Round 223

The stone corridor's groans escalated into something resembling labored breathing as Hera pressed herself against the wall, her eyes tracking Abby's careful crawl across the floor. The air vibrated with each pulse of the walls' unnatural energy, the low hum rising to a frequency that set teeth on edge. Dust motes swirled in the pulsating light, caught between the rhythm of corruption and the desperate need for oxygen.

Halie's collapse was sudden and complete, her body betraying her as the consumption reached critical mass. Her right arm twitched uncontrollably, fingers curling into a claw-like grip that refused to release the makeshift club. The divine aura surrounding her flickered like a candle flame in a draft but stubbornly persisted against the encroaching darkness. She managed one final assessment before consciousness began to slip: "Synchronized breathing pattern achieved... coordination improving with each pulse cycle..." Her voice trailed off into static as her vision went completely dark, leaving only the sensation of cold spreading through her core and the distant echo of that insidious heartbeat counting down her remaining seconds.