Round 961 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. As they round a corner, 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. The Guardian's roar echoes off the walls as it surges forward, its massive form blocking their escape route. The Time-Splitting Sword pulses in Merrin's hands, illuminating the darkened tunnel and casting flickering shadows on the walls. Varikka's eyes are wide with fear as she stumbles, her injured ankle throbbing against Merrin's back. "Merrin, wait!" Varikka gasps, her voice hoarse from exertion. The chamber is filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of their heavy breathing and the Guardian's labored roars. The air is thick with dust, making it hard to see more than a few feet in front of them. Merrin knows they need to move - the Guardian won't give them much time.

I crouch low, my hand gripping the Time-Splitting Sword tightly as I survey the chamber ahead. The runes on the walls seem to pulse with an otherworldly energy, casting strange shadows across the room. Varikka's breath is hot against my neck as she clings to my back, her injured ankle throbbing with each step we take. "We need to get that artifact," I mutter under my breath, my eyes fixed on the glowing object at the center of the altar. "But we can't risk getting cornered by the Guardian."

I glance back over my shoulder, my heart pounding in my chest as I catch a glimpse of the massive creature rounding the corner behind us. Its single eye is fixed on us with an unyielding hunger, its claws scraping against the stone floor as it lumbers forward. "Varikka, I need you to stay here," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the sound of the Guardian's labored breathing. "Keep watch and let me know if anything happens."

Varikka nods, her grip on my arm tightening as she struggles to keep herself upright. "Be careful," she hisses, her eyes wide with fear as she watches me creep towards the altar. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lies ahead as I make my way across the chamber. The runes on the walls seem to pulse with an otherworldly energy, casting strange shadows across the room. As I approach the altar, I can feel the energy of the Time-Splitting Sword growing stronger, its power emanating from the very core of the artifact. I reach out, my hand trembling slightly as I grasp the glowing object. Instantly, a surge of energy courses through my body, filling me with an overwhelming sense of power and purpose. I can feel the weight of the Time-Splitting Sword in my hand, its energy pulsing through my veins as I turn to face the Guardian. The creature roars, its single eye fixed on me with an unyielding hunger as it lumbers forward. I grip the sword tighter, my heart pounding in my chest as I prepare to face whatever lies ahead. The chamber is filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of my heavy breathing and the Guardian's labored roars. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the battle to come. "Varikka," I call out, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through my veins. "Get ready. We're going to need all the help we can get."