[center][h3]Strawman Hospital - Intensive Care Unit
31/5/2015 Sunday[/h3][/center]

The battle raged on, and the shadow was finally down to the last set of IV bags, the vines were slowing down. It seemed to be receding, and they were able to get more attacks in... But something didn't feel right to Rui, he asked Megumi too, but she said she couldn't find anything. Each time the IV bags were destroyed, they would burst in blood, and spew like a hose all around the shadow, it extended the electricity range, but that was it. No more.

The party began to charge in for the final push and end this, but as soon as they did, the blood all on the floor began to rise enter the heart, it began to swell in size and the shadow began to laugh maniacally.

[color=magenta][i]"W-what?! Quick! Stop it! It's healing itself!"[/i][/color], she urged. The party's plans had not changed then, they charged and concentrated fire, and concentrated fire, and... and concentrated fire... They realized they were fatigued, they couldn't keep up a large onslaught. The last IV bag was destroyed in the midst of that too, but that only gave the shadow more blood to heal itself. On the bright side, it wouldn't have the IV bags anymore, but now the vines were active again...

[color=magenta][i]"It's... It's ki- just keep fighting, but don't push yourself. It's health is deteriorating"[/i][/color],

[color=slategray]"How long until it's vulnerable again?"[/color],

[color=magenta]"At this rate... Five minutes"[/color], that was too long... The entire party felt almost ill from the exertion. Rui's and Akane's body were feeling their limits, while Chiaki and Leiko were starting to become mentally fatigued. Kotori was visibly frightened, and with the party in a tough spot... He had to try something.

[color=slategray]"Kotori... There's nothing wrong with hiding away, when you're afraid... That's what we do"[/color], he panted. He lifted his sword again, and took slow deep breaths, recomposing himself... Trying to squeeze out ever second he could.

[color=slategray]"But isn't it sad? To hide away alone like that... You need to get out there. I'm sure Akane would like that of you too"[/color], he continued.

[color=slategray]"So watch, watch what you can do when you're not hiding away"[/color], as he spoke those words, the party advanced in formation again, Rui taking care of the vines from reaching the back line. They were already mentally drained from casting, they didn't need to be physically drained too, but the reality was they needed to start using their weapons too, and the party was pushed back again. It was a grueling and long five minutes, before the shadow began to simple fade away... The battle didn't end in a bang, it just withered, and like the battle, so did the petals around the shadow's heart wither, and soon it began to fade away, turning back into the familiar humanoid form.