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," Talión replied with a confident smile.

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  The grand final: Talión 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. Talión 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

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  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.

  Talión 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 Talión 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.

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  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.

  Talión 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.

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  The message of the orcas

  Suddenly, Talión 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...

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  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 Talión 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.

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  End of chapter 43