burned hound, both are severely injured, barely able to put up a fight. Slowly

is limping, its forelegs are badly bitten by this point, the centipede isn’t much better, several legs are crushed, hindering its

and bite forward, latching onto each other. The centipede has gripped the hound by the throat, the hound is crunching

Who will hold on?!

gradually collapse, completely spent,

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

...

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

were dancing in the palm of my hand all

with my own eyes, I still cannot quite comprehend exactly how well this has all worked out for

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

isn’t it? Not too long ago I was an average person. I lived in

already become accustomed to battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life

aren’t people but monsters, but, isn’t that what

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

using my mandibles to apply bite attacks until