The sun is blazing with a piercing shine overlooking the yellow sands and the mountains sitting in the backdrop where a stadium sits off in the distance, inside that stadium are thousands of fans seated with some who traveled a great distance to come watch their school play. A wave of cheers and several flags swinging from side to side with the school bands playing opposite of another, the thousands of pink and blue shirts hopping and bopping chanting excitedly in their debut appearance at Nationals met by the energetic red, green, and yellow shirts of the opposing supporters. Nervously leading the call of Squid Academy is Bianca, dressed in the team gear wearing war paint and putting her heart into keeping them upbeat and vocal by encouraging them to make some noise. Thousands follow her and sing the praises of their school, pumped up and ready for their first battle that'll take place in the desert. With the stadium venue being out in the Shamsa desert, the teams had more than their nerves to wrestle with as they faced boorish winds and searing heat sure to sap their energy away like the many quicksand pits out in the wild. Gathered together just outside the entrance to the field and surrounding their head coach, Squid Academy turn to the princess for guidance as they their nervousness is expressed through their silence. Capturing a glance at their faces, the octoling coach resonated with them when it came to the situation presented, but reminded them that though it might seem scary to go out there on a stage where the entire world will scrutinize their every move, this is only the first step to making an unforgettable run. It all starts with them…
"I'm nervous too!" Fuchsia said, opening her arms wide; "Despite that, I'm here talking to every single one of you here with the calmest tone I can muster because I understand that sometimes we need to be brave even when we're unable to. I might not be the one out there fighting, but I'm in this battle with all of you every step of the way!" she said following up with a shadow box jab, her genuine expression seeming to calm their nerves as some flash a tiny smirk in response while others did their best to wipe their grins. As she leads them outside to the team introduction followed by the school band playing loud and proud followed by a huge acapella from their supporters who were elated that after all these years, they're back on the big stage. One look around and the Squid Academy players felt a new sense of responsibility, the thousands of heads out in the stand looking endless!
"Damn, did everyone come through?" Reice muttered in disbelief, unaware their school had these many supporters.
A long walk to the sideline where they then got settled under the shade, the starting six looked ready to go as they all wear focused looks with their hearts already on the field. "Anything you'd like to add, captain?" Fuchsia asks, breaking Azule's concentration as he keeps his gaze out on field at the tower that laid in the center.
All eyes on what their captain had to say, they watch on as he rubs the back of his neck struggling to put his thoughts into speech. After a few seconds pass with the muffled cheers drowning out the awkwardness-he finally looks to them with some confidence, "We stare at our first trial within the group of death, and so to speak, our first gate on the long journey through Nationals. It'll get daunting at times, and there will be periods where your mind will break despite your body still attempting to move automatically, your body will fail you even when your mind is unwavering with resolve. In those times, I want you to remember the struggles you've overcome to get here: everyone here has a story to them with something to prove, draw on those experiences to inject you with adrenaline and keep you moving. Treat this tournament like it is life or death, do not waste a single breath or movement on the idea of defeat! No matter what happens, don't give up!" Azule shouts, his voice getting fired up the more he continued while clenching his fists with a tremble, still nervous about playing in front of such a crowd with an expectation. Even if he didn't do a great job at hiding it, everyone appreciated how seriously he was treating this tournament and admired that even when he's nervous, he's still considerate of his teammates and chose to lead rather than shrink. What follows is a long walk to their spawn point, the starting six of Azule, Reice, Violet, Jory, Pastelle, and Todd making their exit and leaving behind their cheering teammates to start their war. They could feel their chests about to burst, their knees wobbling a bit and their heads hot all while a sharp pain stabs them in their stomachs-to think in a matter of moments it all would melt away under the spirit of competition.
"It's finally happening…!" Jory said with a nervous laugh holding his chest, a little bit terrified as his knees buckle during the walk.
"Don't worry buddy, it'll be the first of many!" Pastelle said with a cheerful expression in hopes to calm him down, giving him a pat and rub on the back.
Violet looks over to Reice with a disgusted look, "You're not going to throw up are you?"
"Hm? Worried about me, my sweet mafiosa?" Reice teases with fluttering eyes and puckering his lips; Violet holds up her fist with an irritated expression.
"Be appropriate, Galloway. We need you to be focused if we'll make an impact." Todd sighed, getting between them once he sensed the malice of Violet.
"I know, I know." Reice chuckled.
Walking behind them, Azule couldn't help but smile at how far his team came from the small bunch they had in the beginning. That smile fades however as his mind wanders into the deep thoughts he had prior before Fuchsia interrupted them. Over and over he repeats in his mind that he must save Midnight for the right moment, stomping through the darkness of his indecisiveness with conviction. A change from what he'd been practicing the entire time during training, it was all because of one encounter that opened his eyes just before the big event. Recalling the previous night, Azule tunes out of reality and into his memory, looking to reinforce why he must refrain from using his signature weapon. After everyone headed to their rooms to get some well needed sleep, Azule wandered the resort with a heavy head filled with cluttered thoughts, his feet dragging under the weight of his mind's overwork. After arriving at the lobby, he walked outside to notice his sister was out there enjoying the nighttime sky and the several twinkling stars that shined even prettier with the lit up pool waters before her. Joining her side, he interrupts the peace with several questions, though she's happy to answer them to the best of her knowledge; from seeking advice about how to handle the day to how he should manage himself in between matches much like he did with Dr. Sinclair, he ended it off by asking her if she expected to make a surprise appearance tomorrow.
"I doubt it." Sky shrugged her shoulders with a little annoyance since she'd rather him go to bed and be well rested for his big debut; "Everyone is insistent on maintaining the plan of utilizing our starters and saving the seniors for the troublesome games like Crystal Coast, Kalebrough and then that game against the Bluerings, or maybe even the Titans-all depends. Either way, I doubt I'll get activated for these other games, so I'm expecting you to step it up as our captain-don't depend on us."
"You're right about that. I find this whole condition surrounding you and the others to be so tricky since we'll have to be especially careful in avoiding mistakes, so I was wondering if it'd be beneficial to play each of you in separate matches one by one since each of you are ridiculously skilled-"
"-Remember we're still rusty, Zule." Sky said crossing her arms with a disapproving gaze.
"I-I understand, I really do! We can't steer away from the plan and disagreement would only sow discord, which we can't afford."
"Glad you understand, then."
"Even so, you're the Midnight Sky! I've seen it for myself firsthand just how amazing you are. When you get serious, you can go up against the best in the world, an exciting person to watch, and overall you have that special something that I just can't describe! It's inspiring to see you play. I know that with us on the turf together, we'd tear a new one in our opponents!" he said with an unusual air of confidence, one that he could only show now that he had the comforting support of an amazing talent like Sky in his arsenal.
Sky's grateful for his praise and even flashes a tiny smile but shakes her head in disagreement, "I'm nothing more than a name now, and I have to be honest, I think the true strength of our team is within you." Her face blushes as she tries to hide the awkwardness she felt; "Look, you aren't just the captain of this team, but their light. Everyone looks to you for guidance, for strength. We all know the adversity you've overcome, and in times like the one approaching will we needs to rely on that reliable strength. The all blazing sun that shines with grace and guidance and expels the darkness known as doubt…I'm thankful to call you family and share the same blood."
"W-well…!" Azule short circuited, surprised to hear such immense praise from someone like her.
Sky's eyes began to water a bit before she looks away and wipes them, unable to hold her composure whenever she looks at him, understanding the connection she had with Hatu now. When she saw Azule, she didn't just see her little brother, but a piece of her youth that would never return. She saw a responsibility that was well worth the trouble seeing how far he's grown up, even to the point that she now relies on him. "Yes, you are the sun and I am the moon." she said in a melancholy tone with a sad smile.
"The moon still carries the tides. Without the moon, we'd be lost in the eternal darkness as w-"
"Anyways, shouldn't you get some rest?" Sky said looking to change the subject.
Azule shakes his head, "I don't feel tired, if anything I'm more energized than ever! Besides, there's one last thing I want to know about..."
"Too excited to sleep, huh? Well, I guess keeping you company isn't so bad." she said letting some silence simmer between them and allowing the still pool water and nocturnal creatures keep them company. "What's on your mind? Talk to me."
Azule's gaze turns serious, "It's about Midnight. We've been hard at it for these last few weeks to better our form, and I'm a little pressed about what to do tomorrow. I want to use it but..."
"I consider it more a curse than a blessing-an outlet for unlimited power that comes with tremendous consequences." She said closing one eye and looking down at her little brother to see if he followed her.
Azule wears a determined look, "I want to master it."
Sky looked at him with a contemptuous smile, "Things really just go in one ear and out the other, huh?"
"Apologies if I'm being naive, it's just that I'm a little hesitant about my own strength for this battle. When I'm in Midnight mode, I can feel that invincibility! I feel like I can contend with anyone and everyone-so focused that I can manage and heighten my senses."
"It comes at a price, though. That form is addicting, but it'll destroy your body before you can truly reap any benefits. Indeed, it's a strange phenomenon where the moment we enter that state we're almost supernatural with our ability and there are times it can seem like we're entirely different people when we activate it, but the consequences are brutal."
"I know. I know all too well…" Azule said a solemn tone, remembering what happened in the winter but preferring not to call the event; Sky scoffed just recalling the event, closing her eyes with a strained look struggling to remove it from memory.
"I'm also a little concerned about our schedule, too. We have to play Towson first, then we have Crystal Coast and Kalebrough afterwards. It'll be an arduous task managing a hat trick of victories without relying on Midnight."
"You're making a mistake in how you perceive Midnight, it seems. That mode is powerful but if you think back to the Invitational, you saw firsthand that it can't do everything. At the end of the day your true strength defines everything, while that form is only meant to be a booster. I saw for myself how much you've grown, so I can say with confidence that you'll be fine for tomorrow, and besides…"
"What? Gonna leave me hanging?"
"Oh, I was waiting for you to finish the sentence for me. It's a team game at the end of the day, so learn to rely on your team as well. You don't need to carry the burden all on your shoulders. You've got a terrible habit of doing that."
A conversation that provoked his thoughts that night, he took her advice and threw it in with what he already knew and thoroughly scrutinized everything, searching for an answer that kept him up the entire night, feeling that it was his responsibility as the team captain to think of ways to support the team beyond Fuchsia's tactics-he needed to improvise in the case that teams came prepared to counter the coach's plans, especially since she made a name for herself off the crazy tactics she managed to find success with. He wanted to throw them off guard, to make the opponent guess themselves more than they spent on guessing what he and his squad would do, and the answer he arrived at borrowed wisdom from Sky: He'll avoid using Midnight by any means. Calm and ready to go now that he was convinced this was the best course of action, he's met by Reice and Violet, who pat him on the back to bring him to his senses-their game just about to start. In attendance to watch this game were some of the stars who performed yesterday who were interested in seeing what all the talk was about the team who got stuck in the group of death. Shiore and Takahashi of Hugh-Napri are there for their own reasons, though Takahashi admitted to Shiore he came along because Shiori asked him to keep an eye on her. Royce of the Rukovna Emperors is also in attendance, interested in seeing the improvement of Azule Royale and what the rest of the inklings he battled that day, a little disappointed to learn that Sally wouldn't be playing in the tournament. Romaine of Vulerby also came by to watch for some entertainment, as well as Toka's "Silent Killer" Kazuma and the Monarch's "King of the Seas" Sinbad who both heard the rumors about the talent of Squid Academy.
Today's schedule is a repeat of what the teams played through yesterday, which meant Squid Academy opens up their campaign with a tower control game and their starting six already at the spawn point and watching their teammates who sat under the shade of the sidelines; located in the middle of the Shamsa desert, a famous area where the ruins of ancient civilizations remained as well as some other landmarks like a massive oasis and an aircraft base that was gracious enough to hold some of the games. Dressed in royal blue jerseys with a burst of salmon pink, Squidcom will have pink ink while their opponents stick to the choice of green while donning red and yellow outfits, the response from the crowd positive as both sides introduce their starting lineup. First up was Towson Senior, who had a solid starting six and were a team with a small roster, though they were quite skilled with great stamina and offered a solid challenge for Squid Academy who despite having a better understanding of one another after training have never once played together on the same floor until today; they may have the advantage with depth, but Squid Academy's chemistry was their biggest question and Towson would do well to exploit that by getting them flustered from the beginning. As the stadium's volume lowers, the countdown clock ticks-a matter of seconds separating both team's new campaigns!
As the spawn points are open, one inkling is already quick to the punch and speeding through the hilly setup of the map as if anticipating the scenario beforehand. Distance created immediately, Azule shouts out orders for his trailing partners and as followed, they assume position: Azule, Jory, and Pastelle proceed forward with Reice just a little behind them and Violet branching off for the flank and Todd heading the opposite way; Towson had the opposite approach with all their members staying huddled together on the way to the tower. A clash in tactics right away, many of the players spectating were questioning Fuchsia's planned formation, aware that she'd become a talked about name in the scene thanks to all the crazy schemes she devised-it appears Nationals is no different. A spearhead trio of attack, the pink finally meets the green and the sandy terrain is dyed in a matter of seconds. Azule shifts right, Jory takes the left and Pastelle hops on the tower; Towson came in strong with their dense numbers and pressured the trio on the tower. Azule does well to roll out of danger with his dualies and keep them at bay, but it's difficult to get aggressive when he's got more people to worry about on his end. Jory's also holding them off pretty well thanks to his improved accuracy and pairing with a splattershot pro, which merged into a perfect weapon for attack as he's able to keep a decent space between himself and his opponents and apply pressure. The real surprise was Pastelle, however, who not only took the tower and got on the move but managed to get the splat on one of Towson's own! A reckless move by one of the players of Towson, who attempted to intercept Pastelle met a swift end as Pastelle wiped him off the map in an instant; the entire stadium is brought to their feet in amazement as for just a moment, it appeared as though they witnessed something extraordinary from Squid Academy. Towson Senior doesn't fret on that loss and instead use their numbers to their advantage and rush for the tower, doing well to avoid fire from Azule and Jory. But before they can do anything about Pastelle and the moving tower, they're met by a wave of pink that comes crashing overhead.
"There it is!" the main commentator shouts in excitement as Reice enters the match with a bang, drenching Towson in one strike. Left in critical damage, Towson's nightmare only worsens with the appearance of another inkling to their rear followed by a powerful strike that eliminates a pair from their side in an instant. "In their first ever rally for the objective, Squid Academy have announced their debut to the world!" the commentator adds, continuing to give the play-by-play as Squid Academy gets a team kill and occupies the tower; the color commentator can only whistle in amazement after such a performance, and he's not the only one impressed by their display.
"Damn…" Takahashi mutters under his breath, his mouth dropping after such a showcase in the opening minutes; Shiore cracks a tiny smile, impressed to see the team looks far stronger than she imagined.
"Awesome work everyone!" Fuchsia claps excitedly as they advance the tower with some pace thanks to having the entire team on board; even aboard the tower and hiding in the own ink, they made sure to ink a path and leave options open for the escape, positioned at having their main shooters ready for dispatch with Violet and Reice to the rear to be protected. A bit of a gamble for their opening play, it seemed to have paid off in creating a lead that surely wouldn't last too long without being challenged. All of them knew that after that move, Towson were likely to come back far more aggressively and likely even take the tower away from them with force as a return of the favor.
"How far away are we?" Reice asked while listening to the tune of the tower, watchful of his surroundings.
Pastelle reads the map, "We've got a comfortable lead and we'll need just a little bit more to go, but the six seconds are up, so we can expect them to show up soon."
"That's fine, we know what to do." Todd said with a nod.
Azule's eyes are distant as he analyzes the field, "Violet, Reice, step off and retreat for cover. They'll be coming any moment, so we'll need to protect you both."
"Roger!" They respond and follow his order with a retreat.
Pastelle stays on the tower while Jory, Azule, and Todd scout ahead and as expected, here comes Towson Senior with their entire team ready for the fight. Unlike before where they underestimated the strength of Squid Academy, they had all guns blazing and showed some fire on their attack. The turf switches from pink to green in a flash as they choke the area looking to force Squid Academy to retreat to the tower and trap them there-a textbook more to get rid of a team who prioritized the objective above all else. The inkling wearing the captain's armband for Towson barks orders desperately with a scowl, already seething after having allowed the rookies to get a jump on her side with the entire world watching. As commanded, Towson split their forces and disperse-half press forward for the tower and the others continued to cover their surroundings to make it difficult for Squid Academy to run anywhere. Nashanique, the captain of Towson, noticed that something seemed off about the Squid Academy defenses. Only one person on the tower? Their forces clearly reduced...what could it mean if the team willingly had less players at the objective? Didn't they know it was a grave risk to leave the tower open? If Towson got control they were capable of reaching a knockout, so that meant Squid Academy had to be pulling off these schemes for a type of shock factor, at least that's what she arrived at. But there's no time to confirm her suspicions as the octoling before her proves troublesome with his blistering pace and frightening accuracy. She keeps tabs on the tower and views her surroundings while avoiding a close encounter with Jory and at the same time the rest of Towson were doing their best to keep Squid Academy on their toes.
"They should be easier to penetrate with all these holes exposed, so why…?" Dexter said with despair, finding the task of eliminating Pastelle off the tower near impossible with the way she's able to dance around the multiple fires of ink all while on the tower.
"Earl, Solange, 'round the tower and close in. They don't have everyone here for some reason, so they must be up to something. Let's kill two birds with one stone and draw them out while still taking the tower!" Steve ordered, also noticing that something smelled fishy with the way Squid Academy is operating with only four visible; Azule and Todd, made sure their attempt to seize the tower bears no fruition, joining in with Pastelle from the flank and pulling a squeeze on them. At that moment, the final two make their return…
Gotcha! Violet shouts in her mind pulling the trigger from a high point after observing everything that took place; at the same time on the opposite side, a wave of pink floods the area as Reice bring down the sea of ink to unload a super amount of damage and left it to the rest to finish them off.
Now hitting their stride after a successful offensive and defensive play in consecutive fashion, Squid Academy have wrestled away the momentum from their opponents and seemingly taken control over the match. Towson Senior are reeling after failing to contain them on the play, and now they face danger as Squid Academy quickly approach the goal. A far quicker match than anyone anticipated, nobody thought the first round would conclude in almost a minute with many expecting this series to go down the wire based on the skill sets of both sides, but Squid Academy's surprising aggression and willingness to gamble weren't something anyone anticipated. A knockout victory looming nearer and nearer, Towson respawn and are forced to use their critical thinking: Concede the knockout in this first round and regroup for the next round, or put up a fight and make a comeback to not only seize the momentum and advantage but also deal a massive blow to the team's psyche. After tussling with them a few times and gauging the power of the team, Towson had an idea of how to approach Squid Academy and their vicious lineup that seemed to work perfectly. Squid Academy arrived a few moments later with the tower, and unlike prior where they were cautious about their advancement, the team had everyone on the tower and ready to cause a commotion. A crucial moment in the match already, the winner of this skirmish and round seemingly had the momentum to win it all with the way the flow of battle proceeded. Squid Academy looked to be the stronger side based on their performance, but Towson Senior were an experienced side who already know the highs and lows of the tournament-this match is far from over. In an instant, Squid Academy breakaway from the tower with Reice and Violet holding onto possession while the others clash with the enemy; Towson's response is similar, choosing to match their man-to-man formation and take them down singularly.
"This is a gamble." Fuchsia said watching on with a concentrated look, her gaze focused on the movement of the opponent.
Next to her watching the first round unfold is Sky, "Towson's mindset altered greatly after getting punched in the mouth. They likely will put up a fight here in hopes they can spark some magic, but it's clear based on their body language what they're eyeing."
"Yeah, we got the jump on them in this game, but the next round will prove problematic." Fuchsia nods with some concern.
Sky raises her chin and shuts one eye with a curious look, "Gonna sub them out?"
"Nope."
"Fine…but you know this match would be over in a heartbeat if you put me in, right?" she elbows the coach in a persuasive tone in hopes to have her number called soon, but Fuchsia didn't look very tolerant on her attempts to convince her.
"I'm well aware." Fuchsia responds plainly, almost ignoring her entirely.
"Then, put me in! Put me in coach!"
"Nope."
"WHY NOT?"
"Patience, Sky." Apollo said joining the pair; "We can't put you all in right away, remember? Why are you getting so worked up now of all times?"
"I thought I could handle it but after seeing this battle up close, the urge is hitting me hard. I really want to get out there and make a difference!"
"I understand, and you will in due time." Apollo chuckled.
Fuchsia wears an appreciative smile for her star's competitive spirit, "Right now let's believe in their strength."
The skirmish between the teams saw several casualties-mostly on Towson Senior's side as they struggled to adjust to the brisk pace of Squid Academy's vanguard. Although Nashanique managed to get her revenge on Jory, it didn't last long when she got targeted by Violet almost instantly. For the others, they didn't stand a chance of getting anywhere near the zone-not because of Violet and Reice who proved to be troublesome with their charger and roller combination, but because of the likes of Azule, Pastelle, and Todd constantly on guard swarming them the moment they entered range. In knockout fashion, Squid Academy claimed their first ever victory and in an impressive display of talent, they sent the stadium roaring with cheers. Demonstrating to the world that they carry explosive power of their own, the place got so loud that the players couldn't even hear themselves think during the break. Clam Blitz follows after the brief rest for the competing sides, the second round kick off far more energetic than prior as everyone stands on their feet excited to see if Squid Academy will replicate what they did in the previous round. Squid Academy still look on-edge with rattled nerves, but far tamer than before the first round now that they managed to not only get over one game, but even win it; Towson look far more intense than before, now understanding the challenge presented before them-their pride on the line, they didn't want to fall down a couple games to a rookie team on the biggest stage in the world. They knew what adjustments needed to be made if they would stand up to Squid Academy's intensity as the rookie side not only have a brewing storm that wore the captain's armband, but the instant thunderclap strikes from Violet were something to be wary of as well, and then there's the tsunami-like stroke of Reice that proved troublesome to dodge or absorb since aversion from him meant they'd have to handle the likes of the other three dangerous members of the starting six: a balanced octoling who had both the sharp pace and power to latch on once he locates his target, a powerful inkling who played with a latent aggression hidden behind a calm mask of experience, and an inkling who carried an aura similar to that of a floor general who proved efficient in successfully completing her objective rather than getting thirsty for the kills they figured out that should she swap roles and go on the offensive, they would struggle greatly.
After the terrain is altered to fit a clam blitz battle, the two sides wait patiently for the next round to begin. The moment spawn opens, they hit their stride and break away swiftly. The sound of weapons firing, the ink splattering the turf, and clams getting collected, both sides are doing well to avoid one another at the moment and focus on carrying out the objective. Towson's playing far more cautiously than prior now that they got punched in the face, wary of their surroundings while collecting clams. To counter any possible surprises from Squid Academy, they ran a 2-2-2 formation where they left a pair to guard the basket, another pair to focus on collecting the clams and then the final pair to transit between the two and scan the areas. A careful setup to avoid anything momentous working against them, they gather enough to form a power clam, but before they can set their sights to attacking the opponent's basket, they already received calls for backup from their pair at the post who spotted the enemy. Out in their numbers, Squid Academy once again make another huge gamble early in the game with only one person back to defend and the rest on the attack. A decision that had Fuchsia's fingerprints all over it, Squid Academy had Reice guarding the basket and the rest carrying loads of clams, looking to snag another knockout victory and mount the pressure on Towson, who were already still recovering mentally from the first round. Disoriented and sloppy, Towson's defending pair of Dexter and Earl do their best to stall the attacking five, aware that the only one carrying the power clam was Todd while the others had various clams they were waiting to unload the moment the basket opens; they couldn't let them get the jump so early again. What follows is a vicious bath of pink and green as both sides attempt to trap the other and gain advantage with Azule, Pastelle, and Jory focusing on deterring Dexter and Earl while Violet tries to clap them in one shot, but Dexter and Earl are wary of their attack and dodge as much as possible, offsetting their attacks by throwing out splat walls and ink mines to run them off. All in the name of survival, the pair hold out long enough for help to arrive in the form of Nashanique and Ralph, who ease the burden with their extra bodies to make it a five on four battle. Over on Squid Academy's goal, Reice's mission as a guardian truly begins once he spots a pair of enemy bodies approach him with a pair of power clams.
"Oh no you don't!" Reice shouts jumping down and bringing his roller down with a slam, sending a splash of pink in the green duo's direction. Solange and Steve split up right away but Reice is still tracking them with his eagle eyes, aware that they'll pull a pincer attack and strike the goal once the coast is clear, or at least that's what they wanted him to think! "Back off!" Reice shouts contorting his body on the twist and flinging a wall of ink at the basket and thwarting the path of the power clam thrown by Steve.
Steve's power clam drops to the ground, but that doesn't stop Solange from launching her power clam as well. A difficult position he's put in as he's already running low on ink, Reice decides to threat the needle and already in a spinning motion from landing his initial hit launches the remaining ink at Solange in a last gasp attempt that pays off. Not only did he save the basket but he disarmed them of their power clams, swiftly refilling and going on the attack with some slams and forcing them to retract a bit. He's breathing heavy after nearly screwing up, but Reice gives the pair of taste of why the team trusted him alone with the basket. Solange is stunned by what she witnessed and Steve's aggravated that the inkling somehow managed to turn that situation around; the fans are ecstatic after that display and right now it felt like the entire stadium was cheering on Squid Academy. The Towson pair aren't about to give up however, since they managed to retain their power clams, which meant they had another chance to attack him-though it can't a rushed attempt since he was worth some skill. A matter of seconds felt like minutes passed as the pair spent that time shaking off an aggressive Reice who managed to keep them outside the range of the basket, but the pair are desperate to snag the momentum before it's too late, prepared to return on the attack. But before they can do so, a thunderous shot cracks through the air and nearly splats them both in a single fire that belonged to only one inkling. Right then and there, the pair realized what Reice had been up to by the constant pursuit seemed pointless other than to drive them off since he couldn't splat them clean enough and they always managed to escape to their own ink.
"Took you long enough!" Reice laughs, wiping the beads of sweat off his face.
Violet looks down at him from her post, "Watching you chase them around was entertaining."
"Whatever!"
An even battle now that Violet is in the mix, things just got far more difficult for the Towson Senior pair. At the same time over by the Towson basket, Azule and the rest of Squid Academy are in a deadlock attempting to break the tie and score the opening points. After a series of exchanges that saw plenty of bodies get splatted and super jumped back into the fray, neither side allowed the other to get the edge. Whenever it looked as though Towson managed to quell Squid Academy's flames, the team ignited with greater intensity. This moment is no different as Squid Academy are once again bringing the attack with an unimaginable four power clams in the fold, gathered up from steady salvaging and the likes of Azule and Pastelle maintaining the attack. Jory secures some distance and lines up the basket, Azule and Pastelle continue their aggressive advancement, and Todd continues to confuse them by appearing all over the place yet refrain from throwing the power clam. Towson are left wary having to keep guard on the basket, comparing this moment to the sensation of being in an underwater cage surrounded by sharks that circle in wait for an attack. A match so intense this early on usually meant that the team who could break through first would likely capture the victory since the team on the losing end usually exhausted themselves trying to get the elusive advantage. With no end in sight between the two sides, a single power clam is chucked in the air with the power and trajectory to target the basket, leaving the gentle and steady hands of Jory who watches on with his mouth wide open in anticipation of a break to the deadlock. Almost soaring in slow motion and sucking the air out of the battlefield, they all watch as the power clam nears the Towson basket, seemingly confirming Squid Academy's well deserved lead in the opening minute. The crowd gasps, but not just because Jory's power clam collided with the barrier, but also because there was another clam that reached the barrier on the other end, a simultaneous collision!
"Both sides strike at the same time! But the team who got their barrier broken first is…!"
Right away, Towson knew from their barrier surviving that Solange and Steve managed to pull through, and before they could waste any more precious time entertaining Squid Academy, they hastily make for the enemy basket instead to pile on the clams and build a lead. A gamble that didn't pay off for the attacking Squid Academy, their defense is in shambles. A race to damage control for Squid Academy and a race to extend the lead on Towson Senior's part, both side still had plenty left in the tank and captivated the audience with a thriller likely to go down the wire.
They weren't the only teams giving the audience an exciting performance as the rest of the matches from the group of death matches were also living up to the hype; the entire reason why the bottom half of the group were performing in the daytime rather than in the cool evening like yesterday was because this was to help the alternating for scheduling, so next time the teams in groups A-D would play in the evening while E-H would participate in the daytime and likewise would groups I-L participate in the daytime while M-P would play at night next time. Aware of this opportunity to observe her rivals within the same group under the blistering heat, Fuchsia sent scouts to go and view the games so they could capture data on how the teams performed in this unbearable weather, finding it useful to use the weather to their advantage if possible with their upcoming games. The schedule for Squid Academy had their next game against Crystal Coast in the evening, then Kalebrough in the afternoon, so the most valuable information for the next few days would be the Kalebrough game against Fujiro, but unfortunately, that game is taking place at the Pelagi Dome. At the venue on their coach's orders, Cannola and Gileslie were analyzing the Kalebrough match but were surprised by the sequence of events that occurred. In the first round, Kalebrough shut down Fujiro in a knockout victory by managing to prevent their opponents from touching the tower even once. In the second round, Kalebrough continued to show their dominance by pummeling Fujiro in Clam Blitz and scored another knockout victory with Kappa serving as the main catalyst for their hot scorching follow-up performance. But the day wasn't without its hitches for Kalebrough, and they learned exactly why Fujiro were national caliber team; in the third round where the game mode was Rainmaker, Fujiro managed to give Kalebrough a dose of their own medicine and enforced the same aggressive approach that crossed them in the first bout. At that point, people were wondering how Kalebrough would respond since the fourth game was a crucial step regardless-but became pivotal when the score was 2-1 since a tie meant a competitive series was in store whereas a 3-1 series meant that the leading team would likely put them away. Under an immense pressure of observation from pundits and rivals alike, everyone in attendance and tuning from around the world all had their eyes on the "Wonder Girl" from Inkopolis, expecting her to answer back after dropping a game. She proved that the third game was nothing more than a hiccup, responding in the fourth round with a solid performance in turf wars.
"And there's another magnificent splat from Kippy! She's up to fifteen in this round alone!" The commentator called as Kippy brushed past the puddle that remained to continue her run, already leading the way for her team in turf inked; the game isn't close at the moment, but Kalebrough can't afford to take their opponents likely after how well they managed in the previous game. Still relying on their starting lineup of Zepp, Virgil, Kappa, and Kippy along with Pascal and Tiffany, Kalebrough kept in their reliable starters without any substitutions because they believed that the best course of action was to end the series as soon as possible, especially when they have difficult opponents in the upcoming games.
"They look good..." Shiori mutters under breath, doing her best to wear a blank expression despite already falling in love with their performance from the first pair of games. There on her personal interest for the Moreno sibling, she was the opposite of Shiore who had a profound interest in the Royale siblings. She found it interesting that for a team relatively new to the grand stage, they were already performing like a veteran bunch. From their cool-headed captain to their explosive pair of weapons with an overall solid starting cast, she couldn't erase the thought that the team playing down below would likely stand in her way to a championship in all likelihood. Interested in watching how the match plays out, she analyzes the match the same as the scouts from Inkopolis. Kippy's explosive and can seemingly turn on the jets whenever she wants, but she's far from the only one to worry about as her brother Kappa was as dependable as they get, and then there were the others who didn't carry big names like Pascal and Tiffany, who proved to be efficient when the opportunity is presented, and then there's Zepp and Virgil who were clouded by their underclassmen but oozed experience in their play.
At Alqamar Stadium, Ollie and Chlora are watching the Bluerings and Baiji game. A packed stadium over by the seaside, the whiff of the salty sea air in the lungs and the pleasant sight of the ocean off in the distance adds the unique atmosphere of a match between two very exciting opponents considered to be favorites in the tournament. Two ranked sides with promising talent, it was the brilliance of the inkling hailed as the "Greatest" from the Bluerings against the collective power of Baiji, who were the total opposite of the Bluerings. Then over at Ravia Stadium in the heart of the city, the Rebels are watching the match between Crystal Coast and the Titans, another match between ranked teams that had buzz about it thanks to the loaded talent participating. Siot of Crystal Coast was blazing through the competition, but it wasn't without a challenge as the Titans lived up to their reputation as the best defensive team in the competition. While these were all great battles living up to the hype, the main focus that garnered quite the attention for how even the battle went so early on was back in Shamsa Stadium, the score is 53-20 remaining in favor of Towson Senior, who capitalized off of the initial break with another pair of power clams and plenty of other clams tossed in to extend the lead and now only needed another power clam breakthrough to claim the knockout victory, on the other hand Squid Academy struggled to find their footing after that initial fumble and several times tried to create some momentum after scoring their initial points, but it didn't amount to much since Towson effectively shut them down. Denied on many attempts ranging from getting splat mid throw to even before they could form power clams, Squid Academy were learning the hard way that the slightest of disadvantages could spell doom unless they played near perfection. Time is expiring with a few seconds left on the clock, Towson sit comfortable on their lead but they aren't making it easier with the pressure they're applying, expecting that form to show up and wreak havoc at any moment, and so did everyone in attendance who were mystified by Midnight Azule. However, Azule already resolved to avoid using such a cheap method for victory and decided to power through the adversity, down but certainly not out. Squid Academy meet their captain halfway and put together a solid run with a pair of power clams and some spare clams gathered, ready to launch an attack and build a comeback; their formation is altered to have less attackers but it's proven helpful in preventing any more points conceded.
Little time remains as Squid Academy's spearheads gather for one final attack to force overtime in a last gasp effort, believing that if they could at least break the barrier before time expires, they have a chance to pull off a comeback. It wasn't a hopeless belief either, as they had Azule and Jory carrying a pair of power clams and Todd also carrying 8 clams of his own. If they could just break the barrier once with erased 20 points off the deficit and manage to score either all of Todd's clams or the other power clam, then they stood a chance of not only forcing overtime, but even winning by knockout! Towson knew what the bunch are up to now, finding it amusing that after igniting the inferno that suffocates the young group who are moments away from choking on the smoke and succumbing to ruin, they somehow still have enough fight left to not only grit their teeth and keep going, but to even imagine victory. Azule, Todd, and Jory are the trio entrusted with handling the critical moment while the other three focused on protecting their side to avoid a knockout defeat. All three of them wearing pained looks as they struggle to break through Towson's defenses, the combination of ink walls and burst bombs along with specials like ink storms, jets, and bubble blowers to keep them at bay. Regardless of the defending team's attempt to scare them away, the trio push forward and throw caution to the wind in hopes that this gamble can rewrite the previous failure. Azule ducks his head and picks up the pace clutching his dualies with his power clam hovering behind him, weaving in between the shots of green ink narrowly missing him; Todd is also closing in on the stacked defense of Towson who had four on the basket with the remaining pair focusing on the knockout at the other end. Fuchsia and the others on the sideline are biting their nails as their eyes dart between the turf and the clock, sweating bullets s the game reaches its climax. Everything is a blur. The cheers of the crowd, the ticking timer, the barrier that towers overhead waiting to be broken…
It felt like time slowed down in an instant as Azule consciously felt his body getting heavier with the pressure finally settling in, extending all the way into his lungs and clutching his heart like a fruit ripen for the picking. His mouth drops as his senses scream to let go of the power clam before it's too late. A wall before him, Azule only saw green in an instant that is followed by darkness and muffled noises. Cameras flash and people gasp, rising to their feet at the conclusion of the unexpected thriller of a first round between two unlikely teams within the group of death. A wasteland of green and pink, the barrier remains unpenetrated. The Towson crowd erupts in a triumphant roar as their side pull off the defensive victory and stave off a potential 2-0 match lead. Squid Academy's fans and sidelines alike are stunned, as they were just seconds-mere moments away from being up 2-0 in their first ever appearance at Nationals, but now they find themselves stuck in the bitter contest of a tied series.
"What an exemplary effort by Towson Senior to hold on and stop the attack of a surging Squid Academy! In the dying seconds of the match, Towson's Nashanique and Earl managed to clean up the trio with the help of Steve and Dexter on support. Azule launched his power clam for a prayer shot, but met a bitter taste of green ink as the Towson crew not only shut him down but handled Todd and Jory as well! A stuffed splat on the captain that was only made possible after eliminating the other two in quick succession, one has to wonder how Squid Academy will recover!"
A growing pit in their stomachs as the reality of Nationals finally settles in, Fuchsia and the others now understand just how naïve their thought process was coming into this match. They got too far ahead of themselves by thinking of some foolproof plan without ever once having a legitimate practice. Everything up to this point was pure theory, and it was only at this moment did they realize that they not only got beat, but exposed. Fuchsia brings her hand up to her forehead and tries to process everything that went down in those dying moments, but she's drawing blanks while staring at that ink covered field, worried about the condition of her players who put up a fight and were likely drained after that one. Should she make a switch and sub them out? Doing so might mess up their rhythm and even backfire since they only played together for a couple games, and then there was the indubitable trust she built with them, which would seem like betrayal if she pulled one of them aside to catch their breath. Such difficult decisions to make as the head coach, she could feel her head swelling at the overthinking. Just then, a hand rests on her shoulders and a calm tone brings her back to her senses, looking over to see the red eyes of Cobalt shining as he peered at the battlefield.
"We have to trust them." He said in the same reassuring tone as always.
Kosami walks over to them, "I think they have enough to keep going but we'll need to make some adjustments after this game."
"I agree, they exposed some of our faults so early already!" Tangie adds with a nod.
Rainmaker is the mode for the third round and will take place at Shamsa Oasis, the apparent thriller of a match this one turned out to be as more people tuned in to watch what the two teams would pull in the ever important third bout. Squid Academy won the first game in a convincing performance but Towson took the second round by denying Squid Academy emphatically. It's a toss-up to say which way the momentum swung, which is why this round was ever so important. The breaks begin for both sides as preparations are in order to transfer them to the new location where it'll only get hotter under blistering summer sun. With time ticking away as the players catch their breath and reflect on the previous battles, they know the third round awaits…
