Round 738

Varikka grits her teeth against the agony shooting up from her ankle as Merrin helps her navigate the treacherous footing. The ground beneath them groans and shifts with each careful step, dust billowing up around their boots. “We need to find solid ground before this whole place comes down,” she mutters, her scarred hands still gripping the ancient sword with white-knuckled determination despite the pain. Merrin nods grimly, her dark eyes scanning the unstable chamber for any sign of an exit route. “Agreed. But first—” She gestures toward the shard as it drifts closer to the portal’s swirling surface. “—we need to see what that thing does.” The air around them ripples with each pulse from the portal, making the very stones seem fluid and unreliable.