[center]
[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
[/center]

Izayoi's blade cleared its sheathe from the moment Ferdiad stopped talking, a low whirl slashing at any grasping hands around her. Rudolf and Miina's proclamations had her charging forward, bringing her blade around in whirling strikes to keep Ferdiad occupied while her much younger cousin, bordering on niece in terms of age, readied her Dispel. 

Being the only one insane enough to engage the daywalking demon in melee combat from the moment it started the battle, Izayoi went toe-to-toe with Ferdiad for several strokes before the latter slammed the butt of its scythe into her gut, sending her tumbling back across the ground. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"We had best hear an explanation after this [i]thing[/i] is banished, boy!"[/b][/color] Izayoi called out to Rudolf, though with no true heat in her voice for him: just exasperation. 

Meanwhile, Ferdiad simply laughed at Rudolf's attempt at provocation, continuing to hover in midair, so confident it was in itself. 

[b]"Trying to interrupt the pierrot upon its own stage? How rude of you! Perhaps I ought to-"[/b] Whatever Ferdiad had left to say was cut off by the dual explosions originating from Eliane and Chisato (with Esben's support), bathing it in a wave of shrapnel and flame. When the dust cleared, the jester emerged, rattled, but not unbroken. At least until Miina got her hands upon it. Her Dispel did much to eradicate Ferdiad's component aether, forcing it to retreat into the light, where it screeched in agony for a moment until composing itself. 

[b]"Oh, ho ho! Not mere pawns and vermin, you lot! Perhaps fit to sup at the table, even!"[/b] The clown cackled, slashing repeatedly with its scythe to form waves of darkened aether that flew towards the Kirins. Izayoi leapt over the ones targeted at her, closing the distance with Ferdiad once more to lock her katana against the blade of its scythe. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Begone, clown! Are you so arrogant to believe you can defeat us, so obviously weakened as you are?"[/b][/color] 

[b]"Perhaps, perhaps not~"[/b] Ferdiad tutted, backstepping away from a series of cleaves that left cuts upon its arms. [b]"But I see I shall have to try ever so much more against the likes of you! How about it, then?"[/b] It spread its arms out wide, demonic madness emanating from its gaze. [b]"Stay around for the show, for it's only just begun!"[/b]

A dome of shadow erupted around the battlefield, engulfing every combatant within it. No longer hampered by light, Ferdiad surged forward, disappearing in the blink of an eye and reappearing to rip at Miina with its scythe and tear Chisato with its claws, having identified them as having done the most damage to it previously.