Test Failed...never have a pair of words filled me with despair the way they do every single time I hear and see them uttered. Oho! a discussion between the Squid Sisters and Off the Hook? Don't mind if I do! While I love the nostalgia brought with the Squid Sisters, Off the Hook just have way too many bangers to not be crowned the better duo (I'm the kind of guy who is a sucker for idols and groups too, but I love EDM and Rap and Off the Hook fits that image of what I like in music, especially from a video game about Squids and Octos shooting ink at each other in a post apocalyptic setting.) with songs like Ebb and Flow, Color Pulse, Muck Warfare, Shark Bytes, and of course NASTY MAJESTY! Seriously, Nasty Majesty is straight up as hype as Last Surprise from Persona 5.


A clash of flames erupts in an energetic dance between the two blades as their users synchronize their hits on each other, both sides timing their slashes at the exact moment to create addition sparks. Simone had been overwhelming Teitsu with her sheer power, but Teitsu's combat experience he picked up over the years in Simone's absence were proving to be quite useful as he kept himself in the fight, though barely. Teitsu used his seishun powa strategically by setting up barriers and spears and sending them to Simone in hopes to slow her down, but the mighty Simone just overpowered them with her swift strikes alone, dancing around the solid barriers of energy with her death stare still piercing at Teitsu.

Teitsu grits his teeth with awareness that he was only slowing down the inevitable, but even then, he still had something to fight for. Watching his deceased brother's wife charge towards him with murder in her eyes, he saw the image of his deceased wife in his lunging figure as she leapt into the air with her sword ready to strike like she did in their spar many years prior. Watching in slow motion, Teitsu's world turned to sepia as he saw his life flash before his eyes, seeing the golden days return to him. The time with his wife struck him the hardest. When he watched Simone, he saw his wife from when they first sparred together at an invitational event meant to be a spectacle for the common folks who treated the samurai like professional athletes. Long midnight blue hair, shining orange eyes, and a piercing war cry as she lunged at him. Teitsu easily blocked Simone's attack with one arm on his blade just like he did when he battled his wife, redirecting Simone's momentum and sending her behind him-not even looking in her direction while doing so. Simone catches herself and manages to control her feet, her heels screeching as her sword drags through the floor. Looking up she saw it. For just a slight second, Teitsu looked just like his brother as his shadow took flight, his sword ready to pierce Simone. Simone doesn't waver and meets his blade with hers. Lighting up the sky again, they destroy all the lights in the arena and send the entire place into a blackout with all glass screens shattering under the sheer force of power that escaped from their clash! Flames illuminate the night sky once again, but this time it resembled aurora borealis from certain angles as the duo go at it, their swords singing powerfully as the metals clash and send additional sparks.

"Sayaka…" Teitsu uttered as he caught his breath for a moment before gripping his blade and returning to fight an awaiting Simone who knew not to get hasty in how she approached the changed man.

Sayaka was the name of Teitsu's deceased wife who died during Saya's birth, bringing her youngest and only daughter into the world at a costly price. That day forever haunted Teitsu, who lost sight of what to protect and became the man that he was today. As he fought against Saya deep in the void of darkness, the light that'd once vanished from his sights many years ago had been lent to him yet again. If anything, this was Teitsu's last chance to make peace with the life he was living. Swiftly darting through, Teitsu shouts and throws his sword at Simone, going the other way; Simone knows what Teitsu is up to and kicks the sword upward to send it in a vertical position before doing a volley kick and sending it back at Teitsu, but Teitsu catches the sword and does a powerful diagonal slash from the upper right going downwards to the bottom left; Simone dodges, but not scot free. Her attire took a massive blow and had a huge rip across the torso. Drops of sweat come down her face as she breathed a little heavier than before; this fight was going on longer than she'd imagine. Although she was a gifted warrior with the incredible healing abilities, indeed she was rusty but not rusty in the sense of her skills-but her conditioning. This was the most physical activity she'd done since the war many years ago, her body wasn't quite at peak performance like she was in her prime.

"What's wrong, Simone? Are you figuring out the truth yet!?" Teitsu yelled as his blade missed yet again with Simone easily dodging his strikes in the dark; both had sharp glints that glowed in the dark as they continued at the other.

"Shut your damn mouth!" she responded, overpowering him again and sending him a few feet back with her force; he didn't falter in his attack and kept up his persistence. Hearing her respond that way told him for sure that Simone was finally showing some weakness, the flaw that had made her inferior to her husband.

While Simone stood tall as one of the strongest, her core flaw was that she always entertained conversation in battle and usually fed into the baited words of her opponent. Although she'd win her battles easily, when she came up against opponents like Teitsu who possessed similar feats of strength and technique while also having an obnoxious mouth, she struggled. It didn't help that her body was out of shape. Although she still had top notch reflexes and speed, it was clear that this wasn't the same breakneck speed Simone who raised a sword in battle before she got married, nor was it the ridiculously powerful Simone who fought in the war as a mother to a young boy. Relying on her keen sense of hearing, Simone kept her eyes as a distraction and looked forward blindly into the dark, monitoring her breathing carefully.

This is annoying... she thought as Teitsu prolonged the battle. She understood what Teitsu was trying to do when he mentioned Sayaka earlier. She knew that he still hadn't moved on from her death, mourning her still to this day. He had carried the burden of raising those children on his own without a mother to give them the tender care they deserved. Normally she would've felt pity for him, but that wouldn't...no, couldn't fly. Because of his selfish pride and insecurity, Teitsu costed Simone her husband's life and many lost years of never getting to be with her son and raise him with the love he deserved from his mother. Remembering these thoughts, Simone only had a few words left on her chest.

"You mourn Sayaka-chan's death, but neglect your brother's death-he who died at your hand…"

Simone powers up her weapon with a green aura surrounding the sword, her white and blue hair begin to flutter under the powerful force of wind being caused. Teitsu wasn't holding back as he-too gripped his sword, but with both hands and sent out a fiery red flame from his sword, approaching Simone with the same intentions he had during those years ago when he killed his brother.

"Sayaka died bringing life into this world, a cruel fate indeed. But, tell me-what good came from taking my Arosuke away from us? Robbing my son of a father and myself of my dear husband, surely you jest if you believe I'll feel sorry for you."

Teitsu's eyes sharpen as he came closer, his red about to clash with her green. Giving out a final war cry, Teitsu screamed Sayaka's name to the heavens as he shot at Simone like a bullet, hoping to awaken his wife once more and have her watch over him. Simone shook her head in disgust as she saw the red fire closing in on her.

"I would kill you in the most merciless of ways, tying you to a chair and slowly burn the area around you, or perhaps I'd tear your skin off while you're still conscious…"-Simone's eyebrows tremble furiously as the veins in her hand show, gripping the sword tightly as she readied herself in a stance- "Maybe I'd just drown you. Nonetheless, I won't follow through with my sins of staining my hands with your blood. Why? Because…"

Simone does a heavy swing upwards, creating a huge barrier. Teitsu's face crashes into the sudden barrier set up, his body floating in the air for what seemed like forever as his teeth either flew out or buried in his gums in slow motion. Simone dropped the barrier, her eyes turning red like Arosuke's as she brought her hands down. Slamming the hilt on the back of Teitsu's head, she didn't let it end there, kneeing him straight in the face as his body fell to the floor-breaking his nose and cracking his skull with the powerful knee and sending his far into the wall. Though there were no longer any lights on and most of the people had evacuated from the decaying arena, Simone stabbed her sword in the ground and looked up at the moon that illuminated the darkness around her that'd been hidden behind the clouds of her past. Finally, she got her vengeance.

"Arosuke wouldn't have wanted you dead. Sayaka wouldn't want her kids without a father in their life. So, for the sake of both of my family loved ones, I will spare your life." she said as she looked at the damaged ground before her; her face was drenched in sweat, her body was worn down and burning with tightness in her legs. Simone had used all of the old strength she had to put down Teitsu. Resting on her arms to hold her up, she sits up and looks at the moon, smiling with closure. She accomplished the mission. The Tokugawa reign of Teitsu was officially over.

After the last battle concluded, the Kotari alliance closed in and quickly surrounded Teitsu with many of them restraining the unconscious man with caution that he could wake up at any moment-he was a Tokugawa after all. Moriko, Yasuo, and Lori all arrived with their numbers, joined by Isabella who now lead the Zukuri alliance. Informing the exhausted Simone of the complete defeat of the Tokugawa selection, they also informed her of other details. The arena was evacuated with the casualties only being fellow samurai and ninja that were fighting, as well as confirmation of Cobalt's whereabouts. Laying on her back, she gave a smile as she heard her son's name be called. She hadn't even seen his face in forever, how would he welcome her? Closing her eyes, she fell asleep out of fatigue. With this, the battle at Osuma arena came to an end with the destruction of Teitsu Tokugawa's reign, and a huge blow to the power in the underground world. For the next couple of days, the media across the continent is dominated by the news of what occured in Osuma, with many headlines showing the picture of Cobalt holding a sword with the title "Family War" on the cover of the print. Though the television feed cut off around the time of the evacuation, there was plenty of witnesses who recalled the event well. With the mainland eating up the coverage like hot cakes, those involved were recuperating from the stressful battle. In the Tokugawa estate, a massive overhaul came of those living in the quarters. Anyone who showed allegiance to the previous leader-Teitsu were going to be thrown out of the household and left to fend for themselves per Simone's orders. But luckily, nobody in the Tokugawa family liked Teitsu and elected to be loyal to the new leader of the Tokugawa family, Simone. While the household of the family domain was in a state of infrastructure rebuilding process, the previous Tokugawa family of Teitsu and his children were arrested as enemies to the household who'd undergo trial by the family and decide their punishment as well as select a new order of members of the family that'd serve as executives. All of this had to be taken care as soon as Cobalt was ready, for he played a crucial role in the family's future.

Three days after the attack at Osuma that saw the end of Teitsu's reign, Tangie wakes up in a traditional Ikayuman room-wrapped in bandages and wearing a fresh set of clothes. Sitting forward, she looks to her right and saw Cobalt holding her hand while also asleep with his head buried in his knees. Looking at him, Tangie felt her heart melt and immediately gave a soft smile when she connected the dots. In her mind, he probably stayed up the entire night and didn't let her go, crying in his sleep with frustration based on how he was covering his face with shame. Seeing her sleeping samurai, she looked around the room before looking back at Cobalt. She looked over at where her arm used to be, and the light left her eyes as she forced another smile. She made a sacrifice. She was willing to give up an arm if it meant being with the person she loved. Love has a price, and she paid hers. Wrapped in what looked like a huge amount of gauze, her arm had no traces of blood appearing, but she knew quite well that the clog probably saved her life, though she saw this weird teal glow that blinks occasionally; she figured it was probably all in her head and she was still heavily fatigued. Missing her right arm meant she'd have to learn how to do everything in life from scratch with her left arm, most of the basic functions requiring her hands and arms would now become difficult.

"It was worth it…" she said under her breath with a tearful smile, knowing she made a sacrifice that forever altered the way she'll live. Bringing her legs up, she hid her quivering lips on her knees and looked at the floor below her-weeping her tears with remembrance that her life was forever changed.

Around the same time in another room in the same building where Tangie was resting, laid a slumbering Azule. With plenty of bandages wrapped around him as well, the young captain's face had a band aid on the cut under his eye. As his head twitched for a moment, he woke up, quietly sitting forward to see his surroundings as he came to his senses. Holding up his hands and looking at the many sleeping people around him, he knew he still had his memory. In the room with him were none other than his comrades of Squidcom, who chose to stay by his side. With some of them sitting against the wall and other sleeping nearby Azule, he couldn't help but feel thankful to have these people in his life. From the sleeping Violet who had a sleeping Fuchsia on her shoulder to his left to Jory sleeping in a fetus position at his feet, Kosami sleeping across from him on the wall, and to his right were Reice and Sally sleeping against the wall as well. Sally caught his eye for a moment as he noticed the item she was guarding in her sleep, his trademark hat. Feeling his forehead, he could feel the hidden scar of his gunshot wound from last year and feeling under his eye, he felt the band aid protecting the fresh scar. With a heavy sigh, Azule listens to the peaceful white noise from outside. Leaving the sounds to his imagination, he already pictures a peaceful image of bright, cloudless day with a lively blue sky accompanied by a breeze from the nearby sea that gave a salty yet pleasing air and taste.

In the garden of the huge estate sat an exhausted Simone Tokugawa dressed in her traditional Ikayuman clothing, her hair done up in a tie with some makeup. Surrounded by her comrades from the alliance, today was the first real day to begin a new era. The conversation was focused on how to incorporate certain ideas and philosophies into the rebuilding structure of the Tokugawa. Starting off with the failures of Teitsu, they sought the answer to why Teitsu's empire failed and led to this moment. Moriko proposed the reason was because after the death of Arosuke and his assumption of the news role, he simply was ready to lead an underworld. Teitsu was unprofessional, petty, and blinded by his feeble desires to lead. He wasn't a visionary who could see the path covered in the mud. Yasuo advised that the changes needed to be made to the Tokugawa structure should be monumental to send a message of unity, that the family was willing to make progressive changes in the same way as the late Arosuke. Lori proposed something that caught everyone's eye, however.

"If we're really seeking to avoid another mess like Teitsu, then we should abandon the selection entirely. The point of that competition was more to serve as a terrible tradition that led to division. Arosuke's death is a case in point. To avoid a future where something similar may occur, we should end it. As for how to rebuild the broken legacy of the Tokugawa, we need to switch it up. Though most of the Tokugawa household still hold loyalty to the family name, it was evident that the corruption of Teitsu left a blemish on many of them."

Simone crosses her arms, "To get to the point, you're suggesting that instead of following the usual suit by electing executives from the Tokugawa family, I should elect you all to become the new executives for the sake of the future. By diversifying the Tokugawa power in the hands of many reputable allies, it'll show a sense of unity in a broken community and hopefully heal the wounds carved by Teitsu. Am I correct?"

Everyone slowly nods, surprised that she already saw ahead to this plan. Lori smirked confidently knowing that Simone was going to fix the mess started by Teitsu because of her connection to Arosuke. As the widow, she had one final duty to take care of: lead the people in her late husband's stead. Even though she had been asleep for years, she still retained the class of what a true leader should be from the years she spent at her husband's side when he was in charge. If anyone had a vision that could reverse the ravages by their predecessor, it'd be the healing samurai Simone Tokugawa.

"Well, I'm all for appointing you guys. The executives will be exactly the five of us sitting here. Lori, Moriko, Yasuo, and Isabella. As for the head of the family, I want my son in charge."

Moriko's left eyebrow raised as she made a confused face, "Your son? You mean, Ao-kun?"

"Who else could she mean?" Lori smirked, knowing where Simone was heading.

"A young leader…" Isabella said under her breath before giving a chuckle, "I'm not sure why, but I think Zukuri Iono would be quite satisfied to see that boy take the lead."

Yasuo was a bit perturbed, "Why do you want your son in charge, may I ask? Is that not an overwhelming task for a child?"

"Don't you think it's about time our traditions get with the times? Samurai? Ninja? The entire underworld as we know it. All of it could use an attitude adjustment. The fact that this family runs more of the community than the actual shogunate is a clear sign that things need to change. Think about it, do you think the Shikagumi will get involved in our matters? The Shogunate?"

They kept silent...

"What you're implying is that by placing the young Tokugawa in the position of leadership, it'll incur change?"

"Having a young one run this world is a testament to change in and of itself. When Arosuke took over as the head, he was the youngest ever to do so. It comes as no shock that he is hailed to be the greatest Tokugawa head in the dynasty. I believe that my son will surpass his father and accomplish the goals that Arosuke wanted to but couldn't because of the wa-"

A heavily bandaged Tangie emerges from her sleeping quarters, blocking the sun from her eyes, she limps over to where the adults are conversing. With the little strength she had, Tangie worked her way over-sweating heavily at the strain it took; the five adults were stunned to see her up and moving already, but members of their clans rushed over to help the weakened girl with Aloe coming over to catch her just in time. Assuring Aloe that she was fine, Tangie made her slow walk over to the adults with her eyes locked on Simone, who kept a keen eye on the limping Tangie. The other four adults stood up and bowed with respect to Tangie for all her efforts, living up to her proud Citra heritage.

"The citrus warrior has awakened, I see." Simone said with a smile as she patted Tangie n the head.

"You healed me, didn't you?" Tangie asked with downcast eyes, holding the nub where her arm used to be, showing the teal glow.

Simone nodded, "Mhm. It was the following day that I visited your room and did what I could. I stopped the bleeding and used some magic to ease any pain you might feel, but…" Looking over to Tangie's missing right arm, the rest was clear.

"I'm not getting that arm back…"

"Unfortunately, I'm not in my prime any longer. One time I was capable of attaching missing limbs, but since I've been out for so long... I'm rusty."

"I...no, it's fine. I appreciate what you've done so far…" Tangie bows.

Taking a seat with the adults in the garden, Tangie listened in to their plans and soaked in as much wisdom as possible as she listened to the politics. Learning about Simone's plan to have Cobalt become the successor, she kept quiet and collected her thoughts. If Simone wanted Cobalt to stay with her, and Tangie wanted to be with Cobalt, did this mean she'd possibly leave Squidcom? She pondered on the idea, thinking about the initial plan to bring him back home-that's clearly out the question now. Could she go home empty handed? Could she bare to leave her friends behind? All these heavy questions with weighty two-way answers were on her plate as she stared into ground below her, eyes looking over to her side at the trimmed grass. What seems like forever for her as the world around her slowly blurred into an unidentifiable background, her body kept still as she focused on the grass. That is until someone's name is called that brings her back to her senses.

"Ah, Ao-kun…" someone murmured, loud enough for Tangie to hear.

Looking back like a lost puppy, she found him; likewise, everyone turned their attention to the young samurai. With fatigue in his eyes and dread in his body, Cobalt wasn't in any condition to be up and about as well, and yet he was. Waking up to see Tangie wasn't by his side, he came out and saw her sitting beside his mother, another person who he had been wishing to speak with again. Though he wanted to hug her like a child would after seeing their mother for the first time in ages, the fatigue in his eyes wasn't just from the exhausting experience in the selection, but also from the current condition of his people; he was ready to get to work and had the slightest of care for any reunion. Everyone sitting together understood his expression and knew what he was thinking. Coming over to sit beside Tangie and his mother, Cobalt bowed respectfully. The others greeted him and quickly brought him up to date on their plans, which required Cobalt's compliance. After some odd hours passed by, there was an agreement made by all parties to continue with the plan. Cobalt and Tangie gave a respectful bow and excused themselves, wanting to talk things over alone. While midday came, Squidcom became mobile as their captain led the team around the estate. After receiving word that Cobalt and Tangie were alone and preferred to not be disturbed, the team decided that the best thing to do was stay back and interact with the Tokugawa family and alliance. For the entire day, everyone went about their business doing something other than laying around. Reice and Azule spent their time talking with Yasuo, Satoshi, and many of the other grown up men that were all sitting together in a tent sharing stories of their past. Kosami and Jory spent their time exploring the estate and appreciating the cultural difference of Ikayuma, while Fuchsia and Violet were inside helping some of the family members of the Tokugawa prepare for the feast happening later that night. Sally sat over in the garden with an elder shamisen player, listening to the soothing melody the player gave as they lost awareness of their reality.

A few hours later, the family feast was held with all members of the Tokugawa family, the Kotari and Zukuri alliance, and Squidcom. Everyone sat together in a massive hall with everyone exchanging conversations with one another with expressions of delight as their chopsticks play against the bowl. Squidcom sat together at the same table as Simone, Cobalt, and Tangie, but were too far away since the executives were sitting nearer. Throughout the feast, the members of Squidcom exchanged glances at one another as the observed the couple, feeling a sort of discomfort in the lack of inclusion from Cobalt and Tangie. Though this didn't concern most of the team, who felt as though this was just because of the situation at hand, Azule and Sally were concerned, fearing that the reason the couple hadn't tried to make a conversation with them was because bad news would be involved. Little did they know, they were correct. The next morning, the howling breeze rustles the resting trees inside and outside of the estate and sends leaves dancing in the wind as a crowd stood outside the gateway of the Tokugawa estate. Much like the falling action of a film, the period after the major battle became nothing but a blur for the participating parties who'd spent the brief time recovering from battle. The clans part of the Kotari alliance and Zukuri alliance, the newly appointed executives who were the leaders of those respected clans, as well as the widow Simone Tokugawa all stood together at the entrance saying goodbye to Squidcom, who had to get back home for their classes. At the front of the large crowd were none other than a smiling Tangie and Cobalt who had a new fate to follow. On the other side were a Squidcom team about to make their departure.

"It's true after all…" Sally said under her breath as she stood near a disheartened Azule who'd just been given the news by his fellow teammates in Cobalt and Tangie that they wouldn't be joining them back home.

"My apologies, but I have a new mission now. I have to rebuild what was lost and create a progressive era that can lead to success far down the road. Can you forgive me for everything that has transpired thus far?" Cobalt said with water filling his eyes as he watched his bruised and scratched teary eyed captain wipe his face.

"Plenty has happened in such short notice that I couldn't help it…" he responded with a shaken chuckle, "But there's no need to ask for forgiveness. We came here to bring you back, but if this is your calling, then who are we to stop you?"

Tangie's arm wrapped around Cobalt and she bit her lip holding back her tears as she looked at her team. She wasn't coming back. Squidcom knew this from the moment they saw her that morning when she kept by Cobalt's side. The fact that she was struggling to hold back her feelings was apparent as she soon looked down with feelings of guilt for having to abandon her beloved friends for the sake of love.

Azule looks over to a fidgeting Tangie and flashes a bright smile, "Don't worry, Tangie. What matters is that you're back with Cobalt."

Tangie nodded, "Thank you, Azule. Thank you, everyone. It's been a pleasure in making the memories that we did as Squidcom."

Though she was fighting back tears while saying so, she held her fist up with pride and gave her fellow team members a smile before receiving two sudden hugs from three members that felt like sisters to her: Sally, Violet, and Fuchsia. As all of them embraced their citrus teammate for what seemed like the last time, they all declared that they'd never forget her and would do their best to make new memories to share with her, wiping away her tears for her as she broke down. This young team had been through quite a lot and separating any of the core members felt like a strike to the heart. Azule has a saddened smile as he watched the girls comfort one another, and out the corner of his eye stood Cobalt looking at him with the same tearful stare that Tangie had. Before another word could be said between the two, Azule rushed over and gave Cobalt a hug.

"Take care, brother." Azule said shakenly as he wrapped his arms around Cobalt, closing his eyes to hold himself back from crying; Cobalt couldn't speak, choked up.

"This won't be the last time." Cobalt forced out, trying to stay manly, but his huffing body told the story; the longer he saw Squidcom, the harder it'd be for him to keep his composure.

With a final embrace of a group hug by all the members of Squidcom, the paths diverged at the fork with Squidcom taking the path to the left, and Cobalt and Tangie taking the one on the right. Hopefully they could meet again someday. Walking off into the distance, Squidcom take one last look at the crowd behind them before setting their sights forward. A new chapter was about to begin in their lives as they moved away from the turmoil of the selection. Now, the next major point-the next hurdle on their road to success was none other than the second rank wars.