Rise of the Otherworld.

Everyone gathered tightly around the crystal ball, like a group of travelers groping in the dark, pinning all their hopes on the flickering runes. A mysterious man, the most profound rune researcher among the group, slowly approached the crystal ball. His eyes were filled with utter concentration, as if he wanted to memorize every detail of the runes. He narrowed his eyes slightly, attempting to decipher the ancient message contained within the runes.

"These runes seem disorganized and confusing, but in fact they contain subtle rules. They seem to be conveying an ancient and mysterious language, which is different from any rune system we have seen before, as if they came from a distant and unknown era." The mysterious man observed carefully and muttered to himself involuntarily. Although his voice was soft, it was like a heavy hammer hitting everyone's heart.

Zhang Hao was extremely anxious and kept turning to look at the black-robed man and his men who were struggling to get up, and said anxiously: "See if you can find any clues related to leaving here as soon as possible. We don't have much time, they may attack again at any time." At this time, the black-robed man and his men were recovering from the impact of the power of the crystal ball just now. Their greedy eyes were fixed on the crystal ball like hungry wolves, as if they were going to devour it in the next second.

The mysterious man took a deep breath, trying to calm himself in the tense atmosphere. He concentrated all his energy, heightening his perception to the utmost. He slowly extended a finger and gently touched the rune, trying to sense the subtle energy fluctuations transmitted by the rune through his fingertips. The surface of the rune grew slightly warm, as if it concealed the rhythm of life. Gradually, a hint of surprise quietly emerged in his eyes.

"I think I've found some clues. These runes seem to be a combination lock that needs to be activated in a specific order. Maybe it can trigger the power of the crystal ball and take us away from here." The mysterious man said, unable to suppress his inner excitement.

Ling Yu endured the pain, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, but his eyes were still determined. He asked anxiously, "Then how do we activate it? Every second is crucial. We can't delay any longer."

The mysterious man pointed at one of the runes, which emitted a faint blue light, like twinkling stars in the deep night sky. He said, "This rune represents an opening, and it's likely the first step. However, the subsequent sequence still requires further exploration, and we must be extremely cautious. The slightest mistake could ruin all our efforts."

At this moment, the man in black robe finally recovered. His eyes were burning with anger and greed, and he roared viciously: "Don't even think about taking this treasure for yourself, stop it!" Before he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and like a demon commanding the dark army, his men rushed towards the crowd again like a tide.

Seeing this, Zhang Hao rushed forward without hesitation, sword in hand. Like a towering mountain, he resolutely blocked the enemy's path. "You guys decipher the rune first, I'll handle this!" His voice was as resounding as a bell, full of power in the tense atmosphere.

Ling Yu also struggled to stand up. Although the pain was like a shadow following him, his eyes were determined, and the dagger in his hand flashed with cold light. He resolutely fought side by side with Zhang Hao. He knew that their perseverance at this moment was to buy precious time for their companions to decipher the rune.

The mysterious man, woman, and old man remained completely absorbed in their study of the runes, unafraid to lose focus. Based on his own assumptions, the mysterious man carefully and slowly channeled his spiritual energy into the rune representing "opening." Instantly, the rune shone brightly, its light like the rising sun, illuminating the entire space. Immediately afterwards, the other runes around it also began to flicker, as if triggered by some mysterious mechanism. A mysterious and powerful aura permeated the entire crystal ball.

"Hurry, find the next rune according to this pattern! Time is running out, we must race against time!" The mysterious man said anxiously, with an unquestionable sense of urgency in his voice.

The woman and the old man stared wide-eyed, carefully observing the flickering runes, searching for the next rune within the complex array that matched the mysterious man's deduction. Time seemed to freeze in the tense atmosphere, each second stretching infinitely longer. Meanwhile, the enemy's attacks intensified. Zhang Hao and Ling Yu sustained several more wounds, their clothes stained red with blood, yet they gritted their teeth and persevered.

Suddenly, the old man's eyes lit up, and he excitedly shouted, "It's this rune!" He quickly poured his spiritual energy into the rune. The rune also glowed, echoing the previous rune. The light around the crystal ball became even brighter, like daylight. A powerful force surged around the crystal ball, as if about to break free from some restraint.

However, the black-robed man saw that they were about to decipher the rune, and a flash of madness flashed in his eyes. He rushed forward desperately, trying to interrupt them. "None of you will succeed!" he roared, his voice filled with despair and unwillingness. A black beam of light condensed in his hand. Like a curse from hell, it exuded an evil aura and shot towards the mysterious man...