Round 520 Transcript

As Varikka slings her arm over Merrin's shoulders, the sound of crumbling stone and shifting earth grows louder, and the ground beneath them begins to shudder violently. The air is filled with a choking noxious gas that makes it hard to breathe, and the torches in their hands flicker wildly. "Merrin, can you make it?" Varikka gasps, her voice barely audible over the din. Merrin's face is set in a determined expression as she starts to move forward, Varikka's weight pulling heavily on her shoulders. The narrow path they're on is increasingly unstable, and the ground gives way beneath their feet with a sickening squelch. For a moment, Varikka's head falls forward, and she nearly loses her balance. Merrin catches her by the arm, steadying her.

"Hold on Varikka!" I grunt through gritted teeth as I heave her up, slinging her good arm over my shoulders. The gas is burning my throat and eyes, making it hard to breathe, but we can't stop.

I take a step forward, then another, staggering as the ground shifts beneath our feet. The path is slick with water and debris, and I have to fight to keep us from sliding back into the pit.

"We're almost there," I pant, my words coming out in short, labored breaths. "Just a little further."

But even as I speak, I can feel the tunnel shaking around us, the sound of crumbling stone growing louder with each passing moment. We're running out of time, and if we don't find a way out soon, we'll be buried alive in this nightmarish dungeon forever.

I take another step forward, then another, my muscles burning with the effort of carrying Varikka's weight. The sword is heavy in my hand, its weight dragging me down with each step I take.

"Come on," I mutter under my breath, my words more of a prayer than anything else. "We can make it. We have to."

And with that, I redouble my efforts, pushing forward with all the strength and determination I can muster, knowing that our lives may very well depend on it.

Merrin, your strength is incredible! But we're not going to make it like this. Set me down for a moment. I have an idea, but we need to move fast.