After hearing Dark Void's taunt, Tim and Rei vanished in an instant, their Celestic energy exploding around them as they unleashed everything they had trained for.
Tim struck first-
"SOLAR COMET STRIKE!"
His body became a streak of golden light, his Solar Saber bursting with raw power as he rocketed toward Dark Void.
Dark Void barely managed to block, his arms crossing as the impact sent shockwaves through the sky.
Rei appeared above him, flipping midair-
"LUNAR PIERCE!"
Her hatchets fused into a massive Lunar Lance, and she hurled it down at Dark Void like a shooting star.
Dark Void's eyes flickered, and he sidestepped just in time, the Lunar Lance slicing through his cloak.
Tim and Rei didn't stop as they kept attacking.
Then, suddenly Dark Void teleported from their range with a bored expression and then—
He laughed.
A deep, amused laugh.
Tim and Rei halted for a second, their chests heaving.
Dark Void ran a hand through his body, looking at his injuries with a grin that sent chills down their spines.
"I have to admit," he said, "this is exhilarating. Never have I had to exert this much effort in a battle."
He clenched his fist, and a wave of energy spiraled outward, forcing Tim and Rei to retreat a few steps.
"This only makes destroying Soluna even more fun."
Tim's eyes narrowed. "You'll never touch Soluna."
Rei's grip on her hatchets tightened. "Not while we're still standing."
Dark Void chuckled.
"And that's why I'll remember you."
His red eyes gleamed with amusement.
"When I become the ruler of the universe, I will preserve your names. I will carve them into history."
He smirked. "Tell me, Celestic Warriors... What are your names?"
Tim and Rei exchanged a glance.
Then, standing tall, they spoke as one-
"Tim, the White Solar Warrior."
"Rei, the Black Lunar Warrior."
Their Celestic auras flared, brighter than ever.
Dark Void's smile widened.
"Tim... Rei..." He whispered their names, as if savoring them.
Then, in a voice dripping with satisfaction, he said-
"Show me how bright you can burn... before I snuff you out."
The instant Dark Void finished speaking, the sky trembled.
Tim and Rei exploded forward.
Dark Void raised his hand, summoning a storm of void spears-each one crackling with destruction.
They broke through the storm-rushing with their Celestic Resonance repelling them, heading toward Dark Void at full speed!
Dark Void's eyes narrowed.
With a snap of his fingers, the space around him twisted-an unstable void vortex forming in his palm.
"Thousand Darkness Arrows."
A massive wave of dark arrows erupted from his hands, blotting out the sky.
Tim and Rei acted immediately.
"Solar Smash!" - Tim spun midair, slamming his saber downward.
"Lunar Pierce!" - Rei flipped over, using her hatchets to slice through the void arrows like they were nothing.
But Dark Void was already moving.
In a blink, he teleported behind Rei-his hand gripping the back of her head!
"Perish."
A black explosion detonated.
Tim's eyes widened. "REI!"
But as the smoke cleared-
Rei had vanished.
A whisper came from above Dark Void.
"Too slow."
Rei reappeared in an instant, coated in Lunar energy.
She had slipped into the shadows at the last second!
"LUNAR CRESENT STORM!"
She swung both hatchets at Dark Void's exposed back, her Lunar aura detonating on impact as her attack continued.
Dark Void grunted for the first time, skidding midair.
But before he could recover-
Tim was already there.
"SOLAR BREAKER!"
His Solar Saber flared as he charged at full force.
A golden-white eruption engulfed Dark Void, shaking the heavens.
The sky cracked. The battlefield roared.
As the smoke settled, Dark Void hovered there-his cloak slightly torn, his body surrounded by dark flames.
Tim and Rei landed, panting, sweat dripping down their foreheads.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then-
Dark Void tilted his head back and laughed again.
"Marvelous."
He looked down at his slightly burned cloak.
"You actually landed a hit this time. That's another upgrade. It seems you really adapted to this level."
His crimson eyes gleamed, his smirk widening.
"Perhaps I was wrong about you two. Maybe, just maybe... you're worth a little more effort."
His power surged-twice as strong as before.
"Now then..."
"Let's see if you can survive my next move."
Tim and Rei braced themselves.
Dark Void extended his hand-the entire sky warped as his energy surged to a terrifying level.
"Enough playing. Let's see if you can endure despair itself."
With a snap of his fingers, the air twisted violently.
"VOID ANNIHILATION."
A colossal explosion of darkness erupted, swallowing everything in its path.
Tim and Rei barely had time to react.
Tim crossed his Solar Saber in front of him, forming a Solar Barrier.
Rei spun her hatchets, creating a Lunar Shield.
But the force was overwhelming.
The impact sent them crashing downward-the ground beneath them shattering from the sheer force.
Tim coughed, his arms trembling. "Damn... That was just one attack."
Rei forced herself up, wiping blood from her lip. "His power keeps growing..."
Dark Void descended slowly, his expression indifferent.
"Is this all?" he mused. "You seemed so determined moments ago."
Tim gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet.
"We're not done yet!"
His Solar Saber flared, and he charged forward-
Only for Dark Void to move faster than his eyes could track.
Before Tim could react-
Dark Void's fist slammed into his gut.
A sickening shockwave erupted, sending Tim flying backward, crashing through the ruins of a nearby tower.
"TIM!" Rei screamed.
She lunged at Dark Void with Lunar Phantom Dash, appearing behind him in a blur-
The Solunar people, Heatsun and Moonsalt looked concerned yet resolved as they still watched them.
But Dark Void already saw it coming.
His arm twisted unnaturally, grabbing her by the throat mid-air.
"Foolish."
With brutal force, he drove her into the ground, creating a massive crater. Rei touched her belly after the impact.
Rei gasped for air, struggling against his grip.
Tim, barely standing, gritted his teeth.
"I... won't... let you... !"
His body glowed intensely, and in a desperate move.
He exploded forward, tackling Dark Void off Rei with a blazing golden crash.
Dark Void grunted, skidding back.
Tim landed next to Rei, panting heavily.
Rei coughed, forcing herself back up. "We can't... take much more of this..."
Dark Void smirked.
"That's the idea."
He lifted his hand-
A massive vortex of darkness began forming above them.
Tim and Rei felt their bodies scream in exhaustion.
Dark Void's vortex of darkness expanded, the sheer gravity pulling everything toward it.
Tim and Rei, barely able to stand, felt their bodies growing weaker.
Their muscles screamed. Their energy was nearly drained.
But their will refused to break.
Tim gripped his Solar Saber, his hands shaking. Rei forced herself upright, her hatchets flickering with dim Lunar light as their stares fell at the trembling, scared and resolved expressions of Solunar people putting there entire hope on them.
Heatsun and Moonsalt giving them and encouraging nod without speaking.
Henry and Marie giving them a thumbs up.
They locked eyes-both understanding what had to be done.
Dark Void sneered. "What more can you possibly do?"
Tim and Rei took a deep breath.
Their Celestic Resonance ignited once more-though faint, it was still alive.
Together, they whispered:
"Celestic... Resurgence..."
Their bodies surged with energy-not from raw power, but from sheer unbreakable determination, there will to protect Soluna, their purpose all floated inside there body.
And then-
"CELESTIC BLAST: RESONANCE BREAKER!"
A new variant of their strongest attack erupted though it was fuelled by pure willpower, burden and belief.
Their combined power formed a blinding spiral of golden-white and midnight-blue light-a force so intense that it clashed directly with the massive vortex above them.
The sky split apart.
The vortex of darkness wavered. Cracks formed in its structure.
Dark Void's eyes widened slightly.
"Impossible-!"
BOOOOOOOOM!
The vortex collapsed, shattering like brittle glass.
Tim and Rei staggered, panting heavily. Their legs barely supported them.
Dark Void's expression twisted into something unreadable.
For the first time, a flicker of acknowledgment flashed in his crimson eyes.
"You two... truly are relentless."
Before he could launch another attack-
Four figures flashed onto the battlefield.
Heatsun, Moonsalt, Henry, and Marie appeared, surrounding Tim and Rei!
They raised their hands, their combined Solar-Lunar energy intertwining.
"CELESTIC SHIELD!"
A barrier of pure Celestic energy formed around Tim and Rei, shielding them from Dark Void's gaze.
Dark Void's eyes narrowed. "Tch... Pathetic interference."
At that moment, a fifth figure entered the barrier.
Dr. Aron!
His expression was firm.
"Hold still. I'll do what I can."
He knelt beside Tim and Rei, his Celestic-infused medical abilities working instantly.
Henry and Marie placed their hands on Tim and Rei, pouring their energy into them.
Heatsun and Moonsalt followed, their reserves almost empty, yet they still gave everything they had.
Tim and Rei's breathing steadied, their wounds beginning to mend.
But... it wasn't enough.
Dark Void chuckled, watching with amusement. "No matter how much you struggle... you will never be enough."
And then-
A soft glow spread across the battlefield.
From the ruined cities-every Solunar person watching the battle raised their hands toward the sky.
They felt the warriors' struggle. Their pain. Their determination.
And they made a choice.
To fight. To resist. To stand with their heroes.
A wave of energy erupted across Soluna!
A thousand voices whispered in unity:
"Take our strength."
The energy flowed like a massive river, surging toward Tim and Rei.
Their bodies glowed, their power fully restored.
They rose to their feet, stronger than before!
Dark Void's smirk faded slightly. "Tch... This universe is truly stubborn. They are just prolonging their suffering with this meaningless struggle."
Suddenly-Dark Void vanished.
Tim and Rei barely reacted in time.
BAM!
Dark Void appeared behind Rei, striking her spine with a void-infused fist!
She choked, flipping midair- but before she could react, he teleported again!
CRACK!
A vicious kick sent Tim flying into the clouds.
Dark Void relentlessly teleported around them, striking with impossible speed.
Tim barely managed to block an incoming fist-but Dark Void's knee crashed into his ribs!
Rei tried to counter with Lunar Boomerang-but Dark Void teleported behind her and struck her shoulder!
They struggled to keep up.
Even with their renewed power, Dark Void's movements were almost impossible to track.
Tim wiped the blood from his mouth. "Damn... he's even faster now...!"
Rei clenched her fists. "We can't fall here...!"
Meanwhile in the other battle...
A massive sphere of dark energy pulsed, radiating enough power to distort the very air around it. The sky above turned pitch black, the battlefield trembling beneath its sheer force.
Jim's grip on his Solun Lance tightened. Their previous attacks had barely harmed Goblin, but backing down wasn't an option.
He took a deep breath.
Just as he was about to move-
A flash cut through the battlefield.
Edward had arrived.
The leader of Celestic Justice twirled his Celestic Spear, his golden aura shimmering as he landed beside Jim.
"Looks like you need an extra hand, little Jim." Edward smirked.
Jim exhaled. "Glad you could make it."
Goblin's eyes narrowed at Edward's presence. "More insignificant beings gathering? It doesn't matter. Perfection will erase you all."
Jim's aura exploded in intensity.
He charged forward as he transformed, his body igniting in silver energy.
"Celestic Flow!"
He swung his lance with incredible speed, waves of Celestic energy slamming into Goblin.
But-Goblin barely flinched.
He simply smirked. "Pointless."
Jim clicked his tongue. "Guess I need more than that..."
He summoned every last ounce of power.
His Solun Lance crackled, burning with overwhelming energy. His aura became so intense that the ground beneath him shattered.
"SOLUN OVERDRIVE!!"
Jim launched forward at full force, his body becoming a meteor of Solar-Lunar energy.
BOOOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
For the first time-Goblin tumbled backward, his dark energy sphere shaking.
His grip on the blast almost slipped.
Goblin's eyes widened slightly. "Hmph... that actually pushed me back."
He spread his claws, trying to regain control of the blast-
"Not so fast!"
A crimson-blue blur flashed behind Goblin.
Sheila moved at lightning speed, her twin red-blue sabers slashing at Goblin from all angles!
One saber cut into his arm, disrupting his focus.
The other slashed across his leg, forcing him further off balance.
Goblin growled, trying to strike back-but Sheila wasn't done.
She clenched her fist.
"This one's from Jeromy!"
Sheila's fist slammed into Goblin's gut, a brutal technique she learned from Jeromy.
"Grrrk-!" Goblin staggered, his dark sphere trembling even more.
Jeromy leaped in next, his plasma whip cracking like lightning.
"Don't forget me, monster!"
His whip wrapped around Goblin's wrist, yanking it back-
At the same time-
The Resistance warriors charged forward, throwing Celestic Chains around Goblin's body.
"NOW! HOLD HIM DOWN!"
Goblin struggled violently, but the combined force of Jeromy, the Resistance, and Celestic Justice warriors barely managed to keep him restrained.
Jim, breathing heavily, pointed his lance forward.
"It's over!"
Goblin let out a furious roar.
The dark sphere of destruction was finally pushed back.
With a deafening explosion, the sphere dissipated.
The sky cleared slightly, the oppressive darkness easing.
Goblin trembled with fury. His eyes glowed ominously, his aura crackling with rage.
"HOW DARE YOU DEFY PERFECTION?!"
Jim stood tall, his breath heavy, his stance unwavering.
"Because we have something you never will."
Goblin snarled. "And what is that?"
Jim's eyes burned with determination.
"Emotions. Understanding. A will to protect. That's why we keep fighting back!"
Goblin laughed mockingly.
"Emotions? Foolishness!" His voice was laced with disgust. "Emotions make you weak. They cloud your judgment. They are nothing but a burden."
He raised his clawed hand, his aura darkening once more.
"In a perfect universe, there is no room for weakness."
His eyes gleamed with an eerie glow.
"I will rid you of that burden myself."
Jim, Edward, Sheila, Jeromy, and the entire Resistance braced themselves.