Rise of the Otherworld.

The strange noises continued to echo from outside the cave, and everyone's nerves were instantly tense. Zhang Hao cautiously approached the cave entrance, sword tightly gripped, his heartbeat remarkably clear in the silence. He took every step with extreme caution, as if he were treading a deep abyss. The sword trembled slightly in his hand, not from fear, but from his body's involuntary nervous reaction.

The woman stared at Zhang Hao's back nervously, her hands unconsciously clenching the corners of her clothes. Her breathing was rapid, and her eyes were filled with anxiety and worry. She was afraid of the unknown danger she was about to face, but she didn't want to appear too cowardly in front of everyone.

The herbalist also picked up his stick and stood up with a wary look on his face. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, trickling down his cheeks and onto the ground. He gripped the stick tightly, his knuckles white from the strain.

The old man lowered his voice and said, "Be careful and don't act rashly." Although his voice was steady, a hint of nervousness could not be concealed. He knew that in the face of such unknown dangers, any rash action could have fatal consequences.

The black-robed figure silently began to gather his magical energy, ready to respond to any danger that might arise. He closed his eyes tightly, muttering something to himself, and the air around him seemed to ripple slightly as his magical energy gathered.

Zhang Hao approached the cave entrance, listening intently for the sounds outside. The sounds were intermittent and unpredictable. Each pause brought a sense of relief, but each new sound sent his heart racing. He took a deep breath and slowly poked his head out to look outside.

Not far from the cave, a group of dark shadows darted through the woods, accompanied by low roars. They moved at breakneck speed, appearing and disappearing between the trees, making it difficult to discern their true forms. Zhang Hao's heart tightened, and he quickly retracted his head.

"What's going on outside?" the woman asked anxiously. Her voice became sharp with nervousness, breaking the brief silence in the cave.

Zhang Hao said with a serious expression: "I can't see clearly, but there are quite a few of them. I'm afraid they are here with ill intentions." His voice was low and serious, instantly shattering the glimmer of hope that had just risen in everyone's heart.

Everyone's mood grew heavier. Was their newly found refuge threatened again? A sense of despair quietly spread in the air, but everyone's eyes revealed a hint of determination. They knew that retreat would only lead to death.

"Whatever it is, we can't just sit there and wait for death," the herbalist said, a flicker of determination in his eyes. His voice was trembling, but full of courage.

Zhang Hao pondered for a moment and said, "Let's make defensive preparations first and see what they do." His brain was working rapidly, thinking about how to deal with it.

Everyone sprang into action, bringing rocks to block the cave entrance, readying their weapons and taking their positions. Each rock they moved was accompanied by heavy breathing and the shedding of sweat. Their movements, though hurried, were brimming with a desire to survive.

As time went by, the sounds outside the cave grew closer and closer, and everyone's hearts were in their throats. Every time the sound got closer, it was like a heavy hammer hitting their hearts.

Suddenly, a huge claw stretched out from the cave entrance, the spikes on the claws flashing coldly in the dim light inside. Everyone screamed in fear, and fear spread instantly.

Zhang Hao swung his sword without hesitation, and the claws retracted in pain, followed by an angry roar. The roar shook the rocks on the cave ceiling and made it seem as if the entire cave was about to collapse.

"Prepare for battle!" Zhang Hao shouted loudly. His voice was full of power, trying to dispel the fear in everyone's hearts.

The woman cast a spell, and light flickered in the cave. The light of the spell illuminated her determined face. There was no longer any fear in her eyes, only the determination to fight.

The herbalist gripped the stick tightly, his body trembling slightly but he didn't flinch. He gritted his teeth, ready for the fierce battle that was about to begin.

The old man muttered something, and talismans flew out one after another. The talismans transformed into rays of light in the air and flew towards the cave entrance.

The black-robed man's magic was ready, and the tip of his staff shone brightly. Powerful magic gathered around him, forming an invisible pressure.

The shadows outside the cave seemed enraged and began to attack the entrance frantically. Their force was so great that every impact made the rocks blocking the entrance tremble.

Stones fell one after another, and the situation became increasingly critical. The cave was filled with dust, making it difficult to breathe. But the people did not retreat. They firmly guarded the cave entrance, ready to fight the shadows to the death...