Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao charged at the monster like a tiger descending a mountain, his momentum threatening to crush all fear before him. The weapon in his hand whistled with a sharp whistling sound, like a flash of silver lightning, piercing the monster's throat. This strike embodied his resolve to protect everyone and his desire to uncover the mystery. The monster reacted with remarkable speed, like a battle-hardened beast, nimbly turning its head to easily avoid the fierce blow. Then, its sturdy claws, wrapped in a gust of fishy wind, lashed out at Zhang Hao fiercely. The claws were like sharp steel knives, flashing with a terrifying cold light. Zhang Hao quickly dodged, his body a black phantom. The claws scraped past his clothes, stirring up a sharp gust of wind that seemed to rend the air.

Ling Yu took advantage of the monster's attack on Zhang Hao and slipped behind it like a ghost. His movements were light and agile, like an assassin in the dark night. The dagger in his hand gleamed coldly in the dim light, and with courage and determination, he stabbed the monster's hind legs. However, the monster's scales were incredibly hard, like a layer of steel armor. The dagger's thrust left only a shallow mark, barely scratching the skin, like a tickle on the giant beast.

The monster roared in pain, its roar angrily. The sound was like rumbling thunder, echoing through the narrow passage and piercing everyone's eardrums. Its tail, like a black steel whip, swept towards Lingyu with lightning speed. Lingyu was unable to dodge and was hit by the tail. He flew out like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the passage wall. With a loud "bang", stones fell from the wall, raising a cloud of dust.

"Lingyu!" The woman, seeing this, was terrified. Her once gentle eyes were instantly filled with worry and anxiety. She formed seals with her hands and muttered something that seemed to come from a mysterious world of incantations. Rays of light shot out from her hands like sharp arrows, brimming with divine power, and pierced the monster. The rays of light struck the monster with a sizzling sound, as if burning away the monster's evil power. Puffs of black smoke suddenly billowed from the creature, and a pungent, burnt smell filled the air.

The mysterious man and the old man were also busy. The mysterious man waved his hands, conducting a mysterious symphony. Streams of black mist emerged from his palms, entwining themselves around the monster like a black python, attempting to restrict its movement. The mist seemed imbued with a mysterious power, distorting the air wherever it passed. The old man stood in the background, his expression focused as he chanted ancient incantations. His voice was deep and solemn, as if emanating from a tunnel of time and space, echoing from time immemorial. As he chanted, soft rays of light enveloped the group, imbuing them with buffs, increasing their strength and speed, giving them a better chance of victory in this difficult battle.

Zhang Hao took advantage of the monster's distraction from the light and mist and launched another attack. He channeled all his spiritual energy into his weapon, which instantly radiated a dazzling light, transforming into a divine weapon capable of dispelling darkness. He roared, his voice resonating like a bell through the passage. He leaped high, his figure illuminated by the light, like a god of war descending to earth, and struck the monster's back with a fierce blow.

The blow was incredibly powerful, as if it could split mountains and shatter rock. A gash ripped through the monster's scales, and blood gushed out like a fountain, pooling on the ground in a crimson pool. The monster roared in agony, its voice filled with rage and resentment, struggling to free itself from its restraints like a caged beast. With a violent jerk of its body, it tore free the black mist that had clung to it, then turned and lunged at Zhang Hao, its eyes burning with vengeance.

Zhang Hao had barely landed, barely had time to adjust his stance, when the monster pounced upon him like a black mountain. In the nick of time, a mysterious man suddenly appeared before Zhang Hao, a black sword in his hand. The sword exuded a mysterious aura, as if hailing from another mystical world. With a powerful swing, it collided with the monster's claws, creating a resounding sound like two boulders colliding. The enormity of the force sent the mysterious man stumbling back, his arm numb. But his gaze remained resolute, unwavering, and he showed no sign of retreat.

At that moment, Ling Yu clutched his chest and struggled to his feet. A trickle of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his face pale as paper, but a flicker of determination shone in his eyes, an indomitable fighting spirit. He charged at the monster again, his steps faltering slightly, but each step was punctuated by unwavering resolve. He zeroed in on the monster's eyes and hurled the dagger with all his might. Like a bolt of black lightning, the dagger traced a deadly arc through the darkness, hurtling straight towards the monster's eye.

The monster sensed danger and tried to evade, but it was too late. The dagger pierced the monster's left eye with unerring precision, and with a thud, blood splattered. The monster let out a piercing scream, a sound that seemed to pierce the soul and chill the very bones. It struggled frantically within the passage, its body banging against the walls, sending rocks raining down. The dust in the passage was thick, and visibility was extremely low.

Everyone took the opportunity to launch another attack. Zhang Hao and the mysterious man, one on the left and one on the right, attacked the monster like two sharp blades. Zhang Hao's attack was fierce and powerful, and each move was like a tidal wave; the mysterious man's swordsmanship was strange and changeable, and each sword was aimed directly at the monster's vitals. The woman's magic light continued to shoot at the monster, and the light was like a bright meteor, shining with a deadly light in the darkness. Ling Yu was also looking for an opportunity to attack again. He stared at the monster, waiting for the best time. The old man continued to cast spells for everyone to keep them in the best condition. His forehead was covered with sweat, but he was still concentrating on chanting the spell.

Under the combined assault, the monster gradually lost its ability to resist. Its movements became sluggish, wounds multiplied, and blood stained its body. Finally, the monster let out a faint roar, like a final struggle for life, before slowly collapsing to the ground, motionless. The passageway suddenly fell silent, with only the heavy breathing of the crowd echoing in the air.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the ground. After such a fierce battle, they had all consumed a great deal of physical and spiritual energy. Every face was filled with exhaustion, but also overflowing with the joy of victory.

"This monster is really hard to deal with." Ling Yu said while panting, with a hint of relief in his voice for surviving the disaster.

"Yes, but we succeeded." Zhang Hao said with relief, his eyes revealing determination and pride, as if announcing their victory to the world.

The mysterious man looked at the fallen monster and said, "This monster may be related to that evil formation. Let's keep moving forward and see if we can find the source of the formation." There was a glimmer of wisdom in his eyes, as if he had seen the dawn of revealing the truth.

Everyone nodded, rested for a moment, and continued along the passage. They knew that there might be more dangers waiting for them ahead, but the victory at this moment gave them courage and confidence, allowing them to resolutely move forward into the unknown depths...