The spectators are leaving Shamsa stadium following the conclusion of the Baiji-Squid Academy battle with everyone still in awe of the final moments of the battle where Squid Academy showed Baij and the entire world that they weren't just a gimmick or a fluke but the authentic article. The giant slayers have officially arrived. The conversation of the departing supporters focusing on that match, there were plenty of victorious supporters who were celebrating on their way to the parking lot full of hype for the next match riding a new wave of confidence; a pair of consecutive victories against top ranked teams, the supporters knew the possibilities were no longer a pipe dream and that they had only a single obstacle standing in their way. Off in the distance were the team buses with both teams boarding and wearing different moods as the results sunk in after the adrenaline wore off. Following the conclusion of the match, Raquelle rushed over to thank Fuchsia and her team for the well played match and expressed her regrets on behalf of her teammate, apologizing for his actions and doubling down that his thoughts don't reflect the views of the team and such views won't be tolerated. Fuchsia knew otherwise that Shudo wasn't the only one at fault and that there were other players as well, but after seeing how Baiji's lineup differed greatly from what was anticipated, she had a feeling they sacrificed their lineup and ran the risk of defeat to send a message. Empathetic to the captain's feelings knowing it can't be easy to make such an apology after losing and doing so with all those self-restrictions, Fuchsia accepted the apology. Urging Raquelle to educate him and the many others who were ignorant, she expressed that punishment can be effective but at the end of the day the goal is to understand both sides or else it's pointless. They aren't the first nor will they be the last, Fuchsia knew as much and wanted to set the record straight-it'll take far more than a few insults to break her resolve. It's unfortunate that Baiji were robbed of a chance to play to their full strength, but this is what made team competition so grueling: an individual's actions could affect an entire team's performance.

The walk for Baiji on the way to their team bus full of gloom after that exchange, the stars had little to say to anyone after their defeat-carrying the burden of that defeat. Even though they all resolved it to be more Squid Academy's win than their loss, they still felt a sharp sting to their hearts about the defeat. Lotus, Nelly, and Iba felt frustrated with how they performed, finding that even after getting into their groove following the third round, something was always off with their performance in comparison to Squid Academy. It wasn't as though they weren't trying their utmost throughout the match, but when they remembered the fierce gazes of their opponents along with the way they fought they knew deep down they were outmatched emotionally and that hurt their pride as competitors. Having no answer for a team that challenged their resolve was frustrating, especially when they had distractions that hindered them from doing their best. Raquelle also felt as though she let her team and supporters down by being unable to lead as a proper captain-blaming herself for being unable to discipline her players better; as captain, she felt that the actions of Shudo and the others were her responsibilities as a captain, and to be unable to make up for their mistakes felt crushing-especially when she knew that even if none of that had happened, they likely would've lost against those steeled hearts. Aware that the only thing to do was turn her attention to the next game, she led her team on the bus and prepared for a needed rest knowing that the next game will decide everything-not just her fate but the rest of the group of death. On the Squid Academy side, the players looked exhausted but relieved with the energy sapped from their bodies after such a draining match and more than anything, they wanted to rest. As they board the bus with everyone having conversations among themselves, Azule and Sally wait at the back after dragging their feet the entire way; both of them had heavy expressions with dull gazes at their feet after their conversation just a few moments ago.

A few moments ago...

"Learned anything from that match?" Sally elbowed Azule on their walk watching the others move ahead, taking a slow walk because of Azule seeming to carry the weight of the world all in his head.

Azule gives a slow nod after a delay, "They played marvelous." he said plainly while still scanning his thoughts.

She poked her head in front of him, "Something on your mind?"

"Today's match doesn't jive with me. I know that Baiji aren't the kind of team to underestimate their opponents but something about them today seemed off. Our side looked more fired up than usual as well and then there were the strange substitutions that were made along with certain players sitting on the bench the entire match that should've played. I don't know if they were making any sudden experiments but something seems off, you know?"

Sally knew what he meant, finding it strange herself although she had her suspicions. "Well, we got the win and that's all that matters."

"I agree that a win is a win no matter what but...playing with anger and vengeance isn't really us. I'm all for getting pumped up and playing aggressive but what I saw today looked too much like it was personal. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we treated that match like it was a little too realistic if you get what I mean."

Sally understood, "That is what you're referring to. Our circumstances and experiences are unique to say the least. Besides, we're in danger of elimination and every match can be our last-they probably channeled their inner anger to keep their head in the game. It's an effective method."

"Well, I guess you're right. It's just that Fuchsia looked more serious than usual and the others looked worked up too. Me asking won't do much good since she'll probably shrug it off as nothing and tell me to worry about my personal task instead."

"Speaking of that, any progress made?"

Azule looked a little blue, "I've been doing plenty of thinking but I think I'll still need more time to figure everything out. It seems I need to go back to my fundamentals and work on that. Luckily that training we did gave me a head start on everything so now it's a matter of altering my approach to games. I can't use Midnight because of how it strains my body, so once I can figure out how to draw out the benefits and eliminate the risks, I'm sure I can break the ceiling."

"Like altering your breathing and perfecting your movements?"

"I don't think it's as simple as that but something like that, yeah. It's more than just doing it once, I've got to make it a routine but before I can get started I have to know how to first theorize and then put that theory into practice. I have some ideas that I've been racking my brain around but I'm not sure yet. I need more time to think!" he said, squeezing his head with an annoyed sigh afterwards; "Luckily, the team is making leaps and bounds in progress from match to match. From our time of trailing in matches in the early stages and it seeming impossible to even grab a single round victory to being able to take multiple rounds off our opponents, now we can lead from the get-go and most importantly, beat them. I'd be lying if I said I'm not relieved by our growth in such a short time."

"Relieved, huh? I don't know if our captain should be talking like that." she giggled.

Azule flashes a warm smile at her but his eyes were dead serious as he looked ahead, "I think it's a fine thing that I have such a reliable cast. The burden hasn't been on my shoulders for a while but I guess I needed to see it with my own eyes in a match like today to truly calm my nerves. Thanks to today's victory, I'm relieved to know I can focus on myself for now like I should have from the very beginning." he said with conviction, his honesty so thought provoking that she was still surprised recalling it while boarding the bus. He's come a long way and that acceptance he did reminded her that although she trusted her teammates and placed her trust in them, she never once wore sucha genuine look like that when thinking about leaving everything in their hands. The need to get back and even rushing her recovery for the sake of competing, now she understood that after all this time she still hadn't learned after all. If Azule could do it, then so could she as well.

With Squid Academy's day completed after taking over the top trends on social media, the spotlight turns to the many other teams that still have unfinished business. At Alqamar stadium where spectators were making their leave, everyone was talking about the amazing battle they witnessed between the Bluerings and Titans. A showdown between a pair of ranked teams with group positions on the line, from start to finish it was a sight to behold as "The Heartbreaker" Valentina and her mighty Titans crossed paths with "The Greatest" C.C. and his band of boxing Bluerings. It all started in the first round of turf war with neither side holding back in the opening round, the heavy shots from "Sweet as Sugar" Ray and "Holy Hand" Evan helped the Bluerings in establishing an early advantage-a team composed of players who excelled at using weapons of heavy damage, their accuracy while using such weapons made them a nightmare. Valentina and her squad weren't fazed however as Pablo and Sergio also stepped up to the plate for a swing. A close call every step of the way, the Bluerings managed to snag the first round, but in the following rainmaker battle, the Titans came roaring. The substitutions made for the Bluerings following that round, the notable switch was the appearance of "Pretty Boy" Floyd-one of the top defensive players in the world. A change in their approach, the Bluerings slowed down their tempo and matched the defensive style of the Titans. A war of attrition, the ensuing tower control and splat zone rounds were split with both going into overtime-Bluerings took the third round while the Titans answered back in the fourth. However it was in the fifth round of clam blitz when things started to truly heat up with C.C. having already gone on a hot streak from the third round. Dominating the match entirely, Valentina's team didn't have an answer for him or his rowdy squad of attackers. The Titans struggled. Clawing, digging, and scratching their way back into the match no matter the amount of times C.C. and the others beat them down with a powerful strike, their rallying defense after having their barrier burst the only reason they put up a fight. But like hammering a nail into the wall, eventually it'll penetrate-and the same was said for the defense of the Titans. At the holy hands of Evan, the barrier bursted for the final time as the Bluerings unloaded their clams to end the round in a knockout and take a 3-2 lead. Back against the wall and humiliation awaiting them should they fail, Valentina and her Titans marched for the sixth round in a last one standing game, poetic given the circumstances. By this point, the Bluerings looked even stronger than previously and it was thanks to that game mode-a mode they thrived in since it allowed for them to maximize their individual talent. A clash of style and philosophy, the beat em up style of the Bluerings backed by their plethora of star individuals met the unified and disciplined team of the Titans. A trade of bodies at each team encounter, the round lived up to the hype in a fast paced battle filled with urgency, it all coming down to a one on one battle that everyone anticipated: C.C. versus Valentina. A swift but powerful show between the two captains, the ending was a spectacular way to conclude a clash between two giants with the winner being C.C. and the Bluerings. But where their match was over, another one was still in the process of playing.

At Ravia stadium sitting thousands of adoring spectators, everyone in the building made some noise as the announcement for the most famous words in sports were just spoken: Game 7. A battle for the ages that had everyone buzzing since the opening whistle, it was every bit worth the hype. A match considered by many to be the match of the day given the pair of teams and their stacked roster of talent, it didn't come as a surprise that both teams were considered favorites to become champions; their blows exchanged in the match the far could be compared to a that of a heavyweight title bout with each strike taking the life out of their opponent. On one end dressed in their black and green outfits were the Kalebrough Inkstinct with plenty of cheers and squeals pouring in for their wonder girl donning her signature facemask and currently clearing her thoughts in preparation for this final round; she's worked herself to the bone thus far and with just a single round left, she was feeling anxious. A tied series at three a piece, it all started with a bang in the first round when Siot and his squad drew first blood in the turf war battle, pounding away at the unprepared Kalebrough to take the lead. It didn't last long however as Zepp led Kalebrough with a fiery response in the following rainmaker battle, claiming a knockout victory and sending a punch right into the mouth of Crystal Coast. From there, it became a free-for-all of a match as Kalebrough scrapped away a close victory in the third round tower control battle followed by Crystal Coast leveling the score in the fourth round splat zone bout. Up until that point the key players in the match were Siot, Zepp, Kappa, and Rikki, with both Kippy of Kalebrough and Arian of Crystal Coast yet making their impact as star players for their respective teams-that all changed in the fifth round however. A competitive game of clam blitz that saw plenty of casualties and close score the entire way, it was Kalebrough who won the bout behind Kippy's explosive emergence into the contest netting in the most clams and leading the round with the most kills-seeing red after being fed up with her little presence in the match until then; Arian also came out the gate firing on all cylinders matching her intensity and even took on Kippy a few times, surpassing his seniors as the best player on the floor for that round. When the sixth round arrived, the tension brewed. Kalebrough needed the win to end the match whereas Crystal Coast needed to force that final round; it quickly became a battle of resolve as both sides staked their reasons for victory. In the early minutes of the last one standing match, it looked as though no one would get tagged as both teams seemed to read the other's minds-dodging attacks left and right with precision. By the halfway point however, the shots started finding their targets as sub weapons and specials played a bigger role. Kalebrough got the first tag, but Crystal coast answered back with a double splat. Having trouble stopping Siot, who looked as though he was getting serious for the first time all match, Kalebrough's last stand against his mountainous presence was the trio of Kippy, Kappa, and Zepp, who were more than enough to handle him. But after a confrontation that ended in the biggest of surprises, Siot revealed to everyone why he's the third best in the world, easily handling the trio as though they were newcomers to the sport and in turn forced a final round of play.

Reflecting on the match so far, Kippy had her head down with a towel covering her and her hands folded, replaying the events in her mind. Something nagged her about Siot's play in the match. He felt monstrous to such a degree that her body instinctively tensed up at the thought of facing him head-on, but for some reason, her heart beats normally as though this was just another day of business. Facing Siot felt nothing like when she played Azule-no irregular heartbeat nor a yearning to outdo her opponent-also a feeling of guilt present although she couldn't identify why. Siot was incredibly strong, and Crystal Coast were no doubt among the toughest opponents she's ever faced, so why couldn't she find that same emotional attachment that overwhelmed her in her battle with Squid Academy? Was something wrong with her? Was it correct to feel this way? Starting to get lost in her thoughts, she gets karate chopped on the head by her brother, who looked at her with a serious gaze. A momentary glance is all it takes for her to realize that regardless of her feelings and whether anything is right or wrong, the fact is already known: Crystal Coast is beatable, and Siot wasn't as far from her grasp as she thought.

I'll surpass him. She repeated in her thoughts as she rose to her feet remembering the sweep he gave Squid Academy, vowing to get payback on their behalf. Wearing her battle face, she is ready for the final round.

On the opposing sidelines, Siot was also deep in his own thoughts. Seeing silhouettes of the targets still ahead of him yet out of his grasp, he continued to repeat in his head that he'll reach them-that this match was the first step to validating that he's become their equal after constantly being considered the third option behind the top pair. A chance to test his might against another promising opponent, Siot wanted to measure himself against the two teams who would be an eventual clash in the knockout stage-his distant gaze into the future occupied by preparations for that fateful day rather than the opponent before him. As he led his team back to the turf to a standing ovation, Siot's distant gaze met the fiery glare of Kippy-a battle between alphas about to occur with the winner of this showdown becoming the undisputed winners of the group of death.

Later that day...

The day progressed relatively quickly after the first string of matches completed with all the attention turning to the next wave of matches that'd run into the late evening with the headlining matches to look forward being being the showdown between 13th ranked Beacon Hills and 19th ranked Serpents, and the 9th ranked Special Forces facing 24th ranked Joyriders. A deciding match within their respective groups, the teams competing for the top spot kept in mind of their future opponents in line with fighting for pride, cognizant that the late games in the group stage were all about strategy and hand picking one's opponent for the next round; these were the matches that told the story about a team's personality. Playing for an easier opponent or to showcase their true strength or put the rest of the competition on notice? In these final games were when teams had the chance to show their true colors with everyone's eyes turned to them and the situation was no different for the Ika brothers as they prepared for their matches. With expectations high for the both of them from their teammates and supporters alike, they both knew their future opponents were likely in attendance to scout them out for the knockout stage-all teams that were even or possibly better than even them. The arrival of Kalebrough into a super team, Yermozani continuing their dominance in their own group, Squidops slugging it out in their group, and Squid Academy's emergence as the giant slayers, Gin and Jin knew they couldn't allow themselves to be left behind when all their countrymen were making their mark in some form or fashion on the grand stage. Sitting in isolation in their locker rooms while their anxious teammates prepare for battle, they were aware that after today's matches the next couple of days will become a turbulent period for every team participating in the tournament. Weighing whether they will survive it all or experience heartbreak during the approaching knockout stage, the brothers knew all these matches were a final countdown until their fateful day of battle where they would settle their personal war. A cool evening setting awaiting them as their coaches notify them to lead the teams to the battlefield, they prepare for yet another challenging match. The sun setting on the group stage, it's only a matter of time until dusk falls, and with it, the end of the first act of Nationals. The chaos of the group of death. The fight among the lower placed teams in each group for the remaining spots. The potential placements for the round of 64. All speculation would conclude in a mere couple of days.