The room buzzed with anticipation. Toxica sulked in a corner, Aquadrown leaned against the wall, smirking, but the air shifted when Hellfire stepped forward.
His molten eyes burned with excitement.
"No more games," Hellfire growled, his voice like a crackling flame.
He conjured a glowing ember in his palm - the seed of his next weapon.
The ember twisted and expanded, erupting into a fiery beast:
Pyro Minotaur - a towering fire demon with a magma-coated hide and horns like molten spears. It let out a deafening roar, each breath sending out bursts of flaming embers.
Dark Void's cold smile never wavered.
"Release it on Soluna," he commanded.
The Next Day
The city, still recovering from the Parasite Bloom's attack, barely had time to breathe before the sky turned orange-red - a wave of heat rolling through the streets.
Buildings groaned as their structures began to melt, and the ground split open with rivers of lava.
From a burning crater in the city's square, the Pyro Minotaur emerged - a monstrous blend of flame and fury.
Its magma hide gleamed, every movement sending fiery shockwaves rippling through the ground.
The Solunar people screamed as the molten beast advanced, each step setting the streets ablaze.
Heatsun and Moonsalt appeared instantly.
"Get behind us!" Heatsun roared, raising a fiery Solar shield to block a stream of molten rock.
Moonsalt joined him, summoning a cooling Lunar aura that fought against the heat - the two elements clashing in a powerful protective barrier.
The people gasped, seeing the most powerful Solar-Lunar couple work in perfect harmony.
"It's Heatsun and Moonsalt!" someone cried.
"They're unstoppable together!" another cheered.
The crowd erupted in support for the pair - their combined powers the only thing standing between the people and certain death.
Heatsun then revealed to the crowd that Jim was there son.
Moonsalt gladly pointed towards Jim.
Hearing them, Amid the cheers, a few eyes drifted to Jim - standing beside Rei.
His green hair - a mix of Solar and Lunar heritage - made him an easy target for whispers.
"Is he really their son?" one person muttered.
"Why doesn't he have yellow or blue hair?" another sneered.
Jim lowered his head slightly - but his fists tightened.
Rei's sharp ears caught every word.
Her gaze, already cold and stern, grew even harder.
Rei transformed into Lunar Warrior as the monster attacked.
_ _ _
The Pyro Minotaur unleashed a storm of magma projectiles - blazing meteors that shattered anything they touched.
Rei moved like a shadow, dodging the flaming assaults with flawless precision.
Despite her exhaustion from fighting three monsters already, she refused to back down.
Her Lunar Crescent Hatchets spun in her hands but each strike against the Minotaur's magma hide barely made a scratch.
The beast roared, sending a wave of molten rock toward the crowd.
Heatsun and Moonsalt braced again - their combined shield barely holding against the fiery onslaught.
"Rei, it's too strong!" Heatsun called out. "Its magma skin is impenetrable!"
But Rei didn't respond.
Her eyes never left the Minotaur.
The crowd's reaction twisted her heart.
They cheered for Heatsun and Moonsalt... but still glared at Jim.
Looking at the crowd shunning there son made Heatsun and Moonsalt uneasy.
And when their eyes landed on her - there was no cheering.
Just doubt.
Suspicion.
Even after all the monsters she'd defeated - she was still the "Lunar traitor."
But Jim...
Jim, who had fought by her side... Jim, who had saved lives... was their blood - yet he was mocked for simply existing with his green hair.
Rei's grip on her hatchets tightened.
"They'll never accept him... just like they'll never accept me," she thought bitterly.
The Pyro Minotaur charged at her, horns blazing.
Rei barely dodged - the heat singing her arm.
Jim noticed Rei's struggle.
"Rei...?" he whispered, sensing the turmoil beneath her stoic mask.
But before he could act -
A Solunar elder scoffed, eyeing Jim. "He doesn't belong with us... even if he is Heatsun and Moonsalt's son."
Jim's mixed Solar-Lunar blood was seen as unnatural and an abomination by some.
Rei's jaw clenched.
Without warning - she spoke up.
"If you have a problem with him..." her voice was like ice - calm but lethal - "then you have a problem with me."
The crowd fell silent.
"Rei..." Jim's eyes widened.
She didn't look at him - her focus locked on the Minotaur - but her words were clear and sharp.
"He's more of a warrior than any of you."
Then, she charged forward.
The final clash erupted.
Rei moved with surgical precision - her Lunar Crescent Hatchets cutting at the Pyro Minotaur's legs.
She noticed something.
The joints.
Though its magma hide was thick, its knee joints briefly cooled every time the Minotaur moved.
That was its weak point.
Dodging a magma fist, Rei slid beneath the beast - slicing at both knee joints with glowing Lunar arcs.
The Minotaur roared - its molten body buckling.
In that moment - as the beast collapsed - Rei's hatchets flared with pure Lunar energy.
She leapt into the air - spinning like a crescent moon - and delivered a devastating slash to the monster's core.
The Pyro Minotaur let out one final, earsplitting roar - before crumbling into a heap of molten rock.
Silence.
Rei stood victorious - flames flickering around her.
Her body was scorched, her breathing heavy - but her glare remained fierce.
The crowd stared - stunned.
One by one - their heads turned to Jim.
He swallowed hard, expecting more cruel words.
Instead - there was quiet.
They didn't cheer for Rei - not yet - but for the first time...
They didn't sneer at Jim either.
The whispers stopped.
As the dust settled, Jim stepped beside Rei.
"You didn't have to do that..." he murmured.
Her gaze remained on the melted remains of the Minotaur.
"You're my little brother," she said softly.
Jim blinked.
For the first time in what felt like forever -
He smiled.
Back at Dark Void's base...
Hellfire's molten fists cracked the wall in rage.
Toxica sneered. "Another failure?"
Aquadrown chuckled darkly. "Guess magma melts under the moonlight."
But Dark Void didn't move.
His gaze was calm.
"She's growing stronger... and now, she's not alone."
His cold smile sharpened.
"We'll break her next time."