Moments later, the sound of more footsteps echoed through the battlefield.
Jeromy approached.
Behind him, two small figures trailed closely - Darren and Maria.
They looked around the battlefield, their wide eyes filled with worry.
Darren clutched a small wooden sword at his side - a poor attempt to appear brave.
Maria, her hand gripping the edge of Jeromy's coat, peered nervously at Tim and Rei.
Darren: "Bro... Sis... are you okay?"
Rei blinked, surprised to see them.
Rei: "What are you two doing here?"
Jeromy gently nudged Darren forward.
Jeromy: "They wanted to see for themselves that you were alright."
Tim, despite the pain, managed a weak smile.
Tim: "We're fine... just a little battered."
Maria tugged on Sheila's sleeve.
Maria (whispering):
"They don't look fine..."
Sheila placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
Before the concern could settle too deeply, Jeromy spoke again - his voice steady but direct.
Jeromy:
"The main problem is gone."
The weight of his words settled over them.
Deadbeat was gone.
For a moment, it felt... lighter.
Tim exhaled slowly.
Tim (softly): "Yeah... he is."
Rei, catching her breath, looked to the sky.
Rei: "But something tells me... the real fight is just beginning."
After few hours...
Tim and Rei lay on medical beds their bodies covered in bandages.
Aron's medical equipment beeped softly, monitoring their vitals. The sterile smell of antiseptics filled the room, but there was a strange sense of calm - a rare feeling after their brutal fight.
Dr. Aron adjusted Tim's IV line and checked Rei's pulse.
Aron: "You two really pushed yourselves beyond your limits. It'll take at least two days for your bodies to stabilize and recover fully."
Tim winced, trying to shift in bed.
Tim (grinning weakly): "Two days? That's like a vacation compared to fighting Deadbeat."
Rei smirked but kept her eyes closed.
Rei: "You're still talking too much, idiot."
Aron chuckled softly.
Aron: "Rest. That's an order."
Darren and Maria peeked in from the doorway, their faces lighting up when they saw Tim and Rei awake.
Maria: "You really beat the scary beast?"
Tim nodded proudly.
Tim: "Yep. With Rei's help."
Rei blushed slightly but said nothing.
Darren clenched his fists in excitement.
Darren: "You're awesome!"
Aron gently ushered them away.
Aron: "Let them rest, kids."
Meanwhile, Jeromy stood before the Resistance's communication console.
With a few quick taps, he connected to Heatsun's base. The holographic screen buzzed to life, and soon, the faces of Heatsun, Moonsalt, Jim, Henry, and Marie appeared.
Heatsun: "Jeromy? What's the situation?"
Jeromy's face lit up with a rare smile.
Jeromy: "Tim and Rei... they did it. Deadbeat is gone."
For a moment, there was stunned silence.
Jim's eyes widened in disbelief.
Jim: "They... beat him?"
Jeromy nodded.
Jeromy: "They used the Celestic Blast: Final Strike. It worked. Though they're injured, they'll recover in a couple of days."
Heatsun leaned back, a proud smile creeping onto his face.
Heatsun: "That boy... Tim never fails to surprise me."
Moonsalt wiped away a tear, her voice soft.
Moonsalt: "And Rei... she's come so far."
Henry clapped his hands together.
Henry: "This calls for a celebration!"
Marie giggled, nudging Jim.
Marie: "Looks like your 'older siblings' are as tough as ever."
Jim grinned wide, his heart swelling with pride.
Jim: "I knew they could do it so I decided to leave it up to them."
Heatsun crossed his arms, his voice warm but firm.
Heatsun: "But this is just one victory. Dark Void won't take this lightly."
Jeromy's smile faded slightly.
Jeromy: "You're right... but for now, we let them rest."
That evening, in Heatsun's base, the atmosphere was surprisingly light.
The group gathered around a modest table, toasting to Tim and Rei's victory. Plates of simple food and drinks were shared as laughter echoed through the room.
Henry: "You should've seen Jim's face when Jeromy told us the news. Looked like he was ready to punch the screen."
Jim blushed.
Jim: "I was just excited, okay?"
Marie giggled.
Marie: "Admit it - you were worried about them."
Jim didn't answer, but the faint smile on his face said enough.
Moonsalt placed a gentle hand on Heatsun's shoulder.
Moonsalt: "They're becoming the warriors we always hoped they'd be."
Heatsun nodded.
Heatsun: "Yes... but we must be ready. Dark Void will strike back."
Even in the joy, the looming threat of Dark Void's next move hung over them like a shadow.
The celebration buzzed with energy, but Jim's excitement didn't fade. He kept talking about Tim and Rei, his grin wide.
"I mean, they actually beat that sadistic, feared Cannibal Deadbeat." Jim said, shaking his head in disbelief. "That guy was a nightmare, and they still pulled it off... They are really incredible. I hope I could have atleast watched them fight together."
Moonsalt chuckled softly. "You're always quick to praise others, Jim... but don't forget what you've done."
Jim blinked. "What?"
Heatsun crossed his arms, his gaze steady but proud. "In these past few days, you've helped Edward liberate several planets under Dark Void's dictatorship. That's no small feat."
Jim's face reddened slightly. "That's... that's nothing compared to Tim and Rei."
Marie, beaming, leaned in. "Oh, come on, Jim! Don't downplay it - Edward himself said you were crucial in those battles."
Henry nodded. "You didn't just fight, you inspired people."
Jim shifted awkwardly. "I... I was just doing what needed to be done. Plus... I owe Edward. He's been helping me get stronger."
He remembered the missions clearly - the grueling battles alongside Edward:
The Siege of Soltera: They broke through a heavily fortified base, dismantling a regime loyal to Dark Void. Jim had taken down a high-ranking commander using a precise mix of Solar and Lunar attacks.
The Liberation of Nyxara: Where Jim led a charge against a monstrous warlord, his Solar-Lunar Finale cutting through the enemy's strongest defenses, giving Edward the opening to finish the job.
The Battle of Kallix: A fierce, brutal fight where Jim shielded a group of rebels while Edward fought their leader. Jim fought off waves of soldiers, pushing himself to his limit.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Edward did most of the heavy lifting."
Moonsalt gently placed a hand on his arm. "You fought by his side. That means something."
Jim looked down for a moment, then gave a small, genuine smile. "...Thanks."
Heatsun's voice cut through the soft moment. "You're growing, Jim. Don't lose sight of that."
Jim clenched his fists. He wasn't just fighting to prove himself anymore. He was fighting for something bigger - for his family, his friends... and for Soluna.
Meanwhile on the Medical Center...
The soft hum of medical equipment filled the air as Tim and Rei lay in their beds at Dr. Aron's medical center.
A full day had passed since their brutal battle with Deadbeat, but the toll it had taken on their bodies was clear. They were still heavily bandaged, their energy depleted.
Tim, however, wasn't taking it well.
He shifted under the sheets, groaning dramatically. "I'm bored. I'm so bored. I feel like I'm gonna die from boredom before I recover."
Rei, resting calmly in the next bed, didn't even look at him. "You survived Deadbeat, but you think boredom's gonna kill you?"
Tim flopped back onto his pillow. "At least fighting Deadbeat was exciting. This is torture."
Rei let out a small sigh, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "We need to rest, Tim. You know that. If we push ourselves too soon, we'll be useless when Dark Void makes his next move."
Sheila, standing at the foot of their beds, chuckled softly. "You two really are opposites."
Dr. Aron glanced up from the medical readings. "They always have been."
Tim shot a look at Rei, grinning. "Yeah, but we make a pretty good team."
Rei didn't respond, but the slight smirk on her face said enough.
The lighthearted moment shifted when Sheila turned to Aron, her smile fading into a more serious expression.
"Speaking of fighting... I have a mission. A big one."
Aron's brows furrowed. "Where?"
"Planet Dales," Sheila replied. "It's been under Dark Void's control for too long. One of his high-ranking commanders is stationed there - I need to lead a full Resistance strike to free the planet."
Tim perked up. "Wait-Dales? That's a major stronghold. Are you going alone?"
Sheila shook her head. "Of course not. I'm deploying the Resistance fleet from the underground base. We'll hit them hard and fast."
Rei's eyes narrowed. "Who's the commander there?"
Sheila crossed her arms. "Intel says his name is Gravik. He's strong, but nowhere near the level of Cannibal Deadbeat. This shouldn't be as dangerous."
Tim muttered, "Yeah, let's hope Gravik doesn't have some crazy power-up form waiting for you..."
Sheila chuckled, though Dr. Aron remained silent.
But deep down, Aron felt something unsettling-an unfamiliar, uncomfortable sensation gnawing at his chest. It wasn't fear... but an uneasy worry that refused to fade.
He'd watched Sheila go on countless dangerous missions - liberating planets, battling Dark Void's forces, even escaping near death more than once - but this time... something felt off.
Why?
He didn't have an answer.
Still, he kept his face neutral. "Just... don't get hurt badly," he said softly.
Sheila's usual confident smirk softened. "I won't."
Before she left, Darren and Maria rushed into the room, clinging to her legs.
"Mom, you're coming back soon, right?" Darren asked, his voice small.
Maria held onto her arm. "You promise you'll be back fast?"
Sheila knelt down, holding both her kids close. "Of course. I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone."
Darren pouted. "You always say that..."
Sheila kissed both their foreheads. "This time, I promise."
Aron watched the scene, his jaw tight. That strange feeling was still there.
Tim and Rei exchanged a glance - even they could sense the tension.
As Sheila rose to her feet, she gave Aron one last look. "I've handled worse, you know."
He forced a small smile. "I know."
With that, she headed to the center of the underground base, where rows of Resistance spaceships were prepped and ready for launch.
Troops lined up, saluting her as she boarded her personal ship - a sleek, silver warship bearing the Resistance's emblem.
"Commander Sheila," one of the pilots called, "all fleets are prepared to deploy at your signal."
Sheila's eyes hardened. "Good. Let's show Dark Void what happens when he takes a planet hostage."
The fleet launched into the sky, a formation of ships soaring through the atmosphere, heading straight for Planet Dales.
Back at the medical center, Tim and Rei watched through the window as the fleet disappeared into the clouds.
Tim whispered, "She's gonna be okay... right?"
Rei didn't answer immediately. "...Yeah. I guess..."
But even she couldn't shake the strange weight that hung in the air.