AFTERWORD

Chapter 94

Chapter 78

Overview

Carl and his companions survey the devastated castle of the Semeru and prepare for a rescue mission to save Louis from the Reaver castle. Meanwhile, mysterious messages in the warlord chat reveal that Warlord Akuma and the War Mages have left the realm after obtaining the Scavenger's Daughter, warning that Agatha remains a threat on the 10th floor. Carl grapples with conflicting information about Britney's nature and receives a quest update about a memorial crystal now in Prepotente's possession.

Summary

The chapter opens with Carl and Florin observing the ruined castle of the Semeru, destroyed and covered in ash and acid. Florin warns Carl to avoid puddles as they await Imani's emergence from the hospital tent. Carl has recently told Florin about his encounter with Lucia and her net trap. The group plans to head to the Reaver castle to rescue Louis, who is trapped and unconscious but otherwise unharmed, though Samantha cannot reach him because the castle walls keep changing and are defended by robot dogs. Cleanup efforts continue across both Larracos and Shanty Town with NPCs, mercenaries, veterans, and crawlers working together. Carl receives a series of bewildering warlord chat messages: Warlord Akuma claims to have no hand in Agatha's destructive actions and demands Carl kill Agatha to prevent catastrophe. Donut responds indignantly about being called a pet, and Tagg appears briefly before vanishing. A system message confirms Warlord Akuma has left the realm and the War Mage rebellion is defeated. Carl contacts Victory and Mordecai for clarification but receives limited answers. Florin reveals he won't take a deal at the beginning of the 10th floor, preferring to fight. He mentions Jurgen, a barbarian who came with his pregnant wife Heidi and will protect Lucia because of the children held in a facility upstairs. Carl observes Donut sitting sadly on the Sledge, with Chris, Clay-Ton, and Very Sullen nearby. Edgar the tortoise explains he cannot extract a spell from the Sledge because he's a rock monster. Justice Light demands the location of a mysterious gate, claiming it's critical for survival. Carl hesitates, remembering Rosetta's emotional connection to revenge. After consulting with Rosetta, Tipid, and Donut about Eris's warnings, Carl reveals the gate is in merchant Paca's stomach in the Midnight Market. Justice Light thanks him and claims he can retrieve it with the slugalos' help. Big Tina refuses to return to the FUPA, having proven herself in battle. Imani and Juice Box emerge from the hospital tent to report Britney's health is perfect and they sense nothing unusual about her, though Carl remains uneasy. Katia and Bautista arrive, and Prepotente lands with news that Li Na is in the woods with new hunting and flight abilities but cannot find those marked by powers. Carl receives a quest update: the memorial crystal has transferred from Osvaldo to Prepotente. Prepotente declines to join the rescue mission, choosing instead to help Li Na search for missing crawlers. Before departing, Prepotente hugs Carl, and Donut lands on Carl's shoulder as they prepare to leave for the Reaver castle.

Characters

  • Carlprotagonist making decisions about rescue and alliance-building, receiving confusing warlord messages and quest updates
  • Florincompanion advising Carl about puddles and warning about Lucia's combat abilities, explaining mercenary motivations
  • Imaniemerges from hospital tent to report on Britney's health
  • Juice Boxexamines Britney and confirms sensing nothing unusual about her
  • Donutresponds angrily to being called a pet in warlord chat, helps with name change, lands on Carl's shoulder to go save Louis
  • Warlord Akumasends messages claiming War Mages only sought the Scavenger's Daughter, warns about Agatha's danger on floor 10
  • Taggbriefly appears in warlord chat noting an orc princess was right about failsafes
  • Katiaarrives to prepare for the rescue mission to save Louis
  • Bautistaarrives with Katia to prepare for the rescue mission
  • Prepotentearrives on Bianca reporting Li Na's new abilities, declines joining rescue to search for missing crawlers, hugs Carl before departing
  • Biancacarries Prepotente to the location
  • Florindiscusses not taking a deal on the 10th floor and fighting instead
  • Jurgenlarge blond barbarian cleaning streets, will protect Lucia because his pregnant wife is held in a facility upstairs
  • Luciacast net traps, currently in hospital tent with liaisons
  • HeidiJurgen's pregnant wife, disappeared and held in facility upstairs
  • Louistrapped and unconscious in Reaver castle, subject of rescue mission
  • Samanthatrapped in Reaver castle walls that change, fighting robot dogs for control
  • Rosettalistens to Carl's concerns about Justice Light and the gate, understands themes of revenge
  • Tipidadvises against retrieving gate until threat passes
  • Justice Lightdemands location of mysterious antenna/gate, claims it's in Paca's stomach, says he'll retrieve it with slugalos
  • Pacamerchant in Midnight Market carrying the gate in her stomach
  • Big Tinaballerina dinosaur who destroyed fire lance tower and protected crawlers, refuses to return to FUPA
  • KiwiBig Tina's mother from FUPA, tries to retrieve Big Tina
  • Mongobounces around Big Tina as her mother tries to retrieve her
  • Edgar the tortoiseexplains he cannot tattoo or extract spells from the Sledge
  • Rosettasits with group, wiped eyes understanding Justice Light's motivation
  • Very Sullenstands near the sad Sledge with Chris and Clay-Ton
  • Chrisstands near the sad Sledge with Clay-Ton and Very Sullen
  • Clay-Tonstands near the sad Sledge with Chris and Very Sullen
  • The Sledgerock monster clutching video game controller for missile system, appears sad and withdrawn
  • Li Nain the woods seeking those who escaped, has new hunting skills and ability to fly
  • Osvaldocrawler sitting with unaffiliated group, lost memorial crystal to Prepotente
  • Britneyemerges from hospital tent buried in papers about city defenses, examined for unusual presence but found normal
  • Ellesuggests asking Britney directly about her nature
  • Erismentioned as a goddess who claimed Carl was married and gave warnings about threats
  • Victorycontacted by Carl about Akuma's whereabouts, reports War Mage team is defeated and no longer under authority
  • Zevcontacted by Carl but does not respond immediately to his questions
  • Mordecaiadvises Carl to focus on flower ceremony with Donut and Katia before other concerns
  • Emberussends quest update about memorial crystal now in Prepotente's possession