The world had barely begun to recover from the shadow of Nightmare when whispers of his return began to spread. In a secluded cave, far from the reach of light, a dark presence stirred. The fragments of Nightmare's form swirled, gathering strength from the ambient fears of the world. His voice echoed through the void, cold and malevolent.
"They thought they could destroy me," Nightmare growled. "But darkness is eternal. And this time... I'll finish them all."
As the shadows coalesced, his crimson eyes blazed once more. Nightmare had returned, more vengeful than ever.
---
Finding Dom
Meanwhile, Hakishi, Lee, and Aki journeyed to a bustling city on the edge of the desert, seeking their next ally: Dom. A towering figure with wild, fiery hair and a confident swagger, Dom was known for his immense strength and his unique power—the "Infinite Impact."
They found him in the middle of a crowded street, flipping a massive stone pillar into place as part of a construction project. He wiped sweat from his brow and turned to them with a grin.
"Hakishi!" Dom boomed, his voice as big as his personality. "Been a while. What brings you to my turf?"
"We need your strength, Dom," Hakishi said. "Nightmare's back, and we're putting together a team to stop him for good."
Dom's smile faded, and he crossed his arms. "Sounds serious. But I've got a condition."
"Name it," Hakishi said.
Dom pointed at Lee. "Him. If your boy here can beat me in a fight, I'm in. But I'm warning you—nobody's ever walked away from my punches without feeling like they've been hit a thousand times."
Lee stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "I'll take you on. Let's do this."
---
Lee vs. Dom
The fight took place in a wide-open plaza, with a growing crowd of spectators. Dom cracked his knuckles, his grin returning. "You ready for this, kid?"
Lee nodded, gripping his weapon tightly. "Bring it on."
Dom didn't waste time. With a single leap, he closed the distance and launched a punch at Lee. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the air, knocking Lee back several feet. But even after the punch landed, Lee felt the force pulsing through his body, each wave as strong as the first.
"That's the beauty of my power," Dom said, his voice dripping with confidence. "The punch doesn't stop hurting until I say so."
Lee gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. "I've faced worse."
Dom charged again, his punches relentless. Lee dodged and weaved, but each missed punch shook the ground, sending debris flying. When Dom finally landed another blow, Lee was sent sprawling, the infinite impact pounding against his chest.
---
Lee's Counterattack
Despite the pain, Lee refused to give up. He studied Dom's movements, noting the brief moments of vulnerability after each powerful strike. When Dom swung again, Lee ducked low and countered with a swift upward slash, grazing Dom's arm.
Dom laughed, unfazed. "Not bad, but you'll need more than that!"
The fight raged on, with Dom's punches creating craters in the ground and Lee's counters growing sharper with each exchange. Lee began using the environment to his advantage, luring Dom into attacking walls and pillars, which crumbled under the force of his punches.
As the battle wore on, Dom's attacks became slower, his energy draining from the constant output. Lee seized the opportunity, landing a series of precise strikes that forced Dom to retreat.
---
The Final Strike
Dom prepared for one last, devastating punch, his fist glowing with energy. "This one's gonna end it, kid!" he roared, charging at Lee.
Lee stood his ground, focusing all his energy into his weapon. As Dom's punch came within inches of his face, Lee sidestepped at the last moment, pivoting to deliver a powerful blow to Dom's exposed side.
Dom stumbled, the impact forcing him to his knees. He looked up at Lee, breathing heavily, and then laughed—a deep, hearty sound.
"You've got guts, kid," Dom said, finally muttering the word that stopped the lingering effects of his punches. "Harsh."
---
A New Team Member
Dom stood, dusting himself off, and extended a hand to Lee. "Alright, you win. I'm in. Let's take down this Nightmare guy once and for all."
Hakishi nodded, a rare smile crossing his face. "Welcome aboard, Dom. Now let's get to work."
As the team walked away, the shadows of Nightmare's return loomed ever larger. But with each new ally, their chances of victory grew stronger.