AFTERWORD

Chapter 63

Chapter 59

Overview

Carl and his squad are transported back to Cuba as the stairwell locations open. With only 4.5 days to reach their exit, they discover multiple squads are competing for keys in different zones. Imani unexpectedly appears in their location (a church in Cuba) after her squad was wiped out, and a hostile crawler named Quan Ch is also present, forcing an immediate rescue mission.

Summary

The chapter opens with Carl questioning Pater Coal at Club Vanquisher before jumping back several days to reveal Imani's squad's death during the recap episode—her own totem killed all four members while they were frozen. Carl spends the intervening days training, unlocking alien shields for himself and Donut using Cracker Jack scrolls, and observing the strippers training in the Mercenary Arcade, including conversations with Doctor Bones about his military charm spell and patron system. Elle informs Carl the barracks is full and an upgrade to 100 spaces costs five million gold. At midnight on December 26th, Carl and Donut are transferred to Iglesia San Hilarion in Cuba, approximately 50 kilometers from their exit stairwell, with a 4.5-day deadline. The system announces five squads are in the Cuba zone with two holding keys. Carl discovers his teleport traps at the Capitol building have been triggered by multiple intruders. After squad check-ins reveal everyone is scattered across different zones with various threats, Imani unexpectedly contacts the group—she was transported to Cuba (same location as Carl and Donut) and jumped into a saferoom to escape Quan Ch, a hostile crawler attempting to initiate a card battle. Carl immediately commits to a rescue mission.

Characters

  • CarlProtagonist; relocated to Cuba with Donut, learns of traps being triggered and Imani's unexpected arrival in their zone
  • DonutCarl's companion; transferred with him to Iglesia San Hilarion, witnesses the alarm traps activating
  • Pater CoalTiny cleric; encountered briefly at Club Vanquisher at the chapter's opening
  • YasmineLevel 75 Wisp fairy; secretary of Club Vanquisher Temple Portal, blocks the entrance
  • ImaniSurvivor of a squad wipe; unexpectedly transported to Cuba, hides in a saferoom to escape Quan Ch
  • ElleSquad member; relocated to Olympia, coordinates with team via messaging system
  • KatiaSquad member; relocated to Iceland with a key, notes missing squad members from former daughters
  • Li NaSquad member; in an area with 20 teams holding keys and 25 without; reports rival squad with animal traps
  • FlorinSquad member; relocated alone to an undisclosed location, has claymores but no immediate threats
  • Lucia MarReferenced as not having received a key; not present in any zone
  • PrepotenteSquad member; in the Bahamas with four sleeping squads, plans to train and proceed to exit
  • Doctor BonesLevel-90 Skin Skellie Bard; trains in Mercenary Arcade, teaches Carl about his Conscript spell
  • Dong QuixoteStripper mercenary; trains with a lance in the Mercenary Arcade
  • Steve RowlandTroll author; mercenary who trains with a club
  • Gluteus MaxxHairy muscle man; mercenary who trains with twin war gauntlets
  • Splash ZoneOtter mercenary; water mage training in the Mercenary Arcade
  • Bucket BoyCrocodilian kid mercenary; healer training in the Mercenary Arcade
  • Quan ChHostile crawler; alone at the church location, attempted card battle with Imani before she fled to saferoom