Chrysalis

Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to fight and eat here, directly on the path the entire centipede nest takes to get the lake.

Before my despairing eyes another five centipedes are approaching, wriggling along in single file through the forest on their way to the lake.

When they see me, mouth full of dead centipede, they don’t even break stride and immediately charge.

Hey! Let’s take it easy fellas! Any chance we can discuss this? A peaceful resolution is always the best way forward, yes?

We can agree that I have eaten those of your kind, those are the facts. But can’t we also agree that we are part of the circle of life? That all things are both predator, and prey?

Didn’t think so.

Run!

I turn and fire off a quick acid shot, spraying across the leading centipedes’ hideous maw before I bolt into the forest. How the heck am I going to deal with five centipedes? I’ve only recovered about half my HP! This isn’t good, not good at all!

Any help Gandalf?

...

Damn you and your incredible pipe smoking skills Gandalf!

I could potentially make a break for the lake, it’s possible they wouldn’t fight me there, but being as injured as I am there isn’t any guarantee that I’d be able to outpace them.

I’ll have to fight this one out, and there is no way I can fight fair!

As I run through the forest I look around frantically for something I can use. Eventually I see a large tree with a wide trunk.

Before my opponents can gain on my I run around the back of the trunk, breaking their line of sight and haul myself up the tree as fast as I can.

Gogogogo Anthony pump those little ant legs!

Not far behind me the five centipedes arrive at the tree, the one I’d hit with acid lagging a little behind. They immediately start to climb after me.

I climb as fast as I can and then out onto the thickest branch I can find still low to the ground,

before I turn and wait to see what the enemy will do.

When the centipedes see where I am they continue to charge out onto the branch, one of them crawling along the bottom the bough and the other on the top.

Just before they reach me I let go, throwing myself down to the ground.

Landing with a thud, I push myself back up and quickly check on the centipede response.

to jump after me they start

far behind his allies is the one I’ve hit with acid.

defeated a

[You have gained XP]

One down.

Now run!

centipedes make their down the tree I flee, trying

remain perfectly still. My best chance now is to let my

rest of the centipedes aren’t far behind me, but they haven’t been

own antennae patting about on the ground and their claws snapping

I barely breathe. If they spot me I’ll get

right and one heads back towards the tree. One centipede remains here, scratching around trying to get my scent

I don’t

the area, turning this way and that as it attempts

I start to

Moving closer.

And closer.

then I strike! Suddenly leaping forward I deliver a ferocious bite to the tail! I have to remove the chance of getting stung with

slowly and I deliver a second bite to the

has reached

the centipede toward me, keeping away from its claws to deliver another bite behind the head,

have slain level 1 Claw

[You have gained XP]

not level five?!

five centipedes down to

start eating as quickly as I can. Rather than being weighed

not interrupted before finishing

[You have gained Biomass]

see my health has

up and their numbers diminishing I feel a lot more confident. If possible I want

options. You want to try

of my previous hiding place and it isn’t long before I encounter the monster

I was here all

hisses, clacking its claws in rage before it charges,

BAM!

directly into the

pain but I won’t let

have defeated level 4

[You have gained XP]

of Gandalf is still ringing in my head when I pause for

Did I see somethi-