Chapter 63

Carl's team infiltrates the Madness territory under General Elle McGib's Subterfuge spell to assault the Reaver castle. The landscape is heavily trapped, forcing careful navigation. Complications arise as Dong Quixote arrives unexpectedly on a yak with Bigs instead of Holger, while multiple operations unfold across the realm—Louis pilots air support against a dragon, Samantha is positioned to cast Paint the Target, and the Feral God Yarilo suddenly enters the battlefield.

Carl's strike team lands at the edge of the Madness territory protected by Elle McGib's Subterfuge spell, which will hide them from enemy detection as long as they remain within its area. The landscape ahead glitters with thousands of traps—alarm traps, teleport traps, and summon traps for both monsters and guards. Carl communicates with multiple teams: a dragon circling the Reaver castle poses a threat to Louis's airship, missiles are being fired at the castle, and operations are underway at other locations. Carl initially summons Katia, Imani, and Splash Zone via teleport traps, but unexpectedly, Dong Quixote arrives mounted on Gonk (a swamp yak) alongside Bigs the slugalette. Dong explains that Holger refused to leave the children and gave his half of the teleport trap to Dong, while Bigs exploited a loophole Justice Light taught about mounts passing through teleport traps. Carl reluctantly accepts this but orders them to stay invisible and stow the war lance Dong carries. Carl begins mapping and disarming only the alarm traps while collecting summon traps, noting that some are inert, suggesting they're old and unmaintained. He coordinates with multiple units: Colonel Boomer manages the Reaver assault, Donut provides sniper support, Louis pilots the air operation, Samantha positions herself near the gate to potentially draw a Nothing demon as a distraction, and other forces advance from Shanty Town. As Carl's team prepares to advance toward the castle's rear approach, Samantha reports the gate timing out—and Carl realizes she's positioned directly in front of it, hoping to summon a demon. The Feral God Yarilo suddenly enters the realm.