The day of judgment arrives for Squidcom, who'll face Beacon Hills in the opening match of the Quarterfinals at the Rellan Racetrack. The game modes for the day are Splat Zones, Tower Control, and Turf Wars with the maps of the day being the track and exhibit. Today's turnout looks promising as people are still entering the park in clusters, inside already reaching max capacity thanks to the pregame festivities; the lineup serves as an appetizing reason to attend the games live as the first on the stacked card is the match between Squid Academy's Squidcom-the hottest team in the tournament, facing Beacon Hills-the defending champions of winter and favorites for a tournament double. The scene on the track grounds are lively as proud fans and students from both competing schools clash with their team songs right before the game and having a friendly competition to see who can gather more neutral supporters on their side with drums banging, brass playing, and the choir accompanying them along the walkways. An enjoyable sight for the neutral supporters who got to see just how much this appearance meant to both sides, they sing alongside students and alumni alike. In the middle of the pandemonium are Fuchsia and Kosami, who got dragged by Bianca to sing along and pump their fists to the fight song catered to Squidcom where the lyrics tell the story of each member and their specialty, from Reice and his powerful presence as the unbreakable shield, to Jory as the surprise good luck charm, Violet as the stealthy sniper who supports from the shadows, and Azule, the guiding light who'll lead them to victory; the song also includes a line for Sally as the immortal spear of the team, the vanguard who'll always stand at the front of Squidcom as their first attacker. Moments pass as the fans are allowed entrance to the race track and quickly file in like ants on a hill, the band members having their own section and the spirit squad together beside them ready to cheer at the top of their lungs.

Midst the confusion, Bianca's wandering eyes spot a familiar figure in the crowd, "Machi!" she calls with bubbling energy rushing over to hug her tightly, a little too tight however since Machi taps out in submission.

"B-Bolting Bianca…!?" she squealed as her supply of oxygen gets cut off; "I...can't...breathe…!"

Fuchsia and Kosami freak out once they see the girl's face turn purple and quickly they have to pry Bianca off of her. After a few seconds pass with Bianca apologizing strongly for her actions earlier, explaining how happy she was to see her, Machi simply laughed it off. "There, there…" She said awkwardly stroking the blonde inkling's head; "It's been a while, I know."

"Sheesh, at least give me a call! You promised me in the winter that we'd hang out again like old times!"

"What can I say? I've become really busy in the last six months with practice. There's consideration for me to be on the Inkopolis inklympic team." She grinned and afterwards laughing, poking fun at Bianca for sticking to her job as a police officer rather than join her as one of the fastest in the country and maybe the world; Fuchsia and Kosami introduce themselves, and get a refresher of who Machi is.

"Members of Squidcom. Nice to meet you. I'm sure you must be proud to make it so far. That Rank Wars was an incredible run to witness. Twenty-Four victories!" She praised trying to contain her astonishment as she thought back. "It's unfortunate that I can't watch Sally at this stage. I'm sure she'd take the stage just like she did in the fall. She's an irreplaceable asset. That said, this current team assembled is something else!" She holds out her fingers and counts; "Azule, Violet, Reice, and Jory. They're an amazing team despite only being secondary to the main roster with Sally. The way they play reminds me of the days when Beacon Hills were just starting out.

"Are you here to root for us?"

"Usually, I would. However, I'll be neutral for today." That didn't sit well with Bianca who scoffed and demanded a good reason; "Let's just say I've got some business with the people of Beacon Hills…"

Bianca gives a frustrated look, "Ugh! Fine! I won't pry." she pouts crossing her arms; "In return you have to sit with us! I'm looking forward to hearing all about what you've been up to since we last spoke."

Bianca snags her by the arm and drags her along with Violet and Kosami to where they're sitting, though Machi shows no resistance figuring it can't be helped. Waves of Pink and Blue collide with Black and Silver as the supporters of both sides seat themselves, ready for the start of the first game. Meanwhile in Beacon Hill's lounge, the team is just about ready to begin as they bring it in for a group fist bump. None of them have doubts about today, neither do they have fear for an unfavorable result, instead confidence is their strongest ally as they all show resolve in their eyes. In the other lounge where Squidcom is, the butterflies are fluttering as everyone once again comes to the realization that this is happening-they're in the Quarterfinals of the Spring Invitationals facing their toughest opponent ever. Surreal to remember the growth they underwent since their establishment did they imagine such a scenario back in the Fall when they came together as a team, the bonds formed along the way resonating now that they arrived at a critical stage in their journey. Azule's sitting with his head bowed and his hands clasped, Reice is pacing the floor, Violet relaxes next to Azule listening to a playlist made by Sally that features some of her tracks along with Mika and Leor's discography; Jory joins the crew after being the last one ready after having trouble deciding on which weapon to approach since the first game is a splat zone.

"One game at a time, everyone." Azule said raising his head with a luminous grin; his teammates could sense his conviction and all nodded in response, feeling energized just from his words alone. Even if it was against the defending champions-the strongest of the four kings of Inkopolis, fear wouldn't consume them. The heartbreak of the first rank war and the Elite's defeat fueled them plenty, the sidelining of Sally only adding more to their fire; under no circumstances would they let their journey end here-not against these opponents, especially.

And so, Squidcom enter spawn to a roaring ovation from their confident side. A message sent from the masses in response to his claim when he challenged the world to be his enemy, the adoring students of Squid Academy sing their praises of Squidcom by doing a tribute song highlighting the accomplishments the squad has collected thus far and what they will accomplish for the future. Squid Academy fans are out in abundance like a wave, and channeling that energy is Squidcom who are bopping their head in rhythm to the drums of the fight song. The media has all the cameras on the young team and likewise prompt a sea of glares from teams around the world watching. With the fiercest of competitors as an audience, all around the continent of Inkland sit hundreds of teams anticipating the showdown. In particular, are some of the strongest teams on the continent: Shiore and her comrades of Hugh-Napri of Naphielle who had a growing interest in Squidcom thanks to her obsession of the Royales which she got teased heavily for, Siot and his partying friends of Crystal Coast of Tropicanos, and even the reigning national champions known as the Emperors, who found the next spear aimed at him through Squidcom. Under such scrutiny, Azule maintains that same radiant aura as he's joined by his teammates wearing the same stoic look as him.

"I like that look in your eyes…" the three top player-Emperor, Shiore, and Siot-all in different parts of the land, said to themselves at the same time as the camera pans to Azule.

Only a few seconds remain until the start of the first game in the series that everyone in the Spring Invitationals had been talking about since the matchup appeared likely. An opening game for the day as well, it's a battle between the boring predictability of Beacon Hills against the refreshing and unsuspecting Squidcom of Squid Academy. Black and Silver versus Pink and Blue. The experienced veterans versus the radiant newcomers. Two schools with a deep rooted rivalry that goes back to the golden age of Squid Academy, that had only been reignited thanks to the sparks of Sky and the Elites, another chapter in this rivalry will be added as the King of Inkopolis face the Rookies of the Spring.

Ba dump…

A chance to close his eyes and clear his thoughts, Azule remembers how his morning started. From the best wishes by the students of the school who pledged to be in attendance and cheer them on, to even the hotel staff offering the best of luck. Azule felt at ease now that he saw the outstanding crowd in attendance.

"Good Luck everyone!"

"You can do it!"

"Don't let Beacon Smells intimidate ya!"

"We can fight too! Leave the cheering to us!"

That morning they were anxious, the intensity resonating within the team as the morning graced them. As a young team making their first appeaance in this tournament and against a familiar opponent with plenty of history with them, it felt surreal that already in the quarterfinals were Squidcom facing an opponent considered to be the defining team of their campaign. A team that retired their seniors, Squidcom knew that the anxiety they felt wasn't fear at all, instead it was an indication of how badly they wanted to face the silver squids on the turf and get payback for what happened in the winter, having remembered the pain they felt that day watching their captain's big sister fight to the point her body wouldn't respond to her commands.

Our brightest star lost her gleam fighting against you all… Azule thought while making his march to the bus, waving to the supporters with a nod and smile.

The ride on the bus was silent aside from the humming wheels and engine, the members of Squidcom refusing to utter a word to each other and instead keep to themselves and channel their strongest concentration. For the captain, the words Gin said to him that day when eh picked a fight still ring true in his head as he looks out the window. This was a fight he could win, and he'd prove it to Gin himself. As they arrive at the Rellan to welcoming crowd of reporters and other outlets of the sports media, they're met by the remaining teams of the competition who arrived early to get a good seat of the opening game. Jin and the Special Forces in their Black and Gold, Janice and the Fangs in their White and Purple, Zepp and the Inkstinct in their Black and Green, the other members of the Big 4 present to watch what many fans considered the game of the competition based on the implications for the next round and the history between the two schools. A rivalry game that holds great weight, the bad blood thickens with the storyline of a rematch of the winter finals, a little brother's chance for revenge against the defending champions in a David versus Goliath scenario, and the 24-game winning streak of Squid Academy's Squidcom on the line. The people in the stands rise to their feet as the countdown starts with both teams ready to let loose; Azule opens his eyes to reveal a storm within his irises. Excitement grows as the numbers get called, from Beacon Hills to Squid Academy to Fuchsia and Kosami to the many other watching from their homes in Inkopolis and Inkland, everyone is ready to watch what might be the best game for the day. Hidden in the crowd away from her family and instead with her beloved team, it's Sky in her favorite bobble hat wear Squidcom's colors and a smug grin ready to watch her little brother face off against the team that forced her and her fellow comrades into early retirement. This is their revenge game as they too, have passed on their will to Squidcom.

"How do you feel about today?" Aaron asked warmly over the loud chatter from the surrounding fans.

Sky closes her eyes and shrugs her shoulders with a little grin emerging, "He's my little brother. I got no worries…" she said smugly turning her gaze to him as if the question was meaningless to ask.

A road course setup with dozens of inclined S-curves and gravel pits at every turn, the daytime setting made the track all the more visible and very imposing as the width could finally be put on display. This track is by far larger than that of Rellan Park, but lucky for the teams they didn't have to cover all of the track as the path of the zones were all that mattered while the rest of the map was there for fighting at their pleasure. The spawns were at different parts of the map with one located at the first and second turns of the track where the start/checkered flag line sits just ways off on the straight way, the second one located far past the infield at turns 14 and 15. Indeed there also safety hazards as there sits a lake in the infield right at the heart of the track although it's still a great distance away to be considered a real threat-nonetheless it was notable for anyone who ventured the center of the map carelessly to be aware of that hazard. From spawn on the raised platforms, the body of the track is visible: lush green grass cut so low it looked like it wasn't even natural, gravel pits neatly organized on the corners of every turn, walls of tires covering behind the walls with safety nets overhanging to keep spectators safe, and of course, the azure blue lake in infield nearby the garages where cars would go for tune-up and repairs. Something about the sight left a sense of nostalgia for Azule he took a quick gaze at the sky above, the gentle clouds moving at their own pace, the wind blowing with a chilly kiss, the indistinct songs of "nature" serenading him as the clock counts away. Indeed, this is what was meant when they talk of the calm before the storm. In a split second it vanishes with a whistle, the roaring frenzy of the crowd signaling to both sides to sprint for the goal like their lives depended on it. Both teams descend from their raised platforms, immediately making this a race for the pair of splat zones located at the heart of the track near the lake and garage. For Squidcom, the approach remains the same: take 1 zone at a time. Once they learned in their lounge room that the first game would be a splat zones game on a map containing a pair of zones, it was an instant plan that'd been drawn ahead of time. Under no circumstances were they to engage in a battle of isolation, sighted by the results of previous matches where players allowed themselves to get isolated only to get swallowed up. If they made such a foolish move against Beacon Hills, they'd pay for it dearly.

"Please, take the fight to them!" Sally quivers as the stabbing pain in her legs increase, her forearms flexed as she holds her weight forcing her body to move a step despite the agony. She grits her teeth looking ahead, the bullets of sweat forming along with her grimacing smile, looking over to Marigold who has her hands clenched encouraging her to keep going. Canary and the nurses are next to her while one is waiting for her at the end. Her goal for today is to begin walking without any support; right now, this is the warm up and seeing her teammates fight their battle serves as extra motivation. She looks up to the monitor showing the game and gets reassured watching the commentators raise their tone with excitement as Squidcom throw the first punch at the giants, Looks like we're both fighting our own battles, huh captain? She smirks before having to bite her lip to handle the pain targeting her legs. Her motivation for today is that she no longer felt the need to be concerned for them after seeing how well they played in their debut game, now she had to handle her end and be healthy in time for Nationals, that much she knew after being reassured. But still, like a worried mother, she couldn't help but always take a glance at the monitor and see how her precious teammates were holding up.

At the track, Azule draws first blood. An attack that targeted Platinum once he stepped onto the zone ahead of his teammates, Violet dealt a heavy amount of damage his strike, but not enough to eliminate the scout. Azule swooped in right away and neutralized him before the eyes of Gin, who sent Platinum in as a scout to possibly hold the zone for them in time to make their attempt and claim, but the shock of him getting splatted meant terrible news for Beacon Hills. Gin backtracks and shouts an order to Alumia and Silvia, making them shift their focus to the unoccupied zone across from where Squidcom looked to set up. They got him with their trick, having instead arrived early, they learned from Green Lakes' tactic in the first game by ignoring the objective, which gave them the concealment to set up defense. A risky move since they wouldn't have any mobility, Squidcom placed their trust in their sniper and captain to get the clean splat and put their opponents on edge; The first zone quickly becomes Blue as Reice and Jory mark the turf in the name of Squidcom, only the unoccupied zone Beacon Hills are en route to is left. Far from overwhelmed, it was a surprise that he wouldn't have expected from Squidcom given their tendency always favored a balance of offensive and defensive approaches and pure mobility-the aggression being the only factor unaccounted for. Splendid, absolutely wonderful, were the words he'd use to describe this situation as the captain of Beacon Hills, because there's no better challenge than an opponent willing to throw hearty punches.

They might be rookies at the Invitational, but they're playing like true masters of the turf. Looks like that recent Rank War really straightened them out he analyzed, impressed that they evolved this much from the team he never bothered to remember from last year. "Amazing. They're really making a case now…" he mumbled, shifting his gaze to his teammates; "Silvia take the rear of the zone and cover us, Alumia, you're with me-we're taking them on while Silvia claims this zone. Platinum can jump to Silvia's spot and support her if need be...GO!" he shouts, leading the way for Alumia as Squidcom near them; Silvia turns her focus to inking the turf entirely.

A reasonable approach from the leader of the team after such an encounter, Gin identified from that brief skirmish of a few seconds of how to tackle the aggressive Squidcom team. Similar to their usual movements of high mobility and weapon combinations when they attack, the only difference that stands out in his view is their sharpness, the way they've gone on pure attack and no defense. He guessed that if he rushes at them, their blitz will be dulled if a casualty or two are taken, and that Silvia is more than capable to handle the rest. Part of his growth as the King of Inkopolis after taking the crown from his brother and fending off literal royalty like Shiva and potential threats like the Elites, he's become a proven champion, which enhanced his thinking as he reviewed every game he played and learned to identify his own faults, and trust in his teammates more. Through that, he learned that the dependable trio he called his friends, starters, and first in command were indeed the right choice; there's no better group of inklings he'd want to take into battle. However, Squidcom aren't fazed by the duo as Azule doesn't even blink as he raises his chin looking down on Gin with a sharp glare-Gin felt a cold shiver as his body rocked to the core, realizing what's about to happen next as a glowing figure leaps before him…

"Midnight!" he warns Alumia which prompts her to shift her path to another direction, knowing this was only a decoy to lure them into a panicked defense rather than stick to their plan but luckily Gin's composure and experience came into play; Alumia shifts like her captain asks and she soon finds herself in an unfavorable position as Jory makes his move and rushes at her, Reice goes for a route around to jam her by doing a sidestep leap and flick, and Violet not only looks to splat her, but even has Silvia lined up. They're everywhere in these opening seconds and the game hadn't gone in anyone's favor yet as neither team claimed both zones. Gin makes a retreat from Azule, instead looking to go for the zone covered in blue ink rather than battle Azule where there is so much commotion; Azule follows without hesitation, laughing to himself as he follows the silver figure.

"He's calling him out…" Sky mumbles with a disgruntled look, her arms crossed and her eyebrows furrowed as she starts mumbling more under her breath. From her perspective, Gin was issuing a challenge to Azule while also drawing him away from the zone where the numbers are to an isolated turf where the zone favors Azule because of his ink reigning supreme, a clear action in her mind as daring the Squidcom captain to finish off and test whether he's capable of being a closer.

Aaron didn't catch what she said afterwards but agreed with her statement prior, "Yeah, he's using that experience to his advantage. Not to mention he's familiar with the Midnight mode that he's probably figured out a way to counter Azule's, too."

"I wouldn't go so far~for there is one crucial difference!" Pearl sang with a tease; "The air around him is different from when we played him. That much I can tell from his movements. When he played us, he had motivation-a dying reason to win the tournament, and thus played with a lack of hesitation and instead showed a cutting edge I never fathomed someone in our age group to display. He must've felt such great determination then that there wasn't anything that'd stop him. Now, he feels...accomplished? Whatever it is, he's not the same dangerous inkling that we battled."

"He had incentives to win at winter but now that he's reached the top he's had to undergo a different transformation." Austin added; "He isn't second place anymore, he finally overtook his brother. Now...this tournament is about him soaring to greater heights and waging war against the best teams from every continent. It must be difficult for him to conquer that task with the way he's thinking, and he's probably aware of it."

Azule side steps with his dualies and aims at Gin but the swiftness of the silver squid prove superior as he dashes to the side and creates a puddle, then firing away at the turf to turn the blue zone to silver instead. Azule's hair flashes under his cap as he wavers between midnight and his usual self, a temptation to play his trump card early against Gin, or take a different approach relying on his merits rather than the mystical ability? What'll you choose? Gin thought while predicting the pair of scenarios on the spot. He figured that an aggressive and uncharacteristic approach by the captain meant he was prioritizing the element of surprise rather than the default formations and tactics used up until now, and the utilization of Midnight is the key. He'll tire himself out if he uses that mode for a frequent amount or times or for an excessive period of time. That means he'll reveal his objective right here and now! He won't resist a one on one, since I am the one he wants. I'm the one who retired his sister, who sent her in tears and humiliated her on the biggest stage by crushing her at her best, he wants revenge. I can feel it. I can see it in his eyes…

He's wrong.

"A retreat!?" The commentator shouts through the microphone calling the game from the sky box set up in a special tent that views the game from the same monitors the spectators were watching.

Azule backpedals and leaves the turf to Gin, giving him a cocky grin raising his chin; his hair returns to a glowing form as he submerges in the ink. Gin realizes what the inkling is up to and quickly loses his advantage as his plan falls apart. Azule knew what Gin was thinking, and baited him into going for the defenseless zone, instead having all intentions to crush the team yet again and all while their captain is alone to gain a possible lead. A sacrifice of sorts, Squidcom's early gamble is to defeat Beacon Hills faster than Gin can claim the second zone, or at least take away control of their zone and force Gin to return. Gin curses himself as he's stuck between a rock and a hard place. Surely with Midnight Azule and the rest of the Squidcom forces piling on Alumia and Silvia, even Platinum would have trouble backing them up. But leave such an open zone behind? It's too risky of a move, and yet the reward is so great. A lead here and they control the game, possibly to a knockout since Gin was a specialist in all the game modes. However, though they could respawn it was clear Squidcom had a countermeasure prepared for every move they play, that's how well prepared this young team operated. Gin marvels, and shifts his focus to the open zone, deciding to take the bait and ink the turf; he has about five seconds to claim the zone before his team loses the own zone as he watches momentum slowly shift now that Azule makes his obvious appearance.

When did they get so clever! He thought, wondering what Azule was thinking that led to such events. The team he scouted was nothing like the team before him now as though they purposefully took their strategies and threw them out the window. From their attitude to their movements, everything is precise and with sharpness like a spearhead but what brought this on? As first years, and rookies in the tournament, shouldn't they stick to the game they know so well and rely on that to bring them to victory? Why are they going this far with the sudden changes knowing the risk? Little did he know that they made extensive preparations ahead of time that all came together perfectly just a day prior when they held a meeting late in the night.

"Huh? That's a bold strategy!" Azule marveled after Fuchsia explained plan to an equally stunned Squidcom.

"A frontal assault in the opening moments, followed by leaving the same zone we claim as a decoy?" Jory said paraphrasing everything under his breath to get a clearer understanding.

Fuchsia's smug grin widened, "Yeah. We know Beacon Hills are going to play confident and to their usual style of thought over instinct due to the numerous opponents they've encountered. A wise team with very few exploits, this rare opportunity of arrogance will work in our favor to land a stunning strike! They'll be reeling if we pull this off."

Violet raises her hand, "But, you're saying we're supposed to engage them in a close quarters combat and win, then we're to gather and attack the second zone and leave the remaining one open? Shouldn't we at least keep someone behind to guard? This is Beacon Hills we're up against."

"Yeah, Beacon-Freaking-Hills!" Reice added, clearly bewildered by the suggestion.

"I know it's crazy but hear me out. Gin is known to engage in solo battles when the stage gets bigger; after all, he's an Ika of course. Though Azule hasn't said so directly, it's clear there is some bad blood between the two, whether it's linked to what happened in the winter? Who knows. But the fact remains that I'm confident this plan will work. Gin will focus on Azule or at least be wary of what he'll do and we'll use that against him!"

"Activate Midnight and get his attention…" he mumbled with a nod; "That should work… I've been using Midnight more often so I think I've got enough stamina to hold out. But in return I'll need you all to handle the fort in case we're in a pinch." his confidence present as he looked at Reice, then Violet, and finally Jory. His smile fades as he envisioned the scenario. "I hope he bites and attacks the empty zone looking for me to follow him for a solo battle and-"

"Retreat." Fuchsia added.

"EH!?" They all shouted, with protruding eyes from their sockets with sunken mouths after Fuchsia plainly added another action.

A burst bomb drops on Alumia from Azule who angled his throw, followed by a solid strike from Jory to eliminate her; Platinum's returned to a surprising sight as Squidcom overwhelm his team. The only options left for Beacon Hills are to run or die. If they run, they could super jump to Gin after creating enough distance and regroup, however they'd be letting Squidcom take the zone and once again they'll be back to square one, but if they die, they'll risk losing all momentum and leaving Gin to fend for himself once they capture the zone. Their pride, or their lead, which one mattered more?

"Ah, they left…" Violet said taking down Silvia just before she can make her escape, only leaving Platinum the chance to flee to Gin.

Reice chuckles, "Just like coach planned! Man, she's got a great brain. To think she foresaw this!"

Jory giggled, "She's an octoling after all, we're pretty sharp!"

"Yeah, yeah, no need to get all patriotic just yet." Reice shrugged.

Azule tightens his cap, "Like we expected, they would rather drag this game out than settle for an early result. They want to tire us out and strike us at our most vulnerable, so we'll move forward with the third option presented."

"Yeah!"

The third option was the option proposed by Fuchsia during their team meeting that came as the choice to use should the event fall in the manner of the game looking to be a long one rather than a swift knockout or if bonuses for both sides were implemented. The first option was for the disastrous outcome that Beacon Hills stopped them on all fronts and had the lead, while the second option was is they managed to take the lead instead. The third option was the safest move as this one doesn't require much urgency, especially thanks to the training of the team and their endurance, this option worked around the idea that they could hold out in endurance. Azule gives his command: a splitting of the forces with Violet to the far rear near their zone to stay on guard, Reice will support her but also aide the rest by staying within the proximity, Jory will tag with Azule to go on the attack of the Beacon hills zone. The focal point of this strategy is to do their best to lure Beacon Hills away from the zone and perform either of these actions: Lure towards the range of Violet and let her handle them while Reice swoops into the zone and wreak havoc while the duo make a return, or lure them to Reice and take them down one at a time. The latter also applies if they don't take the bite at all and simply stay in zone, in which the trio will face them head-on while Violet will encroach just enough to make it a painful defense for Beacon Hills.

"Gin…"

"I see they got you too, Platinum. Wise move." It's a hectic situation, but the calmness Gin expelled left Platinum feeling unusually relaxed about the situation. As Platinum gives his captain all his attention awaiting orders, Gin's stoic face didn't change as his gaze is cast off far ahead as though he's timing the distance between the attacking Squidcom and himself. "This is more troublesome than I thought."

"Yeah, I didn't expect this. They're the opposite of what we imagined."

"Looks like he's not just a Royale in name...anyways, brace yourself. They're coming." he said narrowing his gaze and taking the appropriate measures.

"Already!? The others haven't returned yet-"

"They'll get here when it matters. We'll have to hold them off until reinforcements arrive. For now, I'll handle the rest, just take care of their sniper."

Right on cue, the team in Blue and Pink arrive as the shooting weapons resemble sirens indicating their arrival. Led by Azule, they look extra motivated after seeing how well Fuchsia's plans went this far and now knew that the mighty no.1 team was capable of being slain. Gin could sense their brashness as they charge into the zone, fortifying his resolve for a battle he knows there's little chance of victory, just hope that he can bring down as many bodies with him. That hope reinvigorates as a pair of silver inklings join the fray through a super jump, taking over his position at the last second; no orders are needed, just a glance to let them know where to attack. Silver and Blue clash like two opposing waves commanded by different storms, the aggression of Squidcom meeting the calculating Beacon Hills. Bursts of silver splatter everywhere only to be replaced by blue ink, guns fire rapidly while others make a periodic strike, the shouting voices from both sides growing the more desperate the situation grows. Time ticks patiently but the sight of the turf spells otherwise as both sides are clinging to their hope for an opportune chance to strike. Beacon Hills is fighting Valiantly through a rotation style where every player switches off their assignment within a second of every strike. It's worked so far since they've yet to concede the second zone, however because of such tactics they're left with no opening to strike a counterattack. On the opposing side, Squidcom are still persistent in their fight-the score slowly working to their benefit as they push Beacon Hills to the walls. A fight to the very last defense, it all fell apart the moment Azule brought out Midnight-the sheer speed of his amplified state proving too powerful for the team on their heels to defend. A secured zone, Squidcom made sure to stick their ground and prevent any measures of Beacon Hills rallying for a counterattack. A warning ahead of time by Fuchsia as well, she suggested the possibility that Beacon Hills would try to swoop in for a quick possession to put the team in a bonus and either strike there or concede another loss of possession knowing there's a cushion before the lead could grow any further. Under no circumstances were Squidcom to let that happen; they wanted a knockout. Beacon Hills fight tooth and nail, hoping to at least put a dent in the shield of Reice, who proves to be their biggest thorn from the way he's switching between defense and attack, picking them off one by one. It's an uphill battle but they're sticking their ground, Reice continues to be their target while the others are circling around the finish them off at once, but a combination of subs and specials keep Beacon Hills alive long enough until their teammates arrive, but it proves useless as Violet unveils her Sting Ray right then to shut them down. A Knockout victory for Squidcom. Everyone gasped. The shocking sight before them as the zones covered in blue see the last of the silver residents thanks to the Sting Ray of Violet. A surprise result by the undefeated Squidcom, they strike first with a victory in game 1-backed by the support for their fans who can feel themselves a step closer to an appearance in the semis. It's only a single game, but to take a game off Beacon Hills is no simple task, especially the first game in the series. Squidcom have momentum and youth on their sides as the energetic showcase from the first game proves to outmatch the experience of the third years-at least for now, that is. The mood of the two teams strike media members and experienced spectators differently as they showed no extreme emotions after such a lofty game: Squidcom are indifferent to the victory, instead looking ahead to connect with another game and possibly think of a sweep; Beacon Hills look composed and unfazed by the noise of Squidcom and their supporters. They were once in a situation like this against stronger opponents, so it makes sense that the universe repaid them with an opponent in the same shoes. If anything, this is only fuel to the fire of the defending champions.

Game 2 begins.

She watches on nervously knowing that her predictions in the first game were all she could do, the rest of the series up in the air now that she played her part. She scans the map and follows her team's movement towards the tower. She imagined that the victory proved useful in building the team's confidence, but could work the opposite now that Beacon Hills got the wakeup call. A close battle from the start, Beacon Hills brought more energy this time around as Gin darts pass the tower with Silvia at his side while Platinum and Alumia take the tower; Azule and Reice rush for the tower with the help of Violet while Jory heads for the pair of silver squids aiming at his team. A timely interception, Jory's able to stop their attack but ends up grabbing their intention instead. It's a desperate game for Beacon Hills, who'll suffer a potential sweep if they let this game slip from them as well. That's it Jory, draw their attention long enough to give the others a fighting chance on the tower! Fuchsia thought giving a fist pump and nodding her head with approval as Jory fights them. Their energy seemed limitless as they went after each other with venom, every other hit landed ending in a splat and by the time the excitement settled and fans could catch their breath, Squidcom survived with Violet on the tower while Alumia was alive with critical damage.

"I'm shocked that Squidcom are playing with such vigor. That first game was a treat to behold but this is downright unbelievable! It's 40-66 and they're in the lead over Beacon Hills yet again!" one person said nudging his friend.

"Yeah, this time Beacon Hills have been attacking more but even then it still doesn't amount to much as Squidcom grows the lead."

"C-could it really happen? This year of all times?" another said joining in the conversation

"The year Squid Academy goes to a final in the spring, even defeating the defending winter champions…last time something similar happened, it was several years ago with the golden age team."

"That good, huh?"

Fuchsia shook her head blocking out all the talk. At this moment, none of that matters-only the game playing right now. Beacon Hills weren't a team they could afford to think too much against, rather, their instincts and well detailed plans were all they could use as weapons. Any spontaneous movements would prove detrimental to their odds of victory. After a few seconds of a back and forth showdown, Beacon Hills managed to take possession and travel a great distance and pass Squidcom to take the lead, only to lose the tower once again to Violet's interference. After Squidcom's recovery, they began their march but even so they're still having to defend against a stubborn Beacon Hills who aren't sold on relinquishing the tower. The silver squids position themselves at beneficial angles and engage in a counterattack swarming the tower looking to trap Squidcom by applying pressure with their mobility; their lead hangs in the balance, but if they fail here, Squidcom will have an open path to overtake them again. The match reaches the halfway point in time left with the score 36-29 in favor of Beacon Hills; after the counterattack failed initially, Beacon Hills managed another successful defensive rally and held off Squidcom just before they could get any closer to the lead or goal, redirecting the tower back into Squidcom's turf instead. Squidcom lost the tower after a blitz play from Platinum and Gin that focused on taking down Reice who'd been a thorn in their attacks. From there, the next target was Violet, the foil who'd managed to disrupt every single opportunity presented to them. A team effort where they were forced to overlook Jory and Azule, the remaining pair of Silvia and Alumia sent their ink at Violet while Gin and Platinum also mounted pressure on the lone sniper, collectively getting the splat on her in doing so. At this point in the game, Beacon Hills have the tower with only a few minutes remaining, the score still as-is with the tower at a halt as Squidcom are once again on the attack. After a couple of late exchanges, the whistle finally blows from the time expiring; Squidcom's rally with a minute left proving successful as they held off Beacon Hills yet again. Despite it being a close victory, the atmosphere around the spectators almost shifted completely as neutral found themselves hopping on the bandwagon of the young team of first years. Azule, Reice, Violet, and Jory all heard their names chanted louder as support for their team increases tenfold, the hype of a possible upset sweep seemingly a reality now that the team managed two straight victories; one more and they're into the Semis! Although the momentum is on Squidcom's side, Beacon Hills aren't out just yet-the voices of their loyal crowd amplifying the further they are from the gates of victory. A nostalgic sight to their days as first years, Gin couldn't help but crack a rare smile as he recalled his days fighting to the top back as a first year at Beacon Hills, the feeling of Nationals that year as a rookie. The energetic voices resonating with the hearts of their beloved squad, Gin knew his role as a captain is to be the spark that ignites a flame, and so, he felt rejuvenation as they shout a final cry for help to him.

"I'll extend a hand…" he said with a deep breath, the surround sound muting as he took a whiff of the fresh air around him. A vacuum, time felt frozen as he looked across the map to the unavoidable glare of Azule. No doubt, that cheeky first year kept his promise, now he had to answer his challenge the best way he knew.

All eyes are on how the champion captain will respond now that his back is to the wall, an embarrassing sweep in defeat to a team of first years proving more likely with each passing second. Could he live down the humiliation? Could he overcome the shocking resolve of Squidcom? Would he defeat another Midnight Royale? Those thoughts raced through his mind as the period in between games reaches its conclusion. Everyone is up on their feet for what might be the last game for Gin before Nationals, and the first ever time Squidcom defeats a member of the Big Four, the fans of both sight exploding with arrays of emotions as the rivalry game arrives at another chapter. The game mode is Turf War, the final one that has yet to make an appearance in this match; from here onward, it's recycle of the previous modes. Both sides are ready for the countdown for differing reasons: Squidcom is a game away from defeating the defending champions and making an appearance in the semifinals while Beacon Hills are staring at elimination. A surprising sight for some, the many spectators connect to Squidcom can help but hold their breath in anticipation of the shocking development, from Fuchsia and Kosami singing the team fight song at the height of the vocal capacity, to Sky and Pastelle silently sweating the thought of what could go wrong, to the families of the team-present and at home, all nervously rooting them on. It's do or die for both sides as the clock ticks, the voice of the masses echoing behind them. Flags are waved, songs are sung, and the colors of Black and Silver clash with Blue and Pink as the whistle blows for the third game. An immediate reflex, Beacon Hills are out of spawn. Both sides bring their best as they exit spawn and ink the turf, the sight of blue and silver covering everywhere in a time lapse. In this game, all the attention shifted towards Squidcom with many rooting for them to pull off the shocking upset sweep, while on the other side, many were hoping to see Beacon Hills breakthrough the wall that was blocking them from victories in the previous couple of games. For game 3, a shift in play style became Squidcom's approach now that they weren't playing for a specific objective, their perspective for the game focusing on a central area to mark while prioritizing winning matchups when presented, they were also on the mindset of avoiding an aggressive push of over extending into Beacon Hills' turf mostly due to the awareness that Beacon Hills were a quick team capable of knocking them off their feet if they weren't careful. Beacon Hills played with a similar strategy to Squidcom for this game, although the primary difference was found in their map placement. While Squidcom targeted the central area of the track, Beacon Hills wanted the ends in belief that encircling Squidcom proved better than just meeting them halfway for a skirmish. To Gin, it's clear their aggression won't match the sparks of Squidcom, so even if it was frustrating to fight in an end around tactic, they'd do it in a heartbeat if it's the most reasonable option. And thus, Game 3 continues.

"That's another splat for Reice!"

"Gin delivers a double!"

"Violet with the damage on Platinum, Azule on the rebound with the finish."

The commentators are deeply invested in the game thanks to the surprise outcome of Squidcom's lead. From Reice's splat to Gin's double taking down Jory and Reice, to Violet and Azule's team effort to eliminate Platinum, the game is still an even battle as only Azule and Violet remain for Squidcom while Gin and Silvia remain for Beacon Hills. The time remaining is 1:52. The first minutes of the game were a stalemate with both sides covering their turf carefully before the first blood was drawn to bring the game to what it is so far. Right now Beacon Hills are making an effort to keep the game close with the advantage of having more ink expulsion than Squidcom's side. Squidcom's approach changed as they ditched the idea of a close centered battle and instead swapped for a rotational move where they flow throughout the map and face whoever crosses their path, either mercilessly ending them on the spot or dipping for a retreat if numbers didn't favor them or they might lose out the battle. A curious gold inkling watches on with crossed arms and a raised chin, the arrogance in his posture radiant as he shines in Black and Gold attire, a scowl present as his eyebrows furrow watching the series of events. "Serves you right…" he mumbled with spite after seeing his brother fight to keep the series alive, his wandering eyes searching for every member of both sides to take mental notes in preparation-recording their body language and mannerisms in the most minute of details for anything that might give him a psychological edge. As his eyes shift from the defending Alumia to combating Violet to Platinum rushing to her aid to Jory on the attack, he wondered how many years had passed since he last saw Gin in such a helpless situation. Jin crosses his arms with a cruciform of veins sprouting on his forehead the longer the match continues, disdain apparent as he critiques his brother's performance. Compared to the amazed reaction of his juniors who found the unfolding sequence of events to be entertaining, he felt utter disgust in seeing his own blood relative find difficulty in dispelling what he considered an easy opponent. It took him months of punishment and acceptance to come to grips that he not only made a massive error with his actions in the winter, but that his brother was worthy of taking away his title, and yet here he is-a mighty alpha- struggling against inexperienced cubs and facing a losing series down a couple games. Embarrassing. Disrespectful. Hilarious. To Jin, this sight was all of those things. Indeed he hated seeing Gin struggle, but it wasn't because of anything sentimental like brotherly pride, he was just upset that Gin took his title and was now dragging it through the mud with such a pitiful performance; at the same time however he couldn't help but find humor in seeing the almighty Gin who almost never show his emotions take a slap to the face from a bunch of first years. To get what he wanted after struggling behind the shadows of Jin and the Special Forces, now he couldn't even put up a fight against a team of first years. "Pitiful. Here I thought we'd meet in the next round…"

As though he could hear his brother's thoughts, Gin upgraded his performance, playing aggressively as though he'd been provoked. His shot accuracy improves tremendously as he honed his targets on the key members like Violet and Azule, his intensity resonating with the rest of Beacon Hills who in turn turn the game around by applying further pressure to the team stumbling on their heels. Even so, Squidcom still pressed on as the game waned with the intention to get the sweep and deal a heavy blow to the psyche of their future opponents. However, the powerful force of Beacon Hills proved too much for the squids in blue to make a successful defense as the fans were finally treated to a Beacon Hills victory. Regarded by many in attendance as a close call, the vocal supporters of Beacon Hills felt rejuvenated after that showcase of dominance in the third game. The flags of Beacon Hills wave proudly as the school sings their fight song, nearly quaking the area around them with their energetic aura of hopping in rhythm to the tune; an action of intimidation, many of the neutrals leaning towards supporting Squidcom found themselves stuck in the middle after that convincing performance with some even jumping ship to root for the Silver and Black instead. On the turf, both sides still have fight in them with Beacon Hills looking a little more calm now that they got a game back, and Squidcom still look ready for a fight-upset they couldn't get the sweep but understanding that this is the flow of a competitive series; of course it wouldn't be an easy run from here. In the fourth game where they returned to the Splat Zones, nothing separates the two teams' equal hunger for victory as they clashed right from the beginning. Azule led Squidcom; Gin led Beacon Hills. Violet took to the higher ground only to be checked by Alumia and Silvia, but Reice and Jory made sure play in the zone and cover for her while also keeping Platinum at bay, aware of the danger he posed as the second most explosive player on the Hills' side. Several possession changes and lead changes occur through the game as it'd go from complete silver to all blue, the leads shifting from Beacon Hills to Squidcom and back to Beacon Hills. Splats were plenty more common in this game than the other games combined! Every player got taken down at least five times, with a zone losing possession the moment a trio of the team got splatted. A roller coaster of a battle as the time nears its end, the stories for the two teams were apparent: If Squidcom held off Beacon Hills-not only would it be a monumental upset but they could make a great case to be favorites for winning it all given Beacon Hills were the favorites and defending champions of the winter, while for Beacon Hills a win here meant they could deal a massive blow to the confidence of Squidcom and mount all the pressure on the team of first years who managed to capture everyone's hearts with their surprise run. A high stakes game with plenty on the line, the score is 24-38 left in favor of Beacon Hills who're stuck in the bonus but still fighting vigilantly to stop Squidcom's comeback. Squidcom went on a run and managed to capture both zones thanks to the efforts of Violet in picking off Alumia and Platinum and severely damaging Silvia enough that she had to retreat, opening the way for them to claim the zones effortlessly as Gin was taken out prior by Jory. A lead dwindling by the count, Squidcom go from 38 to 32, then to 28-chipping away at the lead of the Beacon Hills and nearing a chance for a knockout. Hearts are pounding furiously for Beacon Hills who can sense despair approaching as Squidcom are undeniably about to overtake them when their hero comes to the rescue, bringing the crowd to go berserk as the end approaches with all the heavy hitters returning in time. Gin goes on the attack and takes down Azule first knowing he's the most dangerous opponent, followed by drawing in the rest of Squidcom by attacking one of the zones with the help Silvia who hadn't been splatted. Jory and Reice go on the defensive and leave Violet to defend the other zone by herself with confidence that she wouldn't allow a single enemy on point. The beginning of the end, Gin's speed increased tenfold as she darted passed the pair and went for Violet instead; Alumia and Platinum arrive, super jumping to Silvia's coordinates.

"Violet gets splatted by Gin! He's on for the open zone she'd been guarding. Jory's off to defend the open zone; Beacon Hills just need this second zone to begin the task of getting out the bonus!" the commentator shouts rising to his feet.

"If they can seize the zone and erase that bonus they'll only have two dozen points to clear for a knockout, but time is expiring with a little under a minute left in the game!"

A surprise for everyone watching, Beacon Hills flipped the switch when it mattered most and took apart Squidcom seamlessly; eliminate Azule, and the rest become light weight. A difficult pill to swallow, Azule returns to an unfavorable condition as his team's been wiped out, and the possession of the zone and the lead are in favor of Beacon Hills with time expiring. I...I can't make this, can I!? Azule thought sweating bullets as he arrived at the scene of silver and blue, though silver completely cover the zone. If he tried to interfere now, he'd get overwhelmed by them, and he couldn't channel Midnight for a wasteful attempt because a loss here didn't mean the end of the series and he couldn't subject himself to further punishment just yet. A difficult scenario to walk away from, Azule knew that's why they attacked at such an opportune time and why they had yet to pursue him aggressively, instead inviting him to throw the first punch-they knew this game was as good as done. As he stares down every member of Beacon Hills, he knew he couldn't mistake their irritating grins and glinting eyes for arrogance. Instead, it was frustration for having been pushed this far against a team they didn't expect to play to such a level-appreciation that even in an era where they stood at the top, there still remained capable teams with an insane fighting spirit willing to push them to the limit. He returns their smirks with a fierce one of his own, the embers channeling in glare as they both echoed the same words in their minds.

We'll settle this in the next game...

Game 4 ends in a victory for Beacon Hills, who would've nearly had a knockout if it wasn't for time expiring earlier. The atmosphere of the crowd went electric as once again it was Beacon Hills showing the most excitement and Squid Academy's supporters starting to get disheartened as Beacon Hills were on a two game win streak looking to come back and win after dropping the first pair. A classic scenario that no team wanted to be part of as the losers, the anxiety and abrasion between the two crowds of supporters grew by the second. With the series still in the balance, what will Squidcom do? That much is thought by an octoling dressed in a suit wearing a puffy afro, his shades covering his gaze and his collar puffed a little bit to show a gold chain. His hands are in his pockets as he checks the score once gain, shaking his head after seeing Squidcom give up yet another game to the seasoned Beacon Hills. From the body language of the teams on the turf to the rambunctious crowds showing their support, he could only observe the game from afar and dissect what outcome follows next.

"The curtains will close soon…" he mumbled under his breath raising his chin, overlooking the sight before him.