(Important observation: this chapter was made as a Visual Novel and the following text is shown exactly as it appears in the VN, as such, it is not a complete narrative due to the lack of image and music, for the full experience I recommend that you play the visual novel).

After the year 2000, advancements in technology set new ambitions for the human race, eager for new discoveries, humans began experimenting with reality itself.

With that ambition, scientists of the Telos research group have built a machine capable of tearing a hole in our reality, in order to prove the existence of parallel universes. The experiment was live broadcasted on various websites and most of the viewers were skeptical about the machine being capable of doing what was advertised.

It took a few minutes for the "reality breaker" to fully start, and after that, something unexpected happened. From the flash of light generated inside the giant corridor, a human figure emerged from it.

The mysterious person claimed to be from a parallel universe where humanity has been eradicated from the face of Earth, and the same would occur in our own reality very soon, if we do not start acting immediately.

The first sign of that apocalyptic revelation would be of a mysterious infection that would break the genetic codes of the infected, killing or turning people into abominations.

Obviously, nobody believed in anything from the experiment, mostly claiming it to be a fraud, a staged performance to get the attention of investors for the Telos research group.

One week later though, the first warning made by the mysterious person became reality. People around the world started to get infected, getting their genetic codes twisted and destroyed inexplicably, most of them dying a few days later.

Panic started to spread, but before the situation got worse, during a new transmission, the visitor claimed to have the cure for the infection in his own blood. Telos' scientists made a few tests and revealed that the visitor had total immunity to the effects of the infection, quickly developing a vaccine, saving thousands of lives with the blood samples collected from the visitor, who was later nicknamed the Messiah.

In order to control the infection, nations all around the world had to acquire the vaccine from the Telos group, transforming the small research group into the most influential corporation around the world in a short period.

Sometime later, one of the early predictions of the Messiah about humanity having to evolve in order to survive started to manifest. Around the world, a small percentage of the population developed exceptional abilities that could only be classified as super powers.

The genetic codes that mended back after being broken would sometimes be rearranged in a complete new form, thus granting the affected people abilities beyond a normal human being could achieve.

It was discovered that those abilities were triggered by the combination of the infection with the vaccine produced by the blood samples collected from the Messiah.

Upon close inspection, it was revealed that activating these abilities required briefly reopening their new codes, and because of that, those that developed superhuman abilities started being referred as Code Breakers.

More than 20 years have passed since they first started appearing and, since then, a few conflicts involving them happened... however, the biggest conflict yet might be just about to begin.

Right after the first people started manifesting powers, some of them would use their gifts intentionally to harm others or obtain illegal advantages, others would simply lose control and wreak havoc.

In order to control that rising situation, the Telos group created the first superhero team, naming it the Telos V Champions.

Five Code Breakers with great powers were recruited to form the team, they were: Sigma Mask, martial artist with incredible strength and resistance; Mister D, capable manipulating space itself; White Fang, with feral instincts and abilities; Metal Lady, super smart she built her own battlesuit; and lastly, Hyperion, who could wield elements as weapons.

The team lasted for a few years, but after an undisclosed operation, two of them got killed in action.

The team then split apart, with each of the remaining ones following their own beliefs.

One of them, who still believed in justice for the greater good, decided to join the army, serving his nation and its people for many years to come.

Today, more than twenty years after it all started, he commands a new independent paramilitary group, the Densetsu division, with the primary goal of protecting their nation against threats bigger than the ones normal authorities can handle.

A bulky middle-aged man dressing a military attire stands among dozens of translucent screens flashing with graphics and real-time data analysis, he stares at the main screen observing the movement of his recruit, who just got in position to start the ongoing operation.

Commander Hyperion says "Paragon, can you hear me?"

Paragon says "Yes sir, loud and clear."

Commander Hyperion says "Good, let's do a quick rundown of the operation before we start.

You are in front of the facility we've identified as operating illegal experiments with captured subjects. According to our intelligence informant, they've captured three young code breakers in the last few days, these should be kept in their underground lab.

In order to get there, you'll receive support from the intelligence informant, the Agent, who's already inside and should turn off security in the rear area in exactly five minutes. Once the security is down, you'll have about fifteen minutes to enter the ventilation tunnels and get to the lab, release the prisoners being held there and leave the facility.

The Agent should help you get out if things go as expected. If they do not, you'll have to leave with as many of the youngsters you can release, leaving the Agent behind. Understood?"

Paragon says "Yes sir."

Commander Hyperion says "Alright. You know where to take them once you get out. Get ready Paragon."

Far from there, the recruit waits hidden until the camera lights turn off, exactly when it should as said by the commander.

Looks like the Agent has turned off the security, at the same time the guards walked to the other side of the building. That can't be a coincidence... I should hurry up and get inside the ventilation tunnel before they move back.

A few moments later, the recruit is already inside the ventilation system of the facility, guided only by the info previously provided by the intelligence informant and his own instincts, he keeps moving until he is able to observe a lab containing what looks like a few stasis tubes.

Three subjects were sleeping inside the tubes, just like mentioned earlier by the commander. Before approaching them, the recruit checked his surroundings and made sure no one else was inside the room.

The electronic panels near each cell had intuitive controls, but in order to use these, the recruit has to bypass the passwords and biometric locks shown in the interface.

While doing that, he barely notices the main door slowly sliding and a feminine silhouette steps inside, pointing a gun in the direction of the intruder.

Upon noticing that he wasn't alone, the recruit quickly moved his left hand to the center of the strange belt he was wearing, but before he could do anything else he got a warning.

Agent says "You better not move that hand of yours, not even another inch if you don't want a bullet in your skull."

Paragon says "..."

Agent says "What are you waiting for to identify yourself?"

Paragon says "I'm the Paragon. Are you, the Agent?"

Agent says "Do I look like a lab assistant?"

Paragon says "No... I don't think so. Are you the Agent or not?"

Agent says "Yes I am. Didn't expect that they would send a inexperienced recruit like you for this rescue operation though."

Paragon says "I am not inexperienced."

Agent says "You look too young to have experience in this kind of operation and I've never heard of you before."

Paragon says "You don't look older than me... can you please lower that gun and help me instead of making assumptions?"

Agent says "Alright. Let me do your job for you... I got the bypass for the stasis tubes. Just give me a few seconds.

Done. Let me look around for their clothes, they should be somewhere nearby."

Paragon says "Do you think they will be able to walk by themselves?"

Agent says "No. Not immediately at least. It should take a few minutes for them to completely recover their senses, it should come back little by little."

Paragon says "We cannot wait."

Agent says "Definitely not. I've looped the security cameras, but they should notice that something is wrong anytime now. When they do, all guard personnel will come here first... I've found some clothes. Help me dress them fast so we can get out."

Paragon says "Help me with the last one..."

Agent says "Okay... now I see why they've sent you here. You're pretty strong..."

Paragon says "You could help me by carrying one of them..."

Agent says "That's your job not mine... also, if we get in trouble one of us has to be able to fight back."

Paragon says "Right..."

As soon as they started moving through the corridor, footsteps were heard coming from the area behind them.

Paragon says "We'll have company soon."

Agent says "You just keep moving forward, there is an exit at the end of the row of stairs in the next corridor. There is a vehicle I've left in there for you to leave this place...

I'll deal with them and buy you some time. Do not wait for me, I can get out by myself, your priority is rescuing these people."

Paragon says "I'll get them to safety, don't worry... and I hope you get out as well, good luck Agent."

Agent says "I don't need luck Paragon, I've got a grenade, a gun and my own abilities, I don't need anything else to handle some henchmen. Now go!"

As the recruit left carrying the three victims, the Agent threw a tear gas grenade at the other side of the corridor, blocking the vision of the guards that just arrived.

As they coughed and covered their eyes, the Agent had enough time to prepare her next move.

While pointing the gun at the guards' direction, a great amount of energy is generated around her right hand, producing an almost blinding reddish light effect.

Agent says "Sorry, but you don't really deserve my mercy! Gaze and enjoy this crimson light as the last thing you see in life!"

A loud crackling noise was heard coming from inside the structure by the recruit who just left and found the vehicle mentioned by the Agent.

The blast was so strong that the main building starts to crack, part of it crumbles to dust in just a few moments, giving the impression that the Agent might not have made it out in time, maybe being buried alive by the concrete.

The recruit had no time to go back and look for her though, he just left the place, carrying his mission to safeguard the rescued people.

A few moments later, his ear comms buzzed for a second, indicating an incoming transmission from the command.

Commander Hyperion says "Paragon, do you read me?"

Paragon says "Loud and clear sir. I just left the facility with the captured people. They're still unconscious, but it seems they're not hurt."

Commander Hyperion says "Excellent. What about the Agent?"

Paragon says "She helped me in there and stayed behind while I escaped. I'm not sure if she is alive... something happened there and part of the building was destroyed."

Commander Hyperion says "I see. She might be fine, but don't worry about that now. You did well by prioritizing the safety of these people. Move to the extraction point."

Paragon says "I'll be there soon."