The fated day arrives for Squidcom and fellow competitors of the Spring Invitationals with their entrance into the Rellan. A land with the width of an amusement park, the Rellan is a gigantic all purpose complex that houses a park, campground, museum, arena, and racetrack all on the same property. Colorful flags and logos of the 16 participating teams decorate the arena where each team is gathered for the opening ceremony, the site where the final is to be held. An event televised live for the entire country to witness, all the seats at the massive area are packed to the very top, the indoor atmosphere reaching deafening levels as fans and students from each school scream and shout with pride for the teams down below on the hardwood floor. It's a mesmerizing sight to behold as schools from all over the country are gathered to represent their area and achieve greatness by lifting the shield as the prize, and for Squidcom, it's a little overwhelming. The roof seems endless, there's thousands of seats occupied by strangers who'll be rooting against them throughout the competition; in a way, it seemed reminiscent of Goby Arena except more energetic since the crowds in attendance aren't all Squid Academy students fighting among themselves-the scent of bad blood apparent from the glares received by some of the competitors and their supporters. Prior to lining up at the center of the arena, teams had to walk through several corridors to get there and along the way were they reminded of the elite position they're in. Memorabilia and relics of the past hang from the walls and are secured in huge glass cabinets for display, with a picture of every single winner each year taken and lined up chronologically. It was there that Squidcom got to see their predecessors that made it here: the Golden Age Squid Academy team who were past winners several years ago, and even the Elites, who made it to the quarterfinals and semifinals in their pair of appearances.

The opening ceremony began with each team lining up in a row as their school song plays followed by their team introduction to a roaring crowd of their supporters. As Squidcom's game gets called, the adoring screams of their names and cheering of good luck sends chills down the spines of the four dressed in Blue and Pink, telling them that this was the stage before immortality known as Nationals; this journey involved more than just them- hundreds of people there were counting on them and so were the thousands watching at home, that somewhere were sat Sally and their families watching proudly. The game modes and formatting of the rules are explained to the teams by the committee representative afterwards. A different rotation of maps and modes would occur for every round of the event and teams would perform in double headers for the first pair of days of the round of 16 in their respective brackets, afterwards it would become a schedule of all the teams playing on the third day which is the quarterfinals. A best of 5 series in each round, teams would play on multiple maps of the Rellan complex. After concluding the rules and regulations of the invitational, the scheduled matches are unveiled for the teams. For opening day, the matches happening are a pair of double headers that take place at different times of the day. The first double header kicking off in the late-morning is Squid Academy versus Green Lakes followed by Beacon Hills and the Solastine Twilight at noontime start. The second double header of the day starting in the evening is the Special Forces taking on Keystone Golems followed by the main event of Yermozani and Squidops starting at prime time where coverage for the event should be at its peak for the broadcast. The second day of the Invitationals followed this same pattern with the Kalebrough Inkstinct taking the prime time slot. The schools and their fans reacted to the schedule with some enthusiasm and nervousness, but overall everyone is antsy to get outside and get seats for the first game of Squidcom and Green Lakes. The first game of the double header on opening day between Squid Academy's Squidcom and Green Lakes is taking place at Rellan Park, a massive sportsplex popular throughout the country for its high grade basketball courts and indoor courts to their swimming pools and open fields often used for various sports; the second game of the double header was to also take place at Rellan Park, while the later games would be happening at the museum instead. The modes for the entire day are Rainmaker, Splat Zones, and Turf War, but by no means would that be an easy feat since the Rellan park map was big enough to have each section serve as its own map.

Right before they are to make their appearance, each team is given a special waiting room where teams get their own changing room and showers and a lounge to watch from when waiting to go up. At the end of the room sits a platform that will spawn them to the map for battle when ready. A room filled with tension as Jory is putting on his shirt while Violet is scrolling through the catalog searching for the weapon she'll be using, Reice is biting his nails staring at the floor with the noise of Azule polishing his dualies to a squeak being all he can hear. "That crowd was insane. It's all sinking in that we really made it this far. Just a year ago, Sky and the Elites were in a room just like this..." Reice whispers to himself with nervousness, looking at his trembling hands with fear. Since bettering himself in the Rank Wars, Reice tried to carry on the fiery will of Sally in an attempt to keep the team morale on the same level as when they were hitting their stride during the undefeated run with her at the helm, but even now, he couldn't control this amount of pressure mounted on his shoulders.

Azule's hand drops on his shoulders-his other hand still holding a splat dualie, "That just goes to show how worthy we are to follow in their footsteps. Pretty cool, huh?"

There was no sign of nervousness in his tone, no shivers from his body, and most importantly, a calm pair of blue eyes with confident smirk and a raised chin that told Reice and the rest that they'll be getting used to being at this stage since it's only the beginning. Without having to say too much, Azule sucked the anxiety out of the room and had them ignore the different negative thoughts clouding their resolve. It didn't matter if their stomachs were uneasy, that the air is thin, the crowds bigger than before, and a moment of importance that precedes everything they've done up until now in this circuit. He needn't remind them that they've been through worse, fighting against gangs, terrorists and politicians-that they've already experienced bigger losses that what they could ever imagine.

Violet steps forward and approaches Reice, putting her hands over his clasped hands and looking into his frightened eyes with composure-giving a light smile tilting her head a bit, "It's fine to be nervous, but don't doubt yourself. You're our proven Roller." she said with conviction, making him blush when he looked down to see her hands wrapped around his. She looks over to Azule next, "I'll do my best to make it a living hell for our opponents." she then turns to Jory, "I'm counting on you to back up our captain, since he always needs a strong presence with him if he's going all out."

Jory gives a warm smile thankful to see that Violet recognizes him as someone capable of standing beside Azule on the turf. Even though he couldn't replace the talented Sally, more than anything, he wanted to make a contribution to the team for everything they did in taking him in and making him one of their own. "A tempestuous journey awaits us on our road to the final, but we want Nationals!" he said with a fist pump asking them all to bring it in for a group hug right before they leave; the spawn light illuminates designating for the team to finalize their weapon choices and prepare for transport.

At Rellan park, the many bleachers set up around the park to watch this game are all crammed as people predicted where it would be best to watch; for each set, a giant television monitor suspends above to allow them to view the game whenever the teams are out of view. Waves of Squid Academy students and alumni are out in full support wearing the team colors of Squidcom: Pink and Blue. Songs are already sung as Bianca pumps up the section to get on their feet and welcome the team when they spawn. She isn't the only one showing her support for her beloved team, also in attendance are all the teams who competed in the latest rank wars, each of them showing their support by wearing Squidcom's shirts-some begrudgingly like Mhiki and his team, Zaneki and his Rebels, and Mason and his Legion, while others wore the team colors proudly like Pastelle and Kidvel, Aaron and the Elites, as well as Fuchsia and Kosami who're decked out in their team gear the most-unable to hold back their enthusiasm like a parent would watching their child play which amused the Elites and Kidvel. Even a certain reluctant captain of the Sealions wore a Royale jersey hiding his embarrassment behind a tough blush while his teammates poke fun at him. An important sight to be seen for Squidcom who spawn to an ecstatic crowd, just knowing that so many people were out there to show support with some even putting their differences aside made it all the more heartwarming and adds extra motivation.

"Looks like we made it just in time…" Julian says proudly leading the way for his family followed by his son and daughter. "Hey, you're gonna miss your son's big moment if you stand that far back.

Emerging from behind Lime and Verde is Maya, who blushes heavily-conscientious of her appearance as she wears her normal attire for the first time without a disguise, uncomfortable of the many gawking looks she gets from men and women alike. "I promised to be here but couldn't I just come as Luna?"

"Nope. This is our little boy's biggest day yet. For once, stop hiding behind that mask of her and be yourself again."

Maya had no response for that and quickly took her place next to him to watch her son play. The hype grows louder by the second as the countdown to the start is ticking. The match commentators are giving the team introductions and informing the audience with some interesting facts and statistics about the players, schools, and the matchup itself. Squid Academy's Squidcom is coming into the Invitationals as one of the hottest teams in the competition boasting a staggering record of 23 consecutive wins. Though there is some skepticism about how good the team truly is since they never faced a team outside of their own school, the record speaks for itself about the consistency of the team and their caliber as they defeated Kidvel, a team many expected to be in the spot occupied by Squidcom instead. On the other side is Green Lakes, a team known for always making an appearance in the winter and spring competitions. Their unfortunate luck of running into the Big 4 plagues them from having a deep run, but for now the focus is on once again advancing to a possible matchup against a Big 4 team. For Squidcom, their team boasts a promising squad of talent starting with their newcomer member Jory-a sprightly first year octoling with a keen eye on the attack with a matching speed, Reice-the reliable Roller who specializes in assists and finishing off wounded opponents, Violet-the deadeye sniper who recently has proven to become one of the breakout stars on the rise in her ranks, and at last, Azule-the captain who at first started off with a bang becoming the enemy of the school and now holds the hope of that same school in his hands. For Green Lakes, Roman-a fiery second year who has as high an intensity as they come, Benita-a composed third year considered the most composed of the blazing lineup, Michelle- the charger user with a presence of a true sniper, and at last, Archie-the striking captain who plays with an air of justice. One team is looking to have a Cinderella run and shock the masses in their rookie appearance and erase the heartbreaks of their predecessors, the other is looking to end their drought of always losing in against a Big 4 team with their journey starting here. A battle for survival, the start of the first game is nearing.

Green Lakes is dressed in Green, Yellow, and White and sporting Yellow ink today while Squidcom with be wearing Pink and Blue and sporting Pink ink. This specific map of Rellan contains a park with a walking trail that envelopes the entire area and spreads throughout the inside with dozens of paths like a tree with branches, a huge basketball court surrounded by tall gates to the west that had been transformed into a viable setting for battle with platforms and walls, a sandy playground to the east with a volleyball net, A huge swimming pool with a similar layout to mahi-mahi resort's own pool over to the north, and to the south was an open field set up for the turf war.

"Alright everyone we know this park is huge and it doesn't help that we have Rainmaker as the first battle, but this is important to know: this place is four maps combined into one behemoth of turf coverage. Our placement on the map for spawn tells us this. The Rainmaker will be smack dab in the middle of the park at the clubhouse where we can expect it'll be indoors, meaning collateral damage is a high possibility. We'll take a linear path to the club house, but make sure to use the trails for added speed when necessary. Their spawn is northwest so their goal must be a little bit further to the north in the pool area based on the map."

"Ours is southwest and our goal to defend is in the heart of the field, but we'll be in luck since the field is filled with a ton of obstacles in the form of a maze that should buy us time to defend properly."

"Right. We'll be sticking together throughout this battle. They're an experienced team so they probably would prefer and isolated battle where they can pick us off or drag out the game-don't let that happen under any circumstances!"

"Also, the advantage goes to higher mobility and range from certain parts of the maps so we should be mindful of trees and buildings. I'll use them to suit me as well."

"Awesome. Reice, Jory, stick to the front-we're doing a smaller T formation with Violet being our outlier. When I get the rainmaker we'll either maintain this formation or switch to the I formation. If it gets hectic, breakaway."

"Got it!"

A new campaign starts now.

Squidcom's initiation into the invitationals starts off with Reice and Jory taking turns building a path for Azule with Violet operating parallel to them on the trails keeping her sight to the east and west with her gun pointed to the north, paranoid about a potential ambush or flank instead of a straightforward battle. Based on the data compilation from Fuchsia and their review, they were sure that the teams of this competition would play much differently from what they could expect since they had plenty of scouting data to operate with. Squidcom makes steady progress taking a linear path to the central clubhouse when a sudden encounter ensues-two Green Lakes players intercepting them. A male and a female, they were carrying dualies each and ensnaring Squidcom in an obvious attempt to stall since there wasn't any advancement or signs of an aggressive attack. A pair of swift green figures blending in well with the environment, Azule shouts an order to disperse Squidcom and disallow any opportunity for Green Lakes to grab multiple splats from collateral damage.

Two dualie users moving with great synergy… Azule analyzed, identifying the pair of inklings avoiding detection from their camouflage. Their captain doesn't use the dualie, they have a charger user, and two versatile enough to switch weapons, so this must be that duo. "We're up against Benita and Roman! This means that their captain and Michelle aren't nearby. They're at the clubhouse looking to grab the Rainmaker-Eliminate these two and proceed ahead!"

"Right!" Violet shouts, understanding that in this scenario she'd only be a liability in a battle against mobility.

Roman gives a frown while hiding behind a tree-impressed with how sharp their captain thought but irritated with the plan already getting exposed so early, "Looks like we're found out. Should we engage? At this rate they'll catch up to the others."

"Archie said to just stall them. Once we have possession we can unleash hell. Only their charger user is leaving so we can leave her to Archie and Michelle."

"But Benny this team is no joke. If we don't do something about them now, we'll regret it later! I can sense it. That captain of theirs is planning something. I know it's early but I'm not letting them get ahead!"

"The game just start-"

Before Benita could finish her sentence, Roman disappears. Instead of continuing their original plan of applying pressure and distracting Squidcom long enough to capture the rainmaker, Roman decided the best move was to meet them head-on in the belief that it was dangerous to let them continue further now that they were aware of their intentions. Roman appears from the cluster of trees to the right of Squidcom, throwing down a suction bomb to give him a brief smokescreen, Jory counters with a Splash wall reading Roman's intentions to splat midst the bomb. Roman shifts right and meets the descending roller of Reice who flattens him.

Violet is proceeding ahead while Azule turns his focus to the lone enemy wise enough to avoid direct combat and draw her out now that her partner made his presence felt. An easy path for Violet to take without any enemies lurking, she arrives at the clubhouse to a surprising sight: The rainmaker barrier is intact That's strange. She thought while slowly entering the building. The point of her scouting was to see if the barrier was gone and catch a glimpse of her opponents, potentially wrestle the rainmaker away from them, but if they hadn't even gone after the rainmaker, then what? Her eyes widen and quickly she throws up her guard with suspicion to her right and straight ahead. Their concealment is plan to lure me she suspected, basing her thought on the evidence that they arrived and set up this front on the anticipation that the stalling would fail. Her clue? The door opposite t of where she entered was also open and still had motion. The air feels...chilly!

A splat bomb from the right side followed by a streak of ink from the left; a flank by the remaining pair from Green Lakes, they ignored capturing the rainmaker in an attempt to splat Violet. Violet swims forward and throws out a point sensor to target them, indeed confirming that it's the remaining two in the building. The cramped indoor setting in this small building didn't help her case, but Violet had enough mobility that she could strike them down.

I had a feeling that team would plan something like this but to think their captain would send out their sniper to scout. Quite a gutsy call! Captain Archie of Green Lakes called as he positioned himself to target Violet, wary of her range and accuracy. However, we won't let you have your way!

Violet's instincts trigger as she feels a sudden chill run past her shoulders, sensing a reticle locked on her from a fellow sniper; Violet knew from her homework that the girl targeting her fiercely in such a small space was none other than Michelle Verrine, a troublesome charger user known as one of the better players in the country-a similar archetype to Sally, her strongest weapon was her speed and adaptability to different environments and weapons in similar classes. Since she chose to use a scope in charger, Violet concluded that Michelle's mission for this game was to solely target her and neutralize her presence in the match. That didn't faze her in the slightest. Archie's eyes widen as Michelle vanishes before his eyes, gone without so much as another word uttered. It was like watching a professional hitman the way Violet silenced her in such a cramped space.

"Too slow…" Violet muttered as her finger releases from the trigger, her gun recoiling as she stabilizes her position-her gaze shifting to a stunned Archie.

So this is the might of Squidcom's Violet. Stone cold as they come, she's a terrifying rookie. The game is just starting and already I can see why they're undefeated through over twenty games… He was marveled to witness such a talent before him, but that soon was replaced by fear as he felt another powerful presence appear from his blindside. It was only for a second, but he felt a terrifying jolt of electricity shooting through his body. This team is going to be a problem...

"Alright everyone, rally to me and control your breathing! We'll end this quickly!" Azule orders with a pump of the Rainmaker, covered in green ink. A return from defeating Roman and Benita, Azule sneaked in and took the rainmaker while Reice and Jory got into position to surround Archie. A trapped man, Archie knew he had nowhere to run...

The optimal goal for Squidcom outlined by Fuchsia was for them to finish the game as soon as possible so that they don't push their bodies too far and risk fatigue. They trained themselves under the best conditions they could, but these were the best teams in the country they'd be facing, so it wouldn't help to let games drag out under normal circumstances-especially in this case. Thus, Squidcom hit the floor running at full speed with each second they push feeling their lungs burn and their limbs tighten, but despite that pain their resolve wouldn't waver. To them, the burning sensation wouldn't hinder, but motivate them to play at their peak. A risky gamble, this is necessary to go far in the Spring Invitationals. The four of them go into a diamond formation in preparation for another attack like the previous with Azule at the front and Violet to the rear with Reice and Jory on the sides; they look to avoid any possible flanking from a Green Lakes counterattack, especially now that they were marching into their turf onward to the pool section of the park where the goal awaits.

"Azule, it's a little too quiet. It's been almost half a minute in the game since we took the Rainmaker and no one's come for us." Reice said with concern noticing that none of the Green Lakes members seemed to be coming after them.

Jory's head shifts from left to right as he clutches his gun, "They're probably waiting for us. An all-out defense…"

"Then we'll pick up the pace and jump them! At this rate, only Roman and possibly Benita should respawn with enough time to set up a plan. Right about now, I expect the other two to join them perhaps."

"It's a big map after all. It'll take a few seconds for them to swim to the goal and set up defense, even if the others super jump to them, we'd see it…"

Azule nods in response to Violet, "We'll stick close and be careful. They have a sniper as well."

Their target area is the pool section, a troublesome layout with plenty of grated areas, bumpers, and slippery paths. They arrive shortly after picking up the pace, keeping tabs on the several pillar-like towers surrounding the path to the goal; by this time, Green Lakes should've had all their members present and prepared to launch a counterattack or bolster their defenses. Either way, Squidcom expects them to make a move regardless. Their hearts race. Palms are sweaty, their heats pulsating in sync with their chest as they nervously intake the thin air. This is the atmosphere of the Spring Invitationals as the pressure mounts with the cheers from the crowd and dozens of cameras panning in reinforcing that this was a game that all eyes were on intently. The map layout works in Green Lake's favor since their spawn is located nearby the goal as well as familiarity with this half of the map where they could use the difficult layout of the map to their advantage of cause mayhem near the goal, assuring that they can defend themselves from a knockout defeat. Azule and Squidcom recognize this upon arriving at the pool area and spotting the several towers that have spaces where someone could mount and place an attack. It was possible there might even be a sentry on the lookout.

"This team of first years are something incredible. They have Sky Royale's little brother in command, a deadly sniper, a speedy octoling, and a fiery roller. Luckily, they lack experience in big games like this. So, we'll use that against them." Archie smirked like one who'd found the weakness of an opponent. "They're used to going up against teams of their caliber, but the best team they've faced is just Kidvel. They haven't gone up against anybody yet. They're green."

"We'll use their inexperience against them." Michelle added.

"Hmph. I don't like the idea of going the slow n steady route but you're the captain…"

"Shall we set up? They'll be here any moment."

"Yes. Remember to defend this point like it's the moment in the match. We have plenty of time to turn this deficit around and step on their toes. Don't hold back on this point!"

"Yes sir!"

All four of them scattered but kept within the area to have a view of the goal. On the opposing side is Squidcom who are at the entrance, suspicious of the menacing aura emanating from the pillars. What lies ahead is a trio of grated floors that lead to a huge open space where the towers surround from all angles along with some glass walls; short afterwards sits the goal. It's quiet as Azule's head jerks from left to right with suspicion of the looming aura, giving signals to his teammates to stick together just before proceeding-warning his team to brace themselves; Reice and Jory double down on their concentration of not going into squid form while Violet's gaze focuses on what lies ahead and up above-if they're being watched overhead from the those towers and whether to avoid range them. Their hearts beat t close to a burst as they traverse the grated paths knowing that any second could mean their demise and critical opening for their opponents, and yet they weren't provoked. It seemed strange that Green Lakes didn't target them when they're wide open on such limited footing-alarming even. What was waiting for them on the other side? As they slowly leave the narrow grated paths and onto rubbery footing surround by glass walls, Squidcom go into the fray-immediately put to the test.

A suction bomb goes behind Violet, to trap them and quickly they're forced to advance. Violet marks two enemies from the towers and shouts with ferocity, lighting a fire under the other three as they heard her reach a tone they never thought possible; she smelled blood. A sprinkler flies out before Reice and Jory-two inklings jumping from the walls at the other end that weren't glass, leaving behind puddles and they land on the floor. It's battle time. Azule spots the goal that lies straight behind them through another linear grated path unguarded. Just like he expected, they were taking the risk of pulling an all-out defense right here.

"Azule! Protect the Rainmaker!" Reice called in an overwhelmed tone as Archie and Roman rushed at him with steeled resolve.

Mayhem ensues as Jory struggles to cover Violet, who finds trouble targeting the sniper and dualie users up above. Their combinations of an autobomb special and pressuring accuracy works to put Violet and Jory in hot water while Reice finds trouble keeping Azule unharmed. Azule does his best to support Reice by targeting the Green Lakes pair, but with loaded strike he fires, they dodge it with ease as Roman using his rolls to his advantage while Archie's speed proves superior.

You're supposed to be a Royale, what's up with that lazy aiming!? Roman thought. His irritation grew with each shot Azule fired, disgusted with Azule's lack of aggression. A glimpse of Midnight Sky rushes through his mind as he's reminded of her presence and the weight of the name she carries. You're supposed to be related to her, right? Fight like it! He shifts his leaning weight from pursuing weight to coming for Azule, off to a running start with his left leg giving him an extra push. He can jam him here since it'll take time before he charges up a strong enough shot. Azule doesn't waver, instead charging up the Rainmaker like usual; Archie's marveled by Azule's composure as Roman rushes at him, but as he catches a glimpse of the shining glint in the young first year's eyes, he found the frightening answer as to why.

"Roman, fall back!" Archie shouts with fear, realizing they could lose the first game because of this moment, spotting the fearless eyes of Azule-a glistening blue light flashing from them.

Don't underestimate him…

The cheers of Squid Academy grow louder as those who knew Squidcom personally smirked with confidence, seeing a scenario they were so used to in the Rank Wars finally play out on a big stage where anyone on the opposite side was about to experience a rude awakening. Todd and his Sealions, Pastelle and her Kidvel, the Elites, and finally, Fuchsia and Kosami, all shared those same words as they anticipated the next move of the Squidcom captain. There's a spark in his blue eyes as his hair flashes a pink glow for a second; Roman's in too deep to feint and avoid a head-on collision. A loaded aim, Roman takes aim at Azule. The skipper dodges, turning the heavy weapon into a weightless prop as he dances around Roman's shots; the feisty Green Lakes player felt his confidence getting shattered by the millisecond with each bob and weave Azule pulls. Almost like a boxer that could sense an open spot to land a solid right uppercut, Azule lowers his stance to one knee and strikes him with the rainmaker to the chest after luring Roman in close enough to catch his guard down and his entire body open for a powerful blow. It felt like the air got sucked out of the battlefield as Azule blasts a shot right through his body, obliterating him and sending his soul back to spawn.

"Holy…" Julian muttered under his breath with astonishment as he brings his hand up to his forehead; Maya gives a smug look as a proud mother holding her head high, her arms crossed as though she expects more to come.

A 3 on 4 battle, the favor goes to Squidcom who now have an easier path to the goal. All seems to be wrapped up for the first game as the energy of Green Lakes nearly decimated after Roman's failure, but it wasn't over just yet. She witnessed his defeat from up high and although she knew he would respond, she couldn't help but feel the pain he must've suffered as he took that shot head on, watching his reeling body collapse into a pool of his own ink with only his clothes left. With all of her might, Michelle unleashes her special in the stingray to get revenge for her fallen ally. An entertaining sight for fans and neutral spectators, the skirmish at the start of the game doesn't hold a candle to this as both sides were showing their cards now. There's a growing faction of fans rooting for the game to continue while most are cheering for Squidcom to capture the first game. Among the frenzied crowd, Squidcom struggles to coordinate through the mayhem as they get trapped by the stingray and onslaught from Archie on the ground and Michelle from above. Too much to overcome and just before they can reach the goal, Squidcom are wiped out altogether.

Delight. Disgust. Disappointment. The faces of the other teams participating in the Spring Invitationals react in various ways to Squidcom's choking, the dangerous risk by Green Lakes, and the glimpse of potential by Azule. To them, this game was more about whether he was capable of living up to the standards of his sister rather than if his team was good enough. To them, Sky was a wasted talent that had the potential to be one of the best on the entire continent-with Azule, they hoped he wouldn't follow suit, but none wanted to be the team that allowed him to awaken into a monster either. Over where the Royales are, they watch with patience as the game plays itself out. Overall, they're confident that Squidcom can close out Green Lakes. Lime's excited to see what Azule and his crew will come up in response to the cheeky move by Green Lakes, Verde's doing a thorough analysis and shouting out what all of them should be doing like some sort of coach, and Maya and Julian are silent with their arms crossed, displaying different emotions as they watch nervously.

"Hey, put away that aura. We're in public!" Julian whispered with a nudge noticing that several people around them were wary of Maya because of her intense presence.

Maya snaps out of it, "S-sorry, force of habit. Watching Azule fighting together with his team brings back memories."

"Yeah-yeah I know you were a monster of a player back in your youth, no need to brag about it." he said taking out a liquor flask and putting it to his lips about to take a drink.

"Still haven't learned after all these years…" she sighed, pulling the liquor flask from his mouth; "Didn't Azule say to stop this? If you couldn't do it for me at least do it for him." she said waving the flask, with an irritated look.

Lime and Verde kept their gazes on the match but held onto every word their mother said, nodding internally in agreement with her statement. Julian pauses and looks at the flask and then to his son playing down below, then shrugs his shoulders. He joked that if they lose the match he'll take Verde with him to the bar for a session of drinking, to which Verde shuddered having remembered last time. Their attention is caught by the sign of the roaring fans who comment on the sudden change in the tempo of the match after Archie and Green Lakes wiped out Squidcom. Green Lakes came roaring back with a fight, but unlike them-Squidcom answered swiftly instead of going on the defensive. Reice and Violet lead the way for the containment plan where once again Roman gets neutralized but this time by Violet. Overall, it became a slugfest with both sides fighting for possession at each turn.

"The beauty of aggression." Zepp commented as he sat beside Virgil and Kappa recalling earlier in the game; "Making an impact early in the game to set the tone is effective in most cases, but I believe Captain Squidcom might have made a grave error in going for broke so early. At this point in time they have the lead, but they're starting to show some signs of fatigue. I'm curious about what I saw back at the pool when Azule had possession...was that the infamous Midnight mode?"

"Looks like it-no glow however so he probably kept it contained and drew out a little of the power. Still impressive that he's doing this in his debut match."

"What's really impressive is the girl on the charger for them."

"This team really is something special." Kippy muttered under her breath with her eyes glued to Azule, engaged in the match completely. "The way this team moves in unison, it's like they can read each other's thoughts and act accordingly. I always had my eyes on him but...that sniper of theirs is also an amazing talent. It's a shame I can't watch their ace play live." Her teammates are surprised by her comment since rarely does she ever show interest in her opponents, and yet there was something about Squidcom that had her enamored. Quickly she finds herself rooting them on, sort of like a fan would her favorite team. Her emotions hang by a thread as she gradually found herself rising from her seat and shouting at the top of her lungs for them to do their best, recognizing that as the game went on that this is the team she wanted to meet in the finals if possible.

What was supposed to be a quick game to get them adjusted to the altitude turned into a nightmare for Squidcom. Even though they had the lead and played with a commanding presence, the fatigue was settling in. High paced in their play, the very thing that Reice feared and that Fuchsia tried to prevent finally became a reality and for Green Lakes it felt like a golden opportunity to step on their throats. Slowly throughout the game they chipped away at Squidcom's lead and kept them at bay by grabbing possession whenever they lost it momentarily. In the off chance that Squidcom did retain the Rainmaker, they were there to wrestle it back and avoid any casualties. A score of 5-32 in Squidcom's favor, the inklings clad in pink and blue made another aggressive push at the cost of their fatigue desperate to end the match before they lost all momentum and put themselves in a hole they might never be able to dig out of. Benita's got the Rainmaker this time and guarding her closely are the other three sticking to an aggressive attack as Squidcom's defenses show some weakness en route to the grassy fields where plenty of walls, towers, and ramps are covering the terrain with the goal there unguarded.

"They're gassed! Now's our chance!" Archie shouts pointing his finger as he catches a glimpse at their lifeless eyes. They came here to make a statement. To end the failures of their predecessors and bring home glory. That's what we all want! You're unbeaten in over twenty games? Who cares! It just means you have a bigger target on your back! That defeated look you all have is the sole reason why you won't last in this competition. At all times, you must be prepared to face adversity and despair at every corner. Every team here is worthy of being a champion! Archie felt confidence in seeing the impending defeat of his opponents, as their bodies moved without life and their melancholy gazes dull as Benita looks to strike them down herself. If they were this weak-willed, they wouldn't last more than three games, at least that's what he thought. But as he watched Azule, he noticed a growing smile on his face as his hair suddenly glowed to a pair of eyes shining brightly. A shift in the air thickens as every captain, ace, and member competing felt the same cold shiver as Archie and Green Lakes did as a fire ignited; Aaron and the other Elites froze in place as for just a split second before his hair glowed its usual color, he had Sky's aura.

A moment later, puddles of green ink occupy the place where they stood-their clothes still there. The barrier is up yet again but this time it instantly pops as Azule grabs it yet again. An emphatic cheer projected from the fans, Squidcom surprised the Green Lakes. A bait set by Squidcom to bring them in closer, they slowed their breathing down to a point they could manage but in return had to make lesser movements to conserve that energy. Combined with the saved specials, they made their pick when it mattered most and succeeded.

Game 1 goes to Squidcom.

At the very last moments of the game, it looked like Azule was about to debut Midnight at the Spring Invitationals in a long awaited appearance but refrained at the very last moment. A hard earned victory, Squidcom's performance alerted the other teams in the competition and especially warned Green Lakes that this series wouldn't be any walk in the park. After a momentary break for the teams to select their weapons, both sides were sent to their new spawn areas for the second game. This time taking place on a restricted map of Rellan Park-only the basketball court to the open field were allowed as usable space for the Splat Zone battle with the space in between the two landmarks serving as the important solo zone. It was a game of a different air in comparison to the previous. Instead of an even battle between two competitive teams with high aspirations, it looked like a thrashing spurred from Squidcom tasting the blood of Green Lakes in the first game. They played with tenacity-their lungs burning the more they exerted energy, but that didn't matter to Azule and his team because they knew that if they made it past this round, their next opponents would be merciless against them, therefore they had no reason to show mercy either. A game personified by the birth of Squidcom's killer instinct, Green Lakes had no chance of recovery as they got shut out in the second game via knockout.

"They're burning themselves out. That ragged breathing is a clear indicator. As a team from the capital, I'm sure it must be difficult for them to adjust to the mountainous environment."

"You say that Gin, but they've got a two game lead and can sweep them in this next game."

"I don't mean that they'll lose this series. Green Lakes had their spirit crushed in the first game-quite pathetic-but what I mean for Squid Academy is that they'll face their demon eventually. Whether it is in the next game, the next round, or even the finals...this team will face a wall at some point and the one I believe will suffer the greatest is their prideful captain."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever notice how frequently that brat goes into 'Midnight mode' and against opponents who aren't even worth using it on? Then he shows up here and tries to tease it willy nilly? Do you ever recall Sky Royale using that mode often?"

"Maybe her lack of use is why she's retired…"

"True as that may seem, there's a reason she didn't use that trump card. Leads me to believe there are severe consequences for its user. Sky might've been a laid back individual who enjoyed the smaller things rather than thinking of the big picture, but by no means was she an idiot. That last game I saw up close just how sharp she can be when she's at full strength."

"Rare praise…"

"That reckless first year of a captain made a grave error in playing this way, because now I know how we'll tear them apart."

The third game is a turf war on the poolside map with the spawns adjusted to the area. To the east is Squidcom and west is Green Lakes. A two game lead to Squidcom, the pressure is mounted on the shoulders of Green Lakes who suffered a difficult loss in the first game and a crushing one in the second; any hope they had to make a comeback would require a drastic pull out the magic hat after their display in the previous game. The attitudes of the two teams were opposite on all fronts. The team in pink and blue smelled the blood in the water as they fortified their resolve to end this series with a sweep while the team in green saw the writing on the wall. Even if they could miraculously win the game, they had to beat Squidcom in three consecutive wins to advance, only to meet a more threatening opponent such as Beacon Hills. As Archie contemplated the possibilities of their journey after after this round and of their hardships endured up until now, it only made him want to give a bigger fight to stop the inevitable. However, he couldn't stop the doubts from creeping in his mind the more he observed the tenacity of Squidcom. At this rate, they wouldn't last-or rather that the couldn't. As he wrestles these thoughts, his team looked all the more hungry to trade blows. They continued to show their perseverance and met the team of first years head on and did their utmost to scrape the lost turf back to their possession. With the roaring shots of Violet coating the field, it was Jory and Azule's aggressive front and ranged support by Reice that made it all the more difficult for Green Lakes to counter. Michelle and Benny keep their distance under Archie's orders while Roman takes an aggressive approach and meets them for battle, challenging Azule and Jory to a 2 on 1 showdown. They drown each other in each other's ink, and it seems like a chance for Green Lakes to recover now that Azule and Jory bit the bait and sunk with the sacrifice of Roman, but they left one fiery inkling unaccounted for; raining his roller from behind Benny and Michelle, Reice recorded a double splat and to cap off the play-a solo splat from Violet on Archie. A team wipe with little time remaining, Squidcom were locked in to win unless something drastic occurred.

Green Lakes respawns with precious time lost, but the team looks frozen for a moment-stunned by how they got played yet again by Squidcom.

"We've seen bigger and badder opponents than these first years!" Roman shouted trying to create some self motivation, huffing and puffing like his life depends on it.

"They shouldn't be this tough. Are they really first years? They move too organized and aggressive to be inexperienced."

Archie knew well enough that they underestimated them. To be expected, Squidcom survived a grueling competition among their peers to earn the right as a representative, so it's natural that they would play with such desperation. But what awed him the most was that chemistry. Event eh deepest bonding teams still found a way to lose, and yet an inexperienced bunch played as though they'd been through years of struggles together. How? What could they have gone through to have such a tight bond? With these questions looming in his head, he looks to his teammates with a defeated smile, "This might be it…" the sadness in his tone echoing his submission. A painful concession, Archie couldn't beat them. He knew his team weren't capable of quelling the blazing fire of Squidcom and yet…

"It doesn't matter if this is it, captain. We told you we'd go out with a bang!"

"We'll follow you to the end."

"So let's give them one last fight! Let's show them the Green Lakes' special!"

A march to their final stand, Green Lakes did everything they could to stop the roaring Squidcom. A desperate push on the defense, Archie leads the way with a headstrong approach-a frontal attack to meet Squidcom in a final defense. Squidcom's prepared on the other end with Reice and Jory protecting their captain and Violet right behind them with her reticle locked on the incoming targets. She fires to create a path for them to meet them as well, preferring them to go on the attack than just be on the receiving end; the trio understood her intentions and drop into the pink ink and zip through leaving a ripple. Just like she would've wanted, Sally's fist tightens as she watches them go on the attack yet again, nervous about their choice to settle it here and close the game with a sweep, recognizing that Violet's aggressive approach was a nod to what she would've done if she was on the turf.

"C'mon everyone, stomp on their throat!" she whispered in a nervous tone feeling helpless only able to watch on.

A final stand by Green Lakes, they know Squidcom are adapted as they make their swarm for the knockout. The trio spring from the pink-Jory throws a splash wall as a quick defense as Reice side steps to counter the attacks by Roman and Benita. Jory provides backup, supporting Reice in his blind spot. Benita and Roman stay mobile and shift their positions opposite to the flow of Squidcom's and let Michelle handle the rest as she takes aim at the pair, but before she pulls the trigger, she's shot straight in the eye-enough to splat from the recoil. An invitation by Violet for them to continue their futile run, she turns her focus to the scattering remnants of Green Lakes' pride and begins adding to the difficulty of movement for Roman and Benita, firing coordinated shots to close them into firing distance for her teammates. Archie steps in to cover for them, focusing his fire on Reice since his roller was the most problematic within his proximity. Roman and Benita begin their refill only to be eliminated in a trap by Violet, who surrounded them with her shots long enough to force them out-splatting them both afterwards. All alone, it's Archie's turn for their wrath-doomed an ugly defeat as felt the suffocating defeat looming. Reice is to his left, Jory to his right, and Violet in the distance with her reticle locked on his forehead. He feels his throat contracting, his stomach turning, and his face sweating bullets as the inevitable arrives, Archie faces none other than Midnight Azule's cold expression as his gun aims at him. A chilling view magnified by the close encounter, it felt as though his memories of his career in high school flashed by-dulled as the sharp glare of Azule's cold blue eyes peer through his very being. He shifts his gaze over to his glowing pink hair under the cap, and then to the barrel of his gun, seeing only darkness as a loud shot echoes.

"Seize the Invitational, Squidcom…"

A deafening response. Everyone rose to their feet for different reasons from shock to gratitude. An ending to the first game that saw the two captains come face to face with the elimination of Archie coming at the hands of Midnight Azule, everyone went into a frenzy as many got to catch a glimpse at the heavily anticipated debut of Midnight Azule. Like a phenomenon, everyone marveled at his glowing pink hair and fierce gaze as the match concludes. Sally's lips quiver as she covers her face giving a triumphant smile as streaks come down her face, the Royale's are bearing a smug face entertained by the appearance of their youngest member showing off to the crowd. Around the world, respective rivals watch with intrigue as yet again they see a teaser of the growth behind the young Royale: from Siot to Shiore, everyone watching the game now had that team on their watch list as they awaited their next performance in the Quarterfinals. A roaring applause to a game that only lasted three games, both teams were given a standing ovation as Green Lakes earned praise for sticking to their guns and bringing the fight even if they knew their journey was over before it could begin. A frustrating feeling to harbor as their own fans encourage them and thank them for their service, Green Lakes couldn't help but hold back the tears welling as they felt the sincerity in their supporter's tones. They let them down after they came this far. On the opposite end, for the first time in years did Squid Academy look alive and thriving, singing their song with pride and cheering the beloved four names with glee. Fans recall the sight of Squidcom mirroring the intensity of the Elites with many believing that the team's spirit never vanished and that instead, their will carries on in the hands of the first years. A proud moment for Pastelle and the many others who fought against Squidcom, this game solidified the trust they put in those first years that they were capable of handling the next impossible task.

"Well then, looks like I made the right choice speeding to get here…" Sky says with a satisfied smirk disappearing into the crowd, hiding face under her signature bobble hat.

Squidcom's victory is in the books, which opens up the way for the second game in the early double header of Day 1 involving the defending winter champions-Beacon Hills-squaring off against the Solastine Twilight. A battle that many had the squids in silver to win based off of statistics and talent, Gin and his team knew different than to underestimate the Twilight. After all, this team was capable of making it to the spring and would surely have something up their sleeves in anticipation of taking down the giant-something that wasn't uncommon in these competitions. A patient squad that fortified their nerves before heading to the map, Gin and his squad can hear the roaring crowd anticipating their appearance all the way from the lounge room.

"Azule and his team beat Green Lakes just now, looks like we've got to win this game if we'll honor what that young lion said to us last year." Platinum grinned as he thought about the possibility of facing Azule in the next round, remembering his face from his interruption after they won the winter tournament.

Alumia peered at her weapon for any changes, "We're stuck with this team who think they'll be giant killers if they defeat us. Bold of them to assume we'll be an easy battle."

"Your orders, captain. Should we go all out?" Silvia asked with a warm glance knowing what his answer would be after watching that game.

The kneeling Gin rises to his feet with sharp eyes ahead and slaps his weapon into his palm gritting his teeth with a scowl with an image of Azule in his mind, "To ask such a foolish question is beyond me…" he turns to them, showing the most confident eyes;"We've got a Royale waiting for us in the next round. We'll unleash hell."