New Nintendo Direct means new upload! Super excited to fall into despair if they dare announce any new Splatoon 3 content! Also, I'm super thankful for the continued support with this story as the more and more I get closer to seeing this to the end the greater I'm realizing how far of a journey this story has been! When I think about the possibility that some of you that read this probably grew up following the story of Azule and Squidcom makes me feel very accomplished. I'm glad that I could share my ideas and perspective of how I view the world of Splatoon and that there are actual people out there who like it!. If this sounds like a goodbye message it most certainly isn't but I must express my appreciation for reading what I had to write through all the mistakes, sometimes cringe inducing, and sometimes corny writing I produced over the years. Here's to hoping that you have a lovely day and are in good health, and as always: please enjoy the chapter and hope to see you next time.


Home of the final. Center stage. It was Beacon Hills taking on the Wizards with the shadow of the round of 16 looming overhead. Following the victory earned by Special Forces over the Serpents earlier in the day, the narrative had also manifested about a potential blockbuster match in the next round: Jin vs Gin and Special Forces vs Beacon Hills. The premier rivalry of Inkopolis that carried bad blood throughout all generations of players that donned the iconic jerseys, there was a possibility of that storied feud renewing on the biggest stage with both teams boasting one of the greatest renditions in their long histories. Gin and his silver squids had marched out in their trademark silver and black uniforms wearing the same serious expressions as always, their captain looking especially stern now that he knew his brother managed to advance to the next stage-seemingly awaiting him in a taunting manner. But Gin couldn't afford to just look beyond his opponent as the Wizards were team that needed to be taken seriously or else they'd be burned by the 16th ranked team in the tournament. A team clad in white, gold, and navy blue led by Sylvester, the Wizards were the definition of a dark horse candidate and had as much of a chance to win the tournament as anybody else. Finishing second in their group only behind Toka, the Wizards played solid throughout their tournament run thus far with the only blemish on their otherwise perfect record coming from Toka themselves; likewise, Beacon Hills also only had a single loss on their record and entered as the slight favorites thanks to the reputation that preceded Gin Ika. A perfect test for Sylvester, the battle between the two star captains were sure to be of epic proportions. Beacon Hills boasted a lineup of Gin at captain, Silvia, Platinum, Alumia, Obi, and Sterling, a solid lineup of stellar players with as great of a team chemistry as the best of them. For the Wizards, Sylvester is in at captain with Quinn, Warren, Gladys, Flynn, and Beatriz, a familiar lineup that they've consistently ran throughout the tournament that's proven to be quite effective thanks to the explosive bursts given by some of the players and random times.

The first round of Turf War taking place at the stadium, the two waves of supporters actively rooted for their respective teams ahead of the battle: the supporters of Beacon Hills wanted Special Forces and made it well known, calling out their arch rivals with a chant demanding them and sending slight shade at the Wizards by doing so. The supporters of the Wizards wanted an appearance in the round of 16 and they believed that this was their time to shine behind a promising season from their team. Energetic from the very beginning, the two captains wasted no time in getting acquainted with their teams also joining in on the fray. Silver ink covering more turf early on than the navy blue of the Wizards, the efforts of Sylvester proved fruitful as he led the charge for his squad in the heavily contested battle for the turf. As the count became more level and the tenacity of the Wizards proved effective against Beacon Hills, it was only a matter of time. Having led for most of the match, Beacon Hills had been attacking when necessary and defending as needed to protect the lead but in due time the aggression of the Wizards to prioritize certain parts of the map and attack in full force proved beneficial with the lead dwindling swiftly. As expiration drew near, the momentum swayed. Beacon Hills had led for most of the match but thanks to the Wizards keeping it manageable and never letting it become a blowout, the victory was never assured and almost like clockwork, the Wizards turned it around late with a fierce rally led by the skipper. In an uproar after the first round, the efforts of the Wizards sent their base into carrying a strong sense of hope about what was to come in the ensuing rounds that would follow.

The second round of Last One Standing followed taking place at the stadium once again, the avid support for the Beacon Hills players raining down from the supporters who wanted to keep the morale up for their squad. But the squids in silver didn't need it. Gin looked far from fazed ahead of the round and it was that unwavering focus that was ever so infectious for his team. The approach of the Beacon Hills played with even more caution and less aggression, Gin and his squad made it clear they had no intention of losing their composure-not when Jin and Special Forces were just within their grasp. A clear statement delivered that Beacon Hills had no intention of having their pace be dictated so easily, the Wizards answered their defiance with a pair of swift strikes hot like lashes to take a 6-4 lead early on. Nearly toppling the silver squids after a 5-2 score, the unfazed Gin unveiled why he'd been so composed and put on a performance worthy of a classic: a quad elimination! Taking down four consecutive Wizards players, Gin erased the deficit entirely on his own to flip the script to a 2-1 game and make it a unbelievable knockout of a comeback for Beacon Hills. A tied series after two, the tension brewed as both teams showed they were ready to take off the gloves. The whispers began to murmur: this wouldn't be a game with a winner, only a loser-now who would be the unlucky side? Beacon Hills boasted one of the best teams in the tournament led by one of the best himself, but so did the Wizards and their top tier captain Sylvester! A battle of mental fortitude, the two sides were approaching the rest of this match as a survival mission. Sylvester kept morale up by commanding them with an intense roar to remind them that they were a team worthy of the sweet 16. Gin on the other hand was silent like always, ever calculating and analytic on how to advance his squad further. The more and more he pondered and toiled over a pathway to victory, the more he resembled a true leader, his silent care for his comrades loud and clear and enough to spur them to action. No words need to be spoken by him to convey the magnitude of this round and the others that followed.

The third round began.

The setting of Eikah Underpass welcoming them, the two teams picked up where they left off with a slugfest right from the opening whistle. The Wizards wasted no time at continuing their aggressive strategy and Beacon Hills kept calm as always, playing with care and logic behind every move. Possession of the zones swapped constantly and neither side allowed the other to gain an advantage with the lead, the score remaining close despite the numbers on the turf getting skewed at times. Gin showed flashes of brilliance, but the overall impact of Sylvester and his Wizards proved too overwhelming for the captain of the silver squids. Despite being a close battle throughout the round, a late rally by Warren and Gladys of the Wizards proved to be the deciding factor. A stiff battle at that point with Sylvester's hands full dealing with the trio of Gin, Alumia and Obi, Warren and Gladys worked at hammering away at the defending Silvia and Sterling who were waiting for Platinum to respawn and assist them in maintaining the zone. But the fierceness of the Wizard duo proved too much as they not only took them down and reclaimed the zone, but also shut down any chances of a counterattack. By the time Beacon Hills were getting their groove to make a comeback, time expired. A frustrating loss to put them back into a deficit with the pressure on them to strike back in a critical fourth round, Beacon Hills finally strayed from their strategy in the fourth with key substitutions: Obi and Alumia were taken out in favor of Tatyana and Sully, two players who were more apt for attacking than the starters who had a more balanced style of play. The Wizards still kept their starting lineup in, banking on finishing this match within five rounds.

The fourth round of Tower Control taking place at the park, it became a statement game for the Wizards who played with hunger. Since Tower Control was a game mode that could be decided right from the beginning, which meant that the first moments could already decide the fate of the entire round. Beacon Hills tried their best to match their intensity, but it proved fruitless as Sylvester and the Wizards struck first and never let go, holding the lead from opening whistle to the knockout. A total defeat that left everyone stunned including the supporters of the Wizards who hadn't expected such a one-sided development. The murmurs of Beacon Hills' defeat surfaced. The Wizards were empowered sitting a victory away from an appearance in the sweet 16 against Special Forces, the possibility of a final becoming more apparent. They had the team, supporters, and most notably, the leader. If there was anyone who could lead his team into an underdog scenario against the Special Forces without any prior matchups, it's Sylvester. Seasoned and skilled, he was the perfect opponent to cross paths with the reformed Jin who'd found a way to balance his old skills with his new mentality. While questions of a comeback grew and the faithful supporters of Beacon Hills got drowned out by the noisy Wizards fans who were mocking them with the chant from earlier of "We Want Forces" much to the annoyance of Beacon Hills, the players down below weren't listening to any of it. As far as they were concerned, they were still alive in the tournament.

A 3-1 deficit.

Gin massaged his forehead while processing the unfavorable scenario he and his team were in. With elimination staring them in the face, the dream of crushing his brother on the biggest stage was in danger of staying exactly that: a dream. The rest of his squad were already on the sidelines with the rest of the team and the coaches, looking to him for words of encouragement. A spark. Anything. As the source and the driving force behind them being the 13th ranked team and one of the favorites in the tournament as a beloved favorite representing Inkopolis, Gin's responsibility was to let his team know that their hopes weren't dashed just yet. But anyone with a logical process could see that the flow of this match seemed to be entirely in favor of the Wizards. A grueling uphill climb awaiting him and his team, he had to convey that sentiment to them in some form. A thousand yard stare present on his face as the sight of his brother's back got further and further, for perhaps the first time, Gin showed his raw emotions for all to see. His voice sharp and carrying volume into the stands, his fists clenched with his eyes shut and he put his frustration into words, he woke up his team. The exhausting competition as a member of the big four, the heartbreaking defeats at the hands of Special Forces and the major tournaments, the frustration of living in his brother's shadow, all those memories proved to be his strength at the

"We've tasted defeat before but I sure as hell don't plan on getting a plate ready!" he opened up, clapping his hands wearing a motivated expression-the fight still in his eyes as he continued to express his thoughts about their situation.

Silvia had chills listening to him step up since she'd watched him from the beginning. She was there for the defeats, for the many hours of training and service to the community, perhaps out of anyone on the planet, she was the closest to him, and even she couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Gin always talked harshly to his team, but for the first time, he was sharing his genuine feelings within those harsh words; the fear and desperation was present in his tone. He was scared to fail here after coming so far. He couldn't do it alone and he realized it.

"A strong team led by an even stronger leader. That is the team we're up against and we'll have no chance against my brother if we can't figure out how to defeat a team of that identity."

He finally admitted it.

The courage it took to finally acknowledge who Jin was to him and what a pain it was to figure out how to beat that damn team, Gin finally understood that although he and his team had come a long way, they still hadn't settled the score with Special Forces. They managed to win that unforgettable winter tournament, but it wasn't against Special Forces. Then they were short of settling the score in the spring. Now with a final chance presented, they couldn't let their season end here, not when they have a chance to have no regrets and decide once and for all who ruled the current generation of Inkopolis. Taking a deep breath after finishing his motivating speech, he found his entire team carrying a roar of their own in response-all of them psyched up after being reminded what was on the line. This is their last chance to stick it to Jin and those third years who'd been a thorn in their side for years and they couldn't let such an opportunity be lost. Rallying together for a final huddle, they make a vow to take it one game at a time. The goal is to survive.

The fifth round of Hide Ink Seek all set, all eyes turned to see how Beacon Hills would respond with their backs to the wall. The Wizards were the Hiders and Beacon Hills, the Seekers. A reflection of the story of this match, the Wizards just needed to play a conservative effort and they could hold off an iffy Beacon Hills team that had to make significant substitutions and now gel together the chemistry of the fresh legs with those who were worn out. But much to the surprise of Sylvester, the Wizards, and all who watched, Beacon Hills hit the ground running. Not a misstep taken, the squids in silver launched back to back strikes on the target to bolster their score and sprinkle in the extra points early on, taking a gamble on building their lead early and forcing the Wizards to match their intensity. And it worked. Sylvester and the Wizards played a lot more rushed than they would've liked due to trying to damage control and prevent the score from getting away from them, but in that effort is where Beacon Hills truly attacked them and picked apart their defenses easily to exploit them even more-a case of brilliance from Gin, who wanted nothing more than to see the match teeter in his favor; if he ever got a hold of the match lead, he wouldn't look back. That's the warning signal Sylvester picked up while battling him, which made him all the more anxious to protect what he had left. He couldn't handle a fresh Beacon Hills team behind a Gin who'd finally started to fire on all cylinders, it'd be too much for him to handle.

Sure enough, Beacon Hills won.

A 3-2 score with a critical sixth round of Rainmaker up next, the Wizards supporters were forced to hold their breaths; Beacon Hills looked good in that round, and if that was any indication of what was to come, then they were going to be in trouble. They knew it, Beacon Hills knew it, and everyone around the world watching knew it. It was at the eleventh hour, but Gin waited for the perfect time to remind everyone that he wasn't just the younger brother of "Hero" Jin, but the captain of Beacon Hills and among the most exciting players active. The Sixth round taking place at the cityscape of Ravia, it became a spectacle. The emotions of Beacon Hills were so obvious that the audience could clearly read their thoughts: "One more round. One more round." while staring at the scoreboard displayed everywhere. A high stakes round that could mean advancement for the Wizards and elimination for Beacon Hills or Survival for another round for Beacon Hills and possible despair for the Wizards, the audience were treated to yet another instant classic performance. As though he was channeling his inner Midnight like seen with fellow Inkopolis players Azule and Sky, Gin shined like the Silver Inkling he wore as his nickname. From start to finish, he terrorized the Wizards and struck fear in Sylvester's heart reminding him that they weren't far removed from each other and that there was a reason Beacon Hills were ranked higher than them to start with. Over by knockout via a power slam from Spanner, the attention turned to the decisive seventh round to decide it all: Clam Blitz on center stage.

Beacon Hills rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force this scenario upon the Wizards who'd all but moved on to Special Forces. Gin and his squad dragged them back to reality and were punishing them for getting too ahead of themselves. But Sylvester and his side weren't ready to surrender the match just yet. The preparations made with both teams deciding on their final roster to decide their seasons, Gin made a surprise request that had everyone confused, and one in particular absolutely shocked by the timing. Machi subbed in. Gin reckoned that having the fastest player on the team play in the final round would only be sensible as she'd not only be the freshest on the floor, but her speed would become a nightmare. His calculations were correct. To start the round, Machi already had a power clam ready by the time others were getting their first and third. The first to score? Beacon Hills. Who was responsible? Machi. An overall stomping that became anticlimactic, the viewers were shocked by the second wind Beacon Hills were showing. They were on the brink of elimination and now here they were pummeling the very same team into submission! A knockout victory that left a sour taste in the mouth of fans and neutrals, it was the end of a journey for one team and the advancement for another.; there was nothing but respect shown between the two captains and their teams despite the tensions running high between their bases. Heartbroken that he couldn't get a chance to get a crack at Shiore before she retires, Sylvester had to swallow the painful truth that he and his side just couldn't close out the better team, but the consolation prize for him and his team were that they'd be treated to one of the best matches in the tournament, and perhaps in the history of the sport. His final message to Gin simply being a promise that he has to win against that guy next, Gin had no intentions of anything other but total annihilation.

Becoming one of the big headlines and looming over the remainder of games playing for the day, it wasn't until the conclusion of the final match at the Pelagi dome that the headlines altered following all the matches becoming official. The stage for the round of sixteen finally set, sixteen of the best remained and their schedules were confirmed: For the first day of play, the top ranked Emperors would play Squidops at noon at Alqamar Stadium in a battle between the defending champions and one of the most overlooked teams of the tournament, fifteenth ranked Yermozani would take on the Sun Pharaohs at noon as well over at Shamsa stadium in a battle the delinquent princess of Yermozani and the Pharaoh's own pick, fifth ranked Skolar and Squid Academy would meet in the afternoon at the Pelagi dome in a battle of a tournament favorite versus arguably the hottest team in the tournament, and third ranked Crystal Coast and seventh ranked Kalebrough have their rematch in the evening at Hulabo dome with an epic clash of Siot and Kippy headlining the main event. On the second day of play, second ranked Hugh-Napri face tenth ranked Toka at noontime at Alqamar in a much anticipated clash, ninth ranked Special Forces will renew their rivalry with thirteenth ranked Beacon Hills in the afternoon at Shamsa stadium with the two brothers looking to settle the bad blood once and for all, fourteenth ranked Monarchs will play the eighteenth ranked Knights in the evening at Pelagi, and the final match on the card that'll take place at night will be a sleeper match between two unranked opponents who'd made it far under the radar in Jiuyan and the Moon Pharaohs.