Chapter 24

Carl's unit launches a coordinated assault on the enemy trench during a chaotic, high-intensity battle. After their protective spells are stripped away by a magic diffusion spell, Carl and his squad use the Build Trench scroll exploit to breach directly into the enemy fortifications, catching a Saccathian soldier in the process.

The chapter opens in the midst of a fierce battle obscured by smoke, strobing lights, and deafening music from enemy Dazzler spells. Carl runs through the wasteland alongside Donut and Mongo while casualty notifications pile up. Pulse weapons and grenades rain down from the enemy position as the group pushes forward. A large magic diffusion spell detonates above, stripping away all protective spells and illusions, briefly revealing the enemy line composed of bugbears, gnolls, dreadnaughts, humans, nagas, Saccathians, and mercenaries with advanced weaponry. A .50 caliber-equivalent heavy pulse gun cuts through their forces, but Carl throws a hob-lobber that disables it. As illusions and buffs reappear, Carl inadvertently broadcasts a forward command to the entire war chat. Hit by an enemy bolt that depletes his tech shield, Carl continues forward despite worsening soul poisoning. The ground gives way and Carl's squad tumbles into a wide crater before the enemy trenches. Using the Build Trench scroll, Carl discovers and exploits a long-standing vulnerability: the scrolls can breach into existing trenches and ignore their protections because they're craft magic. By intersecting his trench with the enemy's shallower one, a Saccathian soldier is dropped into the crater. A trap module with music and lights lands nearby, incapacitating the confused soldier with sensory overload. Carl activates Daughter's Kiss and prepares to attack the helpless enemy.