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.

  Talión 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..." Talión 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, Talión, Jocelyn and Bruno advanced almost at the same level. The tension was unbearable.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  "Come on, Talion!" Luz shouted, with her hands clenched.

  "Don't stop!" Azrat shouted, jumping from his seat.

  Talión 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..."

  Talión 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:

  —Winner: Talión, from the Monta?a Azul team!

  The shouting of the audience was deafening. Luz and Azrat jumped from their seats, running to hug Talión, 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 Talión 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.

  —According to the rules... the winning team will have the right to recruit a member of the opposing team...

  Talión 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.

  Talión 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..." Talión 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