Chapter 30

Carl's group prepares for an assault on Fort Freedom, the naiad castle held by usurpers. They sacrifice a captured Skull Empire orc hunter to power Signet's summoning spell, then send Samantha (trapped in a sex doll head) into the river as a distraction while Signet transforms into a three-headed paper ogre to lead the assault from above. News arrives that Langley and his entire team have been killed by a hunter named Vrah.

The chapter opens with Carl retrieving Samantha from the mud as Clint arrives to brief them. Two Skull Empire hunters were killed attacking near the all-tree's protective magic; a third survives to be used as Signet's sacrifice. Carl learns the all-tree is a massive underground entity protecting forest dwellers from magical attacks. Samantha reveals she is a withering spirit trapped in a sex doll head, related to Signet, and desperately seeks Signet's help to reclaim a body—a request Signet defers, promising possible assistance after the battle. The group hikes to the river's edge where Fort Freedom awaits, a deteriorating castle occupied by naiad usurpers who killed Signet's mother years ago. Bush elves quietly disarm traps on the slope while the team remains hidden under Edgar the tortoise's invisibility spell. Signet confides that the usurpers could have gained power peacefully, but instead murdered her mother, forcing Signet into exile. Carl prepares the captured orc hunter—a low-level fighter named Future Huntress—for sacrifice. Before the ritual, a system notification arrives: Langley (an archer from the previous floor) and his entire team have been killed by a hunter named Vrah. Future Huntress warns that Vrah is dangerous and that only her survival within three days can protect the group; Carl marks her anyway. After the sacrifice is complete, Signet casts her summoning spell while Carl loads Samantha (with an alarm trap attached to her head) into his xistera extension and throws her upstream into the river. Signet transforms into a three-headed paper ogre and leads the assault team toward the castle as the protection spell collapses and battle begins. Carl, Donut, and a small defensive team remain on shore to prevent escape.