Washington, DC, is among the first casualties. Without any warning or explanation, the great city is wiped from the earth in seconds. Before anyone on the planet knows what is happening, Ottawa, Brasilia, and Buenos Aires suffer the same fate within minutes of each other. Beijing is next, especially after Luminous has taken the Orb of Fire from General Vang Kai. But her collection is incomplete; she needs two more, the orbs of life and death.

Her plan entails stealing all eight orbs, destroying what remains of the universe, and recreating it to her liking. She employs any means...