Elijah sat in his living room.
The adrenaline from his earlier encounter with General Monroe had long since faded, leaving him drained but hopeful.
He had done it he had convinced one of the most powerful military figures in the United States to at least consider his cause.
He stared at the faint glow of his system screen, which hovered silently in front of him.
He hadn't dared check the quest's progress yet, too nervous to confirm whether or not Monroe was officially "onboard."
With a sigh, he rubbed his hands together and muttered
"Alright, System. Let's see if this worked."
As if responding to his words, a notification blinked into existence.
---
[Quest Update: Found Your Pillars]
Recruits Found: 1/10
Remaining Time: 5 days
---
Elijah let out a long breath, his lips curling into a smile. "One down, nine to go," he said softly.
But the euphoria didn't last long.
If convincing Monroe had been that hard, how much harder would it be to sway the President of the United States?
And after that, eight more?
He leaned back on the couch, letting his head rest against the cushions. "This is insane," he muttered to himself. "But I guess insane is kind of my new normal."
The glow of the system screen faded as Elijah grabbed his phone from the coffee table.
He scrolled through his recent calls, his thumb hovering over the number Monroe had given him after their meeting.
"You've got this, Elijah," he whispered, steeling himself.
He pressed the call button.
The line rang twice before a gruff voice answered.
"This is Monroe."
"General, it's Elijah Kane," he said, trying to keep his tone casual despite the nerves creeping into his voice.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Kane. Didn't expect to hear from you so soon."
"Well, I figured there's no time to waste," Elijah said. "I need your help with something."
Monroe's voice was wary but intrigued. "Go on."
"I need a meeting with the President," Elijah said bluntly.
There was silence on the line.
Then Monroe let out a short, humorless laugh. "You don't ask for small favors, do you?"
"No, I don't," Elijah admitted. "But this is important. If the President is on board, it'll make everything else so much easier. Resources, influence, support it all starts with him."
"You think it's that simple?" Monroe asked, his tone sharp. "The President doesn't just meet with random people off the street, no matter how good their pitch is. Security alone makes it a nightmare."
"I get that," Elijah said quickly. "But I'm not asking for a formal meeting. Just... a way in. A chance to talk to him, even if it's only for a few minutes. That's all I need."
Monroe sighed. "You realize what you're asking, right? If this backfires, it's not just you who'll be in trouble. It'll be me, too."
"I know," Elijah said quietly. "And I wouldn't ask if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Look, General, you said you'd keep an eye on me. Consider this part of that. Let me prove to the President and to you that I'm not just some crazy guy with parlor tricks."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
Elijah could practically hear Monroe weighing the risks, the gears in his mind turning.
Finally, the General spoke. "Alright. I'll see what I can do."
Relief flooded through Elijah's chest. "Thank you," he said sincerely.
"Don't thank me yet," Monroe replied. "I can't promise anything. And if you screw this up, Kane, there won't be a second chance. Understand?"
"I understand," Elijah said.
After the call ended, Elijah tossed his phone onto the couch and let out a deep breath.
The hard part wasn't over, but at least he had a chance.
That was all he could ask for.
He got up and started pacing the room, his mind racing.
What would he say to the President?
How would he convince the leader of the free world to trust him, to believe in the insane truth about the Endless World and the impending merge?
The Commanding Aura would help, of course, but even that had its limits.
The President wasn't just any leader he was one of the most scrutinized and guarded individuals on the planet.
Elijah would need more than magic to sway him.
"Alright, think," he muttered to himself. "What's the angle here? What does the President need to hear to take this seriously?"
As the hours ticked by, Elijah found himself drawn back to the system screen.
He stared at the words "1/10" and felt a pang of both pride and dread.
One recruit down meant progress, but it also meant the stakes were getting higher.
He sank back onto the couch, running a hand through his hair. "System," he said aloud, "what are the odds of me pulling this off?"
[Success depends on your actions and decisions. Probabilities cannot be calculated at this time.]
"Helpful as always," he muttered.
That night, Elijah's dreams were filled with flashes of golden light, swirling energy, and the faint sound of voices he couldn't quite make out.
He saw visions of the Endless World vast, chaotic, and beautiful in its own terrifying way.
In the dream, he stood before a massive crowd, their faces indistinct but their voices unified in a chant he couldn't decipher.
The golden glow of his powers surrounded him, pulsing with an intensity that made his heart race.
When he woke, the first rays of sunlight were streaming through the window.
His body felt heavy, but his mind was clear.
Elijah spent the morning preparing himself mentally for what lay ahead.
The waiting was excruciating, but he knew there was nothing more he could do until Monroe got back to him.
As he paced the room, he thought about the people he still needed to find.
If the President agreed to help, it would open doors to other leaders, scientists, and strategists who could make Earth's transition to the Endless World smoother.
But if the President rejected him…
He shook his head, pushing the thought away. "Focus on what you can control," he muttered.
Just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Elijah's phone buzzed on the table.
His heart leapt as he grabbed it, seeing Monroe's name on the screen.
He answered immediately. "General?"
"I've got good news and bad news," Monroe said without preamble.
Elijah's stomach sank. "Let's start with the good news."
"I've arranged for you to meet the President," Monroe said. "It won't be official, and it won't be public, but you'll get your chance."
Relief flooded through Elijah, but it was short-lived. "And the bad news?"
"You've got 5 hours to prepare," Monroe said. "After that, you're on your own. If you can't convince him, this is over. No second chances, no retries."
"I understand," Elijah said, his voice steady.
"Do you?" Monroe's tone was sharp. "Because the President doesn't take kindly to being lied to or manipulated. If you screw this up, Kane, it's not just your neck on the line. Do you get that?"
"I get it," Elijah said firmly.
"Good," Monroe said. "I'll send you the details in 30 minutes. Be ready."
As the call ended, Elijah let out a shaky breath.