Unfortunately I tested positive yesterday and it's been rough the last few days but I'll still be uploading every week.
Trailing 1-0 after a close defeat in the first round of tower control, Squid Academy and their supporters kept their chins up going into the second round of rainmaker. A familiar spot they found themselves in, none of the players were panicking yet since they could still turn things around. Over on the Vulerby side, it was business as usual as the supporters showed out although they were far from satisfied; they didn't just want a win, they wanted to see a suffocating defeat for Squid Academy to send a statement to the big trio of Rukovna, Hugh-Napri, and Crystal Coast that they were just as much a favorite to win the championship as them. Watching the match closely with his team sat a concentrating Siot dissecting the atmosphere surrounding both teams, painting a mental flowchart of possible events and scenarios that could occur based on what he views in real time. Also spectating were Shiva and Nefertina with their retainers from the comforts of a luxury suite in the arena, preferring to watch from there than attend another of Ruhtab's watch parties, especially in this context. The pharaoh was entertained by what transpired thus far but wanted to see something a little more spectacular from the team in blue, mostly because she'd already seen enough of Vulerby to know when they were on track to win the match and although they weren't quite looking like they were there yet, she could tell if they won the next round the writing would be on the wall. Shiva kept herself upbeat however, believing in her little sister's ability to rally that team and keep them focused just like the many other times she'd done in the tournament already; even though they played solid in that first round, she believed that they needed an outstanding performance to even survive against the might of Vulerby moving forward. The cameras panning onto both sidelines, the audience got to see the duality of both teams: Squid Academy looked calm and composed despite the deficit while Vulerby looked agitated by being up ahead, clearly rattled by the resistance Squid Academy showed early on. If that round was anything to go off of, Squid Academy would be showing up again in the next round as well.
"That was a strong showing there but that definitely indivates that we're not doing enough!" Fuchsia claps her hands projecting her voice; "You were doing an excellent job up until that final run there-letting them get away from you like that cost us heavily! Luckily we didn't expect to win that round but it would've been nice to take that."
So blunt... Cobalt brings his palm up to his face with grimace.
A coach shouldn't be saying this aloud. Kosami shook her head.
Tangie tried to contain her laughter, Never change, Fuchsia!
"Romaine is a problem since it's obviously he is only getting warmed up yet already accomplished his usual task of dictating the pace early on to establish a rhythm and trying to disrupt that could prove to backfire, so tread carefully when approaching that. Our main priority is still the same: play our best and keep it close. As long we're still in the fight late into the match we stand a chance at victory. I have no doubts we're succeeding in making them wary but it's going to take much more to throw them off, so depending on our performance in the second and third rounds, I'll implement the necessary changes."
Everyone knew that meant they needed to win at least one of the next two rounds or else some serious changes would be made. There were certain team compositions that would work, and to the eyes of the average viewer the composition including the core trio of Azule, Pastelle, and Sky with a supporting mix of Reice, Violet, Aaron, Jory, or Todd was the most appealing, but for the coaching staff of this team and especially Fuchsia, utilizing such a lineup proved for detrimental that beneficial. Firstly, Azule missed three consecutive matches and might be out of sync so to put him on the same floor with the dominant Sky might cause some discord between the siblings despite the obvious chemistry they shared; their practice matches served as a great measure do their progress and to the rest on the bench, it was criminal to keep the siblings away from each other when they looked like a force that could rival the likes of the Moreno siblings and the duo of Shiori and Shiore.
"For the rainmaker battle, remember to utilize the far ends of the map despite the longer traveling. We want to make them work for the rainmaker so avoid going up the middle by all means."
"Vulerby are a solid team but when it comes to rainmaker battles, they have one critical flaw that always shows: they depend heavily on Romaine. Unlike the usual where Romaine is allowed to dominate freely since his supporting cast can pull their weight, in a mode like rainmaker where the one who has the golden weapon becomes the ultimate target. Most teams target both him and whoever is in possession. Obviously, letting him roam free or coordinate is dangerous, and allowing him to possess the rainmaker is also dangerous on its own since his team will become a protective barrier for him."
"Sounds to me like another lose-lose situation to me, where's the flaw in relying on Romaine?" Reice asked, quick to let his voice be heard.
"He is only a single person and we're a whole team. We just need to take him out the equation long enough to obtain the rainmaker and do a classic game of keep away. Always be at this throat and give him no room to breathe, but priority is the objective more than anything. We can't afford a consecutive loss here.." she said gathering her team around her afterwards and taking out a drawing board to create a visual.
The commentators in the middle of their quick recap of the opening round, they shared their thoughts as well and were all in agreement that Vulerby's victory wasn't anything unusual but Squid Academy's decent fight was impressive, though letting the round get away from them in the latter moments was chalked up to their inexperience in such high stakes tournaments. The upcoming rainmaker game is a crucial round for Squid Academy since it was clear that losing this round heading into the third round wouldn't bode well for them. While it was true they made a name for themselves as the giant slayers, a deficit too large might prove an impossible task for even the miracle workers themselves. Going into detail about what worked for Vulerby and what needed to continue if they were going to replicate their success in the following rounds, Sultan Ruhtab sat comfortably listening in delight to what positive remarks the commentators had for the team he roots for. Surrounded by his inner circle of close friends watching the game, he had the biggest smile on his face seeing all the cameras focusing on the captain of the home team, his grand expectations for Romaine already being met with his performance in the first.
Both teams lined up. The noise of the audience escalating. The whistle blows once again to start the second round. Squid Academy are off to the same haste as last time led by Azule and on the other end Romaine leads his Vulerby squad to the center map for the awaiting barrier with the rainmaker. The commentators make their call, giving the play by play of the movements of both sides as their eventual clash nears, the coaches of both teams are giving orders from their respective sidelines, noticing something unique to only them that compelled them to speak out. In an instant, the clean hardwood floors are doused in blue and pink followed by the burst of the barrier that sends one color blasting onto all surroundings. Advantage Vulerby. Their quickness and power proving superior to Squid Academy on the opening strike, they snagged the rainmaker first. Squid Academy lost Violet and Todd on the opening skirmish while Vulerby lost Fonsa but this encounter proved to be the opposite of what was seen in the opening encounter in first round as Squid Academy stood their ground and stuck to Vulerby closely giving Mirai no room to escape with the rainmaker. A powerful charged shot firing away from Mirai's hands, she looks to clear a path to move forward but Parker and Reice's joint efforts prevent her from plowing through. If their defensive prowess wasn't enough to deter the attacking squad in pink, here comes Azule and Pastelle on the rush around the erected wall, greeting Romaine and the others with the sub weapons and wreaking havoc. Pink blasts detonate actively as splats are recorded by the commentators excitingly on call, notifying the audience that this round might be more competitive than what was seen previously with how hard both sides were dueling early on. A sense of urgency for Squid Academy, they knew they needed to not only win this round but they had to send a message to Vulerby. That first round victory was Romaine's answer to Squid Academy that regardless of what they try, he and his team will attack them at the right moment and shut them down regardless. Now, they needed to show him that he wasn't only wrong, but that they could do what he did and better.
"Mirai-retreat!" Rashid barks, unable to keep her protected at the moment as he is preoccupied with Pastelle and Reice overwhelming him from the front.
Mirai can't escape.
Azule is already in the vicinity with Romaine and Nadish targeting him, though their efforts are slashed since Parker offers assistance with his brella in making their lives miserable. Romaine wanted to take care of Azule to give Mirai a chance to push forward but with Parker in the mix and the pair's mobility and sturdiness proving effective, he couldn't offer as much support as he'd like. Squid Academy's attitude changed entirely from how they played in the first round, Romaine's growing smile was one of enjoyment and annoyance alike as he found it refreshing that there existed an opponent outside of the top 25 and usual lurkers nearby that wasn't afraid of his team; teams usually quaked in their boots when having to face one of the seeded teams, but Squid Academy's team composition was built to take on those very same teams. They weren't scared and they weren't worried which proved to be a welcoming invitation for teams like Vulerby who were happy to face an opponent willing to take the challenge. His admiration cut short as his instincts scream with a warning, Romaine moved so fast he teleported as he crossed paths with that same pesky inkling once more. Donning that signature hat that seemed all too similar to a reaper's scythe in terms of an appearance, his blue eyes sharpen as he stared down the captain.
"Here we go folks, time for a rematch between the captains!" The lead commentator calls in anticipation of another fiery duel; the audience roars with excitement as once again the captains of both sides butt heads.
Mirai aims the rainmaker off to the flank and fires her shot, seeing Romaine's appearance as her cue to high tail it out of there. Rashid backs her up while keeping the trio at bay, the pair deciding to take a different route after being thwarted on what would've been the shortest path to victory. Blocked off from tagging Mirai, Azule comes face to face with Romaine once more. The pair staring each other down as a few droplets of sweat fall down their faces, neither looked thrilled to see the other. A continuation of their clash, the pair rushed at one another with breakneck speed and resembled an exchange between a pair of heavyweights slugging it out as it was Azule's speed and craftiness versus Romaine's power and ability to alway be a step ahead. Always within range but never in danger, Romaine's advantage of being able to erase the space between them proved beneficial as he continuously dragged out the conflict between the pair. Azule looked wise in his approach but it was clear that Romaine had the upper hand this time around. While the two captains had been dueling, Mirai and Rashid tried to take a new route after making the abrupt change in course but their attempt proved unsuccessful as they found themselves tailed by the trio of blue shirts hot on their tracks. The distance between them closed off eventually as they prepared for a confrontation, it starts off messy for the pink duo once Reice initiates combat, swinging his roller such ferocity that it felt like the wind created from the swing was enough to slice their head off, not to mention the sickle of blue cutting through the air as well. Rashid covers Mirai, but that leaves the rear open and on the prowl to snag the rainmaker are the other pair of blue shirts. Parker assumes frontal position with Pastelle right behind him. Mirai fires the rainmaker at full charge in Parker's direction, but the anxiety of getting attacked suddenly led to an inaccuracy on the target and rather than aiming behind them to splat them with their guards down, Mirai targets just ahead giving Parker enough time to react. Parker and Pastelle retract a few steps and Parker brings up his brella as a shield just in time. As soon as the blinding sight of pink disappears, Pastelle emerges from the blindspot and closes the distance between her and the rainmaker wielding Mirai. Mirai has no time to think with her finger on the trigger knowing that a moment's hesitation spelled death. A brutal collision of pink and blue with both parties bearing the brunt of the other's attack, it was Mirai who had to bail as Pastelle's quickness proved too much to handle. A major blow to Rashid's efforts as the rainmaker instantly creates a fresh barrier, he too is splatted by Reice.
"It's a double splat!" the commentator announces in an excited shout flailing his arms; "Squid Academy's team performance has paid off!"
The barrier bursting with a blast of blue covering the surrounding area, Reice grabs the rainmaker with satisfaction at now having the opportunity to start the counterattack. Deciding to use this brief moment to heal and refill their tanks for the battle ahead, the laxness in their body language is interrupted as quickly as it arrived. A terrifying guest greeting from seemingly out of nowhere, they all froze in disbelief as an inkling wearing a pink shirt covered in blue ink stood before them with vengeance in glare. They didn't know if he showed up because of the possession changing hands or because he defeated Azule, but one thing for sure was that action had to be taken whether it be confronting Romaine and protecting the rainmaker or distracting him with a decoy while another takes the rainmaker and escape-either way they couldn't wait until his teammates returned and evened up the field; Reice found it strange for him to show up so suddenly since there didn't appear to be any markers indicating an enemy landing from when he fought Rashid and Pastelle and Parker's reactions to his appearance gave him the impression that the same went for them as well with Mirai so then, did he come there on his own power?
No words are spoken. Romaine simply raises his weapon and charges ahead, giving them no time to defend or even react. Reice instinctively rushes towards him but Pastelle cuts him off, a fire in her eyes as she locks onto Romaine. It made sense for her to be the one to take the challenge of facing off against one of the toughest opponents as after all, she was cut from the same cloth as Azule and Sky: a fellow monster on the turf. Feeling a smashing of a projectile against a wall, Romaine meets Pastelle. Their glares sharp and fierce as their expressions told the whole story, it was tense on the turf as Pastelle's eyes dilated. She had no intentions of letting him pass through her.
"GO!" she shouts, unable to look over at her teammates with such a dangerous opponent in front of her; Reice and Parker don't hesitate for a moment and remove the barrier expeditiously.
"Looks like they have enough sense to avoid interfering, but I have no intentions of playing around with you all anymore!" Romaine said, firing away once again. A shootout of a contest between the pair, Romaine kept his eyes on the backs of Reice and Parker and lined them up to unload his special attack. But once he had them right where he wanted them…
"I'm still here!" Azule shouts at the top of his lungs dive bombing onto the scene and landing with an emphatic slam, rushing toward Romaine immediately. Pastelle joins him, the pair recognizing he was too dangerous to take on alone.
A splat bomb was thrown to manipulate his path followed by the pair splitting to cover both sides which Romaine welcomed, finding it amusing that the pair were under the belief they could contain him. He didn't need to take them on in solo duels. He didn't need to use his specials. He could beat them on his own power. Backing away to draw them both in as the view of Reice and Parker disappeared for him, Romaine could only let out a frustrated laugh catching a glimpse of the intensity in his opponent's eyes. Why do you both look so serious? Am I really that much of a threat that you both feel the need to stare at me with such daggers? Prepared to engage in battle, Romaine flashed a maniacal smile as they approached; his spirit as a competitor flared up as worthy challengers entered his vicinity.
"A taste of what may come in the later rounds, the Squid Academy duo attack Romaine. Romaine is quick to move however, dodging Pastelle's aim but here comes the captain for the blues!"
"Romaine is exposed."
"Romaine does a half spin and dodges Azule at the last moment-he fires his gun but there's no ink left! Oh what a lucky break for Azule!"
"He's so engrossed in this now that he's losing his awareness. The duo have done an excellent job of putting pressure on the captain. Even if he isn't consciously feeling the agitation of always getting pushed to the edge, he is still feeling the effects and it's starting to show here. Azule and Pastelle may have him on his heels soon."
Ever since taking over as captain, since inheriting the will of the third years. Why is it always like this? Romaine recalls the countless battles he faced coming into this match, the innumerable times he was thrust into such a familiar scenario. All hopes and responsibilities resting on his shoulders and parroting what he already knew, repeating over and over again like a broken record. Never a chance for him to catch a wink of sleep or breathe a sigh of relief, every day leading up to this moment and especially during the group stage was a moment of torment for him. Limitless pressure. An unending experience of having watchful eyes examine his every move while expecting him to accomplish the impossible each time. From the moment it was decided where the venue for Nationals would be, his fate was sealed. A thriving to become the apex of his potential, Romaine overachieved and marched his squad to where they are and now in this very moment, his pedigree as a top competitor was being tested by the most unlikely of challengers. Even though he was a proud captain and one full of confidence in the ability of himself and his teammates, he couldn't deny that this feeling he felt from Azule and Pastelle was one too frustrating to describe. They really...won't go away!"
An exaggerated reaction from the crowd, the duo of Parker and Reice can only hope that it must be something positive to spur such a response of an overly Vulerby-favored audience. Peeking up at the scoreboard and viewing the lead slowly work in their favor, they noticed that the only change to the field was the removal of Romaine's portrait which meant that the duo got the job done. Little did they know that their allies didn't bring him down easily and in fact, they were both teetering on the edge of death following that encounter. Living up to his reputation as one of the strongest players in the entire tournament, Romaine gave the pair a vivid reminder of what they will be facing for the rest of the tournament. That same restlessness he faced, the constant overflowing anxiety that'd leave him in a tailspin racking his brains attempting to remain calm despite it feeling like the walls of his shelter were crumbling. He'd make them live the same hell he experienced to get to this moment. If they wanted to beat his team-to defeat him, they needed to bear the brunt of his force in all its entirety and that going away present was just a taste of what was to come.
A change in the tempo for Squid Academy following their possession of the rainmaker, the return of Todd and Violet are a welcome one as Azule and Pastelle's return opened up the floor for them to proceed with less caution now that they had the lead and the momentum on their side in addition to the rainmaker. Running into the Vulerby force of those who'd been missing earlier, their defenses held true when challenging Squid Academy. They didn't make it easy for Squid Academy to traverse the turf, but the determination of Azule and Pastelle to end this as soon as possible was greater. For them, this was all a ticking time bomb until Romaine graced them with his presence. One defense after another, Vulerby managed to slow down Squid Academy greatly, though retaking the rainmaker was another issue entirely. Romaine returned with all eyes on him, but unlike the fire he showed earlier he looked far calmer-likely regaining his composure on the lonely trip back to spawn. Nearly showing a moment of vulnerability, Romaine led his squad on the rally for the rainmaker and likewise did Azule command the march of his team to the goal awaiting them on Vulerby's side of the turf. A relentless effort by Squid Academy to press forward, they survive the lashes by Vulerby and manage to eke out an opening escaping the pink clutches of their opponents. Stretching the lead further each time and having the entire arena holding their breaths for various reasons, Squid Academy's march to the goal bore a stronger resistance each and every time like a sturdier gate appearing in their path every single time they punched through. A test of their mental fortitude and drive to finish the job, Romaine and Vulerby wanted nothing more than to weaken Squid Academy's spirit and swipe the rainmaker from under them and go on a run all the way to the goal. They wouldn't allow a knockout at all, but the fans dressed in royal blue most certainly did! Led by a fervent shout from Bianca, the school section of Squid Academy let their voices be heard as the brass band and drums banged in the sound of victory-all of them aware that this round was crucial to their run in the tournament. A loss here, and it was all virtually over.
A last gasp effort by the inklings in pink to slow down the runaway freight train in blue, Romaine set his sights on unleashing an onslaught of attacks on Violet, who now carried the rainmaker after several drops in the previous skirmishes. Azule wouldn't let him. Standing in his way with no intentions of entertaining overtime stood the captain of Squid Academy in all his glory with a face that said "this won't end in four" and a quick hand on the trigger to keep him at bay; if Romaine wanted to see this round end in victory, it'd have to be through his teammates who were working hard to contain the escaping wildfire of Squid Academy. A round that defined what determination looked like, both teams showed Mugil arena and the entire world that even in the second round, it could feel like the seventh. Exhaustion plaguing both parties throughout the battle, it was the blue jerseys who could raise their arms up high knowing the match was far from decided.
The series tied up, Squid Academy have avenged their previous knockout defeat with a knockout victory.
A stunning result to say the least as the impassioned fans of Squid Academy unleashed their emotions with a mixture of joy and relief knowing there wouldn't be a sweep, their team wasn't going to sit down and quiver in fear of the giants, and they still had their pipe dream of the finals still intact. Sultan Ruhtab isn't fazed by Vulerby's defeat, but he doesn't like the fact that Squid Academy not only won that round but they did so answering back the message that was sent from the first; they weren't scared of Romaine, and they most certainly weren't scared of anyone else. Shiva and Nefertina both had positive reactions to the victory with Shiva jumping out of her seat once Violet slammed the rainmaker on the goal and Nefertina clapped with joy as she imagined the look on the sultan's face in that moment. The type of answer that was needed to fulfill the expectations of the masses, the commentators announced on live television that there indeed would be a match. Squid Academy won't go away. Returning to the sidelines high fiving their proud coach, Azule and the others crashed on the bench catching their breaths while the rest of the team assisted them following what was among the most taxing battles they've faced yet and they've got to go back out there and face them again! Satisfied they got the revenge knockout, they listen to what Fuchsia dn the others have to say heading into the third round; The Vulerby sidelines weren't tense since they expected this much of a fight from Squid Academy, but it wasn't farfetched to say they were hoping to take that round and make things difficult for Squid Academy. With the series tied, it's almost assured this would be a match that'll go down to the wire. Shortly after, the third resumes.
With both teams keeping the same squads heading into battle, the start of the third round carries the same intensity as the previous as the teams in pink and blue match the other's pace. As the commentators gave their play-by-play commentary on the round, they weren't surprised at the way the match was progressing but were curious about how long Squid Academy could hold out against Vulerby. Romaine was only looking better with each round and this round would be crucial to deciding the fate of the round, so it was obvious to believe in the captain of Vulerby to take the helm and regain control of the match. Squid Academy played a stellar round just now but that was only enough to equalize the match from their point of view, believing the underdogs needed to replicate that performance to a tee if they wanted to stand a chance at victory.
"Vulerby are looking great out there despite that hiccup in the previous round. Romaine and the others are likely going to put their foot on the gas pedal and look to stomp them out in the fourth to wrap things up in the fifth round. A gentleman's sweep. Squid Academy can barely keep up with Romaine and crew."
"I disagree, Arian. Squid Academy has impressed me with their guts and with the way they are playing I'd show more caution if I was in Vulerby's shoes. Even if Vulerby were cautious on their approach, Squid Academy doesn't look like they have any intention of letting their season end here. I'm curious to see how Romaine and his squad will answer the challenge." Siot said while keeping a sharp gaze on Romaine as the battle continued, careful not to miss a single detail in this contest.
Rikki peeks at her phone and awed at the display, "Whoa! I didn't expect to see that!" she said, refreshing the page; "Guess what's trending right now in the top spot?"
"Is it this game? Wouldn't surprise me with all the hype around it."
"Bzzzt! Janice and Yermozani!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot that game was happening too. It's in Alqamar, right?"
"What's the score so far? Must be a pretty close contest to trend higher than this game."
Rikki shakes her head in surprise as she read through the news, "Quite the opposite, actually. It's a blowout..."
Siot, Arian, and the rest of the players all looked at her dumbfound as though she'd spoken in a foreign language just now. But it was true. Over in Alqamar stadium in front of thousands of screaming fans who donned purple for their team, Yermozani was putting on a spectacle in the third round after having already won the prior couple rounds via swift knockouts. This match wasn't even close. In the first couple of rounds, Janice came alive and led all the stats with her whopping 15 consecutive kills in the first round that boggled everyone's minds and followed it up with an additional 10 in the second round, seemingly on track to go a couple rounds without getting splatted before finally getting splatted by a trio of Acropolis players who forced themselves to focus entirely on taking her down. Their purple and white jerseys carrying a different shine under the sun, it was apparent to the audience and players alike that this match was over. Even if Acropolis found an answer to containing or minimizing Janice's impact on the turf, that just opened the floor for the rest of Yermozani to pile in on the attack. Prolonging the match beyond the standard 4 rounds seemed all too miraculous with the way Acropolis played. The third round offering a similar show of events to the previous rounds, Yermozani stomped on the throat of the dispirited Acropolis and piled on the points despite being the hiders, consistently splatting Acropolis with ease without letting their "it" Nantes even get concerned. Janice popped off and Hector contributed plenty, and with the way the rest of the squad was performing it was as though Yermozani was doing more than just displaying their strength to their opponents. A victory in crushing fashion, Yermozani took the third round by knockout yet again-only a single round away from an appearance in the round of 32.
Alumia let out a sigh from boredom and got up to stretch, "It wasn't even close that round. Coming back from a three-zip deficit is nigh." She said looking over at the scoreboard as the third round got called for yet another knockout victory.
"She looked extra motivated today, at least based on that clinic she put up in the first round." Platinum added, still keeping his attention on the field despite the spirit of Acropolis appearing to be broken; he believed that there was always a chance to start a rally even when it appeared like a game over-as long as there is time on the clock there is a chance.
"Remind me again why we're still here watching this? I would've preferred if we went and explored the hotspots in town." Obi sulked, getting elbowed by his captain a moment later.
"We're checking in on them. We might be rivals, but I respect Yermozani and their captain for how they've conducted themselves since the spring ." Gin said with a serious gaze, remembering the team that suffered defeat against Special Forces in the quarterfinals of the invitational.
"Ho? It's rare for you to care about anyone outside of us."
"Yermozani. Kalebrough. Squidops. Squid Academy. All of them are great teams that deserve to be respected."
"What about Special Forces..?" Silvia asked, already aware of why he blatantly left them out."
"There's no love lost, that's all."
Abruptly shutting down the conversation once the noise exploded in the stadium, they all turned their attention to the turf down below where the commentators were fervently calling for the start of the fourth round.
On her way to Ravia stadium to watch the epic clash between the 6th ranked Bluerings and the 20th ranked Wobblgongs, Kippy had the biggest smile on her face viewing the scores for the pair of matches airing, beaming warmly as the entire world gave her friend the respect she deserved, and hopeful to see a historic upset for Squid Academy. Hoping to have a rematch against both Janice and Azule, Kippy wanted to get on the turf as soon as possible and remind the whole world that she's still the hottest talent in the tournament, refusing to lose to her fellow inkopolis counterparts. As Yermozani headed into the fourth round full head of steam, their inkopolis rivals were still in the thick of things in their Hide Ink Seek match.
