Ascension Chronicle: The Tower Of Calamity

 His mind could not take up the pace but Liam's body did. He dove to the side, just enough to evade the swipe of the beast's claws. The fiend snarled and turned to face him, its fangs bared as the monstrous thing, a grotesque mix of fur, scales, and glowing red eyes.
"Help!" shouted Liam. Most of the others are so involved in their own feeds. A few are already retreating into the forest, their screams dwindling to nothing.The beast lunged again and Liam scrambled backward, hands clawing at the dirt. He had nothing to fight with, nothing to protect himself. Panic surged through him, threatening to overwhelm his senses, when a voice called out.
"Here!" A girl threw something toward him, young, and short black hair. It landed with a metallic thud: a small, rusty dagger. Liam went forward and took the weapon, holding it out before him as his hands trembled.
The beast growled, its eyes glowing while narrowing. Then they set themselves in motion against him. Liam thrust forward with the dagger, barely grazing the creature's shoulder before it roared in pain, one far greater than him swiping at him with its massive paw. He went sprawling from the impact, dagger flying from his hand.
"Get up!", shouted the woman and raced toward him. She had a bow strung and ready. An arrow passed over Liam's shoulder and struck into the beast's chest. The creature staggered, but it did not crash down. Instead, it turned its face to her, snarling.
Liam forced himself up, the rush of adrenaline dulling the pain across his side. The dagger lay just a few feet ahead, and he lunged for it. The beast charged the woman, but as the beast was pretty fast, she deftly avoided the strikes. Another arrow struck at the neck of the monster.
"NOW!" she yelled.
No need for Liam to be told twice. He sprinted forward and managed to stab the dagger into the beast's side by all means. The tissue let out an ear-piercing roar before collapsing to the ground and dissolving into a heap of black smoke. At that instant, a small, luminous crystal remained in its wake, pulsing with pale light.
The woman lowered her bow and walked towards him with an expression on her face that was as much of relief as it was irritation.
"You are welcome," she said, pointed voice. "Next time, try not to die."
Liam blinked at her, trying to catch his breath. "Thanks... I guess?"
She sighed and reached her hand out. "Clara. If we are going to last in this place, we need to stick together.
"Liam hesitated before taking her hand. "Liam."
But before either could speak further, the crystal on the ground began to levitate softly chiming, then hung for a moment between them before shattering into shards that disappeared into the air. Warmth coursed through Liam's body, and a jolt of energy filled him as his wounds improved just a bit.
"What was that?" he asked as he felt his fingers flex.
Clara shrugged. "I have no idea, but it's better than nothing."
Some distant echoed roared within the forest, reminding them that danger was far from over.
"Come on," said Clara, knocking another arrow. "We need to keep moving."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the impression began to sizzle within Liam as though this was indeed only the beginning of something much worse.
To Be Continued...