Carl waits in Katia’s personal space with Bautista. Prepotente arrives, having reached level 70. He delivers a benefactor box containing a potion that reverses transmutation, tagged specifically for Donut and not Tina. Carl warns Donut to keep it secret from Signet. Elle and Imani message that they also received Apothecary boxes meant for Donut. Donut accuses Carl of orchestrating the entire situation.

Carl and Donut visit the Desperado Club. Clarabelle, a Crocodilian bouncer, explains that the club reorganized after Carl trapped hunters on multiple levels—crawlers and hunters now enter separate floors. Donut blackmails Clarabelle over a past financial discrepancy, gaining access.

Later, Carl and Pearson, a changeling, hold a door against security on the Hunting Grounds level. Carl has reached the Hunting Grounds via a secret stairwell and killed a Dreadnought hunter who stumbled into him. He explains his plan to use Zerzura to teleport the changelings through the High Elf Castle to the ninth floor. Astrid, the club’s assistant manager, casts a spell that makes Carl’s blood boil. He loses consciousness as Pearson opens the door.

Carl awakens in Orren’s office. The changelings were ejected and banned from the club. Orren announces his departure until the ninth floor and warns that not all liaisons are trustworthy. Citing a litigation freeze protecting the deteriorating AI, he circumvents protocols to arrange one meeting between Carl and his attorney. Quasar appears alongside a woman with a tentacle growing from her head; both she and the tentacle burst into tears upon seeing Donut.

Carl works at his automaton table but lacks sufficient parts for most builds.

Later, Carl’s team conducts a raid. Scout Li Na spots 10 hunters manning an anti-air gun, one bearing an unidentified god mark. Recalling penalties from the god Emberus for killing his worshippers, Carl plans for Donut to claim those kills. Hunters now possess powerful sponsored gear restricted to original owners. The raid involves Imani’s fear spell followed by explosive spider automatons activated by Donut. Carl programs two spiders to chase Samantha toward the anti-air gun, using her as a delivery system.

Carl reflects on his progress: He’s at level 59, nearly matching Donut’s stats, with his ring granting five stat points per qualifying kill.

The raid begins. Chris eliminates a Dreadnought. Donut activates seeker spiders while Samantha advances toward the anti-air gun. Multiple spiders detonate, earning Donut kills, and the gun explodes. Donut’s pets Kiwi and Mongo intercept and kill two fleeing hunters. The final hunter retreats into a temple. Suddenly, a large red “X” made of antlers appears over Carl’s head: The god Diwata has marked him for death. Carl orders everyone to abort the temple assault as a massive explosion erupts.

Diwata briefly appears on Carl’s map before rocketing away. Samantha identifies Diwata as a minor deity who shapeshifts and gives birth to normal animals. Carl and Katia realize that Diwata used the appearance to reach Vrah, her daughter, to cure the Enthusiastic Double Gonorrhea that Carl gave her. Big Tina breaks free and begins consuming unconscious mushroom guards.

Carl meets Signet, who plans to assault the castle when the party begins. Carl lies, claiming that the showrunners won’t allow her storyline to interfere, and proposes that she wait for his signal—intending to use her as a controlled distraction. She agrees to consider it.

Later, Carl and Mordecai examine benefactor items meant for Donut, including an enchanted hammer and stick. Carl realizes that sponsors are preparing Donut to be the sole survivor. The Diwata death mark remains over him. Donut announces that it’s time to leave.

Carl’s written plan lists six objectives: Solve the Tina quest; kill the crawler Eva Sigrid, whom Katia has been hunting; save the changelings; kill Queen Imogen; kill Lucia Mar; and eliminate all hunters.

One hour before the party, elf footman Theobold briefs Carl and Britney—Donut’s plus-one guest—in a covered wagon. Guests are under Queen Imogen’s protection and Apito’s seal; violence results in banishment to the Nothing.

Queen Imogen appears, having seen through a disguise Carl tested. She demands to know why Carl is smuggling her half-sister into the castle. Carl messages Katia his belief that Imogen is Ifechi, the deceased girlfriend of Florin, a brooding, crocodilian member of Katia’s crew.

Katia clarifies that Imogen is Ifechi’s twin sister. Britney has independently reached the top 50. Florin refuses to descend the stairs early, insisting that he can handle the situation.

Imogen recounts the Butcher’s Masquerade’s origin: The gods Taranis and Apito hosted the first party as a peace ritual, and when Yarilo broke the peace, Apito banished him to the Nothing. Imogen reveals that she cast the spell to initiate this masquerade and will receive a divine boon if it concludes peacefully, warning that any breach of the peace seal results in all parties being cast into the Nothing. She threatens Britney but stops upon realizing that Britney is an invited guest. She then vanishes—leaving Carl to realize that their plan is ruined.

Carl messages that they can’t initiate violence. The caravan arrives at the castle. Donut convinces Kibben, the stablemancer, to move her dinosaurs to the unused attendant ballroom designated for the hunters.

The group enters Ballroom A. Notifications warn that they’re prohibited from using magic, accessing their weapons, or exiting prematurely, and a warning light flashes as the protection system arms. Donut’s sponsor, Empress D’Nadia, and other judges teleport in. As hunters arrive, Vrah charges toward Carl.

Vrah threatens Carl. Britney releases a Slate Butterfly, which drains the ceiling warning light and prevents visible alerts.

Katia lunges at Eva, who taunts her about her dead son. Florin and Bautista restrain her. Donut criticizes the stage setup. Florin confronts Lucia Mar but finds her acting strangely vulnerable—huddled and shaking in a corner. Prepotente asks to join Carl’s party.

Theobold officially begins the party. In the background, Sledge guides changelings to clear the four towers while Bomo begins looting. Gideon, leading a separate crawler team, observes from outside. Zev messages Carl angrily. Signet walks into the ballroom, sending a guard fleeing. She tells Carl that Apito personally invited her.