Carl waits in the trench with Donut, Dong Quixote, Holger, Mongo, and other Princess Posse troops while mages stack protection spells on the assault group. The dirt spine shielding them from enemy fire is allowed to erode because the attackers need a path forward and a lower barrier if retreat becomes necessary.

Imani arrives in time to add powerful calming buffs and Total Ear Protection for Donut and Mongo. Victory appears with Drick, the Dream elf adjutant for the NPC team, who insists on observing because Team Retribution is participating in the assault. Carl coordinates by chat with Louis, Elle, and Britney: Louis prepares a bombing run, Elle targets anti-air weapons, and Britney sends the NPC team forward.

Donut gives the army its order to attack after the first bomb falls, telling soldiers to use ear protection, drink invisibility potions, accept obfuscation, and sprint into the enemy trenches. Donut also promises a prize for whoever kills the most enemy soldiers, explaining that positive reinforcement is better than the threats veterans remember from previous Faction Wars.

Carl reflects that the enemy expects the Posse to defend for a week until offensive magic becomes legal, while the enemy intends to soften them with artillery and overrun them quickly. Instead, Carl’s side uses a plan partly prepared by Tipid and Rosetta and partly devised by Carl, Donut, Katia, Imani, Elle, Mordecai, and Victory. Louis’s bombs strike the ground in front of the enemy trenches, creating craters, burying defenders in dirt, and clearing traps and protections.

As the bombing starts, Princess Posse soldiers begin charging into No Man’s Land under invisibility. Elle damages the first anti-air battery, the trebuchet launches Dazzlers into the craters, and dozens of traps blast flashing lights and deafening music toward the enemy line. Reports come in that the NPC team has breached the second trench, and Louis survives his run despite being hit by spells.

Carl, Donut, Mongo, and Imani wait briefly while illusionists create decoys and enemy fire flashes through the dark. Donut admits she is afraid but has grown numb during action, with fear hitting harder afterward. Carl feels shaken too, then climbs over the trench with Donut and joins more than two thousand Princess Posse fighters in their first direct assault into enemy fire.