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, Talión 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.

  Talión 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!"

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  The initial explosion

  Both were launched as projectiles. From the first second, Talión 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.

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  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.

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  ?  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 Talión. But for him, that was enough.

  Talión 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..."

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  The power of the orcas

  In the middle of the race, Drago managed to match the pace of Talión, and both advanced to the same level.

  "No... not now..." Talión thought, feeling the accumulated fatigue.

  But then, the water stopped feeling like an obstacle... and began to feel like an ally.

  Talión 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.

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  The epic ending

  Drago, seeing that Talión 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.

  Talión 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..."

  Talión let out an inner roar, stretched his arm and...

  FINAL TOUCH!

  The enclosure was silent for a second...

  "Winner... Talión, 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.

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  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.

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  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."

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  The perfect closure

  While the team was celebrating in the dressing room, Aurora approached Talión.

  "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.

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  End of chapter 23