Chapter 13

Carl watches a recap episode featuring other crawlers facing unusual monsters, then receives instructions on the new card-based combat system that will govern encounters in the second half of the floor. While preparing to practice with his deck, Samantha urgently contacts him to report that she has been swallowed by Shi Maria, a powerful demi-goddess spider mage living in a southern swamp, whom she believes can help restore Samantha to her original body.

The chapter opens with Carl and Mordecai watching a recap episode showing various crawlers battling strange creatures: an undead Easter Bunny, a sentient umbrella in Tokyo, and Elle defeating a sasquatch. Mordecai notes Prime Minister Glory's unusual appearance on the broadcast and tasks Carl with infiltrating a coffee shop and locating a Desperado Club for supplies. The top ten ranking list remains largely unchanged, with Prepotente first, Donut second, and Carl third. New entrants include Osvaldo (level 60 Curupira ranger at number eight) and Burcu (level 59 Porsuk Swashbuckler at number ten), both of whom fought Carl's squad after Imogen's defeat. Cascadia then delivers an extended announcement explaining the card combat system that will govern part two of the floor. Cards come in five types: Totems (summonable monsters), Utility (buffs for totems), Snare (debuffs for enemies), Mystic (spell-like effects), and Special (one-time effects). Squad leaders must maintain six active totems and draw four random cards at combat start. The system is real-time rather than turn-based, and squad leaders lose access to magic and inventory during deck combat. Cascadia encourages squads to collect powerful cards and kill rival squads to steal their decks. Carl and his team discuss the implications and plan to practice with their cards. Samantha interrupts with urgent messages: she has found a powerful mage capable of restoring her to her body but was eaten by the creature in the process. The mage is Shi Maria, a demi-goddess spider living in a swamp at the southern coast of the island. Carl consults his Bahamas book and discovers Shi Maria is a unique monster with numerous alternate names, including "The Bedlam Bride," with dangerous special attacks including permanent insanity and blindness. Despite reservations, Carl considers recruiting the spider as a potential squad member.