Round 829

The water was cold, biting into Merrin's skin as she surfaced. She gasped for air, her heart pounding in her chest. The chamber stretched out before them, vast and shadowed, the blue glow of luminescent algae casting everything in an eerie light. She tread water carefully, the current tugging at her legs with insistent force.

Varikka was nearby, balancing precariously on one foot, her face a mask of pain. The warrior's ankle was swollen to twice its normal size, clearly beyond sprained and heading into broken territory. Merrin felt a jolt of fear—without Varikka's strength, they were in serious trouble.

"Everyone alright?" she called out, her voice echoing off the stone walls. She immediately regretted the question; of course not everyone was alright. She began to wade through the water towards Varikka, the current fighting against her every step.

"How bad is it?" she asked as she reached the warrior's side. Varikka shifted her weight, grimacing. "Bad enough I can barely put weight on it," she growled. "We need to find solid ground soon."

Merrin nodded, her mind already racing through possibilities. The water was rising steadily, and she could feel the current growing stronger. They needed to get out of here—fast—but with Varikka injured and no clear exit in sight, their options were limited.

"Stay close," she said, drawing the Time-Splitting Sword from its sheath. The blade glowed faintly in the blue light, a reassuring presence despite the dire circumstances. "We'll find a way out of this."