Carl reflects on how effective the recent hunter raids have been. He has collected sixty-six trophies, marked three more hunters with his ring, raised his constitution through those kills, and reached level 59, while Donut has reached level 50 and increased her own hunter trophy count. Carl puts all nine level-up points into strength to exploit his class bonus, notices that his total base stats are closing in on Donut’s, and recognizes that if he surpasses her, Donut could lose control of their two-person party, which leaves Donut in a sour mood.

The group begins another raid on a trapped town holding fifteen hunters. Carl coordinates with Chris, Donut, Imani, Li Na, Katia, and the others while Donut sends out seeker spiders and Samantha rolls toward the anti-air gun. Their plan relies on Samantha bypassing the gun’s anti-seeking enchantment long enough for the spiders to catch up and detonate, allowing the Twister and the main assault teams to move in safely.

Once the gun is destroyed, the raid unfolds almost exactly as planned. Imani’s group attacks from the north, Katia and Elle press from the west, and the hunters panic and scatter instead of fighting together. Li Na warns Carl that five fleeing hunters are Emberus worshippers, and as they run toward him with seeker spiders behind them, Carl nearly gets caught in the blast, but Kiwi and Mongo leap in and kill the two Saccathian hunters before the automatons can explode near Carl.

Within minutes, nearly all the hunters are dead, and Donut celebrates five kills. The only survivor is a level-63 hunter who has retreated into a temple, so Carl and Donut move to help Katia’s group surround the building. Just before they can finish the cleanup, Donut notices a new red symbol over Carl’s head, and Carl receives a warning that the god Diwata has appeared, marked him for death, and can track him. Carl immediately orders everyone to abort and flee from the temple, but as he sends the message, a massive eruption rocks the center of town.