For danmaku, instead of modifying energy ray how about i make it so you can spend PP to up the save DC of powers doing energy damage in an area of effect? i.e. making it harder to dodge the spray of bullets
Label it with different difficulty tiers (the DCs) Easy, Normal, Hard, and Lunatic
As in, each tier has a PP range for extra PP invested beyond the manifesting cost and each higher tier adds subtle, stacking effects~
Lunatic should totally make one need to make an additional save against becoming Panicked