Chapter 16

Carl comforts a panicked Donut at a local sandwich shop after Mongo runs off to meet with female dinosaurs. Their conversation reveals Donut's deep anxiety about abandonment and her awareness of a future constraint on the ninth floor that will trap her there until she kills the Blood Sultanate royal family. Carl makes an emotional commitment to never leave her behind, and they reunite with a drunk Mongo before witnessing Kiwi and her dinosaur herd depart into the woods.

Carl and Donut take shelter in Eegees, a sandwich shop run by Marta, after Mongo charges off to meet with female dinosaurs. Donut is hyperventilating and trembling with fear. Carl checks her for debuffs and tries to calm her, but she spirals into anxiety about abandonment, revealing that people always leave her—Katia left, Carl is doing dangerous things, and Mongo will eventually go with "some hussy." Carl deduces that Donut read something upsetting on the social media board. Zev interrupts via message to warn Carl about upcoming extra scrutiny before visiting the production trailer and to reassure Donut. After Zev disconnects, Carl realizes he and Donut have unspoken knowledge about her binding curse: the Enchanted Crown of the Sepsis Whore, which she no longer possesses but whose effect remains, requires her to kill all Blood Sultanate royalty before leaving the ninth floor. Donut expresses that "We'll deal with it when we get there" is no longer acceptable. Carl experiences a moment of profound clarity, recognizing a critical decision point. He cups Donut's face and promises her directly—for the first time—that he will not leave her behind on any floor, that they are a team. Donut composes herself. Moments later, Mongo appears on the map, drunk and stumbling, collapsing in the street with full health. Donut fusses over him while Carl laughs. They notice Kiwi and dozens of female dinosaurs at the edge of the woods; Kiwi's dot shows red on Carl's map but the others are white. Donut notes a large dinosaur deeper in the woods, and they agree to reinstate the no-dinosaur rule. Kiwi departs into the jungle with her herd. Carl glimpses a prismatic light in the forest before rain begins. He receives the "Double-Billed" achievement for being one of the first five crawlers to receive double-billing, earning a Platinum Fan Box. Donut notes her own view counter is high, attributing it to viewers watching Mongo. A missile detonation sounds in the distance. They prepare to return to work.