Chapter 2
My Hidden Turmoil
I sat alone in Inkopolis Plaza and wear my red hoodie to hide my Octarian's trait from the other Inkling as I promise them I would keep my identity at low. I gaze around the plaza as Inklings walk, talk, and play around among each other, as the first ever tournament is slowly coming. I sign at such event as I don't enjoy the big celebration and I only seek to protect Inkopolis from Octarian in the shadow. I look at the big screen above to see Callie and Marie on it, I smile at the thought of them being a nobody at our beginning to a big deal now.
Two years has past since we made this deal…they still act the same…
I raise my right hand as I watch it with a bored expression and I pull my red blade to see my ability growing since back then. Suddenly, my pocket began to vibrate and I immediately pick up my phone to answer it.
"Yeah." I answer.
"We got something very important we need to talk about with you, so come to our usual meeting place and we will explain more there." Callie spoke.
Strange…
"Got it, I will head there immediately." I reply.
"Good, see you there Klaus." Callie happily said.
She hang up and leaving me confuse by their odd request, they usually are very straight forward with their mission. I didn't give any more thoughts about it and quickly head to the back alleys and passing by the other Inklings on my way there. A couple of minutes pass as I waited there, I see Callie and Marie approaching me wearing their normal getup rather than that flashy idol clothing which I hate.
"Hello Klaus, you probably wondering why we call you here, correct?" Callie smile.
"Not really." I lie.
"It is fine if you are, we came here to tell you about it." Marie spoke.
I narrow my eyes as Callie look more happy than usual and it only mean trouble for me. Callie was more focus on other thing beside my main objective which Marie does focus. I sight at the dumb mission I will receive but, I promise to respect and obey them no matter the cost or who I will get rid of.
"So, what's the next mission? Kill Octarian? Defend Inkopolis? Fin-"
"Join the Turf War Tournament."
I pause as I became confuse by Callie's orders and I remain dumbfounded by it, Callie and Marie look like they aren't joking with this.
"Why?" I ask with curiosity swirling in my head.
"I don't know, this is Callie's idea and I, for once agree with her about this." Mari smile.
"H-Hey!" Callie protest.
I began thinking on the order she is giving me but I had no objection due to my personal morals.
"Alright." I spoke.
"Are you sure? You aren't the talkative person to talk to and it does require to gather a total of five people." Marie spoke slightly worry.
"I will deal with it beside, I agree to myself that I will follow your orders without hesitation." I reply.
They remain silent to my reply which made me curious to their reaction, but they shook it off as they act like their normal self later.
"Great! We will be cheering for you in the back." Callie cheer.
"Although, we cant really choose favorite and we will silent as we wont call your-"
"Marie!"
Mari spoke coldly and truthful as they usually very careful with their words when involving people, but Callie is trying her best to cheer an outcast and more importantly, a half-Octarian. I felt a bit happy for her kindness that I don't deserve and Marie is just watching over me so I wont get too much attention due to my heritage. I bow to them to show my respect and gratitude they have show me throughout this years.
"Thank you, I promise I will win that tournament as I way to atone for my past and show you I can accomplish you ask of me." I spoke with a serious expression and confident tone.
I raise my folding first to ensure my win in that tournament and they look a bit relief to see me with such confident, they were probably worry about me.
"Great to hear, now go to the Inkopolis Plaza to sign in and began your first qualification test from there as well." Callie explains.
"Everyone there will be put to the test and a few will be qualify to enter the first tournament of Turf War, me and Callie will host the event when the tournament begin so take this mission seriously as always." Marie explains.
"Right." I nod.
They nod as I finally receive my mission and I felt a bit nervous for the first time since I need to talk to other Inklings rather than doing it alone. I sight at such thinking and I need to overcome this mission somehow, but I had no idea how I will be able to accomplish this mission.
"Later Klaus, and good luck." Callie smile.
"Huh?...oh, right." I spoke.
I snap back into reality as I began to thinking too much about this subject and I shook my head to regain my composure so I wouldn't worry them again.
"Later, I will do my best." I spoke again.
We went our separate way after that meeting as they are very busy people since they are a popular idols and I need to get to work with that mission. I return back to the plaza, the busy streets are pack with Inklings as always and I readjust my hoodie so I wouldn't reveal my Octarian traits. I move close to the tower to see a cat sleeping on top of the trashcan and the person I need to talk to about the tournament. I approach Judd to sign me up on the most excited sport here, ink battle, which I usually avoid since I use a weird style.
"You awake Judd?" I ask.
"Meow.." (What do you want Klaus? I am currently taking a cat nap right now, if you want tips, you should know them by Nyaow...)
I sigh at the laziness of this cat and I need to quickly enter this tournament as I could see a group of Inklings forming behind me already from this short time span. I quickly move into my business in order to make this progress go smoothy and quickly as squidly possible.
"Judd, I came here to enter the tournament everyone is talking about." I said.
Immediately, Judd jump into the air and standing which is rather a surprise since he usually act like this during an important event play.
"Meow." (I see, you finally decided to join the fun after all. Don't let this cat judge or anything, I will take your information into account for you to enter the tournament.)
"I understand, and I am not here for the fun, just a mission from them." I spoke with a serious tone."
"Meow." (If you say so, come tomorrow morning for the qualification exam and all. I already have the necessary information from you so you can relax your cat nerves.)
"Right.." I mutter.
I quickly left the area as the Inkling began to quickly make a crowd around Judd and I manage to escape there without gaining any attention to myself. I spend my free time watching from afar the plaza as I began to be mentally prepare for it and wait patiently for it. The next day quickly came as I wake up from my slumber and into the plaza I quickly dash. I notice a few Inkling hanging around and a few of them entering the elevator under the tower for some strange reason. I accidently bump into another Inkling as I became unaware of their presence and I took precautious with this guy. He look rather strange, he wore a strange hat on top of his yellow long hair and looking at me with his blue eyes. I notice a red neckerchief around his heck while underneath is a black shirt and brown pants. I look down to see a pair of black shoes and his presence looks odd just like is getup. The boy raise his hat up with his thumb as he began to speak and while I remain defensive about his next sentence.
"Howdy partner, what a weird clothing you are wearing in the hot summer, you city folks are so strange." He spoke.
I remain confuse by his speech and strange accent of his that I forgot to reply back to him as I stare at him. I regain my composure as I need to avoid any conflict with anyone and don't let those two down.
"I could say the same for you." I reply.
The boy smile at my respond and look please by it rather than taking it offensively, he lift his chest up with pride.
"That may be right, but my skills with the gun, Burty, may shock the competition." He boldly explains.
I took that comment as a warning and I look at the strange boy with narrow eyes, I hold back my blades beneath my sleeve for a better time like the qualification rounds. The boy scratch his head and began to look at the tower with impatient on his eyes.
"Well, I should be going now, it is nice to talk to a city folk and all. I am going to prove that city folks aren't so good with the sport and we can fight just as good as them." He spoke with a serious tone.
I remain silent at his explanation and quickly left with determination lingering on his eyes about his goal which wont made stop from completing. I clench my fist as I look down on the floor while I think on the unknown competition waiting for me in there or perhaps more in the actual tournament.
"I have to win this, I have to." I mutter.
I look at the tower's elevator with determination on my mind and a strong will to make it. I walk in the elevator to enter it's door and began this little test of theirs. The elevator doors close and I began to raise up in the tower. Finally, it stop and to reveal a strange non-color platform in a dark room which confuse me and I began to examine it by stepping on it.
"Nothing.." I spoke.
Suddenly, the glowing circle began to change color to red and I gasp as my body is big swallow by this thing. I struggle to get out by jumping and grabbing anything within reach, but it faiil. I close my eyes as I enter the red glowing circle and to reappear somewhere else. I open my eyes to find myself in Blackbelly skatepark with other four Inklings standing around. I became confuse by this strange transportation but my thoughts are interrupted by Callie's words.
"Welcome Inklings to the ever first qualification round!" Callie excitedly spoke.
I look around the area to find Callie, Marie, and Judd standing on a nearby building and away from any danger that will occur at this place. I became a bit nervous for a bunch of reasons, them staring at me, my ink will be shown, my strange style, and most dangerous of all, my problems. I took some deep breath to calm down and not let my sanity go wild from the rush of things.
"This qualification round will be a free-for-all, despite being in two group, group A and group B." Marie explain. "We will judge you base on your kills and death overall which will be display for everyone here and the audience outside." She continue.
I glance up to see a screen showing our score and a small icon representing us which wasn't so bad.
"Now! let the qualification round start!" Callie announce.
Everyone dash into action as they began painting their way with their own color and wanting to kill their first victims in order to be accepted. I began to move slowly into the area and I immediately pull my right blade to start the hunt. I remain hidden to watch the people from afar and I notice the other five peoples of the opposite team making a move. One of the Inkling began to make a big mistake as he move toward my direction and I took this chance to make the first kill of this game. I wait patiently as I look at him as my target and he look chubby for an Inkling. He pants as he look around the perimeter to find a target to his with his gun and I slowly follow him behind. I raise my right blade in the air and while I took my jumping position from the top of this place.
"I can't believe Mari and Callie are here! I do hope I can impress them with my skills."
I pause as I hide my expression at his comment and I still remain in my offensive position but I decide to wait for his next sentence and put back the blade before I can do something. I glance down with glare and he look happy about that idea.
"Maybe...maybe.." He pants excitedly. "I could date one and live together as a family." He boldly announce while smiling.
I decide to avoid jumping on him and stand on my feet as I slide down to face him directly which cause him to be startle by my approach. I chuckle a bit at the thought and I smile at him for thinking like that.
"You are disrespecting them, you aren't worthy enough just like me." I spoke.
"W-What? What do you mean!?" The inkling spoke nervously.
I chuckle once more but I felt like I didn't care about his safety and my biggest regret is slowly coming up which I slowly lose the sanity to care for. I glance up with a smirking face as I see him pointing his gun at me and a funny thing appear in my head.
"You know what they say..." I mutter.
"What are you talking about, you are dead if you don't take this battle seriously." He spoke.
He began to shoot at me and I began to dash after him with a grin only showing which made him more afraid of me. I quickly began to lose reason and letting my emotions get the best out of me as I pull both of my blade out immediately.
"The bigger they are!" I shout excitedly.
I took a stance as I pull my right arm back while grin at his expression showing on his pitiful face and I quickly blink behind me as I had my arm extended on my back. I remain in that position waiting so ever joyous at the next sound coming up, his scream in painful and ever lasting agony before he exploded with red ink. I laugh at his weak scream as my ink cover my body and the are around me.
"The louder they scream.."
End
