Is Karl just puffing himself up to look bigger? The whole form a bluff?
When the monster knocks the Karlcipede over and tries to take a bite, however, it becomes clear that isn't the case. It can't get through his armor. Even its fearsome teeth just slide off.
It slips off the bubbly shell plates, landing on its feet just beside the fallen summon-summoner-hybrid.
"What is this? Where did you learn it's name, summoner?" snarls the beast.