The cheers are growing by the second, reactions pouring in response to every little action made between the two sides as the tension on the turf finds its way into the crowd with everyone anxious to see how this game of hide ink seek unfolds. The hiders are the Titans while Squid Academy are the seekers, which led to a switch in plans as neither team expected this possibility. With weapon choices adjusted, Squid Academy found themselves with a rare advantage though it didn't amount to much. What seemed like an opportunity for Squid Academy to play aggressively on the offensive proved to backfire as the Titans were known for being the best defensive team on the continent. A squad full of defensive specialists led by a strong willed second year captain known as the "Heartbreaker" Valentina, one of the many very exciting players in the tournament who were regarded as one of the top 20 best players in the world. Supporting her as a sturdy wall of a squad are Pablo, Sergio, Ralph, Kevin, and Marcos, and on the bench were some promising first years who had plenty of room to grow. A typical display of their defensive philosophy, the Titans stuck to their strengths and formed an impenetrable wall known as the Rose Blockade which is a fluid formation where players position themselves like the folds of a rose and move in a circling motion protecting the center from immediate danger. All down to keep their "It" Sergio safe from harm, they put up the wall to challenge Squid Academy's resolve. Luckily Fuchsia and the others had already done their scouting and accounted for the possibility of them using the blockade formation should they become the hiders, warning the team to proceed with caution against the rose blockade. If a team approached recklessly, they'd get sucked in like debris to a tornado and get splatted since entering their range opened up the possibility of getting targeted by multiple enemies who lock their targets on sight. Doing their best to pick them off one by one, Pastelle and the squad decided that was the best way to stay in the match until they could crack the defenses. A low scoring contest in the early minutes, the Titans did well to keep Squid Academy on their toes by protecting Sergio well enough to secure the bonus points and stretch an early lead; Squid Academy fought back behind the leadership of Sky and Pastelle during that period. Four minutes deep into the round and nothing exciting has occurred yet as the Titans doubled down on their lackluster but effective defensive play, whereas Squid academy were moving slow but steady in cracking the armor. Sky dominated the stat sheets with a game high 8 kills and 3 assists, supported by Pastelle who had 4 kills and 10 assists, but even then, their presence wasn't enough to break the wall. An inability to splat Sergio who was a slippery devil even when Squid Academy managed to find brief openings to splat him, Squid Academy were scraping by with the few kills they could manage, but it didn't help that the Titans were getting points of their own while also racking up the bonus. Sky and Pastelle were sure that their opening would appear, noticing the frequency of brief lapses in the defense of their opponents, though they had to be wary since some of the openings were bait meant to pick them off and prevent a flank attack, which hadn't been launched yet because of that very strategy proving effective thus far as they rarely gathered enough numbers to stress the Titans. Despite that disadvantage, Sky and Pastelle still had Valentina and her squad on edge thanks to their deathly presence that tripped off the alarms for their opponents that the pair weren't a bunch of normal inklings battling; they approached this fight like the numerous battles they fought for survival.

Watching on from the sidelines in awe at the efforts of his struggling teammates who showed no weakness in their determination, Azule felt butterflies roaming around in his stomach watching Sky, Pastelle, and the others claw and scratch their way into the match. He knew that the team who play as the seekers usually have the technical advantage since they could attack the target player infinitely and rack up the points to make it an impossible score whereas the hiders have that burden and more troubles as they have to not only fight on defense to limit the damage but their scoring options are limited. But for the Titans to showcase their defensive might and limit the attack of Squid Academy with Pastelle and Sky on the floor spoke volume to the incredible skill and will they possess-living up to their impressive ranking within the top 10. He couldn't necessarily see it while on the battlefield since he centered his focus on his opponent and carried the strongest resolve by blocking out all other thoughts, but by being on the bench did he see how menacing the opponents were, especially the top ranking teams. Watching his sister in her debut match, he recalls yesterday.

It was at sunset that the afternoon practice concluded for Squid Academy with Cobalt, Apollo and the rebels having been in charge while Fuchsia and the others were doing homework on the Titans in preparation for meeting afterwards. As dusk fell, the meeting was held. A meaningful gathering as the coaches clarified the situation, precise details were given about the upcoming match as they put into great detail the importance of the future match taking place in the midday, thankfully indoors for most of it. Everyone looked focused and prepared for the tough battle ahead, but none had more weighing on their mind than Sky, who was about to make her debut on the national stage after spending nearly three years failing to reach the elusive stage. Joined by her little brother who noticed she had plenty on her mind, he offered for them to take a walk around the area and clear their heads. A chance presented by Azule to get grilled by his sister like she promised earlier, he was hoping that would take her mind off of things, but as they left the resort following other players clocking in for the night, he noticed something was off about her. The nightly air fresh and cool with a faint breeze, there are barely any dusk clouds to hide the brightness of the glowing moon. The streets are almost lifeless with everyone already in the comfort of their own homes, Azule and Sky listen to the music of nature as they take a walk through the immediate area nearby the resort and glance at the occasional passing cars.

After a few minutes of silence, Sky looked up to the illuminating moon and offered a smile as gentle as its glow. "The moon really is pretty tonight."

"Sure is." Azule said with a soft chuckle, cherishing moments like this where they could soak in the moment and realize how far they came.

"Think I'm like the moon?" Sky asked, her smile still there but her gaze carrying a melancholy light as she looked over to her brother.

Azule paused for a moment as he saw the slight tremble in her irises as though she was questioning something, "What are you? Princess Kaguya? Have you finally come to your senses and decided to leave Aaron?" he said with a laugh in hopes to cheer her up since it felt strange to see her like this-she's the cool and mellow big sister personality that everyone adored, for her to be looking so worried was a bit concerning considering she's one of the top players on the team.

Sky noticed what he was attempting to do and played along flashing a smirk-appreciating his awareness, "Not in a million years and nice reference. I see you brushed up on history."

"Blah!" Azule scoffs, prompting her to a laugh.

A few seconds of silence between them as they continued their walk, Sky looked up at the moon again and put her hands in her pockets-stopping in her tracks. "Zule, I know this might sound weird but when I think and envision what you are, you remind me of the sun." Azule pays close attention to her words, noticing the pattern as she brought up the sun now; "Your warmth and compassion as a leader, a trust built through the belief that you can deliver on all promises, that you are the one who can achieve greatness. You have so much potential I can't help but see it as an everlasting radiance, one so alluring that it attracts more people to your side as time continues."

Azule crosses his arms and raises his chin with the reflection of the moon in his irises, "Is that why you consider yourself the moon? Your presence is always there even when it might not seem like it and you are the anchor that supports this team emotionally whether it be in battle or on the bench."

Sky suppresses her laughter, "It wasn't meant to be that deep, but sure." she smirks.

"Is something bothering you?" Azule frowns.

Sky's smile fades in an instant, "Did you meet them?"

"Them-as in Midnight, right?" Azule responds, surprised by how quickly she changed.

Sky's face drops, "You know the truth, then."

Azule puts one hand at his hip and the other behind his neck, his gaze at the ground and he remembers his mysterious encounter. "That they are just us without our mental limiters?"

Sky's face tenses up as she looked troubled by his answer, "I was hoping this day would never come, you know? Deep down I was hoping that you'd never get so far that you'd reach the truth. And yet, here we are." She takes a deep breath and looks at him with a serious gaze; "You've reached the point of no return, do you understand?"

Azule's irises sharpened as he furrowed his eyebrows with a question, "Let me guess, 'ignorance is bliss' kind of thing, right?"

"Now that you've met the other half and understand the truth behind how everything works, it won't be as easy to just access it like before. Unlike prior where you didn't know what it was or how it functioned-perceiving it to be some sort of power up or convenient outlet of power, now that the ignorance is gone and you've met the truth-"

"I get it." he says with a nod. "Since I went and discovered something like this, it'll be harder for me to get back to that place."

"When you accessed Midnight, you were tapping into your deep unconscious mind on command. Now that you know, it'll be difficult to do so since you aren't meant to venture into that deep realm of thought without having a strong mental state, and even then it's still difficult to freely roam your unconscious mind."

"Is that why you didn't want me using it so freely?"

Sky nods slowly, "I didn't want you getting this far in."

"Why?"

"Because…" she looks pained remembering something.

He notices her hesitation, "Once I get a taste of the truth by opening Pandora's box, I'll have only caused more problems for myself by clouding my psyche-that it?"

"In a way, yes. Once you've learned the truth, how you approach its usage will differ greatly from before. Unlike before where it was used in ignorance and mistaken as a feeling of invincibility, it becomes a harsh reminder of the what consequences will reach once you push yourself too far. But this is the tournament we've worked so hard to reach, of course you'll fight without any regrets."

"That explains plenty." he said, realizing why she was against its usage from the beginning-the memory fresh in his mind. Azule knew his sister had been through a lot as well, and that in the time they were separated, she must've reached the truth and in turn reacted to it with the actions that followed. Her laid back nature and refusal to ever take things too seriously were all her ways of coping with the stress of that difficult weight on her mind. "Is that why you never got too serious until it was too late?" His words cutting like the spear she carried close in her heart belonging to her late friend, Azule realized he might've reopened an old wound with that comment and immediately apologized, noticed her face drop for just a moment before she caught herself.

Sky closes her eyes with resignation-the moon above her, "You're right. I've always had a problem and it was because of Midnight. When I first met them and I learned that it was nothing more than just the other me, I didn't understand. I thought I knew who I was and what I wanted to do, but when I went too far one time and crossed paths with them, I realized I was wrong. Midnight felt completely different from how I perceived myself, and that haunted me. I didn't access it for a while not because I wouldn't do so but because I couldn't. I struggled to make sense of it all, and realized that the entire time everything was buried deep within my thoughts, I was still suffering even if I wasn't feeling so consciously. When I started to have those kinds of thoughts, I felt like I was going crazy and the easiest way to cope was to ignore it and just forget it." Sky clears her throat, "But after seeing you use that form, I knew there was no point in trying to keep that up, since there would come a time where you might cross into that territory. My worst fears came true. I decided that before you go too far, I'd find the answer...sorry to say I still don't have it."

"And that's fine. Whether it be a day, week, month, year, or even a decade, we all struggle with figuring out who we are. If mastering that ability requires some crazy level of concentration and understanding, then by all means, we'll achieve it. We're at our strongest when united."

"We? You are aware that to draw out the full power requires nothing short of mastery, right? What happened to you the other day was the result of breaking the limiters placed on you and suffering the consequences. That is the cap placed on your ability, it won't be of any use to you as it is right now since you've seen for yourself that against Kalebrough and even if used against Crystal Coast, the results would still be the same. It's foolish to think of mastering it in an instant, much less the two us at the same time."

"Of course I'm thinking about it, but just looking at how difficult it will be won't do any good. Besides, I think it'd be fun if we both teach there together. We've overcome plenty of obstacles in the past-some along and some together, so why not do something together that can be memorable?" he said with a smile, flexing his arm.

His consistency to be positive and always look forward rather than dwelling on complex matters and thoughts of the past, Sky saw once more why Azule was like the sun that shined ever so brightly on even the rainiest of days. More than anything, seeing how well he was accepting the reality of the challenges ahead inspired her to do the same and appreciate what time she has left with her little brother and her friends before it all comes to an end. "Before this journey ends, I promise that we'll play together. Wait for us, alright?" she said with resolve.

Returning from that recollection, Azule gets nudged on the arm by an energetic Jory who jumped out his seat and was cheering happily; looking around, he notices that Sally and the others were also up on their feet for some reason. As he got up to see what the fuss was about, he was stunned to see the developments from an adjustment made on Squid Academy's part. So far the scoreline had been favoring the Titans as they captured the bonus points and tacked on some extra points which tallied a score of 66 while Squid Academy's struggling to net in the crucial points had them at a score of 19 following some help from Todd and Evelyn. But after a playing nearly halfway into the game, it seemed as though Pastelle and Sky found a crack in the armor, and rather than continuously pick them off simultaneously, they found that it was best to unload their fire on a specific target to draw the others in and in that confusion is where they could strike Sergio. A ray of hope for the squids in pink, they target Kevin of the Titans to initiate the tear of the sturdy rose. From a double team to a triple team, the efforts of Todd, Zaneki, and Mason get the job done as they net their 20th point. Up to this point, Squid Academy couldn't make much of a move with the numbers working against them, but after studying the rose blockade long enough, it was only a matter of time…

"Charge!" Pastelle shouted while locked in a duel herself against the Titan's no.9, Pablo.

An adjustment with a new approach that paid off immediately, the trio swarmed Marcos next before he could properly take aim on one of them; Ralph comes to his aid for a pincer attack, but that help never arrives. A pair of alarming shots fired, Evelyn fired the one that got Ralph but it was the other that surprised the remaining Titans since following it was a thundering cheer for Squid Academy. Sergio's clothes and weapon remaining in a blue puddle, they all looked over in disbelief as the person responsible. None other than Sky, she had them right where she wanted. The score 66-42, Squid Academy are back in the fight. A messy exchange followed right afterwards, the Titans stood their ground and took Mason and Todd down, but not without losses of their own as Marcos fell during the exchange as well. An unfavorable predicament Valentina found herself in, she hit back hard against Squid Academy while Pablo struggled to stay alive against the likes of Pastelle, who soon found help in Sky to help on the assist. A defiant defense til the bitter end, Squid Academy got the wipe with some casualties as Zaneki and Evelyn fell during battle as well. 68-44, Sky and Pastelle had some precious few seconds to spare as they waited for their squad to respawn as well as the enemy.

"Awesome work!" Tangie cheered with a fist pump; "That closes the gap greatly. We'll need another hit on their no.2 and we can scrape a few more kills to overtake them."

"That was a great effort but that's concerning as well." Cobalt said with observation on the turf; "We got the slip on them but I highly doubt we'll get another manageable chance like that. We're halfway into the round and they've kept it very low scoring compared to how it should be on average, that will surely come into play later on."

Tangie pouts, "Killjoy."

But he wasn't wrong. As both teams respawned and started fresh, the Titans looked to be sturdier than before as they altered their rose defense to move quicker and match the speed of Squid Academy, doing well to protect Sergio to grab the next bonus point after missing out on what would've propelled them to a comfortable lead. An unfortunate case of going back to the drawing board, Squid Academy's strongest attacks often had Pastelle and Sky leading the way, and when one of them was taken down, their force weakened significantly. A trial of what it felt like to play against a team of consistency, they all saw for themselves how frustrating it was to have to spend the precious time given chipping away at a lead only to fall behind even further-a draining experience that came as part of the package with playing the Titans. Unable to catch up as the time ticked by despite the efforts of reliable names like Sky, Pastelle, and Todd leading the way, the first round ended without any drama as the Titans won by a score of 103-72. An upbeat attitude as they returned to the sidelines, Pastelle and the starters were far from dejected as they hydrated themselves and wiped away the sweat, receiving encouraging words from Fuchsia about their performance in the round. An unfortunate case of going up against a solid defense, Squid Academy were simply unable to penetrate the ironclad wall of the Titans at the moment, but Fuchsia was quick to remind them that the match was several rounds and that was just the first of many. It wouldn't be an easy battle like they had with Fujiro, and she made sure to get their minds geared towards a grind of a match. During the rundown, she notifies everyone that she'll be doing plenty of substitutions for the match in what she called a "player relay" where they'll cycle through the roster to give everyone some experience in the match as well as stay fresh throughout the match, only letting Sky and Pastelle be allowed to play until the end since they are the cornerstone pieces of the team. The name she called to be prepared for a substitution was Todd, making sure he knew that following the second round, she planned to take him out and utilize the team now that they had a boost of four fairly skilled players in the rotation; it was that creative mindset of Fuchsia that made her such a dangerous coach, and the more experience she got leading the team from the sidelines, the scarier she'd become once she grew into the role more. No seconds wasted on the break, the other members threw in their perspectives about the match thus far and highlighted what was observed from the sidelines. Apollo mentioned that the Titans look unbeatable as a specialist in attrition warfare, but that is only if their opponents beat themselves up first, so his central focus was that they should continue to play with tenacity but avoid making any mistakes or doing anything reckless. Cobalt doubled down on that take, believing that playing it too safe would only work against them-they needed to find that balance while also tackling the obstacle of figuring out how to best the likes of Valentina, who made things much harder than it already was. Kosami noticed that the crazy defensive formations they ran and their harsh style were clearly meant to wage war from a psychological perspective and weaken their opponents in multiple ways, which the squad needed to avoid at all costs. Preparing them for the worst to come, she showed confidence in them and laid out what to expect moving forward. The final words were spoken by Tangie, who was a bundle of energy on the sidelines.

"Look at where we are and at the thousands of people cheering us on! We're not alone, everyone." she shouts full of energy beating her chest; "One round at a time. We know what to expect. Hammer at 'em, jab away, sock 'em! Do whatever you can to get the win! Let's get the comeback started!" she shouted, her native dialect escaping as she does a fist bump with the starters; "We're with you all, so play strong out there!"

Resonating with her emotions, the starters are more fired up than before as they all knew they couldn't let Tangie down. Following the break, it's a strong start to the turf war battle with Pastelle and Squid Academy lunging at the Titans without any hesitation capitalizing off that morale boost from Tangie. Despite their energetic play by the inklings in pink, the Titans were unfazed and refused to give in to the trap like last time where they bit on a bait that landed them in some very warm water; If it wasn't for their experience at handling such situations, the round might've had a different outcome. Several duels and skirmishes unfolded throughout the map continuously with the flow of battle swaying by the second with the lead also changing along with the momentum, casualties racking up each and every time they crossed one another leaving behind a colorful aftermath of a brutal encounter. The best way viewers were describing the match on social media was that it was like a wrecking ball smashing against the most impenetrable of walls, the wrecking ball of Squid Academy continuously rushing at the sturdy wall of Titans in an epic clash that always looked even when it was over. Unlike before when she stepped in and made an immediate impact, Sky was playing on the more cautious side and sticking to a supporting role rather than attacking aggressively, preferring to observe the Titans this time around and answer some questions for herself about them that'd been nagging her since the previous round. She was aware that this team would have an engine that could go the full match and likely did plenty of scouting on her team, hence why the lineup had such a big switch. But for them to adapt that fast was mind boggling, and though this round looks even-on the turf it's not even close. Squid Academy might be close in the score, but the energy between the two sides pales in comparison as the Titans looked like they had plenty to unload while Squid Academy looked to be trying their best just to keep up. A team built for the long haul and so well disciplined it was nearly impossible to imagine anybody toppling them, Sky kept her wits about her and studied them on a deeper level from their body language to their habitual patterns during play; she planned to catch them slipping and strike in that narrow window. But in the process of waiting for her moment to strike, the time got away from her-much like the lead. It was in the final minute that the pace of the game truly picked up for the Titans and they unleashed everything on Squid Academy. The inklings in pink didn't falter though, as they returned fire with every punch and played with urgency. Sky still wanted to find that opening but once she realized there was no chance for to launch a massive turnaround, she had to fall to her usual style to edge the game in their favor. A hard fought exchange between the pair, the score ended up getting away at the end as the Titans held on to take a 2-0 match lead heading into the third round of clam blitz.

During the break, all the players of Squid Academy are up on their feet huddling around their coach to listen in on what she has to say. Upbeat with her squad, Fuchsia pointed out some of the mistakes made in the previous round but overall praised them for fighting until the end, noting that as long as they can push the Titans they will get the opportunity to make them bleed, reminding them that though they may be called titans, they are just like them. Weapon adjustments made and the lineup seeing some changes, Todd is subbed out for Aaron. The break ended as swiftly as it came, the team getting a morale boost from Sky just before dispersing; speaking out passionately about turning the match around, she drove home the point that this next round is the kickstarter for them to get back in the fight. No hesitation or doubts found in her tone nor did her words seem dull, the team resonated with her feelings much like they did with Tangie. On the opposing sidelines, the Titans were comfortable with the current state of the match, but Valentina reminded them that this wasn't an opponent to take lightly and reminded them that they were a very much capable side with Sky Royale on in the mix; there may be a two round difference, but that could be erased in an instant, and she wanted to remind them that it's very much possible once they get that first win-so they need to end it before it ever becomes a possibility.

The lineup is still the same for the Titans as they head to their spawn, Squid Academy is also in their location ready for transport. In an instant, the teams are transported to Barbel Bazaar for the clam blitz battle where they see the place is crowded as far as the eye can see. A similar sight to how the mall was done, the map the teams would be using was cleared of spectators but they watched on comfortably from out of bounds where the safety barriers were up. Commentators were excited to call this round, analysts were busy giving their live reactions and analysis while following along, and social media was slowly and steadily trending the match with many people praising the class of Valentina as she looks to roll to a sweeping victory and prepare for her clash with the 6th ranked Bluerings in the next match. No time wasted, the match begins.

Squid Academy and the Titans get to work on collecting clams, both sides prioritizing getting on the board early. A patient buildup of excitement, every awaited the big moment where the teams would duke it out. A few instances occur while scavenging for clams with the teams trading blows and bodies, casualties tallying quickly as the clams get rounded up. Squid Academy is playing with pace, but the patience of the Titans was also something to behold as they didn't carry any concern regarding the speed of Pastelle and her squad. The initial attempt by Squid Academy to open up scoring met by the wall of the Titans, they're shut down in an instant and exposed in that moment. The Titans in turn go on the attack and come out strong against Squid Academy with the advantage of the numbers, able to score first thanks to Kevin breaking the goal with a power clam and some other clams getting thrown by Valentina and Sergio. The score sheet open, it doesn't take long for Squid Academy to retaliate and get on the boards themselves thanks to an aggressive push by Evelyn that keeps the game close. A few skirmishes following afterwards, the Titans score again in hopes to bury Squid Academy with another deep pile of clams, but Squid Academy answers back once more with the same intensity. Aaron stepped it up for the inklings in pink and helped ease the burden off the anchoring shoulders of Sky and Pastelle, who orchestrated most of the other attacks and led the way for scoring. A couple of big exchanges following afterwards that had the audience at the bazaar going wild, the score is 43-60 in favor of the Titans; it was at this moment that the game finally picked up steam as Sky launched her power clam to burst the goal in time for everyone to pile in the clams and reduce the lead.

Watching on with their hearts on their sleeve, the Squid Academy sidelines give animated reactions to every little occurrence in the round with all of them nervous about the outcome since a third consecutive loss meant they would be staring at an impossible mountain to climb for a comeback and likely meet elimination. For a bit it seemed like the Titans broke away and in a comfortable position decided to defend the lead rather than go for the knockout, but such a conservative mindset wouldn't fly this time around as Squid Academy tried their hardest to stay in the mix following the burst of a run by the Titans and eventually flawed themselves back into the game and then some-doing well in erasing the gap that they put themselves in position to grab a knockout as well. Plenty of time remained on the clock but despite that it already felt as though the game was approaching the climax as both teams eyed the next strike to end the game. Valentina leads the Titans, and Pastelle leads Squid Academy for a meeting at the center of the map but with differing formations; the Titans are spread while Squid Academy condenses.

The skirmish opens up with tenta missiles fired from Pablo that have the inklings in pink dispersing frantically to avoid losing any precious clams, the Titans using that opening to press forward smelling the blood in the water. A chance opportunity the fans recognized, it closes in an instant as the chaos the Titans hopes to sow got shut down immediately by a single shot that blasts Ralph and sends clams scattering on the pink turf, his positioning far ahead of the pack leaving him vulnerable. A shot that came from Sky Royale, she opened a gaping hole in the attacking Titans that Aaron took advantage of, immediately scooping up fallen clams and heading for a counterattack on the goal. Beside him on her way with some clams is Pastelle, the two of them opening up in opposite directions to make way for their teammates to proceed down the center. Mason and Zaneki head down that opening with Evelyn supporting them with her power clam with every intention to stuff the Titans and launch a successful counterattack. Valentina and her squad don't flinch as they meet the counterattack without any reluctance to defend-prepared for a gritty fight; they know what Squid Academy are up to. A splash wall and toxic mist thrown to slow them down for a second, Sergio pulls an end-around move to view the enemy's movements while Ralph sets up an ink mine behind the wall with Valentina retreating a few steps to place some space between them, all of them needing just a few more seconds to build their specials. The central area taken care of, they just needed to concern themselves with the possible attacks from Aaron and Pastelle.

"Hold your ground, everyone!" Valentina shouts with her range of vision widening sensing a pair of targets enter her peripheral.

A loud stomping noise is heard in the distance behind the splash wall, followed by a frantic reaction from Sergio after he catches a glimpse of what unfolds on the other end; the wall coming down in a second, Valentina and her squad are rushed by an ultra stamp from Mason and a booyah bomb from Zaneki, already charged up as it gets sent on its way over. An execution decided while the Titans thought they were safe behind their defenses long enough to regroup, Sky made the call to pounce now, after figuring that at the current angle the titans are positioned, they've put themselves in a blind spot without even realizing it. If that wasn't enough, incoming were Aaron and Pastelle to take the goal. An overwhelming rush by Squid Academy, the Titans throw aside their concerns and meet the challenge head-on with bodies back to defend. Pinned down by Sky following a pair of shots that trap her, Valentina realized in that moment what Squid Academy was truly up to with such a brazen attack this late in the game. Taking a page out of her book, Squid Academy not only finishes off the Titans with their specials but also scores a brief window of peace on their way to the goal, easily erasing the rest of the team afterwards. Evelyn tosses the power clam that bursts the barrier, and to cap off the game were some clams thrown by Aaron and Pastelle. The whistle blowing loudly to conclude the match, everyone watched in disbelief as Squid Academy claimed a knockout victory from out of nowhere to make the series competitive at a 2-1 scoreline. A job well done thanks to the catalyst work of Sky, everyone played their roles well to earn a much needed victory to keep the match alive.

We have ourselves a match… Sky thought, breathing a sigh of relief as she prevented the most nightmarish of scenarios, though she knew she's far from out of the danger zone. The fourth round up next, the question on everyone's minds is whether the Titans will bounce back to make it a 3-1 lead and put away the energetic rookies, or would the likes of Pastelle and Sky upset them further and tie the match?