The race is off! Sally bursts ahead of everyone, leaping into her ink and swimming effectively ahead. No one else stands a chance as she heads toward her first set of chain barriers, dipping in and out of the ink as she jumps through them. It seems like another repeat performance of the previous two, no one around her to make a big enough threat at her lead.
Azule, Reice and Parker returned, the latter two helping the former over to his seat. Azule's complexion was no longer pale, but he was still recovering from his painful aches. Violet and the others watch him closely, examining what his next move is going to be; Azule's face brightens as he realized that Sally was in the lead, handling the competition with ease.
"Sally's on record pace! But can she keep it up?" Callie said, holding her hand in a fist at the disappointment of another team Treat player leading.
"She's a first year at Squid Academy, but she owns her competition here on a relatively big stage. This is her first track competition, but she is showing quite the incredible technique!" Marie added; Reice was proud of Sally's run.
"A fun fact for you guys, did you know that Sally was always this gifted?"-Reice says, putting both his hands behind his head and relaxing back-"Ever since we were young, Sally would try out nearly every sport imaginable. Her speed was amazing, but she never got into this competition…in fact she wasn't really looking to do this competition…"
"But why did she choose to do the competition now?" Fuchsia asked.
"Well, it was around the time when Azule got back from the hospital. She wanted to give this event a shot once the opportunity presented itself. She said that she loves turf wars and wanted to continue on with Squidcom, but that she also would like to give this a try, mainly since it was the sport that her mom would've done. She also said that since the next rank wars will be happening in spring and the track event will be in the fall, that she will compete in the track event and afterwards, I'll compete solely in turf wars."
"So this is her first and last event in track…" Violet said, realizing along with the others that Sally's racing with everything she's got.
Sally cranked to another degree of speed as she began to think about Bianca and Machi and their determination during their heats, leaving her competition behind completely and putting herself on pace to break the world record, and by a large margin! Bianca and Machi are in utter shock by Sally's daring run, receiving the message that she was sending to them. I only have one chance! You both had your many years to participate in this; I can only do this once. I'll make sure I win this heat and then the final. Sally zipped around the track, making her way to the finish line. She climbs over the final wall and crosses the Black ink, splashing it everywhere as she finishes her race in record time!
"29.57! She got a record time of 29.57!" awed Marie, putting her hand to her forehead-trying to grasp the result. "After seeing the two best in the world showcase dominance…she responds by destroying the already broken world record! And she's only a first year!?"
"She'll have a great future in track if she decides to continue…" Callie added, disappointed that yet another winner hailed for team Treat after all.
The entire audience was elated! Never before had such an incredible day occur where the world record in such a historic event get demolished 3 times in a row! The unprecedented had indeed happened and now, Sally officially stamped herself a spot into the finals! Sally celebrated just a little as she jumped in the air-throwing a fist pump with a satisfied "Yeah!" to go along. Afterwards, she made her way back to the tunnel, but not before waving "Hello" to her friends, who were cheering at the top of their lungs.
She returned back to the locker room, seeing the angry stares from all the other girls who had yet to compete and from those who'd already been eliminated. Sally searched around, looking for her two seniors, and found them both doing their warm up stretches in the back room. Both of them looked fired up and ready to respond to Sally's outstanding performance. This performance was at Flounder Heights stadium, but over at the Meadow's Land Park in Meadow Land, Flounder Heights. Cobalt entered a huge Marble ring with 14 other Inklings, getting ready for the 15 man battle royal between the best swordsmen in Inkopolis. Luckily, the event would be starting a little bit later, so that those at the Flounder's stadium could make the trip to Meadow's Land to watch the great Tokugawa compete. Many people were there to watch as the 15 youngsters did their warm up techniques and exercises; Tangie was cheering on Cobalt from the sidelines, embarrassing him just a little as he practiced each swing, making dirty little jokes to cause him to blush and laugh as he was trying to set up a combo with his wooden sword.
Tangie hanged up on her phone call; Fuchsia had just called her to notify her that the heats were about to be finished, telling her that Sally had advanced to the final, so that they will be returning back there later on tonight for the prime time event, with everyone watching. She also informed Tangie of the amazing feat of the world record being broken 3 times in one day.
Tangie yelled out all the results to cobalt, breaking his concentration. Cobalt tries to ignore her, but she keeps yelling his name until he answers, giggling as he responded with irritation in his voice, walking over to her.
"You're cute when you're mad." She teased as she leaned against the railing, admiring him; He blushes, looking away and trying to avoid any kind of romantic moments happening between them in public, knowing it'd weaken his composure if he began to think about her too much before a big showcase like this.
He sighed, "Is that all you called me for?"-he says, slouching his back as he places his arms over hers; the two really do look like a loving couple from the perspective of everyone else.
"Well, make sure you don't overdo it. You may be a famous samurai in the eyes of everyone, but you're still you. Remember who you are and just have fun, it's only a festival competition." She said, leaning closer to him; he observes her messy Orange head as she had some cowlicks sticking out and about, smiling at her as he meets her eyes.
"Of course…" he responds in a low tone, leaning in as well.
She smiles, kissing him on the cheek. "Go win for Squidcom!"
As everyone made their way from the track event over to the sword battle royal, the conversation shifted temporarily from the triple threats of Bianca, Machi and Sally, to the clashing showdown between the three most prominent samurai families/clans in Inkling history: the Tokugawas, Yenkichis, and Nakayamas. All 3 families are told to have been around since the dawn of the mollusk era, surviving the feudal era and eventually, securing their legacy in the modern era. As Cobalt walks away from Tangie, his mind on cloud 9, he immediately switches gears as he senses the presence of the two heirlooms of the respective rival families.
"Jengai Yenkichi and Arokei Nakayama, seems you two are quite well…" Cobalt greeted, bowing his head in respect.
"Ao Tokugawa, the famed prodigy of the Tokugawas…" remarked Jengai; he had Mint Green Tentacles and Glacier Green eyes, dressed in the traditional White yukata with an Alien Green design.
"So you show your face here with quite the pride…looks like you've found something worth defending?" added Arokei, he was in a more casual fit with a Yellow long sleeve-shirt, Cargo shorts and construction worker boots; His tentacles were White, with his eyes being a sharp Wolf Gray.
Cobalt smirks as he visualizes Squidcom, "Yes...Indeed I have found them. They all shall arrive shortly…May we catch up on time that we've lost since our days as children?" he proposed, joining them in their pre match routine.
"So Cobalt, I hear you will be participating in the Tokugawa selection…has your mind changed? Have you realized that your uncle's reign of terror must end?" Jengai asked, helping Cobalt stretch.
The trio begin to talk about their time as children, both of them wanted to know specifically if Cobalt had finally made it official with Tangie, given the long years that they'd known each other; it was a period shortly before Cobalt was put in the cuttlefish orphanage, a time where he and Tangie first met and a time where there was peace among the three families historic families.
