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Chapter 97: The Strategy That Can Beat Teleportation!

On Soluna, Tim and Rei had been fighting for what felt like an eternity.

Every time they tried to land a hit-
Dark Void was already gone.

Every time they tried to dodge-
His attacks had already landed.

Their bodies were covered in bruises and burns. Their breath came out in ragged gasps.

Tim held his armoured chest. "Damn... he's even faster now...!"

Rei clenched her fists. "We can't fall here...!"

But no matter how hard they tried, they weren't getting anywhere.

Tim gritted his teeth. "This isn't working...!"

Rei's desperation flared as her hand was involuntarily touching her belly.
"We have to survive. No matter what."

Then, she suddenly stopped talking.

Tim turned to her, confused. "Rei? What's wrong?"

Rei shook her head. "Nothing."

Her eyes narrowed as she studied Dark Void.

Tim looked at her. "I trust you, Rei."

Rei felt her heart pound.

Tim then gave a knowing nodded. "I'll keep him busy."

He charged in, unleashing a relentless assault.

Solar Saber Slash!
Solar Flurry Slasher!
Solar Breaker!

Each attack came faster than the last-

But Dark Void dodged them all.

Rei, meanwhile, wasn't moving.

She wasn't attacking. She wasn't panicking.

She was watching, shaking off some unknown thoughts coming to her mind at the same time.

Her mind was focused.

Cold. Calculated. Unwavering.

Then-

Her eyes widened.

She saw it—

Dark Void's teleportation was instant.

But-

There was a lag.

A tiny fraction of a second before he reappeared.

It was small. Almost impossible to notice.

But for someone like Rei-

It was everything.

She had her answer.

Rei's breath hitched.

She clenched her Lunar Hatchets. "Tim! Keep pushing him!"

Tim didn't question her.
He trusted her.

"Got it!" he roared, charging back into the fight.

Solar Breaker!

Tim blazed across the sky like a comet, his Solar Saber crackling with golden flames.

He swung-Dark Void teleported.

Rei watched carefully.
Wait for it...

Dark Void reappeared.
Tim swung again.
Dark Void vanished.

Again.
Again.
Again.

Each time, Rei narrowed her focus.

Then-

She felt it.

The rhythm.

Dark Void wasn't teleporting randomly.

His movements followed a pattern.

"Now, slash at your right!" Rei shouted.

Tim reacted instantly.

He slashed not where Dark Void was-
But where he would be.

His Solar energy exploded.

Dark Void staggered.

Tim's eyes widened. "Rei! We-"

Rei was already moving.

She vanished into shadows.

Lunar Shroud.

Dark Void reappeared-and for the first time-

He hesitated.

Rei materialized behind him.

Lunar Pierce!

Her hatchets sliced through the darkness.

A sharp grunt escaped Dark Void's lips as he reeled from the strike.

Tim didn't waste the opening.

"SOLAR SMASH!"

It crashed into Dark Void's chest, sending him hurtling backward.

For the first time-

Dark Void was forced on the defensive.

A look of frustration was reflected in his Godly expression.

His aura surged violently as he increased his pace gradually making Tim and Rei barely able to catch up with him.

And he teleported aggressively hitting Tim from unpredictable angles.

Tim: "Damn! It's looking impossible."

But Rei's eyes never left Dark Void even as he was overwhelming Tim.

Then, finally after a lot of overwhelming attacks, another blast hit Tim hard enough to send him crashing towards Rei.

"Ouch! It hurts...it hurts... It seems this is the maximum we can do."

Rei gently lifted him up.

Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Tim... I have a plan."

Tim, catching his breath, leaned in closer.
"Tell me."

Rei's eyes were sharp, calculating.
"We can't match his speed directly. But he's arrogant. He thinks he's untouchable."

Tim nodded, listening.

"He has a habit. When he teleports, no matter how fast he is, he always moves in a predictable pattern. If we can force him into a loop-"

Tim's eyes widened.
"We can counter him every time!"

Rei smirked. "Exactly. You attack first, make him dodge the same way each time. Once I see the rhythm, I'll strike where he reappears before he realizes it."

Tim grinned.
"Rei... I almost forgot how terrifyingly smart you are."

She rolled her eyes.
"Then don't forget next time."

Dark Void vanished.

Tim leapt towards him as he swung his Saber.

Dark Void reappeared.

Rei marked the spot in her mind.

Dark Void vanished again.

Tim swung.

Dark Void reappeared just a little to the left.

There it is.

Rei moved.

Lunar Shroud!

She disappeared into shadows.

Dark Void teleported again-and this time, she was waiting.

"Lunar Boomerang!"

Her hatchet curved through the air-
Striking Dark Void mid-teleport.

"Tch-!" He flinched.

Tim dashed in.
"Solar Saber Slash!"

His blade sliced into Dark Void's shoulder.

For the first time-Dark Void missed a teleport.

He was hit again.

Then again.

And again.

Tim and Rei moved flawlessly together, exploiting his weakness.

Dark Void's expression twisted in frustration.

"ENOUGH!"

But he couldn't even finish the word before-

SLASH!

A deep gash tore across his chest.

Black blood dripped from his mouth.

-

The Solunar people watched in disbelief.

For so long, Dark Void was untouchable.

But now-he was bleeding.

"They're winning...!"

A young solar girl stepped forward.
"They're really winning!"

One by one, they emerged from hiding.

They cheered.

They prayed.

They poured their hopes into Tim and Rei.

They believed.

-

Dark Void wiped the blood from his lips.

His face was twisted in pure rage.

"You... HURT ME?"

The sky shook violently.

His aura erupted, suffocating the battlefield.

His voice boomed.
"NO MORE PLAYING."

Tim and Rei barely had time to react.

BOOM.

Dark Void vanished- and reappeared behind them.

A shadowy explosion engulfed them both.

Tim screamed.
Rei choked on her breath.

Another attack.
Another.

They couldn't even dodge this time due to the sudden intensity.

"ARGH!"

Tim was smashed into the ground hard enough for him to detransform.

Rei tried to roll away but-

Dark Void's foot crashed down on her spine.

"Gah-!" She surprisingly clutched her belly as her transformation wore off.

She felt something. A pain deeper than any other in her spine.

Tim's heart stopped as he helplessly stared, unable to move.

"REI!"

She barely whispered.
"I-I'm fine..."

But Tim saw her eyes.

She was terrified.

Dark Void floated above them in boredom.

"You should've known your place."

He raised his hands.

"Now... watch as your world-"

Explodes.

He descended.

His energy erupted, consuming everything.

Buildings collapsed.

The ground split apart.

The Solunar people screamed.

Heatsun, Moonsalt, Henry, Marie-

They ran.

They tried to protect as many people as they could.

But Dark Void wasn't stopping.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Tim and Rei laid on the ground, unmoving.

Meanwhile in the other battle...
Edward gritted his teeth as his fists crashed into Goblin's body. The impact barely made Goblin flinch, but Edward refused to stop.

"Come on, perfection ugly! You scared?" Edward taunted, swinging another punch.

Goblin roared, swinging his claws at Edward's chest-but Edward twisted midair, dodging just enough to avoid a fatal strike.

The Resistance warriors were relentless.

Chains wrapped around Goblin's limbs, glowing with Celestic energy.

The Celestic Justice warriors unleashed a storm of golden blasts.

Paralysis shots rained down, trying to slow his movements.

But Goblin barely struggled.

His muscles bulged.
His aura flared violently.

He ripped through the chains.

He swatted away the Celestic Barrage.

He charged- right for Jim.

BOOM!

A twin-bladed strike to his ribs sent Goblin stumbling sideways.

Sheila landed beside Edward, her red-blue sabers burning with power.

"I'm not letting you get any closer to Jim." Her voice was calm, but her eyes were blazing.

Jeromy whipped his weapon, wrapping it around Goblin's wrist.

"We just need to buy time!" Jeromy shouted.

Jim gritted his teeth as he raised his hands, continuing to absorb the sun and moon's energy.

8 minutes left.
Goblin growled in frustration.

"ENOUGH!"

His muscles bulged even more.

With one earth-shattering roar, he shattered the remaining chains.

BAM!

He caught Edward's punch mid-swing.

CRACK!

Edward felt his bones tremble as Goblin squeezed his fist.

Goblin lifted him and slammed him into the ground.

Sheila lunged, slashing furiously.

Goblin parried every strike. His speed was insane.

Jeromy's whip coiled around Goblin's arm, but he yanked it- sending Jeromy flying.

Even with their combined efforts-Goblin was unstoppable.

6 Minutes Left
Jim felt the energy surging through him.

The Solar-Lunar Finale sphere was growing larger, glowing with cosmic power.

He just needed more time.

But Goblin was getting closer.

Edward stood back up, panting.
Sheila gripped her sabers tighter.
Jeromy spat blood, but smiled anyway.

"FIVE MORE MINUTES!" Jim yelled.

"THEN WE'LL BUY YOU FIVE MORE!" Edward roared back.

Edward then rushed forward, ignoring his battered body. His cracked armor barely held together, but his spirit was unbreakable.

"Come on, Goblin! Let’s see what you got!"

Goblin snarled, swiping his claws.

Edward ducked, then countered with a brutal uppercut. His fist slammed into Goblin’s chin, forcing him to stagger.

Sheila dashed in from the side. Her twin sabers became a blur, landing countless precise strikes against Goblin’s torso.

Jeromy whipped around, his plasma whip coiling around Goblin’s legs.

"NOW! EVERYONE, FIRE!"

The Resistance warriors launched their Celestic Chains, glowing with golden light, wrapping around Goblin’s limbs.

The Celestic Justice warriors unleashed another barrage of Celestic Blasts, bombarding him with pure energy.

Even as Goblin struggled, his monstrous power was still overwhelming.

BOOM!

With one massive pulse of dark energy, he shattered the chains, sending warriors flying in all directions.

Jeromy slammed into a wall. Sheila barely managed to block the shockwave, but her arms trembled.

Edward skidded back, blood dripping from his mouth.
  
Three Minutes Left
Jim clenched his fists.

The Solar-Lunar Finale sphere was almost ready.

The energy from the sun and moons had nearly reached its limit, the golden and deep blue glow illuminating the battlefield.

But Goblin wasn’t done.

"I WILL NOT LOSE TO INCOMPLETE BEINGS!"

Goblin’s body expanded with dark energy, his aura now ten times stronger.

His muscles bulged unnaturally.

His eyes glowed a sinister crimson.

With a single step, he vanished—

BOOM!

Edward was sent flying as Goblin teleported behind him, landing a devastating punch.

Sheila tried to counter, but—

SLASH!

A dark energy claw ripped across her side. She screamed in pain, crashing to the ground.

Jeromy threw his whip—

Goblin caught it and yanked, sending him straight into the dirt.

The Celestic Justice warriors fired another barrage—

Goblin dodged every shot, appearing in front of them in an instant.

With one massive explosion, he wiped out an entire squadron.

"Jim…!" Edward groaned, trying to stand.

One minute left.
Jim opened his eyes.

The Solar-Lunar Finale was complete.

It was a massive, swirling orb, radiating pure celestial might.

He took a deep breath.

"This is it…!"

Jim lifted the massive sphere above his head.

Goblin turned, eyes widening.

"Impossible—"

"EDWARD! NOW!"

Edward grinned through his bloodied face.

"You heard him! MOVE!"

He charged— one last time.

Sheila, Jeromy, and the remaining Resistance warriors followed, throwing everything they had at Goblin.

Goblin roared in fury, blasting them all back—

But that was all the time Jim needed.

"SOLAR-LUNAR FINALE!"

He hurled the massive sphere straight at Goblin.

The battlefield was consumed in yellow-blue light.