《Champion’s tide》 The First dip Chapter 1: The first dip The sun burned over Monterrey, melting the pavement and making the air vibrate as if the world was about to catch fire. At the entrance of the school, a small crowd met in front of the covered pool. It was the day of the tests to enter the swimming club. For many, it was just one more extracurricular activity, but for two people, that day would mark the beginning of something much bigger. Tali¨®n was next to the entrance, sitting on a bench. His gaze was fixed on the gym door, as if everything else didn''t exist. His head was bubbling with thoughts: "Three competitions... three chances... I have to win them all if I want to get to France." For as long as he could remember, water had been his refuge, his best friend. But today, the water didn''t feel like a safe place... it felt like an obstacle. I knew those tests wouldn''t be easy; not only was it enough to be good, I had to be the best. While Talion was meditating, someone fell next to him with a dramatic sigh. "Uff... it''s so hot as hell..." said a soft, almost sweet voice. Talion turned his head and found himself with a thin and short figure. Light brown hair gathered in a high ponytail, a playful smile and bright eyes that seemed to say: I''m going to get into trouble today. "How are you?" I''m Luz," he said, extending his hand. Tali¨®n watched her (or lo) for a moment. With tight sportswear and a somewhat flirtatious posture, Luz seemed more ready for a catwalk than for a swimming event. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "I''m Talion," he replied, shaking his hand. "Are you here to win or just to show muscles?" Luz joked, giving him a friendly elbow. "To win," Tali¨®n replied with a smile. Luz didn''t smile. That word echoed like an echo in his head. Winning... of course... as if it were so easy. Luz had heard all her life that she was not good for swimming. "You don''t have the physique", "Your legs are very thin", "Your body is not made for this sport". But he had learned to ignore those voices. What I wanted was to show that size did not define talent. ? The coach called on all aspirants to form a line by the pool. The suffocating heat seemed to evaporate with the steam coming out of the crystal clear water. "Very well, guys," the coach said energetically. Let''s see who has what it takes to enter this club. If you are not ready to give everything, you better not get into the water. Talion and Luz looked at each other briefly. One wanted to get to the Olympics... the other just wanted to show that he deserved to be there. When the whistle sounded, they both threw themselves into the water. Talion advanced with powerful strokes, cutting the water as if it were controlling it. Luz, on the other hand, seemed to slide lightly, without the same force, but with a neat and elegant technique. Talion was the first to touch the wall, panting slightly. But when he looked at the next lane, he saw that Luz had reached only half a body behind him. "Not bad..." said Tali¨®n, impressed. Luz took off her glasses, her eyes shining with determination. "And I''m just warming up." They both laughed. Tali¨®n felt something strange... as if that small and mysterious swimmer was going to become someone important in his life. What Tali¨®n didn''t know is that, for Luz, that look and those words had been much more than a simple recognition. It had been the spark that lit a flame inside him... a flame that he didn''t plan to let go out. From that day on, their paths would never separate again. ? End of chapter 1 Chapter 2 who is she? Champion Tide Chapter 2: Who the hell is she? The water was still dripping from Tali¨®n''s gray hair when they both left the pool. While Tali¨®n took off his swimming goggles, he looked sideways at Luz, who also dried her hair with a towel. Why does she look so beautiful?, Tali¨®n thought, observing how the drops of water ran through her firm legs and... wait...? Tali¨®n blinked several times when he noticed something he had not seen before: Luz had thick, shapely legs, with muscles that stood out... and a butt that simply did not go unnoticed. "Is everything okay?" Luz asked, noticing Tali¨®n''s fixed gaze. "Huh?! Yes, yes... just... I was thinking about the race... - Tali¨®n replied quickly, looking away while rubbing the back of his neck. The group met in front of the coach, who began to give the indications for the next exercise. As he spoke, Tali¨®n couldn''t help but think about what he had just seen. Why would a girl be in the men''s tests? Was there a mistake? Or... maybe Luz was just a newbie who sneaked in by mistake? "Talion!" the coach''s voice took him out of his thoughts. Are you going to dream or are you going to swim? "Yes, yes!" Sorry," Talion said, concentrating again. ? A while later... This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The tests ended and those selected stayed to listen to the list of admitted. Tali¨®n sat next to Luz, who was staggering on the bench, exhausted. "Is everything okay?" Tali¨®n asked. "Yes... just... I need someone to pick me up if I faint," Luz joked, with a choppy voice. Talion let out a laugh. As much as it cost her, Luz had swam incredible. He didn''t have the same speed as him, but Luz''s technique was impeccable... and something else caught his attention: his attitude. Despite the fact that it was noticeable that the effort had been brutal, Luz continued to smile as if nothing had happened. She''s tough... or rather, stubborn, Tali¨®n thought. "Hey, by the way..." Talion said curiously. I hadn''t seen you before. Are you a freshman? "Yes," Luz said, drinking a sip of water. You too? "Yes... hey... and... why did you join the team?" Luz put the bottle aside, her eyes reflecting something more serious. "I want to show that I can do it," he said softly. I''ve always been told that I don''t have the body for this, that I''m not strong enough... but... I don''t know, when I get into the water, I feel like I can. Tali¨®n nodded, feeling a strange admiration. There was something about Luz that she liked... not only the smile or that playful vibe, but also that determination. "Tali¨®n, Luz... they are inside the team," the coach announced. "LET''S GO!" Luz shouted, excited, while hugging Tali¨®n tightly. The sudden contact made Talion stiffen. His thin but firm arms stuck against his torso and... what the hell...? That ass. Tali¨®n felt how something big, firm and... too round pressed against his leg. His eyes opened like plates. What the hell...? Why does this morra have a...? "Thank you for trusting me!" Luz said, separating and smiling with so much energy that Tali¨®n could not even process well what had just happened. "Yes... you''re welcome..." Tali¨®n murmured, confused, as he watched Luz walk away. Talion shook his head. Surely it was my imagination... he thought. But he couldn''t help but look again at those firm legs and that ass that moved with a hypnotic rhythm while Luz walked. Why the fuck do I feel like this...? ? End of chapter 2 Chapter 3: Between laughter and secrets Champion Tide Chapter 3: Between laughter and secrets The first training was not long in coming. The pool, crystal clear and shiny, was waiting for the new members of the team. The coach, with her characteristic firm tone, finished giving directions and left the boys to get ready. "Ready for me to humiliate you in the water?" Luz joked, elbowing Tali¨®n. "Please, if I swim so fast that I''m going to leave you dry," Talion replied with a confident smile. "Dry?" If you keep showing off, you''re going to drown in your own words," Luz said with a mischievous smile. The vibe between the two had become lighter. Since that day in the tests, Tali¨®n had felt... curious about Luz. There was something about that little guy that intrigued him, but he couldn''t understand what. During training, Luz moved quickly, although her technique was still more refined than explosive. Tali¨®n noticed that Luz made an enormous effort in each turn, but every time she got out of the water, her smile remained firm. "Good technique!" exclaimed a voice from the edge of the pool. It was Aurora, a tall girl, with a determined look and a tone of voice that admitted no doubts. He stood next to the coach, watching Tali¨®n carefully. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Hey you, the one with the gray hair," Aurora said, pointing at him. You have potential. Talion was silent for a second, not knowing whether to take it as a compliment or as a warning. Finally, he smiled and nodded. "Thank you... I think." Aurora smiled slightly before walking away, leaving Tali¨®n thoughtful. Potential for what?, he wondered. ? A few hours later... Tali¨®n and Luz were in the dressing room, joking and telling silly stories while they changed. Luz, as always, was the soul of the conversation, exaggerating his anecdotes and making him laugh with his jokes. "And then I fell into the pool with clothes and everything!" Luz said, waving her arms. It looked like a fish out of the water! Talion burst into laughter. "How the hell do you achieve so many misfortunes in a single day?!" he asked laughing. Luz leaned towards him, with that mischievous smile that was already so familiar to her. "It''s a gift... or a curse," he said, winking at him. Talion shook his head and took off his shirt to change. Just when she was about to put on her clean shirt, Luz dropped her towel without realizing it as she moved towards her locker. Talion looked by reflex and... everything clicked. His eyes opened suddenly. "What...?!" Tali¨®n murmured, blocking his own view with the towel in his hand. "What''s wrong?" Luz asked, without understanding. Tali¨®n felt the heat rise to his face. Luz... was a vato. "N-nothing..." he stambled, turning around hastily. How the fuck didn''t I notice before?, Talion thought. Suddenly, all those uncomfortable moments, the laughter, the jokes, the "out of the series ass"... everything mixed in his head like an explosion. "Talion..." Luz said, putting on a T-shirt. Is everything okay? "Yes... yes... just..." The prota cleared his throat. Nothing... I''m going to... I''m going to get some air. He left the dressing room almost staggering. Once outside, he rested both hands on the wall and took a deep breath. Why do I feel like my life just got complicated?, he thought. Chapter 4: Jokes, advice and competition on the horizon Chapter 4: Jokes, advice and competition on the horizon The sun was just beginning to hide when Tali¨®n let himself fall on one of the benches in the dressing room, completely exhausted. The training had been brutal, and his body was still burning after so many laps in the pool. "Did you die or are you just acting dramatic?" said a familiar voice. Tali¨®n opened his eyes and saw Luz approaching with her typical playful smile. He had a towel over his shoulders and drops of water ran down his neck. "I died..." Tali¨®n growled. What the hell is wrong with the coach? He wants to turn us into fish. "And what did you expect?" You''re not going to get to the Olympics swimming like a drunk duck. Talion let out a tired laugh, and Luz let herself fall next to him. "Hey..." Luz said, looking at Tali¨®n sideways. Thank you for trusting me in the tests... I don''t know if you know, but not many take me seriously. "Why not?" Talion looked at him curiously. You''re good, you have an incredible technique. Luz shrugged, then turned to him and, without warning, gave him a zap on the head. "What the hell?!" Talion protested, rubbing his scalp. "That was for looking at me weird the other day," Luz sneered, winking at her. "What?" When? "When you saw me coming out of the water." You looked like ''What kind of mermaid is this?'' Talion laughed, feeling that he was finally relaxing. Luz behaved so naturally and spontaneously that it was impossible not to have fun with him. "Maybe this crazy guy is one of those weird friends you need..." Tali¨®n thought. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ? Days later... Tali¨®n was sitting under the shade of a tree, checking his cell phone when he heard a firm voice behind him. "Resting instead of training?" I didn''t know you liked living on the edge. Tali¨®n turned and saw Aurora, the girl who was said to be the best swimmer in the club... and who for some reason never mixed much with the rest. "Nah, I was just recovering energy," Talion replied, smiling confidently. Aurora sat next to him, shaking her hair still wet from training. "And what about you?" Tali¨®n asked. I never see you tired. "That''s because I don''t just train the body..." Aurora said, taking her finger to her temle. I also train this. "So it''s a matter of mentality?" Tali¨®n asked, interested. ¡ªIn part. But the most important thing is that you don''t doubt what you can do. I saw how you swam the other day... -Aurora paused, looking directly at him-. You''re good... really good. Tali¨®n was surprised by the firm tone of his words. "Thank you," he finally said. "Just don''t trust yourself," Aurora added. The first competition is in a week... and believe me, there are people out there who won''t have mercy on you. Aurora got up and began to walk away. "Hey..." Talion stopped her. Why are you telling me? Aurora stopped for a moment, without turning around. "Because I think you''re the one who can give the team something it''s never had..." he made a dramatic pause. A star. ? Training day "Talion, run him!" You''re going to leave me alone against the crazy muscles... - Luz shouted from the dressing room. "I''m coming, I''m coming!" Tali¨®n got up from his bench and ran to change. Minutes later, they were both in the pool ready for a pair training. "Ready to lose?" Luz sneered as she adjusted her goggles. "Lose me?" Tali¨®n smiled mockingly. If I beat you, you invite the tacos. "And if I win..." Luz paused, then smiled mischievously. You train in a tight swimsuit for a whole week. "What?!" Tali¨®n was frozen. No, not even as a joke... "Afre, champion?" Luz gave him a provocative look. Talion sighed. ¡ªDear made... They both jumped into the water and the race began. ? The result was clear: Tali¨®n won... but by a second. Light emerged from the water snorting. "I almost beat you, slimy..." he said, unable to stop laughing. "But you didn''t," Tali¨®n sneered. So go take out the wallet... Both laughed, giving each other a slight blow to the fist, feeling that that strange connection they had was getting stronger and stronger. "This vato is crazy... but I think I like him," Tali¨®n thought. ? The day before the competition... The atmosphere in the club was different. The silence, the concentration... everything felt heavier. "Tomorrow is the first step..." Tali¨®n said to himself while looking at the empty pool. Suddenly, he felt a pat on the shoulder. It Was Light. "Ready to shine, champion?" Talion smiled. "Ready to make everyone gape." They both laughed, not imagining that the real storm was just about to begin... ? End of chapter 4 Chapter 5: The roar in the water Chapter 5: The roar in the water The water moved in soft spirals, spinning like a hypnotic dance. Talion floated in the middle of that blue immensity. There was no noise, no tension, only peace. In front of him, emerging majestically from the depths, a huge orca slid elegantly. His black and deep eyes crossed with those of Tali¨®n, as if the creature recognized him... as if they were part of the same world. The orca moved around him, turning gracefully. Talion stretched out his hand instinctively, and the huge creature swam next to him, so close that he could feel the force of the water pushing him back. Suddenly, the water stirred violently. Talion lost his balance and, before he could react, the orca moved away at full speed, leaving a trail of bubbles in his way. "Wait!" Tali¨®n shouted, feeling how the water pressure began to suffocate him. His eyes opened suddenly. ? Reality ¨C Swimming club dressing room Talion sat abruptly on the bench in the dressing room, his breathing agitated. "Everything okay, champion?" Luz asked, poking her head out of the door. "Yes... I was just... thinking," Tali¨®n said, running a hand through his gray hair. "Thinking or sleeping?" Luz joked. Because you snored so loud that I thought a whale had been stranded here. Talion chuckled. Luz had that magical ability to get him out of any spiral of deep thoughts. ? The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Day of the event The atmosphere in the pool was electric. The rival teams were already in position, and the screams of the public filled the air. Among them, a group of tall, muscular and arrogant swimmers walked along the edge of the pool as if they had already won. "And these clowns?" Luz murmured, pointing to the rival team. "The Aztl¨¢n Institute..." Tali¨®n said in a tense voice. They say his team is pure beast. The swimmers of the Aztl¨¢n Institute approached, with a mocking smile on their faces. One of them, a tall, stuff boy with shaved hair, stopped right in front of Tali¨®n. "So you''re the "prodigy" of gray hair, huh?" he said mockingly. What a beautiful dye. What''s next? Are you going to paint your nails too? Laughter exploded among his companions. "Look," said another, pointing at Luz. And what about her? Your girlfriend or your pet? Tali¨®n felt the rage rise up his chest, but before he could answer, Luz stepped forward. "Calm down, big one," Luz said with a cheeky smile. If you want to know how good I am in water, better not blink... because I''m going to leave you swallowing bubbles. The group of boys burst out laughing. "You?" said the shaved man. Not even if they put an engine on you, you arrive first. Talion got ahead this time. "Why don''t you find out?" he said with a confident smile. I mean, if you''re not afraid to lose... The shaved boy stopped laughing. "I hope you like to lose, prodigy." ? The race had not yet started, but the tension was already in the air. Before the coach announced the next test, a teacher''s voice echoed in the speaker. ¡ªAttention. Remember that this first competition defines more than just a result. The winning team will be able to choose one of the best swimmers of the losing team to reinforce their group on the way to the Olympics. Talion was stunned. "What?" he whispered. "What what?" Luz repeated. "Yes..." the coach said, approaching them. If we don''t win, they can stay with you. "With me?" Talion looked at her, incredulous. "Yes." You are our best swimmer," the coach explained. And if they beat you... we''ll lose you. Luz bit her lip. "Then we''d better win..." Tali¨®n said, closing his fist with determination. Luz looked at him sideways and smiled to herself. "What if we win?" Luz asked. "Then we can stay with one of his best swimmers," the coach explained. Luz let out a laugh. "Hey Tali¨®n... if we win, bring that big guy... I''m sure he''ll help us carry the towels. Talion laughed loudly. That confidence, that shameless humor... Luz always knew how to turn tension into laughter. "It''s okay, crazy," Tali¨®n said, smiling. Let''s show them who''s in charge here. ? End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6: The Smiling Scotsman Chapter 6: The Smiling Scotsman The bustle of the pool echoed strongly. The teams were preparing for the three tests that would define who would emerge victorious that day. Talion was adjusting his goggles when he heard a voice behind him. "Hey, champion... Don''t you get tired of your hair making you look like an anime character? Talion suddenly turned around and found a tall boy with fair skin, messy blond hair and intense blue eyes. He wore a carefree smile, almost as if nothing in the world mattered to him. "And who are you?" Tali¨®n asked, curious. "Azrat," said the boy with an exaggerated inclination. The pride of the Fenrir Institute. "Pride?" Like in gay pride or what? - Luz joked, appearing out of nowhere. "Exactly!" Azrat said laughing, without losing the rhythm. Although, well, in my case I''m also the one who''s going to beat them today... so nice to meet you. Luz let out a scandalous laugh, and Tali¨®n couldn''t help but smile too. Was this guy the best swimmer on the rival team? He didn''t look like the typical arrogant boy who made fun of others. "How good are you?" Talion asked, curious. "Well... I''m not going to lie to you," Azrat said, shrugging his shoulders. I''m fast, but I really don''t know if I beat you... you look pretty good. Maybe you should come to our school, so I''m sure we''ll end up in the Olympics together. "Inviting me before competing?" Tali¨®n said with a mocking smile. That''s trust. "Nah, it''s not trust..." Azrat gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. It''s just that I think we would like each other. Talion couldn''t help laughing. The guy was too relaxed not to like him. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ? First Test: Freestyle Tali¨®n stood on the exit block, feeling the adrenaline running through his veins. To his right was Azrat, with that carefree smile as if he was waiting for a cocktail to be brought to him on the beach. Focus..., Tali¨®n thought. The whistle sounded and everyone threw themselves into the water. Talion advanced like a torpedo, his strokes were strong and rhythmic. He felt one with the water, as if the liquid opened in his path. At his side, Azrat maintained an impressive pace, moving with surgical precision. The final touch was a matter of milliseconds. "Winner: Fenrir Institute!" the speaker announced. Talion came out of the water breathing agitated. Azrat approached and held out his hand. "Do you see?" It wasn''t as easy as you thought. Talion chuckled. "Relax, blond... there are still two tests to go." ? Second Test: 100 meters This time it was Luz''s turn. His body was tense as he adjusted his swimming goggles. "Ready to shut up?" Tali¨®n said, giving him a slight elbow. "I was born ready!" Luz replied, although her voice trembled a little. The whistle sounded and Luz threw herself into the water. The race was intense. Although his movements were clean and his technique stood out, his physique did not allow him to advance as fast as the rest. However, in the last lap, Luz pushed with everything she had and reached third place. It wasn''t a victory... but I had endured until the end. "Well done, crazy!" said Tali¨®n when Luz came out of the water. You''re almost there! "But I didn''t succeed..." Luz murmured, with her head down. "Hey..." Talion patted him on the back. The important thing is that you swam with eggs. That''s what matters. Luz smiled, grateful. ? Third Test: 300 meters This time Tali¨®n was determined. There was no way to lose. Not this time. The race was intense, each stroke felt like it was pulling energy from him, but Tali¨®n pushed with everything. He remembered the orca of his dream... the way he slid with force and elegance. Be like her... be like water... When he made the last turn, Tali¨®n ignored the burning in his arms and legs. He pushed with everything he had and stretched out his hand at the final touch. "Winner: Blue Mountain School!" the speaker announced. They had won one of the three tests. "Let''s go!" Luz shouted, hugging him excitedly. "Good job, bastard!" Azrat said approaching, holding out his hand. I knew you were good. "And now what?" Are you going to invite me to your school again? -Tali¨®n joked. "Of course..." Azrat replied with a half-smile. And if you''re not convinced... I''ll buy you some tacos so you can think about it better. The three laughed together, while the first day of the competition came to an end. The road to the Olympics was just beginning... and Tali¨®n knew it. ? End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7: The team that begins to shine Chapter 7: The team that begins to shine The sun was beginning to hide behind the mountains when the presenter of the event took the microphone. His voice echoed throughout the enclosure. -Ladies and gentlemen, due to the tie in the competitions... the final decision will be made with one last race: a freestyle test! The murmur of the audience grew like a wase. The teams began to agitate, preparing for the outcome. Talion swallowed saliva. It all comes down to this... he thought. "Ready, champion?" Luz said, giving him a slight elbow. "Ready..." Tali¨®n replied, although his mind was still spinning. "Don''t pressure yourself!" shouted Azrat, who had approached the group. Remember... you just have to swim faster than me... although that won''t be easy. -He smiled sideways, winking. Tali¨®n laughed, feeling the tension drop a little. Azrat had that magic of turning any tense moment into something relaxed. ? The Decisive Moment Tali¨®n got on the starting block. His muscles were tense, and the sound of the water filled his ears. Remember the orca... he thought. Be like her... slide down... flow... The whistle sounded. Talion threw himself into the water like a projectile. Adrenaline exploded in his chest and his arms moved with brutal force. To his left, he saw how Azrat advanced on par with him, his body sliding with an impeccable technique. Don''t think... just nothing... If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. In the final stretch, Tali¨®n gave everything. His arms were burning, his lungs were burning... but he didn''t stop. The wall approached and he stretched out his hand with everything he had. FINAL TOUCH! The speaker exploded: ¡ªWinner: Blue Mountain School! Talion came out of the water panting. They had won. "Come on, crazy!" Luz shouted, jumping to hug him. "Well done, bastard!" Azrat said, approaching with a wide smile. I already said that you were good... Talion dried his face and smiled. "I''m glad you think so... because I want you on our team." For the first time, Azrat stopped smiling. "Really?" he asked surprised. "Of course," replied Talion. You''re fast... and we need someone to help us crush the other teams. "Ha!" If that means more races with you... then I''m in. -Azrat said, giving him a strong handshake. The team had won... and now they had Azrat on their side. ? Hours later... The team celebrated its victory in a small taco stand. Between laughter, jokes and anecdotes of the event, the group began to feel like a real family. But while they were walking back to school, a group of three boys appeared blocking the way. They were some of the bullies who frequented the area. "Look at nothing else... the ''prodigy'' of gray hair and his crazy club..." said one of the guys, throwing a burlesque laugh. "Hey... it was enough today, don''t you think?" Tali¨®n said, trying to calm the situation. "And what if not?" one of them replied, pushing him slightly. Before Talion could react, Azrat stepped forward. "Do you really want trouble?" Azrat said with a confident smile. Because if that''s the case... believe me, you''re going to have less fun than you think. "And what are you going to do?" Swim on top of us? - the bully sneered. Azrat let out a nasal laugh. "Not to swim... but I can break your face with this Norwegian arm." There was a brief tension... but seeing the confidence in Azrat''s eyes and the firm posture of Tali¨®n and Luz, the bullies backed out. "Bah... they''re not worth it." The group of idiots walked away, leaving the three laughing. "Really ''Norwegian arm''?" Tali¨®n sneered. "What?" It sounds rude... -Azrat said laughing. ? Hours later... The team returned to the club, exhausted but happy. Tali¨®n, Luz and Azrat stayed a while longer in the pool, sitting on the edge with their feet in the water. "You know what?" said Luz. For the first time in a long time... I feel that this is serious. "And why wouldn''t it be?" Tali¨®n replied. "Because this time... I have friends who believe in me. There was a brief silence. "We haven''t won anything yet..." Azrat said. But I promise you something... with this threesome, we''re going to break it. The three of them clashed their fists, knowing that together they would be unstoppable. ? End of Chapter 7 Chapter 8: Weldes, laughter and confessions Chapter 8: Weldes, laughter and confessions The sun was shining brightly on the pool of the swimming club. The sound of water hitting the walls resounded as Talion, Luz and Azrat completed a series of laps. "Come on, guys!" One more lap! - the coach shouted from the edge. Talion and Luz could barely feel their arms, but Azrat swam with the same energy with which he had begun. "How the hell is this guy still fresh?" Luz murmured, panting. "I think the water charges it like a battery..." Tali¨®n snorted. When they finally finished, Azrat came out of the water as if he had just gone for a bike ride. "Tired?" he said with a mischievous smile. "You must be joking..." Luz murmured, collapsing on a bench. "Hey..." Azrat said, sitting next to them. Since we are in rest mode... I want to tell you something. * ? History of Azrat "My parents are millionaires..." Azrat said casually, as if he were talking about the weather. "What?!" Tali¨®n and Luz looked at him in surprise. "Yes... my family has businesses in Europe and Mexico... I could have gotten into a luxurious private school... but I hate that environment. "And why are you here, then?" Tali¨®n asked. "Because this school is different... you are different." Azrat looked at them with a sincere smile. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "I prefer to be here, train with people who seriously love swimming and strive for something big. "Wow..." Luz murmured. So you don''t care about money or fame? "Money?" Nah... What I do want is for us to go train at my house. "Your house?" Tali¨®n asked. "Yes..." Azrat smiled. My parents have a huge beach house near Tampico. There is a swimming pool, gym... and well... a spectacular beach to train resistance in the sea. "Are you saying you want us to go with you?" Luz asked, excited. "Exactly." You, me, Tali¨®n... and of course, Aurora too... "Aurora?" Tali¨®n raised an eyebrow. "What?" Don''t you want the future star of the team to accompany us? -Azrat mocked. ? A while later... The trio was putting their things away when Azrat, without warning, dropped an unexpected bomb. "Hey, Tali¨®n... and what''s up with Luz?" Do you like it or what? Talion, who was arranging his towel, remained completely motionless. "Huh?" he said without turning around. "I mean... it''s not that I want to get into your life... but it shows that Luz sees you differently. Tali¨®n slowly turned his head, meeting the expectant gaze of Luz, who had been frozen with a bottle of water halfway to his mouth. "W-what?" Luz stambled. Talion cleared his throat quickly and let out an uncomfortable laugh. "Light?" Nah... it''s my cuate, we''re like brothers. -He tried to sound relaxed, but his face was red like a tomato. "Brother?" Luz murmured, looking down. Azrat shrugged, leaving the subject in the air. But Luz didn''t look at all satisfied with the answer. ? That night... Luz and Azrat were sitting on a bench near the school entrance. "Hey..." Luz said in a low voice. Can I tell you something? "What''s up?" Azrat asked. Luz hesitated for a few seconds, biting her lip. "I think..." he paused for a long time. I think I''m starting to feel something for Talion. Azrat didn''t seem surprised. Instead, he smiled slightly. "And what are you going to do?" "I don''t know..." Luz sighed. I know he sees me as a friend... but... sometimes I think there''s something more. "Then you only have one thing left." "Which one?" Azrat smiled broadly. "Don''t give up, champion... don''t give up." ? Days later... The group left for the beach house in Azrat. When they arrived, everyone was speechless. The huge white mansion stood in front of the sea, with a pool that looked like it was taken out of a luxury hotel. "Is this your backyard?!" Luz shouted. "Yes... the sea is my other garden," Azrat joked. Aurora, who had also been invited, did not take long to joke: "With this there are no excuses... Tali¨®n, if you lose the next race you stay to clean this mansion. "What?!" Talion let out a laugh. "It''s going to be an interesting week..." Luz said, looking at the beach with a thoughtful smile. ? End of chapter 8 Chapter 9: Discovering the True Potential Chapter 9: Discovering the True Potential The sun was rising on the horizon, illuminating the private beach where Tali¨®n, Luz, Azrat and Aurora had settled for a week of intensive training. The waves gently broke on the shore, creating the perfect atmosphere to test your limits. Aurora, with her characteristic enthusiasm, approached the group holding a state-of-the-art drone. "Guys, today we are going to record our training sessions from the air!" he announced with a smile. This will help us analyze our techniques and improve. "Great!" Azrat replied, adjusting his sunglasses. I always wanted to see myself in slow motion. Luz let out a laugh, while Tali¨®n watched the sea with a thoughtful expression. "Ready for the warm-up?" Aurora asked. The group nodded and went to the water. ? Training at sea The first hours passed between endurance and speed exercises. Aurora handled the drone, capturing every movement from the heights. "Talion, try to increase the speed in this stretch!" Aurora indicated through the drone''s speaker. Talion nodded and began to swim harder. Without realizing it, his body was perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of the sea, reaching an impressive speed. From the drone, Aurora watched in amazement as Tali¨®n moved through the water with a speed that rivaled the fastest marine animals. He recalled that the sailfish, considered one of the fastest, could reach speeds of up to 110 km/h. "Unbelievable...!" she murmured to herself. At the end of the stretch, Azrat and Luz approached Tali¨®n, panting. "Since when do you swim like that, brother?" Azrat asked, surprised. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Talion, still catching his breath, replied: "I don''t know... I just got carried away." Aurora landed the drone and joined the group. "Guys, you have to see this," he said, showing the recording on his tablet. On the screen, Tali¨®n appeared moving through the water with an elegance and speed that left everyone speechless. "Talion..." Luz began. Have you been holding back all this time? Talion shook his head. "I don''t think so... I just felt something different today." Aurora smiled. "So, from now on, we will train so that you always feel that." You have incredible potential, Tali¨®n. ? Comic scenes and moments of camaraderie After the intense training, the group decided to relax at Azrat''s house. They met in the main room, where a video game console was waiting for them. "Who is ready for a beating in the racing game?" Azrat challenged, taking control. "Don''t even dream about it, blond!" Luz replied, sitting next to her. Tali¨®n and Aurora joined, and soon the room was filled with laughter, shouts of victory and friendly complaints. "That was cheating!" Aurora exclaimed, after Tali¨®n overtook her at the last second. "Everything is valid on the track, coach." Tali¨®n joked. The night progressed between jokes and anecdotes, further strengthening the team''s ties. ? The night and the incident in the room Around midnight, everyone retired to their rooms. Silence reigned in the house, interrupted only by the soft murmur of the sea. Luz, half asleep and disoriented, left her room in search of the bathroom. Without realizing it, he opened the wrong door and entered Tali¨®n''s room. "Wow..." he murmured, rubbing his eyes. When did I change the decoration? Without thinking much about it, he slipped under the covers and closed his eyes. Minutes later, Tali¨®n, in a state of sleepwalking, turned and hugged Luz, muttering: ¡ªMmm... my favorite stuffed animal... Luz tensed up, feeling the heat of Tali¨®n''s body against hers. "T-Talion..." he whispered, trying to free himself gently. But Tali¨®n hugged him tighter, bringing his face closer to Luz''s neck. "You''re so soft..." he murmured, brushing Luz''s skin with his lips. Luz''s heart was beating hard, a mixture of nervousness and something else she couldn''t identify. "T-Talion, wake up..." he tried again, but his voice was barely a whisper. At that moment, Talion opened his eyes slowly, realizing the situation. "Light...?" What are you doing here? -he asked, letting go immediately and sitting on the bed. Luz, red like a tomato, replied: "I''m sorry... I got the wrong room... There was an awkward silence before they both started laughing softly. "Well, at least now I know you''re talking asleep." Luz joked, getting up. "And I want you to get into other people''s beds." Tali¨®n replied, smiling. Luz went to the door, but before leaving, she turned around and said: "Good night, Talion." "Good night, Luz." The door closed gently, leaving Tali¨®n alone in the room, reflecting on what happened. ? End of chapter 9 hapter 10: Between curves, rescues and the Coral Cup Chapter 10: Between curves, rescues and the Coral Cup The sun was barely beginning to shine on the coast when the Tali¨®n team decided to take a walk around the city to relax after the brutal training of the previous day. Jokes and laughter flowed naturally as they walked along the main avenue. Luz, as always, walked with a carefree confidence, with those sporty shorts that seemed designed to highlight her firm and rounded ass. Every time he bent down to check something in a store or leaned over a railing, Azrat smiled sideways and gave Tali¨®n a mocking look. "Do you like the view, champion?" Azrat murmured with a mischievous smile. "Huh?" Talion frowned. "Come on, brother... we all realized that you looked at that ass as if it were a work of art. Talion turned red like a tomato. "Don''t be an idiot!" he protested, elbowing him in the ribs. A few meters away, Luz leaned over to tie a lace, and her ass was perfectly framed in those tight shorts. Azrat couldn''t resist. "That ass could end happy marriages!" he said loudly. Luz turned around, winking at both of them. "I know, babies... I know." Talion covered his face with his hand. This group is crazy... he thought. ? The night incident Hours later, in the house, the atmosphere was calm. Tali¨®n was in the kitchen when Azrat approached with a knowing smile. "Have you recovered from the "plush" yet?" he asked with a laugh. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Tali¨®n stopped drinking his glass of water. "Did Luz tell you?" "Obviously, brother... and believe me, he laughed more than you can imagine. "Great..." Tali¨®n snorted, but he couldn''t help laughing either. ? The horny moment The sun was setting when the group decided to take a quick dip in the pool of Azrat''s house. Talion, with his torso uncovered and his abs marked shining under the golden light, sat by the pool while the rest played in the water. Luz, who was in the water, watched for a moment. His eyes ran through each of Talion''s muscle, noticing how the drops of water slid down his chest. Hell... how handsome he is..., he thought while biting his lip without realizing it. "What''s up?" Did the fish eat your tongue? - Talion joked, not realizing the effect it had on him. "N-no... nothing..." Luz said, diving into the water to hide her red face. ? The incredible rescue The next day, while the team was walking through a tourist area, a desperate cry broke the tranquility. "My son!" My son is drowning! - shouted a woman on the beach, pointing towards the sea. Talion quickly turned around and saw a boy who was barely afloat, fighting against the current. The little one was dangerously far away, almost in the deep area of the sea. "It''s too far..." Aurora murmured, worried. But before anyone could react, Talion was already running towards the water. "Tali¨®n, you can''t arrive on time!" Luz shouted, alarmed. But Tali¨®n didn''t listen. He threw himself into the sea like a bullet, his arms pushing him with a speed that defied all logic. The people on the beach began to murmur, amazed by the speed with which he moved. Even the coach, who had arrived in the area, could not believe what she was seeing. Tali¨®n immersed himself in the deep water, reaching the boy who was already unconscious. He held it firmly and began to swim back. The effort was brutal. His lungs burned, his arms trembled, but he didn''t stop. With a last explosion of energy, he reached the shore and deposited the boy in the sand. The rescuers arrived seconds later to give him first aid. The boy caught his breath and began to cry, being hugged by his mother. "How... how did you get there so fast?" Azrat murmured, incredulous. Talion gasped with a weak smile. "I don''t know... I just... I did it." ? The unexpected news Hours later, already back in the house, the coach entered the room with the cell phone in her hand and a big smile. "Good news, guys!" he announced. We are registered in the following competition! * "What''s the competition?" Aurora asked. "The Coral Cup," said the coach. And it starts in a week. The group looked at each other, feeling a mixture of emotion and nervousness. "I hope you''re ready... because this is just beginning." Tali¨®n said, with a determined smile. ? End of chapter 10 Chapter 11: Stories that define us Chapter 11: Stories that define us Night had fallen on Azrat''s beach house. The group gathered in the main room, lying on armchairs and carpets after a long day of training. The atmosphere was calm, almost intimate. "What if we tell stories?" Aurora proposed, breaking the silence. Something we don''t know about each one. "Like gossip?" Because if that''s the case, I have a lot of stories about Luz... -Azrat joked, giving her a mocking look. "Don''t you dare!" Luz replied, throwing him a cushion. "Nah, seriously..." Talion intervened. It may be a good idea... It would help us get to know each other better before the Coral Cup. "He goes... but with a rule:" Azrat said, raising his hand. Everyone tells a story: a sad one, a happy one or one that motivates. The group nodded, intrigued. ? The sad story ¨C Aurora Aurora was the first to speak. She hugged her knees, thoughtful. "When I was a child... my older brother was also a swimmer," he said in a soft voice. He was incredibly good... much better than me. Everyone said that he would be the star of the family. The group was silent, knowing that something heavy was coming. "One day... after a competition, my brother decided to return home alone..." he paused, swallowing saliva. There was an accident on the road... and he didn''t survive. Luz and Azrat exchanged serious glances. "When I lost him, I felt that I could never be up to his height... that no matter how hard I tried, I would never become like him." Aurora''s eyes moistened, but she forced herself to smile. Now... I don''t try to be like him anymore. I just want to be the best version of myself. Talion gave him a squeeze on the shoulder. "Your brother would be proud." Aurora smiled weakly. ? This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The happy story ¨C Luz Luz arranged her hair and took a breath. "Well... my happy story is not that deep... but for me it was incredible. "What happened?" Azrat asked. "The day I entered the swimming club... that was my best day." Luz said with a sincere smile. They always told me that I didn''t have the ideal body, that I couldn''t be fast, that my place wasn''t here... But that day... when I passed the tests... I felt amazing. He paused and looked sideways at Talion. "And well... it was also the day I met Tali¨®n... so double victory. Tali¨®n scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable but smiling. "Really?" Aurora asked. "Of course..." Luz replied, without taking her eyes off Tali¨®n. ? The motivation story ¨C Azrat Azrat stretched as if nothing had happened, but his tone changed when he began to speak. "You see... my family is a millionaire." Many people think that I always had it easy... but it wasn''t like that. The group looked at him with curiosity. "My dad is very strict." When I said I wanted to dedicate myself to swimming, he told me that it was a waste of time... that I would never stand out. That''s why... everything I''ve achieved has been by showing him that I was wrong. Azrat smiled. "And well... now I''m here, with you, ready to win the Coral Cup. "You''re incredible, brother..." Tali¨®n said, giving him a light blow to the fist. ? The story of Tali¨®n ¨C The secret of the orca The group turned to Talion, who sighed deeply before starting. "Ok... this is going to sound weird... but it''s 100% real." Silence took over the room. "When I was 13 years old, I went on an excursion with my school near the coast of Canada... in an area famous for the presence of orcas. "And what happened?" Aurora asked, intrigued. "I escaped from the group... I wanted to see an orca up close." Talion laughed bitterly. Idiot, right? Well... I got too close and... I ended up falling into the water. The cruise left without realizing it. Luz and Azrat leaned forward, attentive. "I was alone at sea for hours... until I arrived at a small desert island. I thought I would die there... until they appeared. "Them?" Aurora asked. "Three orcas." Talion smiled when he remembered. One of them, the one I called Flippy, looked at me as if she knew I wasn''t going to survive alone. They started bringing me food... seals, fish... what they could. For a week they were my only companions. I felt that they understood me... as if they were part of me. "And what happened next?" Luz asked, her eyes shining with amazement. "I was found by the rescuers... but when I told them about the orcas, no one believed me. They say that orcas are ruthless predators... but I know it''s not like that. * The group was silent. "That''s why... when I swim... I feel like them." As if I could also be one with water. Talion took out his swimming cap from his backpack: black with the shape of a white orca painted on it. "This hat... is to remind me that one day I want to see them again." Aurora, Azrat and Luz were silent. "Brother..." Azrat said, smiling. You''re weirder than I thought... but that''s incredible. "Hey..." Luz gave him a slight push on the shoulder. If those orcas took care of you... surely it''s because they knew you were special. "Yes... special like a madman who swims like a torpedo." Aurora joked. Everyone laughed. For the first time in a long time, the team felt more united than ever. "We''re going to win that Coral Cup... for us... for those orcas... and because we''re the best!" Azrat shouted, raising his fist. "Yes!" everyone chanted. ? End of chapter 11 Chapter 12: Feelings that burn like water Chapter 12: Feelings that burn like water The sound of the waves gently hitting the shore was the only thing that accompanied the team that morning. The Coral Cup was just around the corner, and training had become more intense than ever. ? The brutal training "Today we will train like never before... so get ready to suffer," Aurora announced, with a confident smile. The team stood by the pool, attentive. "But before we start... I have something to tell you." Aurora closed her eyes for a few seconds and then pointed at Talion. "You''re incredibly fast, but you wear out too fast." If you learn to dose your energy, you will be unstoppable. "How do you know that?" Tali¨®n asked, surprised. "It''s my special ability," Aurora replied, with a slight smile. When I watch someone swim... I can see their strengths and weaknesses clearly. "That''s incredible!" Luz exclaimed. Aurora stared at him. "You have an impeccable technique... but you doubt too much." If you trust yourself more, you could be as fast as Talion. Luz swallowed saliva and nodded. "And me?" What do I have? -Azrat asked, curious. Aurora smiled sideways. "You have an incredible attitude... but you need to take things seriously when you need to." "Oh, no!" They discovered me! * -Azrat pretended to faint dramatically, causing laughter in the group. After the laughter, the training was intense. For hours, they swam to exhaustion, perfecting techniques and correcting mistakes. Tali¨®n applied Aurora''s advice, and little by little he began to notice that he moved faster without feeling so exhausted. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. "This team is stronger than ever..." Tali¨®n murmured, watching his friends. ? That night... The sound of the sea sneaked through the open window of Tali¨®n''s room, but his mind could not find peace. He was spinning in bed, his heart beating hard. He had spent weeks ignoring him... ignoring those moments when Luz made him laugh more than the bill... or when her eyes were lost in him without realizing it. Finally, he got up. "I have to tell him something... whatever... but I can''t go on like this." Talion went to Luz''s room and gently knocked on the door. "Light?" Are you awake? The door opened slowly, and Luz, half asleep, appeared at the entrance. He was wearing a loose T-shirt that barely covered his thighs. The disheveled hair fell over his eyes and he had a surprised expression. "Talion?" Is something wrong? "Yes..." said Talion, entering nervously. I need to talk to you. Luz closed the door and sat on the bed. "What''s going on?" Talion swallowed saliva, unable to look at him directly. "I... I don''t know how to say this... but... "But what?" Luz asked, with a trembling voice. Tali¨®n looked up. Their eyes met and, without thinking about it anymore, he said: "I don''t know what''s wrong with you... but I can''t stop thinking about you." Silence took over the room. Luz was speechless, her cheeks turning red. "I..." Luz tried to say. But before he could continue, Tali¨®n approached and kissed him. It was a clumsy kiss at first, but it quickly became more intense. Luz wrapped her arms around Talion''s neck, bringing him closer. "Are you sure about this...?" Luz whispered between kisses. "I''ve never been more sure..." Talion murmured, gently pushing him towards the bed. The breaths became agitated. Tali¨®n''s hands ran down Luz''s waist, while he clung tightly to his back. The kisses became more desperate, the caresses more intense. The bodies intertwined under the covers. The heat between them grew like a fire that could not be stopped. Tali¨®n kissed Luz''s neck, causing him to let out a soft moan. "Talion..." whispered Luz, lost in the moment. That night, the outside world ceased to exist for both of them. ? The next morning... The sun had barely risen when Talion opened his eyes. Luz slept peacefully next to him, her face relaxed. For a moment, Tali¨®n smiled... but that smile quickly disappeared. What did I just do...? He got up slowly, took his shirt from the floor and left the room without making a sound. His mind was entangled in doubts and confusion. "This... this doesn''t mean anything..." he said to himself. I can''t allow myself to be distracted... it was just a mistake. But deep down, I knew it wasn''t true. ? In the kitchen... Azrat was making coffee when Talion entered in silence. "Did you sleep well, champion?" Azrat joked with a smile. Tali¨®n didn''t answer. His lost look betrayed that something was not right. "What happened?" Azrat asked, approaching. "Nothing..." Tali¨®n lied. Nothing important. Azrat smiled half-heartedly. "Brother... I''m not stupid." If you want to talk, I''m here. Tali¨®n nodded, but said nothing. ? In Luz''s room... Luz woke up minutes later. His fingers touched the empty space next to him. Talion was no longer there. He stared at the ceiling, feeling a mixture of happiness and sadness. "And now what...?" he whispered to himself. ? End of chapter 12 Chapter 13: Advice, rest and a pending decision Chapter 13: Advice, rest and a pending decision The sound of water running in the pool resounded softly in the backyard of the house. The group had decided to take the day easy, and for the first time in weeks, there was no pressure or training. Just a well-deserved break. ? Confession and advice Luz was sitting on a bench in the courtyard, staring at the pool with her mind tangled. I couldn''t stop thinking about the night before... in Tali¨®n... about what happened and how I had woken up alone that morning. Azrat appeared behind him, with a couple of beers in his hand. "Why do you have that funeral face, champion?" he joked, sitting next to him and giving him a bottle. Luz sighed and took a drink before answering. "Last night... something happened... Azrat raised an eyebrow. "Something"? It sounds like it was important. Luz squeezed the bottle between her hands. "Talion... last night he came to my room... and..." he paused, avoiding Azrat''s gaze. Things got intense. Silence took over the courtyard for a few seconds. "And is that bad or good?" Azrat finally asked. "I don''t know..." Luz replied. Today he left without saying anything. He didn''t even look at me at breakfast. I feel that he regrets. Azrat leaned against the bench, thinking. "Look..." he finally said. Tali¨®n is a weird guy... he always seems to have everything under control, but deep down he''s as lost as anyone else. I don''t think he regrets... I just think he doesn''t know what to do with what he feels. Luz looked down. "So what do I do?" Azrat took a long drink and looked at his friend with a slight smile. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "If you really care, don''t give up." He gave him a friendly elbow. You''re too stubborn to give up now. Luz laughed softly. "Thank you..." "You''re welcome... but if at any time you want me to break his face, just let me know." They both laughed, and although Luz still felt a knot in her chest, something in Azrat''s words gave her hope. ? A day off... that wasn''t so quiet Aurora had been the one who insisted on taking the day to rest. I knew that the team was exhausted, and a relaxed mind was also key to victory. The day passed between card games, movies and silly fights for the last slice of pizza. Luz, for her part, decided to dress in a... provocative way. Tiny shorts and a T-shirt that barely reached his navel. It was no coincidence; he was trying his luck to see if he could get Tali¨®n''s attention. "Don''t you get cold?" Talion asked, without looking at him directly. "Cold?" Nah... I''m comfortable like this. -Luz casually leaned on the table, letting her ass be in the perfect position for Tali¨®n to notice. "Are you sure you don''t want longer pants?" Tali¨®n insisted, clearly nervous. Azrat, who was watching the scene from the couch, almost choked with laughter. "This is the best reality show I''ve ever seen in my life..." he murmured to himself. ? The unexpected twist The afternoon was advancing, and the relaxed atmosphere made everyone feel at home. But when the sun began to hide, Tali¨®n decided to go for a walk alone on the beach. His mind was still trapped the night before. His feelings for Luz had him completely confused. Part of him wanted to talk to him again... but another part was afraid to do so. Suddenly, Aurora''s voice took him out of his thoughts. "Are you going to be alone for a long time or are you going to stop running away from your problems?" Tali¨®n turned, finding her standing with her arms crossed. "What problems?" he tried to pretend indifference. "The one in your head since you woke up today... and that coincidentally has the name of Luz. Talion sighed and let himself fall into the sand. "I don''t know what to do..." he admitted. Last night something happened... something intense... and now I feel like I soated it. Aurora sat next to him. "Why do you think you watered it?" "Because... I don''t know if it''s what I want... or if it''s what he wants... or if it was just a mistake. Aurora smiled slightly. "Listen to me, Tali¨®n... Swimming is not just about swimming fast... it''s also about trusting your instincts. Sometimes... instead of thinking about it so much, you just have to jump into the water. Tali¨®n was silent for a moment, letting his words sink into his head. "What if I droke?" "Then the team will be there to get you afloat." For the first time all day, Talion smiled. ? The unexpected ending Back at home, the group decided to end the day with a small bonfire on the beach. While the flames danced in front of them, Tali¨®n looked at Luz, who laughed carefree next to Azrat. "Maybe... all is not lost..." he thought. Suddenly, the coach''s phone vibrated. She checked it and stood up suddenly. "What happened?" Azrat asked, noticing his serious expression. The coach turned to the group. "They just advanced the Coral Cup... it''s not in two days. Talion stood up. "So when is it?" The coach took a breath. "Tomorrow." The group was silent. The calm of the day was over... and now, the real challenge was just hours away. ? End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14: On the Edge of the Abyss Chapter 14: On the Edge of the Abyss The day had started as complete madness. The team ran through the streets of the city, with the coach screaming desperately on the phone for an extra time. "It can''t be that just today they decided to advance the competition!" Azrat snorted, almost slipping while running. "If we don''t arrive on time, they will disqualify us!" Aurora shouted, accelerating the pace. Talion, who was at the head, said nothing. His mind was completely focused on a single thing: getting to the pool before it was too late. ? In the competition enclosure... The coach gasped as if she had just run a marathon. "We''re from the Monta?a Azul team!" Our swimmers are on their way, just give us one more minute! The judge looked at her coldly. "I''m sorry... but the regulation is clear." If they''re not here in two minutes, they''re out. Tali¨®n, Luz, Azrat and Aurora came running as if life depended on it. "We''re here!" Tali¨®n shouted, almost skidding on the floor. The judge looked at his watch, then looked at them all seriously. ¡ª...They passed for a second. "What?!" Luz shouted. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "But... I''ll let them compete." The group sighed with relief. "...But only because today I feel generous." said the judge, with a slight smile. "Today I pray to all the saints who appeared to you!" Azrat gasped, still catching his breath. ? New rivals on the horizon While they were preparing for the first test, Tali¨®n noticed two figures near the rival team. The first was a girl of athletic complexion, brown hair tied in a low ponytail, with an intense but friendly look. He seemed strong, but his expression showed that he was still trying to find his place. "Who is she?" Talion asked. "She''s Jocelyn," the coach replied. She is the second best of her team, but... they say she has enormous potential. He just hasn''t fully discovered it. Jocelyn looked up and, without saying anything, stared at Tali¨®n before giving him a confident smile. "Uh... I liked it," Azrat said, impressed. Then, Tali¨®n noticed a thin boy with a shy expression who barely held his gaze on the floor. His hunched posture made him look smaller than he really was. "And him?" Luz asked. "That''s Bruno," the coach explained. They say it''s incredibly fast... but it''s hard for him to socialize. He is quiet, but he has plenty of talent. Bruno barely looked up when he saw Talion. Instead of challenging him like other rivals, he simply looked away and got lost among his team. "That guy is a mystery..." Aurora said, intrigued. ? Preparations for the competition The pool shone like a mirror under the light of the spotlights. The atmosphere was full of tension. Each team spoke in their corners, preparing strategies and reviewing techniques. "Ready to show who''s in charge here?" Azrat asked, with a confident smile. "Of course... but don''t trust yourself," Aurora warned. These teams didn''t get here by chance. Talion clenched his fists. His gaze was fixed on the pool. "Today... we''re not just going to win... We''re going to show that no one gives up in this team." ? Start of the first test The loudspeaker echoed throughout the enclosure: "Swimmers, get closer to your positions!" The first test is about to begin! The nerves took over everyone. Jocelyn and Bruno stood next to their teammates, watching Tali¨®n and his team. For a moment, Tali¨®n exchanged glances with Jocelyn, who made a gesture of "good luck" with his hand. Bruno, on the other hand, just lowered his head, focusing only on the pool. "Come on, Talion..." Luz murmured. This is our moment. Tali¨®n took a deep breath, feeling how the world became small... only him, the water and his goal. "We''re going to win..." The whistle was about to sound... ? End of chapter 14 Chapter 15: When the heart overflows Chapter 15: When the heart overflows The judge''s whistle had barely sounded when the atmosphere in the competition changed completely. "Attention, swimmers..." the judge''s voice echoed throughout the enclosure. We have decided to add an extra round to define the best competitors. The murmurs erupted in the stands. "What?" An extra round? -Aurora asked, indignant. "What the hell are they doing now?" Azrat said, frowning. "Attention... those chosen for this new round are:" the judge made a dramatic pause. Tali¨®n... Bruno... and Jocelyn. "Me?" Talion murmured incredulously. Jocelyn and Bruno also seemed surprised, but neither of them protested. The decision was made. "If this is an extra challenge... we''d better be ready." Tali¨®n said, clenching his fists. ? First test: Azrat vs. The provocateur The first confrontation was between Azrat and a rival who had been bothering everyone since he arrived: a big, noisy guy with an unbearable attitude. "Hey, blond..." the rival told him before the exit. Do you know what it feels like to lose in front of all these people? Because it''s going to touch you. Azrat smiled calmly. "Do you know what it feels like to have your mouth shut?" Because it''s going to touch you. The whistle sounded and they both threw themselves into the water. From the beginning, the rival tried to push Azrat, moving dirty. But Azrat remained calm and, in the last stretch, left him behind with an incredible explosion of speed. ¡ªWinner: Azrat from the Blue Mountain team! Azrat emerged from the water smiling widely and looked at the provocateur. Stolen novel; please report. "Anything else to say?" he sneered, winking at him. ? Second test: Light The next to compete was Luz. He walked towards the pool, nervous but determined. "Come on, Luz!" You can! - shouted Tali¨®n from the stands. Luz smiled weakly and got ready. The whistle sounded and he threw himself into the water. Luz moved with precision, but suddenly something happened. In the middle of the race, the same rival who had bothered Azrat started yelling at him from the edge of the pool. "Nothing faster, princess!" Maybe that way Tali¨®n will notice you more! The comment pierced Luz like an arrow. His rhythm broke and he came out of the water abruptly, panting and with tears in his eyes. "Luz?" Talion murmured, surprised. Luz ran out, straight to the locker rooms. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Tali¨®n growled, looking at the provocateur. "What?" I just told him the truth. Tali¨®n could not contain himself. In a second he was already in front of him and, without thinking twice, he released a direct punch in the face. "Shut up!" Talion roared. The rival fell on his back while the audience murmured, surprised. The judge whistled immediately. "Tali¨®n, you''re disqualified!" the judge shouted. "But that guy...!" Azrat tried to protest. "There are no excuses," the judge said. Rules are rules. Tali¨®n lowered his head, furious and frustrated. But then, something unexpected happened. The audience began to applaud. "Talion did the right thing!" someone shouted. "Yes, that guy deserved it!" said another voice. The judge hesitated, confused by the public''s support. Finally, the coach of the rival team approached the judge. "I know this is not in the regulation... but that idiot won it. I think it''s fair that Tali¨®n continues in the competition. The judge sighed and took the microphone. ¡ªFor this occasion... Tali¨®n is allowed to continue in the competition. The Tali¨®n team burst into cheers. But Tali¨®n, instead of celebrating, ran straight to the locker rooms. ? Reconciliation Luz was in a corner of the dressing room, with her head buried in her knees. He didn''t realize that Tali¨®n had entered until he felt someone sitting next to him. "Luz..." Talion said softly. Are you okay? Luz raised her head. His eyes were red and swollen. "Why did you do that...?" he asked with a broken voice. "Because I couldn''t stand still watching how they hurt you." Talion sighed. That idiot had no right to say those things... and I''m not going to allow anyone to make you feel less. Silence filled the place for a few seconds. "Talion..." Luz murmured. Last night... after all... I thought you regretted it... Talion stared at him. "I don''t regret it," he said firmly. Luz felt her chest tighten. "Then why did you avoid me?" Tali¨®n swallowed saliva, not knowing what to answer. "Because I''m afraid... I don''t know what this means... but I know I don''t want to lose you. Luz approached slowly, until their faces were inches away. "You''re not going to lose me..." he whispered. Tali¨®n''s lips met Luz''s in a warm and sincere kiss. This time, there were no doubts or insecurity. It was real... and they both knew it. When they parted, Tali¨®n smiled with that mixture of nervousness and emotion that he hadn''t felt in a long time. "We''re going to win this competition..." he said, taking Luz''s hand. "Yes... together," Luz replied, intertwining her fingers. ? End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16: The Value of Moving Forward Chapter 16: The Value of Moving Forward The sunrise filtered through the windows of the beach house. After everything that happened the day before, the atmosphere felt calmer... but also more intense. Tali¨®n was on the balcony, watching the sea with a thoughtful expression. Luz approached silently and leaned next to him. "What are you thinking about?" Luz asked softly. Talion sighed. "In us..." he confessed. Luz smiled. "And what does your brilliant mind tell you this time?" Talion chuckled. "That I have no idea what I''m doing... but I want to try." Luz leaned over, resting her head on Tali¨®n''s shoulder. "That''s enough for me... For the first time in a long time, Tali¨®n felt that everything was in its place. ? The story of Jocelyn Later, in the rest area of the competition enclosure, the team crossed paths with Jocelyn, who was sitting alone, with her eyes fixed on the empty pool. "Is everything okay?" Aurora asked, approaching. Jocelyn barely smiled. "Yes... just... I was thinking about everything I had to go through to get here. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. "What happened?" Aurora asked, sitting next to her. Jocelyn took a deep breath. "My family never believed in me... They always said that swimming would not lead me to anything. My mom wanted me to be a lawyer, and my dad... well, he didn''t even see me. Aurora was silent, listening carefully. "I trained in secret... I swam in an old community pool that barely had clean water." Jocelyn smiled sadly. But every time I was in the water, I felt that nothing else mattered. All that noise... disappeared. "And what happened next?" "It happened that... I started to win... and although my family never came to see me, I knew I didn''t need their approval. Aurora patted him on the shoulder. "You''re stronger than you think... and you''re going to prove it today." For the first time all day, Jocelyn smiled sincerely. ? Bruno''s story In another corner of the enclosure, Tali¨®n approached Bruno, who was alone, adjusting his goggles nervously. "Nervous?" Talion asked. Bruno barely nodded. "You know?" I get like that too... but don''t tell anyone. -Tali¨®n joked, trying to break the ice. Bruno laughed, but his smile was brief. "I guess it doesn''t matter... I''m not as good as you..." he murmured. "Why do you say that?" Bruno squeezed his goggles in his hands. "In my old school, they always said I was too quiet... too "weak" to be a swimmer. They made me feel that no matter how hard I tried, it would never be enough. Talion stared at him. "You know what?" When I saw you swim yesterday... I didn''t see someone weak. I saw someone incredibly fast. Bruno looked up, surprised. "Whatethers say doesn''t matter... just what you believe of yourself." Tali¨®n patted him on the back. Today you are going to show them what you are worth. For the first time, Bruno looked confident. ? The decisive moment: The beginning of the grand final The audience roared with emotion when the presenter took the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen!" The grand final of the Coral Cup is about to begin! The teams lined up by the pool. At one end, Tali¨®n, Azrat, Aurora, Luz and the coach formed a solid line, ready to give everything. On the opposite side, Jocelyn, Bruno and the rest of their team were preparing with equal determination. The judge approached with the microphone in his hand. -Remember that this final will define not only the winning team... but also who will have the opportunity to recruit one of the best swimmers of the opposing team. Talion looked briefly at Jocelyn and Bruno. Despite being rivals, he felt respect for both. "Ready?" the judge shouted. The swimmers positioned themselves in their places. "In their marks...!" Talion closed his eyes, took a deep breath and felt the water calling him. "Ready...!" The world became an instant of absolute silence. "NOW!" ? End of chapter 16 Chapter 17: Five for Glory Chapter 17: Five for Glory The atmosphere in the enclosure was electric. The roar of the audience rumbled in every corner while the competitors positioned themselves in the starting blocks. This was the grand final... the moment that would decide who would take the victory and who would have the opportunity to form the final team for the last test before the Olympics. Tali¨®n was on his block, looking at the water as if the world had been reduced to just that. His heart was beating like a drum. To his left was Jocelyn, who squeezed his hands, nervous but firm. On the far right was Bruno, with his goggles tight and his gaze fixed on the pool, more determined than ever. "Come on... concentrate..." Tali¨®n murmured to himself. The judge raised the whistle. "In their marks...!" Talion took a deep breath. "Ready...!" Time seemed to stop. "NOW!" ? The grand final The bodies were thrown into the water like projectiles. The first stretch was frantic; each swimmer exploded with all his strength. Jocelyn showed a surprising ability: her stroke was powerful and precise, keeping up with Talion in the first 50 meters. Her determination made her move forward as if every meter meant life itself. Bruno, for his part, showed a clean and elegant technique. He wasn''t the strongest, but his agility allowed him to cut the water like an arrow. Every turn on the wall was perfect, allowing him to stay glued to the leaders. Talion, however, moved with a mixture of brute force and fluidity, as if water was molded to his body. His technique, added to what he had learned in training with Aurora, allowed him to maintain a solid rhythm without exhausting himself too quickly. In the last stretch, Tali¨®n, Jocelyn and Bruno advanced almost at the same level. The tension was unbearable. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Come on, Talion!" Luz shouted, with her hands clenched. "Don''t stop!" Azrat shouted, jumping from his seat. Tali¨®n pushed with all his energy in the last meters. His mind was filled with memories: his training, the moments with his friends, the rescue of the child at sea... and the memory of those orcas that once helped him survive. "Flows with the water... I know how they..." Tali¨®n took the last turn and stretched out his hand with all his being. ? FINAL TOUCH! The silence lasted only a second before the speaker exploded: ¡ªWinner: Tali¨®n, from the Monta?a Azul team! The shouting of the audience was deafening. Luz and Azrat jumped from their seats, running to hug Tali¨®n, who came out of the water panting but with a huge smile. "You did it, champion!" Azrat shouted, giving him a big hug. "I told you you could do it!" Luz added, excited. But Tali¨®n didn''t just think about victory. As she took a deep breath, she looked around and saw Jocelyn hitting the water, frustrated but without losing her composure. Bruno, for his part, was sitting on the edge of the pool, with his head down but a slight smile on his face. ? The unexpected twist The judge approached the microphone. ¡ªAccording to the rules... the winning team will have the right to recruit a member of the opposing team... Tali¨®n looked at his team. Everyone expected me to choose Jocelyn or Bruno, but there was a strange tension in the environment. Then, the judge continued: "Besides... this will be the last competition before the Olympics... and for that test a team of five swimmers will be required. The murmur took hold of the audience. "Therefore... the Monta?a Azul team has the right to choose two additional members." Talion looked at Luz, then at Azrat, and finally at his coach. She nodded silently, as if telling him: Trust your instinct. Tali¨®n approached the microphone. "My first choice is... Jocelyn." The murmurs became louder. Jocelyn looked up in surprise. "I...?" Why? Talion smiled. "Because when you swim... you do it as if your life depended on it... and that''s just what we need. The audience applauded as Jocelyn approached the group. Then, Talion took the microphone again. "And the second person I want on our team is... Bruno. The crowd was silent. Bruno raised his head, incredulous. "I...?" "Yes..." Talion smiled. Because maybe you''re not the loudest... but when you swim... you become unstoppable. The audience burst into applause. Bruno, with a shy but sincere smile, joined the team, being received with hugs and congratulations. ? The team is complete The Blue Mountain team finally had its five members: ? Talion (the determined and powerful leader in the water). ? Light (the impeccable technique with precise speed). ? Azrat (the versatile and confident swimmer). ? Jocelyn (the fighter with an unwavering spirit). ? Bruno (the silent, but lethal piece in the pool). For the first time, the team was complete... and ready to face the biggest challenge of their lives. "We''re going to get to the Olympics..." Tali¨®n said, looking at his team with determination. "No..." Azrat said, smiling sideways. We''re going to win them. The five clashed their fists, knowing that what awaited them would not be easy... but also knowing that together, they were unstoppable. ? End of chapter 17 Chapter 18: Choose your path Chapter 18: Choose your path The team was gathered in the club pool. The sound of the water stirring filled the environment while Aurora walked with a firm step in front of them, a serious expression on her face. "Listen carefully..." said the coach. The next competition will not be anything like the ones we have faced before. Tali¨®n, Luz, Azrat, Jocelyn and Bruno looked at each other, attentive. "This time there will be five categories:" Aurora continued. Butterfly style, chest, back, a new style that they invented to surprise... and finally, free style. "Well, I think I already know what category you have, Tali¨®n." Azrat joked, giving him an elbow. Talion smiled sideways. "Yes... but you will have to earn your places," Aurora said, crossing her arms. Today they will have to show which position corresponds to them in the team. The group swallowed saliva. This wasn''t just a training... it was a litmus test. ? First test: Butterfly style The first to enter the water was Azrat. The butterfly style is known to be one of the most physically demanding, and the challenge excited him. "Come on, Azrat!" Luz shouted, cheering him on. Azrat threw himself into the water with impressive strength. His technique was not perfect, but he compensated with pure energy and endurance. Each movement was powerful and managed to maintain a solid rhythm. Jocelyn also competed in this test, but although her strength was remarkable, the butterfly style did not seem to be her strong point. When they finished, Aurora took notes in silence. "Azrat, your energy and rhythm are impressive... the butterfly is for you," he finally said. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Azrat smiled proudly, hitting his chest. "I knew it!" This body is pure brute force. "Pure brute force or pure ego?" Luz joked. ? Second test: Breast style This time it was Jocelyn who got into the water, determined to show that she had what she needed. Breast style requires control, precision and patience... and that was just what Jocelyn had. His technique was surprisingly fluid. Each stroke was firm and his legs moved with precision. "Don''t take your eyes off him!" Aurora whispered to Tali¨®n. When Jocelyn finished, she got up panting, but with a triumphant smile. "Well done," Aurora said. You have the chest style under control. "Let''s go!" Jocelyn clenched her fist, excited. ? Third test: Back style Luz was the first to launch in this test. The back style is one of the most technical, and extreme concentration is required to stay aligned in the lane. But Luz showed that her technique was impeccable. He slid with a natural elegance, as if the water moved in his favor. "Come on, Luz!" Tali¨®n shouted, impressed. When she finished, Aurora nodded firmly. "There is no doubt... the back style is yours." Luz smiled broadly, throwing a wink at Tali¨®n. "I don''t know what excites me more... this or seeing you scream for me." he said in a joking tone. Tali¨®n covered his face to hide his smile. ? Fourth test: The new style The fourth style was something completely new, designed especially for this competition. It was an intense combination of endurance and speed, where the swimmer had to alternate between fast strokes and stretches where he could only propel himself using his legs. Bruno offered to try. "Are you sure?" Aurora asked. "Yes... I want to try." Bruno said, with more certainty than he had shown before. When he jumped into the water, it was impressive. Bruno combined his agility with incredible precision. In the sections where he could only use his legs, he moved as if he had been born to do so. When he finished, Aurora approached him with a sincere smile. "Bruno... this style is yours." Bruno could barely hide a proud smile. "Thank you... really." ? The final talk When it was all over, the group met in the dressing rooms. Aurora came in and looked at them seriously. "You five..." he paused dramatically. They are the best team I have ever trained. The five exchanged glances, feeling that they were finally complete. "Azrat, your wild energy in the butterfly is unstoppable." "Jocelyn, your precision in the breast style is incredible." "Luz, your back-style control makes you invincible." "Bruno, your agility is perfect for the new style." Finally, he turned to Talion. "And you..." he said, with a slight smile. No one can match you in freestyle. The five looked at each other for a few seconds and, almost by instinct, put their fists together in the center. "Let''s go for those Olympics!" Azrat shouted. "Yes!" they all shouted in unison. For the first time, the team was complete... and ready to face the biggest challenge of their lives. ? End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19: Quotes, jealousy and laughter Chapter 19: Quotes, jealousy and laughter The day dawned sunny and warm, perfect for a well-deserved rest. Aurora decided that the team would take a day off to relax before returning to intense training. "Let''s go to the mall!" Azrat proposed, excited. We can eat, buy nonsense and see who loses first in the machines. "Sounds good..." Tali¨®n said, with a smile. The rest of the team agreed, and in less than an hour they were in the huge mall. ? Funny and funny scenes From the first moment, Azrat went into total chaos mode. In every store they entered, he tried weird things: he put on extravagant hats, tried to juggle balls in a toy store and almost knocked down a tower of stuffed animals trying to impress a group of girls. "Brother, if they arrest you, I promise to record everything." Tali¨®n joked, laughing. For her part, Luz dedicated herself to getting Tali¨®n''s attention in quite... peculiar ways. He thought of trying on a tight shirt that highlighted his figure and then "accidentally" made his shirt go up right in front of Tali¨®n. "Do you like it?" Luz said, moving in an exaggeratedly flirtatious way. Talion swallowed saliva and turned red like a tomato. "Can you stop provoking your own boyfriend in public?!" Azrat shouted laughing. Aurora, who was watching the scene from afar, crossed her arms with a mischievous smile. "Something strange happens between those two..." she murmured to herself. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ? The problem with Jocelyn... and the jealous monster named Luz While they were walking through the mall, Jocelyn decided to get closer to Talion. "Hey..." she said, touching his arm. I saw you training the other day... you''re amazing. "Thank you..." Tali¨®n said, not noticing that Luz had turned around with a murderous look. Jocelyn got even closer, gently touching his shoulder. "Talion, how about one day we train together?" I can teach you some new techniques. Luz didn''t take it anymore and appeared out of nowhere, placing herself between them like a wall. "Train together?" he said with a smile that clearly hid a threat. I didn''t know you were so interested in our Talion. "Ours?" Jocelyn raised an eyebrow, confused. Luz put a hand on Tali¨®n''s chest and smiled shamelessly. "Didn''t you know?" Talion is mine. Talion turned so red that it looked like it was about to explode. "Luz, shut up!" Talion murmured, completely embarrassed. Jocelyn, although surprised, smiled playfully. "Oh... I see." Luz crossed her arms victoriously, while Tali¨®n covered his face. "Why are you like this?" Tali¨®n whispered. "Because someone had to mark the territory," Luz replied, with a charming smile. ? The change in Bruno While the group stopped to eat in the restaurant area, Bruno was more relaxed than usual. For the first time, he laughed freely with the rest of the team. "What''s wrong with you?" You''re happier than usual. -Azrat joked. "I don''t know... I just... I feel good here." Bruno replied, smiling. "You took a long time, champion." Azrat said, patting him on the back. Bruno laughed and, for the first time, joined the group''s jokes, really feeling part of something special. ? A special moment between Tali¨®n and Luz At the end of the day, the group decided to watch a movie at the mall''s cinema. During the performance, Tali¨®n and Luz sat together in the last row. In the middle of the movie, Luz reloaded on Talion''s shoulder and took his hand. "Do you know what''s the best thing about all this?" Luz whispered. "What thing?" Luz intertwined her fingers with his. "That you don''t have to hide anything anymore... not with me." Talion smiled slightly and kissed Luz''s forehead. "Not with you... or with anyone." ? The end of the day Back home, Aurora stopped in front of the door, watching Tali¨®n and Luz walk away together, holding hands without worrying about hiding it. "I knew it..." she murmured to herself, smiling. "What did you know?" Azrat asked, appearing behind her. Aurora smiled sideways. ¡ªThat those two were destined for something big. Azrat smiled. "You mean the Olympics?" "No..." Aurora replied. I mean them... together. ? End of chapter 19 Chapter 20: Feelings in the Air Chapter 20: Feelings in the Air The sun gently illuminated the club pool as the team prepared to begin another day of training. However, something in the environment felt different... and they would soon find out why. ? Bruno''s romantic interest During practice, Bruno couldn''t stop looking at a girl who was training in the adjacent lane. She had short hair, light brown, and a determined expression while swimming. Azrat, who had noticed Bruno''s constant gaze, approached stealthily. "Who is she, champion?" he whispered in a mocking tone. "Her name is Valeria..." Bruno murmured, without looking away. "And why don''t you talk to him?" "Are you crazy?" She''s incredibly good at swimming and I... well... it''s me! Azrat put a hand on Bruno''s shoulder. "Look, brother... you''re opening up to us little by little." Why don''t you try to do the same with her? Bruno sighed. "Maybe... but first I want to show that I''m someone who is worth it. Azrat''s face went from mocking to serious. "Bruno?" Listen to me well... you''re already worth it. You don''t have to prove anything to anyone. Just be yourself. The words penetrated deep into Bruno, who nodded with a slight smile. ? Azrat''s infatuation A few hours later, during a break, the team stopped at a cafeteria near the club. While they were having their drinks, Azrat suddenly froze. "What''s wrong?" Talion asked, seeing how Azrat seemed petrified. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. "She..." Azrat whispered, pointing discreetly at a woman who was passing by the street. She was tall, with straight black hair and intense gaze, dressed in a leather jacket and long boots. "Are you okay?" It looks like you saw a ghost... -Luz joked. "No... I saw an angel..." Azrat murmured, with a lost look. The woman went on her way and disappeared behind a corner. "And you''re not going after her?" Tali¨®n insisted. "And tell him what?" "Hello, I''m Azrat and I fell in love with you in 0.3 seconds"... no thanks. From that moment, the group did not stop bothering him. "How are you doing with your mysterious woman in black?" Aurora asked him the next day. "Already leave me alone..." Azrat growled, trying to hide his embarrassment. ? Aurora''s story During training, Aurora decided to sit for a while with the group to tell them something she had kept for a long time. "I guess it''s time for them to know a little more about me..." he said, resting his arms on his knees. The team was silent, attentive. "When I was a child, my parents divorced... and each one decided that "the other" should take care of me. I grew up feeling like I didn''t belong anywhere... neither with my dad nor with my mom. Luz and Jocelyn looked at her with surprise. "Swimming... was the only thing that was always constant in my life. When I was in the water... I didn''t think about anything else. There was only me and the water. Aurora smiled slightly. "That''s why I''m so strict... because swimming taught me that no matter how difficult life is... you can always find your rhythm and move on. "That explains many things..." Tali¨®n murmured, admiring her even more. Aurora sighed, but her expression now reflected calm. "Thank you for telling me this..." Jocelyn said, approaching to hug her. ? Jocelyn''s moment Later, while Jocelyn was training alone in the pool, Tali¨®n approached to accompany her. "Are you feeling well?" he asked. Jocelyn dried her face with a towel and sighed. "Yes... but I wanted to talk to you about something." "Of what?" Jocelyn crossed her arms and looked him straight in the eyes. "I know you''re with Luz... and believe me, I don''t care." I like you, Tali¨®n, but I respect Luz a lot... and I know he''s a great guy. Talion smiled when he heard her. "Thank you, Jocelyn... that means a lot." "But... if you ever be too smart and make him cry..." Jocelyn pointed directly at his chest. It doesn''t matter that you''re the best swimmer... I''ll sink you into the pool myself. Tali¨®n let out a laugh. ¡ªDeall done. ? The day comes to an end... That night, the team dined together at Azrat''s house. The atmosphere was relaxed, with laughter, jokes and delicious food. Bruno, for the first time, dared to tell a joke, which although it was terrible, made everyone burst into laughter at the unexpected. Aurora looked at her team and smiled proudly. Finally, I felt that they were more than ready for what was coming. Meanwhile, Tali¨®n and Luz stayed a little behind the group, holding hands. "Do you know...?" Talion murmured. For the first time I feel that this team can reach the Olympics... not because of talent... but because we are a family. Luz reloaded on him, smiling. "And as a family... no one will be able to with us." The two looked at the rest of the group laughing and enjoying dinner, aware that the best was yet to come. ? End of chapter 20 Chapter 21: Dont mess with the family Chapter 21: Don''t mess with the family The Monta?a Azul team was gathered in the club pool. The next competition was approaching, and although the training was hard, the real challenge was yet to come. ? The team''s ambitions During a brief break, the group sat in a circle, tired but with high morale. That''s when Aurora decided to ask something that had been on her mind for a long time. "Why do they do this?" The group looked at her curiously. "Why do they swim?" Why are they here, putting up with brutal workouts and putting so much pressure on each other? Silence took over the place. Tali¨®n was the first to speak. "When I was a child, those orcas taught me that in the water I could find calm... but I also understood that I could be stronger than ever in it. I want to get to the top to prove that that boy that everyone called a liar... was right. That water is my true home. The group nodded silently. "I..." Luz intervened. I was always told that my body was not good for swimming... but I want to show that no matter what you look like, you can be amazing if you work enough. Azrat smiled. "I want to be the first in my family to stand out in something big." My parents are businessmen, and they always made fun of my dream of being a swimmer. I want to show you that I''m not playing. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "And I..." Jocelyn raised her voice. I want people to see me for who I am... not just for being "the second best" or because "I look rude." I want you to respect me when you look at me... for what I am capable of doing. Finally, Bruno took a breath. "I... want Valeria to see me as someone strong... someone who is worth it. Not only like the quiet guy who always goes unnoticed. The group was silent, processing those confessions. "We''re going to make it..." Tali¨®n said, with conviction. Not because we want to... but because we are going to do it together. "Yes!" they all shouted, raising their fists. ? The meeting with the rivals Later, the team decided to go eat something together. While walking near the venue where the competition would take place, they came across a group of five swimmers dressed in red and black uniforms, with haughty looks and arrogant smiles. "Look who they are..." said one of the guys, a tall boy with blond hair and a mocking smile. "Are those who think they can win?" sneered another, a muscular guy who looked more like a fighter than a swimmer. Tali¨®n felt Luz tense up next to him. "What do you want?" Azrat asked, crossing his arms. The blond boy smiled unpleasantly. "Nothing... it will just be fun to see how we humiliate them in the pool." Especially to you... -he pointed to Luz cheekily-. With that body, you should be cleaning the stands, not competing. The whole group was silent. Luz looked down, but Tali¨®n didn''t plan to leave it like that. "Do you have a problem with my friend?" Talion said, taking a step forward. "What''s up?" Can''t your boyfriend defend himself? - the blond guy mocked, causing his team to laugh. Talion''s group was ready to explode, but Talion stopped them by raising his hand. "Look... I don''t have to waste time with you." But I''ll give you some advice... -he said, slowly approaching until he was face to face with the boy. The guy stopped smiling. "Tomorrow at the pool... I''ll make you swallow every word you said." The rival group laughed. "Yes, of course... we''ll see." The five walked away laughing, but Talion remained firm, with a cold and determined look. "Tomorrow... they''re going to regret it," he said, with a slight smile. ? That night... While the team was having dinner at Azrat''s house, Luz approached Tali¨®n on the terrace. "Hey... thank you for what you did today." Talion smiled. "You don''t have to thank me." You''re part of this team... and no one messes with my family. Luz laughed softly. "So now we''re family?" Talion held his hand firmly. ¡ªFrom the first day. ? End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22: The Roar of the Dragon Chapter 22: The Roar of the Dragon The sun was barely suning when the Monta?a Azul team arrived at the competition venue. Cameras, lights and reporters were everywhere. The atmosphere vibrated with the excitement of a historic event: the first televised competition that would decide who would get the direct pass to the Olympics. "This is..." Bruno murmured, his eyes wide open. "Crazy..." Luz completed, without taking her eyes off the crowd. Talion took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility. "Today it''s not just us... today we represent something much bigger," he said out loud. The group nodded, knowing that it was not only about themselves... but about leaving a mark on the whole country. ? Drago''s presentation While the Blue Mountain team was getting ready, a voice echoed in the speaker: "Ladies and gentlemen!" We present to you the young prodigy who has dominated every competition in which he has participated! The pride of the Scarlet team... the invincible... Drago! A tall, muscular young man with an arrogant expression walked towards the edge of the pool. Her black hair was carefully combed back and her cold eyes radiated absolute confidence. Drago looked directly at Tali¨®n and smiled mockingly, as if the victory was already his. "That guy..." Azrat murmured, frowning. I don''t like it at all. "Leave it..." Tali¨®n said, with a slight smile. We''ll see how arrogant he''s still being after today. ? Start of the competition "First confrontation!" Category: New style! Representing the Blue Mountain team... Bruno! Bruno took a deep breath and went to the edge of the pool. "Calm down... you have it under control." Tali¨®n said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Yes..." Bruno said, trying to convince himself. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Bruno went up to the starting block, along with the first competitor of the Scarlet team. "In their marks...!" Bruno closed his eyes. "For Valeria..." he thought. "Ready... NOW!" ? First round: Bruno Bruno jumped into the water and pushed himself like lightning. The new style required constantly changing between fast strokes and stretches where he could only propel himself with his legs, but Bruno handled it as if it were natural. His agility and impeccable technique allowed him to keep up the pace, even when his rival tried to overtake him in the last stretch. "Come on, Bruno!" Azrat shouted, jumping from his seat. Bruno reached the finish line, touching the edge just half a second before his rival. ¡ªPoint for the Monta?a Azul team! The team burst into screams and applause as Bruno came out of the water, panting but with a triumphant smile. "You did it, champion!" Azrat shouted, hugging him. "A little..." Bruno said, still not believing that he had won. ? Second round: Azrat ¡ªCategory: Butterfly style! Representing the Blue Mountain team... Azrat! "Beat them up!" Jocelyn shouted at him. Azrat climbed on the exit block, stretched out his arms and smiled confidently. "Ready... NOW!" Azrat shot out like a bullet. His strokes were powerful and his rhythm wild. The rival competitor tried to get ahead, but Azrat responded with a brutal impulse in the last stretch. ¡ªWinner: Azrat from the Blue Mountain team! The audience burst into applause. Azrat, coming out of the water, looked at the rival team and smiled cheekily. "Tell them to get ready for the rest..." he murmured to himself. ? Third round: Jocelyn ¡ªCategory: Chest style! Representing the Blue Mountain team... Jocelyn! Jocelyn moved calmly towards the block. Before going up, Aurora approached her. "Remember... you don''t compare yourself to anyone." It''s you... and the water. Jocelyn nodded and got ready. "In their marks...!" The whistle sounded and Jocelyn threw herself into the water. His technique was clean, his movements powerful. However, her rival was incredibly fast and managed to catch up with her in the last stretch. Jocelyn gritted her teeth and gave one last stroke with all her strength. ¡ªWinner: Scarlet Team! Jocelyn came out of the water furious with herself, but Talion stopped her. "You swam incredible... don''t punish yourself for that." Jocelyn smiled slightly and gave him a friendly punch on the arm. "Sure you win, huh?" ? Fourth round: Light ¡ªCategory: Back style! Representing the Blue Mountain team... Light! Luz advanced nervously, but stopped when Talion took him by the arm. "Do you remember what I told you?" No matter what you look like... you''re amazing. Luz took a deep breath, climbed the exit block and got ready. "In their marks...!" The whistle sounded and Luz pushed herself into the water with impeccable grace. Each stroke was precise and his legs moved with constant force. "Come on, Luz!" shouted Talion. Luz arrived first at the finish line, leaving her rival several meters behind. ¡ªPoint for the Monta?a Azul team! When he came out of the water, Luz ran to Talion and hugged him. "I did it..." he murmured. "I knew you would do it," Tali¨®n replied, proud. ? Last round: Tali¨®n vs Drago The atmosphere was filled with tension. Everyone knew that this last confrontation would define everything. Drago approached Tali¨®n and smiled arrogantly. "Get ready to lose." Tali¨®n didn''t answer. He just smiled back. "Lose?" I didn''t train for that... They both went up to the exit block. "In their marks...!" The audience held their breath. "Ready... NOW!" ? End of chapter 22 Chapter 23: The roar of the ocean Chapter 23: The roar of the ocean The audience was silent. The whole country was attentive to the screen. This was not just a race... it was the opportunity for the Monta?a Azul team to be consecrated as a legend. In the starting block, Tali¨®n and Drago stared at each other. There were no words, only looks that promised an epic battle. "Get ready to stay behind..." Drago murmured, with a confident smile. Tali¨®n didn''t answer. He closed his eyes, let the sound of the audience vanish and only thought about the water... about the orcas... about his friends. "It''s just you... and the ocean..." "In their marks!" The world seemed to stop. "Ready... NOW!" ? The initial explosion Both were launched as projectiles. From the first second, Tali¨®n took the lead, his strokes cut the water with wild precision. Drago, however, followed him closely, barely half the body behind. The audience roared as the swimmers advanced at an amazing speed. ? The momentum of the team At the edge of the pool, Aurora screamed at the top of her lungs. "Come on, Talion!" You can! In the stands: ? Bruno looked sideways and saw Valeria watching him from afar. His heart raced, but instead of getting nervous, he felt an incredible strength inside himself. ? Jocelyn looked up and saw her mother in the audience. Her mother, who always doubted her abilities, now watched her with pride. Jocelyn smiled, determined to show him that she was not wrong in choosing this path. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ? Azrat saw his parents looking at him, for the first time with pride. But what really made him feel invincible was seeing the girl from the cafe smiling at him and waving her hand. ? Luz... he didn''t have anyone looking at him, except Tali¨®n. But for him, that was enough. Tali¨®n looked briefly at the edge of the pool and saw Luz, supporting him with the most intense gaze he had ever seen. "He trusts me..." ? The power of the orcas In the middle of the race, Drago managed to match the pace of Tali¨®n, and both advanced to the same level. "No... not now..." Tali¨®n thought, feeling the accumulated fatigue. But then, the water stopped feeling like an obstacle... and began to feel like an ally. Tali¨®n felt that something was driving him... a rhythm... an indescribable force. In his mind, he could see them: Flippy and the other orcas swam next to him, powerful and imposing. "Come on... give me strength..." he murmured. With an explosion of energy, Talion accelerated. Each stroke was like a roar in the water, pushing itself as if the ocean itself was pushing it. ? The epic ending Drago, seeing that Tali¨®n took the lead, gave everything. The prodigy swam with a brutal intensity, closing the distance in the last meters. "Come on, Talion!" Aurora shouted from the edge. Tali¨®n felt the water roaring around him. Each stroke became heavier, but every thought of his friends, of Luz, of the orcas... kept him firm. In the last stretch, Drago tried to get ahead in the final sprint. "No..." Tali¨®n let out an inner roar, stretched his arm and... FINAL TOUCH! The enclosure was silent for a second... "Winner... Tali¨®n, from the Monta?a Azul team!" The scream of the audience exploded like a giant slee. Aurora jumped for joy, Azrat and Bruno hugged each other like crazy, and Jocelyn couldn''t help but shed some tears of happiness. ? The reward Talion, panting, came out of the water and knelt by the pool, feeling that his whole body was burning. "You did it!" Luz shouted, running towards him. Before Talion could say anything, Luz threw herself on him, hugging him tightly. "I knew you could do it!" You''re incredible... Talion couldn''t help laughing. "You''re amazing too..." he whispered, hugging him tighter. ? The rival''s respect Drago approached slowly. His arrogant expression had disappeared. "I guess... you''re better than I thought." Talion, still catching his breath, stretched out his hand. "I guess you''re not bad either." Drago, reluctantly, shook his hand. "Enjoy your pass to the Olympics... you earned it." ? The perfect closure While the team was celebrating in the dressing room, Aurora approached Tali¨®n. "I knew you''d make it... but we haven''t finished yet." Talion smiled. "Don''t worry... we''re going to win those Olympics." Aurora smiled. "And we''ll do it as a family." The team raised its fists in the air. The battle was over... but the real challenge was just beginning. ? End of chapter 23 Chapter 24: Between laughter, love and... unforgettable butts Chapter 24: Between laughter, love and... unforgettable butts The audience was still roaring with excitement after Tali¨®n''s epic victory, but for the Blue Mountain team, the real magic occurred after the competition. ? The chat with the people who saw them Bruno and Valeria While the team was picking up their things in the locker rooms, Bruno plucked up the courage and went out to look for Valeria. He found her near the exit, talking to some friends. "Valeria?" he called, feeling his heart about to come out of his chest. She turned around and smiled. "Hey!" I saw your career, Bruno! You did it amazing. "Really?" he asked, still incredulous. "Of course!" You''re very fast... Have you always swam this well? "Not always... but..." Bruno swallowed saliva. I tried to give it my all because... well... I wanted someone special to see me. Valeria blushed slightly and gave him a small friendly blow to the shoulder. "Well... I''m glad I was that person." Bruno didn''t know what to say, but when Valeria left, a silly smile was stuck on her face. ? Jocelyn and her mother Jocelyn was in the stands, watching the water, when her mother approached her. "You were amazing, daughter," her mother said with a proud smile. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Jocelyn was silent for a moment before answering: "I thought you weren''t coming... "I wasn''t going to miss it," his mother said, putting a hand on his shoulder. And you don''t know how proud I am of you... you''ve always been strong. Jocelyn felt her chest tighten. Without saying more, he hugged his mother tightly. ? Azrat and "his coffee girl" Back at Azrat''s house, the team met to relax. That''s when Azrat decided to tell his story. "Guys... you won''t believe what happened," he said, gathering everyone. "Now what?" Luz asked. "Do you remember the girl from the cafe?" Well... he smiled at me and greeted me from the stands! She was clearly impressed by me. "Are you sure I wasn''t greeting someone else?" Jocelyn joked. "No!" I saw it clearly. His eyes were shining. I could hear how in his mind he said "Wow... that blond has me crazy." The group laughed. "Brother... you were so tired after your race that I''m sure you hallucinated." Tali¨®n joked. "No, no, no, I swear by my special shampoo for curls." "Then it must have been very special!" Luz said, laughing. Although no one believed him at all, the team was left with the image of Azrat telling his crazy story over and over again, excited as never before. ? Luz and Talion When night fell and the group was already resting, Tali¨®n and Luz were left alone on the terrace. "You know?" Luz said, recheasing on Tali¨®n''s shoulder. Today I thought I was going to die of fright watching you compete. "And what did you think when I won?" Talion asked, with a mischievous smile. Luz gave him a little push. "That you looked amazing... and that swimming suit suits you too well." Tali¨®n let out a laugh. "Do you say it?" The one that everyone didn''t stop looking at today? Luz raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" "Come on... you know that you are the center of attention when you put on that tight suit. "This suit?" Luz got up slowly, turning provocatively. His ass, firm and perfect, was completely in Tali¨®n''s sight. "How can you have such a butt being a swimmer?" Tali¨®n complained, unable to look away. "Maybe because I''m incredible in everything I do," Luz said, winking at him. Talion bit his lip. "Do you know what''s the worst?" That I can''t even tell you that you''re not right. ? The closing of the day While everyone was going to sleep, Aurora approached Talion and put a hand on his shoulder. "You know that you have become more than the best swimmer on this team, right?" "What do you mean?" Aurora smiled. "Today you didn''t just win a competition... you joined this team like a real family. Tali¨®n smiled, feeling that Aurora''s words were what he needed to hear most. "And we''re going to get to the Olympics together." "No..." Aurora said, correcting it. We''re going to win those Olympics. The two stared at the starry sky, knowing that the real journey was just about to begin. ? End of chapter 24 Chapter 25: The Road to Greatness Chapter 25: The Road to Greatness The Monta?a Azul team was relaxed at Azrat''s house, enjoying a well-deserved rest after their last victory. The atmosphere was light, full of laughter and jokes. But they didn''t know that a big surprise was coming. ? The unexpected surprise While everyone was in the room, coach Aurora came in with a smile on her face, holding a golden envelope in her hand. "What is that?" Bruno asked, curious. "A little surprise..." Aurora said, waving the envelope. With a mischievous expression, he tore the envelope and took out a letter that he read aloud: "Congratulations, Monta?a Azul team!" As a result of their recent victory and outstanding performance... they have been selected for an intensive training trip in one of the best sports facilities in the country! The team burst into shouts of joy. "Are we going to train in a professional center?!" Azrat shouted, excited. "That''s not all!" Aurora added. In addition, they will be allowed to invite two people each to accompany them during the days off at the place. It will be like a mini-vacation after each day of training! The group couldn''t believe it. Bruno thought of Valeria, Jocelyn of her mother, Azrat of her parents (and obviously of the coffee girl), and Tali¨®n looked sideways at Luz, knowing that they were no longer separated for a second. "This is the best day of my life..." Azrat said dramatically. ? Defining relationships and funny moments During dinner, everyone shared what they planned to do during the trip: Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ? Bruno confessed that he wanted to invite Valeria to finally spend more time with her. ? Jocelyn mentioned that she wanted her mother to see her train and this time to see her succeed. ? Azrat, with his classic exaggerated attitude, insisted that the girl in the cafe was "destined to be the love of her life" (although no one believed her). ? Tali¨®n, for his part, said nothing, but Luz looked at him with a smile, knowing that he planned to surprise him by inviting him to a special dinner during the trip. Of course, there was no lack of jokes: ? Azrat annoyed Luz every time she passed in front of him, with comments like: "Hey, could you move that ass slower?" You''re going to cause an accident. ? At another time, Azrat passed near Luz and said: "What are you doing, brother?" Is your superpower conquering people with those shorts? "My name is Luz, no fault..." he replied with a flirtatious smile. Tali¨®n, laughing, ended up turning red on more than one occasion with the "delicious" scenes of Luz. ? The great announcement The next day, while the team was training, Aurora interrupted the practice with a serious expression. "What happened?" Tali¨®n asked. "It''s official..." said the coach. There are only six months left for the Olympics in France. The team looked at each other in silence. What once seemed far away now felt too close. "We have to give everything," Bruno said, with determination. "And we''re going to do it together," Jocelyn added. "A family..." Talion murmured, remembering Aurora''s words. ? Talion becomes a trend That same night, unexpected news exploded on social networks: Tali¨®n had become a national trend. Videos of his incredible victory, funny memes and comments about his potential dominated the platforms. "Look at this!" said Azrat, showing a publication with the title: "The new king of water?" "King of the water?" Really? - said Tali¨®n, surprised. "Brother, don''t argue... you''re already a star!" Azrat joked, throwing himself on him jokingly. ? The unexpected challenge But the most shocking thing happened when Aurora received a message on her phone. She opened it and froze. "What happened?" Luz asked. Aurora showed the message. It was a video, recorded in French, where an imposing and elegant young swimmer went directly to the camera. ¡ªInteressant, Tali¨®n... J''esp¨¨re te voir. "What did he say?" Azrat asked, surprised. Aurora translated calmly: "Interesting, Tali¨®n... I hope to see you." The team fell silent. "Who is that guy?" Bruno asked. Aurora sighed. ¡ªHis name is Alexandre Duvier... the most feared swimmer in France and last year''s Olympic champion. The atmosphere tensed. Talion couldn''t help but smile with emotion. "Wait for me... because he''s going to see me." ? The beginning of the real challenge The team knew that the road to the Olympics was full of challenges, but this time there was something different in the air... a feeling that they were destined to make history. And Tali¨®n, with his eyes fixed on the horizon, was more ready than ever to prove it. ? End of Chapter 25 Chapter 26: Secrets, caresses and a strange coincidence Chapter 26: Secrets, caresses and a strange coincidence The doors of the training center were opened and the Monta?a Azul team was left speechless. The place was huge: Olympic pools with state-of-the-art technology, gyms full of first-class equipment and rest areas so luxurious that it looked more like a resort than a training center. "This place... it''s incredible." Bruno murmured, unable to believe it. "You better not be impressed... because here you will train until you are destroyed," Aurora said, with a mischievous smile. "Couldn''t we... just relax a little first?" Azrat joked. Aurora gave him a sharp look that made it clear that there would be no rest... yet. ? Each one with their special person In the afternoon, after a hard first day of training, the time came when each member met with their guest: ? Bruno and Valeria walked through the gardens of the center, laughing and talking as if they had known each other all their lives. Bruno seemed to have lost all his shyness with her. ? Jocelyn and her mother sat together on a bench, enjoying a warm moment. ? Azrat didn''t stop smiling next to Stephanie, the girl from the cafe. They were seen laughing, talking and sharing funny moments. The funny thing was that, although the group clearly saw Stephanie on the first day... they never saw her again during the rest of the week. ? Stephanie''s mystery Every time Azrat talked about his moments with Stephanie, the team looked at him in disbelief. "Brother, no one has seen your girl all week... are you sure you didn''t imagine her?" Luz said, laughing. "I swear!" I was with her in the pool, in the cafeteria... we even played at the pool tables. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Yes, of course... and then he took you to fly in a rainbow unicorn?" Tali¨®n joked. "I swear to you!" I was with her! "Mmm... Or maybe you just went to the mirror and fell in love with yourself?" Bruno finished, causing laughter in the group. Azrat, frustrated, crossed his arms. "You''ll see... one day you''ll find out that I''m not crazy." ? The unexpected night After an intense week of training, a quiet night finally arrived. The team decided to relax early in their rooms. Tali¨®n was lying on his bed, shirtless, resting his muscles after the brutal day. His breathing was heavy and his eyes began to close... Until he felt the door to his room open. "Light...?" he said in a low voice. Luz entered in silence, dressed in a light T-shirt and tight shorts that highlighted her already known and provocative butt. "I couldn''t sleep..." Luz said, in a soft voice. "Do you want us to talk?" Tali¨®n asked, half asleep. "No... I want you to relax... Luz approached slowly, sitting next to him. His fingers began to slide gently along Tali¨®n''s chest, calmly running through his muscles. "W-Wait... what are you doing?" Tali¨®n murmured, breathing agitated. "Shh... relax..." Luz whispered, letting her hand slowly descend Talion''s torso, until her fingers reached the lower part of her abdomen. Tali¨®n felt a chill run through his body. His muscles tightened completely when Luz slid her hand a little lower, slowly stroking his member through the pants. "W-What... are you...?" Tali¨®n closed his eyes, unable to resist the sensation. "Relax..." Luz repeated, with a mischievous smile. His fingers began to move more firmly, causing Tali¨®n to let out a slight moan, biting his lip so as not to make any more noise. "Do you like it... or do you want me to stop?" Luz murmured, her voice sounding more provocative than ever. Talion took a deep breath, surprised by himself when he murmured: "No... don''t stop... Luz smiled mischievously and continued, this time with more confidence. Talion, unable to resist anymore, closed his eyes and let the sensation envelop him completely. When Luz finally stopped, Tali¨®n was out of breath, with a red face. "Do you feel better?" Luz asked, with a mischievous smile. Talion laughed softly, still recovering. "Much better... For the first time, Tali¨®n felt completely free... and best of all, it didn''t bother him at all. ? The return home... and the unsolved mystery At the end of the week, the team met once again. "Did anyone manage to see Stephanie?" Bruno asked. Everyone shook their heads. "I swear!" I was with her every day... I swear by my golden curls! -Azrat insisted, desperate. "And do you have any proof of that?" Tali¨®n joked. Azrat took out his phone and showed a photo where he appeared... next to Stephanie, smiling in the pool. "What the hell?!" Luz exclaimed. "I told you I''m not crazy!" Azrat shouted, triumphantly. "Either you''re crazy... or you''re a master of stealth." Jocelyn sneered. Azrat, satisfied, lay back in the armchair with a victorious smile. "I told them that I''m irresistible... The team burst into laughter, thus closing a week that had been intense, confusing... but above all, unforgettable. ? End of chapter 26 Chapter 27: Between Mystery and Temptation Chapter 27: Between Mystery and Temptation The training trip was over, but the memories - and mysteries - were still fresh in the mind of the Blue Mountain team. The group returned home, but last week it still gave them something to talk about. ? The return... and Stephanie''s mystery "No matter how much you insist, Azrat, that photo is pure Photoshop," Luz said, laughing. "But how do they explain that I have this photo?!" Azrat held his phone as if it were a trophy. "Maybe you went alone to the pool, took a picture of a random girl and then edited your face on top." Bruno joked, causing a general laugh. "Come on, guys!" I swear, I was with her! We played billiards, drank coffee... he even beat me in a push-up challenge! "Imaginary flexions?" Jocelyn sneered. Azrat, frustrated, fell into the armchair. "One day... one day they will believe me... Talion patted him on the shoulder. "Of course, champion... of course." ? The arrival of the message That night, Tali¨®n was lying in his room, checking his phone. Among the news stood out a headline: "Will the young Tali¨®n be able to face the French champion Alexandre Duvier?" "So now I''m the competition of a champion..." he murmured to himself. He couldn''t help but smile. The challenge excited him... but it also intimidated him. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Suddenly, he heard someone knocking on the door. "Light?" Is that you? "Can I come in?" Luz''s soft and familiar voice replied. "Of course... ? The night becomes intense Luz entered the room, closing the door behind him. He wore only a wide T-shirt that barely covered his thighs and nothing else. "Can''t you sleep again?" Tali¨®n asked, sitting on the bed. "Something like that..." Luz said, walking slowly towards him. He sat next to Tali¨®n, crossing one leg so that his thigh was exposed, involuntarily drawing attention. "Do you know what you need?" Luz asked, with a mischievous smile. "Mmm... Sleep?" "No..." Luz whispered, leaning towards him. You need to forget about stress... Before Talion could react, Luz gently pushed him back, causing him to fall on the bed. "What are you... doing?" Talion said, feeling his heart speed up. "Let me take care of you this time..." Luz whispered, with a mischievous glow in her eyes. Luz leaned over and slid her hands down Talion''s chest, slowly tracing every line of his muscles. His fingers moved calmly, causing chills in his skin. "Does this relax you?" Luz asked, with a flirtatious smile. "M-a lot..." Talion could barely answer. Luz kept approaching, her lips barely brushed Tali¨®n''s neck, leaving a soft kiss that caused him to let out an involuntary sigh. "Do you want me to stop?" Luz asked, with a playful look. Talion, already without the strength to resist, just shook his head. "Keep going..." Luz smiled satisfied and continued, her touch increasingly firm and confident. Tali¨®n''s body reacted to each caress, his muscles tensed and his breathing became heavy. Tali¨®n allowed himself to enjoy it, without fear or shame. For the first time, he got completely carried away. After a few minutes, Luz stopped and looked at him with a victorious smile. "Well, well?" Better? Talion, still with a red face, let out a small laugh. "Much better... but I think I''m going to need more of this." Luz laughed softly. "Whenever you want... just say it." Tali¨®n couldn''t resist anymore and pulled him towards him, kissing him with the same passion he had tried to contain all that time. ? The dawn... and the unanswered questions The next morning, Azrat showed his photo of Stephanie again while everyone was having breakfast. "I swear I''m not crazy... take a good look at the photo, there I am! Aurora, who had just arrived, took the phone and looked at the image. "It''s strange... this photo has no sign of editing." This... this seems real. The team fell silent. "So... was he with her?" Bruno asked, not fully believing it. "Hey..." Luz interrupted, with a mocking smile. And didn''t you fall in love with a ghost? Azrat looked at him, furious. "I swear this is real!" "Of course... of course..." Tali¨®n said, laughing. The team ended up laughing out loud, while Azrat promised that one day he would prove that Stephanie not only existed, but was also crazy about him. ? End of chapter 27 Capítulo 28: Más que un equipo... una familia Chapter 28: More than a team... a family The atmosphere in the Blue Mountain team had changed. Although the competitions were still far away, the tension, emotions and feelings seemed to be reaching their peak. ? The connection between Tali¨®n and Luz Night had fallen, and Talion was in his room, thinking about everything that had happened in recent weeks. The training, the trip, the challenge of Alexandre Duvier... but what occupied his mind the most was Luz. It didn''t take long for someone to knock on the door. "Luz?" he asked, although he already knew the answer. "Do I bother you?" Luz said, with her classic flirtatious smile. "Never," Talion replied, inviting him to come in. Luz closed the door behind him. His look was different this time... there were no jokes or laughter. Just an intense sensation that turned on the air in the room. "Today it''s my turn." Luz said, slowly approaching. "What do you mean?" Tali¨®n asked, without moving. Luz didn''t answer. He simply put a hand on Tali¨®n''s chest and gently pushed him against the wall. The tension was immediate. "Do you want me to stop?" Luz whispered, her voice low and provocative. Talion, feeling his body burn, shook his head. "Don''t even think about it. Luz smiled sideways and slowly brought her lips closer, barely brushing against Talion''s, making him tense even more. "I want you so much..." Luz whispered, before her lips finally joined in an intense kiss, full of emotion and desire. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Talion''s hands instinctively slid down Luz''s body, firmly grabbing her thighs and going up to her firm and well-shaped ass. "Don''t stop..." Luz murmured, panting between the kiss. Tali¨®n, without thinking about it, let his hands explore beyond. His right hand slowly descended, sliding down the inside of Luz''s thigh and then... Scene cut. ? Jocelyn and Bruno''s talk On the roof of the complex, Jocelyn and Bruno were sitting, looking at the night sky. "Do you think we can really win the Olympics?" Bruno asked, with some insecurity. "Of course," Jocelyn replied, without hesitation. "How can you be so sure?" Jocelyn smiled, remembering her past. "Because before... I thought I needed to be with the best to win. That''s why I wanted to join teams like Aradice... but you know what? With them everything was superficial. They were just people who cared about winning titles, not growing up as people. Bruno looked at her, surprised. "And what made you change your mind?" Jocelyn shrugged her shoulders. "With you... I feel like I really belong." Here I''m not "the second best," nor "the one who always makes an effort but never arrives." This is Jocelyn... and that means much more than any medal. Bruno smiled and gave him a soft elbow on the arm. "Does that mean you like me?" "Don''t exaggerate..." Jocelyn joked, but her sincere smile made it clear that she was serious. ? Aurora and her confession While the team rested, Aurora sat alone in the dining room, looking at her cell phone with nostalgia. That''s when Talion came in and noticed his expression. "Are you okay?" he asked, sitting in front of her. Aurora smiled slightly. "Yes... I was just thinking about how things have changed." "For good or for worse?" Aurora sighed. "You know?" When I agreed to train them, I thought it would be just one more job. Something temporary... nothing special. Tali¨®n was silent, noticing that Aurora spoke from the heart. "But this team... you... are the best thing that has happened to me. Although I''m older than you, there are times when I feel so lost... but when I''m with you... I feel like I really do something important. Talion smiled. "Do you want to know a secret?" he said. You are the best thing that has happened to us. Aurora laughed softly, feeling that a part of her that was always empty, was finally complete. ? The end... and the promise That night, while everyone was sleeping, Tali¨®n stayed on the terrace, looking at the starry sky. Luz came out in silence and sat next to him. "What are you thinking about?" Luz asked. "In everything that has happened... and in what is coming." Luz smiled and leaned over to gently kiss Tali¨®n''s cheek. "No matter what comes... we''ll face it together." Talion smiled and took Luz''s hand between his. ¡ªTogether... The sky was dark, but for them, the future shone more than ever. ? End of Chapter 28 Chapter 29: Fire in the water Chapter 29: Fire in the water The sun was shining on the pool of the Monta?a Azul team, but the real heat did not come from the weather... but from the newly confirmed relationship between Tali¨®n and Luz. ? The public relationship... and the jokes "So you two are... together?" Azrat asked, with a raised eyebrow and a mischievous smile. "Something like that..." Tali¨®n replied, while Luz smiled mischievously at him next to him. "And why didn''t anyone tell me before?" I could have bet on the team''s pools! - Azrat joked. The team laughed, although the good vibe was interrupted when Jocelyn slowly approached Luz, arms crossed. "I just want you to know... if you ever hurt Tali¨®n, I''ll be the first to bury you at the bottom of the pool. "Of course I wouldn''t hurt him!" Luz said, indignant. "And what about me?" Who is going to protect me from this guy? -Tali¨®n approached from behind and, in a mischievous movement, circled Luz''s waist, giving her a squeeze on her ass. "Hey!" Luz blushed intensely, while the team burst out laughing. "This guy already defends himself..." Tali¨®n said, winking at him. ? Hot moments... in public During training, the tension did not stop. While Aurora explained a resistance technique to them, Luz approached Talion from behind, whispering in his ear: "You know that everyone is watching you... right?" Talion, with a defiant smile, slid his hand behind him and gave Luz a slight squeeze on the leg, slowly going up to his thigh. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "And what if they''re doing it?" Tali¨®n whispered, causing Luz to bite her lip so as not to let out a laugh. Aurora saw them sideways. "Do you want me to put them in the ice so they can calm down?!" he shouted, causing both of them to separate quickly while the rest of the team was dying of laughter. ? Brutal training: Overcoming limits The break is over. Now came the difficult part. Aurora stood firm in front of the team. "Listen to me well... from now on, this will be the hardest training you''ve ever had. Right now I''m going to tell you your strengths... and your weaknesses. Everyone listened attentively. ? Bruno: Incredible resistance, but he tends to get mentally tired if he feels watched. ? Jocelyn: Impeccable technique, but he gets frustrated quickly when things don''t go well. ? Azrat: Amazing speed, but he tends to trust himself too much, which leads him to neglect details. ? Luz: Exceptional agility, but he doubts himself too much in important skills. ? Tali¨®n: Physically unstoppable... but his greatest weakness was his fear of failing those who trust him. "Each of you is going to face those weaknesses... because I''m not going to let you lose because of them," Aurora concluded. ? The individual challenge During the week: ? Bruno began to train with music to block the external noise, concentrating only on the rhythm of his strokes. ? Jocelyn learned to control her temper, facing simulations of difficult situations during the tests. ? Azrat, under Aurora''s watch, perfected his technique, ceasing to depend only on his speed. ? Luz, with the constant support of Tali¨®n, began to visualize herself winning... and believing it. ? Tali¨®n, in his training, forced himself to swim under pressure, imagining that if he didn''t arrive on time, his friends would lose... until he finally learned to trust himself. ? The talk of Azrat and Tali¨®n After an exhausting day, Azrat and Tali¨®n stayed in the empty pool, watching the reflection of the water under the lights of the complex. "Do you realize how far we have come?" Azrat asked, without taking his eyes off the water. "Yes... and what we still need." Talion replied. "Do you think we have what it takes to win the Olympics?" Talion was silent for a moment. "I don''t know if we have what we need... but I know we''re going to give everything." Azrat smiled. "You know?" I admire you very much. Not because of your speed or your physique... but because when everything gets complicated... you always keep moving forward. "And you know that you''re also amazing?" Tali¨®n said, giving him a friendly blow to the arm. Azrat let out a laugh. "Well, of course... I''m irresistible." They both laughed and looked up at the sky, knowing that the real battle was just beginning. ? The final surprise: Alexandre Duvier''s message That same night, Aurora received a mysterious email. When he opened it, he found a video. It was Alexandre Duvier in a pool lit by night lights. Her gaze was intense and self-confident. "I''ve been watching... I already know your weak points... and believe me, you have no chance." -he said in French, with a confident smile. Aurora was silent, but then smiled. "Let''s see how true that is... ? End of chapter 29 Chapter 30: An unexpected advice and a hidden secret Chapter 30: An unexpected advice and a hidden secret The Blue Mountain team was in the dressing room when Aurora came in with a red envelope in her hand. "What is that?" Bruno asked, curious. Aurora opened the envelope and read aloud: "The Red Dragon swimming club cordially invites you to a training session at our facilities. It will be an honor to receive you and share improvement techniques in preparation for the Olympics. Sincerely, Drago.¡± "What... Drago?" Talion arched an eyebrow. "Does he invite us... after everything he said in the last competition?" Luz said, with her arms crossed. "What are you planning?" Jocelyn added, suspiciously. "Does it matter?" Azrat interrupted, with an excited smile. Let''s go! What better than training with our rivals to see how good we really are? Aurora smiled. "He''s right." If we accept, it''s to learn... not to fight. ? Arrival at the Red Dragon Club The Blue Mountain team arrived at the Red Dragon complex. The facilities were impressive: an indoor Olympic pool with wide stands and a modern training system. Drago appeared at the entrance, with that same confident smile that everyone remembered. "Wow, wow... if it''s not the star boy," he said, looking at Tali¨®n. "Star?" Don''t make me laugh. -Talion replied, with a slight smile. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. They both looked at each other for a moment... until Drago let out a laugh and patted him on the back. "Don''t worry... I just wanted to see if you still have fire inside you." "So... there''s no fight today?" Azrat joked, causing laughter in the group. "Today there is only training... but if you trust, I''ll make you swallow water," Drago said, winking. ? Training... and a key tip During the session, the Blue Mountain team mixed with the Red Dragon swimmers. Although some were arrogant and competitive, most turned out to be friendly. Drago, for his part, swam with Tali¨®n for several laps. They both stood on par, as if each one was measuring the other''s strength. When they finally finished, Drago approached Talion. "You''re fast... but you make a mistake." "Oh, really?" Talion arched an eyebrow. "Your exit... you push yourself too fast, without measuring your resistance." You''re losing twice as much energy in the first few meters. "And what do you suggest?" Drago smiled. "When you swim, try to imagine that you are only "keating on the water" for the first ten seconds. Your body will adapt by itself and your energy will be preserved for the final sprint. Talion frowned. "And why are you telling me this?" Drago patted him on the shoulder. "Because if we are going to face each other in the Olympics, I want you to be in your best shape... so that when I beat you, there are no excuses. Talion smiled. "We''ll see about that... ? Azrat and his mysterious secret After training, the team met in the locker rooms. While everyone commented on the experience, Azrat remained silent, with a suspiciously calm expression. "What''s wrong with you?" Luz asked. "Huh?" Oh... nothing... nothing. "You lie worse than Bruno on a date," Jocelyn said, laughing. "Hey!" Bruno protested. Aurora crossed her arms. "Azrat... what are you planning?" Azrat smiled broadly. "Don''t worry... I can only say that it will be something big." "How big?" Talion asked, between intrigued and worried. Azrat shrugged his shoulders. "Enough for no one to expect it... but they will have to trust me. The team looked at him with skepticism, but Azrat simply kept that mysterious smile. "Just trust... it''s going to be worth it." ? The end... and the unknown That night, Tali¨®n couldn''t stop thinking about Drago''s advice or Azrat''s mysterious plan. "What does this crazy man bring in his hands..." he murmured, looking at the ceiling of his room. Luz, who was sleeping next to him, murmured half asleep: "Don''t worry... surely it''s something silly like a surprise party or... "Or what?" Luz opened one eye and smiled. "Or maybe he''s going to get the name of the girl in the cafe tattoo... Talion let out a laugh, but he couldn''t help but wonder... What will Azrat really be planning? ? End of chapter 30 Chapter 31: The Roar of the Ocean Chapter 31: The Roar of the Ocean The Blue Mountain team was gathered in the hotel room when Azrat, with a smile from ear to ear, finally revealed his great secret. "We''re going to Canada!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "What!?" Bruno shouted. "And why exactly to Canada?" Aurora asked, arching an eyebrow. "Because there is a cruise... and not just any cruise." One that goes through an area where you can see orcas... and I thought it would be the perfect gift for our team! The team couldn''t help but get excited. "The orcas!" Talion felt his chest accelerated. "Wait, wait..." Jocelyn interrupted. Where did you get money for this? "Connections, dear... connections." Azrat said, winking. What Azrat didn''t mention was that he also invited someone else... Stephanie. ? The trip to Canada The cruise was imposing, surrounded by an immense blue ocean and a fresh air that announced that something big was about to happen. ? Bruno took advantage of the trip to spend time with Valeria. During dinner, they both laughed non-stop, and little by little their relationship seemed to become more natural and sweet. ? Jocelyn and Aurora spent hours talking, forging a sincere friendship that made them feel comfortable and understood. ? Tali¨®n and Luz had a romantic moment on the deck of the boat. Luz approached Tali¨®n, resting her head on his shoulder. "Are you still thinking about the orcas?" Luz asked, noticing Tali¨®n''s thoughtful expression. "Yes... but it''s more than that... I feel that something incredible is about to happen. "Something like this?" Luz took Tali¨®n''s face and kissed him slowly. The kiss was warm, deep... one of those moments that feel eternal. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Yes... just like that." Tali¨®n said, with a smile. ? Azrat and the mystery of Stephanie Meanwhile, Azrat couldn''t be happier. Stephanie hugged him by the arm, laughing at his silly jokes and looking at him as if it were the best thing that had happened to him. "I don''t understand why they think you''re making things up." Stephanie said. "Believe me... I''ve tried to prove it... but no one believes me. "Do you want me to introduce myself now?" she asked, smiling. "Yes!" Please... Just as they were heading towards the group, Jocelyn slipped and almost fell down the stairs. The team ran to help her... and by the time everything returned to calm, Stephanie had disappeared again. "It can''t be!" Azrat complained, looking at the sky. Later, he showed a photo of the trip where he and Stephanie appeared, hugging and smiling. "Here''s the proof!" Here she is! "That looks very edited..." Aurora said, causing laughter in the group. "How the hell did I edit this in the middle of the cruise?" Azrat insisted, frustrated. "Calm down, brother... I''m sure it''s a ghost." Bruno joked, causing more laughter. ? The reunion with Flippy The next day, while Tali¨®n was walking alone on the deck of the ship, something caught his attention. In the water... he saw a black fin sliding slowly. ¡ªIt can''t be... Without thinking twice, he ran to the edge of the boat and threw himself into the ocean. "Talion?!" Luz shouted, running after him. Talion swam with all his strength, approaching the dark figure. She was an orca... and she looked like Flippy! "Flippy!" he shouted, trying to make him recognize him. But the orca just swam faster. "Come on... I know it''s you... remember me! Talion''s heart shrank when he saw that the orca seemed not to react. Suddenly, another fin appeared... and then another one. There were three orcas swimming around him. For a moment, Talion felt desperate... until he saw that one of the orcas came closer, and with a slight movement, he brushed his hand. "...Flippy?" he whispered. The three orcas began to swim in circles around him, playing as they did years ago. "It''s them!" Talion said, unable to hold back his tears. Flippy, along with the other two orcas (which he named Storm and Blaze), swam around him, as if they had been waiting for him all this time. ? The epic scene: Swimming like orcas Talion swam next to them. At first, he tried to keep up, but every stroke seemed impossible to him. "Come on... concentrate... He recalled Drago''s advice: "Walk on the water for the first few seconds..." Talion stopped forcing his body and began to flow. His movements became softer... more natural... more like an orca. For the first time in his life, Talion felt like he was really part of the ocean. The orcas swam next to him, pushing him with their movements as if they accepted him between them. From the boat, Aurora, Bruno, Luz and the rest of the team saw him impacted. "I can''t believe it..." Aurora said. "I thought it was just a crazy story that he invented... but..." Bruno didn''t finish the sentence. "The boy who swam with the orcas... is real." Luz said, with a smile full of pride. ? The awakening of the true power of Talion When he returned to the ship, Talion dried up and looked at the ocean once more. "I''m going to master this technique..." he said to himself. ¡°Because I know it will be key to winning in France.¡± Luz approached, taking him by the hand. "What you did today was incredible... but promise me that next time you''ll let me know before throwing yourself into the water like crazy. Talion laughed softly and nodded. ¡ªPromised... The waves broke gently against the boat, while Flippy, Storm and Blaze swam at a distance, watching their old friend. ? End of Chapter 31 Chapter 32: The Spirit of the Ocean Chapter 32: The Spirit of the Ocean The fog covered the port when the cruiser returned to dry land. For the Blue Mountain team, that trip to Canada had not only been an adventure... it had been a lesson that none of them would forget. ? Talion and the awakening of the technique of the orcas Days after the reunion with Flippy, Storm and Blaze, Talion was determined to master that incredible way of swimming that he had discovered. "Concenter... float... let yourself go..." he murmured as he dived into the pool. At first, everything was clumsy. His arms moved too fast, his legs were shaking more than necessary. "You''re fighting the water instead of moving with it!" Aurora shouted from the shore. Talion took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He remembered the movement of the orcas... how their bodies slid in perfect harmony with the water. Then, he understood. He shouldn''t force the movement... he had to allow the water to guide him. When he opened his eyes, his body moved fluidly, as if the ocean was driving it. He moved so fast that the rest of the team was dumbfounded. "What the hell was that?" Bruno said, impressed. "That''s the real Talion..." Luz whispered, with a smile of admiration. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ? The way of others While Tali¨®n perfected his new technique, the rest of the team also faced their own challenges. ? Bruno, with Aurora''s help, worked on her confidence, managing to stay calm even under pressure. His motivation: Valeria, who every time she saw him train gave him a smile of pride. ? Jocelyn began to develop a breathing technique that allowed her to stay calm even when things got complicated in the water. ? Aurora stopped focusing only on leading and began to trust her teammates more, strengthening the team''s bond. Monta?a Azul was no longer just a team... now they were a real family. ? Azrat and his despair with Stephanie Despite the great progress of the team, Azrat had his own personal mission: to prove that Stephanie was real. "Listen, everyone!" he shouted, gathering the team. Today they will finally meet Stephanie! "Agoing with that?" Jocelyn complained. "No, seriously!" I''ll make it this time. Confident, Azrat took them to the port cafeteria, where Stephanie was supposedly waiting for him. When they arrived... she wasn''t there. "And now what happened?" Aurora asked, already tired of the subject. "I swear, I was here!" I even have video! -Azrat said, showing on his phone a recording where Stephanie was clearly seen hugging him. "That''s edited..." Bruno sneered. "Why the hell would I make such an elaborate montage?!" Azrat was on the verge of madness. The team laughed mercilessly. Azrat, frustrated but resigned, could only murmur: "Someday... they''ll know." ? A peaceful night That night, the team decided to take a well-deserved break. They met on the beach, around a campfire. "Hey... do you think we''ll really manage to get to the Olympics one day?" Bruno asked, looking at the flames. "Of course..." Aurora replied confidently. We are much stronger than before. You are not only good swimmers... you are incredible people. The Blue Mountain is not a team... it''s a family. Jocelyn smiled. "Who would have thought that this crazy group would work so well?" "What''s incredible... is that this madman has learned to swim like an orca," Azrat said, pointing to Talion. The team burst out laughing. Talion just looked at the sky and murmured: "Let''s make it... I know." Luz approached and took his hand gently. "I know it too..." he whispered before kissing him. For a moment, there was no laughter or jokes... only the tranquility of the ocean and a group of friends who, step by step, approached their dream. ? End of Chapter 32 Chapter 33: From the ashes to the rebirth Chapter 33: From the ashes to the rebirth The trip to Canada had come to an end, but the memories and promises were still alive in each of the members of the Blue Mountain team. ? The return and new promises Talion held a small photo in his hands. In it were Flippy, Storm and Blaze, swimming next to him. "I promise to come back..." he whispered, carefully keeping it in his wallet. Meanwhile, Azrat was with his arms crossed in front of Stephanie, frowning. "Why did you disappear again?" Stephanie sighed. "I''m sorry!" It''s just that whenever I get closer... something happens... I didn''t want them to think I''m crazy or that I''m avoiding them. "Well, now they think I''m the crazy one!" Stephanie kissed him on the cheek, calming him down. "We''ll fix it soon... I promise you." Azrat smiled satisfied. ? New relationships and friendships During the following weeks: ? Bruno and Valeria officially started dating. They were seen together constantly, even outside of training. Valeria became a great motivation for Bruno, who was increasingly showing more self-confidence. ? Jocelyn and Aurora became inseparable. Their friendship strengthened so much that they supported each other in their training, pushing each other to be better every day. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ? And, of course, the relationship between Talion and Luz flourished even more. Between romantic moments and comic scenes, Tali¨®n had developed an almost involuntary habit: every time he passed by Luz, he gave her a slight squeeze on the butt. "He doesn''t control it anymore..." Bruno joked during a meal. It''s like a natural reflection. "In fact, when he DOESN''T do it... I feel like something is wrong," Luz said, causing laughter in the whole group. ? The progress of the team The team continued to train hard. Tali¨®n perfected his technique inspired by the orcas, moving with a speed and fluidity that impressed even Aurora. Jocelyn mastered her breathing technique, and now she could stay calm even in the most tense moments. Bruno, motivated by Valeria, became much more confident in his skills. Even Drago began to visit them from time to time, sharing his own advice and exchanging friendly jokes with the team. "It seems that the "king of the orcas" is in shape..." Drago said, bumping his fist with Tali¨®n after seeing him swim. "And the "dragon" is no longer trusted as much as before," Talion replied with a smile. Everything was perfect... until the disaster occurred. ? The fire It was a quiet night when Aurora''s phone rang. "Hello?" ... What? What do you say!? Aurora''s scream woke everyone up. Minutes later, the Blue Mountain team came running to their training place... only to find it in ruins. The flames had devoured part of the building, leaving only ashes and a charred structure. The firefighters explained that it was an accident. An electrical failure had started the fire. The team watched silently the devastation in front of them. "It can''t be... all our work..." Jocelyn murmured, with glassy eyes. Talion closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It''s not the end... just one more obstacle." ? Drago''s offer The next day, while the team was discussing what to do, Drago appeared surprisingly. "What are you doing so depressed?" he said with a confident smile. They are lucky to meet someone as incredibly generous as me. "What do you mean?" Aurora asked. Drago smiled. "My dojo has an Olympic pool... why don''t they train there with me until they rebuild their place?" The team looked at each other in surprise. "Would you really do that for us?" Bruno asked. "And miss the opportunity to see how my future rivals train?" Drago joked. Besides... I don''t want them to have excuses in the Olympics when I beat them. The team let out a laugh. "Thank you, Drago... this means a lot." Tali¨®n said, shaking his hand. ? The rebirth of the Monta?a Azul team The next day, the team arrived at Drago''s dojo. Although the atmosphere was different, the spirit of the Blue Mountain team remained intact. "Nothing can stop us..." Aurora murmured, watching her team gathered. Talion put a hand on his shoulder. "And nothing will. The Blue Mountain team was more united than ever. ? End of chapter 33 Chapter 34: The Roar of Azrat Prime Chapter 34: The Roar of Azrat prime The atmosphere in Drago''s dojo was dense, full of tension. The Monta?a Azul team had spent days training there, adapting little by little, but today... something different was about to happen. ? The awakening of Azrat Prime Since they started training in the dojo, Azrat had been quieter, more focused. He no longer threw his jokes or got distracted during training. On the other hand, his strokes were more powerful, his dips more precise... there was something different about him. "Everything okay?" Tali¨®n asked him one morning. Azrat looked at him seriously. ¡ªI can''t continue to be ¡°the second best.¡± No more. That day was when Azrat Prime woke up. ? The direct challenge One afternoon, while they were training, Drago watched from the shore with a confident smile. "Is that all they have?" he sneered. "Hey... what do you think if we try it?" Azrat said, without hesitation. Silence fell on the dojo. "Do you want to challenge me?" Drago said, amused. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "No." I don''t want to challenge you... -Azrat got closer-. I am going to beat you. The whole team was in shock. "Azrat..." Aurora whispered, worried. Tali¨®n, however, said nothing. He just crossed his arms and looked at his friend with a slight smile. "Aren''t you going to stop him?" Jocelyn asked. "No," replied Talion. He can do it. ? The duel: Azrat vs Drago The pool was in complete silence. The entire Blue Mountain team and the Red Dragon team gathered to watch the confrontation. "50 free meters?" Drago asked confidently. "100 meters?" Azrat said, with a defiant smile. Drago laughed. "As you wish... but I''m not going to hold back." Both positioned themselves on the exit platform. "To the count of three..." Aurora said, acting as a judge. "One... Two... Three!" BEEP! Both jumped into the water like torpedoes. ? The battle in the water At first, Drago took the lead, advancing with impressive speed. "Come on, Azrat..." Bruno murmured, clenching his fists. But then it happened. Azrat began to accelerate, moving with a strength and precision that no one had seen before. "What the hell..." Drago murmured, noticing that Azrat was approaching. 25 meters from the goal, both swam almost side by side. The tension could be felt in the air. "Come on, Azrat!" Luz shouted, full of emotion. With a powerful final impulse, Azrat stepped forward... and his hand touched the wall just a fraction of a second before Drago. ? The result... and the reaction Aurora looked at the stopwatch in disbelief. "Azrat wins by 0.12 seconds!" The dojo burst into screams. Bruno, Luz and Jocelyn ran to hug Azrat, who could hardly believe it. "I did it... I DID it!" But then... Drago approached. The team was silent, expecting a hostile reaction. But to everyone''s surprise, Drago stretched out his hand. "Good job... that was a great duel." Azrat gave him a firm handshake, smiling proudly. "Thank you... but don''t think it will be the last time." Drago let out a laugh. "I hope so... "Azrat Prime." ? The recognition of Tali¨®n Later, while everyone was celebrating, Talion approached Azrat, who was sitting alone on the edge of the pool. "I knew you could do it." Azrat smiled. "I did it for myself... but also for you." I don''t want the Blue Mountain to be just Tali¨®n''s team. I want Monta?a Azul to be the best team... with everyone being the best. Talion patted him on the back. "We already are... but with Azrat Prime on the team... now there is no one to stop us. ? End of chapter 34 Chapter 35: The Brightness of Light Champion Tide Chapter 35: The Brightness of Light The Blue Mountain team was in Drago''s dojo, preparing for an intense training session. The atmosphere was serious, but there was a certain air of confidence in the environment... especially for Luz. ? The unexpected comments While Luz was adjusting her swimsuit, a couple of guys from the Red Dragon team approached her. "Hey... can I tell you something?" said one of them, a tall and corpulent young man. Luz sighed, preparing to receive a mockery or some unpleasant comment. ¡ª...What''s up? The boy rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable. "Well... seriously, you look very good." Luz blinked, incredulous. "Excuse me?" "Yes... we all said that... well, you have an incredible style, you look sure of yourself and..." The other boy, thinner but just as nervous, intervened. Seriously, it shows that you are someone who knows how to stand out. Luz was speechless. "Aren''t they making fun of me?" Both boys quickly denied. "No!" Seriously, really... we know you have a boyfriend, and that''s fine... but, what advice can you give us to have that security that you have? You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. For a second, Luz didn''t know what to say. Then, his radiant smile appeared. "Well... get ready to learn from the best." ? The master of security During the training break, Luz organized an improvised "class" for a small group of boys from the Red Dragon team. "The first thing is the posture..." he said, placing his hands on his waist. It''s not about being the most handsome or the most muscular, it''s about how you present yourself. Luz walked gracefully along the edge of the pool, moving her hips subtly. "And of course... never be afraid of what makes you different." If you have a good ass... use it to your advantage! -he said, giving a slight turn to show his greatest attribute with pride. The boys couldn''t help laughing, but they also took note. "What if people laugh at you?" one of them asked. Luz smiled calmly. "What does it matter?" You don''t have to like everyone... you just have to like yourself. ? Training under pressure That afternoon, during the training session, Luz noticed that several Red Dragon boys were watching him. "Great... now everyone is watching me..." he murmured, feeling that the pressure invaded him. "Are you okay?" Tali¨®n asked, noticing that Luz looked uncomfortable. Luz took a deep breath. "Yes... I''m fine." When she immersed herself in the water, Luz remembered her own words: "You don''t have to like everyone... you just have to like yourself." With that thought, he swam with renewed confidence. His strokes were fluid, his turns in the pool were cleaner than ever. "Come on, Luz!" Bruno shouted from the shore. When she reached the end of the pool, Luz came out of the water panting... but with a huge smile on her face. "Unbelievable!" said one of the boys who had praised him before. "Yes!" That was great! -added another. Luz couldn''t help but smile proudly. ? The pride of the Blue Mountain That night, while the team was resting in the dojo, Tali¨®n sat next to Luz. "You know what?" Today was the first time I saw those guys looking at you with respect... not as someone weird, but as someone incredible. Luz smiled. "Well... if I''ve learned something, it''s that having a big ass is a blessing. Tali¨®n laughed out loud. "That''s true!" he said, and without thinking much about it, he gave him a playful squeeze on the ass. "Hey!" Luz said, laughing. I''m not even surprised anymore... if you don''t do it, I feel like something is wrong. They both laughed while the rest of the team looked at them with affection. "Blue Mountain is at its best... and the best is yet to come." Aurora said, convinced that they were ready for anything. ? End of Chapter 35 Chapter 36: flow like water Chapter 36: flow like water The sun illuminated the dojo pool when a new figure approached the Blue Mountain team. "So you''re the famous Jocelyn..." said a voice full of arrogance. Jocelyn looked up. In front of her was a tall girl, with black hair and a sharp look. His eyes distilled confidence and provocation. "And who are you supposed to be?" Jocelyn replied, crossing her arms. "My name is Nadia... I''m the best swimmer on the Loyo team, but for you... I''ll be the reason why you''ll fail. ? Nadia, the dangerous rival Nadia not only had an arrogant attitude; she was also cunning. During training, she managed to pass by Jocelyn and make comments that gradually tried to demoralize her. "You''re going to need something more than effort to reach me... but don''t worry, not everyone is made to win. "Don''t you get tired of being left behind?" "Are you slow by nature or is it part of your style?" The comments began to bother Jocelyn, but she held back. I wouldn''t fall for his game. "Are you really not going to answer anything?" Bruno asked him, worried. "No," Jocelyn said, clenching her fists. I''m going to show him who I am in the water. ? Bruno''s confession That afternoon, after training, Bruno walked nervously next to Valeria. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Hey... I wanted to talk to you," he said, with a trembling voice. "What''s wrong?" she asked, smiling. Bruno swallowed saliva. "Look... I know I''m a little clumsy sometimes... and that I''m not the strongest or fastest guy on the team... but... Valeria stared at him, attentive to every word. ¡ª...But since I met you, I have felt that... I want to be better, I want to grow... because I care about you. Bruno closed his eyes, waiting for an answer. Suddenly, he felt how Valeria approached and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "You''re already amazing, Bruno... and I love you just the way you are." Bruno was speechless, but a huge smile lit up his face. "I promise I''ll make you feel proud." "You already do it." Valeria replied, taking his hand sweetly. ? Jocelyn''s challenge The training progressed and Nadia kept throwing provocations. "I hope you''re ready for tomorrow''s race," Nadia said, with a mocking smile. I don''t want you to make excuses when you lose. This time, Jocelyn didn''t take it anymore. "Do you want to talk about excuses?" he replied, staring at her. Tomorrow at the pool we''ll see who''s the best. "I hope you have something special up your sleeve... because I''m going to leave you behind." Jocelyn walked away without looking back, feeling that she had finally channeled all the accumulated anger into pure motivation. ? The day of the test The pool was surrounded by equipment and spectators. Nadia and Jocelyn prepared in their respective lanes. "Ready to lose?" Nadia whispered. Jocelyn didn''t answer. He just took a deep breath and concentrated on his training. "In his marks..." "You''re ready!" BEEP Both jumped into the water with impressive force. Nadia took the lead in the first 25 meters, but Jocelyn was not left behind. His precise breathing technique allowed him to maintain calm and rhythm. At 50 meters, Jocelyn was already on par. "Come on, Jocelyn!" Aurora shouted from the shore. There were only 10 meters left for the goal... and that''s when Jocelyn remembered Aurora''s words: "Concenter on your own rhythm... the rest will be left behind." With a final impulse, Jocelyn reached out... and touched the wall before Nadia. The stopwatch didn''t lie: Jocelyn had won by half a second. ? Nadia''s reaction Nadia came out of the water furious. "You''re lucky..." he murmured. This is not over. Jocelyn smiled, with no trace of anger or nervousness. "Good luck?" No... this is just the result of my effort. Nadia didn''t answer. She just walked away, furious but with silent respect in her eyes. Aurora, Tali¨®n, Bruno and Luz ran to hug Jocelyn, celebrating her victory. "I knew you would make it," Aurora said, smiling proudly. "Yes... and this is just the beginning." Jocelyn replied, with a firm look. ? End of Chapter 36 Chapter 37: Road to France Chapter 37: Road to France The sun barely came out when the Blue Mountain team boarded the plane bound for France. There was only one week left for the Olympics, and the team was more motivated than ever. ? The journey and sadness of Azrat During the flight, the atmosphere was relaxed. Tali¨®n and Luz shared jokes while Bruno, Jocelyn and Aurora chatted about their plans in France. However, Azrat was silent, looking out the window with a frown. "Are you okay?" Aurora asked him, noticing his silence. Azrat sighed and took out his phone. On the screen you could see a photo of him with Stephanie, hugging in a cafeteria. "I can''t take her with me..." he said in a dull voice. We were supposed to celebrate together when this time came... Aurora patted him on the back. "Why can''t he go?" "They rejected it because it was not on the guest list... and since "no one has seen it", they thought it was my invention. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Aurora smiled tenderly. "Well, maybe I can see you on television... Azrat smiled slightly. "Yes... maybe." ? Comic scenes with Luz and Tali¨®n During the tour of the Olympic facilities, the team was impressed by the magnitude of the place. The pool was huge and the atmosphere was full of energy. But, as always, Tali¨®n did not miss the opportunity to play with Luz. "Hey... are you sure that swimsuit won''t break?" Tali¨®n said, giving him a slight squeeze on his butt. Luz was startled, but just smiled. "You know what?" I''m not surprised anymore... if you don''t, I feel like something is wrong. The team, which was nearby, laughed out loud. "God... this is already part of our routine." Bruno commented. And as if that wasn''t enough, minutes later, Talion bothered him again. This time he gave him a slight push in the chest. "How the hell do you have this so firm?" Talion said, fascinated. "And how the hell do you have those big arms?" Luz replied, pushing her biceps with a smile. ? The arrival of the Frenchman At the end of the day, when the team was exploring the swimmers'' rest area, a tall and elegant figure approached. "So... this is the famous Blue Mountain..." he said in a marked French accent. The team turned to see a tall young man, with perfectly combed blond hair and eyes as cold as ice. "And you are... who?" Azrat asked, crossing his arms. "My name is Alexandre Duvier..." said the Frenchman with a confident smile. And don''t worry... I''ll be waiting for you in the final... if you arrive. The tone of his voice was not mocking, but completely sure of himself. Alexandre didn''t need to intimidate... his presence was enough. "We''ll see who arrives first..." Tali¨®n said, without losing his temper. Alexandre smiled with disdain and walked away, leaving an air of tension behind him. "That guy..." Luz murmured. I don''t like it at all. "Don''t worry..." Tali¨®n said, with a defiant smile. We will defeat him in the water. ? End of chapter 37 Chapter 38: The Power of Calm Chapter 38: The Power of Calm The Monta?a Azul team had spent the last few days training intensively at the Olympic facilities. With each stroke, with each dive, they felt that the moment was approaching... the Olympics were about to begin. ? Training under Alexandre''s gaze While the team practiced, a figure watched from the stands. Alexandre Duvier, the French prodigy, stared at Talion as he moved precisely in the water. When Tali¨®n left the pool to rest, Alexandre approached with a neutral expression. "You''re fast... but not as fast as you think." Talion looked at him sideways, without bothering. "Did you come to spy on us or did you just want to talk?" Alexandre let out a slight laugh. "Don''t get confused... I didn''t come to provoke you." I came to make something clear. Tali¨®n crossed his arms, listening attentively. "This competition is not just for you to shine." This is my land... and I will defend my honor. I have nothing against you... but if you try to take away what I''ve worked all my life... I won''t leave it easy for you. Talion showed no fear or anger. "I didn''t come to snatch anything from you... I came to show what we''re worth." Alexandre smiled half-heartedly. "Then may the best win... This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. They both looked at each other for a few seconds. There was respect in his eyes, but also determination. "See you in the pool," Alexandre said, walking away calmly. ? Bruno''s nervousness Hours later, in the dressing rooms, Bruno stared at himself in the mirror. His hands were shaking. "I can''t do it..." he murmured. I can''t... "What can''t you do?" Aurora asked, entering the dressing room with a bottle of water. Bruno sighed, unable to hide his nervousness. "All of you are incredible... Tali¨®n, Azrat, even Luz... but I... what if I''m wrong?" What happens if I ruin the team''s opportunity? Aurora stared at him and approached him calmly. "You know what?" What you feel... is normal. Bruno looked at her confused. "Normal?" "Yes." Aurora put a hand on her shoulder. Fear is okay... because it means that this matters to you. But you can''t let me control you. Bruno lowered his head. "And what do I do then?" Aurora smiled. "Remember why you started swimming... Do you do it for us?" For the Olympics? Or for someone else? Bruno was silent for a few seconds... then he thought of Valeria, of her smiles when she watched him compete, of how he always believed in him. "I do it for her... "Then think about that every time you get nervous." Aurora smiled. You''ll swim well... because you won''t do it out of pressure... you''ll do it for love. Aurora''s words shocked him. Bruno nodded firmly. "Thank you..." "And if you feel nervous out there..." Aurora added, giving her a light blow on the arm. Look where we''ll be. We are all with you. ? The team is ready That night, the Blue Mountain team met in a small room of the Olympic complex. Aurora, Bruno, Jocelyn, Azrat, Luz and Tali¨®n sat in a circle, in silence. "Everything starts tomorrow..." Aurora said, in a calm voice. "Yes..." Talion murmured, looking at his hands. "We''re going to win..." Azrat said, with total certainty. Luz smiled, resting her head on Tali¨®n''s shoulder. "There''s no way we can lose... we have the king of the ass, the "Azrat Prime", the rude Jocelyn, the strategist Aurora, our future champion Bruno... Bruno smiled slightly. "And of course..." Luz added. To the boy who can swim like an orca. Talion smiled when he heard that. "We are going to show you who is the best team in the world... The team put their hands together in the center and with energy they shouted: "MONTAAAA?A AZUUUUUL!" ? The beginning of the Olympics The next day, the doors of the Olympic stadium opened. The screams of the audience rumbled in the air as each team paraded with pride. When the Blue Mountain team crossed the entrance, Tali¨®n felt something in his chest... a mixture of adrenaline, nerves and excitement. Standing, at the other end of the stadium, was Alexandre Duvier, watching him with a firm look. The Olympics had begun. ? End of chapter 38 Chapter 39: Between Pressure and Glory Chapter 39: Between Pressure and Glory The Olympic stadium roared with the screams of thousands of people. The Olympics had officially begun, and the first to compete for the Blue Mountain team would be Bruno and Jocelyn. ? The first test - Bruno in the water Bruno stood on the exit platform, feeling that the whole world weighed on his shoulders. The echo of the audience, the cameras focusing on him and the nerves in his stomach had him on the verge of collapse. "I can''t... I can''t..." he murmured to himself. Then, he looked to the side. There was Valeria, standing next to the Blue Mountain team. She smiled at him and raised her thumb. "I do it for her..." she remembered. He took a deep breath. The fear was still there... but now he was willing to face it. "To your marks... ready!" BEEP Bruno jumped into the water. His strokes were strong, but his thoughts betrayed him. "What if I don''t arrive?" "What if I make a mistake?" "What if I lose?" Halfway through the route, he felt that he was losing his rhythm. One of his rivals began to get ahead. "Come on, Bruno!" Aurora shouted from the shore. Bruno gritted his teeth. "No... I won''t give up." He remembered Aurora''s words: Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. "Nothing for what you love..." The images of his workouts, his talks with Aurora and the moments with Valeria crossed his mind. "I''M NOT GOING TO FAIL!" he shouted in his mind. With an explosion of force, Bruno propelled his body with everything he had. Bruno touched the wall... and the stopwatch stopped his account. "Second place!" the announcer announced. Bruno emerged from the water and looked at the scoreboard... he had only lost by 0.04 seconds. "You did it, Bruno!" Valeria shouted, running to hug him. "I didn''t win..." he murmured, still panting. "You didn''t win the gold... but you did win the fight against yourself." Aurora said, proud. And at that moment, Bruno understood that he had not failed... he had given his best version. ? The second test - Jocelyn and her moment of truth Hours later, Jocelyn was preparing for her race. In front of her, on the opposite platform, was Nadia, who did not miss the opportunity to provoke her. "Ready to be humiliated?" Nadia said with an arrogant smile. "Speak when you have something new to say," Jocelyn replied, standing firm. Nadia laughed with disdain. The starting shot sounded, and both jumped into the water. Nadia started with incredible speed, taking the lead in the first 25 meters. "Come on, Jocelyn... you can..." Tali¨®n murmured from the shore. Jocelyn struggled not to lose the rhythm, but Nadia''s advantage seemed impossible to recover. "No... I can''t..." he thought, feeling that he was drowning in his own fears. Then, he remembered something that Aurora had told him days before: "People who belittle you... only fear your true power. When you stop being afraid, you will see that you were always better." Jocelyn closed her eyes for a second, she was filled with confidence... and accelerated. His strokes were firmer. The pain in his muscles disappeared. His negative thoughts were silenced. Just 15 meters from the finish line, Jocelyn had reached Nadia. "Come on, come on, come on!" Luz shouted, waving her arms. With a last impulse, Jocelyn stretched with all her strength. BEEP The swimmers came out of the water, both panting. They looked at the scoreboard... Jocelyn had won by 0.03 seconds! "I DID IT!" Jocelyn shouted, while her friends ran to hug her. Nadia was silent, incredulous. In the end, he approached Jocelyn and, without smiling, shook her hand. "It''s not bad... but don''t trust yourself." "I won''t." Jocelyn replied, with a defiant smile. ? The team celebrates That night, the team met at the Olympic village to have dinner together. "Well?" Azrat said, serving himself a large plate of pasta. How do you feel now, champions? "I feel... proud," Jocelyn said, raising her glass. "And I..." Bruno sighed, smiling. I feel... happy. Valeria kissed him on the cheek. "I''m proud of you too... Talion stood up and raised his glass. "Today they showed that it doesn''t matter if you win or lose... what matters is to give everything. And today, you did it. "For the Blue Mountain!" Aurora shouted. "For the Blue Mountain!" they all answered in unison. ? End of chapter 39 Chapter 40: The glow before chaos Chapter 40: The glow before chaos The third day of competition had arrived, and this time it was Luz''s turn. The atmosphere was full of energy, but also of expectations. ? The message of Tali¨®n In the dressing room, Luz looked in the mirror, adjusting her swimming cap. His expression, which normally radiated confidence, now showed nervousness. "Are you okay?" Tali¨®n asked, entering the dressing room. "I don''t know..." Luz replied. Everyone expects me to do something incredible, but... what if I don''t succeed? Talion put his hands on his shoulders. "Listen to me... no one in this competition has your energy, your style or your confidence. Not only are you fast... you''re amazing because it''s you. Do what you always do... and you''ve already won. Luz smiled, feeling a tingling in her chest. "Thank you, Talion... "And remember..." Tali¨®n added, with a mischievous smile. That ass is my lucky charm, so show them what you''re made of. Luz let out a laugh, regaining her confidence. ? Light, the show in the water The audience burst into screams when Luz climbed onto the exit platform. "Look at that!" The most charismatic swimmer with the most impressive physique of the tournament! -announced the commentator-. But be careful... this boy is more than a pretty face. His technique in the water is lethal. The commentator didn''t stop praising him. ¡ªWithout a doubt, this swimmer has attracted attention for his great ability... and his iconic physical attributes... The audience applauded and Luz, with her typical style, looked at the cameras, winked and gave a slight movement of her hips, leaving the audience euphoric. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Even Alexandre Duvier, from the tribune, commented in a dry tone: "I''m not going to lie... I''m jealous." Tali¨®n, from the stands, laughed proudly. "And who doesn''t?" ? The unexpected accident BEEP The race began. Luz jumped into the water, sliding smoothly. During the first 50 meters he went to the head, moving with agility and confidence. But then it happened. On the final lap, Luz made a bad turn and hit her arm hard against the wall. "What was that?!" the commentator shouted. Luz tried to continue, but her left arm was stiff and she could barely move it. "Come on, Luz!" Don''t give up! - shouted Tali¨®n from the stands. With great effort, Luz tried to continue, but the pain was unbearable. He was forced to stop and get out of the water. Talion, Aurora and the rest of the team ran towards him. "What happened?" Aurora asked, worried. "My arm..." Luz said, with red eyes. I can''t move it... I can''t continue. The Blue Mountain team was shocked. It looked like they were about to lose the competition. ? Aurora to the rescue "He''s not lost!" shouted a voice. Everyone turned around and saw Aurora running towards the edge of the pool. "Aurora..." Bruno murmured. But you can''t compete... "Yes, I can!" Aurora said, with a determined look. The judge approached, confused. "I''m sorry, but you''re not registered... "Yes, I am." Aurora took a small paper out of her pants pocket. I signed up under the name of "Yessy". "Yessy?" Azrat repeated, incredulous. But why? "In case something went wrong... and I knew it could happen." Aurora looked at Luz. I promised you that I would always protect this team. The judge reviewed the document and nodded. "It''s inside... but the competition starts in 3 minutes." "That''s all I need." Aurora quickly took off her pants and T-shirt, revealing her swimsuit. His well-defined muscles surprised everyone. Tali¨®n approached. "Aurora... are you sure?" She looked at him for sure. "This coach was a swimmer before teaching them... now you''ll see why." ? Aurora, the water beast When the outgoing whistle sounded, Aurora threw herself into the water with an impressive speed. "Incredible!" Look at that start! - the commentator shouted. Aurora cut the water like a knife. His technique was so precise that he seemed to float on the surface. "Where did this woman come from?" It''s a beast! Alexandre, who was watching from the stand, frowned. "Who the hell is that...?" Aurora accelerated in the last meters, surpassing the three swimmers who were in front of her. When he touched the wall... Aurora had won the race by more than a second of advantage! The audience exploded in applause. Luz, with tears in her eyes, limped to the shore and hugged Aurora. "You did it..." he murmured. "We did it..." Aurora replied, smiling. ? The team celebrates... and the rival observes Back in the Olympic village, Aurora was received as a heroine. The Monta?a Azul team celebrated euphoric, but in the shadow of a corner, Alexandre Duvier watched in silence. "That team... they''re not just swimmers..." he murmured. His eyes hardened. "They''re going to be a real problem... ? End of chapter 40 Chapter 41: The Rebirth of the Legend Chapter 41: The Rebirth of the Legend The time had come. Azrat was on the exit platform, his muscles tense, his mind focused. This was his test, his time to show that he could shine as much as any of his companions... or even more. ? The pressure on Azrat The audience roared. The announcer announced energetically: "And now, in lane 4... the Blue Mountain swimmer... Azrat Prime! Azrat swallowed saliva. He recalled his defeat in the previous competition, when he was so close to winning but he didn''t succeed. "This time... I won''t lose." From the stands, Tali¨®n, Luz, Aurora, Bruno and Jocelyn watched with tension. "Come on, friend..." Tali¨®n whispered. ? The race begins "To your marks!" Azrat was placed in position. His breathing was slow, controlled. "Ready...!" BEEP Azrat jumped into the water like lightning. His dive was perfect, taking the lead in the first meters. "Incredible start of Azrat Prime!" the announcer announced. It''s in first place! The first laps were impeccable. Azrat moved with force and precision, feeling that all his training was finally bearing fruit. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Come on, Azrat!" Luz shouted, jumping in the stands. But then it happened. In the third lap, Azrat missed his lap. He lost control by a fraction of a second and came out badly positioned. "Oh no!" Azrat has lost speed! - shouted the commentator. Two swimmers overcame it. In the last stretch, Azrat was in fourth place. ? The moment of truth "No... I can''t lose..." Dark thoughts invaded his mind. "Talion... Bruno... Luz... everyone managed to prove their worth... and what about me? The second better again?" His muscles were burning. The tiredness was consuming him. But then he remembered. The day he saw Tali¨®n save that child from the water. The day he saw Luz swim with confidence despite her fears. The day he saw Bruno overcome his insecurities. "I can''t lose... I''m part of the Blue Mountain." And then, as if a spark lit a flame inside him, Azrat Prime woke up. "LET''S GO, AZRAT!" Aurora shouted from the stands. The pain in his arms faded. His body stopped resisting. Azrat felt the water flow in his favor, as if each stroke pushed twice as hard. With superhuman speed, Azrat regained third place... then second... "What''s going on?!" Azrat Prime is accelerating like a beast! -shouted the announcer. In the last five meters, Azrat and the rival swimmer were side by side. "DON''T STOP!" Talion shouted with all his strength. "FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAIN!" Azrat shouted in his mind. With a last impulse, he stretched out his arm and... BEEP ? The result Silence invaded the stadium. The swimmers gasped in the water, all looking at the scoreboard. "No... it can... be..." the commentator murmured. Azrat had won by 0.01 seconds. The Monta?a Azul team exploded in screams. Luz jumped on Tali¨®n, Aurora hugged Bruno, and Jocelyn screamed like crazy. Azrat came out of the water with tears in his eyes. "I DID IT!" Talion came running to him and lifted him in the air. "You''re a beast, Azrat!" A beast! "I knew it... I knew you could do it!" Aurora said, visibly excited. Even Alexandre Duvier, from the stands, watched in silence. "That boy... has something special..." he murmured respectfully. ? The pride of Azrat That night, while the team was celebrating, Azrat moved away for a moment to look at the stars. "Can I accompany you?" Tali¨®n said, approaching. Azrat nodded. "Today you won your title..." Tali¨®n said, with a smile. You are no longer "the second best". Azrat smiled, proud. "Today I wasn''t just a swimmer... I was a champion." Both slumped their fists and remained silent under the night sky. ? End of Chapter 41 ? Chapter 42: Before the Roar Chapter 42: Before the Roar The air in the Olympic village was tense, but within the Monta?a Azul team there was something different... a mixture of calm, nerves and, above all, union. Tali¨®n knew that this was the night to talk to each of his friends before the grand final. ? The talk with Bruno Bruno was on the balcony, looking at the city lights. Talion approached in silence. "Nervous?" Talion asked. Bruno nodded. "But also... excited." I never thought I''d get here. Talion smiled at him. "Do you remember the boy who got nervous even in training?" That boy is gone... Now you are someone who faced his fears and got here. Bruno smiled proudly. "Tomorrow... I won''t compete for myself... I''ll compete for all of you." "And we will be shouting your name," Tali¨®n said, patting him on the shoulder. ? The talk with Jocelyn Jocelyn was in the gym, repeating some exercises to clear her mind. Tali¨®n approached with a smile. "Nervous?" "Nervous?" she said, laughing. Nah... I''m just warming up to break the face of whoever gets in front of me. Talion laughed. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "That''s what I like about you... no matter how much they doubt you, you always come back stronger. Jocelyn smiled, proud. "Tomorrow... I''m going to show you that Monta?a Azul doesn''t give up. "I know... because you are part of the heart of this team." ? The talk with Azrat Azrat was sitting by the pool, staring at the water. "Everything okay, champion?" Tali¨®n said, sitting next to him. "Yes..." Azrat said, with a slight smile. It''s just that... tomorrow is the last test... the grand final... "And that worries you?" Azrat shook his head. "No... I''m excited." I''m ready to give the Blue Mountain another victory. Talion stretched out his fist. "If someone can do it... it''s you, Azrat Prime." They both laughed and smumped their fists. ? The talk with Aurora Aurora was sitting on the terrace, looking at the sky. "Ready for the grand final?" Tali¨®n asked, approaching. "Me?" Always. -she replied with a smile. Aurora paused, then looked at Talion seriously. "Listen... no matter what happens tomorrow, you''ve already made history." Tali¨®n looked at her surprised. "History?" "Yes... you managed to make this team, which was always seen as a group of losers, is now recognized as a team of champions. Whatever happens... you made everyone believe in themselves. Talion felt a lump in his throat. "Thank you, Aurora... She gave him a soft blow on the shoulder. "Now go and kiss your boyfriend, who I know is waiting for you." ? The night of Talion and Luz When Tali¨®n entered his room, he found Luz lying on the bed, barely covered with a sheet. "You took too long..." Luz said, with a playful smile. Talion laughed. "You know... I had to encourage the whole team... Luz stretched slowly, showing her silhouette in the dim light. "And what about me?" Don''t you need to give me some motivation too? Talion approached slowly, climbing on the bed. His hands caressed Luz''s waist, and his lips met hers. The kiss was slow, deep, as if the world disappeared. "Tomorrow I''m going to win..." Tali¨®n whispered against his lips. But tonight... I only want you. Luz smiled, letting Talion explore every inch of her skin. The room was filled with sighs, caresses and desire. The two got carried away, without haste, without pressure... just the two of them, enjoying intimacy before the big day. ? The dawn of the grand final The sun barely rose when the Monta?a Azul team met in the tunnel that led to the Olympic pool. Talion took a deep breath. "Ready?" he asked. "Ready!" everyone shouted. The presenter announced: "It''s time for the grand final!" The competitors are already ready... Let the countdown begin! "3..." Tali¨®n closed his eyes, thinking about every training, every sacrifice, every smile of his friends. "2..." Luz looked at him from the stands, with an accomplice smile that made him feel unstoppable. "1..." Talion leaned over the exit platform. "ALREADY!" ? End of chapter 42 Chapter 43: The Roar of the Champion Chapter 43: The Roar of the Champion The dawn brought with it an icy breeze that ran through the Olympic facilities. Talion, with his swimming suit on, was sitting near the pool when a familiar voice took him out of his thoughts. "Aren''t you nervous?" It was Alexandre Duvier, the great rival. "Nervous, yes... but also excited." Talion replied, getting up. Alexandre crossed his arms, his tone was firm but calm. "I know you''ve worked hard to get here... but so do I." Talion nodded. "I know... but today I didn''t come to lose." Alexandre smiled slightly. "Then let''s give a worthy show... Don''t forget, if you beat me today... I''ll be waiting for you at next year''s World Tournament. "Whenever you want," Tali¨®n replied with a confident smile. ? The grand final: Tali¨®n vs Alexandre The stadium was full. The audience chanted names, but the tension between the two main swimmers dominated the atmosphere. "It''s the decisive moment!" Blue Mountain team against the French prodigy, Alexandre Duvier! - announced the announcer. They both got on the platform. Tali¨®n closed his eyes, feeling his heart beat hard. "For my team... for my family... for myself..." "To your marks...!" Talion tilted his body. "Ready...!" BEEP ? The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The water monster Talion was launched with an explosion of energy. In the first meters, Alexandre managed to keep up with his rhythm, but then something incredible happened. Tali¨®n accelerated... and in a movement that no one expected, he jumped out of the water, propelling himself completely in the air and diving again with a force that made the waves open behind him. The audience was stunned. "But what the hell was that?! Talion literally flew over the water! - shouted the commentator. Alexandre, who had tried to stay close, was completely left behind. With each stroke, Talion seemed to move faster, as if the water pushed him instead of stopping him. It was as if swimming was part of his own nature. "LET''S GO, TALION!" Luz shouted from the stands. The final moment came... and Tali¨®n stretched out his hand. BEEP Silence took hold of the stadium for a few seconds... until the scoreboard lit up. FIRST PLACE: TALION - BLUE MOUNTAIN! The stadium roared like a storm. ? The champion celebrates Talion came out of the water panting. Aurora, Azrat, Bruno, Jocelyn and Luz ran to him and hugged him tightly. Luz, without holding back, gave him a passionate kiss in front of everyone. "You''re incredible!" he said, with tears in his eyes. Tali¨®n kissed him back with a smile. "I did it for you... for all of you." While they were celebrating, someone else approached: Alexandre. "I can''t lie... I didn''t expect you to do something like that," he said, extending his hand. Today you were superior... but don''t trust yourself... next year I''ll be waiting for you. Talion shook his hand. "Count on that." ? The big surprise: Stephanie In the middle of the celebration, a scream caught the team''s attention. "AZRAT!" When they turned around, they saw Stephanie running towards Azrat... and before he could react, she threw herself on him, kissing him with such passion that she left everyone speechless. "Was it real?!" Bruno shouted, incredulous. "How the hell?!" Jocelyn put her hands to her head. Stephanie walked away from Azrat and smiled. "Now they do believe me... right?" The team burst out laughing. "I told you, I told you!" Azrat shouted, hugging Stephanie as if he never wanted to let her go again. ? The message of the orcas Suddenly, Tali¨®n received a notification on his phone. When he opened the video, his heart stopped. On the screen, Flippy, Storm and Blaze, her three orca friends, appeared swimming together. The message was clear: they were moving in circles and hitting the water with their tails... they were congratulating him. Talion let out a laugh between tears. "Thank you..." she whispered, feeling a stronger connection than ever with her marine friends. Luz approached and saw the video. "They always believed in you... just like us." Talion smiled and kissed Luz on the forehead. "We''ve already won... ? A photo for the story With the family members of the team present, everyone gathered for a great photograph. Aurora, Azrat (with Stephanie hugging him), Jocelyn, Bruno (hand in hand with Valeria), Luz and Tali¨®n smiled together, happy and proud of what they had achieved. Meanwhile, in the stand, Alexandre looked at the scene with a slight smile. "Next year... it will be different..." he murmured. But deep down, even he knew that on that day... Blue Mountain had become a legend. ? End of chapter 43 Chapter 44: The Return of the Champions Chapter 44: The Return of the Champions The plane landed on Mexican soil and, when they went down, the Monta?a Azul team was received as heroes. Posters, banners and people shouting their names awaited them at the airport. "Look! It''s them! The champions! -shouted someone from the crowd. Tali¨®n, Luz, Azrat, Aurora, Bruno and Jocelyn looked at each other and, almost synchronously, raised their arms. "MONTAAAA?A AZUUUUUL!" they shouted together, receiving an ovation that made their skin bristle. ? Remembering the road traveled The team decided to spend the afternoon together, having dinner at Tali¨®n''s favorite restaurant. While they were eating, Aurora raised her glass. "Do you realize what we have achieved?" she said excitedly. A year ago no one gave anything for us... but now we are champions. Azrat smiled, with his arm on Stephanie''s shoulders. "Do you remember when I almost lost the race because I did the wrong turn?" I thought it was finished... "And look what you ended up in... in a monster!" Bruno said, raising his glass. Jocelyn intervened, laughing. "And do you remember when Luz went to the wrong room and Tali¨®n hugged him thinking it was a stuffed animal?" This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The group burst out laughing. "I still can''t get over how the boy who was drowning ended up hugging Tali¨®n as if he were his Marvel hero!" Aurora said, drying her tears of laughter. Luz, with a malicious smile, looked at Tali¨®n. "And do you remember how Tali¨®n discovered that I had this..." he pointed to his ass with a mischievous smile. "...complete package?" The group burst out laughing again, while Talion simply shrugged. "What can I say?" It''s impossible to ignore something so... juicy. -he said with a mocking tone, stretching his hand to give a shameless touch to Luz, who just smiled and winked at him. "He''s already part of the team!" If he doesn''t touch Luz''s ass, it''s not our Talion! -Azrat shouted, raising his glass jokingly. The team toasted, laughing, enjoying the moment as friends and champions. ? The night of the gift Late at night, Tali¨®n returned home. I was tired, but happy. "What a day..." he murmured, taking off his shirt and leaving his things on the floor. Then he noticed that the light in his room was off, but the door was ajar. "Luz... are you here?" he said as he approached. Upon entering, the room was barely illuminated by the light of a dim lamp. On the bed, completely naked and barely covered with a white sheet, was Luz, biting her lip with a mischievous look. "I thought you wouldn''t come anymore..." Luz whispered in a seductive voice. Tali¨®n swallowed saliva, feeling the heat run through his body. "Is this... my gift?" Luz slowly removed the sheet, leaving every curve of her body in sight. "You promised me that when we returned, we would celebrate it in our own way... so... I''m here, champion. Without saying more, Talion closed the door behind him. What happened next was left in complete darkness... but the sighs, moans and the slight sound of a creaking bed told the rest of the story. ? The dawn after love The next day, Tali¨®n woke up with Luz by his side, wrapped in the sheets and with disheveled hair. Luz smiled sleepy and gave him a soft kiss on the chest. "Definitely... you were the real champion last night..." he said with a mischievous smile. Talion laughed and stroked his back. "And what if I ask for revenge tomorrow?" "Mmm..." Luz settled on top of him. Whenever you want, champion... whenever you want. ? End of chapter 44 Chapter final : The glory of Blue Mountain Chapter final : The glory of Blue Mountain Three months had passed since the historic victory of the Monta?a Azul team in the Olympics. Although time had advanced, the memories were still alive in each of them. ? The new direction of each one Bruno had achieved more than he ever imagined. Thanks to his incredible performance, he was invited to be part of a prestigious swimming club where he would continue to perfect his technique. However, his greatest happiness was having Valeria by his side, who had supported him at every step. "Do you see it?" she told him one night. You were much stronger than you thought... Bruno just smiled, knowing that he was right. ? Jocelyn also found her way. Although at first he only swam to compete, he discovered that he loved teaching. She became an assistant coach at her old school, helping young talents find their passion for swimming. "Now I''m the one who gives the advice... how crazy..." he said with a smile while watching his students swim. ? Azrat had surprised everyone by announcing that he would join an international professional swimming league. With him, Stephanie was always present, supporting him in every training. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Did I tell you or not?" he repeated constantly. Azrat Prime never gives up! On the day of his departure, Azrat said goodbye to his friends with a firm hug and a promise: ¡ªSee you soon... at the World Tournament. ? Aurora decided to stay at the Monta?a Azul school as an official coach. Thanks to his guidance, swimming at school went from being "a small club" to one of the most outstanding teams in the country. "This team is not just a story... it''s a family," he said in one of his motivating talks. ? Luz and Talion had achieved what many thought impossible: staying together even after the Olympics. They lived together in a small apartment, where their days were full of laughter, jokes, and of course, constant "touches" on the ass from Tali¨®n. "You can''t help it, can you?" Luz said, laughing. "It''s just that... it''s too perfect." Tali¨®n replied, with a mischievous smile. ? The Blue Mountain meeting One day, the entire team met in the pool of the Blue Mountain school. They sat on the edge of the water, remembering old times. "Do you remember when all this started?" Aurora said. "How to forget..." Bruno said. We were just a group of crazy people who didn''t know what they were doing. "And now... we are champions." Tali¨®n added, proudly. "But don''t forget... we''re still the same crazy people as always." Azrat said, laughing. The team burst out laughing. It was true. The glory had not changed who they were deep down: a family. ? The message of the future While they shared laughter, Tali¨®n''s cell phone vibrated. It was a message... from Alexandre Duvier. "I hope you continued training. Next year, in the World Tournament... I won''t have mercy. Bonne chance, mon ami.¡± Tali¨®n smiled and looked at his friends. "What happened?" Luz asked. Tali¨®n got up, looking full of determination. "A new adventure awaits us... are you ready?" The team looked at each other, smiled and responded in unison: "MONTAAAA?A AZUUUUUL!" ? Champion''s End of Tide o¡­ no¡­ ?? Champion Tide – Season 2 Chapter 1: The return of the team Champion Tide ¨C Season 2 Chapter 1: The return of the team Four months have passed since the historic victory of the Monta?a Azul team in the Olympics. Although the glory was immense, life went on for each of them, taking them on different paths. But now, a new challenge is approaching... the World Tournament. ? Life after glory Tali¨®n walked through the streets of Monterrey with a smile on his face. Although he had enjoyed the break after the Olympics, he felt that he was missing something... the team. ¡°It''s time to get the family together.¡± ? Bruno: The brave one who conquered his insecurity The first destination was the new school where Bruno trained. Upon finding him, Tali¨®n saw him talking to Valeria, who was now officially his girlfriend. "Do you really think I''m going to let you recruit me so easily?" Bruno joked. "I didn''t come to convince you... I came because I know you''ll say yes to me." Talion replied, confident. Bruno smiled. "I don''t have to think about it... count on me." ? Jocelyn: The rude one who found her purpose At the Blue Mountain school, Jocelyn was training a group of young people. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "See, children, less pause and more strokes!" he shouted. When he saw Talion, he crossed his arms. "Are you coming to pick me up?" "I know you can''t resist the adrenaline of the competition." "Do you think I''m that easy?! ... Well, yes... when are we leaving? * -he said smiling. ? Azrat: The soul of the team Azrat was the most complicated to find. He located him in a private gym, with disheveled hair and the most serious look that Tali¨®n had seen in him. "Are you going to tell me to come back?" Azrat said, with a tired smile. "No." I''m just going to remind you that life is better when you''re the soul of the team. Azrat laughed. "And what would the world be without Azrat Prime?" I was already waiting for your call. ? Aurora: The strategist and mentor Aurora had remained as coach of the Blue Mountain team, but her competitive spirit was still alive. "The World Tournament?" she asked. Talion nodded. "Are you going to let us leave without our best strategist?" Aurora smiled, adjusting her cap. "Let my children face each other alone?" I wouldn''t allow it even crazy. ? Light: The heart (and butt) of the team The last recruit was the most special. Tali¨®n returned to his apartment, where he found Luz... wrapped in a bathrobe that barely covered her ass. "And why are you so happy?" Luz said with a playful smile. Tali¨®n hugged him by the waist, sticking their bodies together. "Because you''re back on my team... and also because at this moment I remembered why I love you so much. Luz smiled mischievously, raising an eyebrow. "Because of my great swimming skill... or because of this?" he said, turning slowly so that Tali¨®n could give him another of those iconic shameless touches. "For everything... but this ass is like a magnet... I can''t resist. Luz laughed and took him by the face, kissing him passionately. The tension rose quickly, and soon the bathrobe fell to the floor. Tali¨®n and Luz let themselves fall on the sofa, getting entangled in a scene so intense that the reader would only be able to imagine what happened later... "This... happens almost every day," Tali¨®n thought with a smile before getting lost in the moment. ? A new trip With the team complete again, Tali¨®n met with everyone in the Blue Mountain pool. "This tournament won''t be easy at all... but if anyone can do it, it''s us. "We are champions for something!" said Azrat, with his chest inflated. "And we will be again!" Jocelyn added. "Blue Mountain never gives up!" Bruno shouted. Aurora raised her hand and looked at everyone proudly. "It''s time to make history again." "Blue Mountain!" Luz shouted, raising her fist. "BLUE MOUNTAIN!" they all answered in unison. ? End of chapter 1 Champion Tide – Season 2 Chapter 2: The world is watching them Champion Tide ¨C Season 2 Chapter 2: The world is watching them The Blue Mountain team had returned to the routine after its historic victory in the Olympics. Although their lives had taken different paths for a while, the news of a new competition rekindled the flame of adrenaline. ? Life after gold Each of the team members had gone their own way, but fate had something more prepared for them. Bruno was still training constantly, but no longer with the pressure he felt before. His relationship with Valeria was going well, and for the first time in his life he felt safe both in and out of the water. Jocelyn had become a fierce coach, leading a group of young swimmers to their first victories. Although she liked her life as an instructor, she missed the feeling of competing. Azrat was still the same joker as always, but now with a more focused mentality. "Azrat Prime" was becoming a local legend thanks to his brutal workouts and his fun sessions on social networks. Aurora, on the other hand, had found peace in her role as a mentor of the team. Although he continued to train, it seemed that his days of competing were over... or at least that''s what he thought. Of course, Tali¨®n and Luz remained inseparable. Between workouts and their "intense private sessions" (which already seemed part of their daily routine), both lived a relationship as passionate as it was fun. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ? The news of the World Tournament One morning, while the team was training in the school pool, Aurora entered with a serious expression. "Guys... the news came. "Are those who are already qualified for the World Tournament?" Tali¨®n asked. "Not exactly... Before the Tournament there will be a preliminary competition in Japan. Almost everyone who competes there manages to qualify. But this time... it''s different. The team looked at each other confused. "Why different?" Luz asked. "Because this time... we will represent Mexico." The words resounded like thunder in the room. "We... representing Mexico?" Azrat said, almost without believing it. "We''re going to be the national team!" Bruno shouted, excited. "Blue Mountain raising the flag!" Jocelyn said, her fist up. ? An unexpected recognition That same day, the president of Mexico gave a speech broadcast live from the National Palace. In one of the key moments, he mentioned something that left everyone surprised: ¡ª...And of course, a special thanks to the Olympic champions, the team that took our national pride to the top of the world... the Blue Mountain team! The team, gathered at Aurora''s house, exploded in screams and laughter. "Even the president talks about us!" Azrat shouted, jumping like crazy. "They should give us a monument!" Luz added, laughing while Talion hugged him. ? The new rivals However, it wasn''t all celebrations. In a small television montage, reporters began to show the next rivals that the Monta?a Azul team would have to face: ?? Kwan Ji-Hoon, the Korean prodigy, famous for his incredible butterfly-style technique. ?? Erik Thorsen, the Norwegian titan, known for having an almost inhuman resistance in long-distance tests. ?? Wei Fang, the unstoppable Chinese, known as the "Shark of China" for its spectacular explosive starts. ?? Alexandre Duvier, the French rival who had already promised his revenge. "This is going to be complicated..." Aurora murmured. Talion stood up with a firm look. "It doesn''t matter who''s on the other side... we are Blue Mountain. And we are going to show you that Mexico also knows how to dominate the water. "That fucking!" Azrat shouted, raising his fist. The Blue Mountain team was ready... because the real challenge was just beginning. ? End of chapter 2 Champion Tide – Season 2 Chapter 3: Training, laughter and madness on the beach Champion Tide ¨C Season 2 Chapter 3: Training, laughter and madness on the beach The sun was shining brightly on the shores of Azrat''s house, a place that had already become the training sanctuary of the Blue Mountain team. The sound of the waves accompanied the echo of the strokes and the gasps of the team that tried its best. "Let''s go!" I want to see those arms fly! - Aurora shouted, while watching from the shore. Talion pushed himself forcefully, moving with incredible speed, as if the water belonged to him. By his side, Luz struggled to stay close, taking advantage of his agility. "Don''t trust yourself, champion!" Luz joked, while throwing a splash of water at him. Talion smiled and accelerated even more, leaving Luz behind. "Hey, cheater!" Luz complained, shaking her soaked hair. "You know I''m the king of water, baby," Tali¨®n said, winking at him. ? A training that brought out the best in each one The team trained without rest for hours. ?? Bruno worked on his turning technique, striving to improve the speed of his turns. ?? Jocelyn practiced her resistance, swimming long distances without stopping, showing that her strength continued to grow. ?? Azrat focused on his speed, demonstrating that he could reach rhythms that previously seemed impossible. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ?? Aurora supervised everything like a true leader, correcting key details in each team member. When they finished, everyone was exhausted... except Azrat, who kept jumping like crazy. "How the hell do you still have energy?" Bruno growled, lying in the sand. "I''m Azrat Prime, baby... I never stop." Azrat said, winking at him. ? The night before the trip With the sunset light bathing the beach, the team decided to relax a little. They gathered around an improvised bonfire, sharing stories and laughter. "Do you remember when Luz ended up in Tali¨®n''s bed thinking it was a stuffed animal?" Jocelyn said, laughing. "That was the fault of my sleepwalking!" Luz protested, blushing. "Sleepwalking?" said Tali¨®n, laughing. If you yourself said that you found my chest "warm and comfortable." Luz covered her face, dead of shame. "Now, now, now... shut up." Luz murmured. "And what about the day Azrat tried to introduce us to Stephanie and we all thought he had invented her?" Bruno blurted out laughing. "But they already saw that it''s real!" Azrat protested. And by the way... where is it? The group was silent... until, as if by magic, Stephanie appeared behind Azrat and kissed him on the cheek. "Did you miss me, handsome?" "Did you see that?! This time they did see her! -Azrat shouted excitedly, while the team laughed out loud. ? Private scene: Tali¨®n and Luz Later that night, Tali¨®n and Luz moved a little away from the group to walk along the beach. "Are you nervous about Japan?" Luz asked, intertwining her fingers with Talion''s. "A little... but with you by my side, I always feel calm." Luz smiled and stopped. "Do you want to relax a little more?" he said with a mischievous look. Tali¨®n raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Luz approached, gently biting Talion''s lip. "You know... our special therapy." Talion smiled and took him by the waist. "You''re right... it''s my perfect medicine." What happened next would be lost in the darkness of the beach, but the sighs, the contained laughter and the bodies entangled in the sand made it clear that that night would be unforgettable. ? The trip to Japan The next day, the team boarded the plane bound for Japan. While everyone settled in their seats, Azrat got up and raised his voice: "Friends!" On this trip no one sleeps... let''s talk about the whole flight! "If you dare to wake me up, I''ll throw you out the window!" Jocelyn shouted, throwing a pillow at him. The group burst out laughing, knowing that this new adventure was just beginning. Tali¨®n looked at Luz, who settled on his shoulder to sleep. "We''re going for everything, baby..." Tali¨®n whispered, closing his eyes. ? End of chapter 3 Champion Tide – Season 2 Chapter 4: New faces, old friendships Champion Tide ¨C Season 2 Chapter 4: New faces, old friendships The Blue Mountain team arrived at the airport in Japan with laughter and excitement. For many of them, it was their first time in the land of the rising sun, and the atmosphere of the tournament was already felt in the air. "Do you think someone will recognize us?" Azrat asked, looking around. "Of course... everyone remembers Azrat Prime." Bruno joked, earning a general laugh. ? The host and an unexpected surprise At the exit of the airport, a tall and elegant man was waiting for them who introduced himself as Hiroshi Tanaka, the host of the event. ¡ªWelcome to Japan. I''ve heard a lot about you... especially about you, Tali¨®n. -he said with a polite smile. "I hope not everything you heard is good..." Tali¨®n replied, humbly. While Hiroshi guided them to the bus that would take them to the sports center, a familiar figure appeared in front of them. "Dragon?" Aurora exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" Azrat asked, visibly surprised. Drago smiled confidently. "I guess they didn''t know that I''m actually American... and now I''m going to represent the United States. The Blue Mountain team looked at each other, confused but intrigued. "Well, brother... it doesn''t matter the country you represent," Tali¨®n said with a smile, "... I wish you luck." But when you compete against us, you know what will happen. "I tell you the same." Drago replied, with a defiant smile. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ? The presentation of the rivals Once at the sports center, the Monta?a Azul team met its main rivals: ?? Kwan Ji-Hoon, the Korean prodigy with an intense look, known for his perfect technique in the butterfly style. His attitude was serious, distant, and he barely spoke to the team. ?? Erik Thorsen, the Norwegian with a wide smile and a carefree attitude. His personality was relaxed and a joker, but everyone knew that in the water he was a real beast. ?? Wei Fang, the quiet Chinese swimmer. His serene look hid a great talent in the back style, and his presence imposed respect. ?? Alexandre Duvier, the Frenchman who had already promised revenge against Talion. His gaze crossed with Tali¨®n''s, and both measured themselves in silence. ? The Norwegian and Luz Erik Thorsen, the Norwegian, noticed Luz from the first moment. "Wow... I thought he only came to face great swimmers, but it seems that I will also know great... attributes." he said with a mischievous smile, looking shamelessly at Luz''s ass. Luz turned slowly, with a serious expression. "Save those little eyes, baby... this ass is only for one." he said pointing to Tali¨®n, who was already approaching with a look that said "Don''t mess with my boyfriend." "Relax, champion... I only appreciate the beautiful things in life." said the Norwegian, walking away laughing. "What''s wrong with that idiot?" Tali¨®n growled, while squeezing Luz''s waist in a protective gesture. "Nothing I can''t handle." Luz smiled, moving her hips provocatively. ? Categories and confrontations At the pre-tournament meeting, the following categories were confirmed: ? Bruno would compete in the new 500-meter endurance style. ? Azrat would face Erik Thorsen in an intense speed test. ? Jocelyn would have a complicated challenge against a Japanese rival who presented herself as Mizuki Aoki, a swimmer with impeccable technique. ? Aurora would compete again in a special category of mixed relays. ? Tali¨®n would directly face the four main rivals in the 500-meter freestyle, but his competition would be left for the end. Before the competition began, the rivals greeted Tali¨®n one by one. "I''ve been waiting for you," Kwan Ji-Hoon said in a cold tone. "I hope you''re ready, friend..." Erik Thorsen said, with a confident smile. "When you enter the water... everything will be silence and calm," Wei Fang said in a calm voice. Alexandre Duvier was the last to approach. "This time... I''ll make you swallow those strokes, Mexican." Talion just smiled. "Don''t worry... if you want to see something impossible, you just have to wait for me at the finish line." ? The beginning of the tournament The first races of Talion''s friends were about to begin. The Blue Mountain team met in the dressing room, where Aurora gave the final words. "Don''t forget this..." he said firmly. "We face the best in the world... but you are here because YOU ARE the best in the world. Give it your all. Bruno, Azrat, Jocelyn and Aurora nodded with determination. The chapter closed with Tali¨®n leaning against the wall of the dressing room, watching his team with pride. "We''re going to break their souls..." he murmured to himself. ? End of chapter 4 Chapter 5: Challenges, insults and a promise of greatness Chapter 5: Challenges, insults and a promise of greatness The roar of the audience vibrated in the air. The preliminary competition in Japan was underway, and every swimmer knew that this tournament would not only test their individual skills, but also define who would be in the World Tournament. ? First Race: Jocelyn vs Mizuki Aoki Jocelyn stood next to her rival, the Japanese Mizuki Aoki, a swimmer of perfect technique and with an expression of coldness that would intimidate anyone. "Do you think you can win?" Mizuki said in Japanese. Jocelyn, who didn''t quite understand, just answered with a defiant smile. "I don''t know what you said... but I''ll see you at the finish line." The whistle sounded and both threw themselves into the water. Mizuki took the lead with precise and fluid strokes, but Jocelyn didn''t let that intimidate her. He remembered Aurora''s words: "When you lose the rhythm, don''t think... just feel the water." With an impressive speed, Jocelyn paired the pace and in the final stretch accelerated. His body exploded in a last stroke that left Mizuki speechless. Jocelyn won by half a body! The Blue Mountain team burst into screams of euphoria, and while the audience applauded, Mizuki approached and shook his hand. "Good job... but next time I won''t make it so easy for you." "I hope so." Jocelyn replied, proud. ? Second Race: Bruno vs ¨¢lvaro Torres (Spain) The next to compete was Bruno, who would face the Spaniard ¨¢lvaro Torres, a strong boy with a look of superiority. "Is that the one who represents Mexico?" ¨¢lvaro mocked. You seem more ready to dance than to swim. Bruno didn''t let himself be intimidated. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Just wait for the race to start... I''ll teach you how to dance in the water." The race began and ¨¢lvaro came out like a bullet, taking a clear advantage in the first 100 meters. Bruno gritted his teeth and remembered Aurora''s words: "Don''t win at the beginning, win when everyone is tired." Little by little Bruno began to recover ground. With each stroke he got closer, and in the last stretch, with an incredible final kick, he touched the wall just a fraction of a second before his rival. Bruno got up from the water, breathing with difficulty and feeling that his heart was leaving his chest. ¨¢lvaro, frustrated, approached him. "It wasn''t luck... you''re good." the Spaniard admitted, shaking his hand. "I know," Bruno replied, proud. ? Third Race: Azrat vs Drago This duel had something personal. Azrat and Drago stared at each other from their respective lanes. Both knew that Tali¨®n was already in a higher league, so now it was up to them to show who was the second best. "Ready to lose, Drago?" Azrat said with a mocking smile. "And you, ready to be humiliated in Japan?" Drago replied. Both threw themselves into the water in an explosion of force. It was a brutal confrontation, none of them giving a centimeter. In the final stretch, Azrat launched an explosive kick that catapulted him towards the goal... Tie! They both touched the wall at the same time. The audience went crazy and the judges confirmed that not even a slow motion could define the winner. Azrat came out of the water, exhausted but laughing. "I guess you can''t beat me so easily." "I say the same." Drago replied, shaking his hand. From that moment on, both looked at each other with respect... and with a rivalry that had only just begun. ? Fourth Race: Luz and her unstoppable confidence Before Luz could get into his lane, two rival swimmers began to murmur near him. "Is that the one who looks like a girl?" said one. "Yes... what does someone like that do in an international competition?" said the other. Luz looked at them sideways, took a deep breath and smiled at them. "And do you know what''s the worst thing?" he said, turning around and shamelessly shaking his ass in front of them. This ass... is better than his times in the pool. Talion, who had been watching, let out a proud laugh. "And you said you couldn''t defend yourself?" The race began and Luz, with her confidence at her peak, left her rivals behind with an incredible performance. When he finished, he turned and winked at them. "Do you want me to teach you how to swim?" he said mockingly, leaving the rivals embarrassed. ? The meeting of the big five At the end of the day''s races, the top five met in an exclusive lounge: ? Talion ? Kwan Ji-Hoon ? Erik Thorsen ? Wei Fang ? Alexandre Duvier The atmosphere was tense. "I guess we are destined to face each other..." Erik said, with his classic relaxed smile. "Don''t expect it to be easy." Kwan Ji-Hoon warned. "The waters are calm... but the chaos comes quickly." Wei Fang murmured. Alexandre didn''t say anything, he just stared at Tali¨®n. "And what do you think?" Erik finally asked Tali¨®n. Tali¨®n smiled confidently. "I think you are worried about the 500-meter race... but there is something bigger that is coming. "What do you mean?" Kwan Ji-Hoon asked. Tali¨®n looked at them seriously. "Because this competition will have a relay race... and that''s where Monta?a Azul will show them why we are champions. The four rivals kept silent, understanding that this tournament had much more at stake than they thought. ? End of Chapter 5 Champion Tide – Season 2 Chapter 6: Rivalry, and respect above all Champion Tide ¨C Season 2 Chapter 6: Rivalry, and respect above all The atmosphere in the exclusive room was no longer as tense as before. After exchanging defiant glances, the five swimmers began to relax little by little. ? From rivals to talk partners "Do you remember when Erik tried to swim in pants because he thought it was a "new trend"?" Kwan Ji-Hoon said, laughing. "Hey, hey!" It was an experiment... I wanted to see if that made me faster at the exit. -Erik replied, waving his hands with laughter. "And how about the time that Wei Fang stayed so long meditating before a competition that almost doesn''t reach the exit?" Alexandre added, causing a general laugh. Even Wei Fang, who always spoke in philosophical phrases, smiled and shrugged his shoulders. ¡ªSometimes the mind travels faster than the body. The atmosphere became lighter. At the end of the talk, everyone knew that although they were rivals, they did not hate each other. There were only five people who loved the same sport. "We have to get serious for the cameras..." Alexandre said, standing up. "Let them swallow the story that we are mortal enemies." Erik added, winking. The five left the room with serious and firm faces... but everyone knew that behind those expressions, there was respect and mutual admiration. ? The 500-meter race: The legend of water The audience roared. The presenter net stood mentioning the tension that was felt in the air. It was the most anticipated race of the tournament. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Talion placed himself in his lane. To his left was Kwan Ji-Hoon; to the right, Erik Thorsen. Later, Wei Fang closed the other end, and finally Alexandre Duvier settled in the last lane. The whistle sounded. Talion threw himself into the water like lightning. His arms cut the water with brutal precision. At first, Kwan Ji-Hoon took the lead with a perfect start. Erik Thorsen maintained a constant rhythm, trusting that his resistance would make him come back. Wei Fang swam with the calm of a monk, maintaining a controlled rhythm. Alexandre stayed close, stalking Talion like a predator waiting for the right moment to attack. ? The underwater drama In the third stretch of the race, Tali¨®n felt that his muscles began to get tired. The memories of brutal training and the weight of the pressure seemed to reach him. "No... not now..." he thought. Suddenly, the image of the three orcas appeared in his mind: Flippy, Storm and Blaze, swimming next to him, as if they reminded him that water was his territory. "Water is not your enemy... it is your ally..." With an explosion of energy, Talion regained control and accelerated. ? The champion humiliates... but with class In the final stretch, Tali¨®n swam like a demon. Not only did he reach his rivals, but he walked away from them with an impressive speed. The audience got up from their seats, screaming when they saw how Tali¨®n walked away until he left his rivals almost two bodies ahead. Talion touched the wall and came out of the water with an inflated chest. "What the hell was that?!" the presenter shouted. Erik, Kwan, Wei and Alexandre arrived seconds later, panting with exhaustion. As he got out of the water, Erik approached Talion. "I don''t know what that was... but you''re not human, bastard." he said with a tired smile. Alexandre, despite having lost, held out his hand. "Today you won... but don''t think this is over." "I''ll wait for you in the next one." Tali¨®n replied, shaking his hand. ? The mission of the Blue Mountain team Back in the locker room, the Monta?a Azul team celebrated Tali¨®n''s victory, but they knew that the competition was not over yet. "Listen to me..." Aurora said, getting up. Everyone was silent. -Tomorrow will not be just an individual challenge... it will be the time when everyone shows that we are more than just swimmers... we are a team. His gaze was fixed on each of them. "Today was Talion''s time, but tomorrow is ours. It doesn''t matter who''s on the other side... together, we''re unstoppable. Together, we are champions. And tomorrow, the world will see that the Blue Mountain team is worthy of being remembered forever. "We''re going to break their souls!" Azrat shouted. "We''re going to do it for Mexico!" Bruno added. "For Blue Mountain!" Luz shouted, raising her fist. "MOUNTAAA?A AZUUUUL!" they all roared in unison. ? End of Chapter 6