Chapter 14

Carl and Donut enter the FUPA Flag Room to prepare for Faction Wars. They discover the four combat phases and learn they face an imminent threat: 100,000 enemy troops massing on their border, with additional forces from the Dream faction positioned to attack. During the Ramp-Up phase, offensive magic and teleportation will be disabled, forcing brutal hand-to-hand combat. Meanwhile, Carl experiences alarming notifications revealing that Shi Maria, the spider tattoo on his chest, is growing stronger and nearly broke through his Mind Balance defenses.

Carl and Donut enter the FUPA Flag Room where Victory briefs them on Faction Wars mechanics. The room grants them a complex command interface showing troop deployments, secured locations, and communication channels with other warlords. Carl struggles with the unfamiliar interface before discovering disturbing spam notifications: Shi Maria has been attempting to control him repeatedly, and her Mind Balance resistance has jumped from level five to level nine. She managed to briefly break through despite his defenses, nearly triggering the Gloom Wraith Phase that would have detonated bombs and killed Donut. Mordecai confirms they're working on solutions but none are pleasant. Victory explains the four combat phases: the current Ceasefire (50 hours remaining), the Ramp-Up (180 hours), Open Hostilities, and the Peeling of Larracos. During Ramp-Up, offensive magic, teleportation, and summonings are suppressed. Enemies can only enter through two kilometer-wide gates on the northern border. Victory reveals approximately 100,000 enemy troops—mostly mercenaries and security forces—are massing on their border, with an additional 10,000 from the Dream faction positioned on the Naga side. The enemies plan a swift knockout punch before Open Hostilities begins. Florin discusses defensive preparations including Tripper-proof traps and trenches. Louis, Katia, Bautista, Samantha, and Bonnie arrive; Samantha is upset about missing their wedding ceremony, though Donut accidentally reveals there's a larger ceremony planned in weeks. Bonnie, the gnomish child they rescued earlier, asks about helping defend against outworlders, displaying unsettling maturity about violence.