Round 795 Transcript

As Merrin wades through the churning water to reach Varikka's side, a massive boulder crashes down, sending another cascade of debris hurtling towards them. With a Herculean effort, Merrin manages to scoop Varikka up into a fireman's carry, her injured ankle screaming in protest with every movement. The creature is still lurking just beyond the edge of the light, its glowing orbs fixed on them with an unnerving intensity. As they strain to stay afloat, a section of the tunnel wall gives way, sending another boulder hurtling towards them. Merrin's eyes widen in panic as she realizes they're running out of time. The water continues to rise, threatening to pull them under at any moment. With a burst of adrenaline, Merrin spots a narrow opening between two chunks of debris and yanks Varikka towards it. They squeeze through the opening just as the boulder crashes down, sending a wall of water and debris crashing after them. They find themselves in a narrow, dimly lit corridor, the air thick with dust and the stench of decay.

I haul Varikka closer, my heart pounding in my chest as I scan the dimly lit corridor for any signs of danger. The air is thick with dust and the stench of decay, making it hard to breathe. But at least we're out of the water now, our bodies trembling from exhaustion and fear. "Can you walk?" I ask, glancing down at Varikka's injured ankle. She nods, her face pale but determined. "I can manage," she says through gritted teeth. I help her to her feet, my own legs shaky as I steady myself against the wall. The tunnel seems to stretch on endlessly before us, disappearing into the darkness. But we don't have a choice - we have to keep moving forward if we want to survive. "Let's go," I say, my voice tight with tension. "And stay alert. We don't know what other dangers might be lurking in this place."

With that, I lead the way deeper into the tunnel, my hand on the hilt of my mace and my eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The Time-Splitting Sword may have been lost, but we still have each other - and that's enough to keep me going, no matter what lies ahead.