Hiro stood on the stairwell landing with Natsume at his back and ran the numbers.
None of them were good.
The Umbral below.
Two possessed above.
No clean direction through either side.
His spiritual energy had dropped to maybe a quarter at most. Every deep breath dragged sharp pain through the cracked ribs on his right side.
His arms were heavier now too. Slower at the recovery.
Behind him Natsume's breathing was controlled but strained.
Her hands were raw from the seal work.
The skin across her fingers had split in places from forcing too much spiritual output through repeated barrier construction.
Her personal shield had barely survived the last direct impact from the Umbral.
Another one like that would break through completely.
Hiro looked back at her briefly.
Short dark hair damp against her temples.
Coat torn at the shoulder.
Eyes already calculating the same problem he was.
No escape route.
No reserve energy left for a prolonged fight.
