The fourth episode of The Mighty Nein commences with a tense scene as the guards interrogate our intrepid band of heroes. The group stands as the sole witnesses, and without any evidence suggesting the toad's transformation into a monster, the guards are left with a singular conclusion: they must be a notorious gang. Their weapons and belongings are confiscated, and they are locked away, their initial bickering led by Nott's frustration over her denied libation. Molly takes the lead in scolding her companions, urging them to keep their voices down.
Beau regains her composure, recognizing the necessity of working together to escape this predicament. The idea of a prison break ignites Jester's enthusiasm, who is all too ready to spring into action.
Meanwhile, Essek divulges the mysteries of the Luxon Beacon's workings on Trent Ikithon. Upon death, the object captures a person's soul, only to transfer it to a newborn when they are born, allowing the individual to regain their memories years later. Suddenly, Trent's minions present a live subject for the beacon's testing, disturbing Essek but not deterring him from assisting the man. However, his strength is insufficient to keep the Luxon active for long, and the beacon fails to capture the person's soul before ceasing to function.
Back at the prison, Fjord teleports his sword into his hand and transforms into one of the guards, seamlessly blending in with the prisoners. The other guard releases them, caught off guard by his newfound ally. Caleb tries to pursue his necklace, claiming he cannot function without it, but they are swiftly pursued by the guards. They run with all their might, Jester and Fjord opening a hole in the wall to escape their confinement.
Their destination: the carnival, where they hope to uncover any clues regarding the Toad's whereabouts. Nott ventures off in search of alcohol, even admitting to Jester that it's not something she enjoys but is a necessity. Jester shares her thoughts on the Traveler with Nott, hinting at her sadness over their lost connection.
Simultaneously, Caleb meticulously gathers the ingredients necessary for casting more spells, aware that the impending battle with the creature would require formidable resources. Fjord inquired about Soltryce Academy, and fortunately, Caleb's knowledge proved to be a valuable asset. However, a concerning revelation emerged about the teachers there. Beau, with her deft fingers, found one of the Toad's thorns, astonishing everyone with her skills. Boasting proudly as a Cobalt Soul Monk, she believed no one would understand its significance. To her surprise, Caleb eloquently explained the intricacies of her profession.
Molly detected bloodstains that he believed belonged to the beast. They followed the trail until suddenly coming to a halt, but he licked the tiniest amount of blood and discovered more clues to follow. Yet, he remained uncertain about the intricacies of his power.
Ikithon and Essek continued testing the beacon, but it was the elderly mage who now tried to unlock its secrets. He disregarded Essek's guidance and was captivated by the Luxon's power. He wielded it to manipulate gravity, even making Essek and his minions levitate in mid-air. When Essek attempted to retrieve the beacon from him, he realized too late that he had made a grave mistake in trusting Ikithon.
As the protagonists arrived at the forest, exhaustion had set in on most of them. Fjord suggested they rest, but Beau refused, stating they were all amateurs. However, it was too late for such objections.
Their disagreement was interrupted by Toya's sudden appearance, but the girl had transformed. Her voice was different, and her skin was tinged with a greenish hue. To add to the unease, she vanished into a foggy, dark cave.
As the heroes boldly entered, Nott was the first to make an attempt at engaging the girl in conversation. But their tranquility was abruptly shattered when they spotted the towering toad, using its tongue to manipulate the child like a puppet master. The toad issued a chilling threat, warning them of dire consequences if they dared to attack. Despite the threat, Fjord made a decisive move, slicing the beast's tongue to sever its hold over the child.
With a sense of urgency, Jester and Nott sprang out of the cave to tend to Toya's wounds, while the rest of the group remained to confront the monstrous foe. Initially, their efforts were met with little success, but Molly's strategic call to action ignited a burst of coordinated effort. Caleb unleashed a fiery spell with precision, dealing double damage to the creature. And when all seemed lost, Molly closed the deal with a swift stroke from his swords, harnessing his ice powers to freeze the toad in its tracks.
The group raced towards the forest where Toya lay, but their arrival was too late. Despite Jester's best efforts to heal her, Toya had already passed on. Later, Molly discovered a rift in space, likely intended for the toad's escape. The tiefling recognized its familiarity but couldn't quite place its origin. Caleb then hinted that someone had opened it for the beast, leaving them with a new mystery to unravel.
Meanwhile, in another part of the world, Owelia made her way to the prison, searching for a particular inmate. Back at home, Essek found Verrat, the war general, strolling with his mother. Essek knew Verrat was infected with typhros and understood the urgency of time. He also informed Essek that he would lead his troops into battle in 48 hours, which left Essek scrambling for more time to find the beacon and return it. However, Verrat was firm in his decision.
The group gathered to mourn Toya by burning her body, with Molly delivering a poignant speech about their unplanned but meaningful bond. As he concluded, he drew a card that read "home," symbolizing their collective strength and potential for unity.
The next day, they set out for the city together, carrying the toad's remains as proof of their innocence. Jester's mood remained somber, but Molly offered a different interpretation of the card he drew—"traveler," signifying their journey ahead.
At the city's gate, the guards asked for their group's name. Caleb's simple "Nein" (in his native tongue) was mistakenly interpreted as a number. Jester seized the opportunity to declare them "The Mighty Nein," a name that would forever etch their legend in the annals of adventure.
Finally, they entered the prison, only to find it dark and eerily empty. Their suspicions were confirmed when they stumbled upon blood and the lifeless bodies of several guards. Caleb rushed to his necklace for protection, as it served as a cloak of invisibility against those who sought him out. Just as they were about to discover more, Owelia burst through the door, sending Caleb and Beau into a state of alert. The evil mage lifted Caleb's necklace with a sinister grin, revealing that her quest had yielded more than she had ever dreamed possible.
