Rise of the Otherworld.

The deep roar echoed through the valley, making everyone's ears ring. The ground trembled more and more violently, as if a huge army was galloping towards them. Each tremor was like a hammer hitting everyone's heart, causing them to tremble.

The mysterious man approached cautiously, each step light as a cat's, fearful of disturbing the unknown being. His heartbeat raced, threatening to burst from his throat. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, trickling down his cheeks, gathering into a single drop at his chin before dripping heavily to the ground. His breathing became rapid and heavy, each breath a desperate effort to absorb the thin air of courage.

Zhang Hao and others stared at the mysterious man's back nervously, not daring to breathe. They didn't blink, as if the mysterious man would disappear from their sight if they blinked even a little. Zhang Hao's hand tightly gripped the hilt of the sword, and his knuckles turned white from the force. The woman hugged the little girl tightly, trying to use her body to shield her from the possible danger. The little girl's eyes were full of fear, but she bit her lips, trying not to cry out. Ling Yu's body trembled slightly, and his eyes showed both worry about the mysterious man and fear of unknown danger. The old man tightly gripped the staff, his lips moving slightly, as if praying silently.

Suddenly, the mysterious man stopped, his body frozen in place. Everyone's heart tightened. At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the entire world fell silent, with only the deep roar still pounding their eardrums.

"Come back soon!" Zhang Hao couldn't help but shout. His voice broke the brief silence, but it seemed so pale and powerless.

But the mysterious man seemed not to hear and remained motionless. His figure seemed so small and lonely in this empty valley.

At that moment, a gust of wind whipped past, stirring up a cloud of dust. Like a thick curtain, the dust instantly obscured the mysterious man's figure. Everyone subconsciously closed their eyes and shielded their faces with their hands to avoid the dust.

When the dust settled, the mysterious man was gone. Where he had been, only a piece of empty land remained, as if he had never existed.

"Where has he gone?" Ling Yu cried out in terror. His voice became sharp and piercing with fear, echoing in the valley.

"I don't know, but we can't just sit there and wait for death." Zhang Hao forced himself to remain calm. Although he was filled with fear, he knew he had to remain calm and give everyone a glimmer of hope. "Let's go find him together." His voice was firm and powerful, like an order.

Everyone slowly moved forward in the direction the mysterious man had disappeared, their hearts filled with trepidation. Their steps were very light, as if they were afraid of disturbing something. With every step, their hearts grew heavier.

The surroundings were horribly quiet, with only the sounds of their footsteps and heavy breathing. This silence made them feel extremely oppressive, as if they were the only ones left in the world, and countless invisible dangers were lurking around them.

The woman held the little girl's hand tightly, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily. Her eyes were filled with a mother's tenderness and protectiveness. Even if she herself was in danger, she would never allow the little girl to come to harm. The little girl clung to the woman's side, her hands sweating with nervousness.

The old man held his staff, ready to respond to any danger that might arise. His eyes revealed a calmness that came with years of experience, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner nervousness.

As they walked, they came to a massive cave. It was pitch black, and a cold wind blew out, carrying with it a sickening, rancid stench. The smell penetrated their nostrils, making them want to vomit. Strange lights flickered on the cave walls, some green, others blue, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching them.

"Did he come in here?" Ling Yu said in a trembling voice. His voice echoed in front of the cave, sounding particularly eerie and terrifying.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath and said, "No matter what, let's go in and take a look." Although his voice was firm, it also trembled a little.

As they entered the cave, a foul odor filled the air. It was even stronger than outside, making it nearly impossible to breathe. Water droplets dripped from the cave walls, forming small puddles on the ground. The sound of each falling drop was remarkably clear in the silent cave, like a countdown to death.

Suddenly, a massive claw stretched out from the darkness. It felt like steel, covered in sharp spikes. It scraped through the air, creating a sharp gust of wind. Everyone retreated in fear, and Zhang Hao raised his sword, attempting to block the sudden attack.

"Everyone be careful!" Zhang Hao shouted loudly.

The woman quickly protected the little girl behind her and cast a spell, sending a beam of light towards the claw. However, the moment the light touched the claw, it disappeared without a trace.

Ling Yu collapsed to the ground in fear, "What kind of monster is this!"

The old man waved his staff and muttered something, trying to cast a powerful magic.

At this moment, the monster slowly emerged from the darkness...