The next day, the skies darkened again but this time, it wasn't just smoke or destruction.
A suffocating aura blanketed the city, heavier and more menacing than before.
The people of Soluna, who had started to find comfort in Jim's victories, now froze in place, sensing something far more dangerous approaching.
A massive figure emerged from the horizon - towering twice the size of the last monsters.
It had an obsidian-black body laced with glowing purple veins, just like the others, but this one's energy was far more concentrated.
Four muscular arms flexed at its sides, and a long tail tipped with a jagged blade swayed behind it. Its burning eyes radiated an intense, almost intelligent rage.
"I am not like the other weakling creatures who fell to some green haired brat," it growled, its voice deeper than thunder. "I am Draxon - enhanced by Lady Rei herself."
Jim, standing at the edge of the city, instantly noticed the difference. His usual smirk faded.
"Of course... They just keep getting bigger."
He summoned his Solar Saber and Lunar Crescent Hatchet, spinning them stylishly before crossing them as they merged into Solun Lance.
"Alright, let's wrap this up quickly as always." he said as he transformed into Grey Warrior.
But before he could attack -
BOOM!
Draxon vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing right in front of Jim.
"What the-?!"
The monster slammed one of its massive fists into Jim's chest, sending him hurtling backward through a building.
Dust and rubble exploded into the air.
The crowd gasped in shock - this was the first time they'd seen Jim get knocked down so easily.
Some voices came from the crowd, a mix of Solar and Lunar people:-
"Hey, what happened to you?"
"He must be playing with the monster again, don't worry."
"We are putting our hopes on you. So you better make it fast, Grey Warrior."
"Don't forget to give your autograph this time."
Jim staggered out of the rubble, coughing.
His Grey Warrior armor flickered for a moment but held strong.
"Okay... This one's different."
Draxon chuckled darkly. "Struggling already, Grey Warrior?"
Jim narrowed his eyes. "Not a chance."
He fused his weapons into the Solun Lance again, spinning it rapidly to create a barrier of silver light.
Draxon roared and unleashed a barrage of dark energy blasts from his hands.
Jim deflected them with precise strikes of the Solun Lance, but the sheer force pushed him back step by step.
"Solun Pierce!" Jim shouted, clashing with Draxon at a faster speed as the lance went through it's body.
But it was having almost no effect.
The monster pulled the lance from it's body and hit Jim so hard with it that it made him crash near a building and the lance was thrown beside him.
Jim's eyes widened as he got back up somehow trying to grip his Solun Lance. "Seriously...He just... took that... like it was normal?"
Before he could get the time to process, Draxon went towards him in a flash and swung his bladed tail, catching Jim across the side. Sparks flew from the armor as Jim was sent skidding across the ground.
The crowd, usually cheering for their hero, was silent now - fear creeping into their hearts.
"No way, we thought you were just playing?"
"Don't tell me, it was all a sham?"
"No way, are you kidding me, Grey Warrior isn't even able to scratch it."
"This marks our doom! The end of our short term entertainment. Let's accept it peacefully."
Then, Suddenly -
"Guess I can't leave you alone for a day, can I?"
Tim's voice broke the silence.
Jim looked up and groaned. "You again?"
Tim, not really in the healthiest state, but refusing to sit still, stood there with a cocky grin.
"What happened to 'I got this'?" Tim teased.
Jim rolled his eyes. "He's not like the others."
Tim's smile faded. "I noticed."
Draxon growled. "Two of you now? No matter - I will crush you both!"
Jim adjusted his grip on the Solun Lance. "Stay out of this, Tim. You're still healing."
Tim smirked. "And miss the fun? No way."
Jim's eye twitched. "Great... Just what I needed."
Draxon's burning eyes flickered with a cruel glow as he stomped forward, his massive frame causing the ground to quake beneath him.
The air around him seemed heavier, and every Solar and Lunar person watching could feel the difference - this wasn't just a monster; this was something far more dangerous.
Jim kept his Solun Lance pointed at Draxon, his body still aching from the earlier blows.
Tim, leaning slightly on his Solar Saber for support, kept his cocky grin but couldn't hide the pain in his stance.
"Last chance, Tim," Jim muttered without taking his eyes off Draxon. "Get out of here."
Tim chuckled softly. "Not happening, little bro."
Jim shot him a glare. "I'm not your-"
Before Jim could finish, Draxon charged at an alarming speed.
His four fists came crashing down like meteors.
Jim barely had time to raise his lance and summon a shield of combined Solar and Lunar energy, but the impact still blasted him backward into Tim, sending them both rolling across the cracked ground.
"He's fast for someone so big!" Tim coughed, pulling himself to his feet.
Jim winced, his armor flickering again. "And ridiculously strong."
Draxon didn't let up. He roared and launched a flurry of dark energy blasts from his hands, each one crackling with purple lightning.
Jim weaved through them, using the Solun Lance to deflect the blasts, but each one forced him further back.
Tim, despite his weakened state, powered through and used his Solar Saber to cut down the incoming blasts aimed at the nearby citizens.
"Focus, Tim!" Jim growled, spinning his lance to create a shield around the crowd.
"Solar-Lunar Barrier!" Jim screamed as he created the shield.
"I'm trying!" Tim shot back.
But then Draxon appeared right behind Jim.
"Too slow!"
With a swing of his bladed tail, Draxon struck Jim hard across the back, sending him crashing into a stone wall.
Sparks flew from his armor, and a crack appeared in the center of his chest plate.
"Jim!" Tim shouted.
Jim struggled to rise, coughing. His vision blurred for a second. "I'm fine... just peachy."
Draxon laughed. "The mighty Grey Warrior? You're nothing."
Tim gritted his teeth. He looked at his Solar Saber and then at Jim's Solun Lance.
"We have to work together."
Jim wiped the blood from his mouth. "I work better alone."
Tim gave him a sly grin. "Yeah? How's that working out for you?"
Jim huffed. "Fine. But only because you're annoying."
Tim and Jim stood side by side. The crowd, though terrified, started to regain a spark of hope seeing both warriors together.
Draxon roared and prepared another energy attack - a massive sphere of dark energy forming above his head. The ground trembled as cracks spiraled out from his feet.
Jim gripped his Solun Lance. "We strike together."
Tim nodded, his Solar Saber glowing bright as he transformed into Solar Warrior. "Let's light him up."
As Draxon hurled the sphere of dark energy at them, Jim and Tim launched forward, their weapons glowing with combined Solar and Lunar energy.
"Solun Finisher Beam!" Jim shouted, sending a powerful silver blast from his lance.
"Solar Saber Radiant Slice!" Tim added, unleashing a golden arc of energy from his Saber.
The two attacks combined midair, creating a spiraling beam of golden and silver light that collided with Draxon's dark sphere.
The clash of energy shook the entire city.
For a moment, it seemed equal - but then Jim poured every ounce of his energy into the beam.
"Come on, Tim, you are not weak. Prove to little bro that you are something!"
Tim muttered to himself as he gritted his teeth, pushing his energy to its limits despite his injuries.
Their combined power overwhelmed Draxon's dark sphere - and the golden-silver blast shot straight into the monster's chest, exploding on impact.
BOOM!
Draxon let out a deafening roar before collapsing to the ground, smoke rising from his charred body.
The city fell silent.
Then - cheers erupted. The people of Solunar shouted both their names, chanting:
"Grey Warrior! Solar Warrior! Grey Warrior! Solar Warrior!"
Jim stumbled a bit, his armor sparking again. "We... we did it."
Tim clutched his side but managed to smile. "Told you we make a good team, little bro."
Jim rolled his eyes but wondered when did he even say that.
But from the shadows - a figure watched. Hidden by the smoke, glowing eyes narrowed.
Rei.
She had been watching the entire battle from a distance.
Her voice was calm yet surprised.
"Solar Warrior, he is... alive? He's not as weak... as I thought."
And with that, she vanished into the darkness, preparing for the next move.
"Uh! I can't take it anymore." Tim muttered weakly as he suddenly fell to the ground.
"Hey wake up, Tim. Wake up...."
There was no response.
Jim was getting nervous at the situation.
He knew after using up so much of his powers, he wouldn't be guaranteed to heal him like before and thought it was better for Tim to be looked after by his allies.
So, Jim immediately contacted Heatsun asking about the location of there base.
After getting the location, he took Tim there by carrying him in his shoulders.
After half an hour...
Marie and Henry stood outside the base.
Henry muttered. "Tim must be light enough for you to carry."
Marie was releived seeing Tim back after a long time and gave a knowing nod.
Jim then said in an annoyed tone. "Does it looks like I am enjoying it?"
Henry then mentioned in a serious tone. "Anyways, jokes aside, we missed Tim for days but one who is in the most need to see him is his Mentor. You should come inside too."
With that, Jim was escorted inside.
Inside the base...
Just after looking at Tim, Heatsun burst into tears.
"Tim? Is he really back? Hadn't seen him for a long time?"
Henry, looking serious, said,
"We should let him rest in bed for now. And don't worry — he's the Solar Warrior. He's already been healing for days. With proper rest, he'll be back to normal soon enough."
Marie continued emotionally. "Who can say how uncomfortable it was for him to heal inside a cave. Now, atleast he can get a proper bed rest."
Jim responded. "He slept way too comfortably. I had a hard time bearing his snores."
Heatsun met Jim’s gaze, serious but grudging. "Thanks for bringing him back. I doubt he’d have made it alone."
Jim: "No, don't thank me. It was within my abilities so I did it."
After some hours...
Tim lay on the bed, wincing as he tried to shift his weight.
His body still ached from the battle with Draxon, but the real pain began just when he opened his eyes—
"One more reckless stunt, Tim, and you'll be dead and this time, not even Jim will be able to bring you back."
Tim held up his hands, a sheepish grin on his face. "Relax, Heatsun. Without me, who's going to be Soluna's savior?"
Jim crossed his arms, standing at the foot of the bed. "I'll take that role for now. You already said you are fine with that."
Tim chuckled. "Little bro, you can't take all the glory. Leave some for big bro here."
Jim's eye twitched. "Stop calling me that."
"I'm older. Deal with it."
Their back-and-forth banter went on for a solid minute - Tim poking fun,
Jim trying to stay serious but clearly slipping into the playful rhythm.
Despite the pain, Tim laughed through the arguing, and Jim couldn't help but smirk.
Their bond, though fresh, already resembled that of true brothers - bickering yet undeniably watching out for each other.
Heatsun finally cut in, his voice cold and firm. "Enough."
The room went silent instantly.
Heatsun's eyes locked onto Jim. "You talk big, but I don't trust you."
Jim raised an eyebrow. "Didn't ask you to."
Henry, standing beside Marie near the entrance, sighed. "Heatsun... let's give him a chance."
Marie nodded softly. "Tim trusts him."
Heatsun's gaze didn't waver. "I trust Tim because I raised him - even if I only mentored him, it was me who shaped him into the warrior he is. You?" His eyes narrowed. "You're a mystery. The 'Grey Warrior' from an unknown planet, with Solar and Lunar powers you shouldn't have."
Jim's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.
Tim broke the tension with a grin. "He's just mad you're cooler than him, Jim."
Heatsun shot Tim a sharp look, and Tim quickly straightened up. "Kidding! Kidding!"
Henry stepped forward. "Look... all he's asking for is shelter. It's not like we're naming him our leader."
Marie smiled gently. "He saved Tim's life. Twice."
Heatsun finally exhaled through his nose. "Fine."
Jim stayed silent for a moment before muttering, "Thanks for the... warm welcome."
Heatsun's tone didn't soften. "You'll stay here for now. Consider it an opportunity for me to keep an eye on you."
Tim, despite everything, clapped Jim on the back - hard enough to make him stumble a bit. "Welcome to the family, little bro."
Jim gritted his teeth. "For the last time-"
Henry laughed. "I think you're stuck with the title now."
Jim looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he just let out a dramatic sigh.
Tim, still lying back, finally let his eyes close, his body giving in to the need for rest. "I'll rest now, little bro. Hold the fort till I'm back in action."
Jim leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Just don't expect me to call you 'big bro' when you wake up."
Marie smiled at the sight of the two, while Henry muttered to Heatsun, "I think they're already acting like brothers."
Heatsun didn't respond - but his silence spoke volumes.
For now, Jim was staying. And while Heatsun didn't trust him yet, one thing was clear: Tim did.
And for the time being... that was enough.