After Edgar finishes tattooing Donut, Donut receives insulting achievements and confirms that the tattoo granted the needed spell, though only at level two. Milk then uses glowing Words of Power and special inks to temporarily boost the spell to level fifteen, explaining that practicing it at that strength can help Donut train it. The tattoo reveals itself as a moving line-art dog, upsetting Mongo and embarrassing Donut.

Milk discusses the dangers and variety of magical writing systems, hinting at lost knowledge from a recipe book whose later pages faded because of the ink used. Milk gives Carl Stayfast Ink and an Adept’s fountain pen, explaining that anything Carl writes in the Book of Voodoo will be shared with everyone who has that book. Milk, Rosetta, and Edgar then leave the tower, while Carl warns Dong Quixote and the Sluggalos to move away before the coming attack.

Carl prepares Donut to cast War Crime once Harpocrates drops the ball containing enemies into Larracos. Donut worries about Li Na blaming her for Li Jun’s death, about Bomo’s apparent death, and about the screaming children trapped inside Lucia Mar’s mind. Carl reassures Donut that the dungeon’s creators are responsible and that they will continue together no matter what happens. Donut also admits that she and Katia have a secret plan involving a benefactor box from the Apothecary, but the attack begins before Carl can learn more.

Li Na gives the order, and Harpocrates drops the ball into the Larracos funnel. Britney reports that the water around the castle has been turned to acid and that a dwarven digger is about to drain it, setting up the castle raid. Defensive towers begin firing on the ball now that Harpocrates no longer holds it, rapidly lowering its health.

When Carl and Donut prepare to jump, they discover a new invisible magical net trapping them inside the tower. Victory and Fopsy identify it as another Lucia Mar contingency, likely powered by a Power Siphon drawing energy from the active towers. Donut uses her sunglasses to locate the trigger, but her Magic Missile cannot destroy it; Carl realizes someone must physically collect the marble-like trap and orders Dong Quixote to do it.

As the ball’s health drops into the red, Carl first tries to abort because Donut cannot escape the tower safely. Li Na says it is too late, and Carl tells Donut not to use fire if she must cast War Crime, because the Nest must remain intact long enough for them to survive. The chapter ends with Li Na announcing that the ball has broken and ordering Donut to cast immediately.