Round 155

Jeane's wings trembled visibly under the strain of maintaining her twelve-meter barrier radius, flame magic resistance dropping dangerously low from prolonged exposure to whatever horrors lurked downstairs. The walls' synchronized breathing pattern accelerated into a frantic rhythm, living tissue erupting in multiple places along the stone surfaces to form writhing tendrils that reached for them both.

Halie stumbled back instinctively but stopped herself mid-step—every second counted for documentation even as her right arm continued its horrifying transformation. The corruption spread visibly across her skin with each passing moment, creeping tendrils of dark purple and black consuming healthy tissue in their path. Her fingers twitched erratically already, coordination failing faster than expected.

The pressure plates beneath them shuddered again, grinding ominously as the corridor began to collapse inward, rubble pouring down like a living avalanche. The air filled with the stench of decay and something else—something ancient and hungry that made Halie's skin crawl despite her best efforts at clinical observation.

Jeane maintained her position near the center of the required containment radius with visible effort, arcane energy flickering around her in unstable patterns. Her wings trembled under the strain, flame magic resistance dropping into dangerous territory below fifty percent already from prolonged downstairs influence. The walls' synchronized breathing pattern accelerated into what could only be interpreted as a frantic attack rhythm, living things preying on their prey.

Halie calculated the adaptation timelines with desperate precision—next phase in twelve seconds which meant they had maybe eight seconds to respond tactically while maintaining exact twelve-meter distances as established containment strategy. Her right arm throbbed ominously already 98% coverage coordination failing completely means complete transmission within seventy-two hours if left untreated.

The grinding noise grew louder, active mechanism preparing to crush them between walls within minutes. They were out of time for careful planning—action was required immediately despite the tactical disadvantages of splitting their formation.