Despite seeing no apparent change to the demon, Arthur knew surface observations weren't enough.
Charlotte's life depended on absolute certainty.
There might be hidden damage that I can't perceive—internal trauma. I need Jasmin's confirmation.
Arthur maintained his spatial grip on the contained demon, its body suspended within the dimensional bubble like a specimen in amber.
Arthur's spatial awareness located Jasmine immediately.
She stood near the village training grounds, gravitational fields swirling around her position as she practised with her newly inherited abilities.
Perfect. She'll know what to look for.
Arthur teleported directly to Jasmine's location, space folding to eliminate distance.
He was able to teleport minor distances as that wasn't affected by the cooldown. Only long distances, such as fifty kilometres or more, were on cooldown.
The sudden appearance didn't startle her. She was used to Arthur's sudden appearances by now, and she was very familiar with his aura.
"Arthur." Jasmine's golden-silver eyes shifted to the suspended demon with interest.
"What's this about? Is that a demon? Why does it look...different from the others?"
"Yes, it's a demon. But a special one, I got it from my world."
"I need you to examine this creature. Check for any damage that might not be visible—internal injuries, cellular disruption, anything that could indicate problems with the world travel."
Charlotte's safety depends on this assessment.
Jasmine approached the spatial bubble, her healing-focused perception analysing the demon's physical condition.
She knows what she's looking for.
White Energy flowed from Jasmine's hands as her Saintess abilities activated, scanning the demon's corrupted form for signs of trauma or degradation. The examination was thorough, professional, covering systems that conventional medicine couldn't detect.
Minutes stretching like hours.
"No damage," Jasmine announced finally.
"Its cellular structure is intact. The magical essence is stable. Whatever transportation method you used, it didn't harm this creature's physiology at all."
Arthur nodded, satisfaction evident in his expression.
"By the way, you were right about Charlotte's condition. The equipment helped significantly—her colour returned, her breathing strengthened, and her hands twitched, something she was unable to perform before."
"That's good, Arthur. I'm glad that it worked out. Since you are able to transport others here, when would you be able to bring her to me?" She asked, her eyes moving from the demon to Arthur.
"There's a twenty-four-hour cooldown before I can teleport her to you."
"Will she be stable until then?" Arthur asked, worried that his sister's condition might worsen overnight, despite the obvious progress.
Jasmine's expression grew reassuring.
"If the improvements are as substantial as you described, twenty-four hours won't be a problem. Her body is fighting back now."
The confidence in Jasmine's voice was exactly what Arthur needed to hear.
"The equipment addressed the immediate crisis," she continued. "I will try to send a few of the guards to look for natural herbs that can help strengthen the body. I will try and concoct some of the medical pills that I inherited from Sylvia's remnant."
Arthur's shoulders relaxed as the tension he'd carried for months began dissipating. Charlotte would survive. More than survive—she would recover completely.
"Thank you, Jasmine. This means everything to me."
"You are welcome, Arthur. This is nothing compared to what you've done for me. I owe you more than you take credit for," She responded, a warm smile on her face.
Arthur did not stay to talk to Jasmine. It wasn't time for small talk. Earth was undergoing changes that would affect it for the foreseeable future, and he had to take action.
Having finished the experiment on the demon, he no longer needed it.
The spatial bubble containing the demon dissolved, dropping the creature onto the ground. Arthur's boot connected with its head before it could react.
Its skull cracked, killing it immediately.
As Arthur teleported between worlds, reality itself convulsed across the globe.
Maria Jayne pressed herself against the subway platform wall as screams echoed through the tunnels. The rat she had spotted earlier was transforming before her eyes.
Its skeletal frame expanded with unnatural muscle growth. Its arms elongated into razor-sharp claws. Its eyes burned with hunger.
This rat is evolving! It's becoming something else.
"Move away," Maria whispered as the creature turned toward her. "I will kill you—"
Light erupted from her body without warning. Her mind was immediately filled with knowledge flashing across her retina.
'What the hell? I can fight back!'
Without wasting a breath, her hands crackled with lightning as brilliant energy lanced across the platform, striking the transformed vagrant centre mass.
The creature collapsed, smoke rising from its wounds. Maria stared at her glowing palms in shock.
[Talent Awakened: Lightning — A-Rank]
Tokyo - Shibuya District
Yuki's grandmother lay motionless in her apartment as demonic roars echoed from the streets below. The elderly woman's breathing had stopped minutes ago.
Too late. I'm too late.
Yuki knelt beside the bed, tears streaming down her face. Six blocks of hell to reach her grandmother, only to find death had arrived first.
"I'm sorry, Grandma. I'm so sorry—"
São Paulo - Favela Districts
Diego crawled through rubble that used to be his neighbourhood. The government had written off this area completely—no rescue teams, no military support.
Rich districts get help. We get to die.
His younger brother lay trapped beneath concrete slabs, his leg twisted at disgusting angles. Blood pooled around his motionless body.
"Theo? Theo, wake up!"
Rage boiled through Diego's chest. Fury at the system that abandoned them. Hatred for the demons that destroyed everything.
Heat exploded from his body in waves that melted metal and glass. The concrete pinning his brother cracked under thermal stress.
[Talent Awakened: Fire — B-Rank]
"DAMN YOU ALL!" Marcus screamed with all his heart as he held his brother's dead body.
Alexei Volkov had spent twenty years climbing political ladders. Now, those connections meant nothing as government buildings burned around him.
Power without force is worthless.
A pack of evolved wolves—creatures the size of cars with eyes like molten gold—stalked through the square. Their enhanced senses had detected human prey.
Natural selection in action.