Round 107

Silra's teal eyes flicker across the space separating them, measuring every centimeter with rogue precision even as her right arm throbs in warning. The fungal growths crawling across the stone walls pulse faster now, their rhythm matching Jeane's own racing heartbeat with disturbing accuracy. She shifts her weight subtly, maintaining the exact five-meter gap between herself and the nearest creeping tendrils—close enough to coordinate but not close enough for the creeping corruption on her arms to spread further.

"I've recalculated," she says, voice barely carrying over the low thrum that seems to vibrate through every surface. "We have seventeen percent coverage on my arms—thirty-seven minutes until full..."

The walls' synchronized breathing stops completely—everything except that low pulsing hum growing stronger like a predator's heartbeat. Silra's fingers twitch, resisting the urge to rub her burning shoulder where the cold sensation has now spread past her fingertips and into her shoulder blade. Maintaining distance is necessary but tactical challenge in tight space with closing walls and active mechanism preparing to crush them between plates.

"Whatever's downstairs isn't just tracking us," she continues, each word measured and precise despite the urgency that flickers beneath the surface. "It's actively controlling the architecture as threat vector—probably learned ward patterns from Halie already." Her teal eyes lock onto Jeane across the carefully maintained gap. "We need to move fast before it adapts further. I can maintain seven meters between us during close quarters movement even if it requires physical effort against pressure plates, but you'll need to trust my positioning or we risk contamination acceleration."

The fungal growths on the walls pulse faster now, their quivering tendrils reaching out with horrifying precision toward the space where her barrier should extend. Silra's right arm burns with cold fire beneath the creeping black tissue—82% coverage already, permanent nerve damage confirmed, reduced grip strength 79%, cold sensation spreading to shoulder blade and fingers.

"Reporting," she says flatly to Halie through the party link, voice barely carrying over the low thrum that seems to vibrate through every surface. "Physical status: complete right arm necrosis (82% coverage), permanent nerve damage confirmed, reduced grip strength 79%, cold sensation spreading to shoulder blade and fingers. Emotional status: growing panic barely controlled through tactical focus. Goals: maintain seven-meter separation during close quarters movement even if it requires physical effort against pressure plates; report corruption status immediately upon reaching safe space."