Chapter 38

A Rage Elemental (Level 93) materializes after Jack's urine triggers a hazardous reaction on the dungeon wall. The creature kills Yolanda and Randall before Carl activates Protective Shell to buy time. The group narrowly escapes into a safe room disguised as a chicken restaurant while the elemental continues attacking the sealed door.

As the train accelerates through the dungeon, Jack—one of the elderly residents—urinates off the side of a platform. His urine reacts violently with the dungeon wall, creating purple and black smoke that coalesces into a Rage Elemental, a fifteen-foot-tall creature with six obsidian-clawed legs and a flaming skull head. The monster is described as nearly indestructible, requiring 666 souls to dissipate, and is self-healing. Donut and Yolanda attempt to attack but cause minimal damage. Carl orders Donut to activate a Confusing Fog scroll, but the elemental moves through it effortlessly and disintegrates both Yolanda Martinez (a former nurse) and Randall in a single swipe. Carl activates Protective Shell, which repels the creature's claws and buys precious seconds. The elemental then casts a gravity-reversal spell, flipping the hallway upside down and throwing Mrs. McGibbons (a 99-year-old resident) against the ceiling. Carl catches her and navigates back to the safe room entrance despite the reversed gravity. As the spell effect fades and normal gravity returns, the elemental charges toward them. Carl throws a boom jug at the creature's back and barely makes it through the safe room door as the monster's claws miss him by millimeters. The group seals themselves inside a dusty chicken restaurant called Big Shot Chicken. Inside, residents are injured and traumatized; Brandon and Imani tend to the wounded. Carl realizes that Jack knew the danger and proceeded anyway, confirming what Zev warned: helping these people may only delay their deaths. The elemental continues pounding at the door from outside.