Round 960 Transcript

Merrin's foot slams against the stone floor, her eyes fixed on the passageway ahead. Varikka's grip on her arm tightens, her face contorted in pain as she struggles to keep up with Merrin's quick pace. The Time-Splitting Sword pulses in Merrin's hands, its energy illuminating the darkened tunnel. Suddenly, 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.

I let out a startled yelp as the tunnel wall collapses behind us, sending dust raining down on my head. Varikka's grip on my arm tightens, her face contorted in pain as she struggles to keep up with my quick pace. "Merrin!" she gasps, her voice hoarse from exertion. "We need to find a way out of here!"

I nod, my heart pounding in my chest as I fight to keep my balance on the treacherous footing. The Time-Splitting Sword pulses in my hands, its energy both exhilarating and terrifying as we make our way deeper into the unknown depths of the tower. "Stay close," I mutter, my voice low and urgent. "And be ready for anything."

The tunnel twists and turns before us, leading us ever further from the safety of the surface world. And still, the Guardian is closing in, its single eye fixed on us with an unyielding hunger. As we round another corner, I catch a glimpse of Varikka's face in the glow of the Time-Splitting Sword. Her eyes are wide with fear, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps as she struggles to keep pace with me. Suddenly, the tunnel opens up into a large chamber, the walls covered in strange runes and symbols that seem to glow with an eerie light. In the center of the room, there is a massive stone altar, upon which rests a strange, glowing artifact. "What is that?" Varikka asks, her voice trembling slightly as she points towards the altar. I shake my head, my gaze fixed on the artifact. "I don't know," I mutter, my heart pounding in my chest as I take a step closer to the altar. "But we need to find out what it is. And fast."