Richard could warp reality around Satou. But Reality Anchor stabilized him.
Every advantage Richard gained, Satou had a counter for. Every technique Richard deployed, Satou had a defense against. Every winning strategy Richard's fifteen-second foresight showed him, Satou had already prepared for.
And then Satou went on offense.
"BLOOD FRENZY—MAXIMUM ESCALATION!"
The longer the fight went on, the more damage Satou took and regenerated from, the stronger this ability made him. Power building through sustained combat, through the cycle of damage and recovery, through the pure joy of battle against a worthy opponent.
Satou's speed increased. His strength intensified. His reflexes sharpened. Every exchange made him slightly faster, slightly stronger, slightly more dangerous.
And Richard couldn't do the same because Chrono-Break was a fixed technique—it gave him exactly ten-times speed and fifteen-second foresight and nothing more. It didn't scale. Didn't improve. Didn't adapt.
