Round 200

Halie pressed her palms flat against the door frame, the wood scorching hot under her fingers as she tried to brace it against the wardstone energy bleeding through from beyond. The stone pulsed again—slower this time, like a beast waking up from long sleep—and she felt the building shift around them, concrete groaning under stress.

"Silra!" she snapped, voice sharp with urgency. "Timeline! How many seconds until this gives way? My hands can't hold it much longer!"

The corridor was dark except for the pale light bleeding through cracks in the door and the faint glow of the wardstone itself. Water from burst pipes mixed with spilled lubricant on the floor, making every step treacherous. Hera was hyperventilating behind her, each breath a wet gasp that made Halie's stomach twist with protective instinct even as she fought to maintain focus.

The frame creaked under her palms, wood splintering audibly as the wardstone energy fought against her attempts to contain it. She could feel the corruption trying to seep through, looking for purchase in the world beyond the door.

"Talk to me!" Halie shouted, her voice echoing off the concrete walls. "Tell me what we've got left!"

She braced her shoulder against the door opposite her burning hands, using her whole body weight to push back against the pressure building on the other side. The mirror she'd wedged into the frame earlier was still there butMoving.