Round 73

The walls' breathing intensifies, the rhythmic pattern accelerating as multiple sets of unseen lungs begin inhaling and exhaling in sync. The grinding noise from below crescendos to a mechanical roar—something massive is descending through the shaft, and they have seconds left before whatever's coming crushes them between closing walls. Silra stumbles backward clutching her arm, the corruption spreading visibly up past her elbow now as she meets Jeane's eyes with desperate urgency. "Get upstairs—Halie needs to see this contamination immediately! The barrier's barely holding it back!" Jeane nods grimly, flame magic sputtering out completely as she turns toward the stairs. "Finish testing those pedestals—I'll cover your retreat from up there."