Berserk
Kentaro Miura first premiered Berserk in 1988 with a 48-page prototype, which won a prize at the Comi Manga School where he was enrolled at the time. On 26 November 1990, the first volume of the manga was published by Hakusensha in its Jets Comics collection. Three more volumes appeared until Berserk was serialized by Young Animal (Hakusensha) in 1992, and new episodes are still being released in the biweekly (every second and fourth Friday of the month) magazine. Volumes are still published biannually in Japan by Hakusensha (Jets Comics collection), and contain 8-11 episodes depending on the release.
In America, the manga is translated and published by Dark Horse Comics, which has released 23 volumes so far, the first in October 22, 2003. As with other Dark Horse manga releases like Hellsing or Trigun Maximum, the Japanese reading format from right to left is preserved in the English release and the sound effects are left untranslated in the earlier releases, but are translated in later books starting from volume 12. The company has also started incorporating references to fantasy films, such as Army of Darkness and Lord of the Rings, into the dialogue. However, the content in general remains untouched.
In Europe, the manga was introduced back in 1996, first in France (Samourai Editions), then in Italy (Panini Comics, under its Marvel Manga - later Planet Manga - imprint) a few months later. The manga has also been translated and released in Germany (Panini Comics/Planet Manga) and in Spain (MangaLine Ediciones) since 2001. In France, after Samurai Editions' bankruptcy, the comic series is now published by both Dynamic Visions (since 2002) and Glénat (since 2004), the latter edition being a larger format. A two-books-in-one Max edition (400+ pages) is also published in Germany and Italy since 2006 (Panini Comics). As of yet the series is not being published in Poland.
In Asia, Berserk manga has been published in South Korea since 1999 by Dai Won. In Latin America, Panini Comics has published the manga series in a demi-sized (120 pages) edition in Brazil (2005)
Before official English translation copyright was agreed with Dark Horse Comics, fan-based scanlation of the manga was performed by The Hawks and later on Evil Genius. These scanlations were hugely popular among the English speaking Berserk fans. Upon Dark Horse Comics releases, the corresponding scanlation volumes were taken off these websites to avoid copyright infringement.
Reception
Manga Reception: The manga has steady been growing a cult following of fans and has been receving posetive review from most readers.
www.homemademech.com praised the manga for its beautiful artwork and gave it an 8/10.
Anime Reception:
| Source | Reviewer | Grade/Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anime News Network | Zac Bertschy | Overall (dub): A Overall (sub): A+ Story: A+ Animation: A- Art: A Music:A+ |
DVD/Anime Review of Berserk: DVD 5: Requited Desires |
| AnimeOnDVD | Chris Beveridge | Content: A Audio: A+ Video: A Packaging: A+ Menus: A- Extras: B+ |
DVD/Anime Review of Berserk Boxed Set: Disc 1 |
| Anime Academy | Gatts, Mugs, Kain, Keitaro | 92.8% | Anime Review |
| THEM Anime Reviews | Carlos Ross | 4 out of 5 | Anime Review of |
Plot summary
Black Swordsman
Guts, a tall muscular young man with a mechanical left arm, and missing right eye, arrived at the town of Koca. Upon entering he noticed some children being moved in cage to the Baron. He entered the tavern and picked a fight with the Baron’s henchmen, revealing a gigantic sword, the Dragonslayer, sparing one of them to bring words back to the Baron that the Black Swordsman had arrived. Puck, an elf who was tortured by men in the tavern, was rescued but Guts told him the fight was for an entirely different purpose.
The town chief was afraid of the Baron's wrath and brought the whole militia to capture Guts. During their conversation in prison, it was revealed that the Baron is not human and the town of Koca struck a deal with him, providing him with children in return for their safety. The town chief then went to apologize the Baron. Guts escaped with the help of Puck.
The Baron was eating when the chief arrived, leaving a human ear on his plate. He imprisoned the chief and called his henchmen to go to Koca, where they slaughtered the inhabitants. Guts, hiding under a pile of corpses, ambushed them and eliminated many henchmen with his repeater crossbow. The Baron was shot repeateo shoot the Snake Baron, before cutting him into halves with the Dragonslayer. Guts let the Snake Baron burn to death and left.
On his travel, Guts was attacked by evil spirits at night, to the surprise of Puck, who now followed him. He was offered a ride on a carriage with a father and daughter. Although initially refused, Guts decided 'It's not my concern what happens to other people. Why not?' and accepted the ride. They were attacked by evil spirits, who possessed corpses of ancient warriors around the area. The father and daughter were killed and Guts commented that 'People who perish in other's battles are worms'.
Guts and Puck arrived at a town just in time for an execution of an alleged heretic. Guts realized that the Count, lord of the town, was an Apostle and declared his intention of killing him. When he left the execution site, he was attacked by soldiers by the Count's order. Guts defeated them and their leader Zondark with ease and escaped with the help of Vargas. Vargas brought Guts and Puck to his hideout, revealing himself to be the Count enemy and ask Guts to take revenge for him. Vargas gave Guts the Count's Behelit which he stole before the Apostle-spawn Zondark found and attacked them. wtfGuts escaped but Vargas was captured.
The Count had an execution arranged for Vargas to draw the Black Swordsman out. Puck was furious that Guts did not rescue Vargas but Guts pointed out the regiment of armored knights in hiding, waiting for him to fall into the trap. Puck tried to interfere with the execution and was captured and given to Teresia, the Count's daughter. There he learned that the Count became obsessed with witch hunting after his wife was sacrificed by the heretics.
Guts attacked the Count's fortress at night, making his way to the Apostle's private chamber. There, he engaged in a brutal battle with the Count in his demonic Slug-like form. The Count had the upper hand until Teresia came to the battle scene. Guts took her hostage, inflicting damages on the Count and finally decapitating him. His blood poured on the Behelit and his will to live called forth the God Hand. Guts' true purpose of exacting revenge on Femto, a God Hand, is revealed but Femto's god-like power were too much for him.
The God Hand explained why the Count became an Apostle: when he found his beloved wife taking part in an pagan orgy, he was torn and betrayed, willing to give anything to escape his reality. The God Hand granted him his demonic body in return for his wife's life and body. They were also willing to give him another chance in return for the only thing he loved, Teresia. The Count could not sacrifice his own daughter, showing his last trace of humanity, and died. He was devoured by countless hungry spirits, including that of Vargas and the God Hand departed, unconcerned with Guts. Teresia swore vengeance on Guts for destroying her life. Guts then flashes back to his memories of his youth, when he was a member of the Band of The Hawks.
Golden Age
The story flashes back to when Guts was born from a corpse, and adopted by Shisu, Gambino's lover, despite Gambino's disapproval. In a few year, Shisu died and Gambino reluctantly took the role of Guts foster father. He trained Guts in swordsmanship so Guts can earn his own living in the mercenary band.
One night, Guts was raped by Donovan, a mercenary in Gambino's band. Guts quickly took revenge during the next battle, shooting Donovan before killing him with his sword. Donovan told him it was Gambino who sold him but Guts refused to believe it.
In one battle, Gambino was hit by a cannon, losing one leg and as a result could not fight anymore. Guts continued his mercenary life, earning money to support both himself and Gambino. One day, Gambino's friends taunted him that he lived an easy life now because Shisu adopted Guts. Gambino, who had never liked Guts got angry and blamed Guts for all his misfortunes. He took up a sword and went in the tent to kill Guts. Guts' reflexes saved him but killed Gambino. The other mercenary came in, and saw Guts' sword in Gambino neck. They thought Guts had ungratefully killed Gambino and wanted to kill him. Guts was shot but escaped.
Injured, pursued, and attacked by a pack of wolves, Guts wanted to give up, but his will to live took control of his body, killing the wolves. A mercenary band passed by the next day and took Guts to join them.
Guts went from battles to battles as a mercenary, honing his swordsmanship. One day he fought the Grey Knight Bazuso for 7 gold coins. In the final move, Guts barely escaped Bazuso's blow to his head (because Bazuso's axe was chipped by Guts' sword in the previous move) while slashing Bazuso's side. His ferocity caught the attention of Griffith, leader of the Band of the Hawk fighting for the other side. When Guts left, Corkus led a few members of the Band of the Hawk to try to rob Guts. Guts maimed some of them, forcing Casca and finally Griffith to intervene. Griffith injured Guts before he passed out and was taken by the Band of the Hawk.
Guts woke up to find himself with the Band of the Hawk and his wounds treated. He found out that Griffith asked Casca to keep Guts warm by lying naked next to him all night, resulting in Casca detesting him. Griffith gave Guts back his sword, and said he wanted Guts because he found Guts' way of putting himself in danger to find a way to survive interesting. They made a wager, if Griffith can defeat Guts then he would join the Band of the Hawk. Griffith demonstrated superior swordsmanship but Guts used his teeth to hold Griffith's sword and turned the duel into a brawl. Griffith finally had to dislocate Guts' arm to conclude the fight. Guts joined the Band of the Hawk although other members had not yet accepted him.
Guts first battle with the Band of the Hawk was a sortie to burn the enemy's supplies. Griffith gave Guts the most dangerous task of holding the enemies off so the Hawks could escape. Guts realized during the mission how well organized the group is and Griffith brilliant tactical abilities. Guts held off the pursuers all by himself, saving Rickert along the way. He was finally forced off his horse and in danger of being overwhelm when Griffith came back to save him and led the pursuer to an ambush. The mission was a huge success and the Band of the Hawk, witnessing Guts ability and loyalty, welcomed Guts as one of them.
The next morning, Griffith talked to Guts about his dream of his own country. He also explained to Guts the Behelit he wore around his neck is called Egg of the Emperor, given to him by a fortune-teller.
Time passed on and the reputation of the Band of the Hawk grew as the "Grim reaper of the battlefield". They helped the Midland army defeat the Black Sheep Iron Spear Knights of Tudor army. Guts went off to fight the enemies ahead of his own squad. His ferocity drove the Black Sheep Iron Spear Knights into confusion before the Band of the Hawk routed them. While Casca was angry because Guts action could have endangered the Hawks, Griffith merely commented that Guts' lust for battle was also part of his plan. This victory led to Griffith being knighted by the King and the Band of the Hawk became an army of Midland.
In a siege, Guts and Griffith encountered Nosferatu Zodd, who was believed to be the god of battle. After none of the 50 men who went into the castle came out, Guts decided to go in himself, in spite of everyone's protest. Here he was completely outmatched by Zodd, but used his bigger sword to cut through Zodd's sword and injured him. Zodd commented that Guts was the first human to cut him that deep, and turned to his demonic form, knocking Guts down effortlessly. By then, Griffith led some members of the Band of the Hawk in and rescued Guts by shooting Zodd, which infuriated him. Griffith and Guts took Zodd together cutting him deep, but they were still crushed by Zodd. Just then, Zodd saw Griffith's Behelit and decided to leave. Before leaving, he gave Guts a prophecy that when Griffith's dream come crashing down, Guts will face a death he can't escape.
Because of the injuries they suffered, the Band of the Hawk returned to Wyndham where Griffith recovered. Griffith were constantly visited by court nobles and had less and less time with the Hawks. Here he met Princess Charlotte, the only child of the King. General Julius, the King's brother, was deeply troubled by Griffith's, a commoner, fast rise in the court. When the duty of protecting the court during the annual hunt was given to the Band of the Hawk, he decided to assassinate Griffith during the hunt (at Minister Foss's suggestion.
During the hunt, Griffith followed Charlotte and was separated from the rest of the Hawks. A sharpshooter shot him with a poison laced arrow, but fate guided it to hit the Behelit and Griffith survived. He then traced the poison, ab expensive one, back to Julius and sent Guts to assassinate him. Guts finished the job easily, but was discovered by Adonis, Julius's son and heir to the throne. Guts killed him before he was aware that Adonis was just a kid. The alarm was sounded and Guts barely escaped without blowing his cover.
When Guts came back to Griffith, who was at a royal ball, talking to Charlotte outside, he overheard Griffith's talk about friendship and that a friend must be someone who is his equal. Guts realized Griffith did not considered the Hawks his friends and thought about his own dream, as he did not want to live Griffith's.
Midland and Tudor resumed their One Hundred Years War and the Band of the Hawk left Wyndham for the border. Before they left, Charlotte gave Griffith one of her lode-stone pendant pair and asked Casca to protect him. The Queen, Julius's secret lover, was not happy about this relationship. Casca knew that she had no chance with Griffith, but still wanted to live for him.
The Band of the Hawk encountered the Whale Armor Knights of Tudor army, but Casca hid her PMS conditions and went to battle. Due to this, she was beaten by Adon Bocovich but Guts came and crushed him with just one blow. Casca fainted and fell over the cliff but Guts caught her. Adon Bocovich used his heirloom crossbow to shoot Guts, sending both of them over the cliff.
Guts and Casca fell into the river but Guts dragged Casca out, took her armor off and learned why she was so weak on that day. He brought her into a cave, but dared not making fire as it will attract the enemy. Guts repaid Casca by warming her with his own body. The next day Casca woke up and Guts had to give her his own shirt, as her clothes were still wet. Casca told him how he joined the Band of the Hawk after Griffith rescued him from a noble who wanted to rape him. From that day, she worshiped Griffith, willing to be his sword only to find him wanting Guts. She could not forgive Guts because he changed Griffith. Guts understood Casca much better and developed sympathy for her.
They moved out that evening, even though Casca had not fully recovered, as mercenaries and bounty-hunters were searching for them. Adon Bocovich took his brother Samson and one hundred men to ambush him to take revenge for his defeat. As Casca was still weak, Guts had to take them head one, telling Casca "go back to the master of your sword". Casca met the rescue party led by Judeau and came back to find Guts killed all the enemies, with the exception of Adon Bocovich, who pretended to be dead. They carried the heavily injured Guts back to the Band of the Hawk and the doctor ruled Guts out for the rest of the campaign. However, Judeau gave Casca some Elf dust which had healing power to help Guts. Casca found Guts on top of a hill, looking over the Hawks' camp. She personally applied the healing powder while they talked about the camp fires and each person's dream in the Band of the Hawk, and how Griffith's was the brightest, leading flame. Guts let it slipped that he was thinking about leaving the Hawks. This whole experience brought Guts and Casca much closer and they stopped arguing, to the surprise of the rest of the Hawks.
The White Tiger Army, on the the largest armies of Midland, were crushingly defeated when they tried to take Doldrey, a fortified base from which Tudor launched their invasions. When the Midland generals discussed how to attack it, Griffith told them the Band of the Hawk could take the fortress alone, if the King wished it. Believing in Griffith's ability and knowing it would be a small loss if he failed, the King ordered the Hawks to attack Doldrey, which was defended by the most prestigious army of Tudor, the Purple Rhino Knights. The Band of the Hawk was outnumbered 4 to 1 and Doldrey was an unassailable fortress, but Griffith knew that a victory would propel him to the position of the greatest Midland general.
Lord Gennon, whom Griffith spent a night with for money when the Band of the Hawk was just formed, was in charge of the Tudor's army at Doldrey. Taking advantage of Gennon's obsession with him, Griffith used it to draw the Tudor's army away from Doldrey, against General Boscone's counsel. Griffith set his army back against the river, asking them to fight their best to survive. While Guts and Boscone dueled each other, Casca led a division of the Hawks, under the cover of fog, assaulted Doldrey, which was undefended. Adon Bocovich was left behind by Boscone and Gennon, but his knights were no match for the Hawks and they captured Doldrey. Guts' sword was broken in the duel as it was weakened when he killed Adon's one hundred men, leaving him defenseless. Just as Boscone was going to finish him, Zodd threw Guts his scimitar (to ensure Griffith win and later join the God Hand). Boscone was surprised and killed by Guts. Casca hoisted the Band of the Hawk flag on top of Doldrey, causing further panic amongst the already shocked Tudor army. The Band of the Hawk routed them and Griffith killed Gennon to ensure his secret would not be revealed.
Griffith triumphantly returned to Wyndham and was made Lord Protector of Midland while the whole Band of the Hawk were knighted. The Queen and Minister Foss conspired with other nobles to poison Griffith as they feared him and no longer needed him. Griffith anticipated it and kidnapped Foss' daughter, forcing him to act as his spy. Griffith faked death at the ceremony and returned to put the house where all the conspirators gathered, locked in by Foss on fire. He told the dying Queen that it was a battlefield, and the one who lost must die, regardless of rank of status. Foss' daughter was returned to him unharmed and Griffith ascension was seemingly unopposed. The nobles' deaths and the assassination attempt on Griffith were blamed on Tudor's agents.
A month later, Guts silently left the Hawks when everyone was still sleeping, but was seen by Casca. She asked him to stay but he said that he could not be buried in Griffith's dream. Corkus and Judeau caught them and took Guts to a tavern while Casca ran looking for Griffith to stop Guts. Guts explained to Corkus and Judeau that he would not let Griffith look down on him, and would be his equal, to which Corkus laughed at and left. Judeau asked Guts about his relationship with Casca, and pointed out that Casca could never be with Griffith, who needed Charlotte to realize his dream. Guts gained better understanding about his feeling, but pointed out that the person Casca was after was Griffith and that someone like him never had a chance.
Just when Guts said goodbye to Judeau, they found Casca, Pippin, Rickert, Corkus, and Griffith waiting on the road for them. Guts made up his mind to leave even Casca, but Griffith demanded Guts must win back his freedom in a duel. Guts agreed at the protest of Casca. Casca found herself wishing for Griffith to win so that everything would be the same again and Guts would stay. However, Guts easily defeated Griffith with just one blow, completely broke Griffith spirit and confidence. He then left without looking back.
Guts was visited by the Skull Knight on the first night after he left the Band of the Hawk. He called Guts 'struggler' and foretold the demise of the Hawks one year from now, during the Eclipse. He also told Guts he must keep struggling against death.
In Wyndham, Griffith visited princess Charlotte and spent the night with her. He was discovered and captured in the morning. The King was furious and ordered Griffith to be tortured under the Tower of Rebirth for one year in secret. The Band of the Hawk were attacked, but they escaped under Casca's leadership. They were outlawed and hunted to the border of Midland. Griffith lost his Behelit during his torture.
Guts learned about the Band of the Hawk at a tournament after a year training in the mountain, living with Godo and Erica. He saved Casca from Silat, the leader of the Bākiraka clan whom he already defeated in the tournament. After hearing the whole story, Guts decided to help them rescue Griffith. Casca blamed Griffith's downfall on Guts' departure, which broke Griffith, but they let go of the past and spent a night of love.
The Band of the Hawk divided into two groups, one led by Casca and Guts would rescue Griffith while the other prepared for their retreat. With the help of Princess Charlotte, they infiltrated the castle and the Tower of Rebirth. They found Griffith a complete wreck having his tongue and his muscles removed. The jailer locked them in Griffith cell and sounded the alarm, but Guts destroyed the door and led them out of the tower. Princess Charlotte then made herself hostage so that they can escape from the King, who sent four Bakiraka assassins after them. Guts, Casca, Judeau and Pippin killed three of them but Charlotte was taken back to the King.
The King no longer showed any restraint and sent the Black Dog Knights after them. They were ambushed by the Hawks, but Wyald, an Apostle and the leader of the Black Dog Knights, turned to his demonic form, a gigantic ape. He killed many of the Band of the Hawk and his own soldiers, knocked Guts unconscious and tried to rape Casca. Guts woke up in time to rescue Casca and finally stabbed through Wyald's neck, apparently killing him. They then looked at Griffith's conditions learned he would not be able to fight again. Wyald gained his consciousness back, knowing he would die soon, and attacked them to provoke Griffith to call the God Hand. He picked Griffith up but could not find the Behelit which Griffith had lost. Enraged, Wyald showed the Band of the Hawk what a wreck Griffith was and wanted to tear him to pieces. Zodd intervened, protecting the future God Hand, tearing Wyald apart.
A group of wounded Hawks including the boy engineer Rickert was waiting separately for the healthier Hawks to bring back Griffith. When Rickert was sent to get water, he spotted an elven shape in the sky. He returned to the camp to find it under attack by Apostles, including the humongous Count and the elven Apostle Rosine. Rickert ran for his life, and he was saved by a fortuitous encounter with a strange figure known as the Skull Knight, who prevented the Count and Rosine from killing Rickert. Afterwards, Rickert met up with a group of nomads. The elf Puck was also there, and he gave Rickert a bag of medicine.
Griffith oversaw an intimate moment between Guts and Casca, and became jealous. He was confronted by an image of a healthy Griffith, who informed him that the path to power was still open, and that he could still reach the figurative castle. Griffith commandeered the reins of a carriage, and proceeded down a hill. Guts, Casca, and a group of Hawks gave chase. When Griffith reached the bottom, he laughed maniacally, and then impaled his neck upon a pointed rock. His blood touched the behelit, and it began to rearrange into a face. Guts ran down the hill to Griffith, who mentally urged Guts not to touch him. When Guts laid his hand on Griffith's shoulder, the behelit began to scream, and the world changed around them.
Apostles began to appear all around them, and the four faces of the God Hand appeared: Slan, Conrad, Ubik, and Void. Conrad raised an earthy altar high into the air, which carried Griffith to the top and Guts part of the way up. Once there the Hand of God informed Griffith of the meaning of their presence, they told him in order to become a God he should sacrifice all of his men. Griffith was at first reluctant to do it but he was manipulated by visions created by Ubik about all the people who have died because of his dream and how the only way to honor them was to continue trying to fulfill his dream. After that Void urged Griffith to agree to sacrifice his comrades to get his wish, to become emperor of the world. At that moment, Guts reached the top of the altar. Griffith cursed Guts, and declared the swordsman to blame for derailing his dream. He then agreed to Void's demand.
All of the present Hawks were then marked with the Brand of Sacrifice. The Apostles swarmed all around them, and killed them all but Guts and Casca. Griffith was cocooned and he learned that a very powerful entity created of the collective feelings of the humans has been manipulating the fate of mankind and that this entity created Griffith himself through the manipulation of fate during many generations. Griffith then was told by this entity that he is free to choose what to do and what to become; after hearing this Griffith replied "I Want Wings" and he was granted a new body with raven black wings, Godlike powers, and immortality, and he was given a new name, Femto. Casca was brought to Femto for his pleasure, while Guts was pinned down and forced to watch. While Femto raped Casca, her mind was broken and she was left in a vegetative state, no longer able to speak. Guts lost an eye and cut off his own arm trying to reach her, but to no avail. Slan reveled at the maelstrom of evil.
Zodd had been left to guard the gateway to hell. The Skull Knight cast him aside, and the Knight forced open the gateway. He attacked Void, rescued Guts and Casca, took them on his horse, and escaped through the gateway. He brought them to Rickert, who had medicine from the elf Puck, and he commanded the boy to heal them. Rickert brought Guts and Casca to Godo's cave.
When Guts awoke, he found that Casca's mind had been destroyed. Her ordeal caused her child to be born with deformity merely four days after the incident as Guts had been unconscious. After killing an apostle who'd followed the scent of the brand to their mine, Guts became enraged at what the Apostles had done to his companions, and he sought to kill all of the demons. He particularly wanted revenge on the newest member of the God Hand, Femto. He left Casca with Godo, Erica, and Rickert, and set out to search for the Apostles.
Retribution/Conviction Arc
A group called the Holy Iron Chain Knights set out on a mission from the Holy See to solve the mystery of what had happened that had caused all the problems in the world. They were led by a female figurehead named Farnese, who was accompanied by her herald half-brother Serpico. Most of the knights considered Farnese's second-in-command, Azan, a knight of long experience, to be the true leader. The knights followed a trail of blood that appeared to point to a man known as "The Black Swordsman".
Guts and Puck discovered a girl named Jill who had been captured by a group of bandits. The bandits were put off by Guts' insolence and tried to subdue him, to no avail. While Guts and Puck freed Jill, the bandits panicked and ran into the elven apostle Rosine and her two gigantic insect apostle henchmen, who killed the unfortunate men.
Jill led Guts and Puck to her village. The villagers, having been terrorized by Rosine and her army of elf demons, panicked when they saw Puck, whom they presumed was one of Rosine's cohorts. Jill's father Zepac abusively dragged Jill away, claiming that the girl did not know what she was doing and that he knew best.
Rosine's tiny elven insect demons attacked the village and began eating grain, farm animals, and even the villagers themselves. A boy ran from a farmhouse, crying that his parents had been killed. Guts grabbed the boy and used him as bait for the demons. After he lured a group of them into the farmhouse, he used an explosive to kill them. Jill recognized Rosine as her former friend before the female apostle fled the scene. The townspeople were angry about the way Guts had misused the boy, and Guts and Puck decided to flee from the villagers before the situation could become worse.
Jill met up with Guts and Puck again the next morning. Guts disdained the help of both Puck and Jill, declaring that he was going to kill Jill's apostle former friend. Guts rushed off to find Rosine alone, but he was delayed by an attack by Rosine's gigantic insect henchmen. Jill and Puck set out to find Rosine on their own, and they found her before Guts. Rosine offered to make Jill an elf apostle. Jill was tempted by the promise of flight, but was uneasy with the warlike ways of the elf demons who would kill each other for fun. Puck urged Jill to reject Rosine's offer.
The Holy Iron Chain Knights arrived at Jill's village. They procured information from the townspeople about what happened, which Farnese and Azan interpreted to mean that the Black Swordsman had passed this way. Jill's father Zepac offered to help the Knights more out of a sense of glory than out of loyalty to his daughter. The Knights accepted Zepac's help and they left the village to search for Guts.
Guts found and destroyed the elf demon cocoons, and an enraged Rosine battled Guts until she was so badly injured that she could no longer fight. As Guts was about to deliver a killing blow, Jill shielded Rosine with her body. It did nothing to stop Guts, but before he could act, Zepac arrived and shot him with a crossbow. Guts was then attacked by the Holy Iron Chain Knights, led by Farnese. Badly wounded, Rosine finally understood the moral of Peekaf's fable and in her delirium attempted to return home to her parents. Guts escaped during the mayhem, and Puck followed him. Zepac wanted to continue to accompany the knights, but Azan told him his place was with his daughter. Zepac attempted to drag Jill back home, but she evaded him and set out to find Guts.
When Jill found Guts and Puck, she asked Guts if she could accompany him. Guts told her that the world was a dangerous place that she was not equipped to deal with, and that she should go back home. Jill reluctantly agreed with Guts, but she left to go home with a determination to no longer submit to her father's bullying. Puck provided her with magic to help her defend herself against her father.
Later, the Holy Iron Chain Knights found Guts once again. Guts was captured after a long battle when their leader Farnese wildly stabbed Guts with her sword. Farnese had him brought to her tent where she interrogated him. Guts told her a little of the truth, doubting that she would believe it, and she did not, whipping him madly. She stopped only when Azan discovered what was happening and expressed his outrage. She then ordered Guts to be locked in a cage outside.
That night, Guts escaped from his confinement after Puck acquired the key and released him. He knocked Farnese unconscious and kidnapped and used her as leverage to escape. During his flight, Guts was attacked by some of the creatures that continually plagued him since he got the Brand. Farnese got an inkling that Guts may have been telling the truth, but her faith made it impossible for her to really believe, effectively rendering her unable to detect Puck's presence. Farnese's half-brother Serpico arrived on the scene to rescue her after she'd been possessed by one of the spirits who were left from Guts' massacre after one of them took control of a horse and attempted to rape Farnese, and Guts gave her up to Serpico after he slightly wounded Guts' cheek as payment for the kidnapping and to appease Farnese's bloodlust.
Puck led Guts to an area blessed by elves, and as Guts slept, Casca's child gave him visions warning him of danger to her. He rushed back to Godo's cave in a panic, only to discover that she had wandered off while she was with Erica a month ago. Guts described some of his visions, and they decided that she was probably at Albion. Guts, after having his dragonslayer renewed and his armor changed to a set that Godo had for when he came back, left with Puck for Albion determined to find Casca with a new crossbow and set of miniature bombs that would prove to be useful.
Midland was in turmoil due to a plague unleashed by Conrad. The King of Midland died, and Charlotte became queen.
Casca was taken in at Albion by a group of prostitutes led by a woman named Luca. When Guts and Puck arrived, they met a boy thief named Isidro who was determined to help Guts so that the swordsman would teach Isidro "secret techniques." When a prostitute named Nina took her boyfriend Joachim to a goat-worshiping cult, she was followed by Luca and Casca. Joachim had second thoughts about the cult and ran. When Casca was spotted by a cult member who attempted to rape her, her child briefly appeared to save her. This event convinced the cult that Casca had magical powers, and they began to worship her. Luca took advantage of the situation to lead Casca and Nina away.
Another of Luca's prostitutes, Pepe, was accused of heresy. When the man who was apprehending Pepe pointed out that no one was challenging her arrest, Luca came to her defense. Before he could act against Luca, Guts intervened with his sword. Guts demanded to know what had become of Casca, and Luca, noticing that Guts had the same brand as Casca, agreed to take him to her. However, Luca's actions had panicked Nina, and as a result the cowardly prostitute had taken Casca back to the cult.
The cult's goat-head leader decided to mate with Casca and sacrifice Nina. Isidro and Puck found them, and Isidro threw rocks at the cult members from above while Puck dashed off to get Guts. Joachim helped Farnese to find the cult, and she ordered the arrest of all the cult members. Guts arrived to stop the Goat-leader from raping Casca after the leader was possessed and altered to a pseudo-apostle, and Guts ordered Isidro to lead Casca away while he fought the goat leader and killed him with the help of the bombs Rickert gave him prior to setting out. When Guts tried to catch up with Isidro, he was delayed by an ambush by Serpico. Isidro was forced to lower Casca and Nina down a ravine with ropes, and before he could follow them down, Farnese's forces arrested both Casca and Nina.
Farnese took the two women to the leader of Albion, the priest Mozgus, and she told him that the Black Swordsman had tried to rescue Casca. Mozgus placed Casca in a iron maiden, and when it touched her skin, monsters were summoned, killing all who did not or could not flee. Guts, Puck, Isidro, and Luca went to the tower to find Casca. Luca attempted to buy their way in, but Guts impatiently rushed ahead. While Luca rescued Nina, Guts located Farnese and demanded that she tell him what had happened. Farnese, still in disbelief, told him what she knew, and she followed him after he rushed off. Puck located Casca, but he could not stop the monsters from carrying her away. He went to Guts and reported that despite the carnage, Casca was unharmed.
The monsters delivered Casca into the waiting arms of Mozgus, who resolved to burn the "witch" Casca at the stake. Guts fought Mozgus and his torturers, while Isidro used a rope to rescue Casca. Luca fell down a ravine and met a strange hermit in the shape of a behelit, who had been promised that he would be the vessel of a new world. The hermit appeared to have been behind much of what had happened, helping the goat leader and Mozgus with his powers, altering them into pseudo-apostles to combat Guts. The hermit took Casca's child and disappeared. The frenzy of desire for Casca's death summoned a plague of evil monsters, and most of the denizens of Albion were killed. The ceremony enabled Griffith to be reincarnated with a new body in his old form, that of a white haired man with elven features and an aura that bedazzled those all around, and he was flown away from Albion by Zodd.
Millennium Falcon Arc
Guts, Puck, and Casca returned to Godo's cave. Godo had died in the interim, and Rickert, Godo's apprentice, had taken over as blacksmith. Griffith found them, and offered Guts and Rickert a position in a new Band of the Hawk. Guts angrily rejected the offer and attacked Griffith, but Zodd now served as Griffith's protector, and he fought with Guts until Griffith decided to leave. In the ensuing fight, Godo's cave was destroyed. Rickert in anger asked Guts what really happened to the Hawks. Guts told him the full story. Rickert wanted to join, but Guts declined, telling Rickert not to follow in his path and to protect Erica. Rickert and Erica both left to live their lives together.
Puck proposed that Guts take Casca to Puck's kingdom, Elfhelm, in the hope that the king would be able to heal Casca's mind. After they left, Puck encountered Isidro, who had agreed to tote Farnese and Serpico's baggage but had stolen it instead. When Farnese saw Guts, with her faith shattered by the events at Albion, she swore to follow him, in order to learn what Guts understood about the world that she did not.
The newly formed party entered a strange wood. With Guts and Serpico elsewhere, Isidro was attacked by a group of trolls. Unable to fend them off by himself, he was rescued by a mysterious young witch named Schierke, who was accompanied by the elf Evarella.
Traveling further into the forest the party was attacked by a group of golems. While the golems were seemingly invincible at first, the party began to destroy them once a flaw was found in their design. Schierke's mistress Flora ordered the attack stopped, and Guts and his party were invited into her home. An old man also arrived and asked Flora for help saving his village from a plague of trolls. Flora made a deal with Guts that if his party helped the town, she would provide a means to nullify the power of Guts and Casca's Brands. She ordered Schierke to accompany Guts on this mission. She gave artifacts of power to each member of the party, but Guts refused to take the axe she gave him, saying that he needed to stick with the sword Godo made for him.
When the party arrived, they gathered the townspeople into a church. Guts and Serpico fought off the monsters while Schierke erected a magical barrier from the top of the church. This task completed, she then called upon a water spirit to wash away the monsters. Farnese was so impressed with Schierke's display that she asked and received permission from Schierke to become her student in witchcraft. Casca fell off the church, and when Farnese attempted to catch her, she too was pulled into the water.
With Serpico injured, Guts, Isidro, Schierke, and the elves went to find Casca and Farnese. They tracked them to a cave that seemed to be a base for the trolls. While Schierke and Isidro fought with the trolls to save Casca and Farnese, Guts went further into the base and found that Slan was there. Slan destroyed Guts' armor, and he was unable to escape her tentacles until the Skull Knight arrived to help. The cave was collapsing, but the Knight opened a portal with his behelit-sword, allowing them to escape.
The town saved, the party returned to Flora's wood. Only, when they arrived, Flora was under attack by Griffith's Apostle minions, including Zodd. The Skull Knight held off Zodd while Guts' party took on the rest of the Apostles. Guts was in trouble without his armor, and Flora commanded Schierke to take him into her home and give him the Berserker's Armor. This armor greatly aided Guts, but Schierke had to use her magic to call Guts back from his berserk state. Although the group was able to fend off Griffith's minions, Flora was killed. Schierke decided to leave her home and accompany Guts on his quest.
Griffith began making plans to defeat the Kushan Empire, led by the Apostle Ganishka, who refused to follow Griffith. Ganishka had kidnapped Charlotte, and Griffith mounted an all out attack with the sole purpose of rescuing her. Griffith and Zodd broke into Charlotte's bedchamber, and Zodd flew them all away. With Griffith's objective achieved, he ordered a retreat. Charlotte made Griffith Midland's top general, and placed him in charge of all of Midland's forces.
Guts' party was attacked by monsters sent by Ganishka to pillage the countryside. Guts once again donned the Berserker's armor, allowing him to defeat the monsters, but once this task was accomplished, he became a threat to his own companions. Schierke was aided in her efforts to calm Guts by a strange child which Casca believed was her own. Schierke assured Serpico that she would always be there to stop Guts from bringing harm to Farnese.
Guts and his party arrived at the city of Vritannis. Farnese believed that she could procure a ship for Guts, and she went to her family for help. While she was gone, Schierke discovered that Kushan children were being enslaved by pirates given permission to trade in slaves. When Schierke aided these children, she was observed by Griffith's seer Sonia. Impressed by Schierke's good deed, Sonia sought befriend her, and the seer described her relationship with Griffith in a story where she referred to herself as a kite.
Isidro sought to track down Schierke before she could get in trouble by brazenly striding about with a witch's hat, and he encountered Mule, who was similarly trying to find Sonia to protect her. Mistrustful of one another's intentions, the two got into a fight.
Eventually, the pirates caught up with Schierke and sought to stop her. Schierke paralyzed the pirate leader with her staff, which greatly impressed Sonia. Isidro and Mule intervened, with Mule challenging the leader to a fight. The leader lured Mule onto a ship, where the unsure footing led to Mule's defeat. Isidro stepped in, and proved to be more able to fight in the swaying conditions, and the pirate leader offered Isidro a position on his boat. The leader stumbled into the sleeping Azan who angrily defeated the pirate in combat.
With the pirates gone, Sonia offered Schierke a position in the Band of the Hawk. When Schierke rejected the offer, saying that she had a group of companions already, Sonia and Evarella accused Schierke of being in love with Guts, who had wondered by.
Farnese's brother Manifico arranged for her to marry a man named Roderick who could provide them a ship. The deal was struck, but Guts became concerned when Farnese did not return to his group. He sent Puck and Evarella to investigate. They discovered that Farnese had become trapped in an arranged marriage, and Guts decided to go to try to talk her out of it. However, Serpico challenged Guts to a sword fight because he wanted Guts to stop interfering in Farnese's affairs. Guts defeated Serpico but spared his life. Roderick agreed to captain a ship for Guts, and he and Manifico agreed to accompany the party on the voyage to Elfhelm.
An attack by Ganishka's forces provided a complication, and Guts and his group had to fight their way through monsters to get to the ship. Ganishka himself appeared in the sky, and Guts and Zodd had to work together to drive him away.
Once at sea, Roderick's ship came under attack by the same group of pirates that had skirmished with Guts' party previously. The pirates' boats proved to be no match for Roderick's warship, and they were soundly defeated.
Manifico approached Roderick about an idea to enslave the inhabitants of Elfhelm for commercial purposes. Roderick rejected the idea, but Manifico convinced Puck to go along with it by offering to make Puck the king of Elfhelm.
With Guts safely on his way to Elfhelm, Griffith launched his final attack against Ganishka. In a last ditch effort to gain the power needed to transcend the apostles, Ganishka enters the device he uses to create artificial apostles, and becomes a gigantic, powerful, uncontrollable monster. Griffith's forces close in on the newly mutated Ganishka and his newly created spawns, and Griffith is face to face with Ganishka before the Skull Knight appears out of nowhere and slices at Griffith with his Sword of Resonance. Griffith (in Femto form) quickly deflects the blow onto Ganishka. During that moment, an explosion of light engulfs the world, causing creatures from the astral plane to become visible to many who could not see them before. Ganishka is defeated and turned into a gigantic tree by the blow. Falconia, Griffith's promised kingdom, sprouts up from the trees base, and his army marches towards it.
Fantasia Arc
The first episode of the Fantasia Arc returns focus to Guts and his allies on Roderick's ship the Sea Horse, still sailing towards Elfhelm. The ship's crew soon finds they are being pursued by the now possessed pirate ship that survived defeat at their hands previously. In the latest episode (309) we find that the possession has enhanced the pirate ship's maneuverability greatly (it can now submerge and move at greater speeds than before) and before long the Sea Horse is boarded by a team of possessed pirates and squid-like creatures. File:Wiki wide.png
