"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Alia was taking down the Russian mafia one by one with perfect aim.
There was a strange emptiness in her eyes.
No fear. No hesitation.
This war wasn't new to her—but tonight... tonight was different.
Victor stood beside her, silently watching.
Alia had changed.
She was now that fire, the one they call Phoenix.
One by one, the enemies collapsed to the ground.
Smoke, blood, and bodies surrounded them.
Yet Alia was still breathing heavily, as if the battle wasn't over.
Victor stepped forward. "Alia, it's over. We won."
Alia looked at him, but said nothing.
There was nothing in her eyes—only emptiness.
Then suddenly...
She trembled.
Her body staggered.
"Alia!"
Victor reached out to catch her, but she collapsed to the ground!
"Alia!"
Victor caught her in his arms.
Her body was limp.
Her breath was slow, and there was blood smeared across her cheek.
Victor placed a hand on her face; Alia tried to open her eyes, but failed.
"No… no, this can't be happening!" Victor's voice trembled in panic.
He shook her gently, but she didn't respond.
"Alia, wake up! I can't lose you!"
But Alia didn't answer.
Victor held her close.
His team came running from a distance.
"Boss! We need to get out! The police are coming!"
Victor still stared at Alia.
In his arms was this girl, this strange mystery.
"Boss! Let's go!"
Victor clenched his teeth and gripped Alia tightly.
"We're taking her."
His men nodded.
The SUV door swung open, and Victor lifted Alia inside.
Her blood stained his black coat.
The engine roared to life.
They disappeared into the night.
The city lights faded one by one behind them as the black SUV sped through the streets. Victor held the bloodied body of Princess Alia tightly. Her breathing was growing faint, her eyelids fluttering.
"Hold on, Alia," Victor's voice shook. "You can't die!"
But Alia said nothing.
Victor quickly took out his phone. "Serge, get the med team ready! We're coming in hot!"
"Boss, the police are right behind us!" the driver warned.
Victor turned to look. Three police cars were chasing them, and a helicopter's spotlight was locked on them from above.
"Damn it!" Victor gritted his teeth and grabbed his gun. "We'll have to take them down!"
But just then, Alia spoke faintly, "Let me... let the Phoenix... awaken…"
Victor looked at her.
Alia opened her eyes. Exhausted, but the fire within her still burned.
"Can you do it?" Victor asked.
Alia slowly pulled the pistol from her belt. Her fingers were covered in blood, but her eyes were razor-sharp.
"I never lose, Victor."
Victor grinned. "Then come back, Princess. Return to the kingdom of shadows."
Alia sat up. Gun in hand, eyes like a sniper's focus.
The SUV window rolled down—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Alia shot out the tires of the police cars. The first one spun out and crashed into the barrier.
"Not just the tires—the driver too." Alia aimed quickly.
Bang!
Another car flipped over and rolled off the road.
"Perfect shot!" Victor laughed.
But the third car was still on them, and bullets rained from the helicopter above.
"We have to stop them!" the driver yelled.
Alia didn't waste a second.
She climbed through the sunroof, switching to a large-caliber rifle.
She took aim at the helicopter's engine—
Bang!
One second… two seconds…
BOOM!!!
The helicopter exploded and crashed in flames!
Everyone inside the SUV stared in shock.
Victor laughed. "You really are the Phoenix!"
Alia wiped the blood from her face, breathing heavily.
"Now tell me—what was Nikolai's real game?"
Victor narrowed his eyes.
"This war isn't just about the mafia, Alia. It involves the CIA, the Russian government, even the drug lords… people like me."
Alia pressed her lips together. "This isn't the time for jokes."
She took a deep breath. "So, where are we going?"
Victor rolled down the window.
Silence filled the SUV. Smoke, blood, and the sounds of explosions faded into the distance.
Alia sat quietly for a moment. Then, with steady breath, she said,
"As soon as possible—I need to get from Scotland to Russia!"
Victor looked at her, disbelief in his eyes. "You're still injured, Alia! We need to lay low first—make a plan!"
Alia replied coldly, "I don't have time."
There was a different determination in her eyes.
Victor paused for a second, then asked slowly, "What exactly are you going to do?"
Alia wiped her bloodied hands across her face. "I killed Nikolai with my own hands. But this game isn't over. The real answers are waiting for me in Russia!"
Victor finally understood—Alia knew something she hadn't revealed yet.
"What will you do there?"
Alia replied, "I'll uncover the truth of my shadow. And the CIA's real agenda."
The SUV driver called from the front, "Boss, to get from Scotland to Russia, we'll need a new plan. They've locked down the airports."
Alia replied with a cold tone, "I'm not going through legal ways."
Victor chuckled. "Alright, Princess. Then let the illegal journey through the shadows begin!"
The black SUV vanished into the night, racing toward a new war with Alia.
Moscow, Russia
Morning sunlight reflected off the snow. The cold wind blew through the city, but life went on.
A black SUV stopped in front of Moscow's most luxurious hotel—The Ritz-Carlton.
Where the powerful come. Where the shadows make their secret deals.
Alia stepped into the lobby and walked straight to the reception.
"Princess, your suite is ready," a staff member said, head bowed.
Alia replied coolly, "Good. Don't disturb me."
She took the key and headed straight to the top floor.
As soon as she shut the door, she removed her coat and stood in front of the mirror.
Blood from Nikolai still stained her body.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the hot shower.
But her mind wasn't at peace.
After bathing, she wore a black silk gown and stood on the balcony. Below, the lights of Moscow twinkled.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
"Princess, the CIA doesn't know you've entered Russia, right?"
Alia held the phone to her ear, eyes narrowing.
"Not yet. But it won't take long," she said calmly.
"Good. But be careful. In this land, it's not just enemies waiting—but your past too."
Alia lit a cigarette and whispered,
"I know. And this time, I'll uncover the truth."
Ritz-Carlton, Moscow
Alia exhaled smoke, her eyes cold. Silence hung on the other end of the line.
"You still haven't answered me," Alia said in a calm, icy tone.
A soft chuckle echoed, "You know, Princess, you're not alone here. Many are looking for you."
Alia stood upright, her voice sharp with challenge. "You're wrong. I am the CIA. Now tell me—who are you? And how dare you track me?"
There was silence for a few seconds.
Then that deep voice replied, "You're not just CIA. You're fire. And I've come to control that fire."
Alia's eyes narrowed.
"Don't be foolish. You know no one can control me."
The voice chuckled.
"We'll see, Phoenix. We'll see very soon."
Click.
The call ended.
Alia lowered the phone. A faint smirk curled her lips.
"Let's see who controls whom."
She slowly walked back inside.
Outside, in the dark night, a black car waited silently.
Inside, someone sat watching—with shadows dancing in their eyes.
Before this night ends, the war of shadows will take a new turn.
Ritz-Carlton, Moscow
Alia tossed the phone on the bed and slowly walked toward the bathroom.
The Russian mafia's territory, the CIA's cryptic moves, and that strange phone call—it all weighed heavily on her mind.
She entered the washroom and stood before the mirror.
She splashed water on her face, then raised her head to look at her reflection.
Her eyes showed signs of exhaustion. But even tired, she wasn't weak.
Suddenly, she heard a faint tap on the mirror.
Alia spun around instantly—
But no one was there.
Then again...
She narrowed her eyes.
Was it just her imagination—or was something really here?
Alia held the knife strapped to her waist and slowly opened the bathroom door.
Just then—
Click!
The lights went out.
The room sank into darkness.
Someone was here.
A slight smirk appeared on Alia's lips.
"Oh, trying to scare me that easily? Alright then... come on. Let's see who wins."
A silent shadow moved in the darkness.
Alia instantly shifted her stance, pulling out her knife and stepping back.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
But the air had changed.