Carl and the remaining castle defenders hold the only intact entrance while pulse rifle fire pounds their temporary shield screens. The base was unprepared because Tipid’s defensive platoons are scattered outside finishing scout towers, the Beefy Boys SOF mages have been devastated, and enemy forces have already infiltrated the area. Carl identifies three immediate threats: invisible Madness Monkeywrenchers, Reaver paratroopers massing behind the barracks, and Valtay gondii brain worms controlling murdered mages.

Donut uses her glasses to spot the cloaked enemies, allowing Carl and the others to kill them one by one. Rosetta reports from inside the castle that Lonnie, the Beefy Boys’ leader, has been killed and taken over by a worm. From afar, worm-controlled Lonnie is disabling interior protections, threatening to open the Reaver door in the saferoom hallway and let automatons or bombs into the castle.

Carl locates Lonnie among the Reaver paratroopers and realizes the worm may soon access memories about Justice Light and the castle’s last line of defense. Tipid explains that gondii worms can animate dead hosts, access memories gradually, overclock bodies, and hop between hosts, making the compromised mages an urgent priority. Carl decides the defenders must push out and kill the worm-controlled mages before the enemy learns enough to break the throne room defenses.

Imani arrives with reinforcements through Shanty Town’s doggie door and explains that an overpowered Extreme Focus buff is making some defenders unusually talkative and keyed up. Carl repeatedly tries to summon Tina, but Kiwi refuses because Tina is a child, forcing Carl to confront the moral cost of using children in war. Carl starts to accept Kiwi’s decision and prepares to push without Tina.

Before Carl can finish revising the order, Donut publicly commands that Tina be brought out immediately. Tina bursts from the castle, gleefully attacking invisible enemies and drawing fire as her shields absorb damage. Donut then mounts Mongo, leaps above the castle entrance, rallies the defenders as “comrades,” and orders Tina and the Princess Posse to attack the Reaver force at the bottom of the hill. Inspired by Donut’s warlord speech, Carl and the defenders charge.