Rise of the Otherworld.

The powerful suction force was like an invisible giant hand, desperately dragging everyone towards the crack. Zhang Hao felt his body almost out of control. His fingers turned white from excessive force, and bursts of pain came from his joints.

"Everyone hold on!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, his eyes bloodshot from extreme tension. Every word seemed squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with endless determination and courage.

The woman's face was filled with fear, tears and sweat mixed together, and her once delicate makeup was now a mess. "I...I really can't hold on any longer!" Her voice was filled with tears, and despair spread through her words.

The herbalist gritted his teeth, veins bulging in his arms, his muscles tense as steel. "Don't give up, you'll get through this!" he roared, his eyes wide as if spitting fire.

The black-robed man repeatedly attempted to cast spells to reduce the suction, but his magic seemed insignificant before this powerful force of nature. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, trickling down his cheeks and dripping into the endless cracks. Each spell he cast caused his body to tremble slightly, and the drain on his mana left him feeling weak.

The old man gripped his staff tightly, muttering to himself, ancient and mysterious incantations emanating from his lips. His eyes were focused and determined, searching for a way to break the spell. The gem on the staff flickered faintly, like a dying star in the darkness.

Just when everyone was about to collapse, the suction suddenly weakened a little.

"Take advantage of this moment and climb up!" Zhang Hao shouted. His voice was filled with urgency and hope, like a bright light in the darkness.

They desperately used their hands and feet to scramble across the sand, trying to get away from the terrifying crack. The sand flowed beneath them, and each step forward required immense effort. Their fingers and toes dug deep into the sand, leaving deep marks.

However, before they could climb far, several huge vines suddenly emerged from the crack and attacked them like pythons. Those vines were thick and powerful, and their surfaces were covered with sharp thorns.

"Be careful!" Zhang Hao swung his sword and cut through an approaching vine. Sparks flew as the sword and vine intersected, and the sap of the broken vine splashed everywhere, emitting a pungent smell.

The black-robed man also cast a fire spell, and blazing flames spewed from his hands, burning the vines. The flames spread across the vines, making crackling sounds, but the vines were numerous and extremely resilient, and their resistance seemed somewhat powerless.

A vine wrapped around the woman's ankle and pulled her toward the crevice.

"Help!" the woman screamed in terror, her voice piercing the dark sky. She struggled desperately, waving her hands in the air.

The herbalist rushed forward recklessly, slashing at the vines with his dagger. His movements were swift and decisive, and he used all his strength in each blow.

With everyone's efforts, the woman finally broke free from the vines.

But at this moment, more vines emerged from the cracks and surrounded them. The vines intertwined with each other, forming a huge cage, leaving them with nowhere to escape.

"This isn't a solution. We have to find the root of the vine!" the old man shouted. His voice was exceptionally clear amid the chaos, carrying an unquestionable authority.

Zhang Hao fended off the vines' attack while observing the surrounding situation. Sweat blurred his vision, but his gaze remained sharp.

Suddenly, he discovered a huge flower bud deep in the crack, from which all the vines seemed to grow. The flower bud emitted a strange light, as if mocking their incompetence.

"Attack that flower bud!" Zhang Hao shouted, pointing deep into the crack. His voice was filled with determination, as if this was their last hope.

Everyone turned their attacks towards the flower buds. The radiance of magic, the cold gleam of swords, and the cold gleam of daggers intertwined, forming a brilliant and deadly wave of attack.

After a fierce battle, the bud was finally destroyed and the vine withered. Broken petals and broken vines fell like a dark rain.

They lay exhausted on the sand, breathing heavily, their chests heaving like bellows.

"This second level is too difficult," the herbalist said with a wry smile. His voice was filled with helplessness and exhaustion, as if all the strength had been drained from his body.

Before they could rest for long, the surrounding desert began to undergo new changes. The previously tranquil sand began to slowly shift, forming massive whirlpools. A howling wind blew up a cloud of dust, obscuring the sky and the sun.

"What...what is this?" The woman looked around in horror, her voice trembling.

Zhang Hao stood up with difficulty and clenched the sword in his hand: "No matter what it is, we must get through it!"

The fire of determination was rekindled in everyone's eyes, ready to face new challenges...