Sector "Zero" Headquarters. Mira stood before a massive holographic map of the world, on which dozens of red dots pulsed—foreign intelligence agents converging on Yokohama.

  "Lady Mira, they are operating openly," the assistant reported, quickly scrolling through reports. "The GRU, the CIA, and the Chinese Ministry of Security are convinced they've found the original. They are preparing capture teams."

  Mira merely gave a short laugh, and there wasn't a drop of anxiety in that laughter.

  "They are too late. Only by a step, but in our game, that's enough. Initiate the operation. Codename: Mirage."

  "Yes, ma'am. Protocol initiated."

  Sector "Zero" Reference Data: Agent Mimic: Thanks to implanted cells from a rare shapeshifting Kaiju and a bio-suit, capable of altering bone structure and skin pigmentation. Perfectly replicates the appearance of Subject Zero (white hair, blue eyes). Agent Fortuna: Wielder of the unique "Jump" series bio-suit. Capable of teleporting himself and one passenger up to a distance of 20 meters. Usage limit—5 consecutive jumps, after which there is a risk of cardiac arrest.

  6:00 AM. Paris, France. The Seine River The early morning over Paris was shattered by the wail of sirens. Three massive "Tiger" level Kaiju burst from the murky waters of the Seine, smashing the embankment. The French Exterminator Corps had already launched fighter jets, but all attention was glued to the reporters' cameras.

  "Wait..." Mira's assistant hissed into the radio from headquarters. "Let them focus. Now!"

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  KABOOM!

  The monsters in the center of the river suddenly blew to pieces, turning into a cloud of bloody mist. In the midst of this chaos, "He" stood on a piece of debris from a bridge. White hair blowing in the wind, and an icy blue gaze. The cameras focused on him for only two seconds.

  "That's it, Fortuna, grab him!" headquarters commanded.

  A flash—and the figure of the hero simply vanished from the frame, leaving the reporters in mute shock.

  "What was that?!" the anchor of the BFM TV channel shouted. "Who is that?!"

  12:00 PM. Ohio, USA / 7:00 PM. Hong Kong / 11:00 PM. Arkhangelsk, Russia All day long, the planet was rocked by reports of the legend's sudden appearances. In Ohio, he destroyed a flock of flying Kaiju right over a cornfield. In Hong Kong, he was seen on the roof of a skyscraper a second before a sea creature was sliced in half. In Arkhangelsk, he emerged amidst a snowstorm, eliminating an ice titan.

  1:00 AM. Sector "Zero" Headquarters. Operation Conclusion Two people entered the teleportation room. They could barely stand on their feet. Mimic tore the elastic mask off his face, his skin deathly pale. Fortuna collapsed right onto the floor, his suit smoking from overheating.

  "Sir..." Fortuna wheezed, looking at Mira's assistant. "That was... suicide. Four times in one day... I'm at my limit. I almost ended up inside a wall in Arkhangelsk, the interference was terrible."

  "Yeah," Mimic breathed heavily, trying to calm the trembling in his hands. "Even though Lady Mira destroyed the targets remotely, imitating my strike, I stood there like a statue under the lenses of hundreds of cameras. In China, I almost fell off the roof from exhaustion. In Russia... I was almost caught in the frame when Fortuna hesitated with the second jump."

  Mira's assistant walked up to them and placed his hands on their shoulders.

  "You both did a great job. Operation 'Global Mirage' is completed successfully. Right now, all the intelligence agencies in the world are in a panic. As far as they are concerned, Subject Zero is currently anywhere."