Chapter 64

Carl prepares a plan to intercept Quan at one of two possible key locations using teleport traps hidden inside Samantha. He discovers that teleport traps can be set on automatons and used for rapid travel, then launches Samantha toward the capitol building while Donut engages the duendes to create a distraction. Ren alerts him that Quan has arrived at their location and is moving in invisible.

Carl and his group are positioned in a forested area near Havana, approximately five kilometers from a church exit and fifteen from the capitol building. Carl suspects Quan will target the farther location and devises a plan using two-part teleport traps. After consulting with Mordecai and Florin, he learns that traps cannot be set in stairwell chambers, forcing him to pursue an alternative strategy. Carl realizes he can affix teleport trap anchors to small spider automatons and hide them inside Samantha, allowing him to teleport to one of two locations based on where Quan appears. He questions Samantha about her magical capabilities, learning she can enhance spells and fly but cannot teleport independently. Samantha reveals she arrived at Shi Maria by hitching a ride on a train rather than teleporting. Carl sets up four sets of two-part teleport traps, placing anchors on automatons that he inserts into Samantha's body. He spray-paints arrows marking trap locations on the ground. When Ren reports that Quan has arrived at their location and disabled the entrance teleport traps while remaining invisible, Carl launches Samantha toward the capitol building using the head-tosser extension weapon. He instructs Donut to engage the duendes in combat as a distraction before stepping into the first teleport trap himself to join the fight.