Elijah Kane sat at his desk, his head buried in his hands.
The glowing system screen hovered in front of him, displaying his quest's progress or rather, lack thereof.
It had been two days since he received his superpowers, and despite feeling like a walking demigod, he hadn't made a single move toward finding his ten recruits.
"System," Elijah muttered, his voice muffled by his palms, "remind me again why I can't just call the President? You know, save myself the trouble?"
[Direct communication with high-profile figures requires clearance you do not possess. Current approach: ineffective.]
"Yeah, thanks for the motivational speech," he grumbled, sitting up and glaring at the screen.
"You'd think saving the world would get me a fast pass to the White House."
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
Then, an idea struck him.
Elijah turned to his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard.
He searched tirelessly for any upcoming events where he could potentially cross paths with someone important someone who could get him closer to the President.
After hours of scouring news articles, public schedules, and military event listings, he found it: the Commander in Chief of the United States Army, General Richard Monroe, was scheduled to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a school for children of Army veterans in a nearby city.
Elijah sat back, a grin spreading across his face. "Perfect."
The next few hours were spent preparing.
Elijah crafted a fake identity using his newfound powers.
With the Commanding Aura at his disposal, he didn't need an airtight backstory he just needed enough to get through the door.
A quick glance in the mirror showed his glowing golden eyes.
He nodded to himself, adjusting his blazer. "Alright, General Monroe. Let's see if you're ready for this."
-----
The ceremony was already in full swing when Elijah arrived.
The crowd was filled with uniformed soldiers, school staff, and children running around with balloons.
The air smelled faintly of barbecue from a nearby stand, but Elijah wasn't here for the food.
He spotted General Monroe almost immediately.
The man was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with the kind of confidence that only came from years of leading others.
He was surrounded by aides, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd even as he shook hands and posed for pictures.
Elijah took a deep breath and activated his Commanding Aura.
He straightened his posture, letting the subtle hum of power radiate from him.
As he approached the soldiers standing near the perimeter, their expressions changed almost instantly.
"Sir!" one of them said, snapping to attention. "Can we help you?"
"Yes," Elijah said, his voice steady and authoritative. "I need to speak with General Monroe immediately. It's a matter of national security."
The soldiers exchanged nervous glances but didn't question him.
The aura was working.
To them, he was someone important someone who didn't need to explain himself.
"This way, sir," one of them said, motioning for him to follow.
Elijah was led to a side room in the school, away from the crowd.
General Monroe stood by the window, his back to the door.
When Elijah entered, the soldiers stepped back, leaving them alone.
"General Monroe," Elijah began, his voice calm but firm.
Monroe turned, his eyes narrowing as he studied Elijah. "Who are you? And why did you pull me away from my event?"
Elijah took a deep breath, letting the Commanding Aura work its magic. "My name is Elijah Kane," he said. "And I'm here because Earth's survival depends on it."
The general crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "Earth's survival? You've got thirty seconds to explain before I have you escorted out of here."
Elijah didn't flinch. "What I'm about to tell you will sound insane. But I need you to hear me out. The world as we know it is about to change dramatically. In less than a month, Earth will merge with a higher dimensional plane called the Endless World. Everything we know our laws of physics, our way of life will be rewritten."
Monroe's expression hardened. "Is this some kind of joke? Who sent you?"
"No one sent me," Elijah said, holding up his hands. "I'm just a regular guy who got stuck with the job of keeping Earth alive."
"Prove it," the general said, his voice cold. "If you're not wasting my time, show me something that makes me believe you."
Elijah nodded, stepping back. "Alright. You want proof? Here it is."
He raised his hand, and golden tendrils of energy began swirling around his fingers.
The air in the room grew heavy, vibrating with an unseen force.
With a flick of his wrist, the energy surged forward, wrapping around a chair in the corner.
Slowly, the chair lifted into the air, spinning gently before settling back on the ground.
Monroe's eyes widened, but he didn't move.
Elijah could see the skepticism warring with curiosity on his face.
"That's not all," Elijah said, stepping closer. "I can see things others can't. The potential in people. The paths the future might take. And I'm telling you right now, General you're one of the people Earth needs to survive."
The general finally spoke, his voice quieter but no less firm. "Let's say I believe you. What's your goal here? Why come to me?"
Elijah dropped his hands, letting the energy fade. "Because the merge isn't just a cosmic event it's a test. Earth is about to be thrown into a world that's bigger, older, and more dangerous than anything we've ever faced. We need leaders who can adapt, who can fight, who can inspire. And you're one of them."
Monroe's gaze was sharp, unyielding. "You think flattery's going to work on me? I've been doing this long enough to know when someone's blowing smoke."
"It's not flattery," Elijah said, his voice steady. "It's the truth. I've seen what you're capable of. The decisions you've made, the people you've led those things matter. And in the Endless World, they'll matter even more."
The general was silent for a long moment. Then he asked, "If this merge happens, what's your plan?"
Elijah hesitated, then spoke honestly. "I don't have all the answers. But I know we need to start building a foundation now before it's too late. That's why I'm here. I need people like you to help me make sure Earth doesn't just survive but thrives."
Monroe sat down in one of the chairs, his brow furrowed. "You're asking me to trust you. To believe that everything I know is about to change and that you're the one who can guide us through it."
"Yes," Elijah said simply.
The general shook his head. "I've seen a lot of crazy things in my time, but this... this is on another level. How do I know you're not just some con artist with a few party tricks?"
Elijah stepped closer, meeting Monroe's gaze. "Because I don't need you to believe me right now. I just need you to be ready. When the merge happens, you'll see it for yourself. And when that time comes, I need you on my side."
Monroe stared at him, the skepticism slowly giving way to something else something Elijah couldn't quite name.
Finally, the general stood. "Alright, Kane. I don't trust you, not completely. But I'll keep an eye on you. And if what you're saying turns out to be true, I'll be ready."
Elijah let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "That's all I'm asking."
As Monroe left the room, Elijah sat back down, his hands trembling slightly.
It wasn't a victory, not yet but it was a start.