As Sofia stepped out of the restaurant, the cool night air brushed against her skin, offering a brief respite from the storm that raged inside her. The encounter with Christ had shaken her in ways she hadn't anticipated. She had spent months carefully constructing a wall around herself, shutting out emotions that could weaken her, distract her from her path. And yet, there he was again, tugging at the very things she had buried deep. But this wasn't the time to dwell on what might have been. She had much larger battles to fight, and there was no room for weakness now.

Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement as she walked down the dimly lit street, her senses heightened. Years of living in shadows, dealing with enemies and deception, had taught her never to let her guard down. She felt it before she saw it—a subtle shift in the air, the kind that warned of danger lurking just out of sight.

She continued walking, her pace steady, her gaze forward, as though she hadn't noticed. But her body tensed, preparing for the inevitable. She was being followed.

Then, without warning, they struck. A group of five, faces obscured by black masks, emerged from the darkness like shadows given form. Each one of them moved with deadly precision, trained not just to kill but to die for their cause. Death soldiers. The mark of Tang Mia's hand was all over this.

Sofia's lips twisted into a cold smile. She had been expecting this. Tang Mia had been silent for far too long, and Sofia had known it was only a matter of time before her rival made her move. And what better way to make a statement than to send assassins trained to kill or be killed?

The first attacker lunged at her with a blade aimed at her throat, swift and silent. Sofia sidestepped with practiced ease, grabbing his wrist mid-strike and twisting it with brutal force. The crunch of bone followed by his muffled cry was satisfying, but there was no time to linger. Another assassin came at her from the side, slashing at her with precision. Sofia ducked, the blade whistling past her ear, and retaliated with a swift kick to the chest, sending the attacker sprawling backward.

In an instant, the calm, composed Sofia vanished, replaced by the cold, ruthless warrior she truly was. The street became her battlefield, and the assassins were nothing more than obstacles in her path. She moved with lethal efficiency, her years of training and experience turning the fight into a deadly dance.

Two of the attackers flanked her, one coming at her low, the other high. Sofia spun, narrowly avoiding the low strike, while blocking the high blow with her forearm. She twisted her body, using her momentum to drive her elbow into the face of the attacker in front of her. Blood spattered from his nose, but Sofia didn't hesitate. She grabbed his arm and used his own momentum to flip him over her shoulder, slamming him into the ground with bone-crunching force.

The second attacker took advantage of the brief distraction, thrusting a knife toward her side. Sofia moved just in time, the blade grazing her ribs but not deep enough to stop her. She grabbed the assassin's wrist and yanked him forward, using his own force against him. With a sharp twist, she disarmed him, then drove his own knife into his chest. He collapsed with a low gurgle, his body crumpling to the ground as his life bled out.

Three down, two left.

The last two moved in unison, more cautious now after watching their comrades fall. But Sofia was beyond caution. She had warned Tang Mia long ago that sending her death soldiers would be a mistake, but it seemed her rival had underestimated her once again.

The final two attackers were fast, their movements synchronized, but Sofia was faster. One came at her with a barrage of strikes, forcing her back a few steps, while the other circled around, looking for an opening. Sofia knew their strategy—wear her down, force her into a corner, and strike when she was vulnerable.

Too bad for them, Sofia was never vulnerable.

As the first attacker closed in, Sofia ducked under his arm, grabbing his wrist and twisting it violently until she heard the satisfying pop of his shoulder dislocating. He screamed in pain, but Sofia didn't relent. She grabbed the back of his neck and slammed his head into the wall beside them, knocking him unconscious before he hit the ground.

The final attacker hesitated for a split second, and that was all Sofia needed. She closed the distance between them in an instant, her movements fluid and deadly. He swung at her, but she was already too close. She blocked the strike with one arm and delivered a sharp jab to his throat with the other. He staggered back, gasping for air, but Sofia didn't let up. She moved in swiftly, kicking his legs out from under him and driving him to the ground. With one swift motion, she twisted his neck, ending the fight.

For a moment, the street was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of Sofia as she stood amidst the bodies of her would-be assassins. Her chest heaved, but her eyes remained cold, detached. This was nothing new to her. She had fought battles like this a hundred times before.

She stared down at the bodies, knowing they were death soldiers sent by Tang Mia. These were not ordinary mercenaries—these were men trained to die for their master's cause, to fight without fear of death. Tang Mia had chosen her pawns well. But in the end, it didn't matter. They were just another obstacle in Sofia's path.

A small, cold smile crept across her face as she surveyed the scene. "Tang Mia didn't let me down," she murmured to herself, her voice laced with dark amusement. It was just like her rival to send such a dramatic message. But if this was Tang Mia's opening move, she had grossly underestimated Sofia.

Sofia wiped the blood from her hands and glanced around the deserted street. The bodies of the death soldiers were already beginning to disappear, their training dictating that they would leave no trace, even in death. A grim efficiency, one that Sofia both respected and loathed.

She turned her back on the carnage and began walking again, her pace calm, her mind already moving to the next step. Tang Mia had made her move, and now it was Sofia's turn. The attack tonight had been a warning, but Sofia didn't need warnings. She thrived in the chaos, in the shadows where others faltered.

As she walked through the quiet streets, her mind began to spin with possibilities, calculating her next move. Tang Mia had declared war, and Sofia was more than ready to fight. The game was on, and in the end, there could only be one victor.

Sofia smiled to herself as the adrenaline began to fade, replaced by the cold certainty of what came next. She had let Tang Mia play her hand, but now it was time to show her just how dangerous a cornered predator could be.

The night had only just begun, and Sofia was ready to tear down anyone who stood in her way.