Splatoon 3 approaches...

I was wondering if I should do more polls but I'll probably not anyhow so instead for anyone that passes by this I'd be curious if you could tell me what you think? What's the most exciting thing you're looking forward to about Splatoon 3? Characters? (Agent 3 and Squid girls enjoyer here) the new music that's about to be full of bangers? The new maps? or even...the drip! I can't wait for it to drop but may my ancestors forgive me for the hours I'm about to put in when Pokemon Arceus drops.

Also, that Zelda sequel too? Oh man...


Fatigue settles in for both sides with the match nearly halfway to completion and the score currently 2-1 in favor of Crystal Coast. The upcoming round of turf war proves to be critical for both parties as the winner of that round may very well have a grip on a ticket to the quarterfinals; a win for Crystal Coast will boost them to a commanding 3-1 lead and put them in prime position to eliminate the Inkstinct for three consecutive rounds as well as apply a ton of pressure to their opponents who were a team unfamiliar with this type of scenario. A win for Kalebrough however would open up the match with a tie and give the Inkstinct a chance to finally play their preferred style and flip the script on Crystal Coast as with each game they played, they were feeling more and more confident, it was only a matter of time until they could break free from the shackles created by Siot and Crystal Coast's strategy and roam free all over the turf. To that degree Crystal Coast weren't concerned though as they believed that they found the winning formula and could end the Inkstinct in the coming rounds-at least according to the outspoken Arian doing some upper body stretches to loosen up only to get a swift elbow to the chest from Rikki who was far from amused with that naivety.

"It's only been three rounds but it feels like it's been much longer, so I guess the Kalebrough effect is real after all…" Upo mentioned while wiping away the dripping sweat.

"Seems so. That team really is a nightmare to face if you're not conditioned for a war of attrition. Hey cap, what's your thoughts? Coach didn't make any changes during the break." Nick adds, assisting the players who were getting a quick rest before the start of the next round.

"There's no need to make any drastic change. They'll make their adjustment but the key is to monitor that ace. No doubt the rest of that team is going to try to raise their level of play to assist her but once we have her covered it'll be fine." Siot said with no cause for concern present, confident in his team's ability to lock down the rest of Kalebrough; "I will note however that we can't rest assured that she won't surprise us moving forward. She hasn't faced much adversity-that's documented at least-but I have no doubt that she won't take this lying down; if she's worth all the hype that is."

His serious tone, demeanor, and that focused gaze that looked to stare far off into the distance, nowadays he truly looked like a third year fighting off an abrupt retirement-those were the eyes of a leader who wanted to survive at all costs from the perspective of his teammates who watched over him. But despite what he said and how he'd been acting towards this match and these opponents, the rest of the team and especially the third years who'd been gracious enough to be by his side since the beginning all could tell that deep down he was still the same playful captain they knew from their first encounter: he just really loved facing tough opponents. And Kippy might've been among those at the top of that list. She wasn't necessarily on the same level as the top two just yet, but she definitely caught his interest the same way as the Royale siblings had, if not more since she managed to beat him already in their debut meeting. With the squads of both teams finalized, the new selections saw some slight changes and tweaks made: Crystal Coast swapped out Tiki and Upo for Lulu and Mona in hopes to bolster their speed now that the gimmick heavy round was completed, Kalebrough also made a pair of changes with Fiona and Gerard getting taken out in favor of Dale and Pascal, slowly but surely adding more of their starters into the rotation.

With the new round ready to begin, it wasn't lost on those with keen sight seeing what was unfolding. Royce and the scouts followed closely at the substitutions getting made, "They're bringing in their big guns now." he muttered with folding arms and a slight frown, unhappy to see that Kalebrough were showing their hands this early; it meant the pressure finally got to them if they had all their heavy hitters in now.

The match began.

Right away it became a gritty duel with the two teams matching each other blow for blow as splashes of red and green decorate the turf in a beautiful demonstration of chaos. Bombs bursting, wall erecting, and every little gadget that could provide and advantage was flaunted. In no time the specials started raining, or perhaps splashed down, and with it, casualties followed. Both teams stood even with neither side able to grab a significant lead. Perhaps for the first time in a long while, this was truly a "Turf War" in definition. Whenever red seemed to grow in amount, in came a wave of green to wash away the hopeful lead and likewise, whenever there was a bit too much green, red followed. Bodies were removed from the turf faster than their weapons could fire, the common sight through the whole match consisted of 3 on 1 matchups and 5 on 2 struggles for both sides with there being so much action at such a brisk pace that a full 6 on 6 was barely manageable. This was all due in thanks to the presence of Kippy and her sharp movements increasing in frequency, the vengeance in her eyes as she kept her focus clear: eliminate the enemy-nothing else. After proving herself in the previous matchup that she had the upper hand, she found it frustrating that just when her dream match was within sight, here came such a troublesome obstacle standing directly in her path. As such, she played with greater urgency to grab those important kills and since it was much easier for her to focus only on that since the match was all about grabbing more turf, there was no need for her to overthink and exert more than needed; her concerns about being behind on the scoreboard weren't of any importance anymore now that she was in her element.

A treat for the audience who gobbled up the action and enjoyed seeing Kippy display her talents for all to behold, Siot on the other hand took great offense with what unfolded before him. From his point of view, Kippy's actions were a show of disrespect. Her hasty play and recklessness in throwing caution to the wind that appeared to be an indicator to the spectators that she was getting serious and no longer holding back had the opposite meaning to the Crystal Coast skipper. He believed she was trying to overpower them and be done with them all the quicker. Her attention was still focused on the next round instead of this one. And to that end, Siot felt overlooked. It was him and his team who should be thinking that way, it was him and his team who'd been humiliated by that early defeat in the group stage. So then why? Why was this first year green behind the ears behaving like she was beyond them? Why was she acting like all she had to do was "turn on the jets" and everything would work in her favor? Him and his squad worked their asses off for three consecutive years to create the team before everyone today and yet, they were being viewed as a pest of an obstacle. Her resolve isn't strong enough he concluded, observing her movement and paying close attention to how the floor spaced whenever she led with a stomp that brought with her the entire force of Kalebrough like a flag bearer who charges ahead and does a powerful swing to command the armed forces behind them. I'll expose you for the phony you are in front of everyone. His thoughts echoed watching her showcase her power time and time again, his motivation to win simply stirring from his extreme animosity toward an opponent who was basically everything he'd ever wanted. But as the saying goes: "Be careful what you wish for."

I beat them once and I can do it again. Her thoughts echoed as she continued her onslaught of attacks. In her eyes, this was an opponent she'd already conquered. She knew them but they still didn't know her based on how they thought they had her down pat from the earlier rounds. Now, she'd make them rueful.

Two different approaches and outlooks regarding each other, the sparks flew between them as they violently clashed moment after moment with no victor in sight, their epic clash of the Ace versus Captain radiating on the turf and resonating in the heart of their respective teammates who in turn dialed it up a notch to match their intensity. A first move that some would've viewed as a mistake considering the context, Kalebrough's decision to field their starters at this point was finally showing some credibility with the floor opening up plenty of space and Kippy appearing to have more freedom to play loose and go wild. It was a critical game indeed, and the psychological advantage that Crystal Coast appeared to have from forcing Kalebrough to show their hands early was now backfiring as the pressure they applied now got redirected at them instead. Kalebrough were looking better and better as time elapsed with Kippy and Zepp in their elements and with the rest of the starters now warmed up, it was their match to lose-not win. That change in their psyche was just what Crystal Coast wanted to avoid. An empowered leader creates an empowered team, and an empowered team creates a living nightmare for them. An eviscerating performance that followed with Kippy and the like dissecting them with precision, Kalebrough never looked back as the timer ticked to under a minute. An astounding victory that showcased the fighting prowess of the Inkstinct, they reminded their supporters why they were one of the hottest teams in the tournament and a newfound favorite to go to the final and win it all. A tied series once again, the fifth round would now be pivotal for the winner, who'd only need another victory afterwards to clinch berth into the quarterfinals.

Anticipation grew as it was now confirmed this round would at least go six rounds with many hopeful there'd be an entertaining and decisive seventh. Both teams looked even, had star players, consistent talent, and overall, leadership. The calmness of Zepp, the fire of Siot. The explosiveness of Kippy versus the unity of Crystal Coast. Tonight's main event lived up to the hype and then some, surpassing the excitement of today's main card with flying colors. Right now, it truly felt like a do or die situation for both teams and a crying shame for fans who knew that only one of these teams would grace the next round; it felt like a final already. The break serving as a chance for the two teams to cool their heads and catch their breaths and prepare for the highly competitive rounds that'll ensue, Kippy wasn't tuned into the huddle and instead wore a vicious glare aimed in Crystal Coast's direction and simultaneously, Siot had his sights set in the direction of Kalebrough and likely at the ace herself. They both understood the magnitude of the coming rounds and Kippy especially recognized the role she played in all of this as the team's ace, as the focus of Crystal Coast's relentless targeting. The thought that Crystal Coast did all of this on the belief that taking her down would severely weaken her teammates…that enraged her, for it was only now had she understood how the match ended up this way. She'd been isolated and marching to the beat of Crystal Coast for a majority of the match, doing everything as they intended and predicted. In her eyes, it was her fault for not having that insight to see the schemes they were running and adjust, and it took the coaches, and especially her teammates, to pick up on what she was lacking and yet, here they were still placing their utmost trust in her. It's her responsibility. As the ace, as the beacon for the city, as a competitor, she had to take responsibility and become the capable leader that everyone expected of her. She knew it was a team battle before all else, but she also knew that as things stood, she couldn't be satisfied with her performance unless she sent a message to Siot and Crystal Coast: Never doubt her teammates ever again.

I'll lighten their burdens she repeated over and over again with her glare still locked on the opposing side, her face and palms sweating as her body heated up. I'll take them to the finals!

On the opposing side, Siot and the squad were already motivated by this loss and back on high alert thanks to their previous failures starting to rear its ugly head once again now that Kalebrough forced a tie and sent a grim reminder of what possibilities await. That group stage loss influenced their play throughout the entire tournament as a team that seemingly had a chip on their shoulder despite literally being the third best team on paper and if there was anything that held true, it was their desire to send home the team that humiliated them above all else. They didn't need a verbal reminder nor did they need any reason to get hyped up. Their backs were slowly getting pushed against the wall and they were soon looking at elimination if nothing changed. Captain Siot simply uttered a phrase that rang true for them all as he raised his fist angrily knowing there was plenty to lose and to gain. "Beat Kalebrough" rang, and in such an infectious way that it soon echoed among supporters and crept into the minds of the Kalebrough fans who were already uneasy with the way the match had been progressing. A sea of red and green divided, it was only a matter of time until a climax would be reached and an ultimate victor would be reached.

Next time: Fifth Round-Splat Zones.