Round 696 Transcript

Merrin's dagger flashes in the dim light as she dodges the Guardian's sword, the blade biting into the stone wall behind her. The Guardian lunges again, its sword slicing through the air mere inches from Merrin's face. She avoids it once more, her heart pounding in her chest. As she scrapes along the wall, her hand closes around the hilt of her dagger, the familiar weight of it comforting in her grip. The ledge crumbles beneath Merrin's feet, sending pebbles and dust cascading into the abyss below. The Guardian advances, its sword poised to strike. "Merrin!" Varikka's voice echoes from somewhere in the darkness, weak but still unmistakable.

Merrin: I press my back against the crumbling stone wall, my dagger held at the ready as I scan the ledge for any sign of Varikka. "Varikka!" I call out again, my voice hoarse with exertion. "Keep talking! I need to find you!"

As the Guardian advances, its sword slicing through the air, I dodge to the side, feeling the bite of stone against my skin as I scrape along the wall. My heart pounds in my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the noxious gas fills my lungs with each breath. "I know you're down there," I mutter under my breath, more to myself than to anyone else. "Just hold on, Varikka. I'm coming for you."

I take a step forward, my dagger held at the ready as I search for a path down to where Varikka's voice had come from. The ledge crumbles beneath my feet, sending pebbles and dust cascading into the abyss below. "Merrin!" Varikka's voice echoes from somewhere in the darkness again, weak but still unmistakable.

I know I don't have much time left. If I don't act soon, we'll both be crushed beneath the falling debris or lost to the noxious gas. But how can I reach her without the Guardian cutting me down? I scan the ledge for a path, for some way to climb down to her. The rope lies tangled and broken at my feet, useless now.

I strain my ears for Varrika's voice, my heart hammering against my ribs. The noxious gas burns in my lungs with each ragged breath, but I can't let it stop me now. "Varikka!" I shout, my voice raw and hoarse. "Talk to me! I need to know where you are!"

As the Guardian advances, its sword slicing through the air, I dodge to the side, feeling the bite of stone against my skin as I scrape along the wall. My hand closes around the hilt of my dagger, the familiar weight of it comforting in my grip. But even as I brandish the blade at the Guardian, I know it's not enough. I'm no match for its power, not like this. I scan the ledge again, desperately searching for a path down to where Varikka's voice had come from. The rope lies tangled and broken at my feet, useless now. The ledge crumbles beneath my boots, sending pebbles and dust cascading into the abyss below. I know I don't have much time left. If I don't act soon, we'll both be crushed beneath the falling debris or lost to the noxious gas. But how can I reach her without the Guardian cutting me down? I take a step forward, my dagger held at the ready as I search for any sign of Varikka in the shadows. "I know you're down there," I mutter under my breath, more to myself than to anyone else. "Just hold on, Varikka. I'm coming for you."