Round 870 Transcript

Merrin's firm grip on Varikka's arm helps her limp forward, the passage twisting and narrowing into a tight squeeze. The air is thick with the smell of damp earth and mold, and Varikka's injured ankle throbs with each step. Elric brings up the rear, his torch casting flickering shadows on the walls as he scans their surroundings. The sound of the Guardian's bellows grows fainter, replaced by the creaking of ancient stone and the distant rush of water. As they round a corner, a section of the tunnel ceiling gives way, sending rocks tumbling down onto the rubble below. The impact is deafening, and the ground shudders beneath their feet. The passage ahead darkens, and a low rumble grows louder, like the growl of a beast awakening from a deep slumber.

I tighten my grip on Varikka's arm as she stumbles over the rubble, my heart pounding in my chest. The sound of collapsing stone echoes through the passage, and I can feel the fear rising in my throat like bile. But I push it down, focusing on keeping us moving forward.

"Keep going," I mutter, my voice low and urgent. "We can't stop now."

Elric's torch flickers as he holds it high, casting eerie shadows on the walls around us. The air is thick with the smell of damp earth and mold, and I can feel the weight of the stones above us, ready to come crashing down at any moment.

As we round another corner, a section of the tunnel suddenly collapses, sending rocks tumbling down onto the rubble below. The impact is deafening, and the ground shudders beneath our feet. I can see Varikka's face, pale and drawn in the flickering light of Elric's torch, her eyes wide with fear.

But we have no choice but to press on. The alternative - facing whatever horror is coming through that door behind us - is unthinkable. So we move forward into the darkness, our hearts pounding and our senses on high alert, praying to every god we can think of that we'll make it out of this alive.