"Alright. Level 15, Vitality invested, ready to learn simultaneous enhancement. What monsters are we hunting next?"
"The demons on Earth." Arthur grinned, watching Charlotte's reaction carefully.
Charlotte's eyes lit up with immediate excitement, but then her expression faltered, shadows crossing her features. "Earth... I haven't seen it since..." Her voice trailed off as memories surfaced.
She looked down at her hands, her earlier enthusiasm dimming. "What if it's horrible? What if everything is destroyed and—"
"Hey," Arthur interrupted gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Earth has problems, yes. The demons are a serious threat. But humanity is fighting back. We're winning in many places. The countries I've allied with—China, Palestine, France, Canada—they're holding their ground. People are adapting, getting stronger, surviving."
Charlotte met his eyes with lingering uncertainty. "Really? It's not just... complete devastation?"
