[Kratos is already spinning with the sand, already knows that Yuan will be there; but he's too slow still, and the flaring light of Raine's spell behind Yuan is too slow too.

[Kratos's sword is raised but the first edge of the swallow-blade hooks it and rips it out of Kratos's grip while the rest of the blade cuts across his chest. It's sharp enough that Kratos doesn't feel it at first, but he staggers from the blow, keeping his feet only due to long experience.

[He hears Lloyd screaming his name only distantly through the roar in his ears, but half his body has seemed to go numb. When he takes a breath there's a searing pain in the side where the swallow-blade cut deeper, and something hot comes up inside his chest and makes him cough. He staggers again, his shield-arm drooping under its weight, his knees buckling.

[He knows Lloyd's behind him. He just can't seem to tell him it'll be okay.]