Chapter 55

Carl emerges from the final confrontation with Vinata, the Sepsis Whore, discovering that Kandy Newton delivered the killing blow. As immortality buffs fade and debuffs persist, Carl reunites with his party and fights through mantaurs and Basilica Guards using Black Nimbus potions and Li Na's chain skill to clear a path to the hidden Calligrapher's Guild. There, Carl discovers the guildmaster is Milk—his sister—a revelation that breaks through his emotional armor.

After Vinata's defeat, Carl finds himself heavily debuffed (unable to bend his knees, worms flowing from his nose, suction cups on fingers) and begins rapid healing with his newly unlimited-mana Heal spell. Kandy Newton, the sluggalette who delivered the killing blow, is present in the empty chamber. Samantha arrives, severely burned, claiming Theia (her mother) was actually a male skyfowl—a sponsored deity operating outside her normal form. Victory appears as an observer, noting that sponsors causing deities to act outside their nature violates faction war rules. Carl receives urgent messages from Katia: the party is trapped in the lobby with mantaurs and ogres blocking the hallway to the mapmaker guild on the second floor. Carl activates Operation Head Banger, using Black Nimbus potions to trigger mantaur berserking. A Basilica Guard named Brother Widespread Tempest appears with mantaur escorts; Carl throws a Black Nimbus potion at him while deploying alarm traps playing "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due," which causes the mantaurs and ogre to go berserk and scatter. Carl then activates Li Na's Profane Iron skill—chains erupting from his flesh—to neutralize the remaining mantaurs in violent fashion. He stiff-legs around the corner where Katia, Prepotente, Li Jun, and Zhang are fighting their own enemies. Prepotente reveals a hidden door to the Calligrapher's Guild. Inside, the guildmaster is revealed to be a half-frog, half-bat creature named Milk. Carl recognizes her as his sister—the author of the sixth edition of the cookbook—and she recognizes him in return. The emotional weight of this discovery causes Carl to finally break down, accepting comfort from Milk while the others watch bewildered. He messages Donut that they are almost out. A final note reflects on Drakea's hatred of nagas and hopes she would be proud of Vinata's defeat.