AFTERWORD

Chapter 89

Chapter 73

Overview

Carl reunites with Donut atop the Nest Tower while the battle rages below. Zev reveals that Lucia Mar is a "dead man's switch" holding 120,000 children hostage—if she dies, they all die. As the tower's integrity fails, Rosetta, Milk, and Edgar arrive with tattoo supplies to inscribe a critical spell into Donut before the final assault on the war mages' castle.

Summary

Carl takes shelter in a ditch as the gods fight, with Yarilo being brutally beaten by Harpocrates. Donut reports progress sniping enemy towers while Mongo recuperates. Lucia is conscripted away by an admin, prompting Carl to demand updates. Zev reveals shocking information: Lucia was glitched into the dungeon at the start and is now a critical anchor—if she dies, approximately 120,000 children who attempted to enter the dungeon will die as well. They were only in a specific wing of the kinder facility, but the AI (the Eulogist) won't allow her extraction. Gustavo's death somehow changed the situation; previously the glitch would self-correct upon Lucia's death, but now that may no longer be true. Carl orders Zev to keep Lucia safe inside conscription. A system message confirms Yarilo's death and notes that the Scavenger's Daughter has turned away. The Nest Tower's integrity drops to critical levels as Carl rushes upstairs. Li Na is riding Harpocrates while holding the ball-bearing flail, and Britney coordinates with Juice Box for changelings to assist. Samantha searches for Louis in a jail cell. Warlord Agatha is removed as Warlord for abandoning her post; Akuma becomes sole Warlord. Carl reaches Donut exhausted and hollowed from hours of sniping; she has leveled to 74 and her Magic Missile to level 15. Using his Ring of Divine Suffering and Ping, Carl confirms Epitome Tagg and Warlord Fang are both inside the ball, along with several unaffiliated creatures. Rosetta and Milk arrive at the tower with Edgar the tortoise, who carries his tattoo kit. Rosetta announces that Donut needs a spell—one that requires level 8 tattooing to work in conjunction with her War Crime spell. The tattooing is about to begin.

Characters

  • Carlprotagonist who coordinates the battle, receives critical information about Lucia, reunites with Donut, and prepares for the final assault
  • Donutsniper atop the Nest Tower who has been eliminating enemy towers; appears physically and mentally exhausted but remains focused
  • Lucia Marconscripted into Carl's army; revealed to be a critical anchor preventing 120,000 children from dying, though the exact mechanism is unclear
  • Zevliaison who reveals the true nature of Lucia's situation and the threat to 120,000 children
  • Rendpet creature who saved Mongo's life during Gustavo's attack
  • Mongodinosaur companion who was injured by Gustavo but healed; shows affection to Donut and Rend
  • VictoryBaroness who observes from the tower; comments on Carl's shooting ability
  • Fopsyadjutant for the Dream who teleports into the tower to observe
  • Harpocratesgod currently brutally beating Yarilo with a ball-bearing flail, conscripted by Li Na
  • Yariloferal god of lust who is killed by Harpocrates mid-chapter
  • Li Nariding and conscripting Harpocrates during the battle, coordinating with Britney and others
  • Britneycoordinates troop movements and readiness with Li Na and Juice Box
  • Juice Boxoffers changelings to assist Li Na on Harpocrates
  • Samanthasearching the Reaver castle for Louis, who is imprisoned in a secured cell
  • Louisimprisoned in a secured jail cell in the Reaver castle
  • Rosettaarrives at the tower exhausted from running (due to teleport ban); brings Edgar and critical supplies
  • Milkarrives with Rosetta, hands bound to maintain appearance of captivity; helps Edgar
  • Edgartortoise who arrives with tattoo kit to inscribe a spell into Donut
  • Epitome Taggwarlord confirmed to be inside the ball by Carl's divination
  • Warlord Fangwarlord confirmed to be inside the ball by Carl's divination
  • Akumanamed sole Warlord after Agatha's removal from command
  • Agatharemoved as Warlord for abandoning her post
  • Gustavocreature killed earlier in the battle; injured Mongo severely before death
  • D'Nadiamentioned as having been killed before this chapter; her legendary loot box contained Donut's War Crime spell
  • Florinmentioned as possessing the old dictionary; not present in the chapter