"GAAHH!"

"GO RAY! AND MAX!"

"GAAHH!"

"ATTACK! NO! HOLD BACK! GO!"

"GAAHH!"

Unfortunately, this is a typical training scene. Who knows if it's real. I don't. Not anymore.

But I can feel the cold metal of my launcher in my left land, the sharp teeth of the rip cord in my right. And I hear Kenny panicking about the dish and our own security, Tyson cheering for both me and Ray, locking in the battle of training.

It doesn't mean anything. But there is no darkness, nothing falling away into unendless blackness, and no her screaming loudly enough to rip the heart from the devil.

So maybe it is real.

"MAX GET BACK INTO IT RAY NOWS YOUR CHANCE!"

I was shocked out of my stupor by Tyson's screaming in one long, annoying breath. Ray was actually trying to take his chance, before Tyson shrieked at me. Hey, his loss, my gain.

Draceil stabilized immediately, casing Driger to bounce harmlessly off. He ran at my blade several more times, before giving up and getting back to circling.

A tiger batting at a tortoise shell. Pathetic.

"Good attack, but you won't get past my defence so easily!"

Yes, I get slightly less hyper in battle. It allows me to scrape an occasional win.

Not that I couldn't beat them all if I felt like it. Black Dranzer was the only challenge I've ever faced. But friendly little Max doesn't present much of a challenge, now, does he? You wish.

"DRIGER, ATTACK!"

Ray was trying, again. Only this time, he had adjusted his angle slightly, so that it would catch Draceil under his attack ring, and flip him over on his back. It might have been impressive, but all you had to do was angle your blade slightly to avoid it, and he had gotten the angle slightly off. In this position, he'd hit my blade, and send himself flying out of the dish. Which is slightly less impressive.

So I send a silent command to Draceil. He adjusted his angle ever-so-slightly, fixing Ray's mistake. I was hit, flipped over, whichever. Yay, Ray.

"WHAT!"

Me. Sadly enough.

I glanced backwards. Kenny was watching in awe, Tyson had a stupid grin on his face, revealing the fact that he had no clue what had just happened, and Kai was wearing a slight smirk, hardly noticeable.

"That was great, Max, but you need to pay attention to the angle.

I know, Ray. Actually, I know someone else who should too.

"Oh! I see! Great battle, Ray, you were awesome!"

He won't know until it's too late.