Agent 3, Agent 4, Lime, Verde, Callie, and Marie were all enraged by what was being done; Agent 4's crushing the metal railing he was gripping with a vicious death stare aimed at Jin's direction, watching his daughter get pummeled helplessly by the lunatic Jin. Lime was heartbroken, feeling more useless that she couldn't help her sister, and Verde looked much like how Azule did earlier and was ready to go down there and fight Jin. But Agent 3 had the calmest expression although she was enraged on the inside more than anyone else in attendance; she kept her cool and only focused her attention on her helpless daughter, waiting for her to retaliate.
After landing some savage blows, Jin decides to stop, seeing the amount of blood he spilled from Sky by bursting her bottom lip and bruising her face so badly that open cuts deepened. He then aims his weapon at Sky and with cold blood he waits for Sky to look up, wanting to savor her defeated look; Sky gingerly looked up with blood trickling down her lips, her forehead bruised and one eye swollen shut. Jin's sadistic smile intensified with a darkened shadow appearing as he tilted his head to side, "Run away and stay in spawn. I don't ever want to see you compete, again. Ever! Run! Run! Run! Run away from me before I make it worse!"- He aims while laughing- "Nothing personal…"
It was a loud a vicious splat that echoed throughout the arena as it went silent, so silent a pin could be heard if you dropped it. In just a matter of moments, Jin managed to crush the spirit of not only Sky, but of everyone who was on her side. With that splat, he seemingly put Sky into early retirement.
Aaron and the others arrived, right before Sky's defeat. Aaron's face is flushed as he witnessed the impact of the shot from afar, and before he could even react-in an emotional tone he calls out Sky's name in a scream. Aaron rushed toward Jin and punches Jin in the face with everything he has; but Jin doesn't even budge. Aaron continues to dish jab after jab but Jin absorbs each punch, finally, Aaron decides to use the Rainmaker, but that's when Jin responds with a swift dodge and splat of Aaron; it felt as though everything happened in slow motion as Aaron watched his demise play out so smoothly before him as he waited for his subsequent doom. Sky-who was on her way to respawn-saw the elimination of Aaron, and began to close her eyes forcefully while gritting her teeth in agony.
Agh, damn! This is just like the last time I used this mode. Because of me we're going to lose… Sky thought as her eyes swayed in disappointment at her performance, flying through the stage on her way back to the respawn. We came so far...we risked our careers for our last opportunity to make it to the final. To fight for a trophy…
A reel of highlights replays the events that just happened in her head, showing her mistakes and how she let up on the pressure she was applying to Jin, and to how she went from nearly helping her team win the game to flat-out costing her team the match. As the recap of moments play in her head, she begins to feel hopeless about the result of the match with her defeated expression growing stronger as she watched the audience swoosh away from her, looking around at everyone who'd been supporting her from her Elites teammates to Azule and the others-who'd been cheering all game, so she was able to pinpoint them immediately, and at her parents and older siblings. As she closes her eyes and waits for her time to respawn, she hears the echoes of the demons that haunted her through most of her life. From Saint Henry to the other giants around the world, to even Cameron. Everyone who had ever verbally abused her was popping into her mind with their insults while she was at her lowest.
"They're right...I'm useless. I'm a waste of potential…I'm sorry, my Elites family...I'm sorry, Principal Telfin...I'm sorry, Azule...I'm sorry, Squid Academy. I'm sorry, everyone." Sky said as she swallowed her pride and admitted her defeat.
Don't give up…
A voice in her head said, yet it wasn't her own! She looks around, thinking it was Aaron since he was also respawning. But when she looked around, he wasn't nearby. So then, who was that voice? Now that she gave it a second thought, it sounded feminine yet firm and commanding. Could it be her mother?
Are you going to give up after everything you and your team have worked so hard to accomplish?
"N-no... but. Even after going to my trump card, I still screwed up. I have no clue if we can win at this rate-momentum belongs to the Special Forces."
Don't you dare give up Agent 5! I'm expecting great things from you…
Sky was confused, exactly who was this voice? It wasn't her mother from the way the voice called her by her title than by her name, something Sky knew not even her mother would do; but it wasn't anyone else recognizable. Sky reconsiders what the voice said and closes her eyes again, remembering the feelings of embarrassment, pity, and shame she felt during all the times she was the victim, the times she let her team down, and the moment she failed as a sister. She clenches her fist tightly as tears stream down her face; her expression had pain, sadness, and finally vengeance written in her brows. Her eyes slammed open-wide, glowing a sharp blue like a crystal as she respawns at the house. With tears pouring over her swollen and bloody face, fists clenched, and gritting her teeth, Sky-with a vicious expression, was reborn and ready for battle.
"I...I won't let this end!" she yelled at the top of her lungs as her cry echoes through the house like a canyon, reaching the ears and hearts of everyone in attendance. Chills were sent down the spines of everyone: from Pastelle who was calm the entire time-trusting Sky completely, to Lime and her family, who were all worried sick about Sky's condition. Sky, despite the unbearable pain she felt throughout her body, refused to go down without a fight.
"Run, you say?" she said in an irritated tone, remembering the comments Jin made in his previous assault; a massive force of wind breaks the windows in the house as Sky darts out into the battlefield.
Pastelle smirks as she saw her senior return to the turf, "She's coming…"
Sky moves faster than any inkling could imagine, swimming like a professional as she inks up the side of houses, looking to take the higher ground; Aaron respawns, following behind her from the ground and admiring the return of Sky. Sky runs, skips, and jumps across the roofs-inking turf while doing so. She locates Jin and the others, who were still battling it out for the unclaimed Rainmaker. Sky's crystal blue eyes lock on Jin as she approaches closer to the Rainmaker; Jin and the others feel a sharp presence as their senses raise the alarm flags. Sky was incoming!
Pastelle laughs as she crosses her arms and closes her eyes, "Azule, if you're ever going to become as good as you claimed back on the first day of school, understand that the person who'll be in your way isn't me…"-Sky hops over another roof and slides on the already inked roof-"it isn't Aaron, or neither is it Todd…"-Sky positioned her weapon, leaping off the roof and into the air-"It's your sister, the Queen of Squid Academy."
As if in slow motion with time beginning to stop the closer Sky got to her goal, she took a deep breath as she peaked in flight with her scope aimed at Jin; everyone gasped as Sky did the unthinkable in reaching the apex of her jump with a elegant formation that signified that she ruled the skies with her gun. From the angle of the audience in the seats, Sky looked as though her she finally became one with her name as her body became a silhouette in front of the ceiling lights. Azule was mesmerized by the sight, inspired by his sister's performance, seeing her take a beating just a few moments ago...and now she was going to get revenge! Sky glanced over at Azule and with a smile beginning to show as she saw her little brother's shocked expression, she only had one thing on her mind.
You better catch up to me, little brother...
The glow in her eye intensified as she lined up her scope accurately with Jin's head and the Rainmaker-a force of winds gust around her as her killer instinct emerged, "Gotcha!" she said in a cold tone similar to that of a predator about to attack their prey, pulling the trigger and releasing the ink. The shot came out loud and thunderous like a cannon with the marker on Jin's head, but Jin dodged the close shot by the skin of his cheek, getting a cut on his face from how sharply Sky aimed. But what Jin had forgotten about was that there was another target in the area...the Rainmaker. As Jin avoided the shot, the Rainmaker took the full blow. And since the Rainmaker barrier had been absorbing all the previous shots, it was ready to explode. But with Sky's piercing shot, it bursts as purple ink flew everywhere and splatted all of the Special Forces.
Stunned expressions filled the arena as Sky just did the unthinkable...getting a team splat on Special Forces. Squidcom, the Elites, the Agents, and fans alike were all shocked and speechless with many having their mouths dropped. As Sky landed on the ground-her feet creating a crater as she landed-she pointed a fist at the Rainmaker and screamed to her teammates, "Let's Go!"-swiftly swimming and claiming the Rainmaker. Aaron, Austin and Pearl all understood at that moment just what was about to happen: They had the opportunity to grab the win while the Special Forces respawn!
Once the fans realized the possibility of the major upset, the incredible move Sky just pulled, and the way Jin had been acting, the stunned silence soon became the rallying cry for the Elites to end the match and go to the finals. Sky went back into Midnight mode, her eyes illuminated with blue fire as she darted in the ink; with each yard gained, they were getting closer to recapturing the lead. Jin and the other Special Forces members were reeling from Sky's attack. Not only did they get hit by Sky at her best, it was clear that Sky put everything ranging from all of her frustration to all of her hopes into that one shot; that blast hurt more than a usual direct hit.
"I'm not done yet…" Jin said under his breath as he sprinted out of the spawn house and into the gold ink, followed by his juniors.
The Elites were gaining momentum as they were right about to recapture the lead and regain control of the match! Soon, the Elites and every single Squid Academy student could celebrate a finals appearance in a match where their team looked to be the strongest they ever were. From Alumni to present students, everyone pinned their hopes of the Elites to deliver on the 7-year drought the school suffered after only winning once in the school's history. But as they arrived at the tie with the Special Forces score, Jin and his team returned with heavy intention to drag this match on until the very end and this was starting with the splatting of the reborn Midnight Sky. But they were denied! As Jin and 18 led the way for the defensive rally, Aaron and Austin swiftly darted in front of Sky and absorbed the damage with their heavy resistance to sub weapons and returned fire, splatting Jin and 18. Pearl handled Kary and 12 with a single strike, splatting them both together after they had lined up to take down Sky.
The audience was in a frenzy by the amazing change in the Elites, and for the first time ever, the Elites were playing as a team with the same mindset and operating as a single unit; their goal was just a knockout away, and just another match away. As the Special Forces are splatted again by the momentum-gaining Elites, Azule feels his entire world changing with every second he continued to watch his sister as she marched forward. In his heart he felt nothing but genuine happiness to see his sister continue to strive to victory and success, but in his mind, he was still stunned to see his own flesh and blood, the one who practically raised him while they were children show such a fierce side.
"They recaptured the lead!" Cannola yelled with a fist in the air. "Win this for us!" she added.
Sky smirked as her mind hit turbulence while in the ink, the recoil from being in Midnight mode were already having a devastating effect on her body. But she wouldn't stop her smile, instead embracing the pain and trekking forward into the uncharted territory of the Special Forces. "I won't be satisfied with a close win…"-she said as she powered through the pain, gaining speed-"After everything I've gone through in this match, in this tournament, in my career, in my life!"-the goal is in front of her and waiting; the Special Forces return from spawn yet again and are on their way to guard the goal from Sky and the Elites-"I'll only accept…"-she makes another monstrous leap, but this time towards the Rainmaker goal with the Rainmaker charged and ready to fire one last attack; Jin and the other Special Forces cover the ink in gold and prepare to defend while Kary charges up her shot to splat Sky in midair-"KNOCKOUT!" she screamed as she fired the Rainmaker at the the Special Forces with the shot settling right in the middle of all of them; Kary fires her shot at Sky, but it's futile as Sky swayed her body just enough to avoid the direct hit.
Purple ink drowns out the gold ink and splatters everywhere as another team splat occurs, but this time from the Rainmaker. Sky hops on top of the goal and with a rush of emotions overcoming her, a myriad of the memories she collected up to this point returning to her, she slams the Rainmaker on the goal with hulk-like force, sending a thick gust of wind in all four directions as purple ink flies everywhere.
The whistle blows immediately after, and the match is finally over. Somehow, the Elites just not only defeated the Special Forces...but got a Knockout while doing so. The cheers are deafening as the audience gives a standing ovation to the winners of the match, the Elites of Squid Academy. Pastelle nearly sheds a tear by the inspiring performance, Azule was pumped up as he cheered. Shiva couldn't contain her smile after learning from her teammates that Sky and the Elites advanced to the finals; now it was up to Shiva and the Octolings to hold their end of the deal and get back to the finals as well. Gin shook his head in disappointment at the result, expecting better from his brother-but smirking with greed since he now knew the title was as good as his! Siot was in a thinking pose as he reviewed the qualities Sky had as a competitor, giving his respects and taking out his phone to contact his teammates and tell them to watch the finals. Sally, and Violet were out of their seats and giving an applause for Sky's magnificent rally; Reice didn't seem too surprised by the performance but gave a nod of respect. The Elites in the stands were celebrating wildly, bringing plenty of attention to themselves as they made as much noise as possible, trying to get their teammate's attention.
Saint Henry smirked as he put his hands behind his back, "So she seems to have grown...impressive resistance...astonishing tenacity when on the attack...she'll make an excellent tool in wars to come!"
Cap'n Cuttlefish felt his blood ran cold after hearing the PM's comments, "W-what do you mean, 'wars to come' exactly? We just recovered from a devastating Great Turf War not too long ago. Outside of the metropolitan areas of Inkland, many places are still in ruins and shambles...many people left homeless or forced to seek refuge in poor living conditions. And you want another war!?" He said with rage, gripping his bamboo cane with a darkened face.
"Calm down…" he said while gesturing his hand, "I'm only thinking of the worst-case scenario. You know very well that the other powerhouse nations are hungry to take control of this continent. That war against the Octarians did nothing more than abuse our power and force them to either assimilate to our culture, or die out underground like the worms they are. We played the biggest role in the war since our precious Agent 3 was the one who started the war when she killed that Octoling boy on her recon mission." he said with one eye open condescendingly.
Cap'n Cuttlefish looked ready to explode, "The war started from the increasing tension between our troops and their people. The way our racist troops behaved towards them was the reason that they wanted to revolt and fight for their own land. Agent 3 killed that child on accident, and don't you ever dare think for a second that this world would be the same if Agent 3 hadn't stopped the war after the amounts of bloodshed that occurred. We lost too many important comrades! If she didn't stop the war, who knows how many more deaths we would see."
"I see you're passionate about your Agents...you really should learn to let the past go."
"It's war-hungry bastards like you that make me sick. All you and the government care about is conquest, and your own selfish desires. The government has never thought about the people and their safety. The state of this country is so bad that our people have to be sidetracked by pop culture and sports to not panic and realize the deterioration that's taking place as we speak." Cap'n Cuttlefish yelled; Saint Henry was beginning to get irritated.
"I suggest you not speak anymore on the matter Cap'n Cuttlefish...I'd hate for the Agents to lose their leader after he's lived for so long…"
Cap'n Cuttlefish silence unreluctantly, cursing under his breath as he returned his attention to the turf. After a match filled with much excitement, an intermission was given yet again to prepare for how the next match would be conditioned-under Saint Henry's orders of course-for Beacon Hills and Octo Valley.
