Chapter 25

Carl awakens after using Daughter's Kiss and discovers the frontal assault has succeeded—the enemy's first trench is captured and Team Retribution has filled the middle trench with acid, causing heavy casualties. Carl, Donut, Mongo, and a crew including children Bonnie and Skarn board the aircraft Party Planner to fly toward the enemy headquarters. They arrive at Empress D'Nadia's small castle, disable traps, and prepare to confront her.

Carl regains consciousness after a twenty-five-second blackout caused by a Post Nut Clarity debuff from his Daughter's Kiss ability. He learns the assault succeeded: the first trench is captured, and Team Retribution filled the middle trench with acid-altered water disguised by illusion, causing the confused enemy to suffer massive casualties when they retreated into it. Colonel Boomer takes command of the assault with orders to maintain a stalemate rather than push for surrender. Carl boards Party Planner with Donut, Mongo, Louis, Bonnie (a gnome child), and Skarn (disguised as an adult changeling scout named Gangue). Imani remains behind to rescue injured soldiers. During the flight toward the enemy castle thirty miles away, Carl realizes children are present on a combat mission but decides to address it later. They land near a small, poorly defended castle belonging to Empress D'Nadia. Carl and Donut kill three outside guards, then carefully disarm multiple traps at the door. Baroness Victory appears and warns Carl about the power of the chemical alteration spell used in the trench. Carl ignores her, equips the Ring of Divine Suffering, and calls out to challenge the Empress inside.