61: Detoxification

In the deep, dim cave, the aftershocks of battle had not yet fully subsided.

Two heavily injured Phase Spiders, their massive bodies covered in wounds, green bodily fluid gushing out, looked exhausted but still struggled, attempting to make a final stand.

The two Water Elementals seemed to have gradually grasped the pattern of the Phase Spiders' teleportation and blinking.

They wielded water spheres and ice blades formed from condensed water, striking the Phase Spiders' bodies with increasing density, making the already heavily injured spiders even worse off.

The Dragon King continued to assist the Water Elementals' attacks with Wind Blades.

Streaks of Wind Blades spewed from its mouth, like sharp blades, cutting through the air, and also cutting through the Phase Spiders' bodies.

Wherever the Wind Blade passed, it left deep cracks, and when the stun effect was triggered, the Water Elemental nearby seized the opportunity, swinging down a wide ice blade, cutting one of the Phase Spiders in two.

This Phase Spider's struggles grew weaker and weaker, its compound eyes filled with despair and fear.

Finally, under the Water Elemental's subsequent fierce attack, this Phase Spider's body completely collapsed, its green bodily fluid splashing onto the ground, announcing its death.

The last Phase Spider seemed to want to escape, but the Dragon King's Wind Blade triggered the stun effect again.

In an instant, its fate was the same as its companion's, shattered spider fragments scattered across the ground.

The battle ended, but a chilling aura still permeated the cave.

The Water Elementals slowly retreated to Lilian's side, their forms gradually blurring, as if they could dissipate into the air at any moment.

The Dragon King flew back to my shoulder, looking at the pale Randall with concern.

The entire cave fell silent again, with only the occasional sound of dripping water.

The flickering light of my campfire illuminated the surrounding rock walls, making them alternately bright and dim.

Randall lay on the ground, his breathing weak and rapid, his face ashen.

On his shoulder, green venom slowly spread from the wound, eroding his life; it was the deadly toxin left by the Phase Spider Queen.

Fiona and Lilian surrounded him, their hands flying as they cast healing spells, while also feeding him a common antidote, trying to stabilize his precarious life.

Fiona's brows were tightly furrowed, her eyes flickering with anxiety and determination.

She discovered that the toxin in Randall's body was unusually fierce, far more potent than the venom of ordinary Phase Spiders. She used the herbs I brought back from the high platform to carefully concoct a new antidote.

However, when this antidote dripped into Randall's mouth, it did not neutralize the deadly toxin as she had hoped.

"This poison is too strong..." Fiona murmured to herself, her gaze searching around the cave, trying to find other possible antidotes.

"Fiona," I asked nervously, "Although the newly prepared antidote has limited effect on the potent poison in Randall's body, can it completely neutralize the poison George is afflicted with?"

Fiona pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, this antidote can completely neutralize George's poison."

I turned to look at Lilian, her eyes also filled with worry.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm: "Lilian, did you hear that? Fiona said this new antidote is effective against George's poison. George is still at the temporary camp, he's still waiting for us to save him. Can you take a bottle of antidote and go back to the temporary camp first, and help him neutralize the remaining poison before dawn? I'll stay here to take care of Randall and assist Fiona."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of determination and resolve flashed in Lilian's eyes.

She nodded, her voice soft but unusually firm: "Of course, I will take the antidote to George as quickly as possible. You two be careful here as well; if you're not back at camp by dawn, I'll come back for you."

With that, Lilian took a bottle of the new antidote from Fiona's hand.

Then, she turned to look at me and Randall, her eyes full of concern and instruction: "I'll be back as soon as possible, you two be careful."

I nodded, my heart filled with gratitude and trust.

If I had a choice, I would definitely take the antidote back myself, but I couldn't abandon Randall beside me.

I hadn't known Lilian for long, but after these two days of interaction, especially having just gone through a life-and-death battle together, she was definitely a trustworthy companion.

Moreover, George had once saved her life, so she would definitely do her best to save him.

"Go, Lilian. We trust you." I said softly, watching her turn and step into the dark cave passage, gradually disappearing.

Only Fiona and I remained in the cave, along with the now unconscious Randall.

I stayed to assist Fiona, helping her search for herbs and also taking care of Randall. Fiona moved through the cave, her gaze as sharp as an eagle's, not missing a single corner.

She picked one herb after another, but after experimenting, she found that none of them could neutralize the potent poison in Randall's body.

Just as we were feeling despair, Fiona's gaze suddenly fell upon the corpse of the Phase Spider Queen.

She came to the dismembered corpse of the Phase Spider Queen, took a deep breath, steadied herself, and began to carefully examine the body.

Her fingers skillfully and gently parted the scales on the Spider Queen's abdomen, took out a dagger of unknown material, and carefully dissected the Spider Queen's body, revealing a moist and dark internal tissue.

As she moved, an organ emitting a faint green glow gradually appeared before our eyes.

That was the Phase Spider Queen's venom gland; it looked like a complex and delicate sac-like structure, its surface covered with tiny tentacles and folds, as if it were a meticulously carved work of art by nature, yet full of deadly danger.

Fiona carefully used the dagger to separate the venom gland from the Spider Queen's body, her movements both swift and precise.

She gently placed the venom gland on a clean leaf and began to carefully study its structure and properties.

Her fingers gently touched the surface of the venom gland, feeling the subtle tentacles and folds, trying to find clues for an antidote within it.

I stood by, nervously watching her every move, my heart filled with anticipation and unease.

On one side of the venom gland, Fiona discovered a seemingly inconspicuous accessory gland.

Her eyes lit up, and she quickly extracted the liquid from this accessory gland, mixing it with the previous antidote.

Then, she gently fed the mixed antidote to Randall.

We nervously watched Randall's reaction.

A moment later, his complexion gradually returned to a healthy flush, and his breathing became steady.

The deadly toxin seemed to be neutralized by this new antidote.

Fiona's face showed a tired but satisfied smile.

I finally let out a sigh of relief, the stone in my heart finally dropped; I had managed to save Randall.

"Ding..."

Just then, the system's mechanical prompt suddenly sounded. At this moment, the system actually issued a new quest.