Rei just stood there — chest heaving — fists clenched.
Then she turned to Jim.
"I don't have time to waste."
Jim's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"
Her voice was quiet but resolute.
"I'm facing Mighty Fighter tomorrow."
Silence.
Jim's expression froze. "Tomorrow?!"
Rei gave a small nod, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"He's the leader of the commanders I defeated."
Jim's shock was visible.
"Wait... what?" His mind reeled. "You... you beat all the commanders?"
Heatsun, standing behind them, let out a small whistle. "Three straight wins, huh?"
A small smirk tugged at his lips. "If it were Tim, he'd be lounging around by now — acting like he's already won the whole war."
Jim tensed, expecting a reaction — and he got one.
The moment Tim's name was mentioned —
Rei's hand, still holding her Lunar Crescent Hatchets, trembled.
Tears slipped down her cheeks — silent but heavy.
The room felt colder.
Moonsalt's soft voice broke the silence.
"Rei is nothing like Tim."
Jim's hands curled into fists.
"Dad," Jim snapped, glaring at Heatsun. "Did you have to bring him up?"
Heatsun's expression softened — the humor gone.
Marie placed a hand on Rei's shoulder, but Rei didn't flinch — her focus still razor-sharp despite the pain in her heart.
Then, Rei reached into her pocket — and pulled out a small photograph.
It was slightly crumpled — but the image was clear.
A tall, imposing figure — Mighty Fighter — standing with his arms crossed, his cloak billowing behind him.
The man radiated raw strength.
"He gave me this," Rei said softly, her voice carrying a bitter edge. "Said that if I lost... my allies would at least recognize him."
Jim's eyes darkened.
"That was a mockery."
Rei's grip on the photo tightened. "Of course, it was."
Jim's mind raced.
"Where's the battle happening?"
Rei met his gaze — her usual calmness now laced with urgency.
"An isolated planet. Mighty Fighter gave me the coordinates."
Jim stepped forward.
"Then I'm coming with you."
But Rei's voice was firm.
"No, you're not."
Jim blinked. "What?"
"This is my battle."
Her words echoed through the room — final and unyielding.
Jim searched her face — but there was no hesitation, no fear — just fierce determination.
Then Rei added, "You're needed here."
Jim clenched his jaw, but Rei continued.
"If Dark Void sends his troops to Soluna while I'm fighting... someone has to defend it."
Jim's lips parted — but no words came out.
He knew she was right.
He wasn't just her ally — he was Soluna's backup warrior.
If Mighty Fighter was a distraction — Dark Void could seize the moment to strike Soluna.
Jim's duty wasn't just to Rei — it was to everyone.
After a long pause, Jim finally nodded.
"Alright... I'll stay."
As the night settled over Heatsun's base, the team remained quiet — each lost in their thoughts.
Rei spent the rest of the evening perfecting her techniques — a silent, relentless force.
Jim, standing at the edge of the base's observation deck, stared into the stars — his heart pounding with the weight of Tim's name and Rei's looming battle.
Heatsun and Moonsalt stood guard — knowing that tomorrow could change everything.
And in her chamber —
Rei sat alone, gripping the photo of Mighty Fighter.
Her lips moved softly — a whisper only the stars could hear.
"Tim... are you watching?"
"Tomorrow — I will fight."
"Alone."
Meanwhile in Dark Void base, Mighty Fighter promised Dark Void, he will beat Rei for sure.
Dark Void said "You better not lose."
The dawn of the battle day came.
The atmosphere at Heatsun's base was heavy — a mix of tension and anticipation.
Rei stood at the hangar bay, her Lunar Crescent Hatchets strapped to her back. Her breathing was calm — her focus razor-sharp.
Henry and Marie prepared their spaceship — a sleek, streamlined vessel enhanced with both Solar and Lunar technology.
Jim stood nearby, watching Rei.
"You sure about this?" he asked softly.
Rei didn't answer immediately. Her gaze remained fixed on the ship.
Then she spoke — firm, unwavering: "This battle is mine."
Jim clenched his jaw but gave a small nod.
Heatsun broke the silence. "If you see a chance to rip off that guy's mask — take it."
Moonsalt added. "And make sure to come back alive."
Rei's grip on her hatchets tightened.
"I will."
Moments later, the spaceship's engines roared to life — and with a final glance at her allies, Rei stepped inside.
The doors sealed shut.
The ship shot off into the sky — piercing through the stars — heading straight for the coordinates Mighty Fighter had given her.
After few hours of sailing...
The location came into view.
It was a desolate, silent planet— even more barren than the lifeless battlefield where Rei had fought Tim and year ago.
No wind.
No light.
Just a vast, cold expanse of stone and darkness.
The only sound came from the humming of the spaceship as it landed.
The door opened and Rei stepped out.
And there — standing in the distance —
Mighty Fighter.
His imposing figure was illuminated only by the faint glow of Rei's Lunar aura.
Arms crossed.
Mask unyielding.
Their eyes locked — or rather, Rei's eyes locked onto the shadowy slits of his mask.
"You came," Mighty Fighter said, his deep voice echoing through the emptiness.
Rei drew her hatchets, taking a battle stance. "I didn't come to talk."
Mighty Fighter's head tilted slightly. "Good."
As Rei stood there, staring at the sky, she felt a strange sense of inevitability.
Why did this all feel so... familiar?
Why did Mighty Fighter's voice stir something deep inside her?
As the wind whispered around her, she clenched her fists.
Whatever the reason...
I would face him.
And I would win.
Then, the masked guy spoke words that made Rei's heart race:
"If you can rip off my mask — you win."
Rei's jaw clenched. "Then I accept."
Without another word —
The battle began.
Rei surged forward slashing her Lunar Crescent Hatchets in a wide arc — releasing a crescent wave of Lunar Crescent Strike aimed straight for Mighty Fighter's chest.
But he didn't dodge.
He blocked the attack with his bare arm — the energy dispersing around him like it was nothing.
Rei's eyes widened — her opening move had done nothing.
Before she could react —
BOOM!
Mighty Fighter dashed forward at impossible speed — striking Rei with a single palm thrust to her gut — sending her flying backward, skidding across the rocky ground.
The force felt like a mountain collapsing on her.
She coughed, struggling to stand.
"You'll have to do more than that," he said, his voice calm — as though this was just a mere warm-up.
Rei gritted her teeth.
"Fine."
But again the strike seemed a lot familiar even if she had never been struck like that.
She activated Lunar Mirage — creating five shimmering clones of herself — each flickering with radiant Lunar energy.
They circled Mighty Fighter — striking from all angles — slashing, blasting, cutting — but every time a clone attacked, Mighty Fighter countered with surgical precision.
One clone gone.
Another shattered.
Until only the real Rei remained.
She panted, sweat dripping down her forehead.
He's stronger than any of the commanders, she realized.
She again felt the same familiar feeling which she couldnt understand why?
But she snapped out again knowing she has to be serious.
Rei quickly shifted tactics — combining her techniques like never before.
She unleashed a Lunar Wave — a swirling blast of pure moonlight energy — and immediately followed with Lunar Chains — conjuring glowing chains of energy to bind Mighty Fighter's arms and legs.
"Got you."
But before the chains could tighten —
He broke them apart with sheer force.
The chains shattered like glass.
In the same motion — Mighty Fighter closed the gap and unleashed a flurry of brutal punches.
Rei barely dodged — her Lunar Mirage flickering again, causing him to miss by mere inches.
The speed.
The strength.
It was unlike anything she had faced.
Rei switched to a defensive stance — blending her Lunar Cloak technique with Lunar Chains, using one to shield herself while attempting to bind Mighty Fighter in his moments of attack.
"Let's see how long you can last."
Rei's strategies began evolving as time passed.
She adapted — combining her techniques in ways even she hadn't thought of before.
Lunar Crescent Storm — repeatedly slashing while using her hatchets to pull herself closer or push away.
Lunar Flash — blinding Mighty Fighter for a split second to land a surprise attack.
Lunar Aura Shield — forming an aura of raw Lunar power to repel his close-combat strikes.
Each attack pushed Mighty Fighter back a little more —
Until finally —
Rei saw an opening.
Using Lunar Mirage — she sent two clones charging from opposite sides while unleashing a Lunar Crescent Slash directly at his face.
For the first time —
Mighty Fighter flinched.
Her blade grazed the edge of his mask.
A small crack appeared.
Rei, now desperate to rip off his mask, poured every ounce of her energy into one last combination attack:
"Lunar Phantom Strike!"
Mighty Fighter attempted to block —
But Rei twisted mid-strike — surprising him — and grabbed his mask with her bare hand.
The mask's material resisted — but Rei's Lunar energy flared — and with a final yank —
The mask ripped off.
Time seemed to freeze.
Rei's eyes widened as she saw his face —
But before she could process what she was seeing —
Mighty Fighter's body shimmered — a sudden, white energy enveloping him.
In a flash — he was gone.
_ _ _
Far away, in a dark and secluded base — Mighty Fighter reappeared.
A shadowy figure waited for him — a scary-looking man with a fierce, intimidating aura — but there was a strange kindness in his eyes.
The man studied him.
"So... you let her rip off the mask."
Mighty Fighter's face was finally revealed as he turned his head towards him.
And for the first time —
It was revealed that Mighty Fighter was Tim.
His expression remained neutral — but his eyes held a storm of emotions.
"She was stronger than I thought," Tim said softly.
The other man smirked. "She doesn't know who you are."
Tim's gaze lowered.
"No."
Back on the isolated planet
Rei stood frozen, still clutching the broken mask.
Her mind raced — yet a strange feeling crept into her chest.
Even without knowing the truth —
She somehow felt at peace.
As if... something familiar about Mighty Fighter's face lingered — but refused to surface.