The cave was dimly lit, with flickers of sunlight creeping through the cracks.
Tim, weak but eager for answers, leaned against the cold wall. His white hair was a mess, and his body still bore the marks of his brutal battle with Rei.
Yet, his curiosity burned brighter than his pain.
"So... how did you transform into the Grey Warrior?" Tim finally broke the silence.
Jim, standing near a small fire he had set to keep the place warm, gazed at his Solar Saber and Lunar Crescent Hatchets resting beside him.
For a moment, he didn't answer as if weighing whether to share his story.
Then, with a sigh, he said, "Since you see me as a friend... I guess I can tell you."
Tim perked up.
"When I was five years old," Jim began, "I wasn't on Soluna. I was found... on an isolated planet."
Tim blinked. "What?"
Jim's green hair caught the faint glow of the fire, making him seem even more of an enigma.
"Commander Edward found me," Jim continued. "He's a Celestic Justice Officer - part of a group dedicated to keeping balance in the universe. He told me I was just wandering on that planet, alone. No memory of how I got there."
Tim's jaw tightened. "So... your parents?"
Jim shook his head. "No clue. Edward thought it was strange - not just that I was alone, but..."
He clenched his fist.
"...he discovered I had both Solar and Lunar energy inside me."
Tim's eyes widened. "That's impossible! Solunar people are either Solar or Lunar. The only way someone can have both is if-"
"I know," Jim interrupted. "Edward didn't get it either. That's why he started researching Soluna's history - your war, the curse, everything."
Tim fell silent. The curse placed by the Solunar God, Solarae, had forced Solar and Lunar people to rely on each other for survival.
Yet here was Jim - a walking contradiction.
"Edward was fascinated," Jim said. "He even crafted weapons like the Solar Saber and Lunar Crescent Hatchets, based on the legendary Solar and Lunar Warriors. He thought maybe I was connected to Soluna somehow."
Tim nodded slowly. "But... when did you become the Grey Warrior?"
Jim smirked. "That's the recent part."
He sat down across from Tim, leaning back against the stone wall.
"Edward didn't just study me - he trained me."
Tim raised an eyebrow. "Trained you?"
"For 15 years," Jim said. "At first, it was just basic combat. But the more I trained, the more I realized... I was getting stronger. Fast. Stronger than even the older Celestic Justice members."
Tim whistled softly. "And Edward let you train?"
"He didn't just let me - he pushed me," Jim replied. "Because I wanted it. I wanted to get stronger... maybe to figure out who I really am. Every day, I surpassed people older and more experienced than me."
His voice grew distant, his mind drifting back to countless battles, endless training sessions, and Edward's stern but supportive gaze.
"There came a point," Jim said quietly, "when Edward told me I was almost his equal."
Tim's eyes went wide. "You're saying... you almost matched a Celestic Justice Commander in strength?"
Jim gave a small, almost smug grin. "I guess."
For a moment, the cave was silent - the weight of Jim's abilities sinking in.
"Then," Jim continued, "Edward gave me a choice. He told me I had reached a level where I didn't have to follow anyone's orders anymore. I could do what I wanted."
Tim leaned forward. "So... what did you choose?"
Jim's grin faded, replaced by a determined look.
"I told him I wanted to protect Soluna."
Tim's heart skipped a beat.
"Why?"
Jim's green hair fell over his eyes for a second before he brushed it back.
"Because I felt connected to this place - to the Solar and Lunar powers inside me. It's like... part of me belongs here."
He stared into the fire.
"And," Jim added softly, "because I'm on another mission too."
Tim tilted his head. "What mission?"
Jim's gaze hardened.
"To find my parents."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Tim, despite his exhaustion, placed a hand on Jim's shoulder.
"We'll find them," Tim said. "Together."
Jim blinked - surprised again by Tim's warmth.
"...You really are weird," Jim muttered, though there was a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Tim just chuckled. "That's how , friendship starts, Grimmy."
Jim grumbled. "Have you fixed it as my nickname? Honestly, I am not liking it at all."
The Next Day...
The communicator crackled softly in Jim's hand as Heatsun's rough voice echoed through it.
"What did you just say?"
Jim's expression stayed cool, his green hair shifting slightly as a breeze crept into the cave.
"Tim's alive," Jim repeated. "But barely. If he keeps pushing himself, next time he won't be so lucky."
There was a long silence on the other end. Then, Heatsun's voice softened - a rare moment of emotion.
"You better keep him safe, kid."
"I will," Jim said simply. He quickly sent Heatsun the cave's coordinates.
Behind him, Tim, still weak but determined, struggled to stand. His body was clearly not ready for another fight, but his spirit - relentless as ever - kept pushing him forward.
"Hey," Tim said hoarsely. "At least let me come with you. I wanna see you fight again... Gri..."
Jim shot him a hard look.
"You're not going anywhere," Jim said bluntly.
Tim grinned. "Come on. I can just watch-"
Thwack!
Jim's fist landed squarely in Tim's stomach.
The Solar Warrior's eyes widened as the air shot out of his lungs. He staggered, swaying for a moment - before collapsing to the ground with a loud thud.
"You... punched me?" Tim gasped.
Jim crouched down, poking Tim's forehead with a smirk. "Yeah. It's called tough love, friend."
Tim groaned, clutching his stomach. "That... really hurt."
Jim stood up, already turning to leave the cave. "Stay put. Heatsun will be here soon."
Before Tim could argue again, Jim dashed out of the cave, the wind whipping his green hair back as he vanished into the distance.
The city was a battlefield.
Buildings crumbled, smoke clouded the skies, and terrified Solar and Lunar citizens fled as a hulking, shadowy monster stomped through the streets.
This beast was larger than the one Jim had fought earlier - with twisted horns, glowing purple eyes, and dark, pulsating veins running along its rocky skin.
Behind it, Dark Void's troops - torched buildings, looting anything they could find.