The village on Soluna's outskirts woke to the sound of cracking wood and terrified screams.
Vine Terror - a monstrous, plant-like beast - loomed over the small homes, its massive, writhing vines tearing through buildings like paper.
The creature's core, a pulsating green heart hidden deep within its mass of tendrils, kept it alive, regenerating any severed vines almost instantly.
People ran for their lives, their panic echoing through the streets.
And then, a figure appeared:-
The Black Lunar Warrior.
Her Lunar Crescent Hatchets glimmered as she sprinted through the chaos, slicing through the attacking vines with swift, precise strikes.
Each swing of her weapons left behind a faint black glow - a signature of her Lunar powers.
But for every vine she cut, another grew back. The monster was unrelenting.
Jim watched from a distance, arms crossed.
He had promised minimal support, and he intended to keep that promise - unless absolutely necessary.
Still, his sharp eyes tracked the beast's movements, his Solun Lance gripped tightly in his arm.
The Black Lunar Warrior or Rei moved with deadly focus.
She weaved between the monster's tendrils, dodging and slicing, until finally - she spotted it.
The core.
Buried beneath layers of moving vines, pulsating with sickly green energy.
"There you are," she muttered, narrowing her gaze.
She flung both her hatchets, the glowing blades slicing through the air and aiming for the core.
But the monster immediately launched some vines in that direction sending her hatchets slashing through her.
"Ah..." Rei tried to suppress the pain.
There was a hint of concern in Jim's face as he shouted. "Are you alright? Should I help?"
"No..let me handle..it." she whispered.
Jim couldn't help but respect her resolve.
Rei stumbled as she almost fell trying to grab her hatchets.
Toxica observing everything from the baseship smirked. "Oh! She seriously was the substitute leader? Don't make me laugh."
Then, as she was able to grip them in her hands, the it's vines were shooting a large number of terrified Solar and Lunar people who were huddled together frozen in fear.
Rei closed her eyes with guilt as she tried to launch herself in the air, her hatchets gripped tightly.
But before the vines could reach the people,
"Solun Strike!"
She found the vines ripped off and Jim standing like a guard in front of the people giving her a thumbs up.
Her gaze immediately refocused on the monster as staying mid-air, she threw the hatchets towards the core.
This time, the monster was taken aback by her speed.
They struck the core and pierced through but even then the core was not fully broken.
It started regenerating the core.
Jim looked tense as mind raced.
Are you really sure you can defeat it. If you really need my help, say it.
But, Rei seemed to be calmly looking at it as she landed.
Then, she raised her hands and out of nowhere, the hatchets struck the core (filled with lunar energy) again from it's rear crushing it completely as she caught her hatchets.
Jim was taken aback as he processed everything. " She actually didn't just throw them recklessly like Tim would have but she was using her Lunar Boomerang making it look like brute force? She is truly scary, it's good that she is by our side now."
In absence of the core, the monster failed to regenerate further.
Jim, saw the brief opening and fired a Solun Beam from his Lance to push the weakened vines aside.
Taking that opportunity, Rei lunged forward, both hatchets glowing darker than ever without making any unnecessary movements.
"Lunar Crescent Storm!"
Her attack destroyed the core in a blinding arc of dark blue.
The Vine Terror let out a horrible screech as its body convulsed, then collapsed, its regenerating vines withering into lifeless roots.
There was Silence.
But—
The Solunar people didn't cheer.
They didn't thank even look at there new Saviour.
Instead, they kept their distance, whispering among themselves, their fear evident.
"Isn't that the Lunar Warrior?"
"Wasn't she with Dark Void?"
"She tried to conquer Soluna once..."
Their words hung in the air like a heavy cloud.
Rei said nothing, her face without any expression- but Jim noticed the slightest clench of her fists.
And then - he stepped forward.
"She saved your lives," Jim shouted coldly, his voice cutting through their murmurs. "If you can't see that, you're blind."
The crowd fell into an awkward silence.
Rei glanced at him, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
Jim didn't look at her as he continued.
"I saw you, Rei," he muttered, his tone softer now. "You weren't just fighting that thing... you were protecting them."
A pause.
"You're trying."
For the first time, Jim saw didn't see her as an enemy, not even as just a sparring partner but something closer.
"No matter what they say," Jim added, "I'll protect you if they bother you."
Rei didn't respond at first, staring at him for a moment. Then, a faint smirk crossed her lips.
"You're not so bad for a little brother," she said quietly.
Jim scoffed. "Don't push it."
But for the first time since Tim's death - Rei didn't feel completely alone.
At Dark Void's base...
The atmosphere crackled with tension.
Toxica, seething from her humiliating failure, slammed a vine-covered fist against the cold metal wall.
"It was a test, nothing more!" she snapped, her voice venomous. "She just got lucky."
Dark Void, his silhouette blending into the shadows, chuckled softly. "Luck has nothing to do with it, Toxica. You underestimated her." His voice was calm but icy.
Toxica's jaw tightened, but she said nothing.
Hellfire smirked. "Guess it's my turn then." His body radiated heat, small embers flickering from his fingertips as if he could ignite the entire room at any moment.
Aquadrown leaned against the wall, unimpressed. "Don't get cocky. Let's make it fair."
With a devilish grin, Hellfire raised a hand. "Rock..."
"Paper..."
"Scissors!"
Hellfire's rock crushed Aquadrown's scissors.
"Looks like I'm up."
Dark Void's eyes gleamed. "Summon your monster, Hellfire. Let's see how well the so-called Lunar Warrior handles a walking volcano."
The Next Day - Soluna
The sky darkened, not from nightfall - but from smoke.
Magmageddon - a colossal, walking volcano - rumbled through a different Solunar residence.
Rivers of molten lava oozed from its cracked, rocky skin, and with every step, the ground trembled.
The beast roared, and flaming meteors shot from its erupting core, hurtling down toward the helpless villagers.
Screams echoed as the people scrambled for cover.
And then - the same figure appeared like the previous day transforming into Black Lunar Warrior.
Lunar Crescent Hatchets gleamed in the fiery light, but already, sweat dripped down her face.
The scorching heat pressed against her like a wall, making it harder to breathe, let alone fight.
"Too hot..." she muttered, gritting her teeth.
She dodged a falling meteor, but the impact sent a wave of molten rock spraying dangerously close.
The heat singed her armour, but she didn't flinch - her focus remained locked on the monster's weak point: its exposed, glowing magma core on its back.
The Solunar people, however, had a different focus.
"Why is she here again?"
"She brought this destruction with her."
"Dark Void's puppet - that's all she'll ever be."
Their words stung - but Rei didn't react. She just kept moving, analyzing the monster's movements with calm precision.
But Jim heard every word.
His jaw clenched. "Enough!" he snapped at the crowd, stepping in front of them.
"She's fighting to protect you."
"Or would you rather let that thing kill you?"
The villagers didn't respond - but they didn't stop glaring at Rei either.
Jim's grip tightened on his Solun Lance. His heart pounded - not from fear of the monster, but from frustration. They couldn't see the change in Rei like he did.
The battle raged on.
Magmageddon roared, launching another barrage of fiery meteors.
One was heading straight for Rei.
"Move!" Jim shouted, leaping forward.
He raised his Solun Lance, summoning a Solunar Barrier - a glowing shield of mixed Solar and Lunar energy. The meteor struck it, exploding into harmless sparks.
"Jim-" Rei started, but he cut her off.
"Don't thank me - just finish it!"
Rei didn't hesitate. She sprinted through the dissipating flames, using the brief opening Jim had created.
Her hatchets glowed with a dark blue light.
"Lunar Wave!"
She launched it on the monster's magma core, sending a large pulse of Lunar energy through its molten heart.
The core's glow dimmed - the heat surrounding them weakening.
Magmageddon staggered, lava cooling into hardened rock as it let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing.
It was an easier victory this time.
But once again, the villagers didn't cheer.
They stared at Rei - not with gratitude, but suspicion.
One muttered, "She caused this fight in the first place... if she wasn't here, maybe Dark Void wouldn't send these monsters."
Another whispered, "She's just a traitor trying to play hero."
Jim's fists clenched.
"She didn't bring this monster - Dark Void did," he snapped. "Stop blaming Rei for his evil."
The villagers fell silent again.
Jim glanced at Rei - expecting her to be angry, or hurt.
Instead, she simply wiped sweat from her brow, her focus still on the monster's remains. It was as if their words didn't matter.
"You don't care what they say, do you?" Jim asked quietly.
Rei's voice was calm, almost distant. "I didn't come here to win their approval. I came to win this war."
Jim stared at her for a moment, then smirked - just a little.
"You're still cold," he muttered. "But I guess you're my cold big sister."
Rei glanced at him, a rare glimmer of humor in her eyes. "And you're still a loud little brother."
Back at Dark Void's base...
A deep scowl crept across Hellfire's face as the news of Magmageddon's defeat echoed through the warship's halls.
"She's more stubborn than I thought," he growled.
Toxica crossed her arms, smirking. "Guess you're not as hot as you thought, Hellfire."
Aquadrown chuckled from the corner. "Guess it's my turn next."
Dark Void, silent until now, finally spoke.
"Tomorrow," he said softly, his voice a dark promise, "Soluna will drown."