Crushing strength

You head out the next day, having said goodbye to Elys and promising to hurry back. She and Maya shared a long hug, with assurances to be careful and come back safe.

As you headed out into the streets, you’re surprised to find them empty! Just as you notice, you hear a voice approach from a side road.

“Well, fancy meeting you here, Magos Josh! It’s a small world, isn’t it?”

You turn and see Bast, the strange old mage who keeps showing up with strange predictions and unknown motives. “Bast? What are you doing here?”

He smiles as he walks closer. “Oh, I’m just here to do a couple things. I wanted to check up with you, first of all! Got the lovely Elys reunited with her mother, I see. And recruited the orcs, very well done!”

As he keeps walking closer, Maya and Clarissa step protectively in front of you. Bast chuckles. “Oh, you don’t need to worry about me! I’m just a harmless old man. It’s those that you should worry about.”

He points down the street, where a pair of hulking forms stalk towards your group. “That’s the other reason I’m here. I heard the demon lord sent a couple of Reavers to take you down.”

The girls gasp. Clarissa tells you, “Reavers are fury-killers. Immune to magic, immensely strong, and essentially automatons. They’re mage hunters. Two of them is an impossible fight, with only three of us equipped to fight them.”

Bast clears his throat. “As I said, that’s why I’m here! I have someone who wants to meet you, she’s a fan of your work so far, but she needed a hand getting here. Uzume! Can you handle this?”

As the Reavers approach, seven feet of muscles, claws and carapace, a gigantic club swings out from an alley, smashing one across the face. It rag dolls across the street, landing in a crumpled heap, unmoving. The other turns, roars, and runs into the alley. There’s the sound of crashing, a horrific cracking noise, and then silence.

After a moment, a giant figure steps from the alley.

Towering possibly eight feet tall, with red skin and horns, the figure wears very little to conceal her muscular feminine body. She has white hair and eyes, elaborate black tattoos on her shoulders, and small fangs jut from her mouth. She walks towards you, wearing a simple fur wrap around her waist and a cloth binding covering her breasts. A massive club rests across her shoulders, and she approaches with a grin on her face.

“A good warmup, and a pleasant start to the day! Glad to finally meet you, Josh, I am Uzume. If you can’t tell, I am an Oni, although it’s more proper to say Kijo, since I’m a woman.” Uzume grins as she towers over you and offers a hand.

You shake her hand, and it’s like shaking hands with a vise, her grip like iron. Uzume has a booming voice and a big smile. You’re a bit overwhelmed by the huge Oni, or Kijo, or whatever you call her.

Bast chuckles. “Now, I know it’s sudden, and Uzume is a lot of woman, but I think you could use a strong fighter like her. Especially with what’s coming.” He seems to look directly at Kali as he says this.

He smiles and looks at your group. “Well, I should go! Have fun with Uzume, and say hello to Daigo for me! Don’t worry, I’ll clean up this mess.”

He waves a hand, and the Reaver corpses vanish. With a wave, he snaps his fingers and vanishes as well. You sigh and look up at Uzume.

“Well, I guess you’re coming with us then?”

Uzume grins. “Of course! This party could use a little more muscle!”

You look at the girls, who seem mostly ambivalent. Except Sadie, who bounces with excitement. “I like you, big red girl! Oooh, red and blue, I bet were cute together! You could carry me!”

Uzume laughs. “I like you, djinn! You’ve got spirit!”

You groan. The personality to match Sadie in an eight foot, muscular body?