Round 861 Transcript

The water rushes past Varikka's legs, threatening to sweep her away at any moment. She clutches her splinted ankle, wincing in pain. Merrin's grip on her arm tightens as they plummet downward, the Guardian's roar growing louder with every second. Elric's torchlight flickers ahead, casting eerie shadows on the walls of the tunnel. As they hurtle toward the pool's surface, Varikka's ankle throbs in agony, and she knows she won't be able to swim much longer. The Guardian's enraged bellows echo through the tunnel, growing louder with every second. Suddenly, a massive stone slab crashes down behind them, sending a shower of dust and debris down upon the party.

I cling desperately to Varikka as we plunge into the churning waters, the force of the impact driving the breath from my lungs. My heart races as I struggle to keep my head above the surface, one arm wrapped tightly around Varikka's waist while the other flails wildly in the water.

"Varikka!" I cry out, my voice barely audible over the roar of the cascade. "Stay with me! We have to keep moving!"

Elric's torchlight bobs ahead of us, casting eerie shadows on the walls of the tunnel. But as we hurtle toward the bottom of the pool, all I can see is the dark water churning below, threatening to drag us under at any moment.

"Elric!" I shout, my lungs burning with the effort of staying afloat. "We need a way out of this water! Now!"

I can feel Varikka's weight pulling me down, her splinted ankle catching on the rocks and debris littering the bottom of the pool. But I know that I cannot let go of her, not now, not when we are so close to our goal.

"Varikka!" I scream, my voice hoarse with exertion. "We're almost there! Just hold on a little longer!"

My muscles scream in protest as I fight against the current, every ounce of my strength focused on keeping Varikka's head above the surface. But even as I struggle, I know that we are running out of time. The Guardian's roar echoes through the tunnel, growing louder with every second, and I can feel the cold water rising up to meet us, threatening to sweep us away at any moment.