Round 90

The air vents roared again, creating a powerful gust that threatened to knock the trio off balance. Halie's shield magic flickered precariously, and she stumbled forward, her eyes fixed on the jagged metal protruding from the grating. Jeane swiftly readjusted her stance, folding her wings to maintain balance as she readied herself to lift Halie if needed.

Silra's fingers flew across holographic keys, searching for a way to bypass the failing security systems. "Forty-two seconds," Silra's voice cut through the rushing water as she maintained balance on this death trap catwalk. Water lapped at her chin now, but her teal eyes remained fixed on the screens flickering ominously behind her—critical system strain showing despite her efforts to reroute flood control protocols.

"Status report!" Jeane snapped, barely keeping her balance as the catwalk shifted beneath her weight. Silra's teal eyes met hers with cold calculation—she'd already run the numbers and presented options, no wasted motion despite the rising water lapping at her chin. The maintenance hatch groaned louder behind them as another section surrendered to pressure.

"Blind spot illusion holding at seventy-two percent efficiency—can maintain for another eighty-seven seconds before complete system collapse," Silra replied sharply, not turning from her work. "Recommend immediate relocation to the eastern maintenance corridor or deployment of emergency pressure valves." Her slim fingers moved across more holographic controls even as water lapped at her chin.

Jeane's crimson eyes narrowed as she considered the options—neither was ideal. The eastern corridor meant navigating more unstable infrastructure and potentially exposing themselves to patrolling security teams, while deploying emergency valves would likely trigger more aggressive automated countermeasures. But the rising waters were becoming impossible to ignore now lapping at mid-calf height on the catwalk sections farthest from the main flood zone.

"Maintenance corridor it is," Jeane decided after a moment's tense consideration. "But we move fast—Halie, stay close and don't let that shield drop." She extended one wing toward Halie protectively while maintaining her precarious balance with the other. "Silra, you lead once we're off this section. And keep that illusion going as long as possible—we need every second we can buy."

The catwalk groaned ominously beneath them all, water now lapping at knee height in places as the trio prepared to abandon their precarious perch for even more uncertain terrain above.