United States, Washington DC, White House Emergency Room:
"Can someone tell me what is going on?" President Obama asked.
"The announcement from the entity called the Dimension Tower was broadcast in every country," Chief of Staff Denis McDonough responded. "Every citizen of the planet, no matter where they were or what language they speak, heard the announcement loud and clear.
"Furthermore, we have received reports that France, Iran, Russia, and Israel have fired missiles toward that tower, but they have all ended in international waters, almost sparking complications."
"I read the report," Obama calmly stated. "I'm asking how it was done."
The Chief of Staff did not answer. Instead, he subtly glanced at the White House's Science Advisor, John Holdren. His actions were not deliberate, but somehow, everybody in the room turned to the older gentleman. Holdren secretly sighed to himself before wiping out the sweat on his face with his handkerchief.
"Mr. President, there are two possibilities at play here," John Holdren explained. "The Dimension Tower has either developed Holographic Technology, or we are dealing with the concept of Spatial Projection."
"Spatial Projection?"
"The tower is hidden in another deep layer of space, and the one we see is nothing but a projection, like a mirror object."
"Forgive me if I'm wrong," Obama said as he lit a cigarette.
"Sir, you promised the Lady you would quit," his secretary reminded, and Obama waved his hand to dismiss the concerns. He looked at Holdren and continued:
"While I only studied political science at Harvard, I do have some basic knowledge of science. Aren't the things you're talking about purely science fiction? Heavy emphasis on the fiction part."
"Sir, you and I both know the world is not as simple as science claims it to be," Holdren stated. Obama frowned as he remembered a special position in his cabinet: the Supernatural Advisor. That position is unknown to the public, and every time he tried to eliminate it, he received great resistance. And he was not the only one. Many former presidents have tried doing the same, and no one has succeeded.
"Summon that advisor. I need answers today," Obama waved his hands. Every time he tried to talk to that woman, he only got vague, nonsensical answers. But today, she will either speak or walk out of this room in a body bag. Half an hour later, an elderly woman in a long black dress, her back hunched, her face marked with age, and barely able to stand on a cane, walked into the room. Someone offered her a seat, and she thanked them.
"Madam Saori, I presumed you saw the announcement?" Obama started. "I am at a loss with the current situation, and I need answers."
Madam Saori looked at the president with her piercing gaze. Although she was old, her eyes were pure and clear, even more so than a spirited young man. Her years of experience told her she had better speak properly this time, or her life might be in danger.
"Mr. President, what do you want to know?"
"Everything. What do you do? What exactly is going on with that Grand Archmage Drakken and the so-called Dimension Tower? Tell me everything you know so I can better assess the situation.
"Very well," Madam Saori nodded. "Magic, witchcraft, sorcery, or whatever you want to call it, has always been ever-present in our world, always hidden beneath the surface. My department was created during the [Trail of Tears]. The Indians — I mean, Native Americans — refused to accept their fate. So, their shamans and priests started killing government officials and generals with powerful curses.
"Under advisement, Andrew Jackson ordered a powerful witch to create a powerful egregore using the nation's power. With its power, the curse assassination stopped. From that day on, every generation, someone would be chosen to manage it and keep the president and Congress members from the supernatural forces."
"Egregore?" Obama asked.
"Spirits born from the beliefs, ideas, or stories of numerous individuals."
Obama frowned as he thought of something: "Manifest Destiny."
"Very astute, Mr. President," Madam Saori nodded. Manifest Destiny was an expansionist ideology of the US during the 19th century that encouraged the westward expansion across North America. It greatly enhanced white nationalism throughout the US and was responsible for the concept of American exceptionalism that exists to this day. So, as soon as Madam Saori defined an egregore, Obama summarized that the purpose of the Manifest Destiny Movement was not just to increase the US's territory, but to use the belief of countless white Americans to condense the nation's egregore.
"If we have such a department, what about the other nations?"
"Most do, but the supernatural world has been weakening with each passing year; there is a high chance they may have been cancelled," Madam Saori nodded.
"I just thought of something," the Chief of Staff interjected. "If the egregore is created from beliefs, what about religions?" His words immediately reminded everybody. Currently, there are 2 billion Christians in the world and 1 billion Muslims.
"There is a reason places such as the Vatican remained so powerful and influential after so long," Madam Saori calmly stated. The silence in the room was defining. The US has a population of 300 million, which pales in comparison to the number of Christians and Muslims.
"Can these egregores be weaponized?" The Secretary of Defense asked.
"If it were before, I would have said no, we can only barely use its power to defend against curses and spiritual attacks," Madam Saori explained. "However, the arrival of this Dimension Tower seemed to indicate a new change in the world."
President Obama finished one cigarette before lighting another. The information he received today forced him to recontextualize many things he once thought to be true. He could imagine how many historical events also contained hidden supernatural battles. Didn't his people have magic? They probably brought it from Africa, but with the egregore protecting the nation, all their attempts were probably futile.
"Forget about the past," Obama thought. "I should think how the world would change if people started to have superpowers as that mage announced." He sighed deeply. Why did it have to happen so close to the election when his last term was about to conclude? After finishing his second smoke, Obama used his self-control to stop himself.
"How many people are in your department? What's your budget?" he asked.
"There are only 5 of us, and our annual budget is 12 million dollars."
"Only five?"
"As I said, magic is weakening, and our presence is not needed as much," Madam Saori explained.
"If I can convince Congress to raise it to 30 million. How many more people can you recruit?"
"I can probably get another 5."
"Only 5?"
"In the magic world, our lineage is not popular, to put it mildly," Madam Saori explained. "Most people who have true capabilities do not care for the money and disdain joining us, or they fear retaliation from others. In fact, most of them want to kill us, let alone be associated with the government. With the money, I could train more people, but that takes years."
"Why are you so unpopular?" Obama frowned.
"Our egregore is the physical manifestation of the nation," Madam Saori explained calmly. "Every time the US interferes in international situations for whatever reason, we take a portion of those countries' supernatural powers, luck, and destiny to sustain ourselves. And it doesn't have to be nations. The same rules apply to certain marginalized groups or races."
"So, even the supernatural world cannot escape capitalism and white supremacy?" Obama thought.
"I will try to get a high enough budget. You only need to recruit as many people as possible," Obama ordered. A new department might be needed to deal with the Dimension Tower's spreading magical abilities. By adding Madam Saori to that new department, Obama was confident he could get a few hundred million dollars in the budget. He doesn't believe that with so much money, they cannot hire many witches or warlocks.
Knock! Knock!
Obama frowned, and the Chief of Staff walked outside. He whispered for a few seconds before returning to the room with a somber expression.
"What is it now?"
"We've just received an emergency report," Denis replied. "There are hundreds of 911 calls reporting people who suddenly died. The number of calls is increasing with each passing second, and the preliminary analysis is that this might be the Dimension Tower at play."
"Damn it, couldn't they give the rest of the night off?" Obama cursed. "Put the report on the screen."
"Yes, Sir," Denis nodded. "The FBI has already deployed, and what we know so far is that each death is different. Some are mutilated, some died by flames, others by arrows. We…."