Tim hurried back to the storage room.
Inside, Rei was barely conscious, still weak.
She looked up as he entered, her eyes filled with relief.
Rei (weakly smiling): "...You... really came...back?"
Tim knelt beside her, his hands shaking. He gently brushed her hair, his thumb tracing a smear of blood from her cheek.
"Of course I did," he said softly. "I'll always come."
Her hand, trembling and weak, found his. She gripped it-not tightly, but enough that Tim felt the desperate need behind it. A silent plea not to let go.
"I thought..." Rei's voice broke, a single tear slipping down her face. "I thought you wouldn't."
Tim swallowed the lump in his throat.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner."
Her fingers curled around his, their touch as delicate as the moment was heavy.
"You came," she repeated, her voice quieter now. "That's all that matters."
Tim lowered his head, his forehead brushing gently against hers.
"I'm not going anywhere," he promised.
Her breathing slowed, the smallest smile touching her lips despite the pain.
Tim's heart ached.
He then wrapped his arms around her saying. "I will not let you leave because I need your strength. Not only that I also need you... you and me to take down Dark Void. And even after that...I-I don't want to stay away from you. That's it."
Rei didn't say anything but her expression showed she was releived deep inside even in that state.
He still didn't understand what had happened to him back there.
But one thing was clear to him-
Deadbeat was afraid of it.
Tim carried Rei and headed towards the spaceship, his arms firm yet gentle, afraid she might shatter if he held her too tightly.
She was barely conscious, her head resting weakly against his shoulder. Blood stained his hands - her blood - and it felt heavier than any weapon he'd ever wielded.
They finally entered the spaceship.
The ship's engine roared to life as Tim set the coordinates. His jaw was clenched, his mind racing with everything that had just happened. Deadbeat had nearly killed Rei. He had stood there, laughing, while she bled. And Tim... Tim had barely stopped him.
He glanced down at her.
Her breathing was shallow, every exhale a painful rasp.
"Just hang on a little longer," Tim whispered, his voice breaking despite himself. "We're going to Aron. He's the best, okay? He'll fix you up."
Rei didn't respond - just a slight twitch of her fingers against his chest, as though she was trying to show she heard him.
The journey felt endless, but finally, the ship touched down at Dr. Aron's Medical Center.
Aron, an older man with green hair and sharp eyes, was already waiting at the entrance, his white coat fluttering against the wind.
Tim rushed out of the ship, Rei still limp in his arms.
"She needs help - now!" Tim's voice cracked, raw with fear.
Aron didn't waste time. "Bring her in."
Tim followed him inside, placing Rei carefully onto the medical bed.
The bright overhead lights made every cut and bruise on her body seem even more severe. Her lip was split. Her arms were dark with swelling.
Tim felt sick.
As Aron worked swiftly - scanning her wounds, treating the gashes, and injecting her with healing solutions - Tim stood in the corner, his fists clenched at his sides. He didn't realize he was trembling until Aron spoke.
"She's lucky," Aron muttered. "Just a little longer, and she might've... you have to thank her endurance..." He stopped himself. "But she'll recover."
Tim exhaled shakily, his knees nearly giving out.
Rei stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering open for a moment. Her vision was hazy, but she saw Tim standing there, his face a mixture of rage and grief.
"...Tim..." Her voice was so faint he barely heard it.
He moved to her side, kneeling beside the bed. "I'm here," he said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
Her fingers weakly reached for his hand again, just like before. Tim took it, his grip gentle but firm.
"...You saved me," she whispered.
Tim's heart twisted. "No," he replied, his voice hoarse. "I should've been there sooner."
She blinked slowly, her lips curving into the smallest of smiles. "You... still came... for me... even after everything."
Tears burned the corners of his eyes.
Aron cleared his throat softly. "She needs rest. Give her time."
Tim nodded but didn't let go of her hand.
As Rei slipped back into unconsciousness, Tim's mind spiraled.
He knew Deadbeat wouldn't stay down for long. That monster wasn't the type to simply retreat - it was just a game to him.
And somewhere, far away, Deadbeat stirred.
The battle replayed in his mind - not the part where he brutalized Rei, not the sadistic glee he felt tasting her blood - but the final moment.
The moment Tim had unleashed that... power.
It was something Deadbeat hadn't accounted for.
He sat in the darkness of his lair, running his tongue over his teeth, his long fingers tapping a slow rhythm against the stone wall.
"What was that?" he muttered to himself. "That wasn't just Solar energy."
He grinned.
"Maybe, this would be more fun than I thought."
Still, every good predator knew when to rest. His so-called "playtime" had worn him out - more than he expected.
He chuckled to himself, his voice echoing in the cavern. "Guess I'll take my nap for now."
Two weeks. That's all he needed.
Dark Void, watching from the shadows of his own throne room, didn't bother interfering.
Deadbeat had always been a wild card - taking actions without permission, treating everything like a hunt. But loyalty wasn't a question. Deadbeat may be unruly, but he was still his chief commander.
Let him have his fun.
Meanwhile, back at Aron's clinic, Tim stared at Rei's sleeping form.
He knew about Deadbeat's routine - the two-week slumber he took after every "playtime." It was a twisted cycle of violence and rest.
But this time, Tim decided he wasn't going to waste those two weeks.
He would make sure Rei recovered.
And he would prepare.
_ _ _
The next morning, the soft beeping of medical monitors was the only sound filling the room. A faint light slipped through the cracks of the metal blinds, casting a pale glow over Rei's sleeping form. Tim hadn't left her side all night - sitting there, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest, his mind a swirling storm of relief and guilt.
Then, a soft voice broke the silence.
"Tim..."
Rei's eyes fluttered open. They were still clouded with exhaustion, but a quiet calm replaced the pain from the night before.
Tim sat forward immediately. "Rei-you're awake."
She gave a small, tired smile. "Yeah... seems like I am."
"Are you okay?" His voice cracked, betraying just how worried he still was.
Rei chuckled softly, though it was more of a whisper. "I've been better."
Tim shook his head. "Aron said you're healing well, but you still need rest. You almost-" His voice caught, and he couldn't finish the sentence.
Rei's smile faded. She closed her eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them again. "Tim... about what I said yesterday..."
He looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
Her gaze softened, a distant sadness flickering behind her eyes. "I told you... that I was glad you came. But the truth is... I shouldn't have."
Tim's brow furrowed. "Rei-"
"No," she interrupted, her voice trembling. "All throughout this year... I always thought about you. Every single day. I convinced myself you were never coming back - that you were gone forever."
Tim's chest tightened.
She blinked back the sting in her eyes. "I blamed myself. For everything....If only I would have seen past Dark Void's manipulation sooner, you may not had to sacrifice yourself for me."
Her voice broke, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
Tim reached for her hand, holding it gently. "Rei... it wasn't your fault."
She swallowed hard. "But it felt like it was. Every second you were absent... I kept beleiving, it was my fault that you are no more." She gave a shaky exhale. "And when you showed up - alive - it was like... like I could finally breathe again."
Tim's grip tightened. "Rei, listen to me - you didn't do anything wrong."
Her voice was a fragile whisper. "I still don't think I deserve your help."
"Stop," Tim said firmly. "You do. You...always...did"
Rei looked away, but Tim wasn't done. "I'm not just helping you. I need your help too."
Rei blinked, surprised. "What...?"
Tim's jaw tensed. "Deadbeat isn't gone. He's resting - for two weeks. That's all the time we have before he comes back even stronger."
She looked horrified. "Two weeks...?"
Tim nodded. "I can't fight him alone. I need you, Rei."
Her eyes widened. "But... why?"
"Because you're the only one who understands this fight the way I do," he said. "We've both been through hell - and we're still here."
Silence hung between them for a moment before Tim spoke again, his voice softer now.
"Besides... I know what it's like to feel like you're drowning in guilt."
Rei's breath caught.
Tim leaned back slightly, staring at the ceiling. "If it weren't for Dr. Aron, I'd be dead right now."
She looked at him, confused.
"He saved me," Tim explained. "Back when Dark Void nearly killed me... Aron found me. I was almost dead - but he brought me back miraculously. He is my life-saver."
Rei's eyes softened as her gaze fell towards Aron who was in a busy schedule.
Tim chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, he doesn't talk much about it. But he's the reason I'm still alive."
He looked at her again, his gaze firm. "And then there was Jeromy."
"Jeromy...?" Rei repeated softly.
Tim's expression darkened for a second before shifting into something steadier. "He trained me. Pushed me harder than Heatsun. If Aron gave me life again... Jeromy taught me how to use it."
Rei watched Tim carefully - the way his jaw tightened at the mention of Jeromy's name, the way his voice lowered like it carried a weight only he could bear.
"You've been through so much," she whispered.
Tim met her gaze. "So have you."
Rei didn't answer. She just gripped his hand a little tighter.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the silence between them wasn't painful. It was steady.
The quiet hum of the medical equipment filled the room.
The atmosphere had settled into a fragile calm.
After sometime...
Jeromy entered the Centre, met up with Tim, got the intel of the entire situation and dialed his communicator accordingly.
As the call connected Jeromy talked swiftly, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency. "Heatsun, is it? Well, I am the Celestic tournament ex-champion, Jeromy. I'm right now with Tim and Rei. Yeah, she's recovering and is having a conversation with him. Tim asked me to contact you guys. Come to Dr. Aron's Centre immediately. I am sending the coordinates."
A brief silence, then Heatsun's deep, steady voice crackled through. "Rei's safe?"
Jeromy nodded. "Yes. She's weak but stable. Dr. Aron's treating her."
In the background, Tim heard a faint chorus of reactions from the communicator- a mixture of relief and excitement.
Then, Jim's voice rang the clearest. "She's okay...? I knew it! I knew big bro Tim wouldn't let her die!"
Rei, still lying in bed, smiled softly at the sound of Jim's voice - that familiar warmth breaking through the tension.
Tim couldn't help but smirk. "Guess they're all coming here now," he muttered.
Sure enough, within some hours, the main doors slid open, and Heatsun, Jim, and the others stepped inside.
The first to rush forward was Jim, his face a mixture of worry and joy. "Rei!"
Rei managed to sit up a little, wincing. "Hey, Jim..."
Jim sighed in relief. "Don't ever do that again."
Before Tim could say anything, though, his gaze drifted to a figure standing quietly beside Heatsun - a woman with dark blue hair and a concerned yet relieved expression.
Tim's brow furrowed. "Wait... who's she?"
The room fell silent.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "You don't remember me?"
Tim blinked. "Uh... should I?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
The woman stepped forward, her presence intense. "I am Moonsalt - one of Dark Void's former commanders. I was Rei's mentor, training her for fifteen years."
Tim's mouth opened slightly, his mind racing. "Wait... you were with Dark Void?"
Moonsalt's gaze became sharp. "Yes. And we met face-to-face during your first battle against Rei. I watched you fight. And now..." Her voice softened just a little. "I'm here - on your side - because I learned something that changed everything."
Tim's brain worked overtime. He vaguely remembered his first battle with Rei, the searing clash of Solar and Lunar powers... but this woman - her face didn't ring a bell.
"...Yeah, sorry, I don't remember you."
The silence cracked like thunder.
Moonsalt's eye twitched. "You what?"
Tim shrugged. "I mean... there was a lot happening. Rei was trying to kill me, and then there... you kinda just blend into the chaos."
Henry and Marie just watched the entire scene as if it were some drama.
Moonsalt's entire demeanor shifted - her stern expression was now fuming. "Blend into the chaos?! I was one of Dark Void's commanders! I trained Rei - the very person who almost defeated you!"
Tim tilted his head. "Yeah, still not ringing a bell."
That was the final straw.
Moonsalt lunged forward, her hand glowing faintly with Lunar energy. "You arrogant little-!"
Tim quickly dodged behind Heatsun, laughing. "Hey! I didn't mean to offend you!"
Moonsalt chased him in a rage. "You don't remember me?! After all that?! How dare you-!"
Tim ducked behind chairs and medical equipment, smirking. "It's not personal! Maybe you just didn't leave much of an impression!"
Rei, still resting on the bed, let out a faint laugh - the most genuine sound she'd made since waking up.
Jeromy sighed. "They're like children..."
Amid the chaotic scene, Jim finally groaned. "Mom - stop already!"
The room froze.
Tim, somehow hiding behind Heatsun, slowly straightened. "...Mom?"
Jim rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Yeah... Moonsalt is my mom."
Tim blinked. "...Wait... so you're telling me Heatsun is your dad, and Moonsalt - Rei's mentor - is your mom?"
Jim nodded. "Yep."
Tim's mind spun. "So... let me get this straight. Heatsun trained me for fifteen years, and Moonsalt trained Rei for fifteen years."
Rei, chuckling softly, added, "Which means you were trained by Jim's dad... and I was trained by his mom."
Tim let that sink in. "So you're saying... I was basically trained by the father, and Rei was trained by the mother... and we fought each other...?"
Jeromy smirked. "Sounds about right."
Tim blinked. "That's... ironic."
Jim muttered, "You have no idea."
The absurdity of it all hit Tim like a bolt of lightning. "Don't tell me all of it was just some weird family feud!"
Henry couldn't control his laughter after hearing that.
Rei chuckled again, though it was a weak sound. "Guess we were destined to clash."
Moonsalt, still bristling, crossed her arms. "Doesn't change the fact that you forgot me."
Tim raised his hands defensively. "Look, I won't forget now, okay?"
Marie smiled at Tim. "Yeah, you better not or else...we will see a part 2."
Henry muttered. "Though, I won't mind watching a part 2?"
Henry immediately stiffened as Tim and Moonsalt's angry glares fell at him.
Heatsun sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can we focus on the bigger problem here?"
Tim finally sobered. "Right... Deadbeat's still out there. But he's gone into his usual two-week nap after what happened."
Jim's eyes narrowed. "Two weeks?"
Tim nodded. "It's his routine after what he calls 'playtime.' He uses it to regain strength."
Jeromy stepped forward. "Then that gives us exactly fourteen days to prepare."
Tim's gaze drifted to Rei. "And enough time for you to get back on your feet."
Rei gave a small, determined nod. "I'll be ready."
And just like that, the weight of their mission settled over them all - but for the first time, it felt a little lighter... because they weren't facing it alone.