Geneva – The Shadow Council Headquarters
The grand marble hall echoed with every step Selina took.
Above her, the towering pillars bore the weight of centuries of unseen power. But today, it wasn't the walls watching—it was the eyes of the twelve most dangerous people in the world.
Selina's face was calm, her red lips drawn into a faint, unreadable smile. Her heels clicked against the flawless white marble like a countdown to war.
At her side, Damian's fingers curled protectively around hers, his dark eyes locked on every hidden corner, prepared for betrayal from every shadow.
She wasn't just stepping into a meeting. This was a battlefield where every word could kill faster than a bullet.
And for the first time, she felt it—complete control over her own destiny.
Her presence was like a silken noose—soft to the touch, but deadly when pulled tight.
Inside the Council Chamber
The Council Leader rose from his throne-like chair. His eyes were sharp, his voice like velvet lined with poison.
"Miss Jiang, you stand before the greatest architects of global power. Convince us why you deserve to wear the Crown of Shadows."
Selina stepped forward, the room falling into a suffocating silence.
She placed both hands flat on the cold marble table, her knuckles pale but unwavering.
"Because while you've all sat here in the dark, pulling strings like cowards, I've walked through the fire. I've lost everything—and rebuilt it with my bare hands."
She paused, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"And I'm not afraid to lose it all again… if it means taking the world with me."
Gasps filled the chamber.
Before the Council Leader could respond, a sudden explosion rocked the building.
The emergency alarms blared.
From the giant screen at the front of the chamber, a masked figure appeared.
His voice echoed through every corner of the room.
"You were so focused on your queen… you forgot the real king never left the board."
Selina's eyes went ice cold.
"X."
The countdown on the screen began: 23:59:59
The final war had just begun.