Round 694 Transcript

As Merrin releases one hand from the rock, reaching out with a desperate lunge for the Guardian's sword arm, the ledge beneath her feet gives way with a deafening crack. She feels herself sliding down the narrow ledge, her dagger slipping from her grasp. The Guardian swiftly parries the attack, its sword slicing through the air mere inches from Merrin's face. She manages to grab onto a jagged rock protruding from the wall, her fingers digging into it desperately as she teeters above the abyss below. The Guardian takes another step closer, its eyes fixed intently on Merrin. "You will not leave this place," it growls, its voice low and menacing. Suddenly, a chunk of stone crashes down onto the ledge mere inches from where Merrin stands, sending dust and debris swirling around her. The noxious gas fills her lungs with each breath, making it harder to focus. Immediate pressure: Merrin must now find a way to hold on to the rock while keeping the Guardian at bay, all while navigating the treacherous ledge and the imminent structural collapse.

I dig my fingers into the jagged rock, my nails scraping against the rough surface. The Guardian looms above me, its sword raised threateningly. I can feel the ledge crumbling beneath my feet, the ground giving way with each passing second. My heart pounds in my chest as I struggle to maintain my grip, my muscles burning from the effort. I glance down into the abyss below, the darkness swallowing everything up. "Varikka!" I call out, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "Can you hear me?"

There's no response, only the distant sound of falling debris and the hiss of noxious gas filling my lungs with each breath. The Guardian takes another step closer, its hand still raised, as I frantically scan the ledge for a new path to Varikka. The rope that she was clinging to lies broken and tangled on the ground below, a grim reminder of their precarious situation. I know we don't have much time before the whole chamber collapses around us. But I can't leave Varikka behind. Not after all we've been through together. "I'm coming, Varikka," I mutter under my breath, more to myself than to anyone else. "Just hold on."

With that, I turn back to face the Guardian, my eyes narrowed in determination. It's now or never. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I have to do next. "You want a fight?" I ask, my voice low and challenging. "Let's dance then."