A savory aroma expanding to all corners of the room, the fresh blend of coffee beans grinded to perfection to give a combination of a sweet yet bitter taste that dances along the taste buds, it was the perfect wake-up beverage for early risers. In this case, the heat from the cup warmed his hands like oven mitts and all the wrinkles brought on from the stresses of the competition were all gone in a flash. The Fifth Emperor and captain of Rukovna, Edward V sat in solitude watching the mountain range off to the distance where the sun hid behind. Although his team stood as the defending champions and they played almost in a class entirely of their own, the tournament wasn't without its own stresses and burdens on him and his teammates. After all, the expectations of them repeating were high with plenty of political attention coming as a result, especially when considering the venue location and what happened prior not too long ago. Everyone back home was watching, including his family, who placed an unbearable burden with their lofty expectations for him. The team known as the Emperors were the premier team of the north and one of the most decorated in all of the sport dominating their own region with ease and winning a whopping ten national titles under crowned emperor led teams and several grand slams and grand tournaments. But even then the pressure mounted on Edward as he faced a unique circumstance in his tenure as captain of the prestigious team with not only the political tension brewing between his state and Mollusca as a whole, but with upholding tradition yet maintaining his individuality and most importantly, the competition!

In a year unlike any other in recent memory, this tournament had one of the most deep and unpredictable collections of teams ever assembled with monumental upsets flying from left and right all serving as warning flags for the team at the top. As if his hands weren't already full with his personal problems, Edward had to think about a possible trilogy with Hugh-Napri where the two sides would settle the score for who truly was the best of the era. Then there's Crystal Coast who've been looming contenders all throughout his tenure as captain who looked like they finally clicked and were ready to win that elusive national championship. Then there were the other ranked teams who posed a threat: Skolar and their twin terrors, Kalebrough and their Wonder girl, Jin and his Special Forces, Toka's solid arsenal of a team, and even Beacon Hills led by Gin and Yermozani led by their delinquent princess Janice who were a couple ranked teams outside the top ten that were a cause for concern as well. But perhaps the two biggest names that caught the emperor's attention weren't ranked at all…

Squid Academy and Squidops...

His face wrinkled a bit at the thought of those two teams and their unlikely journey into the knockouts. It was impossible to follow and track all the action at Nationals without thinking about the cinderella run of Squid Academy, the lowest seeded team coming into the competition off the very last spot of 128 and their stunning survival in the group of death where they stood their ground against the likes of Kalebrough and Crystal Coast and even upset some giants like the Bluerings and Titans. And then there was their run in the knockouts thus far that was nothing short of spectacular where they marched into the Sultan's own turf against his own team and host Vulerby and upset them in grand fashion, then handling business against Dango who were a solid team that could give any of the ranked teams a run. A team like that earned his respect to be on his radar as a hot wild card protected by the goddess of victory herself. But then there was Squidops. A dark horse candidate that got overlooked by their fellow siblings of Inkopolis, they handled their business in the group stage flying under the radar and announced their arrival with a pair of shocking victories few expected, defeating 12th ranked Blazers in the first round and then defeating 22nd ranked Polaris in the second round. As a team that had experience and a chip on their shoulder, Edward had to take them seriously as a potential threat to their quest for a repeat. They will be his opponent for the round of 16 after all, and he most certainly can't view the match as a simple "David vs Goliath'' when considering they slaughtered two giants back to back to get there.

There was also another captain who was up during the early hours of the morning and he was utilizing the rest day to his benefit by performing a morning run to keep expanding his lungs with cool air ahead of the upcoming match where the combination of altitude shifts and the heat would most certainly affect his play based on the weather report he followed. His expression stoic, a glimmer shone in his eyes as he sprinted at top speed.

Run it back. Run it back.

His thoughts repeated, having plenty of unfinished business with his opponent for the round of 16. There's nobody else he wanted a rematch with more than Kalebrough following that lone loss in the group stage, a loss he considers to be what propelled the team into one of the hottest in the tournament. He knew it was Kalebrough simply being that good of a team, but he also had that frustrating feeling that he let himself get a bit too arrogant, and Kalebrough brought him back to reality. A game of revenge for him and Crystal Coast, on the other hand it wasn't viewed as such for Kalebrough, whose star player currently snored in a deep sleep after running herself ragged. For Kalebrough, they were already overachieving by coming this far, but the belief they could go deeper and make a run to the finals was manifesting more with every hour that passed. They had the talent and the chemistry, so why not carry that hope? For one team, it was grounds for revenge, and for the other, a stepping stone to the next level.

The gym empty but far from lifeless as a lone voice echoes in the temple of iron, the determined captain dressed in all black practice garments performs his exercise routine. No rest after such a day yesterday, Carbon was performing his deadlift exercise to hit all parts of his body in the workout. Aware that his next opponent would be the defending champions, Carbon felt restless all night with his mind set on getting in some extra work before he gets a good rest tonight. His headphones blasting in his ears as the veins in his body protrude from how he strained lifting the set of weights that were heavier than his own, he liked the reflection in the mirror staring at an intense figure that looked prepared to fight an uphill battle. Ever since the tournament started, Carbon and his team have embraced their role as the often overlooked team and the subtle disrespect given to them from falling out of favor as one of the big 4 of Inkopolis. Although their group wasn't as top heavy as others, it was by far the most balanced and competitive and as a result Squidops managed to survive but gained no attention. That worked in their favor when they went up against heavy favorites Blazers and stunned them, earning some attention their way and regaining the respect that was somewhat lost. Then their victory against Polaris skyrocketed them into the conversation as an emerging dark horse with many showing their respect for what they've done in such little time. For Carbon, this match against Rukovna wasn't anything that fazed him. When compared to that feeling of frustration in getting essentially replaced by Kalebrough and Yermozani, the disrespect of teams overlooking them because of their fall from grace, the intimidation of Rukovna carried no weight.

They aren't gods. Carbon determined, doing another lift with a grunt. And since they aren't gods, that means they are the same as us.

His blood boiling at the thought of what awaits him and his team in the next round, the animosity that'll come their way and the expectations for them to lose or get demolished. It all made him want to grit his teeth to the point that veins protrude all over. He hated everything about Rukovna and the media's portrayal of them, and in the next round he'd show them that they aren't as mighty as the media portrays them.

I have something for his majesty.

Meanwhile in the Yermozani camp, Janice is also putting in work but in a far different approach from her counterpart. Sitting alone at one of the tables with her tablet propped up, she had a trio of notebooks in front of her and was writing in a fourth that she held with a cup of tea off to the side. Studying film for her upcoming battle with the Sun Pharaohs, Janice pulled an all-nighter accumulating all the necessary data on her opponents following her rest after their victory in the round of 32. Running purely off of determination (and tea) to take her team beyond the round of 16 and into the final rounds, Janice didn't allow a wink of sleep until she thoroughly knew her opponents inside and out. She had four notebooks that she dedicated for handling her opponents: one for observations and thoughts she gathered from watching them, another for purely devising strategies and deciding what works and doesn't against that specific team, one for potential schemes that the opponents will use and possible weaknesses they might target based on matchup, and a final notebook for documenting the progress of her team and thoughts that she jotted down regarding how she felt.

Although she thought she'd done a great job keeping this side of her a secret by doubling down on her bold delinquent-like nature, little did she know that her secret wasn't much of one to her team. In fact, everyone knew about how hard she worked and about her notebooks, especially the one she wrote regarding them specifically. It was an accident, but when the team took a peak after she mistakenly left it behind, their resolve only strengthened. Even though she carried on a tough exterior and did her best to avoid showing a soft side to her teammates, it was all written in her notebook. Thoughts about how proud she felt to see certain individuals grow, her expression on what improvements she expected from others and her belief that they could achieve the results she foresaw, and most importantly, her love for the team overall and her determination to continue playing them. She valued them all as individuals and seemed to know every little detail about her team, some that were a little embarrassing to read for the players as it showed them that Janice truly cared about them more than she led on. On every page, she'd underline the message, "For my city. For my school. For my family."

Letting out a yawn after finishing another film of the Sun Pharaoh's play, she did a stretch and thanked the waiter that came over to refill the tea for her. "Oi, you can stop spying on me now. Come have a seat and let's eat already." she said without even having to look over at who she addressed; appearing from behind the wall were her starters wearing the biggest of smiles and determined looks. They resonated with her feelings and wanted nothing more to see her goal realized.

"Despite how you act at times you really look after us like a mother. Thank you for all you're doing for us as a team and your friends. We won't let you down in this upcoming battle." Hector said, leading the others.

Janice immediately blushed a bright red and quickly packed up her notebooks once she noticed all five of them were glancing at that particular book,"Hell're ya talkin bout!? Don't gimme that sappy shit first thing in the mornin! Just sit down already! Honestly..." She sighs with her embarrassment on full display, his comment hitting the mark.

Ah, she's flustered. They all thought in that moment as she got lively and aggressively drank her tea rather than the little sips she'd been taking before.

Also having his breakfast before the day even starts sat Carmichael who snacked on a breakfast sandwich while reading the morning news ahead of his morning practice session. His sights turned to his clash with Squid Academy in the coming days, he absorbed what morning he had left before his devotion to battle preparations. As the fifth ranked team and the fourth highest ranked team remaining in the tournament, Carmichael and Skolar were inevitably turning their attention to what awaited them. If they won against Squid Academy, then there was a possibility that they may encounter either Crystal Coast or Kalebrough and even more importantly, Rukovna. A tumultuous path awaiting them, they wanted to get themselves in the mindset of a battle of attrition. First the Bluerings, now Squid Academy, and next one of those monsters and afterwards, the defending champs; it'd be remiss of them to ignore the obvious implications of what could happen if they planned on winning.

Likewise, Squid Academy were also in their morning practice with the rest of the staff already deployed for today's games. Similar to last time, all players practiced in groups in preparation for team selections while the staff were deployed to cover the games taking place for the day. The sniper and charger specialists worked together on target practice and their reflexes, anchors worked on conditioning their bodies to have better toughness, and the slayers focused on their speed and agility. There wasn't a single tired body on the floor with all of them operating with a burst of energy. Not only did that victory supply them with more energy and motivation, but knowing they'll be facing a formidable opponent like Skolar made them realize they needed to take practice seriously and listen to the wisdom of their coach and leaders. While they worked tirelessly, the scouts who were deployed to the matches taking place today were recording all information they deemed necessary for the team.

Over at Ravia Stadium, the scouting team of Cobalt, Tangie, Kosami, and Apollo watched on in amazement at the action unfolding while Gileslie held the camera steadily, also shocked by the high level play. A fierce duel between the 2nd ranked team against the 24th ranked team, it was a display that reminded viewers why these respective teams were regarded with such high praise. Hugh-Napri looked clinical, nearly flawless with how well they managed to make the Joyriders look mortal. But the Joyriders' refusal to bow down was a testament to their strong willpower and a key behind they managed to keep the match from running away.

Empress Shiori of Hugh-Napri proved to be the star of the match so far as she had fingerprints all over the match thus far. In the first round, Hugh-Napri played a relentless attack that had the Joyriders flinching for the opening half of the round, and although the Joyriders managed to catch themselves in the latter half, it was far too late by then. In the second round, Hugh-Napri replicated that intensity like before and once more, the Joyriders couldn't find an answer. But in the third, the Joyriders sparked a response that gave them a fighting chance behind their strong chemistry and helped to maintain a competitive match. Finally in the fourth, the Joyriders launched their counterattack and found surprising success in disrupting Hugh-Napri's rhythm in Tower Control. A tied series after four, the fifth delivered fireworks that left everyone stunned. A sheer display of raw power and a dominance that'd make even a giant shiver, Hugh-Napri really illustrated just how far ahead they were ahead of the competition, and yet, the Joyriders didn't bat an eye or or lower their heads in defeat; the hesitation seen in the first couple of rounds were now nonexistent. A competitive round of Hide Ink Seek, Hugh-Napri prevailed as the winners and retook control; the writing on the wall for the Joyriders who now faced elimination with another loss...

Even though there was still another round left to be played and the Joyriders could will themselves to a seventh round to decide everything, the mental strain and exhaustion that paired with battling Hugh-Napri finally caught up to them. Even if they had the willpower. Even if they were still able bodied. Hugh-Napri stood directly in their way to the goal. Like watching two runners reach to the finish line, Hugh-Napri were the team standing at the edge before the finish line peering back at the huffing and puffing Joyriders waiting for them to come close enough to the goal before crossing at the last minute to watch them anguish over the inability to cross the line.

"Well...not that there was any real doubt but I guess it's safe to say they're going to be the team to beat in this tournament." Cobalt remarked watching Hugh-Napri players show their respect towards the Joyriders by refraining from celebrating while they were still on the turf; "Is it me or does it feel like that team is something special? I'm well aware that they're the runner-up from last year and were champions prior to that year, but this team just looks too polished."

"So polished that we can't even identify any true weakness. The moments where we saw the Joyriders playing better was more on them playing with greater output than what Hugh-Napri was putting out, and the Joyriders immediately got punished for it. To think that not even the balanced Joyriders could put much of a dent in that armor…" Tangie's frown grew; "I think they might be the best team in this tournament."

"Even better than the defending champions?"

"It's a slim margin but yeah, I'd take Hugh-Napri over the Emperors. Rukovna looks like a team ready to defend the throne, but Hugh-Napri looks like a team ready to reclaim what was lost. They look like they're carrying a vengeance with every match."

Gileslie finishes her quick scan of the footage, "Well, we can mull this over back at the hotel. Right now our biggest focus is Skolar."

"Not even a balanced yet stellar Joyriders could do much against them. And from the footage we gathered I doubt there'll be much weakness we can find."

Making their exit from the stadium, the news of the results already spread like wildfire as the coverage displayed on all screens with the headline reading: "Sweet 16 Bound! The Empress leads the march!" highlighting that for once it was Shiori who outshone her cousin as the lead figure. With Hugh-Napri's confirmation into the round of 16, the hype built up to a another level as their opponents for the round would be Toka high in a heavyweight contest between the 2nd ranked favorites and the 10th ranked favorites; a pair of possible champions, it felt like the tournament was reaching the business end of it run. While there was plenty of buzz about the upcoming clash, there was still another headliner match taking place soon: 9th ranked Special Forces and 19th ranked Serpents.