Records of Magic

"Magic.

It is a product of neither legends nor fairy tales. Instead, it has become a technology of reality since a time unknown to people. The first verifiable record dates back to AD 1999.

The incident, in which police officers possessing special powers stopped a nuclear act of terror carried out by a fanatic group in order to fulfill the prophecy of destroying humanity, became the first verifiable case of Magic in modern times.

Initially, that unusual ability was termed a Supernatural Power.

An ability that was present in a person due to a purely inherent, sudden mutation, whose systematization as a technology that could be spread among the masses was thought to be an impossible thing.

That was an erroneous notion. Through the research of Supernatural Power by both the influential Eastern and Western nations, the existence of people who were imparted Magic was gradually made public. It became possible to reproduce Supernatural Power through Magic. Of course, talent is required to do that.

However, only those who are blessed with a high aptitude can attain a mastery that can put them at a professional level, much like those who possess ability in the fine arts or sciences. Supernatural power became a technology systematized through Magic, while Magic became a technical skill.

A Supernatural Power User became a Magic Technician.

Skilled Magic Technicians, capable of suppressing even nuclear weapons, are powerful weapons to a country."

***

August of the Year 2063, six months after Bloody Fall Dahan

As everyone predicted, one week after the Yotsuba Clan retreated from Dahan, armies of the Great Asian Union invaded and assimilated what was left of Dahan. The Great Asian Union saw this as a perfect opportunity to strike and unify the entire mainland.

Not much of it was left as the majority of strategic places were destroyed by the Yotsuba Clan, especially the destruction of Kunlunfang Institute, which was a great pain in the chest for many in the Great Asian Union high command.

The war between Yotsuba-Dahan was afterward titled Blood Fall of Dahan, as the total body count crossed fifty thousand, including civilian losses and military casualties that were piling up together.

Most of it could be written to the usage of Gem Sequence Explosion Spells. From higher ranks of the government and Military, practically no one managed to survive the onslaught of the Yotsuba forces.

Now, most of the people, not only across the entire Asia but rather across the entire world, called the Magus Killer with a great deal of respect, not only due to his personal strength but also his tactical mind and ruthless approach.

And now he got his new nickname, Bloody Butcher of Dahan, due to him being the mastermind behind the entire operation, as he planned most of the assassination attempts and military operations.

Especially his attack on the Imperial Hong Kong Hotel, where countless civilians died. While in the previous age, before the Magic, such things would be absolutely unacceptable and would be prosecuted, in the Age of Magic, might makes right.

After his return to Japan, he was named General of the National Defense Forces by using special time privilege during the war by Commander-in-Chief. However, he was not alone, as two other people from the Juumonji Clan and Ichijou Clan were also named Generals by the Commander-in-Chief.

What's more, was the fabled second attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan.

This time, it was done perfectly, as, under the leadership of Kudou Retsu, a coalition of seven out of Ten Master Clans and several clans from 18 Assistant Houses managed to wipe out the USNA Pacific Fleet completely.

The fight between the two factions was actually pretty brutal, as USNA had a great advantage due to the huge usage of water-based Magic, especially Leviathan Strategic-Class Magic.

Fortunately, they were prepared for this, and by the usage of the Shields branch in the USNA, they, in secret, managed to kidnap the family of the mentioned Strategic-Class magician, and Retsu managed to lure him out of battle.

Unfortunately, they didn't manage to kill him, but they destroyed the Pacific Fleet and Pearl Harbor port.

Right now, many could see that soon enough, World War III would quickly come to an end. The situation has stabilized in many parts of the world, and battles between countries started to lessen drastically.

The New Soviet Union absorbed several former Eastern European countries, thus enlarging their territory, as they lost some territory to Japan during World War III. This entire huge island became another new province of the country, called Karafuto Prefecture.

The situation in Africa was also stabilizing, as most of the counties perished, almost half of them, and the situation started to calm down over there.

Despite suffering considerable losses in the Pacific, the USNA managed to stabilize the situation on its own turf and strengthened its grip on its own territory while also absorbing Caribbean countries into the USNA.

***

Meanwhile, Japan started strengthening its grip on Taiwan Prefecture, which was captured from the Dahan by a joint effort of National Defense Forces and the Juumonji Clan, as they predicted that the Great Asian Alliance could attack this place.

Karafuto Prefecture was also being fortified against potential attacks. Also, in both territories, massive deportation of their original inhabitants started.

Taiwan had many people living there of Han origin, so all of them were being deported back to the Great Asian Union to prevent future troubles such as potential riots, spies, or even rebellion.

So, it was decided that all of them should be deported to the Great Asian Union.

The entire Taiwan Island would be turned into one huge military base in a short time. After some time, even some civilians would be allowed to live there, as Japan didn't suffer that huge loss of lives, thanks to the fact no battle was done on its grounds.

And they were also supporting increasement of the birth rate, so they needed new territories for their people. Fortunately, they captured Taiwan and the entire Karafuto Prefecture during the war, so their territory increased significantly.

***

"Everyone remembers November the Fifth, the greatest day in the modern history of Japan! The day when revolution bloomed and a new era came to the nation. When the flames of revolution started, they spread with lightning speed, and soon enough, a grand success was welcomed.

That day, that fateful day, when Imperial Japan Hierarchy was established by the joint rule of Ten Master Clans and Imperial Japan Military, and great new age came to our country, as it bloomed far further than everyone could imagine.

Long Live the Imperial Will! Banzai!"

The foreword of the book Modern History of Imperial Japan and Imperial Magicians.

***

Japan, Yotsuba Village, 1st September of the Year 2063

Today was an important day for the Yotsuba Clan, or more specifically for the Clan Head Yotsuba Genzou, as another Clan Head was coming for the vising.

Namely, the Clan Head of the Kudou Family of Ten Master Clans, Kudou Retsu.

They would discuss the results of their victories and coordinate their steps concerning the Project: Equilibrium.

Currently, it was a quiet morning in the Main House of the Yotsuba Residence.

As it was only six in the morning, most people were still sleeping. Only a few were awake, such as Emiya, soon-to-be Yotsuba, Kiritsugu, who was doing his morning exercises at the training grounds katas.

Yotsuba Maya, his fianceé and beloved, was still sleeping, and Yotsuba Genzou was also at the training grounds watching his future son-in-law.

It was already cold outside, especially in the morning, as global temperature drop caused significant changes in seasons.

Autumn came much faster and was much chillier compared to before.

"Most impressive, General..."

Yotsuba Genzou teased his future son-in-law as he observed him training at the morning, a bit envious of the youth.

"Nothing sort of impressive."

Kiritsugu stated neutrally as he continued his morning routine.

"I am not a master of martial arts, and I have just started learning Ninjutsu. Still, knowing some martial arts and hand-to-hand combat can save the lives of Magicians if they are incapable of their own Magic."

Commander Kiritsugu as he finished his exercises.

"How is your Brigade?"

Genzous questioned about this topic when he saw that he was finished with the exercises.

"It is an interesting bunch. There are plenty of crazy magicians, martial artists, and even a few samurai, though they should be called ronnins. Commander-in-Chief Marshall Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni basically gave me a brigade full of madmen collected across the entire Military of our nation."

Personally created by Marshall Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, from most problematic soldiers.

"Still, I can tell you that after some time, the Khaos Brigade would be one of the strongest parts of the military; they have great potential."

Stated a newly appointed General of the Khaos Brigade.

All of them were magicians, swordsmen, martial artists, and some other professionals that did not do well following orders and enjoyed battles. It was basically a bunch of madmen and killers, but that was good; they had great potential.

"So basically, the bunch of expandable misfits... interesting, but if trained correctly, they would be a really powerful combat force. You have soldiers that are battle madmen that seek blood and death, so that is a great advantage. Only discipline and other stuff would be a bit problematic, but with enough time... it would be good."

Yotsuba Genzou voiced his thoughts directly on the Khaos Brigade.

"Soon enough, Major General Clan Head Kudou Retsu would arrive to discuss Project: Equilibrium. Apparently, their side is prepared, and even the National Defense Forces have taken their stance. Now... it would be a showdown."

Patriarch remarked grimly while looking at the Magus Killer.

He was also getting tired of the endless battles, fights, bloodshed, and machinations. Now the only thing he wished for was peace in Japan... all of them needed it much.

After Kiritsugu changed his clothes to a comfortable kimono after a shower, he went to the meeting room, where Yotsuba Genzou was already waiting for him with Kudou Retsu.

"Greetings, Patriarch."

Said Kiritsugu as he gave the older man a slight bow.

Afterward, the main butler of the Yotsuba Clan, Hayama, served them all three cups of green tea before leaving them to their discussion.

"Now we can start. How are their preparations, Genzou?"

Questioned Kudou Retsu as he took a sip of tea.

"We have allowed them to the entrance to the country, of course, secretly. And also supplied them with some sensitive information. They would attack at the next meeting of the National Diet that is scheduled to be on 5th November."

Even though this terrorist attack would be made by fanatical members of the Great Asian Union and some remaining survivors of Dahan, behind the scenes, it was hugely instigated by Yotsuba and Kudou Clans.

If not, how would they get through borders, come to the country, get sensitive information, and many other things.

"What an ironic day. Everything would start and end on the November of the fifth."

November of the Fifth, also called Guy Fawkes Night or Fireworks Night, was a day when an attempt to bomb the House of Lords of the British Parliament in 1605 happened.

It was planned by a man called Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, a failed conspiracy by a group of provincial English Catholics to assassinate the Protestant King James I of England and VI of Scotland and replace him with a Catholic head of state.

In the end, Guy Fawkes was arrested and subsequently executed as someone who betrayed the conspiracy.

"On that, I agree. Have you chosen a few people that would carry out the second mission?"

Genzou questioned, looking at the people gathered.

"Yes. Several of them volunteered, more notable ones being Ichijou Gouki and Juumonji Kazuki from Ten Master Clans. Additionally, Genryūsai-dono chose several of his best black ops assassins for this mission."

Major General Kudou Retsu informed them about the latest development.

"What's more, some secluded Clans, namely Dairenji and Tsuchimikado, expressed their support and said they would handle some work on their part."

Dairenji Clan and Tsuchimikado Clan were old Onmyodo Clans that were very strong on their own, but they kept mostly to themselves. Until they were contacted by the Yotsuba and Kudou Clans to participate in this, as their power was greatly needed to deal with all of this.

"Then I will participate too. It would be a good opportunity to create ties with future Clan Heads and strengthen the unity of the Ten Master Clans."

Stated Kiritsugu as both Retsu and Genzou nodded in agreement, as Kiritsugu could already be counted as Yotsuba.

"When will the attack on the Imperial Palace start?"

"Moment the entire National Diet is razed to the ground. Your mission will be to kill every person related to Japan's Imperial Family. After you attack the palace, everywhere around the nation, similar assassinations would happen with National Defense Forces and Numbered Families in the lead. Not only, Imperial Family members, but we will target remaining politicians, opposition in the army, and some minor problems."

Kudou Retsu stated with a calm voice but with a bloodthirst that cannot be hidden.

What would happen would be a complete purge. Everyone that was opposing would be mercilessly killed; on blacklists they made, there were hundreds of people.

Many of them were connected to Imperial Family branches; some were high-ranking officials in the government who were anti-magic oriented or military officers who were loyal to the current government.

Even though this purge could be a bit damaging to Japan in the short term, it was inevitable.

"What about the Imperial Palace and Imperial Throne? Should we leave it as it is or also destroy it? After all, it would still be a symbol of the former empire, and not talking about the fact that it may cause disputes among the Ten Master Clans as somebody would want to take the Imperial Throne for themselves and proclaim himself as the Emperor."

Remarked Kiritsugu, to which both Kudou Retsu and Yotsuba Genzou were in deep thought.

"Destroy. Even though it is a part of our history, a very important part of our history... it would cause conflicts, absolutely useless conflicts that could be easily prevented. So... let it turn into ashes. We will do the same thing with the palace in Kyoto and other several places that were formerly seats of Imperial Power or Shogunate. We need to prevent any possible internal conflicts by any means."

It would be much safer to destroy these mentioned places in the future.

"Then, the combined Numbered Families and National Defense Forces forces would take over Tokyo and establish a new government. We will return to the tradition of the Empire of Japan, when Imperial Will still stood strong, as the Meiji the Great once done, we will take our nation back from these incompetent cowards."

From the Ashes, a new Order will rise far more powerful than the old one.

"Still. We need to act as fast as possible. Suppose we are not able to create a new functional government within the next 24 hours of the attack. In that case, we could face possible attacks not only from the Great Asian Union but also from the New Soviet Union on Karafuto Prefecture and also from the USNA."

Kudou Retsu spoke.

Even though the USNA lost their Pacific fleet to their raid, they still had some means to attack Japan using long-range weapons to cause them enough destruction.

And in regards to the New Soviet Union, it was a bit worse, as they were stationing an army in Siberia, ready to attack the Karafuto Prefecture if there was a need for it.

Fortunately, the Karafuto prefecture was slowly turned into a fortress island, and all people of non-Japanese citizenship were deported from the prefecture back to the New Soviet Union.

And finally, the last one on the list were the Great Asian Union, which was probably the most problematic of all of them.

They didn't lose almost any of their war force in recent clashes with Japan, but, fortunately, they were still stabilizing the situation in former Dahan after what Yotsubas had done there.

"Fortunately, most of the preparations are already done. In secret, we have discussed how the new government would look and even draft a new constitution for the nation."

Kudou Restu said before he took out some piece of paper that was the new constitution of the future Imperial Japan Hierarchy.