Story

## Act 1 - World War III

The year was 2022, the month: February.

Vladimir Putin, the leader of a country once known as Russia had officially declared war on the nation of Ukraine. Shortly after, China launched an attack on Taiwan with a fairly large military-force. It had come to light that Chinese forces had secretly been amassing troops, supplies, and military vehicles via secret underground tunnels that led to the China-Taiwan border.

Fierce battles broke out in the regions and immediately caused devastating amounts of death and destruction.

Mexico ended up declaring war on the United States, too, soon after. The powerful cartels had easily infiltrated the Mexican government and held almost all federal offices and controlled both the military and police forces. There were planted cartel agents in every speck of the country; no one was safe, and their influence was too great. They wanted to take over the US to expand their military might and regional control.

North Korea broke the peace pact with South Korea which they had just agreed upon a month earlier. Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea, decided that he had enough of being constantly mocked and ridiculed all the time. He bore deep hatred and saught for revenge against those who had always insulted or threatened him. He seized the ongoing international chaos to launch his own campaign against South Korea and Japan, with China backing NK with money and weaponry.

The EU sent troops to assist aiding the US, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to repel hostile forces. Military-guard reserves were all activated and sent to the frontlines right away. Military branches quickly set up transportation routes and new FOB's near major-affected areas; Air Forces scrambled all assets into the skies; Navy's sent out all the ships they had; infantries deployed to fight in CQ battles in both rural and urban environments. Attack and reconnaissance drones flew into the skies, gathering intel and bombing in all sorts of places.

After just two weeks into the horrific new World War, Putin, Kim Jong-Un, Xi Jinping, and Andres Obrador (Mexico) all threatened to nuke every offending country off the world map if they refused to surrender. Mexico apparently obtained nuclear warheads from Russia that were secretly transported in normal-looking shipping containers. The cartels and Russia had made deals under the table for them.

Shortly after this threat declaration by the four world leaders, Iran and Afghanistan joined their side and began sending their military to neighboring countries, causing some EU nations to be forced into fighting multiple fronts. Canada wanted to stay out of the international spotlight to not be attacked themselves, but ultimately sent aid to the US southern border to help seeing how desperate the situation was.

Allied "friendly" nations all requested and asked hostile countries for a ceasefire, but they all refused to back down. Bloodshed continued, thousands of lives were being lost each day.

Death swallowed lands whole.

### **(Act 1.1) The End of an Era**

Mid-March, 2022.

Kim Jong-Un fired eight miniature nuclear missiles onto Japan and South Korea, along with several dozens of decoy missiles that contained regular explosives.

The anti-air defenses of South Korea and Japan were incapable of deflecting such a large-scale attack from the skies. The two countries only managed to shoot down 70% of all missiles and ended up having 5 of 8 nuclear missiles hit their countries. Whole cities and prefectures were blown up in an instant. Radioactive dust and decay plagued neighboring areas.

In response, the US launched their own nuclear warheads from aircraft flown from South Korea and shot them at North Korea. North Korea had AA systems that they purchased from Russia, and managed to shoot them down in the air since there was so few. The US wanted to minimalize Air Force casualties so very few pilots escorted and fought alongside the bombers that carried the nuclear missiles. This was a grave mistake on their part and ended up backfiring; the nuclear missiles were shot while still up in the air and closest to the American aircraft and blew them to smitherines anyways.

Like as if there was a change of heart, Russia and China yelled at North Korea to stop using nuclear warheads as the two countries wanted to take over and actually use the land they were fighting for. China stopped sending aid to North Korea until they agreed to not use anymore nuclear weaponry, while Russia called them idiots for using them in the first place.

Even though North Korea agreed to not use nuclear weapons, 8 days later, Iran shot their own ICBM's armed with nuclear warheads- along with 31 decoy missiles, at Germany. Russia decided to go and went "f\*\*\* it" and shot their own nukes too at Ukraine. China followed, along with the US.

In a single day, over 50 nukes were deployed, 400+ regular missiles, 1300+ bombs, and dozens of millions of innocent lives lost.

Each country then aimed to attempt to assassinate and kill the leaders of their enemy countries the very next day, sending more nukes and long-range and large-scale weaponry to try to find and kill world leaders. Washington D.C. ended up being attacked by a large force of sleeper-agents within the government, Russia had terrorists backed by the CIA blow up the Kremlin, political factions within China having their own sleeper-agents planted in the national military to try to betray the country; it all became a mess of no one knowing who to trust anymore.

The two men stationed at a nuclear silo facility in Ohio turned their backs against Washington and fired their nuke at the capital, along with several Russian and Chinese-plant military members having stolen a bunch of land vehicles, tanks, fighter jets, and even an AC-130 gunship. All of them attacked Washington D.C. simultaneously but defending the capital was futile as much of the country's forces were stationed at the southern border or overseas.

Britain, France, Italy, Sweden, Austria, and several other European nations also faced the same problems as the United States. There were just too many traitors, terrorists, and sleeper-agents planted everywhere and was literally impossible to tell who were trustable.

### **(Act 1.2) Scorched Earth**

The United States. Russia, China, North Korea, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, South Korea, Japan, northern Africa, much of Mexico and some several South American countries, and many other European and Asian countries ended up being obliterated and destroyed by countless nukes, missiles, and bombs. The casaulties? In the billions.

90% of humanity was wiped off the face of the planet after nearly two months of bloodshed, torment, and endless suffering.

9% more ended up dying within 3 months due to nuclear radiation and fallout.

Cities were completely annihilated, forests scorched to ashes, smoke and debris polluting the skies, and flattened landmasses as far as the eye could see.

There were no winners. There was no victory. Humanity lost.

### **Act (1.3) Last Survivors**

The last surviving humans managed to escape the desolate, destroyed lands caused by WWIII by sheer luck, wealth, or thorough planning.

Most government heads were killed, all militaries were wiped out, and almost nothing remained unscathed. Almost all the land on the 7 continents, including Antarctica, were blown up or melted away. As sea levels rose, the fallout caused a nuclear winter by the end of April (2022). The risen seabeds froze over, and the majority of the oceans turned into ice or slush.

Only less than 1% of all of humans remained. Many of those survived struggled to live as they could no longer obtain new supplies and were forced to scavenge destroyed buildings, forage through untainted areas, or grow food underground inside their bunkers. The temperature worldwide drastically dropped and caused snow to fall in every place imaginable.

## Act 2 - Aftermath and The Gift (Meteor)

On June 14, 2022, The Gift (meteor) lands in the center of the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists who survived WWIII had noticed about a week later that radioactive dust began to decrease and a strange form of energy swept across the Earth. People began to experiment with the new energy.

Details regarding The Gift and can be read here.

### **(Act 2.1) New Beginnings (Time Skip)**

Starting around September 15, 2024, people from all over the world began to travel to and settle in the new islands formed by The Gift. Researchers began to make even more discoveries after finding a new type of crystal which was later named Dragon Ore. Everyone believed that this was a second chance given to them so they took advantage of the islands and began to form towns and settlements on it. Vegetation and plant life began to quickly grow and flourish due to mana overflowing throughout the land.

### **(Act 2.2) Mana-Electro Movement**

From 2024 up to 2035, people began to hook up Dragon Ore to existing devices and machines that once utilized electricity to operate. All was going well, and people created new spectacular redesigns of things from older societies. Magi, as magic researchers were soon to be called, realized that things that ran on electricity or other forms of energy were too clunky and a hassle to maintain and sometimes use. It would not be until after the 1st Magi War when Magi fully switched over to mana/Dragon Ore.

## Act 3 - 1st Magi War

In April 2035, a group named the Church of Destruction silently killed highly-regarded Magi who were leading the Mana-Electro Movement. After a week that the assassinations began, people finally noticed the deaths and quickly spread news to everyone else. The Church of Destruction then announced via illusion magic that they were responsible and that these Magi were a threat to their god and would all be killed by their hands.

Word spread like wildfire and a secret group of researchers back in the United States finally launched their flagship named the U.S.S. Orion. The ship was converted from the U.S.S. New Jersey and had new magical technologies installed, which included a nearly indestructible barrier, and could fly. All crew members boarded the ship and began to fly to Odin from the US at 100 knots.

Back in Odin, people grew suspicious of each other due to members of the Church of Destruction hiding amongst normal Magi. No one could really trust anyone else anymore except their most close friends, so many large groups began to split apart and go separate ways to deal with Church members. This, however, was exactly what the Church wanted, and quickly managed to kill Magi faster after they separated and isolated them.

The U.S.S. Orion finally reached Odin on April 26 and began reconnaissance on the situation below them from the skies.

A woman who shroud herself in white robes and reflective white veil managed to gather a group of Magi militants and lead the charge against the Church of Destruction. The woman began to instruct members to hide like the Church and essentially become spies to find their whereabouts. They managed to succeed in locating three strongholds and 84 members.

On May 5, in coordination with the U.S.S. Orion, the Magi militants and ship began their simultaneous attacks on the specified hideouts and 84 marked individuals. The militants had installed or put special nearly-undetectable magic onto each person and hideout, which could be seen only by their own uniquely-created magic mark revealing spell.

For the next week, all the targets ended up being killed, however new intelligence by the militants discovered that those people were just the tip of the iceberg. The true strength and numbers of the Church of Destruction was believed to be several hundreds, with most acting as moles for the Church.

### **(Act 3.1) Tides of Change**

War waged on for another year, with the Church of Destruction seemingly having the upper hand by using guerilla warfare tactics.

On August 19, 2036, members of the Church managed to find the dwelling of the white-veiled leader of the Magi militants. It was a small yacht with a camoflauging barrier erected over it, which unless entered, made the yacht completely invisible as if it wasn't there from the outside.

They carefully monitored the barrier from the mountains afar and noticed the white-veiled woman leave. About two minutes after she left, they launched an invasion and quickly boarded the yacht. Their motives were to set up traps and steal any valuables, and to kill the militants' leader when she returned.

Unknown to them, the white-veiled woman had intrusion magic cast on the yacht which immediately notified her that nearly two dozen people boarded her ship. She quickly began to fly back at maximum speed.

The members of the Church of Destruction headed inside the yacht very quietly and sneakily; they were aware that others could be hiding within the ship that could ambush them. They cleared the yacht room by room and carefully made their way to the lower decks.

They made it to the last room which seemed the most decorated, and had childish drawings taped up along the wall. To this, Church members believed that the woman had a child with her. As they were talking about this possibility, the boat suddenly lurched left from a strong tidal wave, and they heard a couple of stumbling footsteps from inside a closet compartment they had already checked.

Upon careful observation, they noticed a small vertical slit on the back wall of the closet; it was a false wall.

Quickly they bashed it open and found a small child no older than fourteen years old inside. They grabbed her immediately and drew knives and prepared magical incantations in the case something happened. A few seconds after this, an explosion filled the room from above; the woman had arrived and found them.

One by one each Church member was killed in a blink as they all fired random magic and shot guns at the white-veiled woman. The one who was holding the girl hostage and had a knife to her throat tripped in the sudden chaos that unfolded in less than 3 seconds, and then ended up stabbing the child through the throat. The remaining members decided that this was it and used their final resort and ended up self-detonating themselves, and blew up the entire ship. At that moment when flashes of light began to fill the yacht's compartments, the white-veiled woman quickly grabbed her child who was stabbed and ejected through the hull of the yacht.

The yacht went completely up in flames and smoke burst high into the air.

The white-veiled woman was half-concussed and had almost passed out from the pressure of the blast, but managed to fly to shore with her child in her hands. **She was dead**. The woman cried. She attempted to heal her to no avail.

In a last-ditch effort, the crying woman attempted to do something unspeakable. She decided to sacrifice herself in order to try to bring her child back to life. At that moment, the woman put her bloodied hands onto her and then chanted a special magic spell, and transferred her being to the child. Over the next seconds, the sorrowful woman began to glow and slowly fade, and then disappeared completely.

Within minutes the Magi militants found the place of the incident due to the rising smoke and quickly set up a parameter to investigate what happened. The girl was found by one of them and quickly taken to an undisclosed location; she had a pulse, thankfully.

Another one of the members attempting to figure out the cause of the explosion suggested their leader was killed because he could not get in contact with her by their Dragon Ore-powered communication network. Other members said to not say anything so absurd and put out the fire on the yacht, well, what was left of it.

At the end of the night, the militants announced that their leader was dead (and missing) but would avenge her. The Church of Destruction ignited the flames of passion for revenge for them.

## Act 4 - Age of Enlightment

On December 24, 2037, the 1st Magi War finally came to end with the defeat of the Church of Destruction.

It was not without a cost however. 325 Church members were killed, but 893 people who opposed and fought against them died during the war.

The U.S.S. Orion was ultimately destroyed and rendered inoperable due to Strategic-class magic sealing away the ship from the inside-out. It was believed that there was a member of the crew who tampered with the shields and allowed the magic to be cast inside, although there is no definite proof of this.

After the war finally ended, life began to quickly come back to Odin. With the properties of mana flowing thoughout, the landscape hastly healed and returned to its pristine condition within half a year.

Certain Magi who survived the war and had been wanting to do something about the problems of electricity declared the new Age of Enlightment, a new movement meant to completely replace anything related to electricity with the use of magic, as it was more compact, reliable, and almost always readily available.

Over the next century, almost all devices relying on electricity were phased out and were replaced with magical items, that as the movement's leaders stated, were indeed more compact and practical.

## Act 5 - 2nd Magi War, a Time of Struggle and Resilience

It is now the Year 2132. With their leader gone, the Magi militants had faced a long period of uncertainty and grief. They mourned the loss of their white-veiled leader and struggled to find a way forward for over a century. They could never find another leader like her. After news of the death of the white-veiled leader had finally leaked 100 years later, the Church of Destruction's remaining members who had been in hiding, sensing the Magi's vulnerability, launched a series of coordinated attacks on the remaining Magi strongholds. They aimed to eliminate any resistance and establish their dominance.

### **(Act 5.1) Rise of the Phoenix**

The Magi militants, fueled by their leader's past sacrifice and the desire for vengeance, rallied together and fought back with newfound determination. They employed guerrilla tactics, utilizing their magic to strike swiftly and invisibly. Despite being outnumbered, their resilience and skill allowed them to turn the tide of battle.

As news of the Magi militants' resilience spread, other groups who had previously been scattered and isolated began to join forces. They formed an alliance against the Church of Destruction, pooling their resources and sharing information. This alliance came to be known as the Phoenix Coalition, symbolizing the rebirth and resurgence of hope.

### **(Act 5.2) The Battle for Freedom**

The Phoenix Coalition launched a full-scale assault on the Church of Destruction's main stronghold. Their forces, bolstered by the support of numerous Magi factions, launched a multi-pronged attack from land, air, and sea. Dragon Ore-powered weaponry and advanced magic were unleashed upon the enemy, overwhelming their defenses.

The battle raged for months, which turned into years, with both sides unleashing devastating spells and maneuvers. The Church of Destruction, though outnumbered and outmatched, fought with fanatical zeal. They believed that their god would grant them victory, and they were willing to die for their cause.

However, the Phoenix Coalition's unity, strategy, and sheer determination proved to be too much for the Church. Slowly but steadily, they pushed forward, liberating captured Magi and reclaiming territory. The tide turned definitively when the Phoenix Coalition managed to infiltrate the Church's leadership and strike at its core.

In a climactic final battle, the remaining leaders of the Church of Destruction were defeated, and their stronghold crumbled under the combined might of the Phoenix Coalition. The surviving members of the Church were either captured or scattered, effectively ending their reign of terror once more.

This ending was not without its consequences. Much of the land, cities, towns, and infrastructure within Odin had been bombarded with various destructive spells. It is sometimes questioned how the landmass survived, but the flow of mana is most likely attributed to stability, acting as a force of equilibrium as some scholars believe.

The 2nd Magi War had finally came to an end on August 1, 2135.

## **Act 6 - Rebuilding, Reconciliation, Betrayal**

With the Church of Destruction defeated, the Phoenix Coalition turned its attention towards rebuilding the shattered world. The surviving Magi factions and other groups worked together to restore infrastructure and the land, establish governance systems, and provide aid to those in need. They aimed to create a society that valued cooperation, equality, and the responsible use of magic.

Efforts were made to heal the wounds caused by the war. The Phoenix Coalition initiated reconciliation programs, bringing together former enemies to foster understanding and forgiveness. They recognized the importance of unity in rebuilding society and preventing similar conflicts in the future.

As communities began to flourish once again, the Phoenix Coalition focused on education and the dissemination of knowledge. They sought to ensure that the mistakes of the past were not repeated and that future generations would be equipped with the tools to build a peaceful and prosperous world.

### **(Act 6.1) The Threat Within**

As peace settled over the land, a new threat emerged from within the ranks of the Phoenix Coalition. A radical faction, known as the Shadow Order, believed that the use of magic should be restricted and controlled by a select few. They saw the unregulated use of magic as a potential danger and sought to establish a rigid system of control.

The Shadow Order began to infiltrate key positions within the Phoenix Coalition, manipulating events and spreading propaganda to further their agenda. Their actions threatened to destabilize the fragile peace that had been achieved.