Victory goes to the one who tries harder

Although Nicolas had returned to the court, he let himself be led by Milles who remained captain in that game. Now with the two strongest players on the court, the marking also occurred in Nicolas, despite being useless.

Everyone could feel the energy of the little guy when at the first opportunity he ran around the court to make his quick attack. Milles looked at him without taking his proud smile off his face, having his right shoulder tingle incessantly even when the point was made. The strong thud of the ball against the ground along with his speed was a clear warning to the opponent that Nicolas would not go easy on them.

The match continued to increase the frustration of the Santo Ângelo team. Bruno stood up towards Milles, but the alpha blonde stood still letting Nicolas take the lead and make his cuts piercing the blockade. He was jumping higher than usual, seemed to have more strength in his right hand than usual.

It was more intense than usual.

For the blonde alpha, those measly seconds that the omega used to score points were enough for him to rest. His legs were beginning to stiffen, making his reflexes slower. In that sense it was good to have the omega covering him, while he could take care of the blockage.

With the substitution made, the fourth set was guaranteed for the Montreal team, tying in the overall score. The fifth set would define the winner of the qualifiers and the strongest in the region.

— I won't even ask what you did to get on the court, but know that I'm relieved, Howard. ― Commented the coach proudly. ― And apparently, he's got blood in his eyes.

― That stupid captain is mine. ― Growl Nicolas menacingly. ― I will not settle until I make him lose a ball of mine.

― I'm counting on it. Bruno, good job with your withdrawals. Keep playing for Howard and Mckenzie.

― Technical thanks.

― Mckenzie... knows what to do.

Milles sipped from the water nodding to coordination. Stay focused, observe the opponent's modus operandi and lead your team to agile responses.

Returning on court, Milles took the opportunity to pull Bruno and Nicolas by the shirt.

― What was it? Are you scared?

― Shut up. I want you to steal attention. ― Guided the captain, opening a smile. ― Let's use the little one as bait.

― Eh? ― Bruno shivered entirely to see the eye peek of the omega. ― B-But that's...

― Um... and why me?

― Because you are short and soft like a worm. ― Laugh Milles messing up the hair of the omega, just to irritate it a little more.

― What's up, you bastard?

The whistle sounded and the last set started. The serve had been made and the rally remained calm despite the tensions of the players. Thanks to his provocation, Nicolas seemed even more angry and taking it out on the ball just to show how strong he was. Not for the opposing team, but for Milles.

His change of focus was so sharp that the alpha wanted to laugh.

At least the pressure on his shoulders had lessened considerably.

When Nicolas went out for the serve he made use of the infamous floating serve. His aim was the net, making the swing of the ball stable as a feather. The question was that the opposing team had demonstrated not knowing how to receive the ball, which guaranteed the front of the scoreboard for Montreal.

Milles did not let go of Maicon's eyes. At the same level of concentration that Gabriel once had, that opponent focused on Nicolas. Why did he always have to look at it? Why the hell did he choose omega to be his nemesis?

Maicon had opened a cheerful smile when he had received the ball from Nicolas, even losing a point. That simply stunned the alpha. What are the chances that that damned worm put omega as his rival because he's attracted to him? The flea that Milles had behind his ear kept whispering that possibility.

If himself had created all the feud between them by admitting that Nicolas was good, why wouldn't other people do the same? And look what happened... Him and the little bastard in a relationship full of knots.

The jealous fury had been so great, that Milles had taken advantage of the rotation in which he had allowed the plunder to divert his fire a little. His balls were directed to Maicon, who was at the bottom of the court, and with full force.

The more he thought about that damned possibility of power liking Nicolas, the more potent his booty was. Even his team had been awestruck by the imminent fury of his looting, though they had scored three points in a row in that dangerous prank.

Until Maicon managed to get the ball well and return it to the opponent.

The opponent's block had risen the moment Nicolas jumped to make the cut. However, the omega had the ability to wait a few seconds for the jump of the blocks to fall, and thus finally cut over them and mark the point.

It was Nicolas's most striking score since he had entered the court. Stay in the air longer despite his height, and still make point above the blockade which was higher than him.

A proud smile appeared on the lips of Milles.

― You can imitate me all you want, but you'll never be at my feet. ― Mock Nicolas with his sarcastic smile.

From that, the marking on top of Nicolas had become heavier. Wherever he ran or jumped, the block would be in front of him.

Just as Milles expected.

Moving his fingers on his back, the alpha directed the rest of the team. Receiving the ball from the serve opponent, Bruno raised the ball having Nicolas already running and jumping the highest ready to receive it. The block had reacted by following him, but the ball had not been directed to the short one.

It's for Boyle at the end.

It was Boyle who had made the third touch and scored points fleeing the draw. Milles closed his fist celebrating the victory of his little strategy. They were expected to focus on the team's strongest, but it wouldn't mean Montreal was bad. There were other competent players waiting their turn to shine.

And with all the focus on Nicolas, the opposing team would open the gap for another player to score points. Since then the opponent would not know when Nicolas would be bait again or not. They were still completely stunned when they followed only the ball, and suddenly stopped in the hand of that little man who was already at his high point of the jump, making his quick attacks.

With the change in turnover positions, Milles had stayed behind taking care of the defense. Maicon seemed to return his favour by throwing the loot in his direction. The difference was that the alpha was able to receive well with headlines and direct them to Bruno.

The game was still tied, when one team could make a point the other scored soon after. The whole team was already tired, and the breaks made to slow down the frenetic pace of the match did not help to regain the necessary motivation.

Stepping on the court, Milles could feel all the energy of hell surrounding him. It was as if it were surrounded by erupting volcanoes, with lava running down the rocks and burning its feet. Even if he jumped around, he couldn't get away from that burn.

He was getting frustrated having to deal with that damn draw. The opponent seemed to have gotten used to Nicolas's quick attacks, managing to block them a few times. With fifteen stitches, they took the lead after returning from the pause.

As the last set with the opponent in front, Montreal was beginning to be unmotivated on the court. The only person who stayed focused with a weak smile and wide eyes as if he liked that damn situation was Nicolas.

Milles could hear his thoughts calling for the ball.

"Come to me".

"Cut it for me".

"I will destroy you".

He was just standing, having fun with the adrenaline of that game. Thanks to it, Nicolas was able to run and jump even higher and make even stronger cuts. The stronger his opponent, the more excited Nicolas was.

Milles felt all that through the bite.

The lifting had been done and Nicolas had gone straight to the jump. The blockage did not appear strong on the omega, being spaced enough to cover Boyle as well. They were taking precautions regardless of who cut it.

Outside the court, running close to the net, Milles had jumped cutting diagonally getting a point. He had to take every care that he did not hit the net, and control his strength so that he did not throw the ball out. It was a success.

The strategy of forcing the opposing attacker to play directly to the libero is resumed to avoid more scores. But they limited themselves to doing that only with Maicon, who was the strongest in the courts. The libero had done a great job of dealing with the incoming force, his arms becoming reddish and burnt.

The score had turned when Bruno had made the brilliant move of Gabriel, where the second touch instead of lifting the ball cut close to the net making the ball fall low and score the point. A feint that the blockade certainly did not expect to happen, since the boy had jumped high as he always did before his lifting.

Although they had avoided at all costs the frenetic pace on the court, it was impossible to escape from it. Especially when they were on set point. Montreal needed a point to win. The opponent would not deliver the points so easily, making the marking more evident on Nicolas who was in the net again.

A long rally had started that bloody war. Neither side had given up keeping the ball high leaving players tense without uncoupling their eyes from the ball. When Maicon had cut to the other side, the ball would be about to bounce on the ground and score point if it were not for Bruno to play on the court with his arm outstretched saving the ball.

Damn!

The lifter who had made the reception. He could no longer touch the ball.

And by his clumsy move, the ball was about to go out which would give point to the opponent. Which would make them stall by opening for another school to score points.

No.

Not while Milles Mckenzie was captain.

Running as fast as he could, Milles didn't let go of the ball. No matter where she went, the Alpha wouldn't let that damn ball touch the ground. He wouldn't give up your victory like that.

Jumping beyond the capacity of his muscles, Milles extended his hands and could touch the ball. He had moved his fingers back to the court, looking directly into the eyes of the only person who was able to match at his high speed and strength to make the necessary point.

It was the first time that Milles made a withdrawal, especially at a risky time like that. He needed a lot of control so that the touch of the ball remained at his fingertips, and that all his strength was concentrated in those small points giving the ball orientation to return to the court.

Because of the course the ball had taken off the court, after making the lift, Milles ran out against the jury table in a strong impact.

On the court, Nicolas had noticed the race of Milles and was already preparing to cross the court and jump. Even with the lifting being done messed up, the omega was able to make a cut close to the limit line of the court passing scraping through the block.

The whistle will sound.

Both teams not knowing where to look. The court or the jury table that turned with an alpha down.

But the gym was filled with the cheering cheers of the crowd when the judge declared the victory of the Montreal team.