Chapters 161, 162, 163

Yaaaas! Go fuck some shit up Carl!!

Miranda

I think book five is becoming my favorite of the series so far! Great work!

So that’s how the tie was handled. That verbal battle there at the end got me as psyched up your fights usually do! Can’t wait for the next chapter!

Leaf

I just thought of something: Would anything prevent Carl from talking trash about Keith H and Keith H's dad during the crawl, while trillions of people are watching? It would be one way to pay him back, and it would be funny. In fact, I don't know why representatives for Carl and the other crawlers don't make deals for endorsements or insult campaigns or something, as well as to indulge their personal likes and grievances.

John Anastacio

I would love to hear read/hear something along the statement "You cannot play God then wash your hands of the things that you've created. Sooner or later, the day comes when you can't hide from the things that you've done anymore."

I loved every bit of the art contest. Thanks Matt!

Jonathan Chang

Not gunna lie, that seemed very good timing to say that. Matt should look into adding that.

I know he will never say it to anyone besides himself but god damn did I wish he ended his panel with “you will not break me”

Stinner

Complete agreement

Zach West

Also, lovely way to flush out that whole.. Matt Dinniman: "Goddamnit, Patrons.".. ordeal. I wonder what the repercussions will be.

Achon

I. Need. More.

Achon

Damnit Carey. I was hoping nobody would notice

Matt D

Just one other comment, on the Gnoll pup in the artist contest; It is referred to as she in the opening chapter and he during the art contest. I admit to not knowing much about gnolls, but I assume pups don't change genders. Also just realized we are about 20 chapters in now, so are we halfway through the floor? There seems like a lot to go still. Not sure if this floor is a long book or two books. I am ok with either, it is an amazing ride so far.

Craig Carey

The business part was whoever paid the mercs to drug Carl, the other was the table and book being left in the room for Carl to take.

Prinny Knight

The very short interval in the zero zone was interesting. The lack of enhancements making the mercenaries and Carl feel weaker was expected. What surprised me was not that Carl couldn't read Syndicate standard very well in the zero zone, but that he could read it at all. What does that mean? Is he very slowly learning Syndicate Standard even in enhancement zones with automatic translation? What does that bode for him and other Earthlings if and when they ever leave the game? Will they be able to function in society outside enhancement zones? I hate to think it, but that might be why so many former crawlers end up working on the show. They might be illiterate and without skills people will pay for anywhere else.

John Anastacio

Yeah I was thinking "oh a book, that he can hide just like the other book he has" but then he went and took a whole level 5 table too? How is that gonna pass lol, I wonder if there'll be repercussions

André Faes Oliveira

When he says I took both I am assuming he meant the book and the table?

Pike

I love your books and how creative they are; this one is my favorite so far, and I don't mind waiting until the next chapter.

Grim Time

I’m so grateful to be a patreon supporter

The Plenty are so weird

DannyK

An extremely detailed and beautiful foot.

Alexander Dupree

That's quite a cliffhanger! Great post. Looking forward to the next one!

Deepak Kamlesh

Honestly I don’t see how he’s any worse off now than he was going in, his inhibitors being down and needling Circe and the Hive can only benefit him since it’s not like not fucking with her is going to get Vrah and her posse to be any less homicidal towards him, and an angry enemy is an enemy without a clear head, one who isn’t thinking as clearly as they could be.

The more exposure we get to intergalactic culture, the more I want to see the universe burn.

Jon

LETS DO THIS THING! Can’t wait!

Brandon Baier

Wow, that was fun. I need the next few chapters now...... that was a huge cliff

Craig Carey

These 3 chapter progressed the story so much. I love it. Also, 2 different transactions; does that mean, he gets 2 different ‘gifts’. Présumably the automaton table is for the personal and he gets something else for the business?

tehlu

Thhat panel was epic! Sure, Carl got fucked over pretty badly with that drug, but he gained quite a lot too. It's plus-minus zero, but significanty higher stakes situation. And thats what this story is all about, taking ridiculous risk and getting out of it alive with explosions and stupid ideas. Loved it!

Jeanean

Im so excited for the next chapter! Epic writing Matt

Rados

Fun chapters as always. Regarding the delay: No worries. I, and I suspect most others, don't mind waiting a long time as long as we know what to expect. It's okay to make a one-sentence post saying "Hey, got a bunch of cons coming up, probably no chapters until late next week." Also you *really* need to post something on RoyalRoad. It's been 50 days. If you don't want to publish there anymore, tell them that, and if you do want to publish there then publish. Uncertainty is worse then disappointment.

David K. Storrs

Nice release gets be back into the book again.

Brad Thomas

The history lecture by Circe Took is quite interesting to me. If I'm interpreting everything correctly, some primal engines accidentally being turned on are why there is so much intelligent life throughout the galaxy. The mantids and some other species don't like the Indigenous Species Protection Act and want to wipe out most of other planets. The mantids may be culturally and I suspect biologically hardwired for exterminating other species. Maybe because their reproductive rate is so high? Uninhibited Carl doesn't seem all that different to me from regular Carl. The dungeon has changed him, made him more primal, in more than one sense of the word.

John Anastacio

Thank you, Matt. I curse you for this cliffhanger grrrr. As always you writing is epic, I can't wait for the next chapter!!

Rascon

Great chapters! Drugged out Carl is a hoot. Thank you for the update!

Rachel

And god damned, the table's there too. What's the cost for this?!?! Will a favourite patron character die?!?! :o

Thian Eng Low

BTW, it looks like voting for Carl to appear at CrawlCon was the right call by the voters. Good job lads and lassies, well done on the polling!!!

Thian Eng Low

So what was the artwork of the kid who won the art contest you judged? :D

Thian Eng Low

Hey, Matt. Thank you for the chapters. Hope things are better and more relaxed for you after all the duties with your family are done and the audiobook for book 4 is out.

John Anastacio