Starting in 2093, unidentified monsters began appearing worldwide, harassing humanity. Simultaneously, global crime rates skyrocketed. At the time, the World Government opted to suppress information and handle threats covertly.

By 2095, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Monsters and superpowered criminals emerged openly before humanity. The World Government’s information blackout collapsed. Conventional military weapons proved largely ineffective against these threats, which frequently struck densely populated areas—making large-scale weaponry deployment nearly impossible.

In April 2095, widespread declarations heralded a new era where "might makes right." The overwhelmed World Government struggled to respond, plunging the globe into panic.

Then, in October 2095, a man cloaked in black robes appeared before humanity. His arrival brought hope to this terrified world.

He became history’s first true Super Hero. People called him "Zero." He began battling the encroaching monsters and clashing with shadowy forces.

Initially, everyone assumed he’d fall like those before him—ordinary vigilantes and World Government troops crushed by waves of monsters and dark powers.

Yet as one criminal syndicate after another crumbled, as monsters fell one by one, and super-criminals were captured, humanity’s reverence for "Zero" turned fanatical. Some even hailed him as a Deity and savior. But then, Zero uttered his sole public statement: "I am no god. I am merely a human who wishes to eradicate evil."

As Zero’s victories mounted, data on monsters and super-criminals gradually surfaced.

By 2098, intelligence declassified by Zero revealed the origins of these aberrations: eighty percent were human-made—products of inhumane experiments and clandestine weapons programs. The rest hailed from outer space and the Otherworld.

Thanks to Zero’s disclosures, humanity finally grasped the true nature of their world.

In May 2098, inspired by Zero’s deeds, three new Super Heroes emerged globally, targeting criminals and monsters beyond Zero’s reach.

The following June, over a dozen more Super Heroes appeared worldwide.

By July, dozens had risen.

Sparked by Zero’s legendary exploits, a wave of Super Heroes flooded the globe. That year, global crime rates began to fall.

The year 2100 dawned—the true start of the 22nd century. A pivotal year. A year of upheaval.

In March, the Super Hero Registration Act was enacted by the World Government. It mandated that all Super Heroes register with authorities before combating crime—or face being hunted as criminals themselves. The decree split the hero community: supporters versus dissenters.

As the world awaited Zero’s stance, the man who’d forged countless legends over five years vanished. The government searched desperately. All they found was his cloak.

***

2105. Standing on a bustling street, Lin Jie dazedly stared at a giant screen advertising the latest film.

A glamorous hostess beamed: "Welcome to the promo for *Zero: I Am No God*! Superstar He Qi returns as the heroic Zero. As the fifth installment in the Zero series, we’re honored to feature active A Rank Hero ‘Hand of God’ in a cameo—he witnessed those historic events firsthand!"

A masked man stepped forward.

"Hello everyone. I’m Hand of God," he said.

…

*Five whole movies about my chuunibyou phase?!* Lin Jie roared inwardly. *This cringey black history blasted globally… What kind of humiliation parade is this?!* After all—he was the vanished Zero.

The world couldn’t find him because he’d spent five years as a shut-in.

It began as a chuunibyou fantasy—playing hero. But he grew terrifyingly strong. By the time he snapped out of it, his life was a wreck. On graduation day, he ditched heroics and became a NEET.

Truth was, Lin Jie never *chose* this. He’d simply blinked—and found himself friendless, academically adrift, rejected by every university. No company hired a high-school dropout. So the shut-in life began.

His favorite pastime? Reliving middle and high school.

In middle school, while other chuunibyou boys played hero games… he fought real monsters.

While classmates gamed online… he slew actual beasts.

While peers hung out after class… he hunted monsters.

At graduation, while others exchanged contacts… he was busy slaying.

Only then did he realize—he had zero friends. He’d spent friendship hours swinging a blade.

High school brought romance.

While couples dated after class… he fought villains in empty classrooms.

While lovers met in groves… he battled thugs in the woods.

By riversides and parks—every romantic spot became his battleground.

Lin Jie’s verdict on those three years? *I turned every date spot into a fight club. Every make-out zone? I got shelled there.*

He often wondered if he’d misallocated his skill points. Why did newer heroes get to rescue damsels *then* date them—or date *then* rescue? His own encounters featured monsters, artillery, brutes, aliens… not a single female.

By graduation, his chuunibyou was cured.

…

"Rumor says you were a victim of that cult incident, Hand of God?" the hostess asked.

"Yes. I was once a follower. Zero freed me—and set me on the path to heroism," he replied.

"So you’re playing yourself?"

"Indeed. This film honors Zero’s legacy *and* my origin story. I’ll never forget his words after defeating the邪神: *‘I am no god. I am merely a human who wishes to eradicate evil.’*"

"Exactly! Zero urged us to rise against oppression—not worship false idols."

"His words ignited my hero’s journey. Early heroes felt the same."

…

*Damn it!* Lin Jie seethed internally. *I just thought it’d sound cool—with all those hot girls watching… Being dissected over some edgy one-liner is mortifying!*

…

"Hand of God, do you believe Zero still lives?"

"I refuse to believe he’s dead. I witnessed his power. A being like that… cannot be killed."

…

*Huh? Strong? I only know how to swing a sword! And that ‘邪神’ was a pushover…*

…

"Your view aligns with early heroes! Thank you! Next, we welcome actress Qin Yanran, starring as the cult’s Holy Maiden opposite He Qi…"

…

*‘Authentic’ my ass!* Lin Jie glared at the screen. *In Part 4, I one-shot that octopus boss! The movie had tentacles mauling me for fifteen minutes—gross. A tentacle monster ‘mauling’ a grown man? And that ‘romance’ with the captain’s daughter? She was sobbing in the cabin the whole time!*

He sighed. *This time, they’ll probably hook me up with the Holy Maiden too. I *did* say that line to impress her… Shame she passed out. If only real life matched the movies… I’m still single! How am I supposed to date when they keep scripting my love life?! This is emotional torture! And since when did my likeness become their exclusive property without consent…*

After this mental rant, Lin Jie remembered—he’d been dragged out job-hunting by his sister.

*Thank god my sister doesn’t know I’m Zero. With these cringey movie remakes and anime adaptations? I’d never survive at home. Normal kids’ chuunibyou stays private. Mine played out globally… Thank goodness I hid my identity. Otherwise? I’d be too ashamed to show my face anywhere.*