Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao raised his sword and, with all his strength, thrust it towards the statue's chest. The sword gleamed coldly in the darkness, a light that seemed to be their last ray of hope in this endless darkness. The blade sliced ​​through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Just as the sword was about to touch the statue's chest, a powerful recoil struck Zhang Hao, sending a sharp pain through his arm. The force surged like a surging wave, impacting every inch of his muscle and bone, nearly breaking his grip on the hilt. But he gritted his teeth, his forehead vein bulging, his eyes bloodshot from the sheer effort, and pushed forward again.

The black-robed figure clasped his hands together and muttered something in a low, rapid voice, as if communicating with some mysterious power. A powerful beam of magical light emanated from his hand, like a nimble dragon, striking the stone statue's chest. Wherever the light touched, darkness seemed to be temporarily dispelled.

The old man raised his staff high, the tip of which shone brightly. That light, like warm sunlight, penetrated the dark haze. He continued to chant an ancient and mysterious spell, each syllable imbued with great power, adding strength to Zhang Hao's attack.

The herbalist and the woman watched nervously, their hearts in their throats. They didn't blink, their breathing became extremely shallow, as if they were afraid that the slightest movement would affect this crucial blow.

With everyone's concerted attack, the sword finally pierced through the stone statue's chest defenses and penetrated deeply. At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and everything became silent.

The stone statue let out a shrill scream, a sound that seemed to come from the depths of the abyss, filled with pain and anger. The dark energy instantly became chaotic and began to dissipate. The darkness, once thick as ink, now resembled a shattered mirror, with countless cracks appearing, and light seeping through them.

"Success!" the woman shouted excitedly. Her voice became shrill with excitement, and tears welled up in her eyes, leaving two clear marks on her dusty face.

However, before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, an even more powerful force suddenly erupted from the stone statue. That force was like a violent hurricane, blowing Zhang Hao and others away.

Zhang Hao fell heavily to the ground, feeling his internal organs shift, a sweet taste in his throat, and a mouthful of blood spurting out. His body rolled on the ground several times before finally coming to a stop, and the world before him began to blur.

The black-robed man collapsed not far away, his face as pale as paper. His body trembled constantly, a trace of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with exhaustion and despair.

The old man struggled to get up, his staff broken. His body was hunched, and he seemed to have aged a lot, but his eyes remained firm.

The herbalist and the woman were both seriously injured, lying on the ground, unable to move. The woman's hair was disheveled and draped over her face, her eyes filled with pain and helplessness. The herbalist's clothes were torn, his body covered in wounds, and his blood stained the ground beneath him.

But by this time, the statue was already teetering on the brink of collapse. Huge chunks of stone fell from it, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"We can't let it get another chance to fight back!" Zhang Hao endured the pain and stood up again. His steps were weak, and every step seemed to exhaust all his strength, but his eyes burned with the fire of unyielding.

He picked up the sword, which was already covered with cracks, but he still held it tightly, as if holding on to his last hope. Using his last bit of strength, he rushed towards the statue.

Seeing this, the black-robed man also struggled to his feet and cast a final spell. His body was shaky, but the spell still shone brightly.

The old man used his remaining magic power to cast a protective barrier for Zhang Hao. Although the barrier was weak, it was filled with the old man's expectations and blessings.

The herbalist and the woman prayed silently in their hearts. Their lips trembled slightly, and the silent prayer echoed in the air.

Zhang Hao leaped up and thrust his sword fiercely into the statue's chest. This time, without any resistance, the sword sank straight into it.

The statue finally couldn't bear the final blow and collapsed, turning into a pile of rubble. A huge noise echoed in the cave, and dust filled the air.

The dark energy dissipated, and the cave returned to peace. The oppressive atmosphere was swept away, replaced by fresh air and faint light.

Everyone lay on the ground, gasping for breath, their faces showing smiles of having survived. Although their smiles were tired, they were full of the joy of victory and the cherishment of life.

"We did it..." Zhang Hao said weakly. His voice was hoarse, but full of pride.

At this moment, a faint light emanated from the depths of the cave. Like the dawn's breaking light, it brought them new hope...