Chapter Fourteen:

Hunting Season in The City of Color

As sunlight broke over Inkopolis, illuminating the city of Splatoon culture in a wash of yellow as the sky slowly turned blue, a lone Octoling girl with pink-magenta hair strolled through the westside district that connected to Inkopolis Square.

Agent 8 let her mind wander a little, contemplating the recent events that had unfolded. Those recent events she was thinking about, it all involved her boyfriend, and the fateful spider bite that led to him becoming Inkopolis' second web-slinging superhero squid. News outlets were having a field day by now, and 8 knew it.

Just then, right as she was turning a corner, the female Octo let out a squeak of shock and froze in her tracks. Just next to an apartment doorstep, laying in a puddle of ink, was a blue-tentacled Octoling male in a white coat.

Agent 8 looked up, spotting a drone overhead, and the drone quickly flew away.

8 returned her attention to the corpse, and moved closer to inspect it. The very horrified Agent reached out, and turned the body over, studying the lifeless Octoling with bewilderment.

Looking at him, the dead Octoling was clearly a scientist. But, who wanted him dead, and what was that drone doing here when Agent 8 found the body, and why did it get out of there when it did?

She needed to tell Cuttlefish about the matter, and it was easier to tell Alex and Parker about what was going on. Superheroes were capable of investigating mysteries, depending on what that mystery even was, just as they were good at protecting innocent people from highly dangerous criminals.

An unsettled Agent 8 pulled out her phone, and snapped a quick picture of the corpse, then she texted Cuttlefish while ensuring that nobody noticed what she was doing.

It took a while to settle down for the night after that odd alien substance latched onto him, and merged with his suit to upgrade it in terms of color/appearance. Regardless, Makerboy had a good evening rest, and, after eating a tasty breakfast, he met up with Parker to study a sample of the substance they'd managed to snip off before Makerboy went to bed.

Both Inklings popped by the lab at Inkopolis Elementary, and Parker placed the sample of the odd substance under a microscope while Makerboy wore the black Spider-Inkling suit. They watched the goop move around, while a few tiny tentacles appeared for a brief moment.

Parker observed the substance quietly, and often looked at Makerboy, as if he expected the black suit to do something at any moment. The room was silent, save for the ticking clock, alongside the sound of the alien sample moving in the small container, and Parker gently tapped a finger on the table.

"So, uh, what is this thing supposed to be?" Makerboy asked.

"Well..." Parker remarked, "I'd say we're looking at a symbiote, a sort of organism that bonds with a living host to thrive. Calling it a parasite would be sort of an understatement. I've read about symbiosis once, and I didn't think we'd find one, neither did I think it was possible for a symbiote to upgrade your suit."

"Symbiote, huh?" Makerboy remarked, "Well, aside from my costume, I haven't personally been super affected by this thing in any matter, but you got to admit that black-colored versions of superhero costumes are pretty interesting despite being made by that odd alien goop."

Parker chuckled uneasily. "Just make sure you'll be careful, Alex." He said, "This is a living organism we're talking about, and we don't know what else it's capable of doing. Once someone bonds with a symbiote, trying to part with it can be hard to do, if they even attempt to unbind with this organism. So, whatever happens, be aware of how it does affect your actions."

"I know what I'm doin', man." Makerboy flashed a confident and sarcastic thumbs up, "Come on, what's the worse that could even happen while I'm sporting this getup?"

The two web-slinging squids departed the school, with Makerboy wearing the black-colored symbiote-infused spider mask, and took flight, swinging through the city block to the closest five-story building next to a general store.

Parker and Makerboy made landing on the side, and climbed to the roof, positioning themselves next to an air vent, and looked out over Inkopolis as they observed for crime-related activity. Their hometown looked peaceful this time in the morning, even though danger awaited somewhere and could strike at any moment.

And, not a moment too soon, their Spider-Senses went haywire. Danger was inevitable, and the two Inklings ducked their heads right before a spear flew over. Makerboy and Parker shot to their feet, and watched as an brown Inkling with Octoling features in tribal hunting gear made his appearance.

The Inktoling's eyes flashed a shade of light-red, and his tentacles waved in the morning breeze while he twirled another spear in his hands. Both Spider-Squids studied him, wondering who the newcomer was, and why he was pursuing them.

"Spider-Squid!" The Inktoling declared in a thick Russian accent, "I challenge you, and your sidekick, to a battle to the death! I, Inksot Kraken of House Kraken, have come to Inkopolis in search of you. May your head serve as a worthy addition to my hunting collection!"

"And what if we say no?!" Makerboy asked stupidly.

Kraken held up the head of an Octoling girl, one who reminded the web-slinger of Agent 8. "I will take the heads of every female octopus who thrives in Inkopolis, including the head of the legend known as Agent 8!"

Makerboy thwipped his wrists, and a series of webs streaked around the Inktoling hunter in moments, with the web lines wrapping around his neck. Kraken gasped for breath, and tried to break free, just before the black-suited Spider-Inkling made a mad leap at him and kicked the hunter in the face.

"Pull your punches, buddy!" Parker advised, "We don't want to kill this guy!"

"Fool!" Kraken ripped the webs off from around his throat, and grabbed Makerboy by the neck before glaring at Parker, "To kill is part of the hunt! If you want to be supreme over the hunter, the outcome of the battle must see the death of the defeated! Kill or be killed! That is the rule, as my father taught me ruthlessly!"

Parker dove in, and punched Kraken in the face, while Makerboy broke the hunter's grip on him with a karate chop to the wrist. The Inktoling tore off his vest, and morphed into his octo-squid form, then he leaped over the superheroes and retrieved the spear he'd thrown at them moments before.

Makerboy glanced at the severed head of the Octoling girl, which had fallen when he'd attacked Kraken, and he flicked a series of webs from his wrist that engulfed the head, wrapping it in a web-made burial shroud akin to the one used on Egyptian mummies. He handed it to Parker, who lobbed it at the advancing Kraken.

The hunter shouted as the wrapped head smacked him in the nose, causing a hint of ink to leak a little. The Russian Inktoling snarled with rage, and charged at the two Spider-Squids with his spear ready to run them through.

In the very last second, Makerboy and Parker leaped off the roof, and swung through the jungle of concrete, and color, seemingly leaving their foe in the dust. Both of their spider-senses didn't take long to go off, and Makerboy looked behind to see Kraken was in pursuit as he utilized what seemed to be a grappling gun to swing from building-to-building.

"Never run from your opponent!" Kraken declared, "I have my eye on all of you!"

Makerboy looked at Parker, and they shot an understanding wink at one another. They knew where to take this fight next, and the place they had in mind wasn't too far off. Hopefully, there weren't any Turf War battles happening there today.

Both Inklings took a quick right turn, and spotted the Kelp Dome a few blocks away. They streaked past a computer office building close by, and dove for the entrance. The Spider-Squids rushed through the entrance, and made their way into the domed gardening area, finding little-to-no Turf War activity in sight.

A few moments later, the ceiling burst open, and Kraken dropped in, glaring at the two heroes with the most animalistic snarl ever heard, which prompted a chill to shoot up Makerboy's back.

The Inktoling wiped his inking nose, and advanced towards the two heroes, who backed away from one another to size him down like wolves getting ready to strike their prey. Kraken twirled his spear, staring menacingly at his prey, and pulled out another spear with a battle cry. He locked eyes with Parker, and lunged at him in an aggressive manner.

Parker dove down and ducked swiftly as the hunter swung his spears at him, and the red-blue web-slinger leaped upward to kick Kraken in the face. Kraken stumbled back, and made another attack run, but Makerboy tackled the Inktoling as he threw his arms around the hunter's neck in a chokehold.

"GET OFF!"

Kraken ducked his head, and threw Makerboy off, causing him to crash into Parker. The two Spider-Inklings toppled over, and the hunter made his advance, grabbed the Inkling in the red-blue outfit, and chucked him into the nearby wall. Parker slumped over in a half-daze, and Kraken marched towards him with his spear held high.

Just before he could attack the Spider-Squid, Makerboy shot back to his feet, and ran in. He grabbed Kraken's arm, and twisted it. The hunter yelled angrily, and elbowed the black-clad green Inkling in the face, slightly dazing Makerboy, but the rookie superhero brushed it off in time to see Kraken pull out a hunting knife.

"Your head will be the grand prize of my collection!" Kraken boasted, "And I will proudly wear that black costume once I have finished with the both of you!"

He slashed at Makerboy, with the blade aimed for his face, and the green-haired Inkling grabbed the aggresive hunter's wrist to hold him back. And then, as if controlled by another force, Makerboy headbutted Kraken hard enough to smash his nose. Kraken stumbled away, and sputtered with surprise while dropping his knife.

Parker got back up, and made a run at Kraken before punching him in the eye, nearly blinding him, and the Inktoling launched a punch at the Spider-Squid which Parker countered with precise timing.

And that was when Makerboy tackled the fierce fighter. He grabbed his shoulders, and lifted the hunter up before tossing him into a tree. Kraken collapsed on his front, and stood up as he gripped his spear while rotating his neck, feeling a hint of dizziness from how hard he'd crashed.

FWIP! Parker thrust out his wrist, and surrounded the leather-clad hunter's legs in the strongest rope-like web imaginable, making Kraken shout with rage as he tried to break free while swinging his spears madly.

Parker ran in, kicked the dangerous hunter in the chest, and tore the spear out of his hands with a series of webs. Makerboy leaped in, tackling the Inktoling with a kick to the shoulder, and flipped around the menacing hunter before throwing his arms around Kraken's neck in another chokehold.

And this time, he made sure his foe didn't pull any quick moves.

Makerboy ducked backwards, and flipped the Spider-Squid's opponent over the green squid's head, and Kraken collapsed to the ground on his face. Kraken shot back onto his feet quickly, only to for a large wad of web to blind him.

Kraken stumbled about, trying to rip the wad off of his face, and the two Spider-Squids rushed at him once more, tackling the hunter in a wild series of web-spinning and combo punches from every angle. The battered Kraken tumbled to both knees, and collapsed on the ground, unable to move with his whole body webbed up in moments.

"Fought anyone like this guy before?" Makerboy asked Parker.

"Can't say I recall." Parker quipped smugly, "But he's no Octo-Bull for sure."

"Well, it'll be ages before he hunts again." Makerboy chuckled, "And I know where we can put him since he likes hunting so much."

Parker chuckled, thinking about the exact same idea that Makerboy was thinking. Kraken snarled with fear and fury, but there wasn't anything he could do when overpowered by two Spider-Squids. And, wherever he was going, the Inktoling hunter was dreading it already.