Inkopolis City, Square
While the City is still lively in the latter summer after the Splatfest that was Mayo vs. Ketchup, many inklings are celebrating the return of Callie, but was saddened by the condition she's in which will take some time to recover.
As for the rest, DJ Octavio is sitting in a restaurant on his own as he's drinking out of depression after losing his children and his old enemy.
Hotaru appears as she's taking a seat next to him, dressed in her old black dress with green leggings and a green coat as well as a cap, her hero uniform.
"One pork cutlet bowl please." Hotaru requested as the owner accepts and starts cooking. "Tough days, hasn't it, Takowasa?"
"Aye. I guess the octarian society has come to a crumble. Hrm… I guess there's no need to fight anymore." DJ Octavio grumbles.
"I get you. It's hard to accept the loss of your loved ones, just like Grandma." Hotaru asks as she can see Octavio's reaction.
"Mm."
As the bowl arrives with salt and pepper, Hotaru prays as she starts to eat with chopsticks.
"What're you going to do, since I'm no longer the enemy?" DJ Octavio asks out of curiosity.
"Simple. I'm going to commit suicide."
A few people stopped as well as DJ Octavio as he heard what Hotaru said.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I'm about to die on my next operation." Hotaru chuckles as she answers.
"What do you mean!?" DJ Octavio exclaimed.
"Tartar is not your ordinary opponent. Think of a boss that has three lives, same goes for Utsuho but there's a difference. She can be beaten with three lives, but she died twice. In other words, Tartar has nine lives and now he's three lives left before his death." Hotaru explains as she sucks in the ramen noodles after blowing it.
"Ah… I guess Shiki's the strongest soldier I ever had. 'Tis a shame… She woulda been my top soldier as a guard." DJ Octavio sighs as he drinks a small plate of sake.
"Yeah. Hey, Takowasa."
"What is it?"
"I… I'm sorry for my hatred towards your kind. Also thank you for taking care of my cousin." Hotaru bows as both a thank you and an apology for what she has done.
Afterwards, DJ Octavio laughs as he pats one of his tentacles on Hotaru's back.
"Takowasa?" Hotaru looks at Octavio with confusion.
"I know, I know! Heh. I too am sorry for my treatment towards you inklings. At least no one noticed our conversation. So you're going back to the Tree of Order thingy?" DJ Octavio asked.
"Yeah. That's why I said I'm going to commit suicide. I guess this is my last meal. I hope you make friends with other inklings here in Inkopolis." Hotaru smiles as she finishes her meal and prays.
"Heh. You're just like Atarime Yoshio. Both of you hated my kind and now you changed for the better. I was the same. I hope you come back alive, young Hotaru." DJ Octavio bids his Farewell as Hotaru laughs.
"I guess octolings are no different to us inklings. Thank you, Takowasa."
In the end, Hotaru leaves the restaurant as DJ Octavio continues his drink.
He knows how the younger generation are capable of fighting selflessly as they're not only foolish, but determined to keep the world safe.
He sighs.
At the orphanage, the children are playing together as they're running around, only for Rei and Zero to watch as many, including Dedf1sh, are okay.
The only one running this orphanage is Neku after the deaths of Elsa and Sora.
"Yo. I heard you guys are going back. Isn't that a bit dangerous?" Neku asks while holding an infant that is all yellow, due to not having the ability to morph.
"Yeah. I guess. It hurts, doesn't it?" Rei asks solemnly.
"Yeah… At least Ahato is with us to care for the children." Neku laughs as he frowns. "Why…"
"I'm sorry about Mirai. I know you hate me for hiding this from you." Zero apologises as she bows.
"O- Oi, it's not your fault. I didn't know that it was Mirai's true personality. I'm the one who should be sorry." Neku also apologises.
As Rei and Zero sees Dedf1sh chasing the children that stole her cap, Rei moves her eyes and then slowly turns towards Neku himself.
"Neku, we're leaving this afternoon."
"I know. Before you go, I wanted to say thank you. You did everything for me, Rei, Zero, and I'm grateful for that. Heh, now I get what it feels like to be an agent in this dangerous world." Neku smiles as he chuckles.
"Anyway. Bye-bye, Neku." Rei waves with a positive smile.
"See ya later." Zero did the same with a grin.
This leads to both inklings leaving as their goodbye to Neku as they're about to meet their happy ending.
Neku stops smiling as tears are leaking from his black eyelids as he rubs his eyes.
"I hope you change our future, Zero, Rei." Neku smiles as he turns around to take a sleeping infant inside the orphanage building.
Dedf1sh is staring at Rei and Zero as she smiles, knowing that they still have a chance to end this madness.
"Good… Luck…"
Ammo Knights
"Huh!? You want me to turn off the comms!?" Sheldon exclaimed.
"Yeah. It's a sign of our goodbyes." Pearl nods as she answers.
"But I need to guide you to survive towards the past! I can't do that!" Sheldon shouted.
"Sheldon's right." Zero called.
As Rei, Zero and Hotaru arrive in the Ammo Knights store, Pearl, Marina, Aori and Serika are surprised to see the trio going against this decision.
"We still need Sheldon to guide us until we reach the end point. Sheldon, you need to turn the comms off when we reach the past." Zero requested.
"But why?"
"Do you know why we want you to turn it off?" Zero asked.
Sheldon stops himself as he knows what the past is going to do with his connection, leading him to reconsider.
"Oh. Alright. Everyone, this is the final operation, until further notice. The condition is that Rei and Zero must survive this operation in order to change our lives. Who knows the butterfly effect will happen, but it'll surely save everybody's lives." Said Sheldon.
"Define everybody. We'll have to keep Rei and Zero safe." Said Hotaru.
"But what about you guys? I don't want to lose any of you." Rei grunts as she's trying to stay calm.
"I know, but all of us are getting suicidal. It's either die fighting or forever grieve the loss of your loved ones." Hotaru said to Rei.
"Hotaru's right. You need to accept it, Rei." Marina said.
As Rei worryingly looks at the group, she knows why they're all like this.
Finally, she lowers her head as she's defeated by accepting the fact that there's no going back.
"Alright…"
"Rei…" Serika whispers as she can tell how worried Rei was.
Zero closes her eyes as she looks at her phone.
"Guys. It's almost time."
After Zero tells the group, a speaker is making a buzzing noise as Ryu's voice calls.
[It's almost time.]
"Ryu?" Rei and Zero gasps.
"Rii?" Serika also gasped.
[Rei? Zero? Seri? It seems you guys came to your senses, huh?] Ryu is also surprised to see his friends calling.
"I didn't know you're coming along. I guess you're still with us after all." Zero chuckles.
[So you're all going to die with me, huh? That's no fun at all. But I hate to admit, Zero, you're our only hope to save us from ourselves.]
"Don't forget about Rei." Zero calls.
[What?]
"She's coming with me to the past." Zero explains.
"Yeah. Don't worry, Ryu. I'll save your mother." Rei said as she pumped up.
[Don't. I know her fate. Tartar is going to die.] Ryu also accepts the fact that his mother was killed by the sanitised.
The group remains silent after Ryu's acceptance.
Then Zero sighs.
"Everybody accepts it, Ryu. It's inevitable that you're all going to die. But I can change it. I'll save all of you no matter what. Rei and I, we'll make that happen."
[Zero…]
Aori can see why Zero is never giving up as it sparks her eyes to the point that she can feel her chest beating.
Is that why King loved Zero?
Before anything more is being said, an earthquake happens as the group exclaims and holds onto each other.
The rumble is so loud, even Rei and Zero gasp at the same time.
Finally, the group hastily rush out of the building as they're heading towards a specific location where the NILS Statue should've been.
Hammerhead Bridge
A place known as Chub Mackerel Strait Bridge, the bridge, while unfinished, is still usable for vehicles to move different areas, also a few damages from Rei and the shark attack from Fuuka a while ago.
Not only the turf war fighters, but the citizens are clamouring as they witness a large black tree growing as it makes a crackling noise.
As Rei's group arrives, they also gasp as they can see it.
"And there it is." Zero grunts.
"The Tree of Order." Aori gasped.
"Seems like our location has been expecting us." Zero said as she grins, leading Rei, Serika, Ryu, Aori and Hotaru to prepare themselves as they're equipped with their uniforms.
As for the screen and the phones, the reports are giving out a warning to all the citizens of Inkopolis City.
"Perfect timing." Ryu said.
[Yo! What's up, Inkopolis! This is Off the Hook speaking!] Pearl cheers as she's introducing the news.
[Now's not the time for introduction, Pearlie! This is an emergency. You're all seeing this large tree? That's the Tree of Order and it's not meant to be touched. It had a long history before we were born. Also, you need to evacuate the city.]
[Yeah. Monsters are about to go out of the sea, the underground train station, anything underground related, so you better make a run for it, right now! Hide your children!]
[These monsters are also not to be touched. I suggest you start by leaving now. And that's it for today, don't get cooked, stay off the hook! Ink it up… Tentacle!]
After the news ends, the inklings, octolings and other sea creatures are panicking as they scream and run away from the arena as Rei's group are watching.
Zero nods as the yacht is waiting for them.
[Already reported, now everyone will leave this city altogether.] Marina called.
"Good. Now it's our turn." Zero stretches herself and leaps down first, followed by others as Rei and Serika are the only 2 standing.
"Neku…" Rei grunts, worried that Neku, Dedf1sh and the children are about to be attacked.
"He's okay with the children. Now it's our turn." Serika grabs Rei's arm.
As Rei nods, the duo leaps down onto Pearl's yacht and as the engine runs, leading the yacht to move forward and boost towards the largest tree ever known to man.
The final battle begins.
Tree of Order
Walking inside together, Zero and Rei are leading the way as the tree tower shows its true colours.
The infectious crystals are growing as it prevents the group from escaping as Zero, Rei, Serika, Ryu, Aori, Hotaru, Pearl and Marina are prepared for their inevitable end.
[You guys made it. Now, remember, go to the top and you might see Tartar and the end that is a door. Good luck.] Sheldon calls.
"Thank you. Everyone, this is the final battle. Let's go!" Hotaru orders as she shouts.
"Roger!"
"Good! Agent 0, Agent 1, Agent 3, Agent 4, Agent 8, Pearl and Marina! Be careful and don't die." Hotaru ordered.
As it is called…
Agent 0, Zero, equipped with a Hero Shot 0 as she's ready to finish what she's been through for a long time.
Agent 1, Aori, equipped with both a Hero Roller 0 and a Splatana Wiper, ready to avenge her alter ego and go straight towards Tartar.
Agent 2, Hotaru, equipped with a Hero Charger 0, out to redeem herself by ending a body snatcher.
Agent 3, Rei, equipped with a Hero Shot 0, a Hero Slosher, a Hero Blaster and Hero Dualies, only there to avenge her friends and do the deed for a friend.
Agent 4, Ryu, equipped with a Hero Charger, here to get revenge for his own mother and end the monster that is dressing up as anything.
Agent 8, Serika, equipped with a Hero Charger 0 and a Hero Roller, avenging a family member against a murderer.
Pearl, equipped with Hero Dualies and Marina, equipped with a Hero Brella, both of them have a similar purpose as a friend like Zero.
As the group runs forward, the rooms are about to become nothing but black metallic crystals if they don't hurry.
The higher the floors are, the redder it gets, the more painful it becomes.
As estimated in the earlier floors, there's 13 massive floors, until it expands to 123 floors.
Floor 100
Outside, the sun sets as the group morphs back to their humanoid forms, and holds out their weapons.
Outside are a bunch of cars that are lining up as a way to escape from Inkopolis City as many beeps are heard as many cephalopods are panicking.
Back to the group.
Before a single step hits the floor, a weak huffing voice is heard as Rei and Zero hastily point their Hero Shots at the sound.
It's Frye (Tartar) and she's in a very horrible state right now.
"Rei… Zero… I've been waiting for you…"
"Tartar… Please stop this. No matter how many times you try, you'll still lose or eventually, you'll die." Rei called out of worry.
"No reasoning with him. He's a lost cause." Zero points at the majority of crystals that are covering half of Frye's body.
As Rei stops herself, she can see why Zero is stopping her from getting closer.
"That means…"
"Utsuho's body is completely defiled. That's what happens when you use someone else's body for your own selfish needs." Ryu sighed.
"Looks like we're really facing the final boss." Serika grunts as she can see why.
Behind the group are a bunch of crystallised monsters as they're all surrounded.
"Ngh… Now what!?" Aori exclaims as she leaps behind Hotaru.
"Leave him to me." Serika growls.
"Seika!?" Rei gasped.
"I'll avenge my sister and I will kill him. Face me, one-on-one, Commander Tartar!" Serika shouted as she clenched her sister's Hero Roller.
As Serika challenges Tartar to a duel, Frye giggles as she finds it amusing.
"Ehehehehe, EHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" As she cackles like a maniac, Frye pierces a green glare as she finally manifests herself as a demon that is a sanitised ink. "Challenge accepted, octoling!"
Serika grunts as she turns her purple ink to magenta as she prepares herself.
Even her friends are magenta and they're fending themselves off against a wave of monsters.
"Marina, let's sing!" Pearl pulls a grin as she holds out a boombox and a microphone.
"Yes, Senpai! Serika!" Marina called.
"Huh?" Serika stops before she fights her biggest target.
"This song is for you! Fly Octo Fly!" Marina cheers.
Finally, a boombox is about to be played as Serika holds 2 of her weapons out and approaches Frye as Frye grins and slams the capsule onto her as it catches Serika off guard.
As the capsule smashes in a red twig-like room, a large figure that is 8 feet tall has shown itself to have a metallic version of an angel as wings are green floating waves like magic, it appears to have a large humanoid figure wearing a long coat, judging by its lower half and collar, it looks to have large limbs as the glows are green, which are sanitised bodies.
Now Serika is facing a true creature that is considered the real final boss.
NILS Avatar.
"In the end, it's still ugly. Tartar, you outlived your life, now it's time for you to rest with my brothers and sisters." Serika growled as she's ready.
"Heh. You changed a lot, Seika." Rei chuckles as she admires Serika's attitude from being her enemy to her rival to her closest friend.
"And no longer a coward. It's a shame that I'll see her cowardly again, but she'll change for the better again." Zero sighs as she's happy for Serika.
"Aori. Let's follow her example. We're not afraid of these monsters!" Hotaru smiles confidently as she finally gets to help an octoling.
"Yeah… Serika, let's avenge your sister and your friends." Aori too is ready to fight the final battle.
"Seri… I'm glad." Ryu sighs as he smiles.
The final battle starts as they're all ready.
Serika is now facing the one everyone of her friends are targeting.
"Serika… LET ME HAVE THEIR HEADS!"
