Round 145

Merrin grits her teeth as she wades deeper into the icy water, her heavy mace held high. "Varikka! Hang in there—I'm coming!" The cold seeps into her bones, making her muscles cramp and her movements sluggish. She can feel the weight of the weapon dragging her down, but she grits her teeth and pushes forward. The water reaches her chest now, and she feels a sudden chill run down her spine that has nothing to do with the temperature.

She scans the dark surface for any sign of movement, her heart pounding in her chest. "Stay back, Sera—I'll handle this," she mutters through clenched teeth, more to herself than anyone else. The last thing they need is for Seraphine to try heroics in her current state—exhausted and barely able to stand. No, Merrin will deal with whatever lurks in these depths.

Suddenly, the water around her begins to churn violently. Something large is moving beneath the surface, heading straight for her. "Shit!" Merrin raises her mace, ready to strike, but she can't see what's coming. The current pulls at her legs, threatening to drag her under.

She tries to back away, but it's too late. A massive tentacle erupts from the water, wrapping around her waist and pulling her under with a force that takes her breath away.