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.

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  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?" Talión asked him one morning.

  Azrat looked at him seriously.

  —I can't continue to be “the second best.” No more.

  That day was when Azrat Prime woke up.

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  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.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "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.

  Talión, 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.

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  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.

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  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."

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  The recognition of Talión

  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 Talión'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.

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  End of chapter 34