Round 879 Transcript

As we continue along the narrow path, the fast-moving river surges forward, its ominous roar growing louder. The water's edge is mere feet away, and the current is stronger than before. Varikka's injured ankle throbs in agony as she struggles to maintain her balance on the ledge. Suddenly, the ground beneath us shudders violently, and a loud crack echoes through the tunnel. The path we're on gives way, sending us tumbling into the fast-moving river below. We're swept away by the powerful current, our bodies battered against the rocks as we desperately try to grab onto anything to keep ourselves afloat. The Guardian's roar grows louder still, its weight pressing down on the stone door behind it. We know we can't stay submerged for much longer – we need to find a way out of this nightmare before it's too late.

My heart pounds in my chest as I feel the ground give way beneath my feet. I let out a scream of terror as I'm swept into the fast-moving river, my body battered against the rocks as I struggle to keep myself afloat.

I flail my arms and legs, trying desperately to grab onto anything to keep myself from being pulled under. But the current is too strong, and I can feel myself being dragged further and further away from the ledge.

Suddenly, I feel a hand grasp my arm, holding me tight as I'm pulled through the water. "Varikka!" I gasp, my voice hoarse with effort as I try to stay afloat. "I thought you were behind me!"

The dwarf shakes her head, her face set with grim determination as she hauls me closer to her body. "I was," she growls, her voice tight with pain. "But the path gave way. We need to keep moving or we'll be swept away again."

I nod, my heart racing as I feel the current pushing us forward, threatening to drag us under at any moment. "Elric!" I shout, my eyes scanning the water for any sign of the hermit. "Where are you?"

Suddenly, a flicker of light catches my eye, and I see Elric's torch bobbing in the water just ahead of us. "There!" I cry out, pointing towards the light. "He's there!"

Varikka nods, her face set with grim determination as she starts to swim towards the torch, one arm wrapped tightly around my waist to keep me afloat. "Come on," she pants, her voice hoarse with effort. "We need to get to him before it's too late."

I follow Varikka's lead, my arms and legs aching from the strain of fighting against the current. But I know we can't stop now – not when the Guardian is so close behind us, and not when our only chance of survival is to keep moving forward.

As we struggle through the water, I can feel the weight of the sword at my hip, a constant reminder of what we're fighting for. "Varikka," I gasp, my voice shaking with exhaustion. "We have to keep going. We can't let that thing catch up to us."

The dwarf nods, her face set with grim determination as she hauls me closer to Elric's torch. "I know," she growls, her voice tight with pain. "But we need to find a way out of this river before it's too late. Or we're all going to die down here."

With that, Varikka redoubles her efforts, her powerful strokes cutting through the water as she swims towards Elric and whatever hope he might offer us.