We're in November but I can already hear the Christmas music...

Really hoping ika taro gamer gets this far to see these responses but for the darkest chapter I've ever wrote in this story is kind of loaded (I think?). There's so much that's happened that it's hard for me to pick a specific chapter that really answers that but I think the Selection arc and Conference arc might have it. Although I think the early stuff I did in the first few arcs may also take the cake. But for sure I admit this story is a little dark, though I wanted to try my hand at it since the games themselves had very dark undertones despite the very vibrant and lively environment and characters we're introduced to.

Sorry for all this fluff before the chapter but a lot's been happening in life lately so I apologize for not uploading last week! Hope everyone's in great health and doing well in their endeavors. As always, thank you so much for reading and I hope you'll enjoy what will come next.


From where they sat in the luxury box, the entirety of the audience down below at Pelagi Dome resembled the sea currents with the voice of those in attendance fluctuating rapidly the closer the match approached. The time is currently 3 in the afternoon with the scheduled match for the day being an exciting duel between 5th ranked Skolar and their twin terrors who were coming into the round as one of the best tandems in the tournament. Their opponents for the day are Squid Academy, a team regarded by many pundits as the hottest team in the tournament despite wearing the badge as the ultimate underdogs, led by their plethora of talents who would otherwise be ranked highly individually had they been playing for any other school. Although there were many stories to touch upon regarding the dueling teams, it was hard to ignore the news circulating for the day as new headlines were already dominating the news cycle early in the day. As the results of what happened at Alqamar hogs all the screen time, there was another big story that caught the attention of the masses including those at Pelagi.

"M-my Sun Pharaohs…!" Nefertina had to bring her hand to her mouth to keep herself from shedding ugly tears, the defeat of her favorite team taking a toll on her as she watched the sportscasters show the highlights. "I...should've...gone there!" she grinds her teeth pounding her fist in the air struggling to complete her sentence properly due to a slight hiccup intruding, descending to her knees in despair.

"This is the nature of the competition, no need to get so worked up." Handan consoles her in hopes she can get her majesty back into a better mood and not damage her reputation before her guests, although the guests in question were already well acquainted enough to not be surprised by her antics.

"Those damn Inkopolis teams!" she bawls, watching her defeated Sun Pharaohs on screen with their dejected looks as they're handed a hard loss at the hands of Janice and Yermozani.

"Yermozani, huh. A few years ago they were as rough of a city as Beacon Hills but I guess things have changed in little time." Verde mentions, recalling a time he visited the town.

"Probably thanks to this team. I remember Yermo was big on sports and plenty of top talent came from there who went on to play pro. If Azule and his friends are any indication of what the next generation will be, I wouldn't be surprised if those players are heavily involved in their community as well. Great to see them making a difference so young."

"Wow, Lime really can sound mature when she feels like it." Marie said plainly.

"Your sarcastic tone still hurts after all these years!"

Marina takes a look at the schedule displayed on another screen, "Hm. That Crystal Coast and Kalebrough match tonight looks promising! The winner here will face the winner there, correct?"

"That's right!" Pearl jumps in, who happened to be the most in tune with the tournament out of everyone here; "Should our team win against Skolar we'll face either Crystal Coast or Kalebrough: two teams we lost to back in the group stage. But the team we got is a different one from back then. You can really tell they've done some growing up and made leaps and bounds of progress since the group stage."

Marina giggled, "You make it sound like it's been over a year since the beginning of the tournament!"

It has.

"The team we saw in the group stage were still wide eyed and hadn't experienced all that Nationals had to offer. Their continuous battles against the best teams, surviving and advancing. They've grown to learn how to win against all odds and it's that very trait of being able to smell victory that'll prove useful the deeper they get in this tournament. No doubt they'll be challenged and pushed to the brink of defeat where all their senses will begin to fail them, where they'll begin to question their own thoughts and resolve, but it'll be that single ability that smells like victory that will guide them to their destination." Shiva said with a tiny but warm smile, appreciating the growth of the team that she felt like she'd watch grow before her eyes; it wasn't too long ago that she would've been competing against them, and as a former player herself, she understood the pressure.

Lime and Verde both couldn't help but share that sentiment, glad to see that there was someone else who was watching over their little brother and his team. Watching the broadcast along with the rest of the world, they awaited the start of the match as the commentators placed their predictions for who they believed would win and who would play a big role for their teams. As expected, Skolar were the overwhelming favorites with odds highly in their favor to win the match in six rounds or less; as if Squid Academy didn't have enough bulletin board material already.

"Ah...so she won after all." Azule mumbled, catching a glimpse of the score on the bumper displayed below the telecast; the dome packed to the brim with cheering supporters from both sides, it was difficult to hear Fuchsia as she discussed the strategy for approaching Skolar in the opening rounds.

The entire team gathered around her to listen carefully to what she had to say, they were especially attentive since they all realized the magnitude of the situation; they're in the round of 16 at Nationals! They've proven themselves to be one of the sixteen best! The pressure more than apparent, the anxiety and fear beautifully mixed in with the excitement to get out on the turf and it reflected in many of the players who knew their chances of playing today were unlikely. Regardless, they were more than ready to step in at any time. The starting six selected as the defenders of Squid Academy's hopes, Azule, Jory, Mason, Zaneki, Todd, and Evelyn were the first wave to challenge Skolar's unit led by Carmichael and Miralem. On the other side stood Skolar, who were equally having the same feelings as Squid Academy as this was perhaps their clearest path to a possible final. A confident bunch who had an unbreakable duo at the helm, they believed that today's battle was one that might be decided early-at least that's the feeling the other players got watching how their captain looked before the game. A sharp glint cutting through his irises as he walked with a bit of a swagger to him, they could tell that today he meant business. A possible dream matchup against either Crystal Coast or Kalebrough, he-along with everyone there-saw this match as nothing more than a trap game they needed to treat seriously.

The captain standing before his team with his shoulders square, he had a message for his fellow ogres. "Today will be no different from our other matches. We've been tested before and today will be another example-only difference is that our opponents happen to be the most unpredictable team possible. Vulerby. Titans. Baiji. They've defeated three of our adversaries and now turn their sights on us." His expression sharpened; "We're facing a storm today and now more than ever will we need to show our toughness. This is a team that knows how to win and that always manages to find a way ever since it all clicked for them. In this match, our mission is simple. .Down. This rests in our hands! So let's seize our stake in the quarterfinals!"

His team responded with their fists raised in unison and their voices roaring, all sharing the same sentiment that as one of the top five best teams in the tournament they had to make an appearance in the finals or this all would've been a bust; any other result wouldn't be tolerated. The contrast in their black and lime outfits showcasing their team colors even more, the starting six of Carmichael, Miralem, Jean, Sigurd, Amber, and Pierre were ready to begin their war against Squid Academy's best. But on the other side awaited an unexpected assembly. With Azua at the helm, the lineup unveiled didn't match what they had been expecting. All according to plan for Fuchsia who wanted to give her regulars a chance to get some rest in time for the latter half of the match with the opening rounds of the match being Booyah Ball and Tower Control, she saw this as the right time to make a key switch keeping reliable names like Jory and Todd in the mix with the fresher faces to have a balance of experience and explosiveness in game modes that they had significant luck in.

"It appears that they don't have their regular crew in. I don't see those infamous snipers in their ranks." Pierre noted, scanning the field.

"Whoa now, they aren't being serious right? They are aware of what is on the line...right?"

"A shame. Truly a shame."

"Well then, that means there's nothing left to be said. We'll teach them a lesson since they think they can take us lightly just because of this first round."

Insulted by the lineup employed by Fuchsia, Skolar's premier unit made it their goal to utterly embarrass and humiliate the sham of a squad that had no business being on the same turf as them at this stage of the tournament. The match begins with the opening serve from Squid Academy's Todd, the air got sucked out of the arena in an instant as the whistle blew and a pink streak soared over the net. An ace serve followed by an ice cold stare from him, the Skolar players already felt a sudden chill accompanied by a crushing pressure that crept up on them. This time prepared to defend his rocket serves, they do well to receive, but almost instantly, they found the ball back on their side-another point won for Squid Academy. A response so quick it didn't feel fair to watch Skolar try to defend when considering what amazing speed went behind that play; Azule and Jory were on the same page with how they set up their attack with Azule placing the ball with the right trajectory and spin for Jory to smash it in for a point. Carmichael and the others swapped their gazes between Azule and Jory with caution, recognizing that this time might not be one to sleep on even without their top players occupying the served once more donning that same icy glare and yet again did he find a way to out pace them to stretch to a 3-0 lead. After Todd failed to convert another ace serve, Skolar saw this as their chance to finally put a point on the board behind their star duo of Carmichael and Miralem and their top tier chemistry, but awaiting them on the other side was Mason and Zaneki and Azule. Then came Evelyn on the emergency set, and Todd with the kill. A statement made by Squid Academy's unit, they all wore the same intense expressions staring down the ogres.

"Don't you dare look down on us!" they said with those looks, especially Todd, Zaneki, Mason, and Evelyn, who were all respective captains of their teams who put aside their differences to play on this team. There was no greater disrespect than to be disregarded when they were fellow captains and leaders who had the same drive and ferocity as the best of 'em.

Quickly becoming a 7-1 difference with Skolar stunned by the aggression shown by Squid Academy, Skolar were met by a brick wall in the defense of Squid Academy. Attack after attack consistently denied by the impressive defending of Mason, Zaneki, and Evelyn, it was Azule who became the glue for the team and fed points to Todd and Jory who were all over the court. The lead stretched to a surprising 9-3 gap in Squid Academy's favor as the squids in blue and pink brought their intensity with a fiery roar from their supporters showering them after each point won, and Skolar weren't looking sloppy by any means. It was apparent to the Skolar and neutral audience however that they were caught off guard by this squad. Having expected to see the likes of big names and heavy hitters like Sky, Pastelle, Reice, and Violet, it was like a suckerpunch being outplayed by such a squad, especially when the most dangerous player focused more on defending and facilitating than scoring the points directly.

They don't know that we've been doubling down on our training with Booyah Ball. Fuchsia wears a gratified look with a growing smirk as her team grabs another point after a fast rally; the score 14-7. Remembering the many intense sessions held in practice, there was one scrimmage that the players were obsessed with more than anything to the point that they would even play for fun and competition among themselves: Booyah Ball. The thirst of competition proved to elevate everyone's abilities, they all wanted to outperform the other. It was like a game where bragging rights ruled and the possibility of a starting spot or more playing time opened up. Regularly did the starters serve as captains and pick the teams to create balance with everyone getting some experience playing in positions they weren't used to. This in turn led to a frightening development: all the players were essentially swiss army knives when it came to this particular game. They could move the same, think the same, and more importantly, keep up the consistency. What was meant to be a fierce battle in the opening set had quickly dulled as the surprise efficiency of Squid Academy reigned supreme with their adoring audience sporting their colors soaking in every moment.

"And that point won by Squid Academy stretches the lead to eight."

"A 19-11 score with possession going to Squid Academy, they are closing in on the set point. At this rate, they'll crush Skolar in the first set!"

Up to serve stood Todd, the leading scorer for the team thus far. Getting wishes of luck and encouragement from his teammates, he shot the swirling pink ball over the net like a rocket. Pierre was quick to halt momentum, sending the ball over to Amber who went into setting motion. The trio of Skolar's attackers rushed the net: Carmichael was first, then Sigurd-but both were a decoy. The true strike instead came from the silent and leaping Miralem who sent the ball with enough force to create a thunderclap evading the wall of Mason and Jory, only for it to get nullified by captain Azule who put his body in the way to keep the ball alive. Evelyn rushed forward for an emergency set to Zaneki. But it's no dice. The wall of Skolar prevailed in preventing another lethal strike. 19-12. The early efforts of Squid Academy worked as they extended their lead 21-12 following the butchered attempt by Sigurd to capitalize off the rally point they won, and from there, they never looked back. The next four points were all to Squid Academy, who extended the lead thanks to another point won by Todd, then an ace serve by Jory, and finally to cap it off, Azule secured the final two points off surprise dumps back to back. Finishing 25-12 in dominating fashion, Squid Academy were looking good after that first set and while their supporters were singing their praises all throughout the dome with an echo, the players weren't feeding into that energy just yet as they all still wore tense looks-aware that this battle was only getting started.

"Great job in landing the first blow and throwing them off guard! We can expect them to answer aggressively in the coming set but we've accomplished what we intended. Play smart moving forward." Fuchsia coached, applauding her team for striking first.

"Watch out for Jean. They haven't been a presence thus far but expect them to step up in the next set. Also, careful with the attention placed on Miralem and Carmichael as too much focus on them will allow the others to build their rhythm; this team is dangerous once they get rolling." Cobalt advised, his keen eyesight not failing him as he already envisioned a possible path to victory.

The players listening to every word, they all wore their game faces prepared to do it all over again, the tiredness starting to show on the faces of Mason and Evelyn as they saw firsthand the kind of stress that came with playing as a starter already. The second set beginning, Skolar didn't waste any time in getting to a hot start with a 5-2 lead early on following them opening up with a couple rally points won and then recording a triple ace serve from Carmichael following a concession of a pair from points won by Azule and Jory. Their movements much sharper than previously and their callouts louder as well, Skolar were showing more effort in winning their points and displaying their confidence; as Fuchsia and the others had expected, Skolar weren't wasting any time on their adjustments-safe to say they'd already figured out what they did wrong and were now simply correcting the mistakes and leaving no room for error on Squid Academy's part. No problem for Azule and his squad however and they didn't show fear in the slightest. In their eyes, Skolar were the ones playing catch-up despite the score. A long rally point in play that saw several close calls and near misses lead to an extension of play, the entire dome reacting with every attempt shown. Cheers growing by the second and some even rising to their feet in anticipation, they watch Jory make an acrobatic dive and an even more impressive display of accuracy in saving the rally with a graceful twist and roll, quick on the hustle to rejoin his team with his eyes still glued to the ball. Azule got in position to set while Todd and Zaneki started their sprint to the net. Todd and Evelyn dropped back in anticipation and Jory rushed in to join them; the wall of Pierre, Carmichael, and Miralem anticipated the thundering strike approaching.

"It's a dump!" The commentator shouted to a crowd in awe, the gasps turned into a shocked reaction as Azule's surprise tactic was foreseen by none other than Jean, who'd kept their eyes on him the entire time expecting something out of the captain.

The ball hovering parallel to the net heading out of bounds, it was the forceful counterattack of Amber with her stunning hang time and control in the air that decided who won that rally point. Awarded to Squid Academy. Skolar fans disagreed with the call and were in an uproar, but the replay showed it all too clearly: it veered just out of bounds following her masterful delivery. A bittersweet play for as she got to showcase just how skilled she could be, it didn't bear fruit on the occasion. The score: 5-3.

"Whoa." Verde's jaw dropped as the broadcast showed Squid Academy huddling together after that point won.

"This is a little too intense for a high school competition…" Lime giggled, the cheers of Callie and Marina audible behind her as they were sporting the team colors of Squid Academy.

Pharaoh Nefertina wore a glare as the match proceeded.

"What's wrong?" Shiva asked, noticing the queen was eerily silent.

Handan wore a smile and waved, "It's nothing. She gets like this whenever she takes interest. It may not seem like it but she's truly a huge fan of these competitions. In fact, she was a huge fan of Octo Valley when you all were still playing. She always tuned in to watch your games and she was heartbroken when-"

"No need to say all that irrelevant stuff!" Nefertina interrupted, her eyes glued to the TV-mostly because she was too embarrassed to look at them and see what kind of expressions they were making, although little did she know that hearing that bit of information brightened the octolings' day all the more.

"They're looking great so far. Even after Skolar's proactive approach in this set, it's still close." Ciri remarked, watching Fuchsia's team play with tenacity.

That sentiment was shared with everyone watching except Nefertina, who wore that glare not only because she was focused, but because she-as a fellow leader-made a keen observation on the body language of the two teams and after keeping careful watch for a few minutes arrived at a conclusion: Squid Academy wouldn't keep up at this rate. With some signs of fatigue already showing on some of the players, Squid Academy were getting a taste of the pacing of Skolar and their near perfect stamina. Each serve done by Squid Academy looked like it was delivered with less of an impact while at the same time it appeared like Skolar's responses got more aggressive. Quickly that 5-3 lead turned into a 10-6 contest, and then finally, a 17-12 scoreline with the lead widening gradually. Azule, Todd, and Jory did their part to keep the game from getting out of hand but the fatigue of Zaneki, Mason and Evelyn were apparent as they were used to being players who came off the bench and help spur momentum; as starters, it was an entirely different behemoth that they hadn't experienced since their days back in the rank wars, and even that paled in comparison to the breakneck pace of Nationals. Yet another point scored off a rally courtesy of Jean, who'd been making a greater impact this time around, the score was 22-16 with Squid Academy in danger of dropping the round.

The dome went silent as Miralem went up to serve, all eyes turned to the robotic second in command of the Ogres. Beads of sweat run down the faces of the Squid Academy players who already knew how punishing it was attempting to return one of his serves, having to time their shots perfectly to avoid a face full of green ink; Evelyn and Mason especially carried a flinch since they'd been at the forefront of his attacks. Standing behind them all at the end line was Azule, with his vision focused on Miralem-aware of the atmosphere surrounding his team. Down by six points, he knew it'd be an uphill battle to try and surmount a comeback at this stage but couldn't allow Skolar to just take away all the precious momentum his squad had built. Taking in a deep breath while the audience awaited another thunderclap…

"BRING IT ON!" Azule screamed at the top of his lungs, challenging Miralem directly; Carmichael and the others twisted their faces in response, and Miralem teased the slightest of a smirk.

The air popped.

A streak of green flashed past Evelyn and Mason in the blink of an eye, the breath taken away by the sheer velocity of which the ball traveled. Azule didn't have any time to react. The ball traveling at a blinding speed with it looking like it'll collide with Azule, the captain of Squid Academy returned fire with even faster reflexes to send the ball soaring up high; gasps filled the dome as the fastest serve on recorded for the day just got outdone by an even quicker response on the return. There's no time to be in awe however, as Azule shouted commands for the others. Mason takes over at the setter position while the others go in motion. In came Zaneki for the strike, delivering a quick attack that translates to another point tallied for Squid Academy.

The message delivered with emphasis, Azule made sure to remind Skolar that he'll be their ultimate roadblock as long as he stood on the opposing side.

Skolar answered back however.

22-17, Squid Academy were looking to capitalize and build a comeback before the lead of Skolar got any more dangerous but their hopes for a quick point turned into a rally instead with every attempt to hammer home ending in denial by Miralem and Carmichael. Jean and Sigurd attempted to be the sneak attackers but Zaneki and Todd did well to neutralize their attacks while Azule and Evelyn cycled in facilitating the counterstrikes. The rally extended play by play with neither side allowing the other to get the jump on the other, it was all decided by a ball that went out of bounds by Jory who failed to return. Skolar reclaimed possession thanks to the point won, but Squid Academy returned the favor and took advantage of the draining rally from before to snag back a point. Three points later with the score now at 24-20, Skolar were at set point. Squid Academy did well to trim that lead but now they found themselves in the worst possible situation at the moment. They needed to tie the score and force the game into the deuce rule where a team had to win by two, but to do that they needed to score four consecutive points. And to make matters worse: it's Skolar's possession with Amber up to serve. Following the 23-18 scoreline, Squid Academy lashed back to trim the lead to a three point contest, but a failure to land another ace serve led to a quick counter attack and the current score in the match.

"One at a time!" Azule shouted, spreading his arms wide, making sure to keep team morale up.

More like "One more time!" Amber corrected launching her serve.

Squid Academy springs to action.

Jory makes the return, Azule hops into setting motion and sends it over to Todd who launches his strike; the wall of Skolar blocks however. Zaneki recovers and Azule sets once again, this time Mason is up to strike-breaking through the wall. Miralem is in the way though, and on the connecting end: Captain Carmichael. Another thunderclap to rock the court, Azule keeps the ball in play with a diving save-Mason sets it all in motion and Todd takes the strike. A close call but enough to secure the point, Squid Academy cut the lead back to three. 24-21. Up to serve stood Jory, donning the precious no.10 as the critical slayer of the team. Even if it's only the second set of the first round, it already felt like the match had reached its first climax. His heart thumping as the dome went silent, he found himself in familiar territory. The sweat pouring down his face to the point it blurred his vision, he could still see the perfect line for where to deliver the ball. Question was, would it be fast enough to beat the likes of Carmichael and Miralem or even the ninja-like Jean? Regardless of where he sends it, it's almost assured that one of them would be there to return.

"One at a time, Jory!" Todd shouts.

"Ace serves only!" Zaneki demands.

"No need to stress, we'll be there to defend!" Evelyn adds.

Mason and Azule held up their fists to show their confidence in him.

Taking a deep breath, Jory launched.

A ball that nobody expected, everyone scrambled in preparation for the floater that seemed to almost look like it'd go out of bounds at the end line-except it dropped just before. A case of a floater timed to perfection, Jory pulled a fast one on the Ogres to trim the lead once more. 24-22. Ball back in his possession once more, Jory lined them up and anticipated what they'd pull next. This time showing no hesitation in his delivery, Jory had them do the opposite of scramble: they were frozen. A strike that rivaled Miralem's lightning fast serves, Jory secured another point for side off a change in tempo. 24-23. The comeback nearly completed, Jory just needed to deliver just one more strike to send it into the deuce rule; a possible sweep of Skolar in the first round meant Squid Academy would have a massive advantage heading into the next round. Unlike before, the noise started to kick in as supporters of both teams couldn't contain their feelings any longer and it reflected in the sidelines as well as players got animated ahead of this next serve: Squid Academy wanted Jory to send this game into the deuce rule where they were confident they could turn it around for a comeback, and Skolar wanted to stuff them right here when they were at their most hopeful.

The ball sent with ferocity carrying the hopes of Squid Academy, it was all shattered in an instant.

Carmichael, the bearer of bad news, and his partner in crime: Miralem the executioner. The right moment for the twin terrors to shine, it was the captain who returned Jory's serve almost automatically like he'd foreseen what Jory intended, and it landed right where Miralem could do a solo strike. Azule tried to keep it in play, but the twin terrors were tactical. They knew from the formation where to counter and put it out of his reach since he was the only one who'd possibly have the reaction time to counter their attack. A 25-23 end, Skolar won the set and forced a decisive third set. An overwhelming applause followed as the supporters of the two sides were inspired by the performance. Skolar demonstrated their iron tight resolve and Squid Academy showed their feisty tenacity: it would be a shame to see one of these teams get eliminated with so much left to play in the tournament. A story all too appealing for a greater audience, the narrative created was that of the team who'd been imposing all tournament had finally met a team who didn't fear them in the slightest. And already in the first round were the tensions flaring between them as their perfect matchup would meet a decision in the final set.