Chapter 39

Carl and Donut watch a recap episode showing their fight with the rage elemental and other dungeon survivors' struggles. After the show, the dungeon announces that safe rooms will close one hour before floor collapse, forcing an immediate change of plans. The rage elemental is temporarily distracted by a wave of grubs, giving Carl a new strategy opportunity.

The chapter opens with Carl, Donut, and the others watching a recap episode that includes footage of Jack's death and the rage elemental battle. Donut makes crude comments about Jack's appearance, causing tension with Imani. The show features compilation footage of other crawlers being killed by bosses, including scenes with Lucia Mar (who has four player-killer skulls) and Hekla's group, Brynhild's Daughters. Carl notes the episode's focus on bathroom penalties as justification for the rage elemental trap. After the show ends, a dungeon announcement reveals critical changes: safe rooms will close one hour before floor collapse, and any crawlers inside will be teleported outside. This news devastates Brandon, who meets Carl's eyes in shared realization that they may need to abandon their position. Carl and Donut had previously planned to wait 28 hours for his Protective Shell cooldown before dealing with the rage elemental, but this change forces immediate action. When a wave of grubs arrives and attracts the rage elemental's attention, it abandons the door to pursue them. The elemental kills 666 grubs before returning to the door. Carl remembers advice from Rory the shamanka and realizes the plan must change immediately. He begins pulling items from his inventory and asks Brandon for help, preparing for a new strategy rather than waiting for the cooldown.