Sincerest apologies for not uploading sooner! Thank you for the reviews, I really love reading what you all have to say and I hope you're enjoying the story and of what is to come moving forward!


The palace yard became a mess with waves of pink and blue ink crashing with one another on the lush green turf, the players of their respective teams scattering about spreading the floor to gain the edge in a competitive fourth round contest of splat zones. The battle started off fiery with Squid Academy answering the challenge early on through their aggressive play with Aaron and Parker leading the way as the main strikers while Sky and Pastelle continued to show their class as top tier leaders and commanded the attention of their opponents through their presence on the turf. The Bluerings stuck to their usual style and doubled down on an observation-first approach, wary of the desperate Squid Academy side looking to make a statement with Pastelle and the others unleashing their latent strength they'd been conserving for this very moment. A close score of 67 with a bonus of 8 for the Bluerings and 71 with a bonus of 13 for Squid Academy, the Bluerings had done well to build their lead early on, but they couldn't control the tempo this time around with Squid Academy disrupting their rhythm each time and managing to keep it close; whenever the Bluerings jumped ahead, Pastelle and her squad worked to wrestle away possession of the zones to put them back in the bonus. A constant flow of Squid Academy nipping at the heels of the Bluerings like a pest clinging for dear life against their predator, it was clear to all the players in attendance that Squid Academy's refusal to succumb to defeat wasn't out of desperation or weakness, but rather it was that this team found a way to survive and by all means would exploit that opportunity if it meant them snagging the victory. The game slowly shifted the more time elapsed with the Bluerings forced to notice the once soft grasp at the ankle that seemed annoying now became a vise grip instead, the determination and resiliency of the inklings in pink proving to be worrisome as their hot offense threatens to melt the icy defense the Bluerings worked hard to set up in preservation of the lead. The critical moments of the fourth approaching, both teams bring about their best performances yet.

"A minute and fifty remains in this battle and the teams are still in a close contest with the Bluerings holding possession over the solo zone in the center. A continuous game of chase, no matter what C.C. and his team do to create separation, it seems as though Pastelle and her side have the answer for it." the main commentator calls the match, reacting to Squid Academy's flashy counter attacks as they dial up the pressure on the defending Bluerings crowding the zone.

"The Bluerings haven't been attacking with that same intensity that won them the previous rounds after taking the zone and building the lead. You have to wonder if they might be meeting their match in an unlikely opponent like Squid Academy. With a skilled bench and quality leaders on their team to match what they possess, it's a no-brainer why they can't separate from them. In the previous contest, Sky Royale's presence played a key role as she took C.C. out of the various group battles and forced the Bluerings to step up without their leader. He's an amazing player who can make an impact even when isolated but he thrives in those team battles where his presence can overwhelm opponents." the color commentator adds in his deep tone the broadcasts well on audio.

"You're right, even now when they have him making a difference in team battles it isn't translating on the scoreboard. One could say that Squid Academy might have already done enough psychological damage to affect the Bluerings for the remainder of the match. The belief that no matter what is done, all of the effort to create separation is meaningless when going up against an opponent who wouldn't give them the chance to grow the lead will eventually take a toll on the team in front. It's difficult to maintain a certain level of intensity of care all throughout battle when faced with such circumstances and it's especially draining mentally. But if any team can power through with their mental fortitude, it's the Bluerings."

Listening to the commentary, Shiva and the others nod in agreement with the praise given to the team they support, hopeful the commentators would expand on that praise and acknowledge the fine work done by the coaching staff as well. From their cool heads calming down their anxious players to their masterful approach on the turf with unique tactics, going up against Squid Academy wasn't just a battle against the players but against their problematic coaching. The nicely trimmed yard that looked like a walk of clouds was shown its appreciation by the players by getting stained in blue and pink like a splash of paint to a blank canvas, the high octane action increasing as the time advances with the stakes rising. Parker throws out his sprinkler followed by unleashing his ink storm and spreads the Bluerings thin on their retreat, in turn creating an opportunity for Pastelle and Reice to rush in and pressure the enemy squad further and balance the map in their favor. Sky turns up the pressure as well from a distance and does her call-outs to guide the pair and assist Violet and Aaron who were rejoining the battle after getting tagged a few moments earlier. A critical point in the match following several close battles that kept the opposing sides within striking distance, the respective leaders of both sides recognized that the moment to go for broke approaches rapidly. The Bluerings played actively and seldom made mistakes, making their side gain more confidence as time ticked away, aware that the pressure will be built on Squid Academy to answer back; falling down 3-1 usually meant the end for the team trailing. But Pastelle and her squad weren't shrinking under the pressure and did their hardest to avoid making any careless errors, also maintaining an eerie calmness as they played with patience and looked to grab the equalizer.

Zone advantage: Bluerings. Squid Academy: on the attack. A little over a minute remains as crunch time approaches and it was in these moments that games were usually decided since major adjustments were made to shift the momentum in favor for a final push to victory; games weren't won at the end but rather in the crunch time right before the end. Specials connecting as pink clashes with blue, the Bluerings carry a two player advantage with Tommy and Michael making their presence felt with a strong defense on the zone. A stubborn Reice responds with a powerful swing to push them back, his technique improving greatly to the point that he struck fear into their hearts with just a swing. Capable of handling them on his own with a roller in hand, Reice challenges the pair to a showdown with confidence that he can bring them down with a double splat. Elsewhere on the battlefield having a hard time for the Bluerings was Floyd, the defensive mastermind who found a difficult opponent in Aaron. Put in a bind by the composed and experienced Aaron, who continued to press him and choke up space leaving him with limited options for a response, Floyd knew the objective of Aaron wasn't anything as simple as taking him down but rather to free up space for his comrades to attack; if Floyd was isolated from the rest of the team that allowed the Bluerings' ironclad defense to weaken significantly since he was their anchor on that end and led them accordingly. But it wasn't only Aaron that had an incentive for engaging in this isolated duel as Floyd had a chance to weaken Squid Academy significantly if he brought down Aaron. If Aaron is taken out of the equation, Squid Academy would lose an explosive threat for at least a few seconds which was more than enough time for the Bluerings to crush them completely.

The offensive prowess of Squid Academy matching up well against the defensive might of the Bluerings, the question looming over the crunch time of the fourth round was about who would hold out and control the zone? The current situation soon becoming dire for Squid Academy following the elimination of Pastelle and Parker at the hands of C.C. and Frazzy, all isn't lost as the couple managed to snag Ray along with them and leave the critical moments of the battle to the most reliable pair of snipers they knew. A tense development as the zone still wears more blue than pink, Sky and Violet knew this was their moment to shine and sway the match in their favor even though the opponents standing across from them were the ultimate mismatch. A pair of rapid firing weapons going up against chargers, it was nonsense to think the sniper pair could outlast the Bluerings should they close the gap-and yet, there was something about them that casted a slither of hope. The moon of Squid Academy and the resident assassin on the squad united, they prepare to battle the greatest player in the making and his ultimate rival!

A fire in her eyes as the moment heats up staring down C.C. for yet another clash, Sky bellows a roar and clenches her fist. "Alright! Ready to light 'em up!? I have high expectations of you!"

"Definitely!" Violet responds with a suppressed shout, tense from the confrontation but refusing to shrink now that she stands on even footing with Sky.

"Oooh! I like the energy in that response." Sky flashes a smile and pats her on the back and leans in for a whisper; "Just follow my lead and pay attention to the cues I give, alright? We're taking this round and the match."

"Yeah!" Violet responds with a new sense of determination.

On the other side sprouting a grin in response to seeing Sky's exhilaration, C.C. can't help but crack a joke to lighten up his tense partner. "Don't slow me down, Frizzy." he elbows his teammate, who didn't look amused.

"Worry about your damn self...and it's Frazzy!" he yells in response with annoyance, sighing afterwards once he noticed his captain suppressing his laughter; "Isolation or duos?"

C.C.'s face beamed, "Do you even need to ask? Stuff them in iso! We have the advantage regardless so let's pick them off on our own...unless you can't handle that? Eh?"

"Tch. Take this seriously, man!"

Rushing ahead before the snipers can create space to breathe, C.C. and Frazzy look to utilize their weapon advantage right from the get-go. Sky and Violet don't look concerned however and rather than attempt a retreat, they engage and close the distance instead in preparation for battle with the duo. A bold move that stuns Frazzy for a moment, C.C. isn't surprised and welcomes the challenge, warning Frazzy that Squid Academy were a much craftier team than the credit given to them; in his eyes, they had more guts and brains than most of the teams he faced. A freight train collision started by the shots fired from Sky and Violet, the two duos finally meet in a fiery exchange following C.C. and Frazzy dodging the initial shots with ease on their side steps; Sky looks over to Violet with a serious glance and then shows a bright smile, nodding her head and charging ahead. It's time for battle.

Stick to my assignment and pay attention to the cues, refrain from getting carried away and absorbed in their tempo and slow down the pacing whenever I can, and most importantly, watch my environment. Violet replays in her head while watching her senior charge ahead.

Not much time remains in the match for Squid Academy to turn things around, and as things stand with the several battles happening simultaneously, they were in danger of losing the round since the Bluerings not only had a growing lead over them but manned the zone with such defensive power that it was difficult to imagine breaking the formation once they have everyone back on the floor, so their best chance to strike was while they were missing at least one person-no matter who and luckily for them with Reice handling two on his own and Aaron isolating their best defender, their chance to disrupt the flow of the Bluerings was at the highest it has ever been throughout the round. As long as they could wrestle away the zone and tack on the bonus penalty for the enemy, they still had a fighting chance, albeit time isn't in their favor.

With a minute and a half remaining in the round with the score for the Bluerings now at 48 points without a bonus penalty, Sky and Violet clashed with the aces of the Bluerings in hopes to change the narrative. Acrobatic dodging and flashy firing lighting up the turf with bursts of blue and pink, the sniper duo struggled to make much progress against the rival teammates who played with such chemistry that it was alarming to notice they despised one another despite how in sync they were on the attack; any more of the this and that waste of precious seconds would haunt them severely. Sky couldn't get aggressive at the moment since she had the extra task of overseeing Violet and making sure to keep her safe since she was crucial to the plan whilst also staying alive herself; the other reason she always faced C.C. alone rather than receive any assistance was that in her eyes some battles were better fought alone, and she personally liked the challenge of defeating someone on her own rather than borrowing the strength of another-even Midnight. A momentary retreat to create some breathing room after failing to bring them down on the initial attempt, Sky scans their surroundings and keeps an eye on the clock-any moment now and Ray would return. She had under five seconds to turn this duel in their favor and claim the zone before he arrives or else they'll be back to square one and unlikely able to penetrate their defenses since the Bluerings will have the momentum completely on their side and be unlikely to make a mistake. More than anything she wanted to avoid falling behind again in the match, finding it exhausting having to always battle from behind just to keep up with an opponent she was sure they could fight on even grounds. Her irises and hair glowing momentarily as she does her best to keep her emotions in check and avoid activating her trump card prematurely, Sky looks over to Violet with a serious gaze and gives a nod. Violet knew immediately that was the signal.

Rather than continuing to engage in this meaningless team battle, Sky decided to pull a switch play and swap targets: She'll take Frazzy while Violet takes C.C. and as for the reason? After just a few seconds she could tell she matched up better against Frazzy and since C.C. wasn't too familiar with Violet she could hold her own against the captain of the enemy side. A risky gamble since Violet's failure would make it difficult for her to take them both down simultaneously, this was the moment Sky expected to see Violet live up to respect the others placed around her being the shadow threat that lurked behind the scenes. The key to victory laid within seizing the zone and Sky thought the best course of action was to capture the zone before reinforcements arrive while also trimming the enemy forces considerably by taking down their stars as well to kill two birds with one stone, but now she knew the initial idea wasn't far off but needed the signature "Fuchsia" touch-the element of surprise. Her confidence overwhelming and serving as a contagious drug for Violet, Sky braces for the critical moment while her junior braces for her toughest assignment yet. Moving quicker than a dualie user after a roll, the sniping pair shuffle targets in an instant and lock their aim and split them up. A cautious Frazzy takes a step back to examine what the pair are up to but C.C. presses forward without any hesitation without any care who his opponent will be.

She's fast…! Frazzy reacts as Sky breaks away from Violet and heads for him, his senses tripping like sirens targeting her moving image. There's no time to think. He stiffens his shoulders and plants his feet, scanning the possible routes his opponent will take. Will she go left or right, or face him down the center? Utilize her weapon from a distance and force him to act first or make the first move and ambush him? Whatever happens, he anticipates her actions.

The fire in her eyes blazing furiously paired with a frown and wrinkle as she takes her aim gritting her teeth, Sky pulls the trigger and unleashes a thunderous shot that narrowly misses Frazzy; immediately she drops an ink mine where she stood and advances forward. It was only a second but Frazzy noticed that little action and quickly his mind raced to piece together a possible scenario. In his mind he believed she purposefully dropped that ink mine, now whether it was directed at him or at another was the question. She's a considerable distance away so was the mine placed there in the case that she pressures him into stepping on it by accident or was it there as a safety measure in case another party arrives? After all, his reinforcements in Ray or the others would be likely with the zone in danger. Or was it possible that the reason for the switch was to bait C.C. into getting an easy kill and once he returns he would get caught by the mine? It seemed unlikely given that Violet didn't have the look of someone prepared for sacrifice. These thoughts rushing through his head like a flowing river stream, he halts all thoughts as Sky follows up with another devastating shot that this time catches his legs. A chance opportunity to spray him dead, Sky used up a fair amount of ink and had to dip in the stream she laid out and swim to him for the refill and close the distance as well. Frazzy doesn't panic at the mild damage and sticky situation, instead using the precious time he had to make a decision: attack her when she comes near and risk getting splatted and giving up a chunk of the zone to the enemy, or escape from the trap and prolong the battle while she remains submerged. His main priority being his well being and protecting the zone, Frazzy knew Sky was up to something by making such an obvious move. Was he testing her? Or was she oblivious by the situation? Either way, he isn't going to test it.

Choosing to escape and remain on the cautious side rather than get hasty and make a decision he'll regret, Frazzy creates some space and goes deeper into the zone knowing this was Sky's desire and that if he tried to bait her away she'd ignore him entirely. Sky re-emerges from the pink stream and notices that he was onto her, clicking her tongue in response since she was hoping he would take the bait and challenge her while she was vulnerable. An audible call from the guests on the balcony wishing for the showdown between Frazzy and Sky to continue, it wasn't easy for Frazzy to just simply grant their wishes. Sure, he has the close range advantage on her and in theory should use that to his benefit and pressure her into making an error but the problem was that he couldn't even if he wanted. Sky moved with a charger like it was a dualie, and pressure was second nature for her based on how she handled the previous pressure-filled contests; it would be a foolish error on his part to approach her half-heartedly.

If there is anything I've learned from doing my homework on her, it's that I have to be wary of her at all times and to never corner her or else I'd see something like earlier where she got a triple. Talk about a threat...

Creating some space between them to watch her movements carefully, Frazzy does his best to resist the temptations of Sky's provocations as she playfully fires at his feet to make him dance around a confrontation (literally). The gap between them closing in the blink of an eye, Sky does a hop-step-fire and nearly tags him! He's acrobatic on the weaving however and looks to respond with a swift fire of his own, but when he looks to return the favor-she's gone. His heart sank in that moment as he already failed to carry out the primary action of keeping his eye on her at all-times. But before he could lose his composure he noticed a trail of pink puddles that ended abruptly with his own blue ink. Her swift disappearance at first seemingly disturbing, Frazzy now knew she didn't get far and had to be hiding in one of the puddles and with this distance, he could fire away without worry of her tagging him. Ready to make a guess and start firing everywhere to lure her out or even trap her, an ink storm appears. Hiding in none of the available puddles, Sky was actually further away and watching him the whole time. Now that he just used up some ink, he's open for striking! Sky rushes in with hungry eyes ready to splat him, but Frazzy doesn't panic after having expected as much from Squid Academy's ace. The storm encroaches on the blue zone and with it come droplets of pink that cover the surface and teeter possession away from the Bluerings. With the others all preoccupied, possession of zone is tossed up in the air for either the hands of Sky or Frazzy to claim.

Over on Violet's end, she does her best to survive the brunt force of C.C.'s attacks by keeping her safe distance and constantly disrupting his movements with her accurate shots. But as to be expected, he's too fast for her tracking skills to offer much assistance with most of her shots coming from instinct. Feeling as though she was constantly on the verge of getting splatted with the crushing intimidation of C.C. in full effect, Violet never once had her back facing him because it felt like doing so would spell the end for her. Having to rely on her awareness of the environment to navigate, Violet does her best to lure him away from the zone and out of harm's way for Sky, aware that from this point onwards, it's all a matter of survival. Closing the space between them partially because Violet stopped moving, C.C. could feel the intensity of her gaze.

"That's a nice look you got there." C.C. said wiping away his smoke and getting serious himself; "Put up your gloves."

The glint in Violet's eyes sharpen, "If you underestimate me, you'll regret it."

C.C.'s face tenses up, "I don't live with regrets."

"Then I'll be your first-"

C.C. didn't let her finish her statement, immediately going on the attack and nearly splatting her in one go if it wasn't for her reflexes kicking in when they did. Violet knew right away why he was the captain of the Bluerings and given such high praise; that quickness rivaled the likes of Siot from Crystal Coast! Violet throws out a curling bomb to create some space between them, but C.C. utilizes his speed and avoids the detonation with ease. Violet creates more space and fires a shot, each time she pulls the trigger with her reticle on him it felt like her chest tightened just before her finger released; she knew in body and mind that she wasn't on his level yet nor could she hold him off for long, but her pride as a pillar of Squid Academy made her do otherwise. As Sky's junior sniper, there was no way she could let down her senior who placed high expectations on her-especially when precious friends like Fuchsia, Azule, and Sally watch from the sidelines counting on her. The battle between them heating up as Violet throws caution to the wind and meets C.C. with bravery and does well in avoiding the attacks that would surely kill her otherwise, her show of courage admirable in the eyes of C.C. who didn't hold back with his shots and did his utmost to splat her, he was glad to see that there was someone like her around who didn't care about matchups on paper or differences in skill-play the game and see for oneself! And not just her, but the rest of this team were worthy of admiration. But with admiration and acknowledgment came the realization that deep down, he saw something else about them that he couldn't bury away in denial any longer and watching Violet seemingly push her nerves to brink, he decided now was enough. He was aware that Sky was holding on dearly for the sake of buying time, and at first he dismissed it since he had enough faith in his team to handle Squid Academy, but after seeing Violet's resolve and recalling the previous battles with this team in the match thus far, it occurred to him that simply leaving this to his teammates might be costly.

I can't allow them to get a spark of life...they need to fall here! His mind shouts as he searches for an opening to tag Violet. The last thing he'd want is for them to blossom into a problematic opponent now of all the times. "I appreciate your resolve…" C.C. announces while peering at Violet; "But you're still a year too early!" he shouts, turning up his speed and closing the space between them in an instant with every intention of splatting her. With how fast he moved, it felt like he teleported.

Violet didn't even have a proper moment to react, only able to fumble her gun and fire a single shot...but alas, C.C. still stood and she was splatted in that instance. A brutal reminder to Fuchsia, Azule, and the rest of Squid Academy that though she was a talented player and among the best on the team, she's still a fledgling in his eyes. The awes and cheers on the balcony heightening after that display, C.C. doesn't have long to enjoy that quick disposal as an alert pops up for him: Squid Academy now has possession of the zone. His body jolted in reaction, having expected as much and now knowing he needed to handle Sky once more and take a commanding lead and prepare to close them out in five rounds. But as he prepares to move, C.C. felt a dull pain in his legs followed by a strange moisture that ran up to his clothes.

"H-huh? What's this!?" he shouts with a perplexed look seeing all the pink that covers his feet and entraps him where he stands; a parting gift from Violet, she carried out her assignment successfully.

All according to plan, Violet's sacrifice paid off for the moment with Sky cashing in on the plan by splatting Frazzy and seizing the zone shortly after. As a result of the blue shifting to pink, Floyd got tagged by Aaron by getting trapped, and Tommy and Michael were pushed to the brink by Reice who already gave them a hard time as-is. It was only a few seconds, but the momentary opening allowed for a massive change as Squid Academy not only tacked on a big bonus penalty for the Bluerings but now had a chance to eliminate their deficit before time expired and even force an overtime if possible. C.C. might've gotten the splat on Violet, but she got the last laugh on him. Understanding her role from the very beginning with awareness of what Sky expected from her, she recognized that as much as this assignment was a test of survival, it was also one of discipline. Had she strayed away from her instructions or attempted to take him down when she knew the dangerously low probability of success, it all would've been for naught. Her sacrifice making the biggest of differences down the line, it didn't go unnoticed by the spectators-the many players and pundits watching all taking note of her noble play; in their eyes, her mentality was the kind that made champions-the kind of player who understood their role and fulfilled their assignments with great proficiency were always destined for success.

Tommy and Michael frantically rush to neutralize Sky following the collapse of their zone, but their attempts are halted by Aaron who joins up with her following Floyd's removal. It doesn't remain an even encounter for long as Ray returns for the Bluerings and Pastelle and Parker return for Squid Academy. An unbalanced encounter of a battle, Violet's efforts pay off with a successful defense by the seniors of Squid Academy. Their sheer determination proving to be stronger than the Bluerings' desperation to damage control the lead, Squid Academy surpass them and build a lead of their own and stuff the counterattack of the Bluerings. The addition of C.C. shortly after proved useless now that Squid Academy removed their penalty and chipped away at the lead, their strong seniors handling the zone in the absence of the first years; with the situation calling for it, Sky unleashed midnight mode for just a moment to shut down the Bluerings-seemingly taking them by herself and showing C.C. that she's just as terrifying of an opponent as the best of them. A struggle for the Bluerings to answer back against a rejuvenated Squid Academy that heated up with all the momentum on their side, that was the beginning of the end for the Bluerings and splat zones. The damage already done by the time the whistle blew to call an end to the fourth, Squid Academy held on in a convincing win to tie up the match and prompted the drop of many jaws in response.

A shocking upset that got everyone talking, the showcase of resilience from Squid Academy had some thinking the underdogs might pull off the unthinkable at this rate. Winning a round each time after the Bluerings, Squid Academy made it clear they had no intentions of letting C.C. and his squad run away with this match. At least six rounds assured for the match now, the supporters back in the arena react with an overwhelming show of faith in their team to complete the shocking upset with them all shouting out a chant of "I believe that we will win" to the rhythm of drum beating and stomps. The clutch gene found in the DNA of Squid Academy following that victory, it wasn't surprising to see the supporters catching a second wind after such a performance-they've seen it before and once again were reminded that the team they cheer for were known as the giant slayers for a reason. But despite how amazing Pastelle and her squad played, the overwhelming majority viewing the match still saw the Bluerings winning it all and thought of Squid Academy's efforts as nothing more than a momentary flash of brilliance and of what to come in the following years-no way could a team like them manage to consistently beat The Bluerings four times in a match. It wasn't meant to be disrespectful to Pastelle, Sky, or the others, but the masses thought that a player of C.C.'s caliber wouldn't take these results laying down and would answer them accordingly in the following rounds to close it out in six. The break in between rounds in effect for the teams who rest near the palace yard, there are no visible changes in effect just yet for either teams while they catch a breather.

Isolating himself once again to clear his head after a frustrating loss, C.C. had a vast range of emotions coursing through his mind at that moment. In response to seeing their captain look for solitude, Ray and Frazzy took up leadership responsibilities and reassured Floyd and the rest that they were still in this match and not to let one bad loss get to them, encouraging the coaches to make the necessary adjustments. Although none of them were feeling pressured by a tied series, they all knew in the back of their heads that Squid Academy's refusal to crumble under the pressure was a concerning development at this point. Albeit that match might've been an outlier, Frazzy and Ray especially knew that what they saw from Squid Academy in that previous round were glimpses reminding them of the only other teams to beat them in this tournament, and there wasn't a doubt that C.C. noticed it too and probably isolated himself because of that. A huge overhaul in strategy needed, the coaches get to work in laying out the new plans for defeating Squid Academy while C.C. wrestled with these unpleasant feelings of pressure and newfound doubt. Sure, they didn't have the same overwhelming intimidation as Kalebrough or Crystal Coast, but the aura that surrounds that team carries a strange mystique. It was unsettling to describe. Playing against Squid Academy felt like having to sleep with one eye open at night in anticipation of an ambush; this team could heat up from anywhere at any time, and now C.C. and the Bluerings were seeing for themselves how the other teams in the group fell victim.

Newfound tension arrived for the start of the fifth round and reason for it laid in the fact that statistically, the team who won the fifth round when tied in a match at Nationals would go on to win the series whether it be closing it out in the sixth or surviving in the seventh. But that didn't mean everything was over, as the team put in the losing position had the chance to prove the numbers wrong and become the outlier-both teams were outliers. The narrative heading into the fifth was whether Squid Academy could capitalize on their surprising play so far, having been nipping at the heels of the Bluerings all match and stealing a couple rounds to even up the match in response to whatever the Bluerings threw, this was their chance to take control of the match and break the pattern created. The Bluerings weren't in trouble as of yet but it was clear that this round needed to be treated with the utmost care as going up by 2-1 only to blow the lead and fall to 3-2 wasn't uncommon, nor was it unusual to see a team get bounced in six games in such a fashion.

A game of rainmaker welcoming them, the fifth round became a massive statement...

Tense. Sloppy. Disoriented. Adjectives that would never be paired with the Bluerings, it was a nightmarish start for them as C.C. and the others failed to quell the flames of Squid Academy in the opening minute. Pastelle, and the others looked faster and stronger after stoking the flames of their momentum and utilizing that energy right from the get-go, fearless in the presence of the team expected to shut them up in the next couple of rounds. A critical period that had an adverse effect on the psychology of the team, the Bluerings were searching for guidance from their captain but he was nowhere to be found. Not looking like his usual self, C.C. played with some reservation and passiveness and got too hesitant at times, almost overthinking everything-especially during the duels for the rainmaker. His woes carried weight as it hindered the progress of the others and left Frazzy and Ray having to elevate their performance in his absence. Squid Academy on the other hand were hitting on all fronts and pushed the Bluerings' defense to the brink of shattering-always extending their lead with each time they manned the rainmaker and even getting quicker on the recovery as they took down Frazzy and the others more frequently whenever they somehow managed to scrape by to win the rainmaker. A shocking abandonment of expectations, the Bluerings' sidelines and fans watched in disbelief as the dominant turf color of pink remained on the screen following a blow of the whistle with the match concluding with plenty of time still remaining on the clock-a stunning knockout in the fifth. The coaches of the Bluerings break into a cold sweat with sinking hearts, the pressure finally mounting on their shoulders following that demolishing. The crowd shushed following that knockout, there were some whispers out on the balcony as the guests of the sultan's watch party were wondering what happened to the boisterous Bluerings, viewing that knockout as a serious collapse on the losing team's part. To go from leading just a couple rounds ago to now falling behind with a massive drop in quality of performance, the Bluerings now found themselves in a sudden death scenario.

C.C. wears a crestfallen gaze glued to his feet while squatting on the ground with his hand supporting him for balance, the pressure starting to get to him now that the scenario is written on the wall. Not only did he screw it up for himself but he failed the others and vanished when they needed him the most, abandoning his duties as the captain. All that negativity and criticism that people would be ready to shower him with he could already foresee. His vision clouded by the preeminent failure, he's whacked on the head from behind.

"No point in thinking too hard about it. We're down but we ain't out, right? Switch gears and prepare for the sixth." Frazzy said holding a fist, carrying a different air about him.

Disturbed by the change in Frazzy's demeanor, C.C. had to blink a couple of times to make sure he wasn't seeing an illusion; "What's with the change in attitude!? We're down heading into the sixth!"

"You shrunk. We're in this deficit because you couldn't show up when we needed you. As someone who hates your guts with a passion, I'm happy to see you finally get humbled but I'm not happy that it has to be at the cost of our efforts. Look at our squad…" he points to Ray and the others; "They played their asses off in the fifth and that still wasn't enough to hold off a knockout. You wonder why there's a shift in my attitude? It's cus I know that you've been exposed as the phony that you are and it's about damn time. From now on, there's no doubt going to be a competition for a new captain and you can bet I'll be at the head of the line."

C.C. clicks his tongue with a glare in response, "Load a shi-"

"But for now, you're still our captain..." Frazzy said averting the captain's glare; "What I'm trying to say is that even though you're a pain in the ass, you're still my rival. So don't go looking defeated like that. It doesn't suit you."

Seeing his rival show an inch of respect for the first time ever, C.C. couldn't help but guffaw the loudest of laughs. The tension and worries melting away with the best of medicine, C.C. felt a lot lighter after Frazzy's poor attempt at a pep talk. "I don't need you of all people telling me that!" the captain states proudly with his hands at his hips, back to his old self.

Reactions and predictions pouring in just before the start of the sixth, all eyes are on the skipper of the Bluerings now that he faced an unexpected elimination game. Was he all talk or could he pull through under the sudden pressure? Would Frazzy and the others step it up to save themselves or would Squid Academy pull off one of the greatest upsets in tournament history by defeating a trio of top ranking teams while being unranked. A sixth round full of questions that needed answers, the game of tower control proves to be one full of great expectations. Watching on with great anxiety was the octoling man who felt his chest about to burst under the simmering tension. His job is on the line and a win in this round for Squid Academy would mean he is in the clear, but he couldn't breathe easy just yet as the Bluerings weren't the type of team to crumble under the pressure. This next round meant everything. Would Squid Academy pull through or would the Bluerings force a game seven, the whistle blowing for the start of the match, it became a race to the tower!

A show of energy rivaling that of the opening whistle, it was hard to believe these teams already played five previous rounds with the way they moved. The situation dire for the Bluerings, it made sense for them to play with such urgency given it's the deciding game for them; Squid Academy also played with urgency, looking like sharks that smelled blood in the water ready to finish the kill. A clean and competitive sixth round, the tower was in constant trade as the teams competed back and forth over possession, denying the other the chance to build a strong enough lead. Whenever someone from the Bluerings looked to have made an impact, someone from Squid Academy erased that momentum in an instant and vice versa. Not much separating the two opposing teams throughout the round, the key to victory became a matter of consistency: whoever remained consistent with their play throughout the day was more likely to be the winner of tower control. The scoreline remaining close throughout the round, hope returns for the Bluerings' supporters as their side shakes off their failures in the fifth and puts up a good fight this time. Following the sudden emergence of Frazzy into the leadership role and C.C. into strictly poaching kills, the Bluerings began knocking on the door of Squid Academy's comfortable lead. Throughout the match, Squid Academy played with the same level of consistency that won them the previous couple of rounds, but this time around they looked a bit too relaxed. Whether it was because they knew they just needed a single win to clinch birth into the knockouts or because they felt confidence in the Bluerings self destructing, Squid Academy took their foot off the gas pedal. A critical error that many inexperienced teams made in these kinds of tournaments, that lack of professionalism and wisdom would be exactly what brought the Bluerings back into the game-and series. The surge of play under Frazzy proved enough to bring the Bluerings back as they responded to Squid Academy with a desperate performance clad in pride, challenging the rookie team to finish the job or suffer the consequences. Sky's little burst with midnight mode in the fifth took effect in this round as she struggled to pace herself after using way more energy than intended; though she got them far enough to pull off the elimination, she didn't have enough juice to finish the job.

The moment of weakness that the Bluerings needed to exploit to tie the series, they assured Squid Academy-and everyone else-that there would be a final round to decide the match. A massive sigh of relief overcoming the guests and the arena alike, everyone felt excited about one last dance to end the group stage. The Bluerings caught life again after nearly collapsing, and the pressure was on Squid Academy to win a match they could've closed out. The coaches of both sides wearing poker faces, they have plenty to say to their teams during the break. A game of booyah ball awaiting them at Mugil Arena to a venue full of supporters that would let their emotions be heard, the teams say goodbye to the sultan and his guests. The final match of the group of death reaching its final round.