"Things change, people fade"—a proverb only time can prove true. Mirror October had truly tasted its meaning. Once merely a clumsy, unremarkable teammate at his side, she was now a graceful, elegant young matron. He felt as if time had abandoned him entirely.

[Lan Xinyi, perhaps we’ll never meet again. For both of us, for all who’d rather see me dead than resurrected, that’s the best ending.] Mirror October gently stroked his lips, letting the hazy light between shadows envelop him. To the world, the earliest generation of Superheroes had either become Legends or perished. Peeking through the cracks of time was endlessly fascinating.

Winter is coming! Flames drift across the land!

An A-Class Superhero! Winter is coming! Lan Xinyi, of all people, had stooped to become a Nameless instructor at the Hero Butler Academy. Meanwhile, an SS-Class supercriminal had joined as a Hero Butler cadet out of sheer curiosity. These two fates collided like a cruel joke of destiny…

No matter how you looked at it, it was a colossal farce.

"Winter is coming, flames drift across the land… Ah, without realizing it, the folks who once trailed behind me have all become pillars of strength. How amusing." The backbone of the Superhero Administration, the absolute peak among A-Class Heroes—in Mirror October’s eyes, they were still the rookies he’d effortlessly crushed back in his wild days.

To others, they might be untouchable giants, A-Class Heroes. But Mirror October felt no trace of awe or fear toward those familiar faces. He knew this eerie calm was unnatural, yet there was nothing to be done.

After a brief, casual chat, Lan Xinyi hurriedly left. The kind matron readily agreed to handle his enrollment and even left her private number, saying he could call anytime. Such excessive warmth was unsettling—especially the way her gaze lingered on him, as if scrutinizing a precious existence that had vanished like a shooting star.

Mirror October didn’t suspect exposure. Her warmth was easy to understand. First, his physique: due to certain reasons, his body’s functions had stalled, leaving him nearly unchanged from before. Those deeply familiar with his past would feel a sense of déjà vu—that’s why he always wore long coats to hide himself.

Second…

Handsome men, especially those like Mirror October with an alluring, restrained charm and delicate androgynous beauty, could effortlessly win goodwill on first meetings. Love at first sight was unlikely, but polite charm? He’d perfected that during his days as a male host. Jokingly, he now felt nauseous at the sight of any woman.

"…Hmph. If someone’s handling enrollment, I suppose I’ll find lodging first." Gazing at the road where Lan Xinyi vanished, Mirror October kept his flawless, faint smile. His crimson, blood-jade pupils gleamed with an enigmatic light.

Coincidence? No—destiny’s cruel joke!

Meeting an old acquaintance on his very first day in City C, a metropolis of clashing tides, Mirror October knew his future would grow ever more thrilling. And his creation, the Jigsaw Sect—his ideal! His cause!—would soon flourish into a garden of vibrant blooms.

How exquisite!

Activating the Jigsaw Disciple-exclusive communication seed—the Mirror Flower Node he’d provided—Mirror October resumed walking. To onlookers, he seemed like a tourist savoring the last quiet moments of noon, strolling beneath beautiful shade. In truth, he’d already contacted another heavyweight Jigsaw Disciple in City C.

"Well? Is my lodging ready?"

Quickly, a voice brimming with reverence and excitement replied from the other end. "Prepared long ago! City C’s been turbulent with crackdowns on supercriminals. Please stay cautious—your safety is paramount until our cause is complete!" This was Dragon Sparrow, an early disciple who’d passed the game trials—a second-generation heir dismissed by others as a spoiled brat. Notably, he’d also supplied Mirror October with details on the Huang Lei case.

"Relax. Neither lapdogs nor Heroes can defeat me." He was invincible. Mirror October knew no true opponent existed. To be beaten by that rotten Superhero Administration? Unthinkable. He was the strongest…

Receiving the address and digesting the attached intel, Mirror October’s smile deepened.

"Today’s sunshine is exceptionally brilliant…! One of the Ace Seven Riders chose to stay in City C. Hah—what utter folly. Those incompetent fools don’t realize that the more they hide, the more fragile they appear. The Superhero Administration’s dignity has sunk lower than ever… though they tossed that away long ago." A scathing, blinding grin spread across his face. He nearly burst into laughter right there in public! Deploying Ace Riders to guard headquarters only highlighted their incompetence and fear—especially after the Justice Knight, one of their Ace Seven Riders, had been crippled by Saw. The Administration’s terror of the Jigsaw Sect was now unprecedented!

"Dragon Sparrow, I have another task. Use disciple connections to easily track ‘her’ location." The Mirror Flower Node wasn’t just for messaging. Through it, Mirror October could perform feats even Superheroes deemed miraculous.

"Your command!"

"Find ‘her’ location. Find the crippled Ace. It’s time to end that game called Justice’s Duel. Together, let’s shatter the Superhero Administration’s greatest pillar!" It was time. An S-Class Hero—let them crumble to ashes as their beliefs collapsed entirely! Rot as a lapdog, or rise as a true Hero? Choose quickly!

Live or die, make your choice!

Ignoring the sting in his eyes, Mirror October stared at the blazing sun hanging in the azure sky—a star pouring out all its light, like the dreams of countless Heroes… Then, his slender, pale hand clenched fiercely in the air, as if grasping the very star that brought light.

"My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror; all I do is justice!"