Dungeon Crawler Carl, #6
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
by Matt Dinniman
Contents
Chapter 28
Overview
Imani reports that Katia is unconscious after using a dangerous substance in a drug den, raising concerns that Katia may have a hidden addiction problem. Carl and Donut then test their card deck in a mock battle, where Shi Maria proves both incredibly powerful and dangerously volatile.
The practice fight reveals serious team-compatibility problems when Uzi Jesus attacks Shi Maria, but it also shows Shi Maria can overwhelm high-level threats like Rude-Dolph and his puppets. Most troublingly, Shi Maria’s fifth eye affects Carl through the simulation, hinting at a deeper connection to the strange “river” in Carl’s mind.
Summary
Imani tells Carl that Katia is unconscious after finding a secret drug den Carl had told her about. Katia made herself a substance that caused a serious debuff: she will be passed out for ten more hours while “Bliss Surfing,” with a possible strength gain but also a risk of losing intelligence. Imani suspects Katia may have a recurring problem because Daniel seemed to make excuses for her, and Donut angrily rejects the idea that Katia is addicted.
Carl tells Imani that Katia’s quest matters, but everyone still needs to focus on getting keys in phase two. Carl reassures a worried Donut that Katia is tough, then takes Donut, Mongo, and Samantha into the Mock Battle Arena to practice with their card deck. Carl and Donut choose an eighteen-card deck with six totems, several utility cards, snares, mystic cards, and a Flee card, trying to simulate real conditions.
Donut selects a 1980s shopping mall simulation filled with interactive NPC shoppers. When combat begins, Donut draws Greased Lightning, Stout, Shi Maria, and Uzi Jesus. Carl has Donut summon Uzi Jesus first and Shi Maria second to see whether the totems can cooperate, but Heyzoos immediately panics and shoots Shi Maria after her dramatic arrival. Shi Maria impales him, demands healing, and Heyzoos dies before he can help her.
The enemy appears as Rude-Dolph the Blood-Nosed Slay-Deer, an intangible puppet-master protected by eight gore-covered reindeer puppets. Donut summons Skylar Spinach, whose split forms help destroy the puppets, while Carl directs Donut to enhance Shi Maria with Greased Lightning. Shi Maria proves devastatingly powerful, creating illusions, webbing enemies, moving at great speed, and opening a fifth eye that blinds or drives the reindeer mad.
Shi Maria’s fifth eye also affects Carl even though he is in the simulation, making Carl feel a disturbing pull in his chest and mind that he associates with the “river” in his mind. After the puppet reindeer die, Rude-Dolph becomes vulnerable, and Shi Maria leaps across the mall and tears him in half before devouring his entrails. The practice battle ends, leaving Carl and Donut shaken by how dangerous and useful Shi Maria is, while Samantha proudly admires her.
Who Appears
- CarlLeads deck practice, worries about Katia, and feels Shi Maria’s fifth eye affect his mind.
- DonutRejects concerns about Katia and controls the card deck during the mock battle.
- Shi MariaSpider totem who kills Uzi Jesus, devastates Rude-Dolph’s puppets, and unnerves Carl.
- ImaniReports Katia’s debuff and suspects Katia may need help with addictive dungeon drugs.
- KatiaUnconscious offscreen after using a drug-den mixture with risky stat-changing effects.
- SamanthaAccompanies the practice run, harasses Heyzoos, and enthusiastically supports Shi Maria.
- Heyzoos / Uzi JesusHealer totem who panics, shoots Shi Maria, and is killed before helping.
- Skylar SpinachTotem that splits into two forms and helps destroy Rude-Dolph’s puppet reindeer.
- Rude-Dolph the Blood-Nosed Slay-DeerMock battle puppet-master boss, invulnerable until its eight reindeer puppets die.
- MongoJoins Carl and Donut in the simulation and reacts nervously to Shi Maria’s power.
- GeraldoMonk seal totem summoned at the battle’s end, briefly reacting to Shi Maria’s grisly victory.