Round 161

Varrika’s boots found precarious purchase on the shifting crystal surface, her scarred hands white-knuckled around her heavy mace. The ground beneath them heaved like a restless beast, each tremor more violent than the last. "Merrin!" She bellowed, her dwarf blood running hot with adrenaline and fear. The Shimmering Light figure loomed ahead, its presence both mesmerizing and menacing. Its extended hand sent waves of raw energy rippling outward, warping the very terrain around them. The Voice spoke again in her mind, its words cold and unsettling: "Your greatest fear is not what you expect, but what you cannot escape." Varrika felt a chill crawl down her spine despite the heat radiating from the crystal plain. She knew they needed to reach higher ground—fast—but the unstable footing made every step a gamble. She glanced back, spotting Merrin clambering after her with surprising agility for such a small woman. The rogue’s dark eyes were wide with alarm, but her grip on that crossbow was steady as a rock. "Keep moving!" Varrika shouted, her voice barely carrying over the groaning stone and cracking crystal beneath their feet. The air grew thicker, harder to breathe, as if the very atmosphere was responding to the ancient magic flooding the area. Each breath felt heavy in her lungs, every muscle burning with exertion. But stopping wasn’t an option—the ground was eating itself alive around them, swallowing whole sections with terrifying speed. She redoubled her efforts, hauling herself up another crumbling ledge just as a section below gave way in a shower of glittering shards. The sound was like a thousand screams, sharp and final. Varrika chanced another look back. Merrin was still gaining ground, her small size actually an advantage on this treacherous terrain. But the rogue’s face was pale, her lips pressed into a thin line of concentration and fear. "We’re almost to the next level!" Varrika called down, more for her own benefit than Merrin’s. The truth was, she had no idea what awaited them at the top—or if there even was a top in this maddening place.