Round 68

The cavern rumbles ominously around them, ancient stone groaning under immense pressure. Water surges through new cracks in the walls, pooling faster than it should, rising with alarming speed towards the chamber's center. Merrin clings to a narrow ledge above the worst of it, soaked and disoriented from her near-encounter with whatever pulled Varikka into the depths.

She can see the red-haired bard thrashing below, held fast by some unseen horror in the churning water. The creature's tentacles are visible now, writhing obscenely as they grasp at Varikka's limbs, dragging her deeper despite her struggles. Merrin raises her crossbow, aiming carefully through the churning foam.

The first bolt strikes home with a satisfying thunk, sinking deep into the creature's mass. But it barely reacts, continuing its relentless pull as if the projectile was little more than an insect bite. Merrin fires again, and again - each shot finding its mark but failing to halt the monster's advance.

She feels her remaining bolts dwindling with each wasted shot, panic rising in her chest. The water is already waist-deep in places, and still climbing. She needs a plan, and she needs it now.

BREAK.