Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao picked up the mirror and examined it carefully, his mind filled with doubt. Just then, a dark shadow suddenly appeared in the mirror. It loomed, as if peering at him from the depths of the mirror, with an indescribable eeriness and strangeness.

Zhang Hao's heart tightened. "Who are you?" he shouted at the mirror, his voice particularly abrupt in the empty desert. His voice was filled with tension and vigilance, and the knuckles of his hand holding the mirror were white from the force.

However, the shadow in the mirror did not answer, but moved slowly, as if trying to get closer to Zhang Hao. The shadow's movements were slow and heavy, as if carrying endless malice and oppression.

Zhang Hao gripped the mirror tightly, his palms slick with sweat. He stared at the shadow warily, his heartbeat racing, almost bursting out of his throat. Each heartbeat was like the roar of a war drum, reminding him of the approaching danger.

Suddenly, a dark shadow lunged at the mirror's surface. Zhang Hao instinctively threw it away. The mirror flipped in mid-air, reflecting the glaring sunlight, before falling to the sand with a dull thud. The shadow vanished with it, as if it had never appeared.

Zhang Hao gasped, trying to calm himself. He stared at where the mirror had fallen, hesitating whether to go over and check. Fear and curiosity battled fiercely within him, leaving him in a dilemma.

At this moment, a gust of wind whistled past, sweeping up dust all over the sky, forming a huge sandstorm that swept towards Zhang Hao. The sandstorm was like a raging dragon, pouncing on him with its fangs and claws bared.

Zhang Hao's eyes widened, and he turned and began to run. His footsteps sank deeply into the soft sand, making each step extremely difficult. But the sandstorm was so fast that it swallowed him up in an instant.

Zhang Hao lost his way in the sandstorm, his body tossed here and there by the fierce wind. Sand lashed relentlessly at his face, stinging him. He squeezed his eyes shut, covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, and breathed with difficulty. Every breath was filled with dust, burning his throat.

After an unknown amount of time, the sandstorm finally subsided. Zhang Hao opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by a valley of bizarre rocks. The rocks in the valley were of various shapes, some resembling ferocious monsters, others like giant mushrooms, casting eerie shadows in the thin sunlight.

A thin layer of fog filled the valley, making it difficult to see the road ahead. The fog drifted like a veil, adding a mysterious and dangerous atmosphere to the entire valley.

Zhang Hao walked forward cautiously, taking every step with extreme caution. The gravel under his feet would occasionally slide down, making a crisp sound that was particularly clear in the silent valley.

Suddenly, a deep roar echoed from the depths of the valley. The sound seemed to come from an ancient beast, filled with anger and threat, sending a chill down Zhang Hao's spine.

He paused, his heart filled with alarm. Just then, a gigantic monster slowly emerged from the mist. It was enormous, like a small mountain, its body covered in sharp thorns, each one gleaming with a cold light. Its eyes shone red, like burning flames, filled with a desire to kill.

Zhang Hao gasped, "What kind of monster is this?" He gripped his sword tightly, ready to face the monster's attack. His heartbeat quickened again, and beads of sweat trickled down his cheeks.

The monster opened its bloody mouth and lunged at Zhang Hao. A foul, nauseating breath emanated from its mouth. Zhang Hao dodged to the side and slashed at the monster with his sword.

The monster's skin was as hard as iron, and Zhang Hao's sword only left a shallow mark. Sparks flew from the collision of metal and hard objects, but it did not cause any substantial damage to the monster.

The monster, enraged, attacked with even greater ferocity. Its claws swung, stirring up a gust of wind, and each strike shook the ground. Zhang Hao dodged the monster's attacks, gradually losing strength. His breathing became rapid, and his movements slowed.

Just when he felt desperate, he suddenly discovered a weak spot on the monster's abdomen. The skin there was relatively soft and not covered with hard thorns.

A glimmer of hope ignited in Zhang Hao's heart. He gritted his teeth and, taking advantage of the gap between the monster's attacks, rushed towards the monster's abdomen...