In the end, we… eat it out?

You panic as you look around at the tightening surroundings, and you try to claw at the column but you can’t do much to free the crystal. With no other option, you take a monstrous bite. The goo is slick and repulsive. As you mean to spit it out, it works its way down your throat. You cough and sputter but have no time to lose. You take more bites, fortunately spitting the substance out those times, until with one you can finally pry out the gem. You can hear the scream of the creature as its energy source is torn from it. You quickly aboutface and begin running for the exit. You hurdle over lumps and appendages, and duck beneath even more limbs. You quickly dive into the water at the end of the passageway, swimming for life for the surface. Once you finally break the surface, you waste no time getting on dry land. You crawl up the shore and get on your two feet. You watch as the creature extends out of the water. You quickly get away from the trench and head back towards the trail you took to get here. However, what you let slide down your throat seems to be having some adverse effects. Perhaps it was toxic? All you know is that your gut didn’t enjoy its arrival.