Luke and Ken faced each other from a distance of a few metres, as Max watched in anxious anticipation.

Max: (thinking: Super strength vs. super smarts. This is gonna be intense.)

To Max, a lover of video games, a battle between these two would be one for the books.

On the one hand, Luke was like an unstoppable force. If he connected once, it would be over. But on the other hand, he had been a first-hand witness to how useful Ken's intellect could be in a pinch.

Tiffany: Now watch closely, Max.

Max: Yeah, I will..

Of course, he was watching closely for a different reason.

Even if it was just a sparring session, even if it was fake, the question was, "Who would win?"

Luke cracked his knuckles while Ken nonchalantly sighed.

Luke: You ready?

Ken: As ready as I'll ever be.....

He was not in the mood for this. That statement would be an understatement.

Tiffany: Alright......

Both teens got into position and then bowed.

Max: Bowing?

Rose: You've got this, guys!

Luke: Hmph!

Ken: Hmph!

Max simply remained silent, thinking... "Here they go."

Tiffany: Ready......

She raised her hands like something of a referee.

Tiffany: Begin!

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She "karate chopped" in the air, and at that very moment, Luke made a charge at Ken, who simply stayed in place.

Luke: You better get ready, Ken.

Ken simply sighed before, with full force, firing lasers out of his eyes, right onto Luke.

Said lasers, however, only served to push Luke back a bit as he, shielding his eyes, continued to push forward.

Max: Woah!

He did not expect Ken to go all out like that. After all, it was only sparring.

And then, as if Tiffany could read Maxs mind....

Tiffany: Luke's skin is tough enough that it can take a lot of punishment.

Max: No kidding...

His mind then returned him to their battle with the spider bot. Luke took a point blank laser that could disintergrate a building in one shot and survived.

In fact, he had no wounds to speak of.

Tiffany: Therefore, Ken allows himself to go all out against him while using lasers.

Max: I see....

His eyes were still glued to the fight.

Tiffany: Do you get it, Max?

Max: Huh?

Tiffany: When sparring with someone, you need to know how much of your powers you can use without badly harming your partner, or else....

Max: Oh...

The "or else" was obvious. As one with his powers, he knew perfectly well how easily he could kill someone.

Max: I get it....

Meanwhile....

Luke had just about caught up to Ken, who had simply remained in place. All the while, he took the laser blast with his left arm.

Luke: (strained) You're gonna have to do.... better...

At that point, he was right next to Ken.

Luke: ... than that!

And then suddenly, he stopped blocking and jabbed the ground right next to Ken as hard as he could, creating a massive tremor.

Max and Rose: Woah!

Rose and Max almost lost their balance.

And as for Ken, he'd jumped away at the last minute.

Max: What was that!? He almost hit him!

Tiffany: Almost....

Max: Huh?!

Tiffany: He punched the ground near Ken. That way, he could discombobulate him without actually harming him.

Max: Oh....

He didn't actually notice that while watching them, as he'd initially imagined that he'd intended on hitting him.

Tiffany: Pay close attention.

Max: Yeah, yeah...

Back at the scene of the battle....

Luke: (panting) Heh.... You got away in time.

Ken: Hmph... (thinking: Had I been there even a second longer.... Well... I suppose there is no harm in me taking this a little more seriously.)

Rose: That was great, you guys!

Tiffany: Hmph! (thinking: Good control from Luke and a wise decision from Ken.)

Max simply watched in anticipation.

One burning question on his mind was this. How badly were they going to get hurt?

Or perhaps more important, "While sparring, how badly were they allowed to hurt each other?"

Luke and Ken continued their staredown.

Tiffany: (thinking: This is where.....)

The earth under Luke was then broken and cracked into many pieces, and following simple battle logic, he grabbed a shard about the size of a normal human.

Tiffany: (thinking: ....it gets serious.)