The 7 Inklings were swimming through a changing color ink, in Squid form. They reached quickly the other side of the Starting Point and jump of it! While in the air, they all changed in orange humanoid form while holding their respective weapons. Once they landed, everyone took a great look on the arena.
Most of the ground and walls are covered with the same goo present on the Starting Points.
"Oh, this is Urchin Underpass, right?" Nick asked.
"Yes, all covered with this disgusting goo." Ana said.
Grina looked around, looking more worried each second.
"Hunry… did you see Hunry around?!" Grina asked to everyone.
No one could answer that question.
"Quick! Let's cover everything with our ink!" Enrick said while holding tight his Inkbrush.
The kids nod and start inking the goo with their different weapons: the goo was covered easily without any resistance.
"Watch out!" Mirii said, while shooting down at a point with her Charger weapon.
"Watch out what?!" Grina asked.
"Something is coming toward Bars!" Mirii replied.
"What?!" Bars got scared. "W-What is coming towar"
Something unidentified jumps out of the goo and attacks Bars making him explode! His little squid form flies quickly in the Starting Point. The thing disappeared in the goo, but the others still kept shooting in it to claim more territory.
"Wait, don't shoot! It could be Hunry!" Grina ordered.
"What?! Hunrick can do that?" Enrick asked.
"Yes. It's like a mini version of the Kraken, except it can hide and crawl easily on walls." Grina explained.
No one replied to that explanation and starts looking around carefully.
"Hunry? Please, come out of that goo right now." Grina talks toward it, in hope to receive an answer.
A noise was heard near the bushes getting everyone's attention. Grina approaches slowly the bush, while pointing her Splattershot on it.
"Hunry? Is that you?" Grina keeps asking.
All the sudden, a splash of goo hits Grina damaging her. However, a precise shot made the thing explode releasing a weird creature flying off. Everyone helped Grina recovering.
"No, Hunry!" Grina said in panick.
"It wasn't Hunley…" Mirii adds. "I… don't know what that thing was."
"Uuuhhmm… c-can we go home now?" Nick starts crying.
"Are you kidding?! We can't leave Hunsel here!" Ana replied.
In the middle of the conversation, other unknown creatures are spitting toward the Inklings. Mirii and Ana got some of them with their Charger weapons. Zira crushed one while passing with her Roller weapon, getting really amused by the sudden action. Enrick and Bars made some creatures ran away, with globs on ink swung in their positions. Grina and Nick tried to ink the goo ahead, so they can proceed in the arena.
"Come on! Get over here before the enemy gets back!" Grina ordered.
The other Inklings become Squids and start swimming through the path created by Grina and Nick, while they keep proceeding shooting ink to the goo. Everyone was passing through a secret passage way.
"Wait! Someone has to ink the base!" Enrick stopped while becoming humanoid again.
No one stopped and kept following the orange path, leaving Enrick all alone.
"… HEY, WAIT UP! You can't let me do this!" Enrick complained.
It wasn't use: the others were far away from him, leaving him no choice but to ink everything himself. The kids got near a wall and cover behind it: there are voices going on ahead.
"They did what?!"
"T-They attacked us and destroyed our Spongoo! What we're going to do now?!"
"Call the Flyers and guard this place, before they reach the General!"
"Yes sir!"
A weird voice was heard and then a big airplane-like noise boomed through the hallways of the arena. Grina couldn't wait any longer and starts an improvised ambush, while unleashing her special weapon: Bomb Rush!
The attack was effective! It got the enemy by surprise and let the Inklings take out their goo with ease.
"Tee hee hee! Free candies for everyone!" Zira said while throwing some Splat Bombs to the unknown creatures.
"Get over here, you little freaks!" Bars said while chasing down the creatures with his Splat Roller.
Splat! He got them!
"Ha ha ha ha! Serves you right, losers!" He said, while standing still.
Splat! An enemy long shot got him.
"Whyyyyyy…" Bars groans in little squid form, all the way through the Starting Point.
Meanwhile, Nick was shooting down what it seems to be humanoid stingrays.
"Aw yeah! I'm doing so good now!" He commented.
However, his weapon stops shooting.
"Uh?! Oh no! No more Ink!"
"Wha-?! You idiot! You forgot to charge it up!" Ana complained, while shooting down opponents with her Charger weapon.
"Don't worry, I'll do it right now!"
Nick become a Squid and dips in his own Ink. However, three humanoid stingrays come out from behind a wall and point their guns towards the point where he immerse.
"Nick! They are behind you!" Ana warns him.
Nick emerged back, but he didn't hear what Ana said.
"There you go! Fresh ink right in the container!" Nick said with a grin.
Splat! Nick flies off in little squid form passing near Ana.
"Did you have fresh ink in your ears too?!" Ana asked.
"I gueeeeeesss…" Nick said while flying off.
Mirii was shooting down other stingrays-like creatures, with great concentration. While looking down for more, she noticed how Grina was advancing through the enemy's territory on her own. Mirii didn't say anything about it, but she didn't like what Grina was doing.
Even Grina herself was getting very insecure about her aggressive tactics: she knows how an ambush could easily take her out like nothing. But in that moment, she didn't care anymore. The opportunity was there, now that she could do something. If Grina decided to back off and wait for the others, it may be too late…
She could almost sense the presence of Hun, somewhere near the other base. She was almost there, but a humanoid stingray jumps down in front of her, pointing his gun without fear. Grina decided to raise her hands up in the air, dropping her Splattershot.
"D-Don't shoot me, please." Grina begged the stingray creature.
The humanoid stingray didn't shoot and quickly approaches to take her as a hostage. Suddenly, someone was falling at high speed towards the stingray and splat him with a swing of his Inkbrush. It was Enrick that reached Grina with a Super Jump.
"Are you all right, Grina?!" He said worried. "Why did you drop your weapon?!"
Grina smiled reassuring Enrick.
"A little acting from my part." Grina replied. "And also your well-timed Super Jump towards a crazy girl."
Enrick understood: that was one of Grina's improvised tactics.
"Now, let's move out!" Grina said while taking her Splattershot back. "We have to reach the other base!"
Enrick nods and together, the two Inklings proceed to reach the enemy base. They didn't go right on it, however: they stayed behind a wall and spy the entire situation. All they see is a humanoid stingray with high proportions, obese, wearing old clothes which seems to be a mix between pirate and military.
Near him, there were several humanoid stingrays and a coral-like cage where an orange Squid was held captive. The Squid was crying in fear, while he tried to get out from his cage.
"So, what th' radar says 'bout our territory now?!" The big stingray said.
"Uuuh… the situation seems the same, sir. What's your next action?"
"'Tis be gettin' ridiculous! I was told that I'd have specialized soldiers on me side. Someone could be tellin' me, how them incompetents fail to keep our goo?!"
"Reports say how the enemy possess unique weapons and great knowledge of the area. Our men are incapable to predict their next tactics."
" Grrr! I be gettin' sick 'o 'tis. Ye, ye 'n ye be off out thar 'n stop them intruders! Make sure they'll never reach our base at all cost. Ye understand?!"
"Aye aye, sir!"
The Squid stops trying to escape and starts looking around: he noticed Grina peeking from behind the wall. He got suddenly more excited.
"GRINA! HELP ME, PLEASE!"
Everyone got surprised by that shout, but now Grina and Enrick are been found!
"Rascals on board! Get them, quick!" The big stingray ordered.
Grina got out of the wall and unleashed her special weapon again. The enemies didn't advance and start shooting from a distance. Enrick decided to not come out: instead, he's operating on a small monitor.
"Grina, get out!" Enrick said.
Grina heard that and starts getting back, while shooting with her Splattershoot.
" Argh! Don't let th' enemy escape, ye fools!"
A loud noise boomed from behind the wall and before even noticing it, a missile falls right on the humanoid stingrays making them explode.
"Fer th' seven seas!" The big stingray exclaimed in shock.
Grina got out the wall again: this time she's looking directly in the eyes of her enemy.
"LEAVE HUNRY ALONE, YOU PUFFER!" Grina menaced.
The huge stingray laughs at her.
" What a ugly wee creature, ye be! Small 'n fragile, yet wit' th' courage 'o a scurvy dog. Ye bucko gunna be comin' wit' me 'n ye'll not do anythin' to stop me!"
Grina gasps in front of that phrase. She didn't think twice about it: she ran towards the humanoid stingray without care and took an aggressive leap towards him.
"YOU ASKED FOR IT, FREAK!" Grina shouts while aiming the man with her Splattershot.
SLAP!
Everything feels very slow and blurry now. Hun was looking at Grina getting a big slap from the stingray. It was very strong and aimed to her upper body. Grina was flying back, in an almost unconscious state. Her weapon fell from her hand, incapable of holding it.
Grina landed roughly ending up near Enrick's foot, with her belly down. She was stunned and everything felt very confused.
"NOOOOO!" Hun shouts.
"GRINA!" Enrick shouts too.
" Har har har, ye bilge rat! I woe ye learned to not mess up wit' jolly barnacle-covered Cap'n Roy! Ye better remember 'tis face, because I'll get ye next time... fer good!"
Grina's eyes were losing focus: on a last effort, she lifts her right hand trying to reach Hun.
"N-no… H-Hunry…"
Grina fainted, while hearing that man's laugh deep inside her sleep.