Disclaimer: I don't own Berserk that right belongs to Kentaro Miura.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who took the time to favorite/follow and review. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.
This has not been edited, so please excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes you will surely see.
Chapter II
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It was due to the blood around his armor-clad feet causing him to lose his footing that saved him from being bisected.
Managing to catch himself, Basuzo clutched at the handle of his axe in a death grip and he brought it up just in time to clash with the blade swinging for his head. Bulging eyes grew only grew larger in disbelief as the young soldier stepped back before launching forward once more to deliver a series of furious strikes against him. With every strike, he could feel the strength that contradicted the small frame that was dealing the blows. Every one of them causing his arms to tremble more and more as they continued to rain down on him.
"Ugh, dammit!" he grunted, pushing the boy back away for him in order to breathe.
The giant man couldn't believe how quickly the situation had turned. Not even moments ago victory was within his grasp, and the thought of this child being pushed forward to fight had only filled him with amusement – along with pity.
For seven gold coins, this child was putting his life at risk. It wasn't something that he condoned, however, if the child was foolish enough to oppose him when he decided to humor them before sending him off. Maybe in the next life, the kid would make better life choices.
Now, however…
Stiffening as the kid released another roar, Basuzo felt fear as the boy leaped up in the air to deliver an overhead strike. Lifting his axe up to catch the blade, he watched in horror as the pure weight of the blade in the boy's hand was embedded in the head of his axe. Cracks spread through the metal, shocking him.
What is this?! How did this whelp's blade do this?! Bringing his attention back to the boy, he moved back just as the boy did.
"Heh, now are you taking me seriously, bastard?" the bloodlust was clear in the boy's voice, and the large armored man couldn't help the shiver that rolled down his spine.
This wasn't normal!
"Now hold still, that head of yours is going to get me quite a bit of gold," bring his sword over to the side, the boy ran towards him. "Send my regards to death, Basuzo!"
Basuzo at that moment wasn't seeing a child…no, he was seeing a demon.
"No! Stay away from me!" he cried out, swinging his axe as the kid came in close.
When the edge of his blade caught the side of the helmet on the boy's head, triumphed began to well up inside of him. Unfortunately, fate, it seemed, wasn't kind.
As the blade bit into the helmet, the cracks left from the boy's earlier move caused the blade to break apart. Instead of killing the boy, only the helmet was destroyed.
The helmet shattered, and Basuzo's eyes widened in disbelief as the child that had given him so much trouble was revealed to everyone.
Wild black hair fell to her shoulders from whatever tie held it under the helmet. Dark eyes, ablaze with excitement and the large feral grin on her comely face as she brought her sword back and shoved the blade forward into Basuzo's gut. Her blade cut through his armor like a knife through butter, and Basuzo croaked out in pain.
"O…h…" he fell back, his eyes stuck on the girl that stared down at him as the edges of his vision began to blacken.
The girl wrenched her blade free from his stomach as she came to stand beside him. Without another word, she raised her sword above her head and the armored man raised a hand in protest.
"W-Wait!" he started, clamping a hand to his stomach as if to stem the blood that spilled through. He, however, never got to finish his pleading.
Everyone watched in silence as the girl lopped off the head of the man, who had single-handedly held off their attacking force.
Turning to them all, she shoved the head of her conquest under her arm before looking at the startled commander that sat upon his horse with a dumbfounded expression.
"Done, I'll be expecting the coin after this is all over."
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"Who would've thought that soldier was a girl?!" the others around him commented, watching as the enemy forces took ahold of the momentum set after Basuzo's death.
He didn't say anything, his gaze firmly set on the girl who proceeded to take down anyone who attempted to cut her down with startling ease despite her handicap. Startling blue eyes watched from beneath the helmet obscuring his face, fixed to the girl who danced across the battlefield with a brutal grace that one would only see in a wild beast. The idea of pitting himself against the ferocity that seemed to emanate from the girl's entire being stirred inside of him.
It was something that he had never felt before.
What it was…he didn't know.
"I wonder how that girl would compare to you, Griffith. Now that's a fight I would want to see!" the remark snapped him out of his daze, and he was brought back to the present.
On his left, he heard a snort.
"Yeah right, Griffith is on a totally different level."
Some of the others either agreed or seemed to like entertaining the idea of the girl being his equal in swordplay.
To be honest, he wondered how it would feel to fight the girl himself.
The sound of cries from below made him shake his head. Now wasn't the time to lose focus.
The battle was over, and it wouldn't gain them anything by remaining here.
"Let's get going, the castle is finished."
With one final glance in the direction he had last seen the girl, he turned to walk off. His followers following him without question.
I have a feeling that we'll meet soon, he mused. His fingers caressing a red orb that hung from his neck on a leather cord.
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End of Chapter II
Yeah, these are supposed to be drabble chapters so they're supposed to be a bit short. I've come to realize that Guts is a bit more boastful than canon Guts, but then I realized that I besides gender. My Guts is different from canon Guts due to one simple fact: she has a goal for herself (no matter how vague or morbid it is) whereas Guts kind of just existed for the most part. He drifted from place to place with no real goal in mind, until he witnessed Griffith getting close to achieving his own and decided to find one for himself in a bid to become Griffith's equal. Of course, this was because he believed that Griffith didn't see him as a friend (not that I blame him since Griffith pretty much said that to the Princess, but…).
Well damn, it seems like I'm already changing things. Which is…good? XD
Anyway, I made miniscule changes to the first chapter so I would recommend reading that along with this one.
For Basuzo, re-reading the chapter with him, there wasn't much of a personality since he was basically there to show how badass Guts has become after years of being on his own. Since he served the same purpose here, I didn't add too much of a personality to him. At least, I don't think so. I didn't have enough time to do it.
Next chapter, the fated meeting between the Hawk and Hound. It seems we're finally making some progress.