"F#@%, how many of us are left alive?" Maxwell asked, his voice strained as he surveyed the group.
"Seven, if we count Tyler and Charla," one of the warriors replied, sweat glistening on his brow.
"I saw them escape earlier," another added. "Yeah, seven in total."
Maxwell sighed heavily. "Keep your weapons ready," he ordered, gripping his Dragonova Staff tightly. "If the Abyss Crack is nearby, we're not alone."
The group trudged forward, their nerves frayed after narrowly escaping the collapsing building. Every shadow seemed to move, and the oppressive silence weighed on them like a physical force.
"Where's the engineer?" Maxwell suddenly asked, scanning the remaining faces.
"He didn't make it," the warrior muttered grimly.
Before anyone could process the loss, a sudden barrage of burning volcanic rocks hurtled toward them.
