Rise of the Otherworld.

The monsters attacked them, and everyone struggled desperately in the river. The woman's magic was restrained by the water, its light dimming. The once brilliant magic light seemed suppressed by an invisible force, flickering only with difficulty, illuminating a small area. The old man was scratched by the monster's claws, and blood dyed the river red. His wounds were deep enough to see the bone, and his face was contorted with pain, but he still held his staff tightly, stubbornly resisting the monster's attack again and again.

The herbalist was swept around by the current, nearly losing consciousness. His body bobbed in the water, bubbles constantly coming out of his mouth, and his hands waved wildly, "Help me! Help me!" His cries seemed so small in the rushing river, as if he would be swallowed up by the turbulent current at any moment.

"Everyone, hold on!" Zhang Hao shouted, swinging his sword with all his might, repelling one water monster after another. Each swing exhausted his entire body, the resistance of the river slowing his movements. But his eyes were filled with determination; he would not allow these monsters to harm his companions. His clothes fluttered in the water, his hair sticking to his face wet, but even so, he couldn't conceal his resolute expression.

The little girl clung to Zhang Hao's waist, her eyes filled with determination. "Brother Zhang Hao, we can do this!" Her voice, though trembling, gave Zhang Hao immense encouragement. Her tiny body trembled in the water, but her tightly clasped arms never relaxed.

The woman gritted her teeth and concentrated hard, trying to unleash her magic with even greater power. Her hands danced in the water, and the faint magical light gradually grew stronger, illuminating the surrounding waters. That light was like the dawn of hope, offering everyone a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness and fear.

The old man endured the pain, wielding his staff as he fought the monster's attacks. His face was filled with determination, and despite the blood pouring from his wounds, his fighting spirit remained undimmed. Every swing of his staff carried his unyielding will and his desire to survive.

The herbalist struggled desperately in the water, trying to keep his balance. His eyes were filled with fear and despair. "Save me! Save me!" His cries seemed so small in the rushing water.

While fighting off the water monster, Zhang Hao approached the herbalist. "Hold on, I'm coming!" He reached out a hand, firmly grasped the herbalist's arm, and pulled him to his side. Veins bulged in his arm from the exertion as he struggled to drag the herbalist through the water.

At that moment, a massive water monster lunged at Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao had no time to dodge, and the monster knocked him back several steps. His body tumbled in the water, nearly being swept away. In that instant, he felt the world spinning, the icy water pouring into his mouth and nose.

"Zhang Hao!" the woman exclaimed. Her voice was filled with worry and fear, and her heart instantly rose to her throat.

Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes, "Brother Zhang Hao!" Her voice was tearful and her little hands were clenched into fists.

Zhang Hao steadied himself in the water and swam back toward the group. "I'm fine, keep going!" His voice was firm and powerful, as if to tell everyone that as long as he was there, he would definitely lead them out of this predicament.

With everyone's joint efforts, they finally got rid of the monster. They supported each other and swam towards the other side with difficulty. Every stroke of the arm, every forward movement, required tremendous effort.

The force of the river water grew stronger and stronger, as if it was going to swallow them all up. The huge current constantly hit their bodies, making their progress extremely difficult.

"Come on, we're almost there!" Zhang Hao shouted in encouragement. His voice echoed in the river, giving everyone the courage to persevere.

Finally, their feet touched the river bottom. With their last remaining strength, they climbed to the other side. They collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath as if they had just experienced a nightmare.

"We...we survived," the herbalist said weakly. His voice was filled with relief at having survived, though his body was exhausted to the point of exhaustion.

Before they could recover, a sinister laugh echoed through the cave. It sounded like something from hell, filled with evil and mockery. Everyone's faces instantly turned pale, their hearts, which had just relaxed, tensed up again...