Chapter 32

Carl and his team ride a rapid response cart down the Mindaro line to rescue Bautista's stranded group. They accidentally teleport a massive station mimic city boss to trainyard E, forcing them to devise an alternate escape route through the abyss portal instead. The group successfully evacuates over 600 people to trainyard H, where they receive gratitude and tribute from the crawlers.

Carl, Donut, and Katia board a rapid response cart to investigate why Bautista's second cart never arrived, heading down the Mindaro line at high speed. They pass station 432 and accidentally teleport five panicked crawlers to trainyard E via the portal. Approaching station 433, they encounter what appears to be a railroad crossing barrier but realize too late it's the station mimic city boss in disguise. They accidentally teleport the massive mimic to trainyard E. Carl contacts Elle, who explains that giant mimics cannot be fought directly—they require separating more than 50% of the mass simultaneously, after which the separated pieces attack. Elle warns that this is far beyond their current capability. Carl abandons the original plan to go through the cart portal to trainyard E and instead decides to evacuate everyone through the abyss portal to trainyard H, distributing magical hats from his inventory to protect the 600+ people. After leaving thirty hats behind for stragglers, the group successfully passes through the abyss portal. In trainyard H, the crawlers applaud their arrival. Bautista hugs Carl and Katia, and Katia's suggestion leads the grateful crawlers to place their hats in tribute before Donut, who accepts their gratitude graciously. Carl reflects that despite the uncertainty ahead, the moment feels meaningful.