Each clue yields a word or short phrase which is the piecewise opposite/counterpart to another clue answer. For example, UNDERFOOT ↔ OVERHAND are counterparts, as UNDER/OVER and FOOT/HAND are opposite pairs. Solve each clue, swap to the counterpart, and index into it by the number given in square brackets:
| Clue | Answer | ↔ | Counterpart | Extract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut off all communication (2 4) ↔ [1] | GO DARK | ↔ | STOPLIGHT | S |
| How a baseball (but not softball) is thrown (8) ↔ [4] | OVERHAND | ↔ | UNDERFOOT | E |
| Largest part of the Kingdom of Denmark (9) ↔ [6] | GREENLAND | ↔ | RED SEA | A |
| Not connected to the internet (7) ↔ [7] | OFFLINE | ↔ | ON POINT | T |
| Make a face while sulking (4) ↔ [1] | POUT | ↔ | FIN | F |
| Spencer Tracy had one at Black Rock (3 3) ↔ [2] | BAD DAY | ↔ | GOODNIGHT | O |
| Hatred (6) ↔ [6] | MALICE | ↔ | BONFIRE | R |
| Loss of power, as an empire (8) ↔ [2] | DOWNFALL | ↔ | UPRISE | P |
| Inability to make any progress due to irreconcilable disagreement (8) ↔ [4] | DEADLOCK | ↔ | LIVE KEY | E |
| Traffic signal (9) ↔ [5] | STOPLIGHT | ↔ | GO DARK | R |
| Section of a map that explains what symbols mean (6) ↔ [4] | LEGEND | ↔ | ARM START | S |
| Shark appendage (3) ↔ [2] | FIN | ↔ | POUT | O |
| Revolt (6) ↔ [4] | UPRISE | ↔ | DOWNFALL | N |
| Open-air conflagration, often at a beach party (7) ↔ [4] | BONFIRE | ↔ | MALICE | I |
| Shoulder, as opposed to hand? (3 5) ↔ [5] | ARM START | ↔ | LEGEND | N |
| Relevant to the topic at hand; exactly right (2 5) ↔ [2] | ON POINT | ↔ | OFFLINE | F |
| Farewell word at the end of the evening (9) ↔ [2] | GOODNIGHT | ↔ | BAD DAY | A |
| Constantly in the way; liable to be tripped over (9) ↔ [2] | UNDERFOOT | ↔ | OVERHAND | V |
| Unique identifier for accessing an API in production, rather than testing (4 3) ↔ [6] | LIVE KEY | ↔ | DEADLOCK | O |
| It borders Eritrea and Yemen (3 3) ↔ [2] | RED SEA | ↔ | GREENLAND | R |
These letters fit into the given blanks on the bottom to form one more clue, SEAT FOR PERSON IN FAVOR. This solves to a phrase that fits the next set of blanks, PRO'S CHAIR. Taking its counterpart yields a word that fits the final boxed sets of blanks, CONSTABLE, which is the final answer to the puzzle.