Champion Tide – 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.

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  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.

  —Sometimes 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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  The underwater drama

  In the third stretch of the race, Talión 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.

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  The champion humiliates... but with class

  In the final stretch, Talión 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 Talión 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." Talión replied, shaking his hand.

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  The mission of the Blue Mountain team

  Back in the locker room, the Monta?a Azul team celebrated Talión'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.

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  End of Chapter 6