Round 859 Transcript

Merrin pulls Varikka closer to shore, her eyes fixed on the injured fighter's face. The water churns around them, threatening to sweep them away at any moment. Elric leads the way, his torch casting eerie shadows on the walls of the tunnel. As they reach the edge of the pool, a section of the tunnel wall suddenly collapses, sending a shower of dust and debris down upon them. Merrin shields Varikka from the worst of it, her heart racing as she struggles to keep her stable. The Guardian's roar echoes through the tunnel, growing fainter with each passing moment, but Merrin knows it won't stay silenced for long. Varikka's ankle throbbs in agony, and she clutches it tightly, her face pale with pain and exhaustion. "Merrin," she gasps, struggling to keep her voice steady. "We need to find a way out of here. That thing... it's still coming."

I heave with all my remaining strength, dragging Varikka's limp form onto the rocky shore. My arms scream in protest, but I can't stop now. "Varikka! Stay with me!"

Elric's torchlight dances across her ashen face, her chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. Her ankle is swollen, bruised, and at an impossible angle. "We need to get that ankle stabilized," I pant, reaching for my pack. "And find a way out of this godsforsaken tunnel before the Guardian catches up."

As if on cue, a deafening roar echoes through the caverns, closer than ever. The very stone trembles under my feet. "Varikka, can you hear me? We have to keep moving!"

I rummage through my pack with shaking hands, searching for anything that might help. "Elric, light! We need more light!" The hermit nods, striking flint to tinder until a second torch springs to life. "Good. Varikka, try to stay awake. I'm going to splint your ankle."

My fingers work quickly, remembering old battlefield tricks. Strips of cloth, a branch from the pack, all lashed tight with leather straps. "This will hold for now, but you're going to need a proper healer soon." I glance around the chamber, heart sinking as I take in the collapsed tunnels and churning waters.

We're trapped. Surrounded by stone and water and a monster that wants us dead. But we're still alive. And as long as we draw breath, there's still a chance. "Elric, any idea where this tunnel leads? There has to be a way out of here."

I turn back to Varikka, my voice soft but urgent. "We're going to get through this, Varikka. Together. Just like always." A lie, perhaps, but one I cling to as the only light in the darkness.