Chapter Sixteen:

The Ominous Mystic Broadcast

The jumbotron screen in Inkopolis Plaza lit up with the unmistakable chime, and the Squid Sisters' logo appeared with the iconic pop fanfare, before Callie and Marie made their grand appearance in their studio.

"Hold on to your tentacles..." Callie said.

Marie took up her cue, "...It's Inkopolis News Time!"

Just then, the screen turned to static, and a buzzing noise resonated through the plaza, taking several Inklings off guard, and, as soon as the Squid Sisters and their studio became clear onscreen again, the studio's TV began flashing a spooky ghost squid symbol as ominous laughter filled the broadcast scene.

"Hey, are we being hijacked?!" Callie asked, "Someone's trying to take us off the air!"

"This is not how we planned this broadcast." Marie remarked.

Moments later, the studio screen blinked, and the image of a tall-sized Jellyfish wearing a dark-purple cape, silver gloves, and a grey-leather suit with a belt that invoked images of a nearly-similar outfit worn by the sci-fi villain known as Darth Vader.

An eerie dark-green mist surrounded the Jellyfish, and the mysterious entity began speaking to all of the citizens of Inkopolis on every news feed.

"Greetings, Inklings and Octolings of this colorful city." The sinister Jellyfish intoned, "I am the practitioner of the arts of illusions and many forms of magics, and I have many names; Curser, and Spellbinder, Shade Weaver, and Illusio, Phantom Mirage and Mystic Vortex. But my one true name, above all of them, is Curson Benash, the Mystic Master of Enimagico!"

A spooky Jellyfish head flashed on every TV screen and jumbotron across Inkopolis, followed by the words 'ENIMAGICO' in an eerie green font. Curson, also known as Enimagico, continued his address to the public in a threatening monotone;

"I was once like you, a "regular" in this city, but this was before I found my potential as a wielder of mystic arts that none of you could ever have. Inkopolis is my playground, and you are now my puppets. Magic will reign supreme, and no one will ever walk over me again!

"You fools may find me in Starfish Mainstage. Once a rural concert grounds, now it will serve as the ideal staging grounds for my mystic practices, where all shall gather to see what my powers have to offer. By the end of today, Inkopolis will NEVER be the same again! So vows Enimagico..."

The signal cut out, and the dangerous Jellyfish vanished. In his office, Jameson sat at his desk, baffled by what he had just heard. Even his assistants and fellow editors were in as much shock as he was.

"Just where do loons like this Enimagico bozo pop up from?!" Jameson demanded.

"At least you don't have to worry about Spider-Squid at this moment, sir." An Octoling staff member quipped with glee.

Jameson tapped the intercom button. "Kelpmann!" He barked, "Get every available photographer and journalist in the city down to the Starfish Mainstage, interview this nut, and take as much photographs, and get to work on the story. We got a headline; "CRAZY MAGIC JELLYFISH THREATENS INKOPOLIS! The Spider-Menace may have competition!"

"He's not a menace, sir." A Jellyfish told Jameson.

"'He'? 'HE'?! HOW ABOUT 'THEY'!" Jameson slammed the desk, "THERE'S TWO NOW! Did you see the footage at the China shop downtown, all the property damage? And on top of that, THE SECOND SPIDER-SQUID HAS A BLACK SUIT! A BLACK SUIT! When's the first one going to get a black suit?! AND WHEN WILL THEY TAKE THEIR DAMN MASKS OFF?! Brucker! BRUCKNER?!"

Bruckner stepped into the room, wearing a white shirt and tie with black pants and a camera around his neck. "You rang for a photographer?" He asked.

"You're one of the best I got." Jameson said in a crisp manner, "We got a freaking magic lunatic running around at the Starfish Mainstage, and we got a story in the works. I don't pay you for standing around and making out with Octolings. Get down there and do your job, pal. What are you waiting for, a Ranked Battle? There's the door."