Round 627 Transcript

As I hold Varikka close, the faint moan grows louder, and I strain to hear what she's saying. "Merrin...the Sword...where is it?" she asks, her voice weak but urgent. I glance around, my eyes scanning the rubble-strewn floor, but there's no sign of the Time-Splitting Sword. The Guardian must have taken it, using its power to lure us deeper into the tower. Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound echoes through the shaft, growing louder by the second. "Varikka, we have to get out of here—now!" I shout, but my words are cut short as the ground gives a violent lurch, sending us both tumbling to the ground. The air is filled with the acrid scent of smoke and ash, and I know that the structural collapse in the main chamber is imminent.

I feel Merrin's arms around me, pulling me close as I struggle to catch my breath.
Merrin...the Sword...where is it? My voice is weak, but the urgency in my tone is unmistakable. The Time-Splitting Sword is our only hope of escaping this cursed tower and the Guardian that stalks its halls.

I feel a wave of despair wash over me as I realize the Sword is gone. Without it, our chances of escaping this cursed tower are slim to none.

Varikka, I...I don't know where it is. The Guardian must have taken it. My voice trembles as I speak, the weight of our predicament bearing down on me like a physical burden.

As the ground shakes beneath us, I struggle to my feet, my muscles protesting the effort. Varikka's sprained ankle makes it difficult for her to move, and I know that we'll have to work together if we want to stand any chance of survival.

Come on, we need to get out of here—now! I reach down, offering my hand to help Varikka up.

Together, we stagger forward, our movements uncoordinated and clumsy. The air is thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning rubble, making it hard to breathe. But even as my lungs burn and my legs ache from exertion, I know that we can't stop. Not until we're safe.

And so, with Varikka leaning heavily on me for support, I lead us deeper into the heart of the tower, praying that we'll find a way out before it's too late.