Morning arrives in Ravia as the first day of Nationals is welcomed by the transitioning orange sky that grows blue by the second. In a matter of a few hours later, the empty Ravia stadium will welcome all 128 teams to its massive field and hold the prestigious opening ceremony broadcast for the entire world to see. Even in the early day break, many anxious teams were already at the entrance. For some of them, showing up early gave them a chance to scope out the competition much like the captains did at the drawing and keep tabs on who might prove to be problematic when the knockout stage arrives. Teams weren't the only ones at the entrance as students and fans alike were also at the entrance, albeit a different one for general admission. There are colorful jerseys everywhere-some as recognizable by their iconic colorways such as the Silver and Black of Beacon Hills and the Gold of Special Forces, and others by the prestigious names and emblems such as the crest of Kolnogov's royal family that don's the breast of Rukovna's uniforms. When the top teams arrived, all eyes focused on them as the favorites of the tournament: the classy Rukovna in their bright white and yellow jumpsuits, the terrifying Hugh-Napri donning their purple and teal warm ups, the turquoise of the energetic Crystal Coast, and even the boisterous Bluerings. Almost instantly, Siot and C.C.-the two captains who would soon meet in the group of death-lock glares at each other and butt heads with a spark between them, a meeting between alphas. Plenty of attention comes their way as everyone anticipates a skirmish between the two captains with many finding ironic that the second year C.C. who was seen as a more outspoken copy of Siot was out picking a fight against the original. Fellow teams within the top 10 had mixed reactions to the disturbance with Rukovna, Hugh-Napri, and Toka all finding it childish to make a scene before the ceremony rather than show their opponents respect, whereas teams like Vulerby, Skolar, and the Titans admired that level of competitiveness, wanting to jump in themselves. Despite all the attention on the ranked teams of the tournament, atmosphere in the area changed as other teams made their arrival that put them on notice, some of them were the dark horse teams and other well known schools who were regulars at Nationals like the Sun and Moon Pharaohs, as well as the "Yellow Brick Wall" Dango, who looked stronger than ever and were a dark horse candidate to upset everyone with a deep run. One team that commands a presence with their arrival enables plenty of chatter and whispers as they walk in their pack is the school who barely made the cut, yet contains an all-star roster! Led by Aaron, an already well known player worthy of respect, they notice him wearing his jersey out in the open as if to send a statement that even before the battle begins, he and his team proudly flaunt their colors of salmon pink and royal blue and are ready for battle.
"Is it me or are they more serious than I thought?" one person from another team whispers.
"That ain't all check out the rest of 'em!" his teammate elbows.
Right behind Aaron is Sky Royale, the one the world considered to be the main star player of the school until her sudden retirement was considered one of the best players in the continent and a direct threat for many at the top; her overwhelming presence alone caught the eyes of the top players who had their eyes on her-especially Shiore and Siot, who felt their chests beating rapidly and their eyes dilate at the sight of her just within an arm's reach. Even as one of the headliners of Squid Academy, Sky wasn't the only one who stood out. Her pastel green hair shines with a bob and shake as her shoulders are straightened with her gaze ahead wearing her number proudly as the other threat teams needed to concern themselves with. Locals knew her as someone on par with Sky, but many of them were unaware of the threat she posed but could tell from a glance that the girl known as Pastelle was one bad inkling to duel with. Another one who brings attention to himself as a once top prospect is Todd, who also kept his chin up and wore a serious expression as one of the many breakout first years on the team. Another inkling carried the same aura as Sky who walks among them, but others felt a terrifying chill when they sensed her intensity radiating off the jersey she wears proudly that reads "Walleye" on the back; many were aware of her recent health issues and ruled her out of playing in the tournament and figured she is likely there as emotional support on the roster, also aware of how talented she is-some glad she isn't competing since some believed her to be the next one to join the ranks at the top as a threat. But there is one number and one name that had everyone's jaws drop as they notice he not only wears a calm expression, but also the captain's armband despite being a first year.
One player gasped, "Is that…?"
"Yeah, it's him." another confirms with a nod while keeping their sights on the first year captain.
"So the cub enters the lion's den…" Romaine of Vulerby mumbled un his breath watching them pass by.
An inkling wearing a "Bottlenoses" letterman jacket raises his chin with a grin, "Azule Royale of Squid Academy, it was only a matter of time before he'd appear."
"Crazy to think he's only in his first year and got here so quickly!" a player from one team comments, impressed by the journey the first year took to reach this stage.
"Not like it matters though, he's in the group of death…" his teammate responds, opposite to him on the outlook of their appearance.
Everyone knew his name after his performance in the spring, and they all knew even further that pairing him with his sister meant certain doom. A target before he starts his first game, Azule can feel the lust for his defeat emanating from those who watch him pass-sporting a chuckle and smile at the thought that he's got everyone all worked up before the tournament, and from the bottom seed of all places. As they find a spot to settle down with their coach and the other staff giving out commands and orders for what they'll be doing for the day, their concentration is cut short when the Elites notice a familiar face approaching them. Dressed in all-black jumpsuits carrying a menacing aura, the seniors of Squid Academy tense up once they identify the bunch as none other than Squidops, a bitter rival of theirs who also made it to the big dance. Ciel, Nachtia, Kuro, and especially their captain Carbon, all wear smirks as they come near, followed by a few other players sporting the same jumpsuits that didn't look familiar.
"Welcome to Nationals, you already look the part but you still stick out like a sore thumb for a bunch of newbies." Carbon greets with an arrogant tone, opening his arms wide with a grin.
Azule smirks and flicks the brim of his cap, "Have you come to us because everyone forgot about you? Not our fault your team lacks a presence."
"Oh my, got the sharp tongue on you, huh first year?" he responds, holding up his hands to surrender; "I'm not here to incite some sort of bad blood. I just want to show my respect to you all as a fellow team from Inkopolis."
"This again? We already got the same greeting from Kalebrough and Yermozani, and at least they weren't so passive aggressive." Fuchsia said, joining in with some annoyance that they're messing up their concentration.
"They can afford to be that way since they're ranked within the top 25, but as for us unranked teams-"
"We're not the same." Violet interrupts with a glare.
"Yeah, what she said." Jory adds joining in; the captain of the team in black could sense he already made a mistake by bothering them when they're on the edge.
"Look, I'm just here to give a fair warning to you all who are rookies in this tournament."
"I appreciate your concern, but you should worry about yourselves." Azule crosses his arms on the response, sighing under his breath with some impatience.
"Oh, we will. I just wanted to make sure you're in the right mindset, is all. I'd like a chance to face you all in the knockouts, but unlike us and our manageable group, you have your work cut out for you."
"Just means it'll be all the more entertaining when we make it out of group stages. You'll see." Reice said walking over with a glare, also raring for a fight.
"Perhaps…but if I were you all, I wouldn't take those other teams lightly. I understand your work is cut out for you with the ranked teams, but Towson and Fujiro...well, you'll see for yourself how problematic they are..." he shrugs, excusing himself afterwards once he locks gazes with the Elites, who are all glaring at him.
As he turns around to return to his group, the rest of his squad are staring down Squid Academy-a side that had something to prove as the most overlooked team in the bunch from Inkopolis. A dark horse candidate in every sense, they looked stronger than before and the best place to display that was at this event. As the horde of black exit their peripheral with Squid Academy's core still watching them leave, Fuchsia turns to her captain and with a whisper, "Hey, did you notice?"
"Yeah, they aren't the same team. I recognize their front four, but those others in the back look really strong; I wonder how great would they be if they played them in the previous tournaments."
Sky walks over and wraps her arms around the pair, "Simple reason, really. Most teams who expect to go far and make it to these events set up designated squads and treat the earlier games as a sort of practice. When you're one of the big four, you have to take necessary precautions. Like a game of poker, you never reveal your best cards until it matters the most and the same applies here. If a team like Special Forces were to play their seniors from the beginning, they'd be in trouble come Nationals-maybe even the Spring Invitationals, where teams will have already gathered data from their performance in the winter and have plenty of time to devise a strategy. Sure, in the case of Beacon Hills and Squidops, they use their most consistent lineup, but by no means should you fall for the trap."
"That explains it…" Fuchsia mumbled; "Figures why we were behind the eight ball, then. The Rank Wars doesn't exactly prepare us for these types of events if we're only relying on the same four without any reserves."
Aaron's gaze sharpens, "That team, they have a dangerous side they've kept hidden for this moment...but we can worry about that later on, for now, we'll need to focus on the first game."
Later that day, the opening ceremony began with teams lining up on the massive field carrying their team name proudly on a sign and planting it on the ground as every name is called. Thunderous roars of applause and cheers come around for each team as they show their support, the bias for the Squirabian teams apparent as teams like Vulerby are called. All done under the blazing sun with dry air, the teams were antsy to get back in the shade before their energy was sapped. What follows is the call to the Rukovna Emperor's captain to come up to the center podium carrying a special flag known as the "Spirit of Nationals" that was always returned to the committee at the start of the annual tournament after calling the champion's residence home for the year; a flag as old as the competition, it wears the name of every team who won it and the year they won on a tiny patch. As the committee accepts the flag and plants it, they announce Nationals to officially start with the first games of the group stage to be played in the afternoon and into the evening in the several different locations throughout all of Ravia and Squirabia, by which teams would be automatically transported through the same methods that were used in Inkopolis plaza and Square for battle matchmaking. Groups A-H are to be played for the day, which meant Squid Academy were excused and allowed to spend the day however they wanted, though their coach made it clear she expected them all to stay behind and observe the other games and get a feel for the environment they'll be playing in tomorrow. Since the venue is so loud already that she can barely hear herself think, Fuchsia has to shout to grab her team's attention.
"Since some of the games will be televised later on tonight, we'll watch them together on the TV in the lobby at the resort!"
"Right!" they respond with enthusiasm.
"Alright, with the first half of the group stage games happening today, they are split on schedule with groups A-D playing in the afternoon and then E-H in the evening. The games that are worth our attention for live scouting are on all of the ranked games which are Rukovna and Ulekkie, Polaris and Taratota, Vulerby and Maradu Tech, Wobblegongs and Garper, Hugh-Napri and Dadland, and Monarchs versus Winnae. The rest of the ranked teams playing today are in the evening."
Cobalt raises his hands, "How will we split? I'm guessing you don't want us all in the same place at once, correct?"
"Yeah, in addition to scouting them and learning anything useful about these teams, I also want you all to get an eye for the diversity in how they play and what possible strategies can be used to improve your game; alter your thinking to adapt for any and every possible outcome." she said holding up her finger before turning to her trusty assistants; "So, everyone on staff, I want you each to pick some players to go with you, I'll be scouting the Vulerby and Maradu Tech game since that is the group we'll be facing if we make it out of ours. To start off, Cobalt? Tangie?"
Cobalt looks over to Azule and Reice, "I'll take them with me for the Rukovna game so we can see just how strong the defending champions are." he points in the pair's direction.
Tangie winks at Violet and Sally, "They'll be coming with me for the Polaris game."
Apollo crosses his arms, "Aaron and Sky can come with me for the Hugh-Napri game since there's something we want to see for ourselves about the Street Queen and the Empress."
Pearl and Austin stare at Ollie, "W-well, I'll take these two to watch the Wobbleys game."
Zaneki glares at his Rebels teammates, "I'm taking my guys with me to watch the Monarchs game. No complaints, right coach?"
Fuchsia nods, "Looks like every game is taken now. Everyone else is with me, then. I'm curious to see what's so amazing about the favorites from Squirabia, as well as the fact that they are in the group our side will face in the knockouts if we make it out of ours."
Gone their separate ways, they all head to the games to see for themselves what made this tournament such an unforgettable experience, also using this as an opportunity to also do some scouting on future opponents. For the trio of Azule, Reice, and Cobalt shuffling through the traffic on the walkway, this was a chance for them to hang out again like old times, though there would be a shuffle in plans since this was basically an assignment for them. Their search for a good spot to catch a view of the heavily anticipated debut of the Rukovna Emperors was already enough of a challenge, especially since the reason for the dense crowd in attendance was because of them. The defending champions of the tournament, they were royalty personified with a joint record 9 titles in the National tournament and boasted an incredibly powerful roster with a third year core. "Fifth Emperor" Edward V was considered to be one of the best players around, holding the top spot among the vote for best players in the world. If having him wasn't enough, their core was built around players that all had something that made them special, and with the momentum from last year's tournament, it was hard to bet against them based on how overwhelming their talent was and the looks of their group stage, where the only team that offered a challenge was a fellow ranked team in Polaris. Finally finding some open seats for three, they pounce and notice they've got a good angle to view the action. Already getting a review beforehand from Fuchsia, they knew that for every match in the group stage it would be under a couple of days rotation of game modes and would be based on each game; the order for the opening group stage matches of today and tomorrow were: Tower Control, Clam Blitz, Rainmaker, Turf War, Splat Zones, Booyah Ball, and Last One Standing. Not much is known about Ulekkie, but from the chatter of people nearby it seemed like this match was practically a cupcake game for Rukovna, who didn't need too much strength to defeat them. The teams are introduced on the turf below with a thunderous cheer erupting as the starters of Rukovna are mentioned. In the middle of the map sat the tower that looked far larger than before, likely renovated to suit the extra pair of inklings. On the far side stood the defending champions and their imposing aura and all dressed in blinding white with the only douse of color coming from their pastel yellow hair and the trims and tinges of red on their uniforms; Ulekkie wears green and yellow with red hair, the air around them not as imposing.
"I guess this is what makes Nationals so entertaining, amazing how well the stadium holds in the sound." Reice said looking around at the many supporters up on their feet for the defending champions.
"Incredible..." Cobalt whispers under his breath so faintly that his friends can pick it up, wearing such a calm expression that he looked to be in tranquility sitting beside the pair; Azule and Reice both looked relieved to see him look so relaxed for the first time in ages.
"Hey Azule, what do you think?" Reice asked, looking to get a reaction out of his captain.
Azule looks around at the stadium, "This place is gigantic!"
At Nationals, games were played in a mixture of venues: some inside the stadiums and arenas, and others around the host city and in the immediate area. Since it was a hassle to schedule all the games in the same venues at the same time, they rotated venues. Thus far there are 6 stadium venues where games would be played, and several locations outside of the stadiums where teams would play, much like Inkopolis did for local matches. All of the stadiums were equipped with technology capable of altering the terrain to simulate a new environment, which eased the burden of constant rotation but still allowed for teams to move around and play in diverse locations. As he looked around at the crowded stadium, Azule was amazed by how well such an event could be organized. Countdown begins, the audience chanting along excitedly for the beginning of yet another tournament of the summer. While their attention is on the turf below, the trio fail to notice a seat opened up next to them that allowed for someone to take a seat next to them; Azule looks over to see it's the octoling man from before who still wore those same stupid shades and very formal business attire.
"We meet again." he said with a nod, returning his attention to the game.
Azule's about to freak out as his eyes pop out his sockets, "Y-you...!"
"Hm? What about me?" the man responds, looking at Azule with some confusion at why the boy had such a stunned expression.
"What are you doing here?" Azule asked in an exasperated tone, his eyes popping out with tremble.
"I'm here to watch-"
"I know that! I meant why are you here? Sitting here of all places?" his exasperated tone grows struggling to breathe.
"It was open…?"
Reice elbows Azule, "Hey man, no need to be so rude to strangers." he whispers, followed by Cobalt nodding-both unaware that this was the octoling man responsible for them even being here; Azule resigns himself with a sigh and massages his forehead, nearly pushing up the brim of his cap.
"You look stressed, got the jitters? Your game is tomorrow."
Azule shakes his head, "No, I don't have the jitters…"
"Oh, alright." the man said, returning his attention to the turf; Azule's a little embarrassed but he felt now was the right time to tell him since the opportunity is there.
"I-I promise we'll make it out of the group stage!" Azule whispers, still cognizant that the man's job is on the line.
The octoling man gives a sigh and looks up to the sky, "I wouldn't make such a gamble if I didn't believe in you and your side…"
"Right, apologies for bringing it up."
"Pay attention to the game. If you plan to win...you'll face them." he points.
The wave of cheers signals the start of the match down below, and to the amazement of the trio were there already casualties on Ulekkie's side. Azule counted 5, Reice counted 3, and Cobalt only saw 1! In the blink of an eye, the brew of bright red and pastel yellow became a takeover of the latter as Ulekkie got slammed to the ground in the clash for the tower; Rukovna were just too quick. It was a sprint for the tower, but it wasn't even much of a fight just from the initial encounter. In a matter of seconds a national caliber team like Ulekkie got shut down! Right away they realized the magnitude of strength Rukovna possesses, aware that Ulekkie had a plan coming into this tournament, and likely spent weeks preparing for this very game, studying the champions extensively and looking for a foolproof way to somehow top them, and in a matter of seconds into the game, have it shattered by reality. Rukovna operated as if they were possessed and programmed to another level of speed and aggression: Edward and Venus occupy the tower and cover their surroundings in the faded yellow ink, Jace and Jack swim ahead to fulfill their urges of total destruction of their opponents-hungry for a challenge, and the final pair of Akira and Royce see to covering the flanks for an end-around attack. Right away, Azule's scanning eyes predict everything based on the few seconds he witnessed. They were likely looking to step on their prey's throats easily so that they can save their strength for the following games, likely expecting to sweep all the games in their group aside from the on ranked opponent they must face down the line. It was too sudden, too instantaneous to be possible. How could a team be so dominant? This went beyond what he witnessed with Beacon Hills in the winter, or Kalebrough in the Spring, Rukovna looked to be head and shoulders above the rest with the way they moved. Concentrated movement that flows perfectly like a river, they possess the impact of tsunami when they fired their weapons and made their swings-each strike packed with such venom it was hard to believe they were inklings! Where there were members within Squid Academy that knew a thing or two about murder and death, the players of Rukovna looked to be the closest thing to that in the realm of battle of turf, the glints in their eyes apparent that they didn't show remorse for those they massacred on their path.
Even after earning my spot as a starter, I still get baffled by the intensity of the others when they play. They haven't even gotten serious and they've already broken the will of Ulekkie… Royce thought with mercy as he glanced into the eyes of one the players who already cowered in fear after witnessing their teammates get brutalized to the hungry cheers of the Rukovna supporters.
"You're all monsters!" the inkling shouts before Royce ends them.
Despite being a member of the team, Royce felt pained to watch such a display of dominance in the first match alone. Even if they were assured victory, to terrorize this team in front of their own supporters and break their spirit was just too ruthless. But there isn't anything he can do, only watch as Rukovna claims their first victory with a knockout punch that would likely stamp their victory on the match overall. Azule, Reice, and Cobalt had their jaws agape in utter disbelief, their eyes darting to the seconds that ticked away. Never before had they seen a game end as quickly as that, and here of all places? Unbelievable. Their bodies trembled unconsciously, the chills they felt none other than the natural fear felt that they weren't even aware of. Even if they'd been through hell itself and sniffed the putrid stench of death, the scene left behind by the defeated Ulekkie in the wake of Rukovna was nothing short of a group of students who were broken in mind and body, laying on their knees in defeat without a trace of light as they undergo mental destruction; it's only the first game...
"I-It's over! In record time, the Emperors have just set the record for the fastest win in Nationals' history!" the main commentator shouts in shock, audibly standing up to his feet; "Never before have I witnessed such a swift victory! There were questions about the possibility of Rukovna possessing a hangover from last year's triumphant victory, but in the blink of an eye they silence anyone who had doubts!"
"That first game was a message sent directly to the rest of the rank teams in the competition, and especially Polaris in their group. Rukovna have every intention of defending their title and after that display, I firmly believe the championship has to come through them!" the color commentator adds, delighted to see such dominance displayed in the first match.
Alone to spectate the game, Siot of Crystal Coast understood the message as he wears a provoked expression after seeing that first game, and he isn't the only one. Gathered together to watch the game were the 11th ranked Bottlenoses who played tomorrow, and also in attendance were a few of the players from the Bluerings led by captain C.C. who was unusually quiet, instead wearing a serious look as he stared down the Fifth Emperor. All of them wanted a piece of the best in the world, to prove they could slay the frosty giants who would terrorize the tournament. All eyes on the defending champions and their massacre of Ulekkie, they cleaned up the slaughter with a sweep. Only four games of precious information to scout that wasn't all too helpful other than highlighting what Ulekkie failed to do and the dominance of the Emperors, Azule, Reice, and Cobalt are sweating a bit at the reality they might face. If the predators running rampant in the group of death like rabid beasts locked in a dungeon waiting to tear each other apart weren't enough of an arduous task, what awaits them in the knockout stages would be a relentless wave of adversity in the aggressive seas of competition. Aware of what lies ahead after seeing the message sent by the defending champions, the trio call it a day and use their long trip to the hotel as time to review the precious games they got to witness. While most of the afternoon games were at their conclusion and double headers were happening at some of the stadiums, the day was enjoyable for fans of the ranked teams. Polaris managed to win their match in 5 games with a convincing performance, the overall highlight coming from how well the team meshed in their opening match. Vulerby also showed a strong performance in their sweep and had everyone talking about a potential deep run in the tournament behind their captain's brilliance, the name of Romaine among the most talked about as the hope of Squirabia. Another team who managed to impress in their opening performance were the Wobblegongs, known as the Wobbleys for their swift speed and extra finesse in their technique in their play and display that in their 5 game victory. The last couple of games involving the ranked teams were still ongoing but one was reaching its end already while the other had started fairly recently. Over in the Pelagi Dome, one of the six hosting venues for the tournament…
Their jerseys of purple, teal, and white carry an aura under the bright lights of the dome, the concentrated cheers from their supporters growing larger as their starting unit tears up the turf after sitting out the first three games to let the substitutes get their shine. Almost moving at the speed of light with movements so swift a person blinking would miss a considerable amount of action. Empress Shiori led the fire of the squad in this turf war battle, hungry to show her true strength after witnessing how well the others performed to get this far. Dadland didn't offer any resistance the entire series, and it was only now when their backs were up to the wall and they found themselves against the vanguard of Hugh-Napri did they decide to show some fight, unfortunately, a certain sniper wouldn't allow them the chance to build momentum. Her shots crack the air like a whip, the ink flying out resembling a band of light soaring across the sky and her accuracy as deadly as they come. One by one she turned them into puddles like bottles lined up on shelves and broke them each time they tried to recover, reminding them that their chances of victory were nonexistent. Known as the Street Queen, she announced her presence by splatting the Dadland members a whopping 34 times in just that single round alone, leading the way for knockouts. Even though there wasn't much competition throughout the match, it was a telling performance for the audience that Hugh-Napri looked every bit as strong as they did last year and maybe even stronger-the possibility of a third consecutive bout between them and the Rukovna Emperors seeming all the more likely after strong showings from each side. For Sky, Aaron, and Apollo, this match told them quite enough of what they already guessed about the side after already learning quite a bit from the previous footage obtained about the team, but that live performance was...concerning.
"I didn't think there could be a team that strong." Apollo said with some amazement hidden behind his aloof face.
Aaron's eyes are glued to the turf, "They swept Dadland and didn't use their starters until the final round; any team with such depth will prove problematic."
"Rukovna won their first one in record time and swept their opponents, and Hugh-Napri swept their opponents without ever truly relying on the starters. If you ask me, it appears they both plan to make quick work of the group stage and conserve their energy for the knockouts."
Apollo nods, "Luckily we don't have to worry about them until far down the line…"
"We got our own concerns." Aaron sighs.
Sky narrows her eyes studying Shiore, "Street Queen, huh."
In that moment, their eyes locked-Sky's analyzing stare meeting Shiore's emotionless gaze. Only for a brief moment, it felt as though they watched the other for a lifetime as their irises reflected the other's image. Sky couldn't look away, finding it interesting that this Shiore carried such a presence despite being second fiddle to the Empress. However, before their moment can last any longer, Takahashi jubilantly grabs Shiore by the arms and brings her over to the others to exchange high fives on a job well done for the first game. Likewise, Sky also snaps out of it and returns to focusing on discussing details with Aaron and Apollo, keeping Shiore in her mind for later; there's more than meets the eye to that girl. With the afternoon matches concluding, now was the best time for everyone to group up and return to the resort and freshen themselves up after spending the day sweating away in the bruising heat; all of them are eyeing the different games for the evening. On the bus heading back, they trade information gathered from the day and discuss their thoughts about the first day overall. An eye opening experience already, some of them were nervous about how to handle their debut tomorrow while others were anxious to get it over with. Experienced seniors like Sky and Aaron reminded them that it's fine to possess such feelings since this was an occasion that none of them have experienced in their lives, but highlighted that such crowds aren't foreign: the Elites fought in big tournaments, so did Squidcom, and for the others, they already knew the pressure of the world watching them from the Rank Wars-this new experience isn't something unheard of for them. Followed by reassuring words from their coach-a literal princess, they felt a tad bit at ease about the heavy weight on their chests. After freshening up and having dinner together as a team to strengthen the bond with one another, they scatter throughout the lounges that air the various pre-games. The showings had the 18th ranked Knights play Newport at Mugil Arena nearby the famous Ruhtab Tower, 10th ranked Toka play 16th ranked Wizards at Hulabo Dome in what was the most hyped up match for the day since it was an early battle between two ranked teams, 5th ranked Skolar play Dango in the main stadium over in Ravia, 21st ranked Nimaroshi 1st facing Owada at Shamsa stadium out in the countryside of Ravia, and the 12th ranked Blazers play Starcross at Alqamar stadium over by the seaside. Dispersing to different monitors to watch the games that interested them, they're kept company by their coach who reinforced the idea to take physical notes of the teams and study them in greater detail, suggesting that they put themselves in their shoes and imagine what would they do differently and what would they stick to. Not only carrying the intimidating presence of a team wearing the badge of honor as a top ranking team in the world, there was an air Skolar carried when they marched in their uniforms of lime green, white, and silver, the contrast of the shining silver and bright green mimicking the spirit of their roster. Known for their dual power of Carmichael and Miralem, they were a school built on the principles of raw power and individualism with a history of many talented superstars emerging as professionals at the next level with many of them known for their lack of discipline as mavericks and loose cannons. This team's rendition differs greatly from the previous though, with a roster of talented individuals that played with discipline and all serve as stable support for their two main stars.
"Pierre, Amber, Sigurd, Jean, Miralem, and Carmichael. A starting unit that appears like any other talented squad, they combine the unimaginable. Ridiculous power, breakneck speed, and unbreakable chemistry, they're a ferocious opponent when they get firing on all gears!" the main commentator hypes as the camera pans to the players faces, showing combination of confident smirks and serious frowns that make up the starting six of Skolar; "After a great run leading up to this campaign, they come into this tournament as one of the big favorites to make some noise along with Rukovna and Hugh-Napri."
The color commentator nods, "No surprise why, it's all thanks to the amazing work of their captain Carmichael and his ability to keep everyone under control, especially Miralem. All season, one of the biggest questions surrounding the team was whether they were capable of playing on the same level of consistency as their fellow rivals at the top, and for the most part they've come into their own identity thanks to the emergence of a strong partner in Miralem and great starting and supporting cast.
A team with great expectations, they weren't the only one having their praises sung before stepping on the turf for their first game. Nimaroshi 1st got plenty of attention as a breakout team from Ikayumu led by the brilliance of their "No Name" squad who were the only team within the top 25 to possess no star talents and instead had a cast of solid players who all played to their best in every game. Another such team where they relied on the team rather than focus on individual talent were the Blazers, who are led by a capable captain in Qadir who facilitated the team's offense and defense and earned great praise for being their shadow star who only made those around him better rather than draw the attention to himself. The Knights also had a talented captain of their own who filled a similar role but unfortunately his team as a collective weren't as impressive as the previous teams, nonetheless they ranked at the 18th spot as thanks to the skills of Alistar, they were able to contend with the stacked competition. With all the games starting together, everyone's eyes dart from monitor to monitor watching the games unfold in exciting fashion. Pens are moving, mouths are dropping, and minds are racing. The overwhelming strength of Skolar, the unity of Nimaroshi, the tenacity of the Blazers, and the unpredictability of the Knights, Squid Academy got to witness what the rest of the top teams had to offer and understood why Nationals was such an important event. If the idea of 128 teams competing in a tournament wasn't enough to reel someone in, then the diversity of the field would surely grab their attention. All of them made their cases as teams to watch out for as they all possessed something to make themselves unique even in a field so crowded, and it's reflected in their supporters who cheered with such energy that it's difficult to even hear the commentators! Time elapsed in an instant as they watched the games, finding themselves invested in how each ranked team would close out the match. Skolar swept their opponents in convincing fashion with a convincing performance in the turf war, Nimaroshi 1st got through in a gentleman's sweep of 5 rounds after Owada put up a decent fight to snatch the third round away. The Blazers swept Starcross with a dominant performance from Qadir who was able to calm the nerves of his nervous supporters who were a little concerned about a slow start from their side; the Knights also made it through in 5 with another solid performance from their side. A fun evening of games with focus from the ranked teams, there was still one game remaining that went above and beyond anyone's expectations…
The roof of the Hulabo Dome is about to burst, the concentrated noise within becoming deafening as both side shout and cheer with all their strength. The massive sign alerts them that this is the sixth round-the sixth game of the match. So far, Toka have managed to hold onto their lead but there is some pressure starting to mount as the Wizards managed to claw their way into the match after falling down 3-1 and take the fifth round; if they could take this round, all the pressure would be on Toka to avoid the collapse! The commentators can't even hear themselves and down the turf, it's a mess. After the turf was plastered in Toka's red and the Wizard's navy blue ink, it's evaporated to bring on the next game mode and rotation on the map. In the first round they fought in the dome and it was victory for the Wizards surprisingly, who were able to force an overtime comeback against Toka in Tower Control. In the second round, Toka answered back by dominating them at the Aramtam Sea Mall in Clam Blitz, putting on a spectacle for the supporters at there. From that point onward, Toka took off with victories in Rainmaker and Turf War at the Barbel Bazaar and Burri Backstreets respectively to push the match to 3-1, but in the fifth round they returned to the Hulabo Dome and once again, the Wizards displayed their magic and cast their spell in the Splat Zones to win narrowly. Now with a critical game in the sixth round, questions loom about the way the game had unfolded: Toka lead the series but haven't won at Hulabo Dome yet, whereas the Wizards are down in the series but have won both the games at the dome and should they win this game would play the final game in the dome yet again. It looked as though the momentum swung the Wizards' favor with how well they've played in the dome thus far and the pressure on Toka to close them out before the damage becomes colossal.
Shunpei looks around at the crowded stadium and wipes the sweat off his face, "Like Oden that boils in a pot, I can hear the bubbles of everyone around us shouting for our victory."
"Natsudare-Senpai, what should we do? We've lost once again in the dome and it we'll play our remaining games here!" A girl squealed with concern, also looking exhausted.
Shunpei smiles so bright his eyes shut, "Not to worry my precious kouhai. There are seven rounds in a match, and we're only in the sixth-with the lead as well."
"Even so, we haven't been doing well in the dome."
"That's fine!" he said brushing off her concerns.
"When he gets like that, there's no point in talking to him..." another inkling said resting his hand on her shoulder trying to convince her to give up.
"Ah, Aoki!"
"Yeah, Kaoru. We've got Kazuma, remember?" another voice said meeting up with them.
"I-I'm well aware of how amazing our Silent Killer is but the numbers never lie!" Kaoru expressed, primarily concerned with the possibility of choking away the match.
"Screw the numbers!" another inkling said carrying a powerful aura walking over with a lax posture.
"Yuto-Senpai!" Kaoru chirped, putting her fingers together like a triangle as he joins his underclassmen.
"We've got Kazuma, Shunpei, and myself as our vanguard. For this Booyah Ball battle, it'll be light work!" he laughs, peering at the enemy camp with a smile and glare.
Likewise on the other side stood the captain of the Wizards, a familiar face who was with Shiore, Carmichael and Royce that day in Inkopolis. Now wearing navy blue ink and sporting his team gear, Sylvester proudly wears the captain's armband and stands with his shoulders raised before his loyal team who would follow him to the end. "Looks like we lit a fire under them!" he chuckles, enjoying the fact that they're pushing one of the top ten teams in the first match of the tournament. "Gladys, have you noticed anything about them?"
"Yes!" She responds with a nod, her bob cut hair bouncing a bit with her movements; "Aside from the obvious of them having yet to win in the dome but find victory elsewhere, they have yet to utilize their best weapons. Thus far they've relied on their captain carrying the baggage but I expect Kazuma and Yuto to step it up in these coming rounds."
"Exactly. What I find to be a pain in the ass about the teams within the top ten is that they have at least to superstar talents each, sometimes loaded with a whole team of players who could be stars if they played on any other side. A squad like ours has put up a good fight now, wouldn't you agree?"
"True as that is, we've got them reeling. If we win this next game we force it to seven!" an inkling said joining the pair with a carefree attitude.
"Warren speaks the truth, they're under plenty of pressure and will likely look to end this next round swiftly. We just need to drag it out and stomp on them and get to seven."
"Warren, Flynn, don't get too absorbed. They're still a ranked team for a reason. One game at a time, right cap?" a girl spoke, seeking guidance from her leader.
"Absolutely Quinn, we need to play it smart-not hard. We'll aim for that seventh bout, but we're not dragging it out. Something tells me they're expecting that from us, so let's surprise them instead..."
The game mode for the sixth round is Booyahball, a sport that usually thrives on hardwood courts or in the sand but in the grass is a bit of a tossup since players have to dive quite often and grass could sometimes be rough if not trimmed properly, but since here was a dome they used AstroTurf. With the turf alternating to put up a huge net with the maintenance unit also painting out the bounds for them, both sides were antsy to return to battle. Booyahball operates similar to Volleyball where teams have six players on the court and they must hit the ball over the next and get it to fall on the opponent's side within bounds, but differs in the way that rather than using their arms, they must use their weapons instead-though the usage of legs were still allowed, arms arm and hands are banned and would result in a penalty serve for the other team, and if repeated use, the penalized team would lose a point that would in turn go to the opposing side. Using the 3-set rules, the objective for each side was to win two out of the three sets; what makes booyahball unique is more than just the use of their weapons, but also the bonus that comes from their ink. As imagined, teams use their booyah power to create the ball of ink and once it hits the ground it explodes-to make it easier to move around and also gain momentum, teams cover their side in ink during rallies. Preparations completed and both sides ready to take the floor for another clash under the lights, the line up at the ends of the map and show their respect before the battle begins. Toka is lined up in their "Rising Sun" uniforms of red and white, their heads wearing red ink once again and on the Wizards side, they don the navy blue in their hair and uniforms with some trims of white and gold as well. Six players to a side, the sixth round is ready to begin with the entire dome rocking as their supports sing their team fight songs and rally their sides.
Up to serve first is Toka's Joi, who had been quiet for most of the match thus far; a solid player who could be a difference maker at times, Toka needed more than just their stars to step up if they were going to have a chance against the wild Wizards, and that included the likes of Joi. Arm out and booyahs flying, Joi's arm trembles as a red ball of ink swirls in her palm wearing a fiery expression in her eyes; usually a tame soul, she's fired up this particular match. With the ball ready to strike, she tosses it forward and times her shot with a thunderous blast and rockets it over the net, sending it across into a sweet spot that the opposing players just miss narrowly. A swift serve that scores the first point, she pumps her fist while containing her emotions, relieved to get the game flowing on her side; everyone rushes over to pat her on the head and give her a hug, asking her to get another one for them and put them up by a pair. Warren and Quinn don't pay any mind, assuring their teammates they'll get it next time and to be ready for the next shot. If the trio of Kazuma, Shunpei, and Yuto weren't enough of a challenge already, they had to worry about the others who could also make some noise like Joi and Kaoru, and of course, Aoki. Prepared to unload another, Joi rockets her shot with a perfect pull of the trigger and aims for another spot, but this time Flynn is there to receive it in by shooting the ball enough times to return it before it loses momentum.
"All yours Sylvester!" he shouts, falling over in recoil from the thunderous shot that packed a punch; Sylvester gets in position to set with a focused look in his eyes.
His head jerks as his body moves on his own, "Quinn…!" he shouts, shooting the ball over to her.
Her roller does an overhead swing, "Ngh…!" she grunts, slamming the ball over the net; her teammates who were free were already inking their turf to avoid the blemish of blue ruining their side.
Several rollers appear at the net and block the shot easily, sending it flying over to the Wizards again. This time it's Warren on the run to receive, keeping the ball in play while everyone adjusts their position. Once again, Sylvester is on the move to set the ball and aiming this time for another, he fires it across to the wing where Flynn is already prepared to spike with his roller. Another wall in their way, they finally break through with enough force to score their first point and even up the score. Now the turf wears a mixture of ink from both sides, and it's up to them to make sure it returns to their team color to avoid getting slowed down. As the game continues, the more the fans roar to life behind their teams who are gradually feeding into the spirit of the game. At first a slow start with both sides trading some points, it soon became an intense rally as they neared the middle of the first set. Toka played solid and made use of their serves to get as many aces, but the Wizards were stubborn and did their best to receive everything and force a competitive battle. Staring off as 9-3 to Toka who benefited off consecutive ace serves, the Wizards came back for a fight and fought tooth and nail to cut the lead to four when the score reached 10-6 still in Toka's favor. An uphill battle for the Wizards, who were mostly reliant on Sylvester's ability to facilitate everyone, he expressed his wishes for them to give him a hand in hammering away at the chances he provides-their chance to upset Toka becoming slim if they just rolled over and let them get an easy victory. In response, the Wizards put together a solid run and cut the lead down to two in an unbelievable fashion, relying on rally scoring rather than the ace serves that attributed much to Toka's lead and were able to bring the game to a close contest at a score of 18-16. Now with the score still in the balance at 23-22 near the conclusion of the first set, the dome is at its loudest thus far as they await another serve from Toka's captain Shunpei...
"Have you noticed anything?" Fuchsia asks with her arms crossed, dissecting the game on the monitor with some of the players watching on in the chairs at the counter.
"Yeah, both sides have their rollers as their blockers and a pair of shooters in the rear with one charger user. The best server is usually the charger, and the best spikers are the rollers while the fastest one on the floor are the shooters." Jory responds, focusing on the game like a diligent student in the classroom.
"Correct. This is what a game 6 looks like between a pair of ranked teams, the intensity is on a whole different level!"
"I'm amazed they can hold rallies like that, must be nerve racking knowing the flow of the game depends on the slightest of decisions." Reice marveled, impressed by the arm strength and leaping ability of both sides; he understood more than anyone how difficult it can be to maneuver with the roller, and he could tell that some of these players were operating with heavier rollers in exchange for more power, with meant more weight to carry.
Shunpei serves the ball and sends it diagonal from his position, but Gladys is there to receive and keep the ball in play with several of her teammates scrambling to attack and others in the rear inking the turf to cover the enemy's ink that invaded from previous strikes. Right away, Sylvester gets into position and initiates a rush attack with Warren, Flynn, and Colin all leaping together across the net. The ball launches into the target range of Colin and he hits it on the money with his shot-a trio of rollers are in the way however for Toka and they disrupt the powerful strike to send the ball soaring through the air; a difficult spot for Toka, they must receive the ball or risk losing a point and letting the game get tied off of the contact strike. In comes Kaoru, who slides on the ink covered grass to keep the ball in play after it veers out of bounds and deep into the side-if she hadn't inked a path and slid over, that would've been it! Her efforts are thanked as Shunpei continues the chain and sets it for none other than the dual threat of Toka: Kazuma and Yuto. A pair of powerful presences, as they both leap, the defenders are forced to decide between the poisonous options. Kazuma carries raw power when he swings with his roller and is more likely to smash through their 3-block defense, but Yuto's finesse is also troublesome since he not only has decent power but can get the ball to spin and even deliver cross shots-containing far more control over his body than Kazuma. Time's up for the Wizards trio and they do a leap, and as expected, it's in Kazuma's way. Like a barrel aimed at them, they brace themselves as the main cannon of Toka launches the ball right through them and secures the last point to seal the first set. A valiant effort in the first set, Toka hold them off and have the advantage to take the next set which prompts the Toka side to get boisterous in response to their team finally breaking the unlucky streak-a victory over the Wizards would be huge since that's the only rival in their group, so there would be a likelihood that they go unbeaten on their way to the knockouts. Wizards fans didn't lose hope yet though since their side managed to go down the fire and pressure them like they had every single time thus far-they could still take the second set and force that final set. In the second set, it's more of the same as seen prior with both teams skipping the warm up exchanges and heating up right away. Unlike the first set where there were plenty of substitutions to keep the starters fresh, none of the players aside from the libero swapped on the bench. Points traded constantly and overall led to a much quicker set than the previous. Early on it was the Wizards who took the lead, then struggled to build it and lost it, then it was Toka who took the lead, but couldn't quite escape their tenacious rivals. After over forty points were scored, the climax of the event approaches...
"A tied score of 23 has brought the Hulabo Dome to a heightened pressure. Everyone's up on their feet, some cheering as loud as they can and others praying for their team's victory. We're surely in the closing moments of this exciting set!" the main commentator announced catching up everyone on what transpired thus far. "Up to serve for the Wizards, it's their captain Sylvester. The spark in the match that they needed, can he close out the game with a pair of ace serves?"
"All match he's looked incredible and you can feel it radiating off his teammates, they've played their hardest and it's all thanks to him leading the way. There's nobody else I'd trust more in this situation to win the set than him." the color commentator adds, amazed by his performance today.
As the match of the day, everyone's got their eyes on this moment and watches with intent. The eyes of hundreds of thousands all on him, the crushing weight of expectations from his supporters screaming his name, exhausted hopeful stares from his teammates that all turned around nervously to look at him one last time before the game resumes, the enemy on the other side of the net that look as imposing as ever with their eyes locked on him awaiting his move; he can't make a mistake here-he needs that ace. Holding his arm forward with a concentrated look, his head tilts and he exhales, his irises sharpening as his body relaxes hearing his heart beating through his body with an echo. The ball is tossed up...and then smashed! Like a rocket, it zips past the net and slams the back court before the others can react. The whistle blows giving the point to the Wizards, and the reality sets in for Toka that their backs are up against the wall. One more point is all the Wizards need, and the best man to serve is at the helm with all the confidence in the world. Despite being at the same caliber as Shiore, Carmichael, and Royce, Sylvester was the often most overlooked one despite being a captain for a ranked team since his side sat outside the top ten and were often lacking in the star department that the other powerhouse schools had-this match was his chance to stick it to everyone that he and his side weren't to be underestimated, and with this final strike he'd put it in stone and put everyone on notice. Another toss in the air, he hold his breath as he launches it across the net, hoping he'll repeat what happened just a moment ago.
Joi's on the sprint and hops forward with a spin to fire a shot far over to her setter, connecting successfully and tumbling on her landing, "GET IT!" she shouts desperately with her voice nearly cracking.
On command, a light shines in Shunpei's eyes as he spots the opening and sends the ball over to the one option the team wouldn't beat in that moment. All eyes are on the Silent Killer and Yuto, but there was one person no one accounted for who leaps on the opposite side from those two. Time felt frozen for Kaoru as her eyes track the ball flying her way with her gun already positioned and her body contorting to slam it with a spin that'll secure the point; everyone was so focused on the main cannons that they left themselves exposed for a line shot down the rear, and almost to perfection, the ball slams the rear with a spin before spinning several times and painting the enemy side in red. A massive roar erupts for the Toka side, as Kaoru freezes in disbelief that she just hit the game tying play to keep it going. Her seniors rush over and hug her, and others pat her on the back, but the game isn't over yet as they now have a chance to rack up some points, and up to serve is Aoki. All the pressure mounts his shoulders as he finds himself on the end of the winning mark, his seniors watching him closely and placing their trust in him, his peers and juniors looking up to him to make this serve count, and all of the Toka supporters watching on holding their breaths. He can't fire it like the stars, nor would he like it to start a rally-aware that everyone must be gassed by now. It has to end here, and there's only one option left.
"A floater…?" Sky remarks while watching with interest, surprised that this was his answer to the pressure.
A test of judgment, Aoki decided the best way to snag some points was to force the Wizards to bet on their judgment and predict the trajectory of his shot. As they watch the ball float over, it's a guessing game on whether it'll land in bounds or not, but the pair watching on decide to take the gamble and let it out of play. A poor decision. A drop just before the baseline, it's called a point for Toka that triggers a massive wave of cheers for the leading side, who just needed to score another point to win by deuce. An unfortunate error on their part, Sylvester shrugged it off and assured them to stop it next time since he'll be serving again, also sure that Aoki will likely serve another floater. One last chance to stay alive on the part of the Wizards, and one big chance to finally put the match to rest on Toka's part, the game hangs in the balance of the jump serve from Aoki that floats across for a line serve staying in bounds, this time it gets received and a pass is made to Sylvester who prepares to set, until he notices an opportunity of a lifetime. Of course they'd expect the spike at this late in the game, so what better chance to flip the script and shatter their momentum than-
"A dump!" the commentator shouts is surprise as Sylvester aimed at just the angle to send the ball right over the net for a dump; everyone's stunned by his move, except for one!
A swift attempt at a dig, the ball stay in play thanks to Aoki. Over to Shunpei, he sends it forward and into the range of Kazuma, who finally puts the game to rest. Game. Set. Match. The polarity between the two sides is astounding, but Toka are jubilant by their victory while the Wizards show their support for their side who just glaringly missed a big upset. Both sides show respect for one another after a tough match, and express their best wishes for one another, finding this round in general to have been quite the showdown. Over in 6 games, Toka prevailed to start their campaign off to the right pace, while unfortunately for the Wizards, it's a loss. Squid Academy wore blank expressions, stunned by what they witnessed in that match-that's what two ranked teams look like at full power! As if inspired by what they watched, all of them looked to their own match tomorrow and carried a mixture of nervousness and excitement about their debut. Will they be victorious? Shall they get a dose of the harsh reality of the tournament? The question they carried leaving the lobby and heading to their rooms would be answered the next day.
