Round 793 Transcript

Merrin and Varikka cling to each other, their bodies battered and bruised from the boulder's impact. The water continues to rise, threatening to sweep them away at any moment. As they struggle to stay afloat, they hear the sound of the Guardian's battle growing fainter, replaced by an ominous creaking noise echoing through the tunnel. Suddenly, the ground beneath them gives way, and a massive chunk of the tunnel ceiling crashes down, sending a cascade of debris hurtling towards them.

I throw my arms up, shielding my face from the hail of debris as the tunnel collapses around us. Varikka lets out a cry of pain as a chunk of rubble slams into her injured ankle, sending her sprawling in the churning water.

"Varikka!" I shout, fighting my way through the chaos to reach her side. She's conscious, but barely, her face pale and drawn as she clutches at her leg.

I haul her up into a fireman's carry, grunting with the effort of keeping us both afloat in the rising water. "Hold on," I gasp, my arms trembling with exhaustion. "We're not leaving you behind."

But even as I say the words, I can feel the weight of the water dragging at us, threatening to pull us under at any moment. The creature is still there, its twisted form lurking just beyond the edge of the light, its glowing orbs fixed on us with an unnerving intensity.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. "We need to keep moving," I say, my voice tight with determination. "If we stop now, we're done for."

And with that, I push forward into the darkness, my heart pounding in my chest as I pray to every god I can think of that we'll make it out alive.

I grit my teeth against the pain, my ankle screaming as Merrin hauls me up onto her back. The water is rising fast, the current threatening to sweep us away at any moment. I can feel the weight of the Time-Splitting Sword pressing against my back, a reminder of everything we've been through to get this far.

*"I'm sorry," I gasp, my words barely audible over the roar of the rushing water. "I shouldn't have let myself get so weak. You're risking your life for me, and it's not right."

Merrin shakes her head, her grip on me tightening as she fights to keep us both afloat. "Don't," she snaps, her voice tight with effort. "You did the same for me when that boulder came crashing down. We're in this together, Varikka. No matter what happens, we face it side by side."

And even though I know it's foolish to hope, I can feel a flicker of warmth spreading through my chest at her words. Merrin may be reckless and impulsive, but she's also strong and loyal, the kind of friend who would move heaven and earth to keep me safe.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. "Then let's get out of here," I say, my voice hardening with determination. "We've got a long way to go, and I'm not about to let a little water stop us now."

And with that, we push forward into the darkness, our blades at the ready and our hearts full of hope. For even in the darkest of times, there is always a chance for light. And as we struggle through the rising waters, I can feel that spark of possibility burning bright within us, a beacon of courage and strength that will guide us through the shadows and into the unknown.