Round 291

The water surged forward with terrifying speed, the pressure building until Merrin felt like her eardrums might burst. The ledge beneath them groaned ominously, shifting under the strain. She clung to the stone with desperate strength, every muscle screaming in protest as she fought to maintain her grip.

"Varikka!" she shouted, her voice barely carrying over the roar of rushing water. "Answer me! Are you okay?" The elf woman's head broke the surface for a moment, her face pale with terror. "Merrin! I'm here—I'm trying to stay afloat!"

Merrin felt a surge of relief, but it was short-lived as another section of wall crumbled nearby. The structure above them groaned ominously, shifting under the strain of the rising floodwaters. "Hold on!" Merrin cried out. "I'm coming down!" She began to work her way along the ledge, her fingers finding precarious holds in the crumbling stone.

Every step was a battle against fear and exhaustion as the waters rose higher and higher. The ground gave another ominous groan, louder this time—a section of wall near the pit's edge began to crumble, sending a cascade of stone and debris into the churning waters below. Merrin ducked instinctively, feeling a sharp sting as a piece of masonry grazed her shoulder.

She ignored the pain, focusing on each handhold and foothold as she descended toward the rising waters. The current was stronger now, pulling at her legs with insistent force. She was running out of ledge, the water lapping at her boots as she reached the bottom.

With a deep breath, Merrin plunged into the frigid depths, swimming desperately for the opposite side of the pit. Her lungs burned as she fought against the current, muscles screaming in protest as she propelled herself forward. The weight of her armor and equipment dragged her down, threatening to pull her under.

Just when she thought her lungs might burst, Merrin's outstretched hand found solid stone. She surfaced gasping for air, her teeth chattering from the cold as she clung to the edge of the pit. The waters were already waist-deep and rising fast—she had mere minutes before the entire chamber was flooded.

Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but Merrin pushed it down with iron will. She had to find Varikka before the horror did. Clinging to the stone, she began to work her way along the edge of the pit, searching for any sign of her friend in the churning waters.