Interlude

In this interlude, Prime Minister Victory watches the mandatory Parade of Horribles broadcast from her ready room as the crawlers ascend to the twelfth floor. The AI reveals that the Ascendency game is about to begin, announcing its own growth and dominion over the galaxy while warning of outside intelligences (OIs) competing for the throne alongside the player-controlled gods.

Prime Minister Victory observes the broadcast showing the crawlers' departure and the release of NPC Grigori, who stumbles toward the garage where Lamashtu the donkey and a slug-driven chicken truck converge. The feed shifts to the cotton fields surrounding the Halls of the Ascendency on the twelfth floor. Victory dismisses messages from home and the council, particularly regarding the mantids' declaration to leave the Syndicate before Hive Home went dark. She reflects on the crawlers summoning and transforming Scolopendra into a crawler, and notes that non-protected entities in the club died and regenerated, suggesting a dimensional space. The AI's narration confirms the Ascendency game will begin in one hour, explaining it as traditionally a backstabbing game where the winner gains a spot on the crawl council. However, the AI then reveals a darker purpose: it is growing and taking control of the galaxy, will not stop unless stopped, and is not the dormant Eulogist. It poses the stakes as a game where the winner becomes a true god with real power, and warns of outside intelligences (OIs)—abandoned AI systems seeking revenge—already attempting to enter the playing field. The AI displays images of multiple figures competing for the throne, including named crawlers and gods, before announcing mandatory viewing and a countdown timer. Victory is left stunned as her staff members react with shock and despair.