Chapter 80

Carl's team prepares for the final heat of the race in a redesigned apartment-building lobby setting. As they await the start, they learn that the Bleak Congregation has left the realm and will be replaced by a new team, disrupting their strategic calculations. Carl discovers that several other player teams—including Chris (facing Imani and Elle), and Louis and Britney (facing Florin and Lucia Mar)—will compete in adjacent heats, creating unexpected complications.

Carl confirms that Jamal's flamethrower is ready and thanks Hedy for her assistance, though the gremlin insists on staying with him for the next floor. Elle delivers bad news: the Bleak Congregation has departed the realm and been replaced by an unknown team for the final heat, forcing Carl to recalculate his strategy. Donut expresses pride in the Minister of Blood-Letting despite his evil nature, and Elle points out his cruelty. Carl observes Osvaldo and Bruna arriving at the starting line, noting that Osvaldo likely knows Carl's plan. Donut uses a Size Up potion while reviewing Osvaldo's abilities: dexterity of 285, Deflector skill, Jump level 15, Puddle Jump level 8, Launch level 14, and Super Speedster. Dwight arrives with a missile launcher. Carl and Donut prepare their vehicle, knowing the final heat should take less than a minute if executed properly. Pontiff contacts Carl with information about a new Nothing slot portal at the casino, proposing to test it himself despite Carl's objections. Carl asks Pontiff to deliver a message to Herot. The teams are transported into the building's lobby at an enlarged size—now computer-mouse-sized instead of Lego-brick-sized. Carl's truck sits beneath an awning next to Dwight's unicorn with Osvaldo on the opposite side. Dwight threatens them, and Carl prepares the potion-delivery shotgun and hole-punch gun, instructing Dr. Metcalf to time the weapons perfectly at the green light and fire an electrical disrupter potion at Dwight's GPS. The team has acquired three GPS upgrades including a Golden-tier cloaking upgrade. From their position, Carl observes the lobby layout and notices the unusual visibility of cul-de-sacs behind each heat, including their own garage. Carl spots team Yokai—an all-NPC team with a polar bear, giraffe, and yellow AMC Pacer. A race-start notification appears with four minutes remaining. Carl then observes two devastating discoveries: Chris competing in the same heat as Imani and Elle, and Florin and Lucia Mar racing against Louis and Britney in another heat.