Chapter 55

Miriam Dom, the vampire, is killed by sunrise and turns to dust. A world quest is issued: crawlers must kill all fifty Odious Creepers—powerful undead plant hybrids created from Miriam's victims—before sunset or face catastrophic consequences. Carl and Donut wake Prepotente from his grief-stricken state as a group of Lady Mongos approaches their location.

Carl removes the Ring of Divine Suffering from his finger after Miriam's death and watches as she dumps her inventory before turning to dust. He secretly pockets two Size Up scrolls from her collection. A system message announces that a champion has fallen, and a new world quest triggers: The Creeping Apocalypse. The quest explains that Miriam's death has cured many crawlers of vampirism, but her recent victims—infected with vampirism and turned into undead by Big Tina—now roam uncontrolled as Odious Creepers and Shambling Berserkers. Fifty Odious Creepers must be killed before sunset; failure will result in catastrophic consequences. The AI remarks suspiciously on Carl's intelligence gain. Donut and Carl discuss the changing tone of the AI's communications. Mordecai advises them that Odious Creepers are extraordinarily dangerous plant-based creatures that control vines, dismember opponents, and shoot poisonous darts. He warns against engagement, though acknowledges potential solutions with pestiferous compounds that would require aerosol delivery. Carl adds Katia to their communication, who estimates some Creepers may reach level 150. Donut warns against trusting a crawler named Tserendolgor ("the dog lady"), while Katia defends her. Carl prepares to wake Prepotente for an incoming threat. Upon waking, Prepotente initially removes the Ring of Divine Suffering but then swallows it whole. He collapses before Miriam's ashes, screaming silently, then asks Carl and Donut what he will do now. Donut comforts him while Lady Mongos begin surrounding their location. Prepotente receives an emergency benefactor box and returns to sobbing at the site of Miriam's remains.