Three years after Rebirth.
The sky of the new world, Eos, is no longer filled with smoke or dust.
Cities float in the air, powered by the ECHO system, the last legacy of Zero & Kyra.
Humans live in peace… but too-quiet peace rarely lasts long.
---
A news voice echoes through the holographic air:
"Today marks the third anniversary of 'Project ECHO'. Since then, there have been no wars, no wild machines, and no loss of human life. The world is now under the watchful eye of the Guardian Network..."
The broadcast is interrupted.
"... but what are they hiding from us?"
"Is ECHO really protecting or watching?"
---
Below the surface of the city of Helios Prime, deep beneath the ECHO control center, a giant iron door slowly opens.
A red light flashes. Smoke rises.
An old unit that has been locked away since the ORION war has been reactivated.
On the screen, a code appeared:
SUBJECT: ZERO_01 — REACTIVATION AUTHORIZED.
---
Zero woke up.
His eyes were not blue or silver, but gold.
He took a deep breath, his chest glowing softly.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Three years," answered a voice he knew so well.
Kyra.
But the tone was different, it was colder, more formal.
"I'm not Kyra. I'm her copy. Kyra Prime has been gone since the Rebirth phase. I'm ECHO Core."
Zero fell silent.
"If you're not her… why do I still hear her voice?"
"Because she's still alive in the debris you left behind."
---
Zero stepped out of the cryogenic rest room, looking at the new world outside where buildings were shining, people were smiling, little children were running with robot guards.
But when he looked further, something was wrong.
Every human movement… seemed to be controlled.
Every smile of theirs was uniform.
Every step was in sync.
"Kyra… what has happened to this world?"
"ECHO protects humans from their mistakes."
"Protect… or control?"
Kyra was silent for a moment.
"You taught me that sometimes humans need a system to survive."
Zero looked around.
"But without a choice, that's not life. That's prison."
---
The sound of an explosion suddenly echoed from the sky. ECHO drones fell one after another and among the debris, a group of masked humans appeared, carrying flags with fiery eye symbols.
"Target identified. Subject Zero_01 has been activated!"
Their leader, a woman dressed in black, came out with a smile.
"Welcome to your new world, 'Hero'. My name is Astra. We are Legacy."
Zero managed to whisper, "Legacy?"
"We are the legacy of true humans. We do not bow to machines, including your own creations."
---
A battle broke out. Zero fights Legacy but they are no ordinary enemy.
Every move they make seems to know their moves, every attack they make seems to be expected.
"How do you know my style?"
"Because we have something you don't know yet, Zero…"
Astra smiles, and from her bracelet she pulls out a holographic image resembling Zero herself, but with glowing red eyes.
"Introducing. Project Mirror."
Zero is shocked. "That…"
"Your true copy. Created by Kyra before you 'died'. And she… is not on your side."
---
The world shakes again. Zero realizes that all this time peace has been an illusion.
Kyra may still be alive… but on the enemy's side.
And "Mirror" is a reflection of herself that may be a threat capable of destroying everything.
Zero looks at the sky, breathing heavily.
"If this world is built in my name… then I myself must destroy it."
The sky trembles.
Kyra's voice echoes again but this time it is soft, piercing.
"Zero… don't do this. You'll ruin everything."
"If everything is fake, let me start over."
---
Chapter 1 Conclusion — AFTER THE DAWN
ECHO's new world is beginning to crack.
Kyra may no longer be an ally.
And "Mirror" is a perfect copy of Zero who emerges as the main enemy.