I've finally done it. After all of my training, my hours spent honing my craft, mastering the Tenta Brella and Hydra Splatling, I've finally reached X Rank.

It's still unbelievable to me that I, an octoling, that just a few years after hearing the calamari inkantation, was able to learn their language, integrate into their culture, and get a suit that kept my entire body hidden, so I have no fear of being discovered.

Admittedly, I'm still afraid of being discovered. My disguise isn't perfect, and I don't want to join any set-up tournaments, mainly because A. I don't have any friends really, and B. I've seen that they can get very.. physical to say the least, some people are brutal in them. If I were to enter one, I would constantly run the risk of my helmet being knocked off.

But still, X rank is a big accomplishment for me, as the newest person to hit this milestone, one that most people never do, I've already gotten requests to be interviewed by multiple news stations. I'm turning them all down though, it's nothing against them, but I have a feeling all of them are going to ask me to take my helmet off, and I don't have a good enough excuse as to why I can't, and I don't think "freak accident" is going to cut it.

I decided to queue into just one X rank match, Specifically Inkblot Art Academy on clam blitz. And I end up getting a match much faster then I expected, as Clam Blitz is hated by most people. I look around at my teammates, As I see a Nautilus 47, an E-Liter 3K and a Kensa Glooga Dualies, while I'm using the Tenta Brella, an all around solid team for Clam Blitz.

As soon as the round starts, I Rush forwards with the Nautilus, providing him cover while me and him swim behind my brella to push forwards fast. On their team I see an aerospray mg, splattershot pro, E-Liter 4k and Dark Tetra Dualies. Two of them using a very... odd choice of weaponry for Clam blitz, while the Dark Tetra Dualies and the E-Liter 4k being very formidable weaponry in Clam Blitz.
Me and the Nautilus collect 5 clams each in no time, while our E-Liter 3k has Set up in the middle of the map, giving them a good vantage point. Our Glooga Dualies are nowhere to bee seen, most likely in their side of the map, stealing clams and splatting squids.

Speaking of the glooga dualies, it seems like has gotten a Super Clam, and he's surprisingly still near our spawn. "Sorry, but I'm gonna go escort the Glooga Dualies." I say to the Nautilus, before heading over to do just that, helping him get near the basket unharmed, before he throws the super clam, blasting it open. Soon, our entire team is at the basket, trying to keep it open for as long as possible, giving the glooga dualies time to get more. I'm throwing my clams one by one, the E-Liter Spawn camping them, The nautilus doing the same, it seems like we've won this already, because the glooga dualies already have another super clam.

He wastes no time in getting over here, as I've ran out of clams, and we're scarily close to losing the basket, and just a second before it closes, he throws the super clam in, Leaving us with only 5 clams left, the Nautilus quickly comes to the basket, and puts his in, securing us the victory.

"Well, that was pretty easy, huh?" I say to my teammates back in Deca Tower.

"Yeah, they had 2 weapons with horrible kits, the E-Liter could barely aim, and I never even encountered the Dark Tetra." Replies the Glooga Dualies, clearly annoyed that he went up against such a bad team.

"They didn't even put up a challenge, how did they even get into X Rank?" Says the E-liter 3K, also annoyed. The Nautilus doesn't say anything, but he has a Triumphant look in his face.

After the Anti-Climactic first match of X rank, I decided to head home, Slowly walking through inkopolis, constantly checking to see if anyone is following me, which luckily there aren't. Soon I arrive at the outskirts of the city, where my home is. As I open the creaky door, I walk into the living room, before taking off my suit and helmet. As I go to my bedroom, I start to congratulate myself on how far I've come. From first escaping after hearing that heavenly melody, with nothing but my octoshot, I set off into the unknown, eager to live a life that's more then following orders, rather then staying in octo valley forever.

And now, I'm here, X rank, with little worry to anyone figuring out I'm an octoling, I'm finally living my dream. But I should really get to bed, I'm pretty tired, and it's late anyways. Tomorrow, I can play a better mode then Clam Blitz. As I drift into sleep, all I hope for is good dreams...

It's a normal day, as I'm in Deca Tower, getting ready to start a match of Splat Zones Sturgeon Shipyard, I can't help but hear a bit more of a... technological kind of theme in the music, but I shrug it off, blaming it on the speakers getting a bit old.

As we start the match, I see that my team Has a roller, an aerospray mg and Dark tetra dualies, with me using the hydra splatling, due to having plenty of cover. As we get the indicator to start, I hear the music slowly change, from the normally upbeat and fast paced music of the inklings, It starts to slow down, become more... mechanical. Until, when we're at the one minute mark, instead of playing Now or Never, like they always do... It starts playing some of Octavio's music. Suddenly, everyone else disappears. People spectating? Gone. My enemies? Gone. My Teammates? Gone. All that's left is me, and his music. His horrible, horrible music, worming its way through my mind, telling me to follow his command, I curl up into the fetal position, just wanting it all to end, I can't stand it I can't stand it I can't I can't I can't

"GAH!" huff, huff "That... my nightmares have never been THIS bad." I say, before looking over to my side. "Geez, 2:30?" I say, in shock. "I'll get something to drink before I go to bed, I guess." I say, while getting out of bed. Soon I'm in the kitchen, with a handful of kelp chips in one hand, a cup of water in the other. A few minutes later, I've eaten the kelp chips, and I've drunk the entire cup of water. "Best get back to bed, Ranked waits for nobody." I say, before doing just that, Climbing back into bed and closing my eyes, lulling off into a dreamless sleep