Round 913 Transcript

As I turn to face the Guardian, it lunges forward with a deafening roar, its massive claws extended. I raise my hands to defend myself, but I'm caught off guard by the sheer force of the blow. The Guardian's claws swipe at me, missing my head by mere inches as I stumble backward. The Guardian continues its assault, relentless and merciless. Its blows strike the stone floor with a loud cracking sound, sending shockwaves through the ground beneath our feet. I manage to dodge one final swing of the Guardian's claw and dive to the side, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow. The Guardian's rage-filled gaze fixes on me, and it charges forward once more.

I barely manage to evade the Guardian's next swipe, stumbling backwards as its claws rake across the stone where I stood a heartbeat before. Its rage-filled eyes bore into me, the stench of its foul breath washing over my face. There's no time to think, only to act on instinct. "Varrika!" I shout, my voice echoing off the chamber walls. "We need to move now! This whole place is about to come down!"

I take a step back, my boots sliding on the loose rubble, but I manage to keep my balance. The Guardian lunges again, its massive form looming over me like a shadow. I drop into a crouch, my hand darting to my belt for my lockpicks. They're not much use against a beast this size, but they might give me the split second I need to get out of its way. As the Guardian's claws slice through the air where my head was a moment before, I spring to my feet and dive to the side, rolling across the rough stone floor. Pain lances through my bruised muscles, but I push it down, forcing myself to keep moving. I can hear Varikka's voice from the other side of the pit, calling out to me, but I can't make out the words over the roar of the Guardian and the groaning of the collapsing tower. I stagger to my feet, my chest heaving with exertion. The Guardian is still coming, its relentless pace never wavering. I can see the veins bulging beneath its skin, the foam flecking its lips as it snarls. It's like nothing I've ever faced before - a beast possessed by some unnatural hunger, driven by a rage that knows no bounds. I take a step back, then another, my eyes darting across the chamber for any sign of an escape route. But there's nothing - only the yawning chasm of the pit at my back and the onrushing form of the Guardian before me. I can feel the heat of its breath on my face, smell the stench of its fury. And then, just as the Guardian's claws are about to find their mark, I hear a familiar voice call out from above. "Merrin! Catch!"

I look up to see Varikka standing at the edge of the pit, her face set with grim determination. In her hands, she holds the Time-Splitting Sword, its blade gleaming in the dim light. She takes a deep breath, then hurls the weapon towards me with all her strength. For a moment, it seems like it might fall short - that I'll be left to face the Guardian alone, with nothing but my wits and my wits to defend myself. But then, miraculously, the sword clears the gap, its hilt spinning through the air until it lands in my outstretched hands. I grip the weapon tight, feeling its weight settle into my palm like an old friend. And then, with a wordless cry of defiance, I turn to face the beast once more - ready to fight for my life, and the lives of those I hold dear, until my last breath.