Although he had Kotetsu's help in sitting back up, Barnaby wobbled as he tried to maintain his balance. He knew that his partner was right, but that didn't mean it was necessarily more effective this way.

Yet his stomach was being eaten from the inside. Everything burned. He aimed another fist at his abdomen, gasped from the impact, and...nothing. Barnaby shook his head, his chest heaving.

The muscles in his legs visibly twitched, which was abruptly followed by an involuntary jerk of his shoulder. The panic began to well up once again, and it showed in Barnaby's wide green eyes. "Get it out of me!"