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[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
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Izayoi grit her teeth as she slammed the tip of her sword into the ground, using it as a crutch to brace herself from the Quake spell destabilizing her. By the time she'd pulled herself together, Miina had already disappeared and Rudolf engaged, the latter lunging forward as swiftly as he could to strike Garland...!

...Only for the dark knight to catch Rudolf's blow on the flat of his enormous blade, the golden glow of his helmet's eyes regarding the young man for a moment before a gauntleted fist lashed out. Garland's free hand smashed into Rudolf's helm, knocking the man to the ground and leaving him concussed. 

Eliane's rapid dive and gunfire were met with swift, economical motions of the immense cleaver, Garland using it as a shield against her gunfire before parrying her thrusts. The grenade was left within a gap between his pauldron and arm, and Esben's shot detonated it before the general could react, engulfing him in an explosion that revealed the entire pauldron knocked clean from his body once the smoke cleared, as well as smoking shrapnel sticking out of the side of his helmet. Garland raised his sword and started forward, only to be forced to parry a trio of Izayoi's strikes, smashing the flat of his sword into her stomach and launching her backward the way she came. 

[b]"Impressive."[/b] He allowed, taking a moment to survey his ruined armor. [b]"I see now how you defeated my Empire's gross misuse of funds, materiel, and research, and Reisa beside."[/b] Garland paused, evaluating the Kirins once more. [b]"...There were more of you."[/b] A casual swipe of his hand, and a storm of ice rained down upon the space between himself and the grappling Eidolons, clearly intent on catching out any of those that tried to sneak past him. Having rushed in first, Selene and Eos took the brunt of the spell, barely managing to get their casts off before the Blizzaga crashed into them, dissipating their forms for the time being. For their part, Miina and Chisato were faced with the choice between falling back or facing near-certain damage.

As this occurred, Izayoi pushed herself up to her feet, cluching where the blunt strike had impacted her gut with a glower. That exchange and Rudolf's state led her to a single conclusion, in no uncertain terms. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Have a care!"[/b][/color] She ground out, hunching down and preparing an iai strike. [color=#736AFF][b]"His strength matches my-"[/b][/color] The samurai cut herself off before she could say "master". Not anymore. Not in that abominable half-life. [color=#736AFF][b]"-the encounter from the desert! With sanity intact and magic, to boot!"[/b][/color] In that context, it was almost unfair how much natural talent could be placed within one mortal frame. Nevertheless, she surged forward again, yelling as she leapt into the air. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Lightning in front of my position, now!"[/b][/color]