ALERT!!!

SUPER IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE END STATEMENT FROM YOURS TRULY A-KUN! ANYWAYS, ENJOY THE CHAPTER!

"Let's stop this. No matter the cost."

===========

On an undisclosed location...

???'s P. O. V

Cristovelle: Where is the location!? *kicks the Inkling*

F. A. O Agent: L-let me live!

???: Just say the location. And we'll let you go.

F. A. O Agent: I-it's near Inkopolis Plaza. I don't know what exact location. Just please let me live!

???: There. Now die. *punches him in the face*

F. A. O Agent: *faints and dies* ...

???: Call "Master". We'll assault the Plaza.

Cristovelle: Alright.

At the apartment...

Brooks's P. O. V

Brooks: This food is pretty goddamn good.

Cross: I told you Cauliflower casserole is the way to go.

Brooks: You didn't use this on Christmas Eve.

Cross: I didn't wanna wash that casserole pan. It's way too bothersome.

Brooks: To be fair, you did wash almost all of the dishes.

Cross: I washed it all.

Brooks: Welp, nevermind.

Nikki: What are you guys talking about?

Brooks: Nothing of importance.

Cross: Should we do Splat Zones? It's been a while for a competitive match.

Nikki: Sure! I'm down.

Brooks: I haven't honed my skills in battling for a while. Maybe this next few days is gonna be me trying out more weapons. And some gear stuff.

Nikki: Yeah, you should get into gear power-ups. It can make your weapon and yourself much more powerful.

Brooks: About that. I still have those Super Sea Snails lying around my bags. Should I use them finally?

Cross: Yeah, me too. I haven't used them ever.

Nikki: Don't waste them, they'll be useful for gear combinations. I'm not an expert on this field, so just talk to Andrew. He's the most skilled and intelligent of the group.

Brooks: Cool! I'll just finish breakfast and I'll be getting ready for Splat Zones.

Cross: I knew you would say that. Could you like, not be so quick to do something? We aren't like doing 30 battles there anyway. 10 is the bare minimum. And 15 is max we can do before we get noticed by the news again. I've heard some news again about us.

Brooks: *sighs* Fine. I'll still get dressed up. And I'll also get some gear advice with Andrew for a bit before we go.

Nikki: *puts down the plate full with cauliflower casserole* Yeah, do that. I only just woke up.

Brooks: M'kay. *goes inside his room*

I started to check again on my bags and I see again my Super Sea Snails just staying there almost lifeless. I grabbed the whole bag of them and put them in a separate place so I can see them clearly when I come into the room.

Brooks: *feeling uneasy* ... *shivers*

What is this feeling? I feel... Nervous. But for what? Are my senses tingling again?

Meanwhile.

???'s P. O. V

???: The troops are ready for the assault. Should we get going?

DJ Octavio: Get it over with. I want that human captured and to be taken alive. No excuses this time.

???: I'll not let you down. *smirks*

I'll get him this time.

Cristovelle: You look awfully happy right now.

???: Get the troops out of here. We'll attack the Plaza now.

Cristovelle: We better not fail this.

"Don't worry."

Quintavius: We'll get him. *wears his armor*

Back to the apartment...

Brooks's P. O. V

I've been waiting for a while now. I got to talk with Andrew about gear abilities. And I realized how much I'm missing out on. I could be more unstoppable with the right gear.

Brooks: Cross! Are you ready yet? *plays around with his weapon*

Oh, man. I haven't used this weapon for a long, long, time. The "Custom" Splattershot Pro. I brought this in preparation for the bad feeling I'm having. It's been bothering so much in a short amount of time.

Cross: I'm still picking what I'm gonna wear. Wait a bit will ya?

Nikki: I'm ready now. *sits down next to Brooks*

Brooks: Read some news. What's happening on Inkopolis Plaza.

Nikki: Okay. Is something is bothering you?

Okay, how in the hell did she guess what I'm feeling right. What in the hell? But I guess I gotta say it to her. The last time I didn't say anything, I and the "two" got pounced on by obsessive fanboys.

Brooks: I'm feeling uneasy. I feel something's gonna happen.

Nikki: You think so? Is it just you feeling sick? *worried*

Brooks: No Nikki. I have felt this feeling before. And something bad happened right after that. I don't really doubt my gut feeling.

Nikki: I see. I'll bring my A-game.

Brooks: And also, be alert. I don't wanna see you hurt badly.

Nikki: I'm gonna be fine. I'll make sure of it. *smiles at Brooks*

Cross: *comes out of nowhere* I'm ready. Let's get this over with.

We went to the Plaza and I called Agent 3 to help us to play some Turf Wars. She was stubborn at first, I had to do some convincing before she relented to join. Yay! Full-team! No random joining us that might screw us over.

Agent 3: Why did you make me join? Why did you bother me?

Brooks: Come on. Stop with that gloomy face. Brighten up will ya?

Agent 3: *shakes her head* ...

I stared at the tall at the super tall buildings that surround the Plaza. The feeling that I had earlier... I still can't get over it.

Brooks: *sighs* ... (How in the hell can I make her not hate me? I'm seriously running out of ideas.)

Weapons:

Brooks: "Custom" Forge Splattershot Pro
Cross: Custom E-liter 3K Scope
Agent 3: Tentatek Splattershot (Splatoon 1 Version.)
Nikki: 96. Gal Deco (Splatoon 2 Version.)

A-kun: Just don't even bother reading or searching for the Subs and Specials for the weapons. I'll make sure I'll get the weapons Subs and Specials right.

We went into the tower and played some pretty competitive games. We played 5 matches straight. One of those 5 matches we lost. We didn't mind the loss. Because I was switching gear every battle trying out gear abilities. And it was bothersome. Because I always had to go to the changing room to change and the others can't wait for like 2 minutes. But it was all good. And we went for the last stretch of competitive battles.

Outside of Inkopolis Tower...

Quintavius's P. O. V

We better get him this time. Took a good look around the Plaza and concluded that they were playing Turf War. So we have gone to the rooftops of the large buildings of the Plaza and the troops set up the sniper and overwatch all over the Plaza before we attack the Plaza. There are so many Inklings in this Plaza that it will be hard to identify who's who. This is gonna clear out as we attack the Plaza anyway.

Quintavius: Cristovelle.

Cristovelle: What is it?

Quintavius: What's the plan?

Cristovelle: I think he's in there with Nikki. And I have unfinished business with her also. I'll take care of it.

Quintavius: I'll join in when you are starting to get beat.

Cristovelle: Don't even think about it. *wears his bandana on his mouth*

He seems super ready for this. Let's get this going.

Back to them...

Brooks's P. O. V

Brooks: *comes out of the tower* ... *senses something bad again*

Oh, god. I feel it. We were walking to a fast-food chain nearby.

Brooks: TAKE COVER! *takes out his weapon*

Our group scattered into cover as Octoling ink sprayed the ground.

Brooks: Looks like we ain't getting out of this one without fighting.

Cross: Thanks for stating the obvious. *aims at the Octolings with his sniper*

Octolings are dropping down from the ropes. I threw some Seekers to destroy them. They're surprisingly dumb. Do they keep dying without any dodging? What in the hell is going on? What's their motive?

Cristovelle: *sees Brooks* ... *starts to go after Brooks*

He threw a Burst Bomb right at my face and it blinded me for a bit.

Then I felt a gut punch from him. He's trying to incapacitate me. Not going down easy!

Brooks: *dodges the attacks in succession* ...

Cristovelle: *speeds up the punches* ...

Brooks: *reaches in his pocket while dodging the punches*

He's gonna use his Sub Weapon. I gotta reach for my "device". His color right now is Green.

Cristovelle: You thought!? *grabs Brooks's hand and flips him*

Aghhh!

Cross's P. O. V

Brooks is down! He's getting dragged!

Cross: Brooks! *tries to shoot at Cristovelle*

Quintavius: Not happening. You're coming with us too. *points wrist rocket*

Cross: *turns into Kraken* ... *swims to Cristovelle*

Agent 3: Take me on Octo scum! *screams from the pillar she's hiding at*

Quintavius: What did you say... *getting angry*

I started to kill the extra Octolings that were running from me. Then I pounced on Cristovelle who was in the process of dragging Brooks on a large van. They're kidnapping him.

Cristovelle: *throws a Splash Wall trying to stop Cross* Go away!

Cross: *plows through the Splash Wall* ...

Cristovelle: *avoids Cross* ...

I'm in trouble. I've run out of the Kraken Special. I'm vulnerable with a sniper in front of a Blaster user.

Cristovelle: *shoot Cross with the Custom Blaster* ...

Cross: AGH!!! *gets hit multiple times* *still standing*

Brooks: *shakes his head* ... *throws a Seeker towards Cristovelle*

Cristovelle: You two annoying scums! *uses the Bubbler* *charges at Cross*

Cross: *gets tackled to the pillar* ...

AHH! My back!

Cristovelle: *grabs Cross* ...

How in the hell can he grab me? I'm way heavier than any Inkling. They prepared this attack, aren't they? It still doesn't make any sense!

Cristovelle: *throws Cross at the center at the Plaza* ... *turns back at Brooks*

I'm literally at a hotspot of enemies. I see snipers as I look up I see multiple snipers aiming straight at me.

< You're absolutely weak. You should die now. It's better suited for you. >

No. It's not my time yet.

Cross: My eyes!!! *holds his eyes* *wincing in pain*

My eyes again! What's happening to me!?

Cross: *looks around* ...

Why no one is moving? Did time stop? This happened to me before, didn't it? This happened to me while I almost died also. Anyhow, I'll do what I do best.

Cross: *starts killing everyone with his E-liter 3K* ...

I got almost all of the minions. And I started to get some more ink and then...

Nikki's P. O. V

Nikki: Cross!!! *screams*

He's been lying on the floor as the Octorians are shooting him!

Nikki: No!!! *tries to kill the Octolings shooting him* (Please... Not again. I don't wanna suffer anymore.)

But then all of the Octolings shooting him fell with Cross's signature silver color plastered on their bodies. And Cross is behind a pillar hiding. What. In the hell?

Cross: *gives a thumbs up to Nikki across the Plaza* ...

What did I just saw? I know humans are strange creatures but they can do THAT?

Nikki: *faces Quintavius and uses Splashdown* ...

Quintavius: Annoying! *uses the wrist rockets on Nikki*

My Splashdown was discontinued. But it was needed to avoid the rockets. I wasted my Special. But it was necessary to avoid the multiple rockets.

Agent 3: *jumped towards Quintavius* ... *uses the Inkzooka*

Quintavius: *gets hit by the Inkzooka* AHHH! *armor damaged badly*

Agent 3: Go assist Brooks! I can take him on.

I looked at Brooks he's getting dragged into a vehicle!

Nikki: *runs towards Cristovelle* ...

Cross: *aims Charger at Cristovelle* ... *fires and misses*

Brooks's P. O. V

Wha... What's happening? I hear... Screaming. Nikki? My body feels heavy. Where am I anyway?

Cristovelle: Mission accomplished. *closes the truck*

Nikki's P. O. V

Nikki: NOOOOO!!!

The truck drives away and the armored Octoling flew away but badly.

Agent 3: I gotta inform Squidbeak! I'll be back! We'll be pursuing him immediately. *runs into the manhole*

Cross: DAMN IT! *screams*

Nikki: Quick, Cross! The police are coming to the scene now! Let's go home!

Cross: *runs towards the abandoned subway* *still guilty*

Why... Why him? I'm not letting him go from my life. We're going after him.

====================================

A-kun: And here we are at the end. I told at the beginning that I have a big announcement at the end. And important at that. Anyway. The announcement is, the book is gonna end. 4 chapters left. I'll be focusing very hard and preparing myself for the ending. But good news! There's gonna be another book and it's gonna be a continuation of this book. And the next book will be better written with the experience I mustered throughout of the making of this book. I hope you all are ready for the next book and I hope the next book be read by many, many more people. Anyway. I'll be going now. I'll be pouring my focus to the ending of this book before the next chapter of Clouded comes out. So, anyone who likes that book, you have to wait. But I'll be putting some work in that book too. But little by little. Have a good day reading!

Word Count: 2208 Words

1/14/20
9:27 PM