Chapter 19

Carl's team pulls their truck up a rain-soaked hill during a severe hailstorm to join two other racing teams at the crest. They discover the boss encounter waiting below them and meet the members of team One Fine Pig, including the muscular Tigran racer Nico, the Taurin mercenary Pontiff, and Penelope—a regular pig magically protected by the thunder god Taranis who is married to both Tigrans on the team.

Carl drives Bucket Boy's truck up a steep, hail-covered road while Donut maintains a protective shield spell. They navigate carefully to avoid attracting attention from the two parked vehicles ahead: an armored Russian-style truck belonging to team One Fine Pig and a burgundy Pontiac GTO convertible from the Lady Dominators. Upon arrival, they observe five figures outside the vehicles—Genesis and Rapture from the Lady Dominators, along with three members of One Fine Pig: Pontiff (a level 83 Taurin Rhythm Rider mercenary wielding a vibrating mallet), Nico (a level 91 Tigran Greaser racer), and Penelope, a level 5 Yorkshire Sow. Carl learns through Bucket Boy's recollection that Pontiff is a hired mercenary who previously worked as a dancer. The group discovers that Penelope is magically cursed by the Touch of Maw-Loo, causing certain NPCs to fall in love with her, including the thunder god Taranis, who has marked her for godly protection. Dario, the other Tigran member of One Fine Pig, remains in their truck's driver's seat, glaring at Nico. Corcunda from the Lady Dominators sleeps unconsciously in the convertible's back seat. When Carl and Donut exit their truck to investigate, they spot the boss encounter waiting at the bottom of the hill on the road ahead.