Chapter 39

Carl is escorted to a CrawlCon panel called "Crawling through the Ages" where he will appear virtually alongside other panelists, moderated by Circe Took, a mantis hive queen whose daughter Xindy Carl killed in the dungeon. Before the panel, Carl trains in a tier-four Ultimate Training Room and learns about upcoming dangers awaiting his return to the dungeon.

Carl returns to the green room where Zev informs him about the panel scheduled four hours later, moderated by Circe Took, a minor hive queen and businesswoman who owns an amusement park. Zev reveals that Carl killed Circe's daughter Xindy during the girl's first hunt, though as a hive queen Circe has thousands of children. The revelation suggests Vrah knows exactly when and where Carl will return to the dungeon. Zev indicates Carl should rest and train before the panel, then return for debriefing before being sent back. The other active crawlers at the con include the Popov brothers, Chirag Ali, and Tserendolgor, a dog soldier woman Carl previously encountered. Zev expresses concern about her own situation, noting her family was killed and her future uncertain after the system change, though she assures Carl that Donut is currently safe. After Zev leaves, gnoll guards Frito and Moxo install a tier-three refresh bed and access to an Ultimate Training Room—a tier-four facility combining multiple workshop types. Frito hints the captain provided this and suggests Carl could be creative about using it. Carl uses the room to train, consulting with an AI trainer badger about sticky bombs and other projects before spending time improving his Powerful Strike skill to level ten. En route to the panel through various corridors and zero-gravity zones, Carl meets Dr. Ratchet, a visiting dwarf preparing a demonstration, who cryptically wishes him luck "at both the panel and when you return." Carl arrives at Studio Three, where a Valtay Porter Bot named Biff greets him and confirms he'll be the only panelist attending virtually, seated next to where the moderator Circe Took will be positioned. Moxo and Frito settle in to watch from a corner, smoking substances while the virtual audience fills the stadium.