The world had held its breath for weeks, as news of the new continent—rising from the depths of the Pacific Ocean—spread like wildfire. No one knew where it came from.
No one knew what to do with it.
To some, it was a mystery; to others, a threat.
A few saw it as a chance—a chance to reshape the world in ways no one had imagined.
In a high-security conference room, the world's most powerful leaders gathered to discuss the continent's sudden appearance, and what to do next.
[Los Angeles, USA
2027, Apr. 20, 2:00 PM
U.S. Standard Time]
The cameras flashed, the eyes of the world on the event that would dictate humanity's next steps in the wake of the new landmass.
The tension was palpable as President Nathaniel Cross took the floor.
President Nathaniel Cross
The President of the United States was a man accustomed to making high-stakes decisions. But today was different. Today, the world teetered on the edge of chaos.
"During joint investigations between NATO, the United States, and several allied nations, we've gathered crucial information about the new continent," Cross began, his voice steady but carrying the weight of the moment.
"Geographically, it is roughly the size of North America—around 9 to 10 million square kilometers. A landmass of unprecedented scale. Yet, even now, it remains largely unexplored, due to severe unusual storms, electromagnetic disturbances, and dimensional anomalies that interfere with any efforts to properly investigate."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. The camera shifted to show the other leaders, their faces filled with apprehension.
"Despite our best efforts, the challenges are immense. The planet's natural systems appear to be in flux, and we fear the implications are far-reaching. For now, we are left with more questions than answers."
The room was silent. Leaders exchanged uneasy glances, some whispering softly amongst themselves. Then, Chancellor Katrin Weiss of Germany stood, her calm demeanor belying the urgency of her message.
Chancellor Katrin Weiss
"The world faces several challenges, now that this continent has appeared," Chancellor Weiss began, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
"First, despite early concerns about tsunamis and rising sea levels, the data we've gathered shows no signs of such phenomena. However, we are left with other issues—water supply concerns, to be specific. If the continent's mass is displacing ocean waters, we might see grave consequences for coastal nations in the near future."
She paused, her gaze tightening.
"Second, several island nations of Oceania are missing. Entire populations have vanished without a trace. Our efforts to reach out to them have failed. The disappearance is unprecedented."
The room went cold. The implications were chilling, and not a single leader dared to speak.
"Finally, we must acknowledge the unknown creatures that attacked our expedition teams. Some from the air, others from the sea. These entities are far beyond anything we've encountered. For now, we are left with a terrifying reality: we cannot even explore the continent without risking more lives."
Chancellor Weiss took a breath, before concluding.
"With all the evidence before us, we have no choice but to conclude that the continent likely hails from another world. Its origin is unknown, but it does not seem to conform to the laws of science as we understand them."
The room was alive with murmurs. But before anyone could react, President Liang Zedong of China rose, his eyes burning with frustration.
President Liang Zedong
"This is absurd," President Liang spat, his voice clipped and full of disbelief.
"To claim that this land is from another world is ridiculous! The so-called 'science' you speak of cannot explain what we are witnessing. The truth is, the energy emanating from the continent is unlike anything this planet has ever encountered. We've been studying it, and we have made significant progress."
He stepped forward, his gaze never leaving the others.
"We have classified this energy as the Unclassified Energy Phenomenon (UEP). It is already spreading globally, seeping into our atmosphere, into the oceans, and into human biology."
A man in the Chinese delegation stepped forward, showing a small vial of strange liquid to the leaders. Without warning, he drove a needle into his own neck and pulled it out with a swift motion. Blood dripped to the floor as the man collapsed.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, the impossible happened.
The man stood. His neck, once torn and bleeding, rapidly healed in front of their eyes.
The room was stunned. The man walked calmly back to the Chinese delegation.
"As you can see," Liang continued, his voice calm, "this man has undergone the transformation caused by exposure to UEP. He now possesses extraordinary regenerative abilities. The energy, while unknown, is clearly biological in nature, enhancing human capabilities."
The Western leaders exchanged uneasy glances. The concept of magic, something they had dismissed as fantasy, was now impossible to ignore.
President Mikhail Solokov
Then, President Mikhail Solokov of Russia, known for his calculated pragmatism, spoke.
"We've been monitoring the spread of UEP. It appears first in those nations closest to the continent—Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and even parts of the Americas. We've identified strange biological effects in people exposed to UEP. They begin with an illness, but after a week, enhanced abilities start to manifest. Some are minor, others... more profound."
His gaze hardened as he looked around the room.
"This is no longer an issue of science. We are facing a biological and geopolitical crisis. The balance of power is shifting before our eyes."
He paused, letting his words settle before delivering his final message.
"Russia and China propose an alliance system. We believe that this continent and the energy it provides can be harnessed to benefit our nations. It will reshape the global order. It is our destiny to control it."
The room fell silent. Shock rippled through the Western leaders, their expressions one of disbelief and unease.
The summit ended with a fracture.
Two opposing sides had emerged:
The United Sovereign Front (USF): led by China, Russia, North Korea, and most Arab and African nations.
Their goal: To seize and exploit the continent's resources, using the UEP, soon called magic, to reshape the world.
The Atlantic-Pacific Treaty (APT): led by the USA, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, and most Western nations.
Their mission: To stop the dangerous forces unleashed by the new continent and protect humanity from the uncontrollable power of magic, of course, by the use of magic itself.
The world was now divided. The Magic War had begun.