Elijah sat in his chair, staring at the system screen with narrowed eyes.
"So, what now?" Elijah muttered, drumming his fingers on the desk. "Do we just sit around waiting for their report, or is there something else you're conveniently not telling me, System?"
[The Village Council's report is pending. Its outcome depends on Earth's perceived value and potential during the merge.]
Elijah sighed. "Yeah, you said that already. But how do I change their perception? How do I make Earth more... I don't know, impressive?"
[Quest Assigned: Find Your Pillars.]
The screen flashed, displaying the quest details.
Quest: Found Your Pillars
Objective: Identify and recruit ten key individuals to lead Earth's transition into the Endless World.
Reward: The full loyalty of recruited individuals and increased planetary preparedness.
Time Limit: 7 Days.
Before he could respond to this sudden out of nowhere quest.
Elijah felt… strange. Not bad-strange, just different.
He could feel something coursing through him, something ancient and otherworldly.
He stared at his reflection in the mirror.
His eyes glimmered faintly with a golden hue, shifting like molten metal under sunlight.
The aura around him wasn't visible, but he could feel it a pulsing energy radiating out, brushing against everything around him.
"This… is wild," he muttered, flexing his fingers. "System, what exactly have you done to me?"
[Temporary powers have been granted to aid in the completion of your quest. These abilities include:
1. Vision of Potential: Perceive the latent capabilities of individuals.
2. Commanding Aura: Enforce authority through a mystical presence, compelling respect and recognition.
3. Mystical Insight: Tap into the hidden flows of energy around you, granting limited control over the physical and metaphysical realm.]
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Elijah blinked. "Mystical Insight? Are you saying I have magic now?"
[The ability is limited and temporary. Use it wisely.]
He laughed, more out of disbelief than humor. "Great. I'm a part-time wizard now. Should I get a wand or something?"
He turned back to the mirror, holding up his hand. "Alright, Mystical Insight. Let's see what you can do."
As he focused, golden tendrils of energy began swirling around his fingers, curling like smoke.
He waved his hand experimentally, and the energy flowed outward, brushing against the objects in the room.
The lamp on his desk flickered to life, the curtains fluttered without wind, and the air itself seemed to shimmer.
"Oh, that's cool," Elijah said, grinning. "What else can I—"
A sudden surge of energy burst from his hand, slamming into the chair in the corner of the room.
The chair shattered into pieces, and Elijah stumbled back, wide-eyed.
"Okay, note to self: don't point at anything you like," he muttered, shaking his hand as if that would calm the power.
Once he got over the initial thrill of wielding magic, Elijah sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the glowing system screen.
"Ten people," he said quietly. "I need to find ten people who can lead Earth into the Endless World. Ten people who will have my back when the merge happens. And if I pull this off, they'll be completely loyal to me."
The weight of the task pressed down on him.
Who could he trust to carry that kind of responsibility?
He wasn't looking for coworkers or allies he was building a foundation for Earth's survival.
His mind raced through possibilities.
Scientists?
Military leaders?
Entrepreneurs?
He needed a mix of visionaries, strategists, and people who could inspire others.
But then, a thought struck him, and he let out a bitter laugh.
"Who am I kidding?" he said aloud. "I can't pick leaders. I don't even know how to lead myself."
As the hours ticked by, Elijah found himself pacing the room, his thoughts spiraling.
He knew he needed to act, but where to start?
How could he find the right people in a world this big?
Then, like a bolt of lightning, the answer hit him.
He froze mid-step, a grin spreading across his face. "Wait a second. Full loyalty. That's what the system said, right? If I find them, they'll be completely loyal to me in the end."
[Correct. Recruited individuals will develop unwavering loyalty to you as a result of the quest reward.]
Elijah laughed, shaking his head. "Then why am I overthinking this? Why am I worried about finding the 'right' people when I can just go straight to the top?"
He turned to the mirror, his grin turning into a full-blown smirk. "System, if I'm going to recruit people, I'm not starting small. Forget scientists and strategists I'm going straight for the world leaders. Presidents, prime ministers, kings why settle for anyone else?"
The system remained silent, but Elijah could feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through him.
It was an insane idea, sure, but wasn't everything about this situation insane?
He started pacing again, this time with a purpose. "Think about it. If I can get the leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth to back me, everything else falls into place. Resources, influence, manpower it's all there. I wouldn't just be preparing Earth for the Endless World; I'd be uniting it."
The enormity of the plan made him pause, his grin fading slightly. "Of course, there's the little issue of convincing them. I can't exactly walk into the White House or Buckingham Palace and say, 'Hi, I'm Elijah Kane, and I'm here to save the world.'"
He glanced at his glowing hands, the faint golden light still swirling around them. "But that's where this comes in, isn't it? Commanding Aura. Mystical Insight. If I can use these powers to make a retired general or a scientist trust me, why not a president?"
[The abilities can influence individuals but cannot force them to act against deeply held beliefs. Success depends on your approach.]
"Good to know," Elijah muttered. "So, I can't just Jedi mind-trick my way into global domination. Figures."
He sat back down, his fingers tapping against the desk. "Alright, System. Let's say I go for world leaders. Who should I start with? Who's the easiest to get to without, you know, causing an international incident?"
The system didn't reply immediately.
Instead, the Vision of Potential activated again, and Elijah's perception shifted.
He didn't see specific names or faces, but he felt a pull an instinctive sense of where to go next.
The feeling was almost like a whisper in his mind, guiding him toward the individuals whose potential burned brightest.
He closed his eyes, letting the sensation wash over him. "Interesting," he murmured. "It's not just about seeing potential it's about feeling it. Like a compass pointing me in the right direction."
His plan to target world leaders is reckless, ambitious, and borderline insane but he knows it's the best shot he has.
"This is either going to be the dumbest thing I've ever done," he muttered, "or the smartest."
The golden glow around him flared slightly, as if responding to his resolve.
"And if it works," he added with a smirk, "Earth might just stand a chance."