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[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
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[b]"So be it."[/b] Isolde sighed in response to the Kirins' various retorts, seemingly uncaring of any counterargument or furious screed presented to her at this point. [b]"Templars, take them. Alive."[/b] Esben's words had at least two or three of the two dozen knights hesitate, looking warily around at their comrades for any confirmation or reinforcement. When they saw that the remainder buckled down in either stoic devotion or furious zeal, they fell in line, remaining with their fellows. 

The paladins advanced slowly and in formation as both Eliane and Robin made attempts on Isolde, both of which were rebuffed by barriers conjured with a wave of her staff. Izayoi bared her fangs at the oncoming wall of shields, swords, halberds, and maces as a few archers in the back moved to stand with the Grovemaster. The samurai ran the odds in her head: A platoon of church templars strengthened to high heaven by a master white mage would have been a more than arduous foe even if they had been fresh. Exhausted as they all were after taking Leviathan to the brink? 

Izayoi took a step closer to Galahad, incidentally coming within earshot of Miina's murmurings to him. She joined in.

[color=#736AFF][b]"If we give it our all in this condition, defeat is nearly assured. I suggest we gather our strength and push through their line in one fell swoop. Dispel and slay the Grovemaster if we can. Flee if we cannot."[/b][/color] The knights were nearly upon them, and there was no room left for words. Only steel. 

___

Enhanced as they were, Isolde's templars were a virtually-unbreakable force against the drained and fatigued Kirins. Even ostensibly lethal wounds were healed within moments by Isolde's combination of Regen and Reraise, as evidenced by the slashed throat that Izayoi had just ripped open with her sword mending itself. She barely had time to react before the knight's Hasted form slammed a shield into her midsection, sending her tumbling back along the ruin's floor. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Haah...haah..."[/b][/color] She struggled for breath, one hand maintaining her grip on her sword as the other clutched where she had been slammed. What few glimpses she had of the other Kirins at the moment suggested they were faring little better, though the details were growing fuzzy as her vision blurred. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Just...one opening!"[/b][/color] Izayoi grit her teeth, sheathing her sword once more. Even as tired as she was, her draw was still near-blindingly fast, a shockwave of wind surging from her sword as she slashed the air. Four shieldbearers stepped forward, taking the attack on their bulwarks, but that left them out of position with the rest of the formation for but a moment. Long enough for any of the Kirins to capitalize and push forward.