Round 519

The chamber rumbled with a low groan that seemed to come from deep within the earth itself. Merrin dropped down into the pit with practiced ease, her small hands finding purchase on the rough stone as she descended. The sight of Varrika lying there, injured and alone, sent a jolt of fear through her heart.

"Varikka!" she cried out, her voice echoing off the damp walls. "Thank the gods you made it," the dwarf woman gasped, trying to sit up despite the obvious pain in her ankle. The Time-Splitting Sword lay discarded beside her, its once-bright glow now little more than a dull flicker.

"We need to get out of here," Varrika rasped, her words coming out in short, labored breaths. "The tunnel's collapsing. We don't have much time." She reached for the sword, her fingers closing around its hilt as she struggled to her feet. The weapon felt heavy and unwieldy in her weakened grip.

Merrin nodded, her eyes scanning the chamber for any sign of an escape route. The air was thick with the acrid scent of noxious gas, and she could taste the metallic tang of it on her tongue. A faint rumbling noise echoed through the chamber again, and a shower of small stones rained down from above.

"Over there!" Merrin exclaimed suddenly, pointing to a narrow opening in the far wall. "I saw it when I was climbing down. It might be our way out."