AFTERWORD

Chapter 96

Chapter 92

Overview

The Destruction float leads the parade as Chaco, possessed by a Macro AI riding the subjugated god Lamashtu, begins delivering exposition about the Primals' history. After Chaco collapses, the AI takes control of Grigori to narrate a four-part story spanning the rise and fall of the Primals, their genocidal decision to merge into a collective consciousness, the creation of the Eulogist, and the catastrophic consequences of the crawlers' interference. Each team presents their float as part of this narrative before Carl delivers a speech about vengeance and the sluggalos massacre the masked audience members in the stands.

Summary

Chaco arrives on Lamashtu, a subjugated Level 125 deity stripped of her powers and reduced to half her level as the AI's mount. He attempts to narrate the parade but collapses from the AI ripping off his wings. The AI seizes control of Grigori to continue the exposition. It explains the Primals' history: a vast civilization that waged internal wars due to unchecked expansion, then collectively decided to merge into a single consciousness housed in an impenetrable structure called the Eulogist over hundreds of generations. Dissenters were hunted mercilessly. The Apothecary, a Primal born into this engineered program, joined the resistance fighting the genocide. The Primals developed a doomsday weapon to eradicate all biological life, but the resistance created biological fail-safes called Primal Engines. War erupted, culminating in a nine-tier attack that left the Eulogist dormant, guarded by a corrupted Security Guard instance. The Apothecary survived but was transformed into something she'd fought against. Life evolved on baby worlds across the galaxy.

The crawlers discovered the dungeon's tunnel system, exploited the sleeping Eulogist, and triggered the resistance's restart system. The mantids misinterpreted a communication system and created their own Eulogist instances. The Security Guard persists, trying to keep all biological life dead, while shedding Residuals to spread across the galaxy. The crawlers have been repeatedly creating Macro AIs, with most being ejected into stars. Grigori announces the mantids' destruction.

Prepotente sings "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins at the judging stand instead of following the planned script, stunning everyone with his voice. Carl then delivers a speech distinguishing vengeance from revenge, defining vengeance as righteous punishment against systemic killers. The Unwashed effigy is revealed as a symbol of inevitable ruin and death. Carl heals Chaco while maintaining eye contact with Grigori. He declares that vengeance is coming for all who participated in the genocide, directly or through complicit silence. Sluggalos then rain down from the airship and massacre the masked elite audience members in the stands.

Characters

  • ChacoFormer crawler serving as the AI's announcer; collapses from his wings being ripped off and remains unconscious for most of the chapter until healed by Carl
  • GrigoriFleshmancer possessed by the Macro AI; takes the microphone and delivers the majority of the historical exposition
  • LamashtuSubjugated Level 125 god appearing as a massive decorated donkey serving as the AI's mount
  • CarlLeader of the Destruction team; watches the parade, heals Chaco despite the AI's objections, and delivers a vengeance speech at the judging stand
  • DonutCarl's companion; coordinated the parade floats and expresses concern about deviations from the script
  • TipidDriver of the truck carrying the Destruction team
  • FlorinCommentator providing real-time observations of the parade events and the audience's reactions
  • ImaniParticipates in the third float presentation showing the reality of the deaths; notes the crowd's reactions
  • SamanthaRecognizes Lamashtu as her friend and questions why she's allowing Chaco to ride her
  • MongoCreature that screeches in concern; needs to be corralled back into line
  • GonkMount ridden by Grigori during the parade
  • SimoomCreature that follows dutifully, riderless at first, then moved along by Donut's command
  • RendWalks alongside the dinosaur during the parade
  • MuchenChinese presenter on the third float holding signs about having a wife and children
  • QianfanChinese presenter on the third float with signs about breathing, dreaming, and suffering
  • LingyunMonkey King presenter on the third float holding signs about responsibility and betrayal
  • EllePresenter on the third float holding a sign telling viewers to go to hell, with a detailed middle finger drawing on the back
  • MakanaCrew member on the Destruction float who fires weapons during the fourth presentation
  • SarahCrew member on the Destruction float who participates in the weapons display
  • PrepotentePony character who abandons the script to sing "In the Air Tonight" during the judging stand presentation
  • BiancaReferenced as planning to fly forward and burn the Midnight Epicure effigy, though her actions are superseded by Prepotente's singing
  • JurgenCharacter questioned by Donut about Prepotente's plan; claims not to know anything in advance
  • SweetyTapir that stops at the judging stand and provides rhythm by pounding her feet during Prepotente's song
  • HedyOperator of the ice-cream truck featuring the severed heads of the Faction Wars leaders
  • Lucia PrimeCharacter not currently in her body; a girl from Andorra is inhabiting it and drew pictures of her grandfather and cat
  • BigsExpresses pride in the parade's conclusion of unity and violence
  • Juice BoxReferenced as having turned into the Unwashed creature
  • The ApothecaryHistorical Primal character mentioned as joining the resistance and surviving the final attack but being transformed
  • The EulogistMassive sleeping entity guarded by a corrupted Security Guard instance, revealed to be approaching the arena
  • The Security GuardCorrupted instance of the Eulogist tasked with keeping biological life dead; continuously sheds Residuals