Long before the crack of dawn, the lights were already on in a particular building that shined in the morning darkness. The smell of sweat filling the gym and the fans blowing in all directions while rap and hip hop music plays in the background echoing through the cavity, a team of inklings are gathered around the ring coaching the pair of competitors sparring in the ring. Some of them get animated with their orders and let out shouts full of emotion while the pair duke it out donning some boxing gloves. Nothing more than a bunch of rowdy boys letting out excess energy, this was a regular sight for the players of the Bluerings on their breaks between matches. The 6th ranked team with one of the world's best being their second year captain, they were known for their physicality and technique with one of the deepest rosters in the tournament, the Bluerings were a team of players who embodied the spirits of boxers and fighters with plenty of emphasis on the phrase "might makes right" in belief that the key to true strength was to always play against the strongest and prove one's worth in the ring.
"Left hook, Frazzy! Left hook!" one boy pumps his fists shouting out.
"Watch out for his rope-a-dope!" another boy yelled in support of the opposing party.
"Shuffle C.C.! Hit 'em with the shuffle!" another boy commands.
"Keep floatin, Frazzy ain't hittin what he can't see!" a fourth boy shouts slamming the outside of the ring.
Frazzy throws a left hook, but C.C. dodges and retaliates with a cross shot. His fancy footwork dishing a lot of hurt, C.C. leans his body to the right and follows through with a strike out of sight. The sweat bounces off C.C's glove as he connects a heavy hitting blow to Frazzy's temple, but Frazzy ate the strike planting his feet and did a solid wind up; he was glad C.C. left himself open. Blood is drawn immediately as a solid strike just over the orbital bone has Frazzy cock his head back instinctively and staggering for a moment as he processes the speed of C.C.'s strike. Stunned that he couldn't even land his strike, the impact of that swift shot from C.C. felt like a wedge got shoved in his face with the speed of a bullet-his face starting to numb from the instant pain. He takes a few steps back to catch himself, unaware that he's unconsciously going into recovery mode. A strike so swift he didn't even see it coming despite having among the best instincts among the fighters, Frazzy could sense deep within that the shot that drew first blood was just a warning and that from the way C.C. positioned his blood splattered boots, he was readying to charge like a bull with another one. The howling reactions pour in from the boys spectating and most of them egg on Frazzy to stay in the fight and test his will as a competitor but before he can punch his gloves together and put his guard, a white towel is thrown in from his corner to call off the fight. C.C. raises his arm and stares down Frazzy with chin held high and wearing daggers-this feud was far from over. Breathing heavily as the effects of battle kick in following the rush of adrenaline that coursed through his body during the match, he's forced to rely on the ropes for support as his friends step in to take care of him while he watches C.C. step out the ring to a crowd full of praise. Wiping his face with the towel while one of them tended to his cut above the eye, he gets an earful from another who warned him that he'll take some heat from the coaches if they hear about this fight, already carrying evidence that he got into a scrap.
Far from a rare occurrence within the Bluerings, underground fight nights were often held to settle any disputes within the team and also served as an unofficial ranking of the team hierarchy. It's one thing to be recognized by the coaches and selected as a starter on the team, but the team won't acknowledge an individual until they prove their worth out in the ring and command the respect of everyone. In this case, the current starters were the alpha dogs among the rowdy bunch and C.C. was the alpha among the starters. Whether he was without a scratch or caught some bruises, C.C. was so talented that he'd never even bled in the ring, leading some to joke that he's a god incarnate. He wasn't alone at the top however as the rest of the starters were all capable in their own right and often gave him a good challenge although he stood head and shoulders above them, but there was one individual who seemed to always give him the toughest of battles no matter the situation and that was none other than Frazzy. Entering the team together, Frazzy and C.C. were always destined to become bitter rivals from their days of competition to make the final roster to their competition of becoming starters. Neither of them allowed the other to get too far ahead. Often getting into brutal fights with one another that were in the ring, on the turf, or even spilling outside of a controlled setting, the score hasn't been settled after these couple of years together. C.C. leads the rivalry for the most part but it's far from domination as Frazzy has always remained close whether it be in a fight or competing for better results in the matches; two sides of the same coin, they hated the other with a passion despite being very similar.
He's always thought of himself to be something special without a shred of humility from the day since I first met him, not once has he ever tried to be humble and show anyone an ounce of respect. I'll never forget how he treated us at our first training camp. Frazzy takes slow breaths and raises his gaze to the ceiling; That Charisma and Arrogance of his-I hate it with a passion!
A rivalry born from bitterness and contempt, Frazzy couldn't stand C.C.'s big mouth and likewise, C.C. didn't like Frazzy's antagonism towards him. From their first day together as recruits where they competed to earn a spot on the team, Frazzy came in as a top recruit while C.C. was the second recruit with high honors. Both of them carrying promising potential, it was C.C. who blossomed first in training camp and quickly rose up the rotation and grabbed everyone's attention with his overwhelming presence. Along the way, many fellow peers resigned to accept C.C.'s emergence as a stroke of brilliance and what was best for the team, but in doing so they subsequently overlooked Frazzy- the other player on the team who produced the same results and put in just the same effort but got less recognition. Striving to prove everyone wrong, Frazzy openly challenged C.C. at every chance he could and often it was his loss as C.C. seemed to be a generational talent in the making. But as their battles continued, everyone began to notice that although C.C. was a brilliant wonderkid, Frazzy somehow always kept up with him. Becoming the team captain and vice captain respectively, they set the tone of what the Bluerings were all about, and what followed were many players carrying their intensity.
"What was the reason this time?" Ray asked, rehydrating his friend and wiping the blood off his chest that trickled from the cut from earlier. Frazzy doesn't respond; "Hey, Frazzy!" Ray called, smacking his face lightly, "Wake up, buddy!'
"I hear, I hear…" Frazzy responded, batting away his friend's arm.
"Frazzy over here wanted smoke with C.C. and got folded like an omelet, that's all." Ellis joked after having tended to his friend's wound; "Talking 'about how he'll 'Pop him like champagne' and end up getting his face busted in the first round. You slipping bruh."
"You want some gloves?" Frazzy sneers motioning him to come closer.
"Don't direct your anger at me! It ain't my fault the cap bust your ass again."
"Alright. that's enough." Ray said getting in between them. "We're in the middle of a tournament and the last thing we need is infighting, especially considering who our next opponent is."
Ellis shrugs his shoulders, "Nothing wrong with a little rowdy playing. Can't recall anybody getting hurt (emotionally)."
"You must be thick in the head, huh?" Frazzy snaps, getting off the ropes and exiting the ring; "I'm heading out..."
"Hold up, what are we gonna do about your cut!? The coaches will give you hell if they find out you fought again."
Frazzy waves his hand, "I'll own up to the loss and take the punishment."
"Really now?" an exasperated Ray sighed bringing his hand up to his forehead; "Honestly, this team is something else." he said, following behind Frazzy with Ellis, the trio looking to return to their lodging before the coach finds out they were up before they should be.
His gloves already off and slung on his huffing and puffing shoulders, the sweaty captain of the Bluerings is surrounded and showered with praise from the rest of the team. Another impressive victory, C.C. showed the team once again why he was called the greatest and the alpha among alphas. Despite all the respect retained among the ranks of his teammates, C.C. wasn't too satisfied by this particular match since he could still see the fight in Frazzy's eyes despite delivering a punishing strike. He didn't like that after so long, Frazzy was finally building a serious resistance to his style. The reason behind this fight happening was due to the events that took place following the match against the Titans where C.C. proceeded to taunt Valentina and her team after the match. During the battle, it was fierce and got grimey as both sides traded insults and let their emotions run high but after the battle everything seemed to clear up as both sides understood that came with the nature of a fierce battle, everyone except C.C. who decided to rub salt in the wounds that the defeat would put them in greater danger of missing the knockout stage should they fail next time. Having had enough of C.C.'s talk throughout the tournament already, Frazzy called out the captain in the locker room and questioned his character after failure to show good sportsmanship. A jab at C.C.'s pride, he wouldn't stand for any insults from someone who he viewed to be beneath him and from there were the punches thrown. Now understanding what Frazzy was trying to say after the fact, C.C. decided to put this match in the past and focus on what lies ahead, aware that his next opponent was just as talented as the team he played previously, and far more unpredictable.
That same time elsewhere...
The sun piercing through the curtains of a luxurious suite shrouded in darkness, the occupant of the room-Edward banishes the darkness opening the curtains wide, getting a good look at the morning sun shining over the city. Letting out a wide tear-filled yawn, he stretches his back releasing so much tension he's standing on the tip of his toes letting out a satisfied moan. Still feeling sluggish from his peaceful sleep after yesterday's team practice, his body felt loosened up and prepared for another day of competition. Only thing is that since this was the final match of the group stage for his team and they've already clinched the top spot, today's match was more of a chance for the bench players to shine which meant that he and the other starters were likely going to rest for the day. Opening up the sliding door and getting met with a mild morning heat, he flashes a tiny smile basking in the foreign sight of an arid landscape that greatly differed from his harsh wintry home. Lowering his gaze a bit from the morning sun, he looks down below to see the many people already commuting in the early part of the day, admiring how they are all going about their daily lives in their own way. How lonesome it was at the top, unable to fraternize with those below him and enjoy a life of mediocrity rather than this lavish front that was riddled with politics and corruption. Whenever he had time to be alone and gather his thoughts, he felt lonely. Like a river and a mountain, the life he lives differs greatly from everyone else. They can carry on with their lives like normal and set small ambitions for themselves and surely to advance forward like a river flows, whereas he is the peak of a mountain, only able to grow because of his foundation and always at risk of destruction. The river can always stop and dry, but a mountain can only burst into eruption and cause destruction-that's how he felt. As the successor to his homeland, he felt that any wrong move he makes will spell doom and suffering for not only him, but the many innocent people that depend on him. That constant pressure that felt like a boot pressed against his throat, he's dragged out of that mindset once he hears a knock at the door. Opening the door to see Royce standing out in the hallway, he leapt with joy on the inside but wore a blank expression staring at his teammate. An awkward mood between the pair as neither utter a word for a few seconds, Edward realized this was the perfect chance to break the ice.
"I'm flattered but such relationships are prohibited between teammates." he said with a blank stare in monotone.
Royce was surprised by his comment since the captain was a man of total seriousness, but as he eyeballed his captain with a few questions sprouting, he couldn't help but notice the captain seemed to be glowing about something, like an animal looking to receive praise for doing something good, Ah, so that's how it is."Never thought you were capable of making such a joke." he responds cooly with a smile, appreciating his captain's attempt to lighten the mood.
"I've been told my humor is dry, how was that one."
"With that serious face of yours you'll give them the wrong idea, please don't (ever) make a joke like that since your face will scare them off." Royce smiled brightly, though he was also repulsed at his captain's taste of humor.
"Noted. Might I ask why you're here? Two boys meeting early in the morning in front of their room will give some the wrong idea."
"The others are up and downstairs, they wanted me to come and get you for something about a special breakfast together in a secret spot."
Edward facepalms with a sigh whispering a name under his breath, "They never change."
"Should I...tell them you won't make it?"
"No it's fine. We do this every year at tournaments where the starters hold a secret breakfast among themselves, similar to what I did with my residence in inviting you all. That's all. It just irritates me from time to time since I prefer to be alone on days like these."
"Understandable. It's been a busy tournament."
"It'll only get busier once we head to the knockout stage. The opponents get tougher and the matches can feel longer and shorter and rest days seem nonexistent with the pacing. In a blink, it's all over. Royce, how are you feeling after playing the tournament as a starter?"
"Hm? Oh! Uh...I'm enjoying it. It's tougher than what I remember from being on the bench but I'm thankful for the experience."
Edward looked pleased, "Good to hear. Hey, would you mind stepping in? It's rude of me to speak to you in the hallway like this." he said, welcoming him in.
"O-oh sure."
"Pardon me but I'm going to go and get dressed, we can continue talking while doing so."
"Not at all, take your time." Royce takes a seat in a chair while the captain heads to the bathroom to get dressed, passing the time by looking around at the suite; "Big room." he mutters.
Edward's head peeks out from the bathroom, "Could almost say it's fit for an emperor." he said with the same blank expression.
Royce isn't amused as he gives a thumbs down, "Puns won't work on me."
"Ah, guess the crown doesn't fit my head after all." he replied with a shrug, disappearing into the bathroom; Royce brings his mouth up to his lips to prevent the laugh from slipping out, finding it hilarious that his intimidating captain had this kind of a weird side to him. "So, have any plans? We have three days off before the knockouts begin."
"Yeah, since we'll probably be off I was hoping to go visit the mountains or even the ruins after the game, though it'll probably be too late."
"Interesting choice for the mountains. As for me, I'd like to visit the palace."
"Sultan Ruhtab's palace? I guess I can understand that since he does free tours. Why there though? That seems like one of the closing destinations for an itinerary."
Edward puts on his shirt, "I like the architecture. Something about Ravia's architecture has this similar feeling to back home. I just like it."
Royce nods in acceptance of the answer, "Hm. Hey, Can I tell you something…?"
Edward gets out his toothbrush and some toothpaste, "Speak up."
"Well-uh, it might be weird to hear it from someone like me but I just want to let you know that we're a team and we're in this together. No matter what you'll always have us at your side. We won't let you do things alone." Royce said with a blush of embarrassment, seemingly forcing that out; Edward doesn't respond for a few seconds to a minute, making Royce a little nervous that he might've said something strange.
"Sounds like something the others would say. I guess they sent you here for that reason."
"Huh? How'd you-"
"They have a bad habit of doting on me. Since you're the newest member to our little group they figured you saying it would have a greater impact than them since I always tune them out."
"R-right on the nail."
"Of course. Well, whatever."
Finished with everything, Edward was ready to head downstairs. Royce stood up and put his hands behind his back with a solemn nod and followed him. Their walk through the hallway a silent one, Royce stared at the back of the future emperor and recalled the events that led him to this moment. When he came down earlier to meet with the other starters, he arrived when they were shifting through various topics like talks about the tournament and plans for break, eventually turning to talking about their captain and it was from there that Royce learned a little more about him. Venus recalled how aloof and tense he was when she first met him and Jack recalled a funny memory during one of their adventures in Mogov. Akira doubled down on his admiration for the captain after reviewing his performances thus far and Jace wondered how he must be feeling during this tournament given the current circumstances of their nation and its politics, all of them agreeing that he must be dealing with a lot of pressure at the moment that he didn't want to worry them with. As such, they decided to send in the newest member of the team to go and probe the captain since they knew he wouldn't let them find out anything if any of them went, and the rest is history. At the very least, he knows where Edward would like to visit during the break.
Later that same day, over in the resort where Squid Academy is staying, the team is holding a meeting to discuss their strategy for the Bluerings. Everyone but the head coach Fuchsia is present for the meeting in which Kosami took the reigns and led the team meeting. Facing yet another ranked opponent, the primary concern for them was on how to handle the opposing team and their loaded roster of explosive talent. Much like how Baiji was so troublesome due to their starting team being so talented, the entire Bluerings squad posed a problem since every player on that team was good enough to be a starter on another team; known as one of the most loaded teams in the tournament, the Bluerings boast a deep depth chart of talent. A troublesome issue to face since their primary "Rally" strategy of constantly staying fresh with substitutions could prove to backfire when taking into consideration the Bluerings had an arguably better bench than them and their starters were plenty able of lasting an entire match; attempting to bull rush them with the element of surprise wouldn't work in the slightest of chances. As such, they needed to find a few strategies that could be interchangeable and allow for consistency. But before they could formulate approaches and schemes to combat the Bluerings they needed to know who they were going up against. Plugging in the laptop and displaying it on the projetor with the help of Cobalt, Apollo, and Ollie, Kosami got down to work in dissecting the team's previous matches in the group stage.
"Let's go over what we know about our opponents: their captain is officially ranked as the fifth best player in the world, the team overall is ranked sixth and their roster has plenty of star caliber talent. They're a fast and powerful team but most importantly, they're a tactical team with plenty of technique and it's linked to how they prepare. They all use combat sports-specifically boxing-as a form for conditioning, doing so on top of the actual sports themselves. As such, their mentality is fortified with that of a fighter's spirit and is often reflected in their game. In addition, all that boxing has given them extra technique and better insight on reading an opponent. Now let's take a look at some of the games..."
After showing a few games with pauses in between to highlight key moments, Kosami did a back and forth questioning with the players to give them a discerning eye on their opponents. Studying them and learning their mannerisms, thinking the way they would think and imagining themselves in the enemy's position, believing their chance for victory laid with a combination of patience and experience, Kosami was doing her best to condition them ahead of time. A few videos in with plenty of mental notes made, some of the players were starting to notice the pattern and the first to catch on was Reice of all people. Raising his hand high, Kosami's face brightened glad to see him more engaged than usual; during the meetings Reice usually stayed quiet but thanks to that last match he understood where his position laid on the team and that sense of responsibility became apparent.
"I notice that they seem to always start out strong. Not only that but they are rarely met with resistance in the early round, which could explain how they do so well. With all that time to establish a flow in the match and play to their rhythm it makes so much sense, and that is our answer. We'll combat them by matching their intensity early on." he states with a brimming aura of confidence.
Jory beamed, "He's right. The only times they got beat were by Kalebrough and Crystal Coast and in both those matches, they were challenged from the very beginning until the final whistle. Even in the Titans and Baiji matches, the Bluerings showed good endurance and outpaced them in the later rounds. So far we know that they are a team that prioritizes the early rounds to set the tone for the rest of the match and if we disrupt that, it'll be to our benefit."
"I'm glad you all are doing well in following along but bear in mind that the same way we identified their flaws the same way they've probably noticed and planned a countermeasure for it. Always remember that."
"You're right, but if we approach it to like two drivers on the track, we do stand a considerable chance." Sky said with a growing smile as she went further than her comrades on finding a weakness of the otherwise unbeatable team.
Kosami's forehead wrinkled as she looked at Sky with curiosity, "Drivers...on a track?"
"When a couple of drivers are racing together on the track, it's common for one to tail the other in what's known as a draft. Drafting in racing is when two or more cars drive closely in a single file formation to the point that they are practically pushing the leading car-all done to maintain a consistent speed to avoid falling behind. The leading car gets clean air which allows them to move faster while the cars behind get the dirty air and move slower but the goal is to stay close behind long enough to overtake the leader. In relation to us, we are the car pushing the leader-we'll spend the opening rounds pushing their backs and mounting the pressure, and when the final laps approach, we overtake them with the abundance of clean after the switch and leave them in the dust. We just need to bide our time and wait for that critical error-it'll happen, that much I'm sure of."
"I'm following along but, how are you so sure they'll make a mistake? I understand the theory that a mistake will always be made and that it is up to frequency versus the severity, but what is the reason for the confidence? Did you notice something in the film we watched?"
Sky crosses her arms with a smirk and a nod, followed by Aaron letting out a little laugh as he figures out what she was thinking, "The team has fragile chemistry, is that it? The easiest way to predict an error is in communication and since that team is structured with nothing but superstars and dominant personalities, all of them will be looking to hit the homerun rather than focus on getting on base, right?"
"Precisely. Of course we can't be hasty since that'll leave us exposed as well but I believe this is our best bet to beat them. As long as we put the pressure on them and challenge their prideful captain and starters, we have a chance at victory. Strategize and coordinate around the specific rounds so that we'll have bookmarks during the match of where we should be and what we should be doing."
"Sounds good to me." Violet said.
"I agree." Parker nods.
Kosami looks on to the rest, "What about everyone else? All on board?"
Not a single hand raised.
Everyone on the same page regarding their plan for the Bluerings, the discussion turned to the profile of the Bluerings and the players they needed to keep the spotlight on as well as what to expect from the enemy camp and what countermeasures needed to take place. Half an hour passed by in the blink of an eye thanks to the healthy conversation with all the players actively participating and sharing their thoughts, the discussion morphed from the Bluerings to the current status of the team and who were the players to start for the next match. Pastelle and Sky were expected to start once more with Reice, Violet, and Aaron selected as the rest of the starters, but questions loomed about who the final position should go to with potential candidates being Jory and Todd-both starters who were getting rotated based on the opponents, and Parker, who was proving his worth lately and earned his seat at the table of starters in the eyes of the coaching staff. But while these were all quality choices for the final starting spot in their last game of group stage, there was one name that popped into everyone's minds the moment the starting roster was introduced as a topic; all eyes turned to the inkling in blue sporting his signature hat with the brim covering hiding his face. What are they to do with him and his reinstatement after missing a couple of games? With this pivotal match serving as the final hurdle it made sense to have their captain play his part, and now that he was cleared and able to come back just in time for the final game, the question on everyone's mind was whether it would be fine to put him in given the current circumstances. Will he be ready to play against the Bluerings?
"Nope." he responds casually when asked by Kosami, keeping his head lowered the entire time and his hands folded as he anticipates the response.
The echoes filled the room as everyone's jaws dropped, "EHHHHH!?" they all let out with their eyes protruding. Plaguing him with questions right away, they all wanted to know why he refused to participate in what could be their final match in the entire match.
Annoyed by all the questions thrown at him, Azule lifts his head to show a serious look for everyone. He wasn't taking this situation lightly nor did he act on a whim by making such a decision. Holding up his fingers, he listed out the cons linked to him making an abrupt return after the progress made under Pastelle and Sky. From his perspective, he noticed that the team seemed to be flourishing under the leadership combination of Pastelle and Sky, finding that this was far more desirable of a team than when under his control. What was meant to be a compliment seemed backhanded to Pastelle, who was fighting out there to hold down the fort in his stead; him willingly missing an important match with such a lousy reason felt like a slap in the face to her and the others' efforts. Azule didn't stop there though, also citing that the new formation is far more trickier as teams now had to account for the duo, triple, and quadruple threats that await with the current formation, doubling down that the current style was proving successful with consecutive victories and it might not be wise to make such a change for the sake of just having him in there.
"This team is doing fine as-is, so there's no rush."
Pastelle's jaw dropped, "NO RUSH!? A-are you hearing yourself right now!?"
"Am I wrong?" Azule's irises dulled, his tone entirely serious.
Pastelle's face wrinkles with a scowl, "Completely! Look, I'm fine with leading the team but don't you dare speak as though things are rosy for us now. We've been grinding from the first match-you were there! You're the reason we're even here fighting so why won't you participate when you know our situation!?"
Azule's seriousness softened as he felt the frustration in her tone, realizing that even if she's a reliable senior who he can depend on-she's exhausted both physically and mentally. Even with someone like Sky supporting her, the truth is that she is the vice captain and essentially takes over command when he is out of the match, which is a burden for her since she has to change her style to suit that of a leader rather than her preferred style as a secondary option or primary option for attack. "I didn't mean to sound insensitive, I just meant that things are better if I sit this one out. As we are right now, a nice rhythm has been established and tossing me back in might do more harm than good. Plus, I can focus on myself in the meantime."
"In other words, he's challenging us. Betting that we'll win our next game without him since we've done well without him. Is that it, Zule? You're that confident we can beat our next opponents without you?" Sky looked at him sharply.
Azule crosses his arms with a happy nod, "You two have been clinical, and I'm sure that under your guidance we'll be victorious no matter who our opponent is."
You cheeky little! Pastelle grits her teeth in annoyance, "How irresponsible! Fine. We'll do it. But on one condition: When we beat the Bluerings, you're playing every single round of every match we're in, got it!?"
Azule chuckles at how worked up she got, "Deal." he answers plainly; "I've been working hard these last few days to make a difference when I come back. Win the next game and I'll make it worthwhile in the knockouts-you have my word."
The conditions placed. Pastelle placed her trust in her captain's confident glow once more, aware that he was up to something and if it was more time he needed, she and the others would do their part to give him just that, so in return he better do his part and show them something special in return. With the discussion progressing well, the team looked upbeat about their chances moving forward and also did a little remembrance taking pride in their accomplishments thus far, realizing their mindset changed greatly from opening day. As they continue their team meeting, the sand in the hourglass falls with the rest of the Ravia progressing as well.
Wind hitting her face with a blow as she sprints at top speed with tunnel vision, the sunny backdrop and pleasant view of Ravia up ahead reminds Janice that though she's doing an endurance run as part of her practice, she should learn to enjoy the moment while it's here. The captain of Yermozani, who sits atop group P with all routes pointing to their advancement into the knockout stage, she realized that after all the challenges her team faced in the group stages-it was only the beginning. The grueling competition against national caliber teams and the stress of making constant adjustments for every game while concealing their best strategies from watchful eyes were already enough of a hassle but now that she was slated to appear in the knockout stage, Janice realized that the next stage would be even more troublesome and with that came a downpour of unnecessary thoughts. Her people back home and how they've placed their expectations on her and the team, the many rivals who were keeping an eye on her, and the pressure of upholding her word. The first faces to pop into her mind that morning were her fellow inkopolis rivals, namely the Kalebrough team. While she already expected to win it all at Nationals, deep down in her heart she wanted to have a rematch with the Kalebrough Inkstinct more than anything, excited to see what her team could do against the wonder girl and her team. Having followed their matches closely, Janice was proud to see how far her rivals went in their group, hoping the time will come during the tournament where they face one another. She knew thinking so selfishly was the last thing she should be doing, but after seeing how Kalebrough and her fellow inkopolis rivals were all thriving in their own ways, she couldn't shake that uneasy feeling of wanting to outperform them. Increasing her speed until she maxes out at full stride, her thoughts vanishing one by one like feet touching the ground as her sweat glides off her skin with each huff and puff zooming through the path. Maintaining her top speed, she rounds the corner of a building at full stride and crashes into a person who appeared behind the corner with both of them tumbling backwards from the impact. Two girls rush over to help the fallen girl while Janice gets up on her own power quickly, apologizing immediately for the bump. When she looked up to see who it was she bumped into, her face glowed immediately.
"What a coincidence running into you (literally)!" Janice laughed trying to hide her embarrassment as she receives dagger-like glares from the other girls.
"Oww…" Kippy rubs her forehead, looking up to see the captain of Yermozani; "JANICE!?" she beamed, springing forward to grab her hand. "Awesome! I was hoping to see you sometime during the tournament. How are you!?"
Janice giggled nervously in surprise at how friendly the girl was being after what just happened, "Are you ok? Is your head made of steel or something?"
"No worries…" Kippy bonked her head several times with an open smile, "It's empty!"
"A-at least you have a good sense of humor…"
"What brings you here? Are you with anyone? Why are you all sweaty?" Kippy asked full of energy with starry eyes.
Janice found it adorable and couldn't help but blush lightly at her energetic reactions, "I was out doing a run before practice to clear my head. A lot's been on my mind lately and the best way for me to keep focus is to do something like this."
"I see!" she grabs her hand again and pats it enthusiastically; "With how hard you crashed into me I say you'd make a great sprinter!"
"S-sorry about that, really." she said once more, still feeling the glares from Kippy's friends. "I must be interrupting your morning so I think I'll take my leave-"
Kippy grabs her wrist, "Oh no you don't!" she brings her in close; "I was hoping to see you again!" she said, still wearing a wide beam of a smile.
A powerful combination of her words and gesture triggering a light blush for Janice, Kippy didn't realize she was being a little too invasive of her personal space. "N-not so close! We're rivals aren't we? Isn't it weird for us to be so friendly in the middle of a competition?" she said, mindful of the glares she was receiving from the girls who were accompanying Kippy.
"I don't care if we're rivals." her tone dipped as her grip on Janice's wrist loosened; "Well, I mean...I do care since we're competing against each other but, we're outside of the turf. This a chance for us to get to know one another outside of just being opponents and fellow competitors, don't you think?"
"Get to...know me better…?" Janice mumbled with a bewildered look. One thing that caught her eye about Kippy was how she couldn't read the girl's mind, finding her to be quite an enigma out on the turf and apparently more so off the turf. The way she can say what is on her mind in such a free and honest manner, how she's able to convey her feelings just through eye contact alone-all of it had Janice wondering how different life would've been if they'd crossed paths sooner. "Why me?" she asked with a whimper opposite to her brash and bold personality. Her years spent in Yermozani and the neighborhood delinquent carried a reputation that spread fear in some hearts and left others on their guard. Many of the people back home painted her as this intimidating fiend when she was really just a misunderstood girl with a big heart. Because of everyone's preconception she lived up to the role perfectly with a permanent cold glare and barely allowed anyone to get close including her own teammates, so why was it that Kippy seemed to be so different?
"Why!? We're friends!" Kippy pouts; "That day when we battled, I treasure it. You're the first person I've met outside my teammates who I feel I understand, and it's all thanks to the passion you showed on the turf. I guess the best way I can describe it is that simple words do tell the whole story. I understand your feelings from the way you play. I resonate with it."
Moved by the way she said it so casually with such an innocent look and unable to resist cracking a tiny smile, Janice looked away trying to contain her happiness after hearing Kippy's reason. She was the first person after all to see her beyond the surface so quickly that she already felt her sturdy core softening at the thought of having made a potential best friend beyond just the title of teammate. "You're too honest." she hides her blush with a glare looking down, trying to keep her cool knowing it'll be too embarrassing if Kippy notices her words are hitting too close to home.
Kippy wears a blank stare with a smile, "Eh? Did I say something weird?"
"I didn't think we were actually friends on that scale. No one has ever looked at me as an equal or in the friendly manner that you do and it just leaves this strange feeling with me." she rubs her neck trying to find the right words to change the subject, preferring not to get into her personal feelings. Kippy's irises shined for a moment as she caught on to what Janice was trying to insinuate, wearing an even brighter beam of a smile than before and letting out a giggle. Their interaction cut short with the arrival of Alannis and Fiona, Janice saw this as her moment to break away and escape Kippy's clutches, knowing that if she stayed any longer, her resolve might weaken. Happy that they got to meet again, Kippy promised to frequently message her and hang out sometime during the break before the knockout stages begin.
Meanwhile at Ruhtab Palace, the home of the sultan, all of the workers are hurrying about in the halls and rooms preparing for the special gathering happening in just a bit. Handing out invitations to guests ranging from national celebrities and athletes to foreign politicians and diplomats, the reasoning behind his sudden gesture was a mystery to some but to most it was considered the norm considering how avid of a fan he was of the sport, and he had reason to be especially invested since Vulerby was a strong team in the tournament. Their game airing today and playing at the Mugil arena, during the rotation the teams would be playing in front at the Sultan's yard in front of the palace. His guests expected to arrive soon, he took it upon himself to welcome his guests personally and have them guided to the main room where the games would be shown. While the numerous guests all flashed ecstatic looks greeting the host, little did they know he wasn't at the door for them, but for his special guests due to enter at any moment. His shoulders squared and his chin raised, the proud leader of Squirabia carried a powerful aura dressed in formal attire both flashy and refined. At the top of the stairs watching the cars pull into his grand driveway with the towering palace serving as his shadow as his arms spread wide in welcoming fashion after spotting the people he was most interested in. Clapping cheerfully as the doors open with a pair of women emerging from the rear, he wears a wide smile after spotting the familiar faces.
"It seems Nikola couldn't make it. A shame…" Ruhtab's sarcasm leaks through as he extends a hand to his approaching guest, "But I'm glad to see my dear Pharaoh has arrived!"
Pharaoh Nefertina extends her arm to accept his gesture but not before shooting him a look of visible disgust, "Don't get friendly with me." she scowls as her fingers rest into his palm.
Sultan Ruhtab sharpens his grin and leans in with a twinkle, "Bewitching as always? Is the abrasiveness an act for the young sweetheart over there?" he whispers with a taunting look directed at the group of octolings emerging from their chauffeur driven ride.
The Pharaoh isn't amused, "Didn't your mother teach you not to butt into a woman's affairs?"
"She had more than her fair share, believe me." he responds in an instant, letting her hand go once he noticed a deathly aura enter his vicinity followed by the appearance of Handan.
"Watch how you touch and talk to my Pharaoh, Sultan Ruhtab." Handan warned carrying a cold glare accompanying her Pharaoh.
Biting his tongue at her comment, he welcomes the octoling guests who ascend the stairs right afterwards. Accompanied by her trio of retainers Ciri, Reluna, and Vaairie, the young Queen Shiva makes her arrival with an intimidating aura. Like a hatchling leaving its nest to become a strong bird, Shiva's ascension to the crown awakened a different side to her, one carrying an tremendous presence as she met the host with a combative look. Sultan Ruhtab welcomed her with nothing but respect, aware that she was a precious guest among guests and the talk of the party among fellow attendees. A few minutes passing by with guests exchanging light pleasantries and greetings while being served lavishly by the Sultan's faithful, the gathering was a success as the guests warmed up and enjoyed one another's company while viewing the current matches airing and waiting for the Vulerby match to start. Inside a private conference room removed from the large gathering, Sultan Ruhtab sat at the head of a large round table surrounded by his special guests. To his left sat Queen Shiva with her retainers, and to his right sat Pharaoh Nefertina and Handan. Sitting comfortably in his seat, he leans forward and brings with him an overwhelming tension that escaped from his shoulders and made way to the others.
"I wanted Nikola to come as well but since he's still sour about everything, it can't be helped." Sultan Ruhtab's frown bends after muttering under his breath.
"I thought it was made clear that discussion of matters outside the conference was prohibited. Are you looking to violate that confidentiality?" Handan spoke sharply, already disapproving of this meeting.
"And how do you know this is in regards to the conference held in Inkopolis? For someone acting as an ambassador you sure seem to behave like a vizier who doesn't know their place, or has fooling around with that brat from the military numbed your skull?"
A vein sprouts on her forehead immediately but she wisely holds her tongue knowing that this is what the Sultan was truly like when he was in his backyard and didn't have to worry about upholding appearances for the general public. Luckily for her, she wasn't alone as all the guests at the table were on her side. "I'd prefer you leave Handan and her personal life out of this discussion, Ruhtab. For someone meant to be the ruler of a nation you sure act like a spoiled child always looking to cause trouble." Shiva stepped up, knowing she had to defend Handan and the Pharaoh since their nation was locked in complicated relations with the Sultan's nation. "The last thing that needs to set off a conflict are personal jabs. Please state the business you have with us, otherwise we'll be rejoining the others to watch the matches like our invitations state."
Sultan Ruhtab chuckles, "Incredible how a little bit of power makes you a grown up all of a sudden. Very well, since you are so impatient I might as well get down to business." getting comfortable in his seat, his demeanor changes with a lower of the chin and the smile fading away. "I won't trample on the confidentiality of our prior gathering in Inkopolis, but I do have some concerns I'd like to address moving forward into this new era. As you're aware, there are plans to begin exploration outside of the continent to an unknown mass of land that exceeds the size of ours-an uncharted terrain full of mysteries and wonders that are already being taken over by Inkopolis."
"Sounds like you're speaking about something confidential." Nefertina interrupts with a disapproving look.
"Now hear me out, this is for familiarity. Not only is there some new land that'll likely have the world buzzing, but there are plenty of islands far off from the continent that are so isolated we never bothered to venture there, by legal means at least."
"You're referring to the far eastern islands beyond Ikayumu?" Shiva glared, already familiar with her nation's history regarding this topic.
"Correct. There are countless small islands out there, but what is there to say that there isn't massive land in that direction as well? What if this vast land is one giant land and we're just a land sitting in a tiny lake? Get my drift?"
"This topic isn't appropriate for discussion." Handan warned.
"Come on, this is a great opportunity for us to get a head start on the other nations! We can establish colonies there and use their resources to change up the current global economy here. Don't you think it's right that we do our best to look out for ourselves the same way the others are? After all, we have to look forward to the future."
"What's right is for me to be disappointed in your attempt to bypass our agreement to hold off on such discussions. What you're attempting to do is clearly the reason why there's barely ever been progress. People who think they can manipulate others simply because they have power or can sweet talk their way around, setting up functions like these to cover their true intentions. I suppose if it wasn't for the fact that my retainers and I can kick your ass that you haven't tried to strong arm us with threats, correct?"
Ruhtab lets out laugh, "Alright, I see where this is going and that's fine. There is no need to push the envelope since it's clear you don't plan on following along. I commend you for sticking to your ideals, but just so you know...there are plenty more people out there like me waiting to see you make one misstep. Tread carefully, Queen of Octaria."
"Your threats are lame." Nefertina comments, irritated with him.
With the conversation seemingly ending before it can begin, Sultan Ruhtab realizes it'll be difficult to manipulate them into having a discussion with how guarded they are-deciding to concede and play by their rules despite them being on his turf and in his home; it was his total defeat. With the discussion over, Sultan Ruhtab leads them back to the main room where everyone was in high spirits after witnessing an exciting game and in high anticipation of the upcoming match which was to be Vulerby's final group stage match. Shiva, Nefertina, and the others all wore heavy expressions thinking about what awaits them moving forward as the aftermath of their actions become apparent, seemingly opening Pandora's box by finally making a critical move that'll forever shift the mold of this world. Arriving to a plethora of happy greetings from the other guests, they all decide to put those issues on the back burner for now and enjoy the party much like everyone else, aware that worrying too much about it would only make matters worse. The monitors all showcased the post-game shows, the current segment of the show was a transition period where they were doing interviews with teams that were off for the day and playing tomorrow, wanting to get in their thoughts ahead of the final match of the group stage. All was going well as team captains and coaches of every team were interviewed in front of their team training sessions but there was one appearance that stunned Shiva and company and made them all wide eyed once they realized who was in the spotlight. Wearing a baseball cap with her hair in a ponytail and rocking a Squid Academy uniform of Blue and Pink, Fuchsia didn't look like a princess at all as she dressed super casual for the interview. Shiva's jaw dropped as she saw her sister answering the questions with professionalism, asking the servants to raise the volume so she could hear her clearer, seeming like a proud mother watching her daughter up on the big screen.
"Incredible matches have been happening every day and it wouldn't be an understatement to say that your team has emerged as one of the hottest topics the entire tournament. Your team is currently in battle for the final spot to the knockout stage within the group of death and I-as well as all the viewers-would like to know your thoughts on this journey and what you plan to do for tomorrow's battle?"
Fuchsia wears a soft smile, "We're grateful for the opportunity to be here and it's been a wild ride that I'm sure everyone on the team is soaking in at the very moment. Our plan for tomorrow is the same as every match we've played in the tournament and that is to stick to our central strategy and make adjustments as we go. Our next opponent will be another tough team and probably our toughest yet-but we're not scared to take them on. It doesn't matter how many ranked teams we have to go up against, at the end of the day it's only a number in front of their names. We're determined to go to the next stage."
One strong response after the other, Fuchsia made sure to let the interviewer and viewers watching know that her team were far stronger than they were given credit for, and her answers were a warning message: they were coming for the championship. The room was filled with murmurs and whispers especially nearby Shiva-some in amazement and some with doubts as the television displayed the young octoling coach. Proud to see how far she'd come from a young princess who didn't even understand herself, Shiva had a glimmer in her eyes seeing the simmering confidence in her little sister's pupils. In the same way she found her role to lead the people of her nation, her little sister found a leadership role of her own. As the interview ended and turned to the next guest, Shiva notified her retainers that they needed to visit Fuchsia sometime soon, aware that they too must miss her as well. The next interview was with the captain of the Bluerings, a personality so large that everyone in the room had their attention on him. The opponent of Squid Academy, the last wall standing between them and the knockout stage, he laid down his thoughts for the upcoming battle. A colorful session the entire way thanks to C.C.'s charisma, the interviewer wanted end the interview with his signature prediction that he was known for doing before matches. Never ever having been wrong on his predictions, the two times he didn't make a prediction were his losses; so when he made a prediction, he was essentially telling his opponents ahead of time that he didn't see them enough as a threat to beat him, able to pick them apart and know when to beat them.
"What do you think the result will be tomorrow? Bluerings victory?"
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Squid Academy can't hit, what they can't see. On paper they might seem a like a team so poor you'd kick them out the door, but they attitude they carry and the squad they possess have a different type of core. From their captain to their stars, I can see the comparison to ours but at the end of the day it's still a Bluerings victory. You want a specific score? Don't worry about it, because our win column will still have four." he said with the same arrogance as always, setting the tone for tomorrow's match. To some viewers it seemed as though he might've tiptoed around the usual distinct prediction which mean the acknowledged his opponents to be capable of having him be unsure of a specific score and result, but he still had enough confidence to know he could beat them for sure. Regardless, the presses quickly made the headlines and marketed the match to be another thrilling battle that pitted the underdogs to a team that would eat them up.
And thus, the prelude to the finale of the group stage has concluded.
