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!

It howls miserably as the burning liquid strikes it once again, rolling and scrabbling

living centipedes rush forward, hundreds of tiny legs skittering so fast the creatures almost seem to flow over the ground. Distracted momentarily, the hounds respond a beat too late and one is quickly seized in the claws

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 down the wall, cautiously approaching the outskirts of the

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

much the worse for wear. Of the four centipedes, one

any pause in the carnage however as the poisoned hound, seeming to sense its demise, pushes further into the fray. Emboldened, the remaining hounds also press forward

Level

[You have gained XP]

is finished and I quietly drag the

battle is really reaching a

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

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

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

the hound pours all of

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

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

forelegs are badly bitten by this point, the

hidden 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 crunching down just behind the centipedes

Who will hold on?!

both creatures gradually collapse,

a scene of ridiculous carnage. The three hounds have collapsed, exhausted and on the verge of

...

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

dancing in the palm

own eyes, I still cannot

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

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

battles just like this. Being forced to fight and take the life of your own food quickly changes ones’

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

the last hit on these hounds before the poison

to apply bite attacks until the