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[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
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[color=#736AFF][b]"CRAVEN!"[/b][/color] Izayoi screamed in fury as the Valheimr captain teleported away mere moments before she was within her sword's range. She recognized what it was, of course: a short-range teleport crystal, intended for a quick retreat without the Exit materia's cast time. Expensive and rare. That didn't help to alleviate her berserk rage, however. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Mark my words, Valheimr witch! Upon mine name as Ranbu no Izayoi!"[/b][/color] The Mystrel bellowed as she tore a gash into a gunner's chest before ramming her katana tip first into his belly repeatedly, her words punctuated by his screams. [color=#736AFF][b]"Whereever you run, I will hunt you! Whether in this land or beyond, you will pay for your crimes!"[/b][/color]

With their leadership either dead or fled, the remaining Valheimr began to withdraw in good order, volleys of gunfire covering their fighting retreat. 

"We planned for this, men!" One in the forefront, apparently a sergeant of some sort, yelled. "Break out and regroup with Captain Reisa!" 

Izayoi narrowed her eyes. So that was the name of her prey. Good. Something to work off of. Regardless, she would be damned if she let these soldiers escape. The others seemed to recognize the same, as well as the batch of newcomers that had appeared out of nowhere. Genuinely fortuitous. Without their intervention, the battle would have gone far differently. She surged forward, baring her fangs. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Tear these dogs asunder! Carve your way forward in blood and bone!"[/b][/color]

One stroke of her blade took off a soldier's hand. The next, another's foot, severed just above the greave. Izayoi fell back into old habits, deliberately crippling her foes rather than killing them outright. The Edrenians hadn't given her the moniker of Limbtaker for nothing. Valheimr men fell, cripples dragged away by their fellows or simply bleeding out. 

Still, despite the Kirins or anyone else's best efforts, a sizable portion of soldiers managed to flee the fight thanks to both their sheer numbers and mass volleys of gunfire forcing their pursuers to take cover. Izayoi emerged from behind a tree after the final volley, hissing as the mass of black turned and fled in true. A lunge forward and she pounced on a straggler, her sword planted into a leg to pin him as she mounted the downed man, her wakizashi pointed at his throat with one hand as she ripped his helmet with another to reveal a wide-eyed youth screaming in pain.

[color=#736AFF][b]"Reisa!"[/b][/color] She snarled in the barely-a-man's face. [color=#736AFF][b]"Where do I find her?!"[/b][/color]

"Venerable ancestors, the pain..." The soldier whimpered. It was the wrong answer, as Izayoi's countenance darkened, the woman seizing him by the arm and ramming her short blade into his hand. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"The next stroke goes between your legs lest you [i]give me an answer[/i]!"[/b][/color] 

The man howled in pain, but eventually nodded, sobbing.

"K-Kugane..." 

She said nothing more and simply wrapped her empty hands around his windpipe, squeezing with all her might until he stopped breathing. Once that was done, Izayoi exhaled, rising and retrieving her blades before looking around. First, a nod at Galahad.

[color=#736AFF][b]"I trust you have no issue with paying a visit to the capital next?"[/b][/color]

Next, a glance around at the apparent newcomers, all of whom were in the vicinity by now. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Your aid was appreciated. I would question you further, but the hour grows late, and sunset approaches soon. We've little choice but to set up camp first before it grows dark."[/b][/color]

___

Some time later, the unlikely group found themselves encamped a ways away from the village, so as to avoid the fresh corpses they'd collectively created. Once the fire pit was set up and everyone was seated around it with rations, Izayoi finally spoke once more.

[color=#736AFF][b]"Now, who are you people? One interloper in a dead village would be suspicious enough. But five? Your actions against the invaders have bought you good will, but your motives remain to be seen."[/b][/color]