Chapter 21

Carl arrives at the southern front of the battle against the Dream's forces to find trenches under constant artillery bombardment. The enemy launches a devastating biological attack using corrupted, explosive rot sticker pets that breach the defenses and infect soldiers with the Gurgles debuff. After repelling this wave, Carl prepares to execute a counterattack plan with his elite forces.

Carl and his companions arrive at the Princess Posse forward position defended by the 102nd Bulwark Battalion to coordinate with incoming reinforcements from the 106th Bloody Leeches. The southern front is under heavy artillery fire from the naga forces, with a no-man's-land filled with traps between the two positions. The 102nd has built an extensive trench system with thousands of mages providing protection spells. Carl learns the enemy has captured and killed several spies, including a Saccathian prince from Empress D'Nadia's faction who stepped on a landmine. Carl establishes clear protocols: captured NPCs may be converted to their side, mercenaries who cause trouble are to be killed and looted.

After the 106th arrives, the enemy artillery suddenly ceases and launches a surprise biological attack: approximately 1,000 corrupted rot sticker behemoths, level 40 pets inflicted with the Gurgles debuff, rabies, insanity, and size-enhancing drugs. These creatures roll toward the trenches at high speed. The defenders initially struggle, but Tran directs the Frothing Tunnel Moles special operations unit to detonate buried explosives beneath the dirt wall, destroying most of the attacking pets in a massive explosion. However, several infected soldiers breach the trenches, spreading the Gurgles contagion. Kristen Cronin, a level 56 Crisper, uses a flamethrower to contain the outbreak, incinerating the infected. Baroness Victory appears, confirming the Gurgles is a forbidden non-curable debuff that exploits a loophole in the magic ban by having been inflicted before the ban took effect. Carl recognizes the enemy still has 100 invisible Madness mercenaries and armored vehicles in reserve and decides it is time to execute their counterattack plan.