His Fire Manipulation improved through sheer necessity, growing from weak to moderate strength as he fought. His Phase Step ability finally became useful, allowing him to briefly become intangible to avoid attacks, though it drained him terribly.
Twenty minutes into the fight, a spirit's sword pierced his shoulder. The ethereal blade passed through his enhanced durability like it didn't exist, the ghostly metal somehow more real than steel. Satou screamed, the pain unlike anything physical. It was cold fire burning through his soul itself.
[HP: 3847/4100]
His Regeneration kicked in immediately, the wound closing as new tissue formed over the ghostly damage. But even as the physical wound healed, he could still feel it, a ghostly ache that his regeneration couldn't fully address.
I'm going to die here, the thought came unbidden. I'm actually going to die.
Thirty spirits left. His stamina was at half.
