"Welcome to the 133rd annual Splat Games!" The inkling that stood up on the stage had dark pink tentacles and a willowy voice. She was rather pale, and had gray blue eyes. "My name is Effien, and I will be randomly selecting the names for this year's Splat Games."
There was a bit of clapping from the audience, but it was soft and half hearted. Everyone was on edge.
"Okay, we have..." a fan turned on beneath the glass ball, sending the papers with names flitering all around bowl. Effien grabbed a paper and read the name. "Grace, rank X, from Inkopolis Square," A female squid with a purple-pink ponytail walked up onto the stage.
She began to call the names faster.
"Lila, rank S+, from Inkopolis Square," A small Octoling with pink tentacles pulled into a ponytail.
"Amelia, rank A+, from Inkopolis Plaza," A female inkling with long yellow-green tentacles.
"Callie, rank B+, from Inkopolis Plaza," the crowd began to giggle at the star's low rank. "Hey!" Callie yelled. "Marie's is worse!" This was shown after the next name was called.
"Marie, rank B, from Inkopolis Plaza," "See!" Callie yelled. "I was right!"
"Pearl, rank C+, from Inkopolis Square," "If you can't get enough of me, don't fret just wait and see, and I can win this, I'm not afraid, no matter my rank or my Salmon Run paygrade!" Pearl was rapping.
"Marina, rank S, from Inkopolis Square," "Pearl, please, just stop." Marina facepalmed. "We're on TV." This however, didn't help at all.
"Toby, rank S+, from Inkopolis Square," an Octoling Boy with a single tentacle that flipped over his head.
"Sari, rank O+, from Octo Landing," "That's 'O' for outstanding," she explained. Octoling ranks were different than Inkling ones.
"Tide, rank G, from Octo Landing," "'G' for good!" She singsonged.
"Octavia, rank O+, from Octo Landing," A female Octoling with standard Octoling armor and goggles and a hard expression stepped up onto the stage.
"Wave, rank M+, from Octo Landing," A sanitized Octoling with Octoling armor and Glasses.
"Melanie, rank M-, from Octo Landing," A small Octoling with short red hair.
"Xander, rank R, from Octo Landing," An Inkling with dark blue hair tied up on top of his head.
"Iris, rank S, from Inkopolis Square," An Inkling with a purple ponytail.
"Lilyan, rank G-, from Octo Landing," An Octoling pale blue hair.
"Coral, rank S, from Inkopolis Plaza," A short Inkling with long orange tentacles pulled back into a ponytail.
"Mitzi, rank A-, from Inkopolis Plaza," A small Inkling with yellow tentacles pulled up into a bun.
"Rosemarie, rank B-, from Inkopolis Square," A female Inkling with pink pigtails.
"Bridgette, rank O-, from Inkopolis Square," A female Octoing with small pike tentacles that curled up at the edges.
"Jackson, rank M+, from Inkopolis Square," A male Octolong with a green afro.
"Baxter, rank A-, from Inkopolis Plaza," An Inkling with lime green hair combed over to the side.
"Georgia, rank C+, from Inkopolis Square," An inkling with shoulder-length dark purple tentacles.
"And, last but not least..." Effien pulled the last name from the bowl.
"Sadie, rank C, from Inkopolis Plaza," An Inkling with cream colored tentacles tied up into a bun.
The 24 contestants chosen stood up on the stage as the crowd clapped and cheered.
Effien smiled. "As you know, the games start tomorrow, and may the ink be ever in your favor!" The anthem swelled, and the contestants were shuttled away.