Round 887

The current seized Merrin with cold fingers, dragging her deeper into the icy darkness. Her lungs screamed for air as she fought against the relentless pull of the water, her arms and legs flailing uselessly in the torrent. The river rushed past her in a furious torrent, threatening to sweep her away entirely.

She could feel the pressure building in her chest, her body screaming for oxygen as she struggled against the water's insistent tug. Her mind raced with thoughts of Varikka—had her friend survived? Was she even now drowning somewhere in this treacherous underground river? The fear of drowning again clawed at her, but Merrin refused to give in. She owed it to Varikka and Elric to survive.

Just when she thought her strength would fail her, a sudden updraft caught the torch flame, sending a flickering beam of light through the churning water. She spotted Elric clinging to a rocky outcropping nearby, his face pale with terror as he searched the water's surface.

"VARIKA!" Her voice emerged in a choked gasp, barely audible over the roar of the rushing water.

Varikka fought against the current, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to maintain her grip on the slippery riverbank. The water was rushing past her, threatening to sweep her away at any moment. She could feel her strength fading with every passing second, but she refused to give up.

Her severe sprained ankle screamed in agony with each movement, making it nearly impossible to navigate the treacherous terrain. But Merrin and Elric were out there somewhere, and she wouldn't let them down.

She took a deep breath and started to climb up the jagged rocks, her hands and knees burning from the effort. The Guardian's roar echoed through the cavern again, making the very stones shake around her.