Round 338 Transcript

As Varikka hauls Merrin along the ledge, the creature lunges forward again, its jaws snapping mere inches from their heels. The force of the impact sends them both tumbling across the slick stone, and for a moment, they're separated. Merrin lands hard on her injured leg, her cry of pain echoing through the chamber. Varikka quickly regains her footing and rushes to her side, helping her up with a firm hand. "We need to move, now!" Varikka shouts above the din of the structural collapse.

I stagger to my feet, wincing as pain lances through my injured leg. Varikka is at my side in an instant, her strong hands gripping my arm to steady me. "Thanks," I gasp, bracing myself against the wall as the ground shudders beneath our feet. "But we need to keep moving. That creature could come back at any moment."

Varikka nods grimly, her eyes scanning the ledge for any sign of safety or escape. The water is rising fast now, surging around our ankles and threatening to sweep us off our feet. I can feel the weight of the chamber pressing down on us from all sides, the walls crumbling and falling away as the structural collapse continues unabated. Suddenly, a section of the wall gives way entirely, sending a shower of rubble cascading down onto the ledge behind us. The force of the impact knocks Varikka off balance, and she stumbles forward, her crossbow clattering to the ground at our feet. I lunge for it, my fingers closing around the cool metal just as the creature emerges from the shadows once more, its jaws snapping hungrily. I raise the crossbow to my shoulder, taking aim at the beast even as Varikka scrambles to her feet beside me. The creature lunges forward, its eyes locked on mine, and I know I have only one chance to take it down before it reaches us. I squeeze the trigger, the bowstring snapping taut against my hand as the bolt flies true, striking the creature square in the eye. The beast reels back, letting out a pained screech that echoes through the chamber. But even as it falls, I can see more of them emerging from the shadows, drawn by the sound of the gunshot and the promise of fresh meat. "We need to go," I shout over the din, hauling Varikka to her feet and dragging her along the ledge as the water surges around our ankles. "Now!"