It wasn't like Ken hadn't noted Max slowly gaining control. He did. But, he initially imagine that he was simply barely holding on.

  To imagine that he had control over his balance even in that state. That seemed unbelieveable.

  Ken: (thinking: Maximillian Hunter. Simply full of surprises.) It seems you have an incredible sense of balance.

  Max: Yeah... thanks.

  He was quite surprised himself.

  Ken: I suppose that means you weren't joking about being the world's best skateboarder.

  Max: Huh!?

  Ken: That thing you said the day we first met.

  Max: Huh.... oh... oh yeah.... I did say that.

  He immediately became quite proud of himself.

  Max: Yeah, I'm pretty cool. Right?

  Ken: Hmmmm. Yes, I suppose so. (thinking: Although... this makes this victory a little more complicated.)

  Back at the scene of those watching the fight...

  Tiffany: Max is...

  Luke: Yeah...

  Rose: He's sooo coool!

  They all turned to look at Rose who turned away.

  Rose: S... sorry.

  As for Julianne...

  Julianne: (thinking: Max.... if only he could see you now.)

  She couldn't help but feel proud of her son.

  Julianne: (thinking: He isn't just strong. He'd grown in a lot more ways than just strength.)

  And as for Max and Ken....

  Max: I think I've... almost got the hang of this.

  Ken: You don't say...

  Max: Hmph...

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  The pair looked at each other, their competitive spirits boiling, edging each other on...

  Luke: Those two...

  Tiffany: Yeah...

  The fight had gone on for quite a while. But somehow, it was still pretty tense.

  Ken: Alright then.

  His eyes lit up once more, and Max simply smirked.

  Ken: Let's see just how much of a hang over this you have.

  And a laser blast was fired. As for Max, he dodged again, just barely.

  The pair glared at each other once more.

  Max and Ken: Its on!

  And so it begun.

  Ken fired laser blast after laser blast.

  And Max, dodged each one just by a bit, each time clumsily moving his body while remaining in what was relatively the same place.

  But Ken wasn't just firing lasers all willy nilly.

  Instead, he expected Max to dodge them. And why did he expect that? Because he planned on knocking Max down the easy way. That being... forcing Max to make enough awkward dodges that...

  And then it happened. Max's body movements shifted his centre of gravity enough that he started to slip again. And Ken, taking his shot, fired again at an unstable Max.

  And Max, true to form, regained his balance, and almost paradoxically, slid.

  Max: W..w... woaaaaahhh....

  But this slide wasn't entirely out of his control.

  Those who were watching the fight quickly realised it.

  Luke: He's...

  Tiffany: Yeah.... He's... skating. Kinda.

  Rose: Wooooooaaah!

  As for Rose, she was starstruck.

  As he slid, Max started to change his posture, his movements, his footing...

  Everything necessary that he was slowly able to start changing direction even as he slid. A feat so impressive that it left Ken too shocked to simply fire at him.

  Max: (shakily) Woooooooaaaah!!!

  Ken: (thinking: And even more surprises. Hmph. Is today my birthday?)

  The sight was even more shocking to those watching it.

  Tiffany: (thinking: Just.. how is he...?)

  To Rose, it was impressive enough. But for those more knowledgeable in things such as physics, sports and battle knowhow. One thing was insanely apparent. Max had an insane sense of balance. One so insane that his own mother was left a bit perturbed. Proud, but just a little more shocked than she'd have liked to be.

  Max slowly started to skid around in circles.

  First uneven circles. But later, more even circles.

  In fact, he slowly begun to have some fun skidding in these circles.

  Max: Woah! Woah! Woah!

  And the "woahs" slowly turned to "woohs" as the teenage boy begun to control his movmenet.

  Max: Woooh! This is awesome!

  Ken's simply watched him. Both surprised and impressed.

  Julianne could only smile in pride of her sons abilities.

  Max: I'm doing it. I'm actually doing it.

  Ken: Heh... (thinking: Yeah, he is. He turned my own strategy against me. Beating Max... will be even harder than I'd thought.)

  Max's eyes turned to Ken. He may have been having fun, but he hadn't forgotten.

  How could he?

  This whole match was his idea.

  This was his way of gaining dominance in the team. Of proving his mettle. And maybe bolstering his own ego, but where was the harm in that?

  And so....

  Max: (thinking: This fight isn't over. And Ken might have a few more tricks up his sleeve. And then there's that healing factor....)

  As he skated, the pair eyed each other directly.

  It was obvious.

  Tha fight was about to continue.

  And who would win would soon be decided.

  As for those watching...

  A gargling sound was heard. It was Luke.

  Luke: Oh... man.....

  Rose simply giggled, and Julianne simply turned and smiled while Tiffany did not react.

  Rose: Someone's hungry.

  Luke: (smiling) Yeah... I guess so.

  He placed his hand on his stomach.

  Luke: (thinking: The fight is fun and all, but I'm starving.)

  He sighed, awaiting the end of this match.