Augh! How could this happen!? This Inkling is more troublesome than I thought! Not only is he immune to ink, but he's also immune to the hypnotic beats forged by my master! A formidable foe, but his tenacity is really starting to sicken me.

I pulled out my communications device and contacted master.

"Master, I have a problem regarding your target."
"Yes, what about it?"
"It appears that he is immune to your hypnotic beats. Those were the very beats no Inkling should ever resist!"
"Those beats DO hypnotize the ones that hear it, but that depends on their condition. Tell me, was he in top condition?"
"No sir, he looked too wounded to even stand up."
"That settles it then, he is too weak to absorb the rhythm. Once he is in top physical form, go in there and sabotage him."
"Understood sir. By the way, do you know anything about the target?"
"Hmm... He certainly isn't like those meddlesome slimes... Maybe he's a..."
"A what?"
"...It's nothing. I will have the answers. In the meantime, you are to report back to Octo Valley."
"Understood sir, Octricia out."

I put away my communications device and look out into the sunrise. It's a pretty sight, one that I never thought I'd ever see in a lifetime. I've had dark times back then, but I shouldn't think about it too much. If I'm caught outside looking like this, I may expose our organization to the public. I secretly hid behind the tree, looking around for anybody who might be potentially out there. Sure enough, that helmeted Inkling was walking his way towards the city. Our last encounter ended up pretty messy, but this time I was going to get him for sure.

I was just about to pounce on him and plug in those headphones once more, but then noticed he was limping. If he's not fully recovered, then the hypnotizing won't work! I had to think of another plan. Though I regret to do this, I have to help him recover as well. I guess it wouldn't hurt to keep my enemy a little more closer. After all, I'll get the drop on him once I'm close enough!

I dug into my pockets and found a small amount of money that I managed to pick up from the ground during my early-morning scouting. These Inklings have got to be the most stupidest monsters to leave their money lying around the ground. I spotted a nearby vending machine and decided to get a drink for him. I took a look at his helmet to see what color he was. Apparently he's a hint of green, mixed with a tiny tint of white. I made sure to buy the right drink for him and snuck up to him. He was sitting on the bench, starring at the sunrise. Go ahead and plot whatever monstrous ideas you may unleash, but my plot will put an end to yours!

I secretly placed the soda next to him without him noticing. I hid back in the bushes behind and waited until he took notice of the drink I left for him. He was a bit skeptical at first, but noticed how parched he was. He then decided to open the can and take one smooth sip from it. Unfortunately, the plan didn't go as I hoped; he choked on the drink and spat it back out onto the ground. In complete panic, he ran over to a nearby fountain and dove into the water.

What is up with this Inkling!? First he's immune to ink, and now WATER!?

He took several sips from the pouring waters flowing from the tip of the fountain. After a good period of drinking, he hopped out of the fountain and continued his way into the city. This definitely isn't an Inkling I'm going up against, but perhaps something bigger...

I followed him into the city, which was thankfully empty at this time. I watched him walk into a cafe of sorts and followed in as well. I hid myself under a vacant table while observing his every move. He seems to be eating a stack of pancakes... Whatever energy you're observing from this won't help when I take them away from you!

Again, I managed to stop myself. "Remember Octricia: Top condition = Insta-Hypno," I told myself. I kept hiding within the shadows of the table while he kept gorging himself to the pancakes. Surprisingly, only one stack was needed before he left the cafe. I kept my eye on him as I watched him walk off into the west side of town. He was eyeing on the windows, each displaying a different set of clothing. I'm starting to get confused; what kind of monster fixates his mind on shopping? I then suddenly see him pull out something from his back pocket. I rub my eyes, or rather my lens, to see what he pulled out: the pair of goggles he stole from me during our last encounter!

That was it! Top condition or not, this monster is NOT going to pawn MY goggles to some CLOTHING STORE!

I always have spares in case of situations like these, but if this thing truly does steal belongings in return for money, that makes him a cold-hearted bastard! I don't EVER forgive scum like him!

"...And just WHAT do you think you're doing, pawning off MY goggles!?" I screeched as I approached him.
"Grrack!? Agrouagarr..." he snarled back as he turned towards me.
"Taking away our homes was one thing... Now you're taking away our possessions!? What's next, our LIVES!?"
"Fhuff!"
"I don't care what you have to say! No amount of growling or snarling will ever justify your means! DIE!"

I quickly pulled out my gun and took several shots at him. He managed to dodge a couple with effort, but he was shot multiple times all the same. He was eventually knocked down once again. This pathetic loser was going to pay. I pinned him down with my leg on his chest, and aimed straight for his face. However, he quickly shot through the ground and managed to get himself back up with his boots! It was unbelievable, but his boots gushed out paint and propelled him out of my reach! What's worse was that the paint didn't even match his own! Just what kind of monster is he!?

It was at this point that I regret revealing myself. I should've kept a closer eye on him, rather than just jump into the fray. But now's not the time to regret, not when this bastard is threatening my home!

I quickly shifted into octopus form and hid within the ink. If I could travel slowly, I'd be able to catch him off guard like I did the first two times. However, he just stomped all over the place, his boots quickly gushing a shade of blue, pink, yellow, orange, all over MY paint! This monster is a reckless wrecker! If I keep hiding, he'll eventually find me. I decided to leap out and take more shots at him. He managed to gush straight into the air right before any of those shots landed! At the apex of his ascent, he came plummeting down, right at my general direction. I managed to get out of the way just barely, but the gushing ink managed to get onto me! I fell over onto the ground, helpless.

He slowly walked to me with his foot now on my chest. Talk about some serious role reversal...

There was of course one thing that was eating the back of my head ever since I met him: what is he? For every encounter we've met, he's kept his face concealed for a very long amount of time. I guess it wouldn't hurt to reveal him. With my hand free from his clutches, I took one good aim at his helmet. The shot knocked it off, revealing not an Inkling, but much, much worse...

"Who... Who the hell are you!?"

The monster only growled as he gushed every last bit of paint down my chest.

Here I was back in Octo Valley. I kept rubbing that one spot that got gushed. Damn, that'll sting for days...

I suddenly remembered what happened before I died: that monster had no fangs, no tentacles, his ears weren't pointy... Just what kind of monster is he? I pulled out my communications device and contacted my boss.

"Sir, I have a very serious problem."
"What is it?"
"That target I tried apprehending, he's not an Inkling!"
"Not an Inkling?"
"He doesn't have tentacles, sir. He's a monster!"
"Hmmph! So they truly are alive..."
"Boss?"
"Ah, I apologize for not telling you this earlier... We seem to have a human within our plans."
"Human?"
"Creatures who roamed this land long before you and I were born. It is thanks to them that we possess the technology we have today."
"A human... So what does that mean?"
"Ink will not bring any harm to it, however they won't respawn once dead. Give and take a couple strengths and weaknesses, and you have another Inkling, only modified and easier to kill..."
"So I guess we'll have to ditch our Hypno-Plan..."
"Not quite. I've looked deep into their history. Apparently, these humans are easily subdued by the hypnotic properties of music just like those Inklings. We may still be able to hypnotize him so he will fight alongside us."
"Alright sir, I'm going to deploy the device now."
"No. I need you to defend Kettle #7, that's our only spot of refugee from those monsters. Those meddlesome slimes should be arriving within the hour, so be prepared."
"On it sir, Octoricia out."

Hmmph! Human, eh? Well the secret's out! Now I know your game, and I WILL kill you once I get my chance you bastard!