While Deep Cut is getting chased down by the titanic salmonid, Agent 4 and Captain have acquired an unlikely alliance while they make their way down to Deep Cut. Team Fresh on the other side of the crater slowly descends, being put on edge from the frequency of tremors that shake their surroundings.
Agent 3: I'm really not liking these tremors, it's like they're getting more and more frequent...
Agent 2: You're alright sweetie, okay? Mommas got you, family sticks together now, don't they?
Agent 2 tries her best to reassure Agent 3, feeling a duty of care roll in as they venture through the dark caves they continued through after their scare earlier.
Agent 1: I have to say though Marie... we've had earthquakes in Inkopolis before, but they've never been this frequent, and even if they were, never consistently this strong...
The three of them watch the cave walls closely as some collapse due to the increasing instability of the tremors. Taking repeated turns left and right as they went along before rock and sand fell off to open a window of sunlight into their darkened surroundings, the three take a look outside knowing they are now much closer to the bottom than earlier, but upon looking further they sighted a gigantic beast that was definitely not what they were equipped to take on.
Agent 1: IS THAT CODZILLA?!
Agent 2: Nooo... no it is not Agent 1, but whatever it is, is clearly not happy!
The trio braces themselves as the salmonid rams it's massive tusks into the wall they were at, shaking the crater again before hearing roar up in fury. What they didn't expect to see was Deep Cut flying upwards from the bottom of the crater onto the same elevation as them.
Agent 2: What the- Deep Cut?!
Shiver: Hi Boss!
Frye: Hey Boss Marie!
Big Man: Ay! (Hey Boss Marie and Assistant Callie!)
Deep Cut: HEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPP!
They watch Deep Cut all hug each other close as they plummet back down and land on top of the salmonid's back, running down the length of its spine to the end of its tail in a rush to get back down on the floor. The three of them watched closely as they heard rumblings of a storm approaching, Agent 3 looked up to see an oncoming sandstorm, sparks of lightning coming with it.
Agent 3: Uhhhh... we should probably get moving...
Agent 2: That might be a good idea, we better move quick!
Agent 2 proceeds to grab Agent 1 and 3's hands and brings them along, trying all different passages in a labyrinth of tunnels as some collapse and open new paths due to the fight below.
Agent 1: You know, I really hope Captain and Agent 4 are okay, we haven't heard from them at all!
Agent 1 tries to keep up with her cousin's quick footsteps as she gets pulled along with her niece, at least making good progress descending the crater as every opening they pass by showing that they're getting lower and lower.
Agent 3: I'm sure they're okay, Captain is tough, right...? She will be okay. And Agent 4 is with her too, they have each other!
Within due time, Team Fresh reaches the bottom of the crater, coming out from a dark passage into the open area that makes up the deepest part of the pit, as they quickly rush on top of the debris to try to get a view of Deep Cut. Agent 1 looks around the three of them while Agents 2 and 3 try to locate Deep Cut, which didn't take long especially considering there's a giant salmonid chasing them.
Agent 2: Look, there's Deep Cut! And not far behi- Oh... that is way bigger than it looked before...
Agent 2 felt her frame shrink as she watched Deep Cut run in a frantic goose chase from the tusked salmonid behind them.
Agent 1: HEYYYY! DOWN HERE!
Agent 1 looks up and calls out upon finding Captain, Agent 4 and a few others she doesn't recognise, springing up and down and waving up at them, gaining their attention alongside Agent 2 and 3.
Captain: BEHIND YOU!
Agent 1 had stopped smiling and looked behind her alongside Agent 2 and 3, and heading right towards them was the salmonid, clearly having changed target from Deep Cut.
Agent 1: RUNNNNN!
The three barely had enough time to scramble and run to the side, narrowly avoiding it's charge by diving out of the way after sliding down the rubble. They felt the ground shake as it crashed against the wall, causing Captain, Agent 4 and the raiders to fall from their vantage point running down. The two separate groups rose up from where they were and quickly made their way to the center and regrouped all together, Team Fresh, Captain, Agent 4, Deep Cut and their alliance with the wasteland raiders.
Frye: Awhh I knew you lot would be here! What did I tell you guys?!
Deep Cut's expressions all turned to a scowl, except for Big Man who looked worriedly toward their new alliance as the raiders themselves took to a defense and readied to fight them before Captain intervened.
Captain: You lot, quit it! Put aside your petty little differences for just a moment! We have bigger fish to fry...
As she said this, she watched Agent 1 look at her in awe and clap excitedly from the speech before they all turned upon hearing rubble being shaken off from the salmonid ramming the crater. It slowly turned to look at them all before it as the sandstorm swallowed up the crater, all of them covering their eyes except for Hystera because of her goggles because of the sand. The roaring sounds of thunder and howling wind breaking any silence they had before a booming voice calls out.
?: YOU THINK YOUR TINY GROUP HERE IS ENOUGH?
The groups moved close together as they all readied their weapons and got into a circle formation to guard their every blind spot, trying to spot the source of the voice as it moves around, quakes in it's step.
Gizmo: What are you?! Show yourself!
The raiders watched as the lightning struck close to the ground showing the salmonids face amidst the storm as it spoke to them again.
?: YOU PUNY CEPHALOPODS ARE NOTHING TO ME!
Hearing this as a response triggered a response from Hystera, despite her sheer hatred toward salmonid kind, this voice and responses didn't sit well with her as she slowly backed away and started whimpering in fear from memories flooding her mind.
Hystera: Za-Zala... knows... Zalavus...
The Splatoon and Deep Cut stayed at the ready with each other, but Deep Cut looked back and noticed their usually psychotic rival, instead cowering in fear to which they've never seen before, leaving them with a hint of worry on their current situation. Vandal looked at Hystera's sudden change in temperament, and stood forward, Decavitator ready as he shouted up at it as he meets its eyes, it's glowing white eyes that seethe with nothing but hatred at him, the rest of them noticed this and backed up as the sandstorm raged on with its fury.
Vandal: Who are you?! It's clear from my friend that you know of one called Zalavus!
?: YOU KNOW OF ONLY THE EMPEROR OF THE RING OF CARNAGE! THAT WEAKLING KNOWS NOTHING OF POWER AND STRENGTH! YOUR KIND HAS INTRUDED MY LAND ENOUGH!
Agent 1: Who's Zalavus...?
Captain: I don't know, but they're clearly a salmonid, and with a title like that, definitely one we don't want to mess with.
?: BUT IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED TO KNOW, I AM CADAVERE, SOVEREIGN OF THE RING OF MEPHITIS! AND YOU ARE NAUGHT BUT PARASITES TO ME!
The salmonid introduces itself to the group as "Cadavere, Sovereign of the Ring of Mephitis" before grinding its tusks on the rubble beneath it. The sandstorm strengthened in Cadavere's ire as he rears up and bellows toward them, enraged at their presence.