In response to the latest review, that really hit different. I'm glad you're enjoying the story thus far and hope you continue to enjoy it. It's been plenty fun writing!
Dimly lit lights with the ensemble of crickets in the background offering an ambiance, critters roaming the grounds during the nightly hours to catch a glimpse of the action, trees rustling and the ripples in the ponds expanding, the fifth stage welcomes its competitors. The lineup looks different for Squid Academy as they wait in spawn for their game to start, the players a little nervous about debuting in such a situation. Azule, Pastelle, and Violet are calm however as the experience of previous situations comes in useful for this moment and in turn, puts their teammates at ease; they have tough shoes to fill in with the exit of Reice, Jory, and Todd. During the break, Fuchsia rallied everyone together and praised them for putting up a good effort-letting them know that the performance Kippy displayed in that round might've been her best ever-if not equal to her thrashing against Special Forces in the spring final. No doubt, the starters felt unnerved after receiving such a venomous strike from their opponent, believing they would have caught a break and that after getting locked in an even series might've seen the evaporation of their chances for a comfortable finish. Sour expressions all around, Fuchsia knew how badly they wanted to get that cushion of a lead, but now wasn't the time to fret about that. She reminds them that they're going head to head with the 7th best team in the world and their ace Kippy happens to be one of the top 25 best players as well, so it wasn't a surprise that this match would get difficult.
"In the eyes of the media, everything we've done is nothing short of a miracle. I know different-we know different, we've been hanging with them and it isn't an illusion, everyone! We're in a tied series with Kippy and the Kalebrough Inkstinct, the spring champions of Inkopolis. We can beat them." She fist pumps; "We can turn the tables and seize it in six!" she claps, rallying their spirits; "It doesn't matter how mighty they are or how imposing they can be, they all bleed the same! I'll need everyone here to step up in the next round, got it?"
"Yeah!"
Cobalt claps his hands to grab their attention, "Switch gears, everyone. We've still got a match to finish, and it's far from over. We're in the fifth round now, so that means their goal is the same as ours, and that is to win another pair of rounds. Let's be quick on the uptake and beat them there." he adds, trying to keep their mind off of that previous round; the rest of the staff members handed them towels, drinks, and had quick personal chats with the players to keep them focused all before Fuchsia takes the floor again to go over the plan.
"Alright, I think now is the best time to make some substitutions and prepare for the long haul. We'll play either a pair of rounds or all three, and we'll need fresh bodies." she mumbles to herself before looking at her players who await her orders; "Jory, Todd, and Reice, thank you for everything-go get some rest. Sandra, Taylor, and Zaneki, you're up. For the sixth round, I'll swap out Violet and Pastelle, so everyone who is still warming up, be prepared to have your name called. Our next map is Ravia park-just a few miles outside Ravia stadium, and the game mode will be clam blitz. The way the momentum is swaying right now, we can expect them to bare their fangs and strike us hard. We got them out of their comfort zone, and they'll be desperate to end this in six. Under no circumstances, can you let them end this in six, got it?"
They all nod but Pastelle speaks up, "How should we approach them for the round?"
"Apollo." Fuchsia mutters, finding him to be the best to explain.
"Coming into this match, it was clear Kalebrough was wary of us but still fell victim to underestimating our ability, and after seeing what we're made of and having that pressure put on them, they'll likely try to end things quickly rather than drag it out and risk another draining round. As for what to do? Just play your own tempo and don't get overwhelmed. Go with the 2-2-2 style and designate a pair to defend the area near the goal while another two will hover between offense and defense and work to collect clams and bodies, and the two main attackers will exclusively focus on disrupting their defenses and have the clams ready to breakthrough the goal. Remember, they will play far tougher than we've seen them thus far-that much we know from the film gathered. If anything, watch out for the Moreno siblings especially since they are explosive and can change the flow of a game in an instant."
A sound plan for Squid Academy, they decided on having Pastelle and Zaneki as the attackers, Azule and Sandra in the dual roles, and Violet and Taylor on defense. They understood that it would be risky to try playing up high since they would be leaving the rear exposed for penetration, and the last thing needed was conceding points early. Instead, they agreed to play down low with Azule and Sandra primarily serving on defense, which meant Pastelle and Zaneki would be expected to carry the load in attacking. As the break ends and the teams are summoned to their spawn in the park, Reice and the other members who got subbed out wish the rest the best of luck, aware of the tough scenario they've been put in. As they return to the benches to sit with the rest and watch on, Reice decides to stand up with Fuchsia and the other main staff members, invested heavily into this match. Out of the corner of his eyes, he spots Sally sitting off to the side in isolation from the rest with a concentrated gaze ahead on the game as it almost gets under way; he knew she must've been in an analytical mindset since she couldn't get out there physically to make a difference. Appreciating the effort she's putting into observing this match, he's come to appreciate the various personalities on the team. They might not boast any hyped up names like the many other teams in the tournament, but Reice recognized from those up on their feet watching the game to the joy expressed on the sidelines in the conversations shared that what Squid Academy had over the others was an unbreakable bond, one that would likely come in handy quite soon based on the difficulty of their battles.
At the park, Azule and his team spawn by what looks like the park entrance, seeing before them an altered design of the park with elevated paths and the goals set up. A few minutes before the countdown, they all do their best to calm their nerves in preparation; appearing in spawn, Kalebrough's lineup stays the same. A tied match with a pivotal fifth round about to begin, the crowd's opinions on the two teams are almost polarizing at the moment: Squid Academy have been playing well, but there were still questions about whether they could close it out, whereas Kalebrough had the benefit of the doubt and the wonders were more along the lines of them underestimating their opponents or just getting off to a slow start. Either way, this round would give some answers as nearly everyone was tuned into the game, from fellow teams who were concluding their matches to other teams who had the day off and wanted to see what all the talk was about on social media. Jin and his squad are watching closely as both of these teams are personal rivals for them: Squid Academy being the ones who famously beat them in the winter, and Kalebrough being the side that squashed them in the spring final. Vulerby is also watching on with interest as the teams in this group would be facing each other in the first round of the knockout stage. Toka, Polaris, and many more, all are interested in seeing what else will unfold between the wonder girl Kippy and Midnight Azule. The countdown begins. Both sides harden their emotions and concentrate, the hearts of Squid Academy thumping and the minds of Kalebrough emptied. The spawns opening and guns firing, the fifth round begins.
"Both sides are off! Kalebrough's on the rush for the free clams-all making a push into Squid Academy's half. Squid Academy are playing it safe however as their front pair advance quickly with the rest remaining within the area of their goal." The main commentator announces, excited to see how this round unfolds.
"Different strategies right away. Kalebrough are looking to play aggressive while Squid Academy will be looking to draw this one out." the color commentator notes, surprised Squid Academy would make such a crucial substitution this late in the game with players making their debut.
The two teams finally meet but it's far from even as Kalebrough outnumbered Squid Academy 6-2, the attackers Pastelle and Zaneki getting jumped by the green swarm while their teammates are setting up defenses and collecting clams. Zepp goes left and Kappa goes right with Kippy and Dale going down the center for a confrontation with support from behind. A swift confrontation, Pastelle and Zaneki get splatted by Kippy and Dale while Zepp and Kappa scoop up the dropped clams to add to theirs. A loaded Kalebrough side with plenty of clams to put a dent in the battle, Azule and the rest brace themselves. Aware that it'll be a defensive struggle since they lost their main attackers already, they cover every direction of the goal. With intentions to slow down the pace of the round, they hope to stuff the attack of Kalebrough right away and as they hear the sounds of the guns getting closer, they descend into their ink and prepare. Ink mines and splat bombs detonating, the battle begins as Kalebrough breaches the Squid Academy defenses. A messy encounter as their ink splatter everywhere like a full bucket punted across a room, bodies drop in an instant. Kalebrough lost half of their forces and Squid Academy also suffered damage, but they were able to survive for the moment. A tense encounter for Squid Academy, they catch their breaths after driving off the enemy and regaining their lost allies. After a few seconds passed since the initial skirmish, both sides locked horns once again for another clash further away from Squid Academy's goal. A chance to launch their own attack, Squid Academy found themselves on their heels as Kalebrough stampeded with their blistering offense. Led by Zepp, Kalebrough rushed at Squid Academy with unparalleled aggression and open scoring with a sharp throw from Alannis. Now with points on the board and an open goal, Kappa and Zepp piled on with their clams to gain a comfortable lead while Squid Academy struggled to ward them off the area. An unsuccessful attempt on defense this time around, Kalebrough flattened Squid Academy.
"The zone defense worked against Squid Academy on that one with the way Kalebrough pressured them with that attack. If you are a supporter of theirs, be concerned." the color commentator mentions, absorbed in the game from a personal perspective. "Squid Academy are the first to concede first and need to retaliate or risk falling into a huge deficit."
As the two sides clash once again, it is more of the same as Squid Academy fail to find an answer for Kalebrough's brute offense that wipes the floor with them, the furious attacks of Kippy and Kappa like a fierce uppercut that stuns Squid Academy on the connection. To the average viewer, Squid Academy looked sluggish and weak on the defense, but those who knew the game well identified that Squid Academy weren't playing bad so much as Kalebrough looked like they unleashed their true strength at the opportune time. A crippling attack that builds the lead further for Kalebrough, Squid Academy are off to the slaughterhouse as the gap widens and the energy getting sapped from their system as Kalebrough piles on the score. The game is already at the halfway point and Squid Academy have yet to get on the scoreboard, their fans finding it hard to watch as their side continues to get pummeled. Unable to even start a counterattack and much less protect their goal from the constant pressure of Kalebrough, the clams pile in the basket as the throws are endless. Sally and Sky look upset-as are the rest of the sidelines who are subjected to punishment by watching their side get crushed in such devastating fashion. Fuchsia and the others also felt sick to their stomachs with some guilt present as they thought that things might have turned out differently if they didn't take out their starters so soon. A match that soon became unbearable the more it got out of hand, Azule and his squad bite their lips wearing the bravest of expressions vowing to put up a fight, but their resolve isn't enough to combat the power of Kalebrough. Their chance to retaliate never arrives, instead getting steamrolled and decked harder with each strike from the relentless Kalebrough. A knockout ending and a victory for the mean team in green, Squid Academy got the wind knocked out of them following Kalebrough's two strikes quick like lightning. A disappointing performance in the eyes of the many other teams who tuned in to watch the somewhat historic contest, the questions about Squid Academy's ability to sustain the lead and close the round resurfaced as they blew a lead to an opponent for the third consecutive match. The roars pouring in from Kalebrough supporters who could sense victory at their fingertips, the pressure mounted on Squid Academy's shoulders as they returned to the sidelines. There is a sense of deja vu as the fear of choking returns to their minds. Fuchsia kept everyone standing to express that she'd like them to stay active than get rest able to tell that the players who came off the bench weren't acclimated to the high speed play of national competition. A recap on the previous round and a transition to the next round, she's interrupted by a livid Sally who tried her best to restrain herself for a moment before marching over to the huddle with heat in her footsteps and steam escaping her grinding teeth.
"What was that!?" she shouts flailing her arms in frustration, her glare on all the members who just returned from battle. "Come on, answer me! What was that sorry excuse you all put out? Huh?"
Azule grimaces since he knew that was a total defeat with no excuses, "They caught us slipping, and pounced on the opportunity."
"Damn right, they did!" She shouts, folding her arms and scolding the trio of Azule, Violet, and Pastelle since she had expectations on them to help lead the subs in.
Cobalt rests his hand on her shoulder, "At ease, they already feel bad as is. Let's pour our energy into staying positive."
Sally gives an agitated sigh and calms down a little after hearing him, pinching her forehead and closing her eyes, chin lowered and feet tapping. "Everyone, I apologize for blowing up just now."
Violet nods, "It's fine-we understand how you must feel, and we surely don't like how easily we allowed them to win that round. It felt like we didn't even put up a fight despite our best efforts."
"I hate to admit it but they overwhelmed us right out the gate and took advantage of that, and not once did we ever recover from that early score." Sandra recalls, feeling guilty for not making much of an impact.
"Oh well, no point dwelling on it. Our backs are against the wall now and I'm sure you don't need me to tell you what must be done." Fuchsia said, doing her best to stay composed as the coach though the nervousness is growing.
"We know. At this point, all that matters is win the game-take it one game at a time and move on to the next." Azule said with glowing eyes, his frustration showing as midnight started to return. "Let's make them work for it, everyone."
"Good. The next round is rainmaker, which is a mode we know all too well, and from here on out, the games will be in the stadium. I don't know what type of course will be shifted, but I want you to expect the worst. The noise will be excruciating to play through since almost everyone here is pulling for Kalebrough, but you already knew that, right? We'll stick to the plan we had previously and play at our own tempo-don't get overwhelmed, and certainly don't get hasty. Stay together as a squad and support one another, no hero play whatsoever, got it?"
Sally steps in with something still on her chest that she wanted to make clear, "When you step on the turf, you represent us-all of us. The people on the bench, the coaches, those who are unable to participate…you represent all our supporters who are cheering their hearts out in the stands and back home, and you represent our families too. Don't let another pitiful performance like that ever happen again, you hear me?" All of them were silent, seeing the emotion in her trembling eyes; it was already agonizing enough that she couldn't participate, but to see them drop a game so easily had her blood boiling. All of them giving an understanding nod, they vowed to never allow another performance like that. Sky smirks, thankful to see someone stepping up to make their opinion known; if Sally hadn't said something, she surely would've. Extra substitutions are made with Violet and Pastelle subbing out for Mason and Evelyn, followed by Coach Octavio explaining that she's learned from her failure and wanted to make sure she had as many fresh bodies on the turf.
Both teams in spawn and under the lights with the entire world watching, Squid Academy knew the smothering sensation they felt in their lungs wasn't their imagination but rather was the pressure of Kalebrough who had every intention of ending the match here and now. Their tournament lives in grave danger should they lose a third consecutive match, the team in pink stake their resolve on this very moment. One game at a time, they were prepared for their war. The terrain alters to resemble a mainstage with some out of bounds areas sprinkled throughout the map, the sixth battle starts. Azule goes into midnight mode and leads the pack to the rainmaker out in the center; Zepp leads Kalebrough, letting out a war cry before doing so to rally the supporters to get involved. The stadium is deafening as everyone fist pumps, yells, and jumps about, a rowdy sixth round that'll go down in the memory banks of all in attendance. It begins now. The teams trade ink, green plastering Squid Academy and pink splattering Kalebrough as both sides disperse nearby the rainmaker. Some focused on taking down the barrier and others turned their focus to picking off the enemy. Explosions from left to right with splashes of ink and warnings setting off like sirens, it felt like the pair were on a battlefield as their hearing gets impaired and the vision blurry from all the collateral damage-a mixture of sweat and ink covering them as their muscles tighten. Their hearts are racing and their minds empty with no time to think-only act. The barrier fluctuates between green and pink as they do their best to sway the rainmaker to their side, but after seconds of a constant back and forth squabble. The barrier bursts and captures its victims, the numbers for Kalebrough decreasing dramatically as the audience gasps and the rainmaker gets claimed by Mason.
"GO!" Azule shouts, leading the way for his teammate who has to lug the heavy weapon; surrounded by the entire squad, Squid Academy make their early push.
Kalebrough still had Alannis and Virgil who survived the blast and were now contesting Squid Academy, but it didn't help as Zaneki, Sandra, and Azule emphatically bury them. A quick lead building and people rising to their feet, everyone screams and shouts their reaction to the surprisingly development as Squid Academy jumps ahead to an early, giving an awed reaction the moment Mason gets splatted at the hands of Kippy, who danced around the pink protectors to hit her mark. Squid Academy keep up their resistance and square off against the players who have just respawned, looking to fight off the wave and extend their lead further. The score 100-83, Squid Academy are on the move still with Kappa and Kippy tailing them and Zepp and Dale nagging them on the flank in hopes to slow them down in time for the others to return. Squid Academy does well to protect Taylor on the rainmaker, making sure that they must keep possession as much as possible and run down the clock, careful not to get too anxious and proceed to the goal or stay grounded in one area too long for a trap. An exchange that heats up once again as Kalebrough's remaining fighters join the fray, they finally disarm Squid Academy thanks to quick work from Dale to fly under the radar and take down Taylor and Evelyn alike, getting extra splats as the barrier blasts away the remaining members.
"This game is getting brutal…" Kary furrows her brows, feeling the intensity from where she is.
Jin's stone faced, "They both understand what happens if they fail to win here. The last thing a leading team ever wants is to go to that dreadful seventh, but team trailing know they desperately need to force that game by all means, even if they have no strength left-just to survive on willpower is enough. If Squid Academy can win this game, they'll surely leave it all on the line in the next round. If Kalebrough can win it here, they can prevent a nightmare scenario from ever coming true."
The score now at 79-52 still in Squid Academy's favor, both sides have begun to trade possession so freely as their defensive will no longer matters and it becomes an all out offensive. Azule gets the rainmaker, then it's Kappa, then it's Sandra, changing hands back and forth, the state of the game hangs in the balance as they leave it all on the turf. Faces covered in ink, sweat pouring from their bodys that gasp for breath, their heads light and their guns missing the mark, both teams exhaust themselves but continue to press onward for they knew this match was bigger than just them; their sidelines are screaming passionately rallying them on, the fans up in the stands waving their flags and making some noise, and the commentators also getting into the game thanks to their surroundings. 64-50, then 58-41, and finally 30-11, the game is nearing its end as they battle ferociously-Squid Academy still holding onto the lead but Kalebrough have done well to hang in the battle and keep it close and still make it anyone's game. At the moment, Zaneki is on the rainmaker and supported by Azule and Sandra who remain for their side against Kappa, Kippy, and Alannis, who remained for Kalebrough at the moment. A crucial stop needed by Kalebrough, they swarmed Zaneki at the last moment to get a desperate stop as Squid Academy saw their goal in sight and an opening made. A chance for Kippy and Kappa to take him down and sweep the rainmaker in one go, their efforts get stopped as they get swiftly splatted by Midnight Azule, who handled them in an instant and took Alannis down for safe measures. Able to strike just in time before the others could respond, Squid Academy secured their victory and made the impossible become a reality. The stadium erupts with various reactions as the hopeful cheers of Squid Academy echo through the stadium, the fans energetic with life returning thanks to their skipper making a clutch triple and their team delivering on the promise of a seventh round. There will be a seventh, they sang in the background of the commentators calling the match who were enjoying this match to the fullest, feeling like they were one of the spectators rather than doing their job. A valiant effort by Squid Academy, the most famous words in sports were spoken as the teams returned to the sidelines: Game 7.
The sidelines active as the coaches keep their team's heads in the game, the voice of the supporters drowned them out as music fills the stadium. Both teams look exhausted, but none of them lost their will to fight. A final game to decide it all, there wasn't much left to be said other than to outright win the game. Kalebrough are looking to stay undefeated. Squid Academy are searching for that first ever victory in the group stage and to keep their head above water as they'll face immediate danger of elimination should they lose here. Everyone around the world turns their attention to seeing how this critical round will end, and who will be the victory at the end of it. A tower control battle with the same squads as before, the two teams went at it as their epic clash finally reached the climax. Once again, fans were treated to another thrilling contest between Midnight Azule and Kippy as they settled their score once and for all. Kappa and Zepp worked hard to move the tower, but Zaneki, Sandra, and Mason showed they had no intentions of letting them do as they please and Alannis and Dale continuously duked it out with Evelyn and Taylor whether on the objective or away from it. A seesawing battle that saw several lead changes and the emotions of the viewers swayed by the second like a pair of waves crashing against one another, the stakes raise as the time passes, the score ever so close as neither side allowed the other to get any more of a jump. When Kalebrough looked like they were building a run, Squid Academy squashed it and retaliated with a run of their own. Sub weapons used frequently like they were regular fire and specials charged up so many times the battlefield turned into a wild inkblot of pink and green, both sides expressed their feelings in this battle-a visual representation of their resolve, experience, and refusal to taste defeat at that very moment. A battle without any regrets, both teams fought aggressively to reach for their desires, but only one would be fortunate enough to taste victory.
By a score of 21-26, Kalebrough held on to win the match despite Squid Academy putting everything they had into that final round. An exhausting battle that saw the players from both sides drop to the floor to catch their breaths, the cheers rain for Kalebrough as their fans witnessed a match for the ages and a possible contender for match of the tournament-an instant classic that saw the arrival of the wonder girl of Kalebrough as an elite. Plenty of respect is shown for Squid Academy as Kalebrough's supporters give them a standing ovation and the Squid Academy fans hold back bitter tears praising their team for a valiant effort, heartbroken that they couldn't snatch an upset away from one of the biggest teams in the tournament. As the match results become official with both teams leaving their sidelines to meet one another, they show their respect for another as a rivalry has just been born, and one that would likely rise to carry the same meaning as the Special Forces-Beacon Hills feud. Shaking hands and exchanging of contact info and jerseys, the players hug it out as fellow countrymen of Inkopolis without any love lost. As the post game begins with interviewers readying themselves to line up in the locker rooms, Kippy raced over to find Azule. He held out his hand for a handshake, but she slapped it away and instead hugged him tightly as a show of appreciation.
"Thank you so much for an unforgettable game…." she said choking back tears, aware of how selfish she's being right now; "I had so much fun. I'll never forget this. It was an honor to finally make my dream come true." she said burying her face in his shoulder; Azule didn't feel any certain type of way about her actions, understanding her feelings loud and clear from their many exchanges-all he could do was look up at the blurry night sky full of lights and soak in this defeat and never forget the dull feeling his chest that came with it. Kippy creates some space between them and wipes her tears away, "Please, let's meet again!" she bows, blushing heavily as she realized what she just did.
A melancholy smile forms on his face as his eyes soften in hopelessness at this girl's request, "You really are something, you know that?"
"I know, right?" Kappa said joining the pair, extending his hand out for a handshake; "I'm not big on hugs unless it's from a lady-sorry."
"Didn't expect you to warm up to me so quickly." Azule chuckled as he reached out for the shake, both of them acknowledging the other with an overwhelming amount of respect.
"It took us seven, but you are without a doubt the toughest opponent we've ever faced. Thank you for playing us and going all out-I appreciate that."
Azule nods, "I understand why your team is ranked so high. The sky's the limit for you and your team. Best of wishes for your quest in the group stage."
"Likewise."
Beyond the trio, their teammates join them. A sad departure as the third years for both sides would never get the chance to continue this exciting rivalry in domestic competition, they both savored this meeting. Azule and squad vow to return the smoke sent their way in their next meeting, and Zepp grins telling them that he looks forward to it, both sides aware that there is a possibility they can settle it in a grudge match late in the tournament. A match that changed the conversation of the tournament, the main headlines and top stories were all about Kalebrough and the emergence of their stars as well as Squid Academy's surprise arrival within the group of death, seemingly improving with each match they place-the discussion turning to a matter of when they will get their first win and if it might be too late into the group stage if and when that comes. With people making their exit, everyone digests what they just witnessed. Vulerby's side were more fired up than ever, hopeful that could run into one of those teams in the knockout stage. Many of the other teams were put on notice as they didn't just see Kalebrough show that they are every bit worth the hype placed on them, but saw firsthand that an unlikely threat is emerging. Even if they have lost three consecutive games, the evidence was there that they were improving dramatically and no longer could they just be ignored...they were coming, and if the rest of the group of death and competitors weren't careful, they might get burned.
"That blunder of a defeat in the fifth cost them greatly. If they hadn't lost that, they might have won it in six." Jin said, walking away sucking his teeth, unsatisfied with the end of that match; he felt it in that instant that Squid Academy had arrived as a team to watch out for, and he was disappointed that they couldn't get a win to show for it. His pride as an inkling hailing from Inkopolis growing, he's eager to get back on the turf and remind the world why Special Forces were still the class of Inkopolis. The group stage approaching the middle of its run, more questions are spurred about how everything will end, and who will be the fortunate 64 that make it to the knockouts while the others are sent home.
