Round 864

The stone walls vibrated with The Guardian's fury, each thunderous impact echoing through the waterlogged chamber like the hammer of doom itself. Merrin's teeth chattered as she struggled to keep Varikka afloat, her own limbs growing numb in the icy current. "We have to find a way out of this water," she gasped between strokes, her voice barely audible over the rushing flow and The Guardian's endless roars. "I can't... can't hold on much longer." Varikka's face was pale, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she fought against the current with one arm while clinging to Merrin with the other. Her injured ankle trailed uselessly behind them, a constant reminder of their precarious situation. "I'm trying," she wheezed, her free hand paddling frantically. "Just... don't let go." The water around them began to churn more violently as The Guardian's attacks intensified on the other side of the barrier. A faint ominous glow had started to emanate from the rushing liquid itself, casting eerie shadows that danced across the stone walls. Merrin redoubled her efforts, kicking hard to keep their heads above water even as the current threatened to pull them apart. "We're almost there," she lied through gritted teeth, spotting a narrow ledge just ahead. If they could reach it, maybe they'd have a chance to rest and regroup. The Guardian's next impact shook the very foundations of the chamber, sending a cascade of rocks tumbling into the water around them. Merrin cried out as a particularly large stone clipped her shoulder, but she didn't loosen her grip on Varikka. "Hold on!" she shouted, her voice barely human with the strain. The ledge was closer now - just a few more strokes, just a few more seconds of agony in this freezing hellhole.