Users of Pure White Magic. (1)
Delhi, the capital of India.
As the night deepened, the streets of the city grew quiet, yet beneath the surface, something burned intensely.
Recently, as discussions regarding the granting of the Pure White Brand took place, severe divisions erupted among India’s magic users over whether to cooperate with the Empire.
Each faction treated the other as enemies, spreading the sparks of conflict across the entire nation.
Yasan, the leader of the pro-Empire faction, strongly supported cooperation, arguing that this opportunity could instantly elevate India’s power.
His speeches made it seem as though the Empire’s strength was something India must claim for itself, and many magic users across the country resonated with his voice.
“The Empire is strong. Together with them, we will become even stronger! We can break free from the threats of neighboring nations and establish ourselves as an unrivaled power. The Pure White Brand granted by the Kanon Empire… they are ready to share their power with us!”
Yasan’s voice overflowed with conviction, as if he firmly believed in the future that cooperation would bring.
Meanwhile, Mahavar, the leader of the sovereignty faction, listened to Yasan’s speech.
Clenching his fist tightly, Mahavar steadied his breathing.
He insisted that to preserve their sovereignty, they must reject the Empire’s brand, and his words quickly spread among a minority of magic users.
“We will not become their slaves. Even if their brand grants immense power, that power will ultimately remain in the Empire’s grasp. The moment we accept it, India will lose its true freedom!”
Mahavar’s voice was calm, but his eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
***
In a square before the royal palace in southern Delhi, where magic users had gathered, the two factions faced each other in opposing formations, each demonstrating their determination.
The pro-Empire faction raised the Empire’s flag high, its emblem symbolizing their loyalty.
In contrast, the sovereignty faction held the Ashoka Chakra, their symbol of independence, uniting to defend India’s sovereignty.
At the center of the square, Mahavar spoke first.
“Cooperating with the Empire will damage the very spirit of India. Instead of joining hands with them, we must cultivate our own strength!”
At his shout, the sovereignty faction’s magic users simultaneously began concentrating their mana.
They constructed powerful defensive magic, preparing to halt the advance of the pro-Empire faction.
Yasan stepped forward and sneered.
“I wonder how long you can hold out like that. Soon, we will receive the Empire’s brand and grow stronger. Those who refuse to limit themselves are the true strong!”
At his gesture, the pro-Empire faction launched a unified attack. In an instant, the square transformed into a battlefield.
The clash between the two sides unfolded fiercely.
With their convictions on the line, attacks and defenses collided, but the sovereignty faction held firm with a united mana barrier.
However, the pro-Empire faction directly targeted Mahavar, creating a massive pillar of fire that swept across the front lines.
The square was instantly engulfed in flames, and the scorching heat filled the battlefield.
***
At the same time, clashes continued on the outskirts of Delhi.
At key points connecting Chandigarh and Mumbai, confrontations between the two factions grew even more intense.
The sovereignty faction continuously built defensive lines to block the pro-Empire faction from entering the cities.
In the process, areas that had barely maintained normal city functions were rapidly turning into battlefields.
Their defenses, enhanced with advanced magic and barriers, made the approach difficult, but the pro-Empire faction responded with overwhelming force to break through.
“Let’s make India free!”
As the sovereignty faction shouted and reinforced their defenses, the pro-Empire faction mocked them, unleashing alternating waves of fire and ice magic.
Across the war-torn areas, magic users from both sides fell one after another. Burning buildings, fractured earth, and the terrified screams of civilians never ceased, and Delhi gradually descended into ruin.
Eventually, Yasan and Mahavar faced each other in front of the royal palace.
Yasan stood proudly with the pro-Empire faction, while Mahavar stood firm with the sovereignty faction.
Yasan spoke first.
“Mahavar, come over to our side even now. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to consider you an enemy and eliminate you from India.”
Mahavar didn’t even blink as he replied.
“Yasan, you’re the one making a foolish choice. Do you really want India to become a slave to the Empire?”
Yasan smiled coldly as he gathered a massive flame in his hand.
“You’ll regret those words, Mahavar.”
A huge blaze erupted from Yasan’s hand, while Mahavar deployed a protective barrier to block it.
But Yasan’s flames were no ordinary fire.
Through cooperation with the Empire, he had obtained a special magic that pushed the temperature of his flames to extreme limits.
The flames were powerful enough to shatter ordinary magical defenses instantly.
Mahavar soon abandoned his defense and unleashed a powerful shockwave that shook the ground beneath Yasan.
Cracks formed instantly, and Yasan momentarily lost his balance.
Seizing the opportunity, Mahavar reinforced his barrier and signaled his forces to retreat.
“This fight is not over. For freedom, we will fight to the end!”
As Mahavar shouted and withdrew, his followers regrouped and retreated toward the outskirts of Delhi.
Thus, India descended fully into civil war across all regions.
The pro-Empire and sovereignty factions fought relentlessly to seize major cities, leaving regions devastated in the aftermath.
Countless urban areas were destroyed by the conflict, and the impact spread to ordinary civilians.
As time passed, the clashes intensified, with no sign of the civil war ending anytime soon.
With India now at the center of a battlefield, no one could easily predict how cooperation with the Empire would shape its future… nor what path Mahavar’s resolve to protect sovereignty would ultimately take.
India now stood at the harshest crossroads of its history.
***
Beijing, China. Inside a conference room of the National Magic Research Institute.
Five magic users, summoned to receive the Pure White Brand, sat in the room.
A tension so thick it seemed to distort space filled the air as one man slowly spoke.
“If we miss this opportunity, we’ll always be at risk of being swallowed by South Korea and Absolute Safety First.”
Liu Qian spoke quietly, making the atmosphere even heavier.
Everyone sympathized with the pride behind his words, but the fact that only two of them would receive the brand weighed heavily on them.
Zhang Peng clicked his tongue and sighed.
“Until now, we’ve suffered endless humiliation from Absolute Safety First… but once we obtain the Pure White Brand… everything will change.”
Flames slowly ignited around his clenched fist.
His overlapping flames heated the air in the room, while the others subtly adjusted their power in response.
At that moment, the Director of the General Administration entered and spoke in a heavy voice.
“Silence. Everyone, take your seats.”
After scanning them one by one, he continued.
“As of today, the Pure White Brand will be granted to two individuals. To earn that position, not only ability but also loyalty must be thoroughly verified. The selection will be ruthless.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the air froze.
Everyone was prepared to do whatever it took to seize this opportunity.
“Liu Qian, Zhang Peng! Prepare to receive the Pure White Brand!”
The director called their names, and the two immediately stood and nodded.
***
Moscow, Russia. National Magic Military Academy.
Four Russian magic users were also undergoing rigorous evaluation.
Alexei Borodin, wearing a thick coat, looked around and spoke.
“Only I can protect this country. As the ‘Lord of Frost,’ I must receive the Pure White Brand.”
His voice spread through the cold air.
Tatiana Gregorova, standing beside him, scoffed.
“What can you protect with mere frost? This brand should go to someone who stands at the pinnacle of power. I believe I’m more than qualified.”
She smiled playfully, but behind it lay sharp determination.
For them, the brand meant not just power, but the chance to become Russia’s strongest magic users.
Sergei Zimov added with a tense expression:
“This opportunity is important to all of us. But only two will be chosen… we must be ruthless.”
His words reminded them that no one was exempt.
Just like in Beijing, the evaluation in Moscow was thorough… and in the end, Alexei Borodin and Tatiana Gregorova were selected.
***
Empire Fortress, Earth–001.
Deep within a vast land lay the Empire’s secret ritual chamber.
Countless luminous crystals filled the ceiling, casting a sacred light upon the space.
Four selected magic users from China and Russia gathered, tense, to undergo the ritual.
The first to step forward was Liu Qian.
He steadied his breath and walked to the center of the altar.
Before him stood an ancient stone tablet engraved with the Pure White Brand, while high-ranking Imperial technicians chanted in an ancient language.
Their voices merged into a grand resonance.
The chief magitech engineer of the Imperial Palace, acting under the Emperor’s command, spoke calmly:
“You have been chosen. Are you prepared to fully accept the power of this brand?”
Liu Qian bowed deeply.
He felt that a powerful destiny awaited him here.
“Yes! I am prepared!”
A cold light burst from the stone tablet and enveloped his body.
It seeped into him with both cold and burning sensations, sharpening all his senses and transforming his entire being.
His wind-based mobility ability was reborn through the brand.
His speed increased several times over, and he gained the power to transcend spatial boundaries.
Behind him, Zhang Peng watched with narrowed eyes, grinding his teeth.
Now it was his turn.
Igniting flames at his fingertips, he stepped forward.
“I will burn everything.”
On the altar, his overlapping flames evolved beyond simple destructive fire.
He gained control over the flames themselves.
They became immortal flames… burning relentlessly, consuming targets without extinguishing.
The fire he created filled the ritual chamber, drawing admiration even from the surrounding technicians.
***
Alexei and Tatiana also received the Pure White Brand.
Alexei’s frost abilities were amplified to the extreme.
His ice no longer merely froze… it drained the opponent’s mana upon contact, rendering them completely immobilized.
On the battlefield, anyone touched by his frost would be neutralized instantly.
Tatiana fused her mental abilities with the brand, becoming a Master of Illusions who could dominate others’ will.
Her enemies would not only have their senses, but even their minds controlled.
She could easily shatter their will.
Thus, the selected magic users were granted immense power through the Pure White Brand.
But this meant more than just becoming stronger.
The brand didn’t merely amplify power, it also engraved absolute loyalty to the Empire… no, to the Emperor himself.
This imprint was absolute and impossible to resist.
On the surface, they would appear to act for their respective nations… but if the Emperor commanded it, they had become beings capable of betraying even their own countries at any moment.
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