Rise of the Otherworld.

The shadowy figures rushed towards them at breakneck speed, stirring up a chilling gust of wind. Zhang Hao looked closely and saw they were a flock of fanged shadow bats. Their wings flapped with a sharp, whistling sound that sent chills down one's spine.

"Everyone, be careful and defend!" Zhang Hao shouted, swinging his sword at the bats. His sword drew silver arcs in the darkness, instantly beheading several bats. But more bats came pouring in like a tide, seemingly endless.

The woman quickly cast a spell, creating a pale blue protective shield around them. The shield glowed softly, attempting to block the bats' attacks. However, the Shadow Bats' impact was so powerful that each impact caused ripples in the shield, and tiny cracks began to appear.

The old man raised his staff and chanted something. Rays of golden light shot out from the tip of the staff, shooting towards the bats like sharp swords. Wherever the light reached, the bats turned into black smoke and dissipated, temporarily repelling some of them.

Ling Yu formed seals with his hands and summoned a whirlwind. The whirlwind howled, sweeping up the surrounding bats and attempting to blow them away. However, the bats were so numerous, and they kept coming at him, gradually weakening the whirlwind's power.

The little girl was so frightened that she hugged the woman's legs tightly, trembling all over. Her face was pale, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Sister, I'm scared."

"Don't be afraid, child, we will protect you!" the woman comforted the little girl, increasing her magic output. Her forehead was covered with sweat, but her eyes were firm, and she was doing her best to maintain the stability of the protective shield.

The mysterious man dashed left and right among the bats, his dagger flashing coldly in the darkness. His movements were as nimble as a leopard, and each swing accurately struck several bats. But the bats' attacks grew more and more fierce, and wounds gradually appeared on his body.

While Zhang Hao was desperately killing the bats, he observed the surrounding situation and found that there seemed to be a large space on one side of the passage, which might be used as a temporary shelter.

"Charge over there!" Zhang Hao shouted, pointing in that direction. He brandished his sword, clearing a path for everyone.

The group fought and retreated, finally entering that space. Zhang Hao quickly blocked the entrance with stones, temporarily stopping the bats' attack.

Everyone collapsed to the ground, exhausted, breathing heavily. Everyone was injured to varying degrees, their clothes torn and in a state of disarray.

"This isn't a solution. We have to find a way to get rid of them completely," the old man said. He was panting, his face pale, but his eyes were still determined.

"I noticed there seems to be another exit in this space," Ling Yu said, pointing to the corner. Her voice was a little weak, but she still tried to remain calm.

Everyone stood up and walked towards the exit. There was a staircase leading down, filled with thick fog. The fog seemed to have life, constantly swirling and surging.

"Watch your step," Zhang Hao warned. He walked in front, carefully testing each step.

They slowly descended the stairs, the temperature dropping as frost began to form on the walls. The cold seeped into their bones, slowing their movements.

Suddenly, the stairs under her feet became extremely slippery, and the woman almost fell down.

"Hold me!" The mysterious man reached out his hand in time and pulled the woman back. His arm exerted force, veins bulging, and he finally pulled the woman back to a safe place.

At this moment, a deep roar erupted from below. It seemed to come from the depths of hell, filled with rage and fury. Everyone's faces instantly grew solemn, and their heartbeats involuntarily quickened.

"What kind of monster is this?" The little girl's voice was filled with tears.

"No matter what it is, we must face it bravely." Zhang Hao gripped the sword tightly in his hand and continued to walk down.

As they went deeper, the roars became clearer and clearer, and a strong sense of oppression came over them.

Finally, they saw the roaring monster. It was a huge frost beast, its body covered in thick ice crystals, emitting a biting cold.

"Get ready for battle!" Zhang Hao shouted.

Everyone was ready for battle, their eyes filled with determination...