Round 957 Transcript

As Merrin charges forward, the Time-Splitting Sword glowing in her hands, Varikka's injured ankle throbbs in pain. She pushes off from the ground, her heavy mace raised high, ready to strike. The Guardian closes in, its jaws snapping mere inches from Merrin's face. With a burst of strength, Merrin leaps towards the Time-Splitting Sword, and her fingers close around the hilt just as the creature's claws scrape across the stone where they stood moments before. The sword's weight is unfamiliar but not unwelcome, and Varikka clings to Merrin tightly as she spins to face the Guardian. "Now," Merrin whispers, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. The Guardian lunges at them once more, its jaws wide open and ready to devour them whole. A section of the tunnel wall collapses behind them, sending dust raining down on the chamber. The Guardian's roar echoes off the walls as it surges forward, its massive form blocking their escape route. "We need to move!" Merrin shouts, her grip on the sword tightening. "This tunnel is collapsing!"

I grit my teeth, feeling the weight of the Time-Splitting Sword in my hands as I face down the Guardian. Varikka's grip on me tightens, her injured ankle throbbing against my back. The chamber around us trembles and shakes, sections of the tunnel wall crumbling away to reveal the ominous darkness beyond. "We need a plan," I mutter, my eyes scanning the room for any means of escape. "That thing won't stop coming."

Varikka nods, her breath coming in short gasps as she fights to keep her balance. "The passageway," she grunts, pointing towards the narrow opening at the far end of the chamber. "It's our only chance."

I hesitate for a moment, my gaze flickering between the Guardian and the darkened tunnel. The sword pulses in my hands, its energy both exhilarating and terrifying. "You're right," I say finally, steeling myself for what's to come. "But we'll need to fight our way through."

With a deep breath, I take a step forward, the Time-Splitting Sword held aloft before me. The Guardian lunges, its jaws snapping mere inches from my face. I spin to the side, narrowly avoiding its attack, and bring the blade down on the creature's shoulder with a sickening crunch. Black ichor splatters across the stone floor as the Guardian howls in pain, its single eye blazing with fury. Varikka moves to my side, her heavy mace raised high as she seeks out an opening in the creature's defenses. Together, we press our attack, the Time-Splitting Sword and the mace biting into the Guardian's flesh with every strike. The chamber shakes and trembles around us, dust raining down from the ceiling as cracks spiderweb across the walls. But still, we fight on, driven by desperation and the knowledge that one wrong move could spell our doom. As we battle our way towards the passageway, I can't shake the feeling that this is far from over. The Time-Splitting Sword pulses in my hands, its energy both exhilarating and terrifying. And the mysterious voice echoes in my mind once more: "You should not have come here."