A Kushan occupied city is liberated by Griffith and his new Band of the Hawk: Composed of Nosferatu Zodd, Sir Locus the Moonlight Knight; the exiled Bakiraka assassin Rakshas, Grunbeld the Giant; and Irvine the Archer. Joined by the clairvoyant girl Sonia, the Hawks later dealt with a Kushan legion that overwhelmed Midlanders under the command of Mule Wolflame. Though Mule was upset to learn Kushan prisoners are given a choice to join Griffith's army, and that some of the army's members are demonic cannibals, Mule was mesmerized by seeing Griffith holding final rites for the fallen whose spirits depart while bidding farewell to their families. Mule is overcome with emotion from being in Griffith's presence, immediately pledging his loyalty to him. Meanwhile, after Farnese cuts her hair to prove her resolve, Guts allows her, Serpico, and Isidro to travel with him as he no longer trusts himself to protect Casca on his own. Guts does warn them that travelling with him means they would not be able to sleep at night, the group later fending off attacking specters after nightfall.