Chapter 1

Carl arrives at the tenth floor's garage with Donut, who must quickly choose a vehicle class for the upcoming "heat." Two gremlins—Hedy and Waldrip Chris—fight over the position of garage manager while the party must decide between a mechanical or biological mount within minutes.

Carl materializes in the garage after Faction Wars, covered in blood and gore. He learns that 75% of crawlers have taken deals to leave the dungeon, and receives a message from the deceased Justice Light. Quasar had previously briefed him on chaos on the twelfth and eighteenth floors caused by creatures escaping from the Nothing, with outworlders trapped in an awakened Scolopendra boss and unable to truly die. A countdown timer indicates the next heat starts in five minutes. Donut, now party leader, must select a new class and chooses "Assassin of Sekhmet" with associated pet accessories and healing abilities. Two gremlins—Hedy, a mechanical expert, and Waldrip Chris, a biological specialist—both apply for the garage manager position while fighting violently with tools and a gourd. They explain that special mounts cannot be healed by regular pet spells. With one minute remaining and hearing engines revving from adjacent garages, Donut chooses the mechanical option and selects Hedy as the garage manager. As Waldrip Chris attempts a final pitch, he is suddenly killed by an explosion, and the system confirms the mechanical vehicle choice with Hedy as mechanic.