Mordecai throws the grubs out of the safe room, then teleports away the ones trapped inside. Carl studies the map and realizes thousands of grubs are moving toward their location from the south, meaning the dungeon is spawning them rather than simply using preplaced monsters.

Mordecai explains that the grubs are part of the floor’s waste disposal system. They normally home in on corpses, but because Carl and Donut’s recent battle created hundreds of dead grubs and dozens of dead clurichauns, the system generated a maximum of 5,000 new grubs in the quadrant. Destroying bodies prevents the grubs from leveling up, but it does not stop spawning, so Carl concludes they have been set up to be slowed or trapped.

Carl contacts Brandon through chat and tells him to get the elderly group moving toward the stairs. Carl and Donut begin cutting a route through the infestation, but Carl soon realizes killing the harmless level-two grubs wastes resources and may create more danger. He avoids stepping on them when possible and uses explosives only when necessary to destroy bodies behind them.

At the rendezvous, Carl finds Brandon’s group traveling in a makeshift wheelchair train. Imani and Chris pull the linked platforms with Yog’s Special Chain, while the residents ride in chairs and on boards. Brandon explains that he, Yolanda, and Chris trained by clearing Mind Horrors and defeating an easier boss, earning progress and supplies, while Imani stayed with the residents.

The group turns toward the stairwell route. Mrs. McGibbons, now identified as Elle McGib, flirts with Carl while reminiscing about her late husband, and Donut comforts her by sitting in her lap. Carl reflects on how cruel it is that such elderly people are trapped in the dungeon and tells Brandon that helping one another is part of staying human.

Zev privately contacts Carl, praising the line as good entertainment but confirming that she has been watching him and Donut closely. Before Carl can process the intrusion, Zev panics and orders Carl and Donut to run to the safe room. At the same moment, Yolanda shouts at Jack, who has stood up beside Mrs. McGibbons and Donut and is urinating directly on the wall, creating an apparent new danger.