Rise of the Otherworld.

With their combined efforts, a crack finally appeared in the stone. Seeing this, Zhang Hao gathered his strength and swung his sword again, slashing at the stone. Each blow was punctuated by his fierce desire to survive. His arms tensed with the force, and the clanging sound of the sword colliding with the stone reverberated through the narrow space.

"Try harder!" he shouted, sweat dripping down his cheeks and dripping onto the ground, instantly covered by the dust. His eyes were firm and fiery, as if that was not a huge rock, but the last obstacle to their survival.

The old man's magic radiated ever more intensely, constantly impacting the cracks in the stone. His body trembled slightly from the excessive output of his magical power, and his lips grew pale, but his gaze was filled with determination. He muttered something, and the gem inlaid on his staff shone brightly. Each flicker of light was accompanied by a surge of powerful force against the stone.

The black-robed man gritted his teeth, his weapon gripped in both hands as he pounded the rocks. The veins in his arms bulged like snaking earthworms, and each swing required all his strength. His breathing was rapid and heavy, like the whirring of a bellows.

The herbalist was not to be outdone, using whatever tools he could find to assist the others. His hands were covered in blisters from the excessive labor, but he continued to work, his eyes gleaming with the desire to survive.

Finally, under their combined force, the rock shattered, shattering into pieces. The debris flew everywhere, drawing arcs in the air.

Without a moment to breathe, everyone rushed towards the exit. Just as they were about to step out, the maze behind them completely collapsed, the immense force sending them careening forward. Dust flew everywhere, filling the entire space and making it nearly impossible to breathe.

Zhang Hao was the first to steady himself, turning around to help his fallen companion up. He quickly glanced at everyone, checking to see if they were all okay.

"Is everyone okay?" he asked with concern, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Thank goodness I made it out," the old man gasped. His clothes were tattered and his face was covered in dust, but his eyes revealed a hint of relief at having survived.

"It was truly thrilling!" The black-robed man sat down on the ground, breathing in the fresh air. His chest rose and fell violently, as if he had just experienced a life-or-death race.

The herbalist looked around excitedly and said, "I wonder where this place is." There was a hint of confusion and curiosity in his voice.

At this moment, a rustling sound came from the forest. The sound came from far away and then approached, as if countless footsteps were approaching.

"Be careful!" Zhang Hao gripped his sword cautiously. His body was tense, like a fully drawn bow, ready to respond to any possible danger.

A group of short creatures with pointed ears emerged from the woods. Their skin was a light green, their eyes were large and bright, and they held simple weapons in their hands.

"What is this?" The herbalist hid behind Zhang Hao, his voice trembling. His body trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with fear.

The creatures looked at the crowd with curiosity in their eyes. They whispered to each other, seemingly discussing something.

One of the creatures who looked like a leader stepped forward and said, "Outsiders, why have you come here?" His voice was clear and sharp, with a unique rhythm.

Zhang Hao stepped forward and said, "We have no intention of offending you. We are just looking for a way out." His tone was sincere and firm, trying to convince the other party of their good intentions.

The leader looked them up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on their tired faces and torn clothes. "Come with me, perhaps I can help you." A hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but he finally made a decision.

Everyone looked at each other, unsure whether to trust these strange creatures. Their hearts were filled with doubt and worry. After all, in this unknown world, every choice could mean life or death.

Finally, under Zhang Hao's guidance, they decided to follow their leader. They cautiously followed the creatures, vigilantly observing their surroundings. The forest was filled with a mysterious atmosphere. The trees were tall and dense, and sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, creating patches of light.

After walking for a while, they came to a village hidden in the woods. The houses in the village were simple and rustic, made of wood and thatch.

"This is our village," said the chief.

The villagers gathered around and looked at these outsiders curiously.

"Can they believe it?" asked the herbalist in a low voice.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath and said, "There's no other way at the moment. We can only take it one step at a time."

At this moment, an alarm suddenly sounded in the village...