While holidaying alone at a beach resort, young Sonia Tan is attacked by a group of unearthly fire beasts. Luckily a mysterious female fighter and two dwarfs come to her aid and they whisk her away to a strange land. There she learns that she is the favorite wife of the emperor and the jealous Empress Dowager Cixi wants her dead. Now more powerful than ever, the dowager is also determined to reconquer the world she once ruled. Only the Ruby, an omnipotent gemstone, can thwart Cixi's dastardly plans and Sonia is entrusted with the suicidal task of obtaining it. Neither exceptionally clever nor brave, Sonia soon discovers the true meaning of the word "adventure"