NOVEL WEB Chapter 59: chapter 59 poison cave
Raven's Proposal: Poison Cave
After leaving the Alchemy Academy, Raven stepped onto the streets of Viles Town, his mind already calculating his next move. Before he could go far, his communication device rang. He checked the ID—Daniel.
He answered. "What?"
Daniel's excited voice came through. "We hit level 3!"
Ana chimed in immediately. "All three of us—me, Daniel, and Liz! We just finished grinding outside town."
Liz, ever the voice of sarcasm, added, "By 'grinding,' she means Daniel nearly got us all killed multiple times while Ana cheered him on."
Raven smirked but got straight to the point. "Good. Then let's go to Poison Cave."
There was a brief silence before Daniel spoke. "…Poison Cave? Isn't that a bit much?"
Ana, on the other hand, sounded excited. "Ooooh, what's in Poison Cave?"
Raven explained, his voice calm but firm. "Poison Cave isn't just a dungeon—it's an occupation zone. The creatures inside—Poison Spiders, Venomous Slimes, and the Cave Serpent—are deadly, but they're not the real problem. The cave is a contested area, fought over by players and NPC factions. It's full of rare alchemical ingredients—Poison Glands, Nightshade Mushrooms, Toxic Fangroot—all of which are in high demand. Controlling the cave means controlling a valuable resource."
Liz sighed. "Translation: It's a warzone, and we're jumping into it underleveled."
Raven continued, ignoring her complaint. "That's why we need to move fast. If we get there early, we can secure some loot before the competition gets worse."
Daniel's hesitation vanished. "Risky, dangerous, and full of money? Sounds perfect."
Ana was already on board. "Hell yeah! Let's do it!"
Liz groaned. "We're going to regret this."
Raven smirked. "Meet me at the entrance."
Arrival at Poison Cave
Raven moved swiftly through the outskirts of Viles Town, his cloak flowing behind him as he navigated the uneven terrain. Poison Cave was located on the eastern edge of the wilderness, nestled between jagged cliffs and thick, poisonous flora that thrived in the toxic environment.
As he approached, the atmosphere shifted. The air became thick with a faint green mist, and the ground was littered with withered plants, broken weapons, and skeletal remains of past adventurers. The cave entrance loomed ahead—a dark, gaping hole with jagged rock formations resembling the fangs of a beast. The very air carried a venomous scent, a mixture of decay and alchemical toxins.
Raven scanned the area. A few low-level players stood nearby, eyeing the cave warily, some already retreating. Most of them weren't strong enough to risk venturing in.
Just as he was surveying the surroundings, he heard footsteps behind him.
"Took you long enough," Raven said without turning around.
"Blame Daniel," Liz's voice came, laced with sarcasm. "He got distracted fighting a pack of wolves on the way."
Daniel grinned as he walked up. "Hey, they started it."
Ana, ever enthusiastic, bounced up beside them. "Damn, this place looks creepy! I love it!"
Raven turned to face them. The three had clearly been through some fights—Daniel's leather armor had scratches, Ana's staff had traces of scorch marks, and Liz had a torn sleeve. They were definitely getting into trouble, as expected.
He glanced at the cave entrance. "This isn't just a simple monster den. Poison Cave is an occupation zone, which means it's contested. If we go in, we're not just fighting monsters—we're stepping into a battlefield."
Daniel's eyes lit up. "So, potential PvP? Hell yeah."
Liz groaned. "Of course, you'd be excited about that."
Ana nodded eagerly. "What's the plan, boss?"
Raven crossed his arms. "We go in carefully. We don't rush fights, and we watch for other players or NPC factions. Our priority is gathering alchemical materials, but if we see a chance to take control of a section, we take it. If we run into stronger players, we avoid conflict unless necessary."
Daniel smirked. "And if conflict is necessary?"
Raven's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then we make sure we're the ones who walk out."
Liz sighed. "Yep. Definitely going to regret this."
With their objective set, the four of them stepped into the darkness of Poison Cave, unaware of the dangers—and opportunities—that awaited inside.
Ambush: Venomous Cave Spiders
The moment the Venomous Cave Spiders dropped from the ceiling, the atmosphere in the cave shifted. The damp, suffocating air was now filled with the sharp, acrid stench of poison and rotting flesh. The creatures' many-eyed faces gleamed under the bioluminescent fungi, their fangs dripping with venom as they clicked their mandibles hungrily.
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[Venomous Cave Spider – Level 5]
HP: 1,500/1,500
Abilities: Venom Bite, Web Snare, Rapid Movement
Weakness: Blind Spots, Fire
Raven's eyes darted between the three enemies, quickly assessing their movement patterns. These weren't mindless monsters—they moved with predatory intelligence, their legs skittering over the rocky surface with terrifying speed.
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First Attack – A Deadly Lunge
The nearest spider lunged at Raven, its fangs flashing in the dim light as it went straight for his throat.
Instinct took over.
[Stealth] Activated.
Raven's body flickered into the shadows, and the spider's deadly bite passed through empty air. Before the creature could recover, Raven reappeared behind it, his dagger flashing downward.
[Backstab] Activated!
Critical Hit!
Backstab Damage: 450
Venomous Cave Spider HP: 1,050/1,500
The blade sank deep into the creature's abdomen, piercing through its chitinous armor. A piercing screech echoed through the cave as green venom sprayed from the wound, sizzling as it hit the cavern floor.
The spider thrashed violently, throwing itself to the side, trying to shake Raven off. One of its rear legs lashed out, barely missing Raven's face as he flipped back, landing in a crouch.
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Daniel's Precision Shots – Exploiting Blind Spots
While Raven engaged the first spider, Daniel was already in position. His keen eyes studied the movement of the second spider, tracking its steps.
He noticed something—the way the creature's legs shifted when it turned, exposing a weak joint near its underbelly.
Perfect.
Daniel drew back his bowstring, his breathing slowing. Then—he fired.
Weak Spot Hit!
Piercing Damage: 320
Venomous Cave Spider HP: 1,180/1,500
The arrow struck true, piercing just beneath the spider's second left eye. The creature screamed, its movement faltering for just a second.
Daniel was already preparing his next shot.
The spider turned toward him, furious, but Daniel remained calm.
He released another arrow.
Leg Joint Strike!
Crippling Damage: 280
Venomous Cave Spider HP: 900/1,500
[Effect Applied: Movement Speed Reduced by 30%]
The spider staggered, its movements now slower and unbalanced.
Liz, seeing the opportunity, moved in.
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Liz's Finishing Blow
Liz dashed forward, her daggers glinting in the eerie cave light. She circled the injured spider, waiting for the perfect moment.
Daniel fired another arrow, this time targeting the spider's back leg.
The arrow pierced through, causing the creature to rear up in pain—exposing its underbelly.
Liz grinned. That was her chance.
She slid under the spider, twisting her dagger in her grip, and drove it straight into its exposed flesh.
Lethal Strike!
Dagger Damage: 600
Venomous Cave Spider HP: 300/1,500
The spider screeched, its body convulsing violently.
Daniel delivered the final shot, his arrow piercing through the back of its head.
> [Venomous Cave Spider Defeated!]
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Ana's Fireball – The Turning Point
The third spider, the largest of the three, hadn't attacked yet. Instead, it had been watching, its many eyes locked onto Ana. It knew who the spellcaster was.
Raven immediately noticed its stance. "Ana! Incoming!"
The spider charged forward, its massive fangs dripping with purple venom.
Ana stood her ground.
She raised her staff, the air around her crackling with magic.
"Fireball!"
A blazing sphere of fire erupted from the tip of her staff, shooting straight toward the creature's open mouth.
Direct Hit!
Fire Damage: 700 (Burn Effect Applied)
Venomous Cave Spider HP: 800/1,500
The fireball slammed into the spider's face with a violent explosion, engulfing its entire body in flames.
The spider screeched in agony, its legs flailing wildly as fire spread across its body.
Daniel loosed another arrow mid-air, this time aiming for its burned joints.
Burned Joint Shot!
Piercing Damage: 350
Venomous Cave Spider HP: 450/1,500
The flaming spider staggered, its movements faltering—leaving it wide open.
Raven darted in, his dagger slashing across its exposed underbelly.
Backstab Damage: 450
Venomous Cave Spider HP: 0/1,500
The spider collapsed, its body twitching as the last remnants of life faded.
> [Venomous Cave Spider Defeated!]
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Aftermath – The True Danger of Poison Cave
The cave fell silent, the only sound being the crackling embers of Ana's fire spell slowly fading away.
Liz wiped green venom off her blade, sighing. "That was disgusting."
Daniel grinned, twirling an arrow between his fingers. "They never saw me coming."
Ana smirked. "Told you fire solves everything."
Raven, however, wasn't celebrating.
He crouched down, inspecting one of the dead spiders. His eyes narrowed.
Something was wrong.
These were territorial creatures, but their movements were off. They had attacked recklessly—almost as if they had been desperate.
Then he saw it.
The deep scratch marks along the cave walls.
The scattered bones of past adventurers—fresh ones.
And worst of all…
The large, thick trail leading deeper into the cave.
Something bigger was down here.
Something that had driven the spiders out of their usual nesting grounds.
Raven slowly stood. "Stay sharp. This was just the beginning."
As the group ventured deeper into Poison Cave, the feeling of unease only grew stronger.
They weren't alone.