How does Carl end up paired with his ex's cat?

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The Setup

1. Carl’s breakup and the cat — Carl had recently broken up with his girlfriend Beatrice. Donut, her pedigreed show cat, lives with them.
2. Midnight crisis — Around 2:23 AM on January 3rd, Carl goes outside to smoke and finds that Donut followed him by jumping out a window into a nearby tree, because she was escaping—or so it seems. He tries to fetch her while wearing just his boxers, a leather jacket, and one of Beatrice’s too-small pink Crocs. It’s freezing.

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The Transformation & Dungeon Entrance

3. Everything collapses — As Carl is outside, all human-built structures—every building, every roof—instantly collapse and transform (along with what’s under them) into the Dungeon. Carl survives because he was exposed (outside) and grabbed Donut.

4. Forced into the dungeon — Hypothermic and with no other choice, Carl carries Princess Donut through a newly opened staircase into the Dungeon. Once inside, they both become part of the death-game reality show known as Dungeon Crawler World.

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Becomes a Team

5. Donut gains abilities — Shortly after entering, Carl gets a Legendary Pet Box and an Enhanced Pet Biscuit for having Donut with him. Donut eats the biscuit and becomes sapient (can talk, use magic, etc.), turning what was just Carl looking after a cat into a full partnership.

6. Carl + Donut: companions against all odds — From that moment, they travel together, fight together, and survive together in the Dungeon. Donut becomes more than a pet—she’s his companion, sidekick, and moral (and sometimes chaotic) guide.

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So, in short: Carl slips outside in the freezing night chasing Princess Donut, the Transformation hits, he saves the cat, and they enter the Dungeon together—after which Donut becomes more than just a cat, and they become a team.

If you want, I can walk you through exact chapter numbers or how their dynamic evolves over the first three Floors?