Gallu

As the sun rises, Haruki asks Lyra to use her elf eyes to check for any ambushes. Lyra says clear. He asks Hayate if he can feel anything in the shadows. Hayate says no. Rask flies up under concealment and surveys the area. All clear. Haruki signals him to stay airborne.

The rest of the party head toward the village, weapons drawn. They check the first house --- Freyja enters first, Haruki and Lyra follow, Hayate and Izel remain outside. Clear. Same with the second.

Moving to the third house, Izel spots something on the ground. A small wooden ornament, the size of his hand. On the ornament --- an exact carving of Dagan's drawing. His stomach sinks. He reaches for it, starts to call the party over --- and laughter begins. From everywhere. From nowhere.

The party regroups into a tight circle, weapons out. An explosion from above. They look up --- smoke, and Rask falling from it.

Freyja sprints. The party follows. Lyra casts Bubble Shield on Rask mid-fall, absorbing the impact. Freyja catches him. "Still breathing." Haruki begins healing while the others form a perimeter.

A shimmer over the village. Then, in an instant, demons appear. One hundred grunts. Two larger figures at the back.

One walks forward through the ranks. Rests his chin on a grunt's head. One arm. Familiar scars. "Great to see you again."

Zaqaru. Healed up, but the scars remain. His left arm still missing.

"I was expecting more despair in your eyes," he says with a sigh of disappointment.

The second large figure approaches. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Zaqaru straightens up. "Allow me to introduce my captain. Gallu, the Wicked."

Slightly taller than Zaqaru. Winged, bulky. A large hammer --- the head carved in the likeness of a human skull. He looks at Hayate. "So these are the ones who took your arm. They seem weak." A large grin. "I like that."

Haruki, still crouched healing Rask: "What do you want?"

Gallu looks down. Notices Freyja. "You look familiar. Have I seen you before?"

Freyja sets Rask down gently and stands. "My brother. You've seen my brother."

"Maybe. Hard to tell. You fish folk all look alike, especially dead on the ground." He laughs.

Freyja charges shield-first, screaming "WHERE IS HE?!" Gallu catches her arm one-handed, effortlessly. "Prison camps everywhere. Maybe one of them. Maybe the demon realm. I wouldn't know."

Hayate leaps --- upward strike at Gallu's arm. The blade stops dead. No cut, no give. Like swinging into stone.

Gallu swings the hammer one-handed. Fast. Too fast for something that size. Hayate braces --- hammer connects with the greatsword, sends him flying into a tree.

Freyja uses Earth Pillar on Gallu's elbow joint. His grip loosens. She breaks free and rejoins the party.

Haruki looks over at Hayate on the ground. Hayate opens one eye. Haruki nods. Hayate closes it.

Haruki stops healing Rask. Rask regains consciousness --- still hurt but functional. "We'll need you."

Haruki walks forward. "What do you want?"

Zaqaru: revenge. Never saw their suffering before. Wanted round two. Dagan provided it. Plus --- the arm. "I won't fight you myself. I wish to watch you suffer, lose hope, and die." He raises his remaining arm to give the charge command.

Haruki's hand glows --- Radiant Edge.

Hayate leaps from Zaqaru's shadow. Takes his other arm clean off. Pushes off Zaqaru's face. Rejoins the party.

"CHARGE!!" Zaqaru screams as he falls back.

One hundred demon grunts charge.