Hi! It's been a while since doing one of these and it feels grimy uploading without saying something while uploading. As always, thank you for reading and I greatly appreciate the patience in sticking with me. It's unreal to highlight and dive into what is going on behind the scenes, but in any case I am really thankful for the continued support and hope you'll enjoy the coming chapters. Also, a few months until Splatoon 3 drops and I'm stoked but also dreading that day since that means it'll be back to ranked hell haha


Three wins are tallied for both teams, their hopes to continue their seasons hanging by a thread. A final round left to be played in a decisive Clam Blitz battle, center stage awaits the Kalebrough Inkstinct and Nimaroshi 1st. Anxiety thickens and spreads across the sidelines of the participating teams, the players of both parties casting their focused gazes on center stage where their hopes laid in the final cast who represent them and hoped to prolong their tournament run. For Kalebrough their final squad saw Zepp continuing his duties as the captain who will lead, joined by the Moreno siblings who acted as a pair of deadly slayers throughout the match thus far and would continue the role, Virgil remains in the lineup as the pivotal factor with his ace sniping proving to be the difference maker in the match, and joining in for the final battle are Alannis and Zacharias as a pair of fresh legs to help bolster Kalebrough's chances. Nimaroshi 1st kept with their same lineup however, gambling on their team chemistry to be their best weapon against the stacked talent of Kalebrough.

A tale of two stories in the match at the moment: Nimaroshi were doing their best to maintain their composure and damage control the situation after losing a precious 3-1 lead, Kalebrough were running off the high fumes of the atmosphere favoring them with their adrenaline taking over nullifying their emotions just ahead of their decisive seventh round-the players looked ice cold waiting for the whistle blow the start of their biggest round of their tournament lives yet. The entire world watching their every move, the two teams wanted to go out on the turf and produce a performance worthy of a magnum opus. One such player especially had determination to deliver on her vow to take her team to the final, her heart rate nearing 200 bpm as she took her necessary breaths to calm her mind and match the intimidating look she carried. Even though she knew quite well how good of a squad she'd been blessed with, it was still surreal to her that they made it so far that they were just a single round removed from an appearance among the final 16 teams in competition. Her mind full of memories she'd made with her team throughout this tournament, she wanted nothing more than to prolong those precious feelings.

A wave of chills that followed with a jolt that woke her up, her agitation faded once she looked to her left and right. The sight of her friends and family fighting beside her was all she needed to confront the unknown. It's scary to face the untraversed lands that await us but it's even scarier to miss that opportunity. To advance to the round of sixteen means that we'll be a step closer to realizing our dream of a final...but it also means I'll be a step closer to him, won't it? A selfish smile formed quickly as the inspiration for her becoming a player appeared in her thoughts. That night in Ravia was one of the best nights of my life. I got to see up close why I revered you and why I wanted to follow a similar path to the one you were paving. If it's destiny, I want us to meet again...no, I'll make my own destiny and be sure to see you in the knockouts!

The countdown starts.

Nimaroshi's final six ready their weapons, the gaze of Yuji and Shinichi turning distant as they channel their inner zone prepared to fight for their lives.

A couple seconds remain.

Kalebrough's final six give a final nod, whispering something indistinct under their breaths.

A second remains.

The audience is split as both bases let their voices ring, roaring to a frenzy once the whistle is blown. The final round begins. A hot start from both teams, they're led by their vanguard en route to center stage; dispersing to their assignments they split forces: one focused on gathering clams while the other defended the goal. For both sides their heavy hitters were on the clam collecting duty and surely not a surprising tactic, many viewers recalled the common ideology among teams to be ever fluid in this event-be able to attack or to defend at a moment's notice based on the scenario presented. A back and forth exchange, the crowd oohed and awed watching the show runners face off against one another. Kippy met Yuji and Kappa met Shinichi, the heated exchanges leading to exciting results as the Moreno siblings flashed their brilliant chemistry and operated with such speed and precision that it was difficult to fathom such perfect teamwork until was reminded that the pair were siblings-their connection stronger than most and their chemistry proving the theory correctly. But Yuji and Shinichi weren't being handled by any means as their perfect target shifting while maintaining their intensity worked just as effectively. A majority of the clams gathered by one of these four names while the other players focused on the drawn out defensive battles, the first major event soon followed.

A burst of yellow followed by an after shock of green flooding near the goal of Nimaroshi, the first seal is broken: Kalebrough struck first. A long strike from Kappa who anchored his feet in the dangerous puddle of yellow and accurately pierced the barrier of Nimaroshi, he gathered the first points for Kalebrough just before getting splatted by Yuji, who shouted commands for his squad struggling on defense to handle the bombardment from Zepp and the squad. The score ticks but slowly and after the first strike, Kalebrough leads with a few extra points tallied in to build the lead to a 76-100 score. The Kalebrough fans went wild and the flags began to dance, the students dancing about as they watched the score favor them. But that noise would be short-lived once the goal closed…

"Shinichi is on the dash and he's got no one on him!" one commentator shouts, noticing the formation left the dangerous Nimaroshi player wide open with his power clam.

"Kalebrough committed too many on that attack to build that lead and now here comes the most dangerous foe imaginable for Nimaroshi 1st!"

An eye for an eye.

Nimaroshi answered back with a strike 9f their own and brought that lead to just a measly difference, unable to capitalize on the power clam score. 76-80, Kalebrough's lead became fragile as Nimaroshi stepped up the pressure. The scheme of sending their best units to face Kalebrough's best, Nimaroshi made adjustments as the round proceeded and quickly did the lead of Kalebrough diminish and slowly did Nimaroshi jump ahead. A power clam after a long rally that saw several power clams fail to meet the goal, Nimaroshi broke the drought to jump ahead 76-60 and had Kalebrough flustered. Desperation set in as the stomachs of every Kalebrough player, coach and supporter turned inside out experiencing the shift in momentum immediately. Nimaroshi got more aggressive, their shots hitting and their movements quicker. They looked like a predator chasing after their prey knowing they had the power to pounce at the right moment. Yuji looked otherworldly and Shinichi looked to be in the zone, with those two operating on all cylinders, their hopes for a victory started to gallop away much like the lead. A frightening development that had Kalebrough supporters biting their nails the whole way through, they watched their beloved Inkstinct fight valiantly after the 76-60 deficit. Nimaroshi punched them in the mouth with another power clam and some change to extend the lead to a 76-33 cushion that led to Kalebrough firing back to make it a 56-33 score, unable to add on any extra points but put the bonus back on Nimaroshi 1st. Another score by Shinichi stinging Kalebrough yet again, the additional clams from Yuji rubbed salt in the world as the two stars of Nimaroshi dared Kalebrough to keep up with them.

But whenever their hopes seemed lost, that light shined brighter! Like the drums banging ferociously, Kippy stomped with authority. Eliminating half the field with her explosive pace, she erased the dangerous lead Nimaroshi had and put her team to within a single point deficit: a score of 34-33, Kippy challenged the stars to a duel for the ages. Yuji and Shinichi gladly accepted, commanding the team as they pleased and steered yet another power clam into Kalebrough's goal to wedge the score to within knockout range at 34-11 following some extra clams thrown in. Desperation reeks for Kalebrough as Nimaroshi were in match point position and needed just another power clam to end it all.

Their season truly at stake with an exhausted squad remaining fighting their hearts out, Zepp let out a piercing cry after forging his power clam. Charging forward, he raced through time itself: dashing through the perilous obstacles thrown his way as a first year, trudging through the struggles placed as a second year, and finally, anchoring the weight placed on him as a third year. His expression fierce and his teeth gritting with strength marching his resolve, the determined captain of Kalebrough fought back tears passing through memory lane en-route to the goal, the stench of death approaching as he got marked by a trio of yellow guns already firing. A desperate heave thrown, he lets a painful wail as the ink connects. The power clam dropped to the floor, but a hand quickly scooped it up.

"ALANNIS!" Everyone shouted anxiously on the Kalebrough sidelines clenching their fists and letting their voices reach the heavens.

At the eleventh hour with the season at stake, the substitute player who'd been more of a tactical move to preserve freshness on the turf, Alannis became the player of the season for Kalebrough as she immediately launched the power clam into the goal to break the barrier. A score of 14-11, time felt like it was slowing down as the color drained from the faces of the players on the turf. A minute window remaining open for Kalebrough, it fell to the players to bring it home!

Nimaroshi were prepared however, swarming all units to defend the goal from further attacks with the trio quickly rushing to account for Kippy and Kappa who were forced to steer clear of the goal with their few clams or lest they get splatted. Just a few seconds remain until the goal closes and Nimaroshi maintains their lead, their hopes pinned on defending in these last moments. Should they survive this danger they had the option to either defend their lead outright or dedicate one final effort to end it by knockout, but either way they were in a favorable position once the goal closed. Kalebrough would have their work cut out for them as those three clams would feel like power clams of their own at this point with how difficult it was to deliver them, and with how narrow that lead was. The voice of the audience cranked all the way to high, they reacted to the developments taking place in the dying moment of a thriller game 7.

13-11…

The guns blast but no one is aware.

12-11…

Yuji and Shinichi notice their lead is dwindling.

11-11…

The frantic search begins to find the culprit but by the time they've realized, it's too late.

10-11.

It felt like an earthly tremor as the voices of Kalebrough screamed his name in that moment. Silent but deadly, a lethal target who'd been the difference maker the entire match, he became the hero of game 7 and perhaps Kalebrough's entire tournament run. Virgil delivered a four piece clam special with a side of a clutch timing, securing the lead for Kalebrough just in nick of time. Hearts heavy for Nimaroshi following that punch that knocked the wind out of them, the lead they worked so hard to protect sent them scrambling as their only hope left was to attack on all fronts and save their season.

Desperate. Uncoordinated. Sloppy.

They didn't care how they did it, they just wanted to take back the lead before it was too late. Every heave of the power clam carrying the emotions of their supporters, all fell on a closed wall that protected the goal. The yellow of Nimaroshi splashing against the green of Kalebrough for a final time, the whistle called the end to the match and with it, an ending for the ages.

Kippy immediately fell to the floor, only able to keep herself falling face first thanks to her arms and knees, the tears already welling up in her eyes as the victorious screams from her loyal supporters rained down once the whistle concluded the match. Zepp, Kappa, and the rest of the Kalebrough bench quickly rushed for Virgil with everyone piling on him, he was undoubtedly the man of the match. Devastation befell Nimaroshi as the truth sunk in: They were eliminated. Although it was against the 7th ranked team and one of the favorites to win it all, it was a gut wrenching feeling to know they were seconds away from an appearance in the round of 16. Tears fell down the face of the captain who watched Kalebrough celebrate as a whole before him and his comrades, a bitter feeling tugging at his heart as he watched the two siblings embrace and sway from side to side. That should've been him and his comrades celebrating...

The two stories reached their conclusion. Kalebrough lived to fight another day and Nimaroshi 1st were eliminated from the tournament. The initial emotions settling down after a few seconds, the coaches of the two teams showed their respect-as well as the two teams themselves as Kalebrough acknowledged Nimaroshi 1st's efforts and knew deep down that this match was no doubt one of-if not- the toughest match any of them have ever played. Wiping away her tears, Kippy hugged both Yuji and Shinichi and expressed her respect for them and the rest of Nimaroshi; this was a match she'd never forget. She understood their resolve and recognized that had things been different and Virgil hadn't been there at the right place and the right time, she would be in their shoes. Imagining that feeling of defeat only made her more teary eyed and thankful that she had this team to support her.

The songs of Kalebrough running free throughout the dome, the rest of the competition was put on high alert after such a performance: Here come the Kalebrough Inkstinct, and more importantly, here comes Kippy Moreno. Although she didn't have the last minute heroics, she displayed a dominance that rivaled the top trio of individuals in the tournament: The Emperor of Rukovna, Street Queen of Hugh-Napri, and the Sensational Siot of Crystal Coast. After this performance, it was fair to say she might've earned her seat at the table and allow for the argument that she might be the player of the tournament, at least that's what the commentators believed. The world reacted to this victory with an overwhelming cheer for the victors who treated them to such a spectacle, and for many of the teams who were observing they got whatever info they wanted from the match, immediately making their plans to strategize a counter. Out of all the teams that were watching, one player in particular had their eyes glued for every moment.

His glare colder than the hollow feeling left in his body after such a performance, he could only grind his teeth watching Kippy and Kalebrough dominate all the coverage. If it wasn't enough, his opponents for the next round were going to be the red hot team who played one of the best matches in the tournament. The rematch he so desperately desired after what happened in the group stage where his side suffered their only loss, Siot was ready to answer Kippy and Kalebrough's declaration of war from the group stage and this dazzling performance gave him even more motivation. A battle between the 3rd ranked team and the 7th ranked team, a war between superstars awaits in the round of 16.

Siot vs Kippy.

Crystal Coast vs Kalebrough.