Round 759

Merrin lunged forward with the Time-Splitting Sword just as The Guardian charged from the corridor shadows. Steel met steel in a shower of sparks, and both women stumbled back from the force of the impact.

"What are you doing?" Varrika hissed, her crossbow still aimed down the corridor but her attention now fully on Merrin's unexpected actions. "You can barely stand—"

The Guardian roared and charged again, her massive sword slicing through the air. Merrin raised the Time-Splitting Sword once more, parrying the blow with a grunt of effort. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through her arms, and she felt her injured ankle protest painfully.

"Run!" Merrin shouted, stepping back. "Get out of here!"

Varrika hesitated for only a second before turning and sprinting down the corridor, her injured ankle screaming in protest with each step. The Guardian lunged after her, but Merrin slashed at her legs with the Time-Splitting Sword, forcing the massive woman to stumble back.

"Come on!" Merrin called out, following Varrika down the corridor. "We need to find a way out of this collapsing mess!"

The two women ran through the crumbling tunnels, the sound of falling rock and The Guardian's enraged shouts echoing around them. Merrin's injured ankle throbbed with each step, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward, determined not to let Varrika down.

As they rounded a corner, they found themselves in a large chamber filled with rubble and fallen stones. In the center stood an altar, upon which rested a gleaming sword unlike any Merrin had ever seen before.

"What is that?" Varrika asked, her voice barely audible over the sound of falling rock.

Merrin approached the altar cautiously, her eyes fixed on the sword. "I think... I think this might be the Time-Splitting Sword," she said softly. "The one we've been looking for."

Before either woman could react further, a loud crack echoed through the chamber. They looked up just in time to see the ceiling beginning to collapse.

"Move!" Varrika shouted, grabbing Merrin's arm and pulling her away from the altar as a massive section of stone came crashing down where they had been standing mere seconds before.