Champion Tide – Season 2

  Chapter 9: A new beginning and a rivalry between friends

  The Blue Mountain team was more united than ever. After the reconciliation with Talión, training became more intense, but also more fun. What no one expected was that his training would cross paths with an old acquaintance.

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  The reunion with Drago

  During one of her trainings, Aurora took the team to a new Olympic pool, where they met Drago's team.

  "And what is this one doing here?" Azrat joked, with a mocking smile.

  Drago, who had changed his competitive attitude for a more relaxed one, stretched out his hand.

  "Training for the same thing as you... I can't let Blue Mountain stay with all the glory."

  Although Drago had been a fierce rival, time had softened the tensions. Now, Azrat and Drago were no longer enemies... they were rivals, but also friends.

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  The joint training

  During the following weeks, the Drago team and the Blue Mountain team trained together.

  ?? Bruno and Azrat found competitors in Drago's team that drove them to improve.

  ?? Jocelyn learned new starting techniques thanks to a swimmer from the rival team.

  ?? Luz strengthened his confidence, especially because his friends no longer only admired him... now his rivals also respected him.

  ?? Talión further improved his technique with freestyle, using his orca-inspired skills to become practically unstoppable.

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  The epic streak: Azrat vs Drago

  While training, Azrat and Drago took every opportunity to face each other in one-on-one duels.

  After 10 intense competitions... the streak went like this:

  ?? 5 victories for Azrat

  ?? 5 draws

  The tiebreaker would become a matter of honor.

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  The eleventh race: The final battle

  "Ready to lose, Drago?" Azrat said, putting on his glasses.

  "Lose?" I'm going to bury you today. - Drago replied, laughing.

  The two friends got ready. The Blue Mountain team and Drago's team gathered on the shore to see the final confrontation.

  The whistle sounded!

  Both swam at an impressive speed, cutting off the water as if they were designed for it. Every stroke, every kick, every turn... everything was perfect.

  In the final stretch, Azrat launched a last boost with all his strength... but it was Drago who touched the wall just a fraction of a second before.

  Drago won!

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  The promised revenge

  Azrat came out of the water with a mixture of frustration and laughter.

  "For a damn tenth of a second!"

  Drago, still panting, held out his hand.

  "What can I tell you?" I beat you... but come on, if it makes you feel better, I also think I deserved it more. - Drago said, laughing.

  "You're an asshole..." Azrat snorted, accepting the handshake and laughing with his friend.

  Drago wrapped his arm around his neck, giving him a friendly key.

  "And now, you're going to hear me show it off for the rest of the trip."

  Azrat let out a laugh.

  "I hate you... but I respect you."

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  The surprise relay race

  At the end of the training week, Aurora decided that the team would do a special test:

  "Blue Mountain..." he said in a serious tone. "We're going to do a relay race... all together."

  "The five of them?" Bruno asked.

  "Exactly... it doesn't matter if we still don't know if it will be part of the tournament." I want us to do it for ourselves.

  The team accepted the challenge.

  ?? Bruno opened the test with an explosion of force.

  ?? Jocelyn showed that her technique had improved incredibly, keeping pace.

  ?? Azrat launched himself with explosive speed, recovering ground.

  ?? Luz swam with such confidence that she left her rival lagging behind.

  ?? Finally, Talión submerged like a torpedo, using again the technique inspired by the orcas.

  Monta?a Azul won the test by two bodies of advantage!

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  A united team

  After the race, the whole team gathered on the edge of the pool, exhausted but happy.

  "Ready for the World Tournament?" Aurora asked, with a confident smile.

  "We're ready." Talión replied, looking at his friends with pride.

  For the first time in a long time, Monta?a Azul was not just a team... it was a family ready to conquer the world.

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  End of chapter 9