Clint finds Carl, Donut, Holger, and Samantha after Samantha gets stuck in the mud again. He reports that three off-worlder orcs tried to ambush Signet’s group near an all-tree outcropping, but their lightning magic backfired because the all-tree protects forest-kin from magic within its range and reflects attacks onto the caster. Two of the orcs die from their own mistake, one is captured for sacrifice, and Carl learns that the all-tree’s roots extend across the region, making it a major magical defense the hunters should have known to avoid.

Back at the clearing, Carl sees the charred Skull Empire bodies and loots one of them, discovering an unusually large amount of gold, several lightning scrolls, and a mysterious credit chit that Donut pulls by using loot all. Signet explains that Edgar detected the ambushers before they could strike. Samantha then rolls up to Signet, declares herself a relative, and bluntly asks Signet to surrender her body so Samantha can possess it. Signet immediately refuses that demand, and although she later vaguely promises she may know another way to get Samantha a permanent body, Carl can tell Signet is only saying that to keep Samantha cooperative.

The group travels through the dark forest to the river, where Edgar’s large concealment spell hides the assault force. From the treeline, Carl studies Fort Freedom, a ruined castle rising from the river, and watches bush elves disarm a path through numerous alarm and summoning traps on the slope. Signet’s fighters are split between both shores. As they wait, Signet tearfully explains that the confederacy murdered her mother before her accession even though power would eventually have passed peacefully away from the bloodline anyway, making the coup both cruel and unnecessary. Before beginning the attack, Signet thanks Carl and tells him she considers him family.

Carl prepares the captured survivor, a young female Skull Empire orc called Future Huntress, for the sacrifice needed for Signet’s summoning spell. The orc warns that hunters bought a license to pursue the top ten and claims Dark Hive hunter Vrah will be free to target Carl if the Skull Empire loses its priority. During the interrogation, a system message announces that a champion has fallen, and Katia reports through chat that Langley’s entire team has been killed while cornering Bogdon Ro, with a hunter receiving credit. The news shocks Carl. Realizing Vrah likely sent the weak orc team first because she expected them to fail, Carl loses any remaining hesitation, marks Future Huntress, and kills her for the ritual.

With the sacrifice complete, Carl straps Samantha into his xistera and tapes an alarm trap to her head so she can lure the castle guards. He accidentally uses the trap set to play Wonderwall, launching Samantha upstream anyway while she complains over chat. As the alarm begins sounding from inside the castle, Signet finishes summoning her strange battle squad, the concealment spell drops, and the assault team moves toward the water. Carl, Donut, Areson, and the shore group stay behind to stop any defenders who try to flee while Signet’s attack on Fort Freedom begins.