Alia couldn't wait any longer. She sprinted to Victor's side.
"Victor, we have to fight together!"
Victor narrowed his eyes.
Nikolai turned to Alia and said, "You're important too, Phoenix."
Alia froze. "You… you know who I am?"
Nikolai gave a faint smile. "You're not just a CIA agent, Alia. You're the key—the one who will decide the outcome of this shadow war."
Alia frowned. "What do you mean?"
Nikolai spoke slowly, "The outcome of this war is written in your blood."
Victor's voice turned firm. "What are you implying, Nikolai?"
Nikolai pulled out his gun.
"It means… to protect you, I'll have to end her."
Bang!
A bullet shot straight toward Alia!
Rise of the Phoenix
Bang!
The bullet flew toward Alia, but she moved just in time. Then, like lightning, she charged at Nikolai and delivered a powerful kick.
Thud!
Nikolai staggered slightly but smiled.
"There's real fire in the wings of the Phoenix," he said, wiping blood from the corner of his lips.
Alia didn't waste another second. She rolled on the ground, knocked the gun out of Nikolai's hand, and twisted his wrist with a sudden motion.
"You think I'm weak?" Alia growled. "I'm one of the CIA's top agents. I was made for shadows like you!"
Nikolai looked at her with genuine intrigue. "I like your confidence, Phoenix. But…"
Suddenly, he loosened his body—and in the next moment, twisted Alia's arm!
"I am the shadow. And you can't catch a shadow!"
Thump!
Alia stumbled back, but quickly regained her stance.
Victor had already stepped forward.
"Step away from her, Nikolai."
Nikolai looked at him. "Do you want to save her, or use her?"
Victor gritted his teeth. "She's my family."
Nikolai paused, then said quietly, "Just like I once was?"
Victor raised his gun. "You were my brother. But now, you're nothing but a shadow."
Nikolai smiled. "Then end me, brother. Let's see if you can kill your own shadow."
Victor's finger was on the trigger—but he hesitated.
Just then, the surrounding Russian mafia raised their weapons again!
Alia quickly pulled out the small knife near her shoulder. "Victor, we have to fight together!"
Victor took a deep breath. "I know."
Nikolai raised his hand. "Let the battle begin!"
Gunfire exploded through the air, shaking the ground.
The scent of gunpowder lingered. Gunshots still echoed.
Victor exhaled, glancing around at the scattered bodies. Most of the Russian mafia were down—but Nikolai?
He was still standing.
That familiar mysterious smile danced on his lips.
"Brother, you know… this war doesn't end here," Nikolai said, his voice eerily calm.
Victor was out of bullets. He slowly drew the knife from his waist. "Then tell me—where does it end?"
Nikolai stepped forward. Shadows danced in his eyes. "To become a true lord of shadows, it's not enough to just know how to fire a gun. You need something more."
"And do you know what that is?"
"I do," Nikolai said, voice heavier. "It's written in my blood. Just like it's written in yours—whether you'll ever become the true master of the shadows."
Victor now realized—Nikolai was hiding something.
Alia stood nearby, eyes sharp, trying to understand every word.
"What are you trying to say?" she asked.
Nikolai looked at her. "There's a secret truth in your blood, Phoenix. You don't know it yet, but…"
He stepped forward. "You are the key to this war."
A chill ran down Alia's spine. Her hand instinctively went to the Phoenix emblem on her waist.
"You're lying," she said in a trembling voice.
"I never lie, Phoenix," Nikolai said with a calm smile. "Have you ever wondered why the CIA gave you such special training? Why they sent you into the world of shadows?"
Alia fell silent.
Victor took a step forward. "Are you saying the CIA knows about this shadow war?"
"They don't just know," Nikolai said slowly, "they're part of it."
Bang!
Before Nikolai could pull the trigger, Alia moved like lightning.
In a flash, she pulled the knife from her waist, ducked low, and slashed Nikolai's hand.
Slash!
Blood splattered!
Nikolai roared in pain, dropping his gun to the ground.
But he wasn't going down that easily.
"You're making a mistake, Phoenix," Nikolai hissed. "If you can't finish me, I'll make sure your very existence is erased!"
He lunged forward and grabbed Alia's shoulder tightly.
But Alia was ready.
She twisted, then slammed her knee into his stomach—hard.
Thud!
Nikolai stumbled back, but that same twisted smile remained.
"You truly are a bird of fire, Phoenix," he said, eyes wild. "But I know how to put out flames!"
With that, he drew another knife and lunged at her!
But just then—
Victor shouted, "Alia, get down!"
Alia obeyed without question and ducked instantly.
Victor spun his pistol and fired at Nikolai's shoulder!
Bang!
Nikolai was knocked to the side, but he wasn't finished yet.
Slowly, he stood up again, wiping the blood from his arm.
"This war isn't over yet, brother," he muttered.
And with a sudden leap, he vanished into the shadows.
Alia ran to Victor's side. "He got away!"
Victor replied in a deep voice, "He'll be back, Alia. This war isn't over."
Alia exhaled slowly. "Then what do we do now?"
Victor narrowed his eyes.
"We finish this game of shadows."
Bang!
The final bullet tore through the air.
Nikolai froze for a moment.
His eyes widened in shock as he slowly looked down at his chest.
Blood.
Scarlet red bloomed over his black coat.
Then, he slowly raised his head.
Alia stood in front of him, smoke still rising from her gun.
Her pistol still aimed at Nikolai.
He tried to breathe—but couldn't.
"You… you really killed me?" his voice cracked, but that familiar smile remained.
Alia's hands trembled. Her eyes were cloudy, her heart thudding violently.
Victor stepped forward. Nikolai slowly dropped to his knees.
"Shadows don't die, brother…" he whispered.
Then, he stopped breathing.
Nikolai—dead.
A moment of silence fell over the battlefield.
Only the scent of gunpowder and blood floated in the air.
Alia slowly looked down.
Blood stained her hands—his blood.
Her hands began to shake.
"I… I did it…" her voice trembled.
Victor looked at her.
Alia stared at her blood-covered hands.
Then, suddenly, she took a step back—as if trying to run from herself.
"I… I killed someone…"
Victor stepped closer, standing in front of her.
"Alia, your hands are shaking."
Alia looked into Victor's eyes.
There was emptiness… understanding… darkness.
"It's normal," Victor said calmly. "The first time you kill someone, your hands shake."
Alia's eyes welled up—but no tears fell.
She tried to breathe, but something was stuck in her chest.
Then suddenly—headlights flared from all directions!
The Russian mafia had returned!
Victor raised his gun instantly.
Alia closed her eyes for a moment, took a breath, then gripped her pistol tightly.
Her hands no longer trembled.
She knew—tonight wasn't over yet.
"Let's go, Victor. This war isn't finished yet."