The Leader’s Call

The next day at school, John entered the usual meeting room, trying to act as if everything was normal. His group—Tyler, Kyle, Lily, Ava, Miranda, Alex, Isaac, and Sarah—was already gathered, chatting about their usual topics.

When John walked in, the room went silent.

"Uh... hey?" John greeted, feeling uneasy under their curious stares.

"Is it true?" Tyler asked, breaking the silence.

"What?" John blinked.

"That Marcus joined you?" Ava added, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern.

Before John could answer, the door opened, and Marcus walked in. The room grew even quieter.

Marcus strode in with his usual confidence, his bandages mostly gone but still a reminder of the fight that had shifted the school's balance of power. Everyone stared, their faces a mix of shock and confusion.

He stopped in front of John, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to him.

"What's this?" John asked, staring at the sealed letter in his hand.

Marcus simply smiled, his expression unreadable. "You'll find out soon enough."

Before John could press further, Marcus's eyes flicked to Kyle. He gave him a small, almost friendly wave. Kyle stiffened but said nothing.

John frowned, opening the envelope cautiously. Inside was an invitation, the text written in bold, formal letters:

"To the Leader of South Territory, you are summoned to the monthly meeting of the Four Leaders. Attendance is mandatory."

John's eyes widened as he read the invitation again, trying to make sense of it. "What is this?"

Marcus tilted his head, his smirk growing. "You really don't know, do you?"

"Know what?" John asked, his frustration growing.

Marcus crossed his arms, looking slightly amused. "Every month, the leaders of the four territories—North, South, East, and West—meet to discuss... well, business. Since you're now the leader of the South, it's your responsibility to attend."

The room erupted into murmurs.

"Wait, hold on," John interrupted, raising a hand. "Why haven't I heard of this before?"

Marcus chuckled. "Because you were never the leader before. And let's be honest, I wasn't exactly eager to expand or make waves. I kept things quiet, so most people in this school had no clue about the larger picture."

John stared at him, his mind racing. "So... you're saying this school is part of a larger system?"

Marcus nodded. "Exactly. Each leader controls a territory. The North has the largest and most powerful territory, while we—South—have the smallest."

"Why is that?" John asked, his curiosity piqued.

Marcus shrugged. "Because I didn't care about expanding. It's not that we couldn't have grown—I just wasn't interested."

John's stomach twisted. "And these other leaders... how strong are they?"

Marcus's smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. "Very. They didn't get to their positions by being weak. And trust me, they don't take newcomers lightly. They'll test you."

The weight of Marcus's words hit John like a ton of bricks. His mind raced with images of what these leaders could be like—stronger, smarter, more experienced than him. He felt a wave of panic rise in his chest.

"I-I can't do this," John stammered. "I'm not ready for something like this. Maybe you should go instead."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, but that's not how it works. You're the leader now, John. You have to represent the South."

John felt his knees weaken, the weight of responsibility threatening to crush him.

---

[System Notification]

New Quest Activated: "Face the Leaders"

Objective: Attend the monthly meeting and establish your presence as the leader of South Territory.

Reward: +5000 Training Points, Unlock New Skill: "Leader's Intuition."

Failure: Lose the South Territory to a rival leader.

---

The glowing system window appeared before him, and John's heart sank. The stakes were higher than ever, and this time, failure meant losing everything he had fought for.

"Great," John muttered under his breath. "Just great."

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked, noticing the shift in his expression.

"Nothing," John lied, forcing a smile. "It's just... a lot to take in."

"Don't worry," Marcus said, clapping a hand on John's shoulder. "I'll be there to back you up if things get messy. But don't expect it to be easy. These leaders will eat you alive if you show weakness."

John swallowed hard, nodding despite the fear swirling inside him. He had no choice. The system had spoken, and he had to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

---

Later That Day

As John sat alone in his room, the reality of the situation began to sink in. He was no longer just a student or even just the leader of his school. He was now part of a much larger world, one filled with rivalries, power struggles, and dangerous opponents.

The system's window hovered in front of him, its glowing text a constant reminder of the path he was on.

Why me? John thought for the hundredth time. Why did the system choose me?

But there were no answers, only the growing pressure to keep moving forward.

The meeting was only a few days away, and John had no idea what to expect. But one thing was certain: this was only the beginning.

To be continued...