Yashu

Yashu is a major antagonist in Half Minute Hero 2: The Second Coming. Originally a noble and heroic knight of the Brave Kingdom, the combination of a tragic misunderstanding and manipulation by evil forces ultimately twists him into becoming a champion of Evil and sworn nemesis of Heroes.

Background
Yashu is initially one of the main allies of main protagonist Yusha, and is a fellow member of the Brave Kingdom's elite Commando Unit. Although noble, Yashu had one fatal flaw: His single minded devotion to Maria, Queen of the Brave Kingdom, which bordered dangerously on blind fanaticism at times.

Yashu's unflinching devotion to his Queen leads to tragedy following the release of Ultimate Evil Lord Mestvolos and his Four Generals. Unbeknowsnt to Yashu, Maria had been abducted and replaced by a demonic doppleganger under the control of Mestvolos's enforcer, Reaper Lord Lamde. Under Lamde's orders, the fake Maria ordered the arrest and execution of bot Yusha and Princess Ciel. Yashu blindly obeyed her command, and fought fervantly to prevent Yusha's escape and later rescue of Ciel. Finally, Yashu watches in horror as Yusha strikes down the fake Queen, unaware that the true Maria was still alive, albeit turned into a bat by Lamde.

Half mad and in despair, Yashu wandered aimlessly until he was approached by Lamde, who told him that Yusha had "the blood of monsters" in his veins and that the peace Hero had fought to obtain in the last game was a shame, urging him to cast aside his humanity and join the forces of Evil. Consumed by his rage at his former friend, Yashu eagerly accepted Lamde's bargain and was transformed on the spot into a champion of the Evil Words, gaining immortality, sprouting demonic wings, and obtaining the Demon Sword, a powerful weapon of evil.

Yashu would go on to fight Yusha several times in the hero's quest to defeat Mestvolos and his Generals. In the final battle between them, Yusha gained some unexpected help from Guy, a fellow Commando. With Guy's help, Yusha defeated Yashu, but the fallen knight promised Yusha that he would return one day to prey on his descendants.

200 years later, Yashu would fulfil his promise when he became the bodyguard of Athena, Princess of the Evil Empire. When Yushia, descendant of Yusha began her campaign against the Empire, Yashu encountered her after her first battle with Athena. Quickly realizing her identiy, Yashu flies into a fit of madness and attacks her, only to be stopped by the mysterious swordsman, Geezer. After giving thanks to the Evil Lords for giving him another chance to have his revenge, Yashu retreats with Athena, but not before telling her not to die before they can fight.

Yashu next appears alongside Athena attempting to destroy a bridge to halt Yushia's progress. Before he can destroy the bridge, Yushia engages him in battle, but is easily defeated. Yashu mocks Yushia's weakness before going for the kill, but is once again stopped by Geezer and forced to retreat.

Personality
Before his fall, Yashu was a serious, but noble figure who was incredibly blunt and to the point, his mind constantly on his mission. His devotion to Queen Maria, even before his fall, bordered on fanatical obsession, sharply chastising Guy when he questions why the Queen would want Yusha alone to go on a top secret mission. He also willingly goes along with the fake Maria's plan to execute Yusha and Ciel, casting aside his friendship and loyalty to his commander and Princess in favor of serving his Queen.

Following his transformation into a champion of the Evil Lords, Yashu is quickly all but consumed by his hate and madness. He relishes the chance to kill Yusha and his descendants, and is prone to launching into fits of deranged laughter when confronting them, even when he loses. Although he is quick to launch into insane fits when facing Yusha and his descendents, when among his fellow villains he retains some semblance of his old personality, in that he is stern, blunt and to the point, even possessing a bit of dry wit as shown with his interactions with Athena. Despite this occasional wit, Yashu is among the darkest of the game's villains. Unlike the majority of Second Coming's villains, Yashu has very little, if any comedic moments. The majority of his scenes are devoted to showing how his obsession with revenge and the influence of the Demon Sword is driving him further and further into madness.