One day, a cosmic event took place which will later be known as conjunction of spheres, where beings from different world appeared in this world. The continent original did had magical beings, but the newer ones were more aggressive are called what they are, monsters.
The monsters are creatures of pure chaotic power, that continent rarely uses, some can even use some kind of magical abilty called spells, something that human cannot use.
The reason is clear, while supernatural always existed in this land, the human used it indirectly in form of alchemy where one mix various magical ingredients and rew a liquid, sometimes certain ritual is done to make the desired potion to be produced. Aside from alchemy there are traditional rituals were one can manipulate the chaos around themselves, requiring one or more than one person to make the supernatural phenomena took place.
Aside from rituals and alchemy, there is also rune magic, where one create runes, that is placed on scroll to use a supernatural phenomena or place of runestone which is used to enchant an items, it is also possible to directly apply runes on items, either way, human use magic but indirectly.
But magic spell is different, that require one to use their innate magical powers, the source that is awaken in biological being to directly use a supernatural phenomena without scroll. Certain monsters had source in them, allowing them to use direct magic with spells, something that humans cannot do, as human body is devoid of chaotic energies, and cannot awake source.
But despite the catastrophic event the engulfed the continent from the monsters who came to this world through cosmic event, the humanity didn't give up, he rely on what they are best in, technology.
Soon, under the orders of emperor and various lead technologists, many new firearms are created, assault rifles, submachine guns, machine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, modern grenades, rocket launchers, greanade launchers, explosive mines, explosive charges with detonators and various modern weapon are created.
The empire even constructed turrets, SAM launchers, radars, sensors, battle tanks, infantry vehicles, combat helicopters, fighter planes, bomber aircrafts, artillery and even mobile artillery.
With all these creation the monsters even with innates supernatural power and source is not match for the humans, who without relying on magic but rather relying on mechanical means, easily took down the monstrosities.
Eventually the very technology that granted weapons to novanians, also allow them to recover from damage caused by monsters, allowing them to rebuild very fast. But as if luck is on the humanity's side, they discovered that the monsters are treasure troves of useful materials which can be used for either traditional alchemy or modern chemistry, thus, turning what is originally a threat into a new resource to be harvested.
In the end, the very monster that briefly caused destruction, become a source to make humanity prosper even more, with chemists, biochemist, biologist and remnants of alchemists, to eager to harvest the parts of monster to extract useful materials, for their creations.
Thus, the first golden era ends before the conjuctions and the second golden era begins after the conjuction, with local militia or local hunters hunting the monster and profit from selling their parts to a scientist or an alchemist. The monster part harvesting become a new profitable business to anyone dare to fight those creatures.
Afterall, this is Nova empire, a place where everyone can make their dreams come true, with knowledge, effort, merit and inventions. And since with rapidly growing economy, their are countless job opportunity and various new business opportunity.
However, the prosperty of this land belong to those who make effort, as only worthy can enjoy all the benefit this land offer, whick allow one to make their harsh but fair extremely enjoyable, afterall this is a world with various trials, and being victorious on those trial allow one to increase progress and contribute to the society, ultimately, raising one's status in this meritocratic society.
Soon, the years passes, and eventually new satellites are built, this new satellite allow one to see the whole world and detected deposits of every type of resources, crude oils, natural gases, minerals and radioactive materials.
Afterall, the Nova empire is progressing and advancing very fast, and it's appetite for resources only grows. While the continent is vast with many wild areas with dense forests. The imperial wonders if there are more untapped land in middle of ocean or another continent far from this location, and if there is, that land might have untapped resources that empire and empire's enterprises could harvest it.
Soon, the new satellite is launched which showed the observer the entire world, they found many deposit in continent, but also located another continent in east, with vast deposit of untapped deposits, especially in frozen north of eastern continent, as that area is literally treasure trove of every resorce they think of, titanium, chromium, argentum (silver), aurum (gold), ferrous (iron), cuprum (copper), nickel, uranium, plumbum (lead), carbon ans so on, there are also supernatural metals like dimeritium, meteorite, dark iron, etc., there is allow a huge deposit of crude oil, enough to sustain the empire for millennia.
Immediately both crown and various enterprises send their men, on iron ships to far north of eastern continent to mine those massive ammount of resource present there. The place is treasure land meant to be harvest for empire and multicorporations.
The iron ships sails towards the eastern continent, the crew is excited to harvest the riches in ground of the far north of eastern continent, they even brought mercenery groups, security groups and militi groups, to fight any monster that might be present there, since, monsters are also resources, the presence of these creatures meant extra profit. Thus, everyone in iron ships is looking forward to their mission.
They had no idea, that wild west is a paradise and east is purgatory, in east there is unconditional respect and regards for human rights, healthy society, justice system, liberal mindset, best healthcare, smart people and even lack of superstions an westerners only believe in logic that make sense and they are atheist as the don't believe in religious ramblings.
But in west, there is no human right, there are strong racism, pogroms and even scapegoating, looking down on other culture, the land is filled with plagues that is long eradicated in west, primitive medicines, the land is filled with superstitious people who are not smart or rather don't want to be smart, they are easily fooled by religious people that only gave empty promises and usual misguide the populace, the rulers here are tyrants save for few exceptions, here, the land doesn't believe in good or evil but rather the lesser evil.
Unlike west where first golden age ended and second golden age begins, this place is struck in dark ages, the land consist of humans but there are other intelligent races too. Both human and non-human either tolerate each other or have blade in each other's throats.
Nevertheless, atleast for now the west has no idea that they are not alone but they soon will and they will realise that while they live in another golden age there is never ending dark age in east.