After finishing the latest heat, Carl and Donut meet with Hedy to choose their rewards. Hedy notes that they have two Golden upgrades and a key that can open any old house in the cul-de-sac, and she suggests considering a vehicle swap first. Carl decides they will search One Fine Pig’s house, but he doubts Pig’s armored vehicle will be better than their own because Pig invested too heavily in weapons instead of utility.

While they talk, Imani messages that Zhang and Tran are at the Lollipop, that Zhang is in bad shape, and that Li Na is still inside her guild hall meditating while poisoned and in the yellow. Carl replies that he and Donut will finish upgrades, use their key, collect supplies from Mordecai, and then head over. Imani also reports that Louis followed Carl’s advice about a hidden room, found an engineer in his house, and encountered mobs there, warning Carl that the houses are dangerous. Around them, the gremlins swarm the truck, Jamal watches with Mongo, and Samantha and Bigs heckle from Jamal’s head. Carl reflects on Lucienne’s lingering taste, on Dwight being dragged back after the race, and on how the floor’s population has dropped from fifty-five hundred to under three thousand, making the remaining heats look even more lethal.

Carl and Hedy review the next race requirements: vertical climbing, inverted racing, and jumps longer than one hundred meters. To prepare, they choose a mix of one Golden and three regular upgrades. They upgrade Bubble Buddy to its full Golden version for stronger protection, add a heat sink in case their containment fails, and install regular booster rockets like Team Sparkles used so they can clear large gaps. For the Golden pick, they choose Roller Limbo, a trans-dimensional upgrade that lets their vehicle drive upside down and flatten itself enough to slip under obstacles or other racers if there is even a small gap.

After Hedy leaves, Samantha confronts Carl because he smells like “Chachi.” When Carl realizes Samantha means Chalchiuhtlicue, the same name Lucia Mar’s warning raised earlier, he presses for details. Samantha describes Chachi as unstable, violent, and hypocritical, claiming she talks about protecting children while casually ordering child sacrifices whenever she is annoyed. That revelation makes Carl abruptly connect the danger: if this escaped goddess is really involved with Lucia Mar, then the children trapped inside Lucia Mar’s mind may be in immediate peril.