Ash tried to tell herself to not hold back against the Spirit but she could not fully commit to it when she was confronted with such a scenario where she was the one in power bringing down harm upon something powerless to defend itself.
It sparked some uncomfortable memories about her past once again and it made her feel like she was no better than the people who abused her.
Such thoughts and conflicts within herself caused her to not put everything into her second strike like she was holding herself back a little.
A single moment of hesitation caused her strike to slow down for a single moment which would allow the creature to get away. "Gu!"
She could see it escaping from her swing during the final moment that it was about to make contact.
Ash felt foolish for letting herself get caught in such a conflict within herself.
She thought that she already prepared herself enough but it seemed that was not the case.
