Interlude

This interlude shifts perspective to Quasar, a Nullian attorney overseeing crawler deals on the eleventh floor. As gods from the dungeon wreak havoc across the galaxy, Quasar receives an emergency call revealing that Taurins hired by Princess Chandra have attacked his brother and niece at home, forcing him to mobilize legal and personal resources to protect his family.

Quasar stands in an attorney bar with his friend and fellow lawyer Kiki, monitoring the influx of crawlers reaching the eleventh floor. Of 203 people who've made it, 172 have already accepted standardized indenture deals as game guides. Meanwhile, multiple screens show chaos across the galaxy as random gods from the dungeon are materializing near tunnel-node exits, causing panic and few casualties before vanishing within minutes. The attacks appear concentrated on physical Plenty-built nodes rather than communication systems, suggesting the dungeon AI lacks access to the broader center system. Quasar prepares for an imminent hearing regarding Carl's contract assignment when his niece Tempest calls in a panic—Taurins have attacked their home looking for Quasar, and her father has been hurt. During the call, Taurins threaten Tempest, but she kills them with an illegal blaster Quasar had given her. Quasar determines his brother is alive but angry rather than severely injured. Learning that Princess Chandra, Donut's estranged wife and a Naga, has contracted the Taurins against his family in retaliation for his legal filings against her, Quasar calls in his friend Kiki as both legal counsel and backup support, vowing to protect his family and escalate his conflict with the princess.