Max: Woo hoo! I got you!

There were many thoughts running into Ken's mind at that point. For one, how embarassing! For another, this fight had truly been something.

Max skated himself to the solid ground and remained there.

Meanwhile, Ken struggled to lift himself from the slippery floor, flopping back into the ground, and then slowly sliding.

Ken: Tch...

Max: Hah! How'd you like a taste of your own medicine?

He was standing quite proudly on the solid ground.

Max: Hmph!

As for Ken, he looked up to Max, feeling a strange sensation in his heart.

It wasn't anger, bitterness, or even regret. It was... joy.

He was oddly happy. Happy that his opponent had been able to give him this much of a thrill.

And so... he simply smiled.

Ken: Heh... good job.

Max: Thanks...

An electric current sparked up from Max's right hand.

Max: So... you give up?

Back with those watching...

Rose: So... has Max won?

To Tiffany, the answer was not all that simple. On the one hand, Max had the upper hand. But on the other hand, Ken still hadn't surrendered. But there was more to it than that.

The issue with being an officiator is knowing when to end the match. And for Tiffany, given how she was raised, she knew better than to end a match at this point.

But she had already decided. This match had gone on long enough. And one may even say that, although they were still holding back, it would have been somewhat naive to claim that these two were still sparring.

This match was a sparring match, sure. But at some point, it had ceased to be just that.

She, and all the others had noticed it.

And so, given this judgement, she would have ended the match immediately. However, she knew intrinsically. In fact, they all knew. This match had to see itself to the end.

She knew that fact better than anyone watching the match.

Her eyes turned to Luke, and he himself also nodded. They both agreed.

What was before them right there and then... even if she did stop it then. They would fight again.

But that wasn't all that was on her mind. The first and foremost thing was Max himself.

So far, he'd proven to be an exceptional opponent. Not just for Ken, but for herself, Rose and Luke.

Tiffany: (thinking: Quick thinking skills, ingenuity, and to top it all off, his bloodline is monstrous.)

Her eyes turned to Max's mother again.

Tiffany: (thinking: Maximillian Hunter.... I was right. You really are something.)

Back at the battle...

Max: So... give in yet?

The end of the fight was near.

No one had to say it twice.

As for Ken... what could he do?

This, for most people, would be checkmate.

It didn't really matter what Ken did. All Max had to do was zap him. Again and again and again, and it would be over. In fact, it would be even easier, seeing how Ken could not even pull himself up.

But there was one more thing he could do.

Defrost the icy floor.

But that would only come to his disadvantage, as Max would retake control of the field using his superspeed.

And so... he was trapped.

For a moment, he truly believed this fight was over. And then, he slipped again, his eyes turning to the top of the basement. It was white and tiled, just like the rest of the room.

A mediocrely large room from which they could fight. What were the odds?

And as for the fight.... He'd had his fun. In fact, he'd had a lot of fun.

Max could take the win. After all, he'd broken out of every ploy he'd created. So, why fight it? He'd won.

But just as his eyes gazed at the top of the room, something occurred to him.

Max: Uhhhh.... Ken?

Ken: Oh yes, sorry about that.

These thoughts ran through Ken for a few moments. Long enough for Max to question as to whether or not he was ok.

Ken: Something just occurred to me....

Max: Huh?

Ken: And... no.

A fiery look came into his eyes.

Ken: I won't be giving up. Not any time soon.

Max: Oh yeah?

And Max's eyes only became more fiery.

Ken: Hmph!

And as for those watching the fight...

Luke: Oh boy....

Rose: Those two...

Tiffany: Yeah....

The thoughts were unanimous. Those two just get along really well.

And as for Julianne, she was just happy to see her son finally have such good friends.