Chapter 4: Inglorious
"So what's this supposed to be about?" Guts asked his mentor and teacher the Skull Knight. Who stood before him still with Flora and her student mage Schierke and elf Ivalera. The Mansion tree being their base of operations for the past two years. Where Skull Knight had been training Guts in the ways of the berserker armor and how to control its vast power. During the last two years, they would always link back up at the spirit tree. To exchange news and who had claimed the most lives while gone. It was more so Guts that came up with the latter just a little friendly competition to keep his mind off Casca who he had missed dearly. Although trying to get a firm grasp on the situation at hand he intertwined to listen in on what Skull Knight was saying.
"I have foreseen it, the newest addition to the God Hand is planning a rebirth to the mortal world. The current flow of causality will have us be present." Skull Knight informed him, Guts just felt his rage sneak upon him.
"Griffith..." Gut said slightly above a whisper, Skull Knight watched him carefully as he saw the helmet slowly inch its way up Guts' neck. "I'll make sure he feels every ounce of my pain." Guts spoke as Skull Knight grabbed his shoulder. Guts looked at him wide-eyed ready to kill.
"Calm your Storm Struggler, we must allow him to be reborn. His power will be stunted due to his mortal form. Only then will you have your chance." Skull Knight told him, he then saw the red eyes of Guts' berserker helmet glare at him. "Don't let your rage become your undoing. Reference your training and control your darkness." Guts heeded his words and took a deep breath his helmet going back into his armor. Guts walked forward a get steps causing Skull Knight's hand to fall off his shoulder. Guts glanced over his shoulder staring at the grass.
"Then what's the plan?" He asked, Skull Knight, crossed his arms.
"Normally I would've done what I could to stop the ritual but due to causality and our plan." Skull Knight trailed off, Guts turned around to face him raising a brow. "We'll simply watch from afar, once we've confirmed his rebirth we'll disappear and refine your skills. Then you may execute your revenge in whatever way you see fit." Guts crossed his arms as well and closed his eyes.
"Fine, we'll stick to the plan." Guts conceded, he then opened his eyes looking up to Skull Knight. "And what about Void?" The Knight stayed silent for a few moments locking eyes with his successor.
"What about him?" Skull Knight asked, Guts shrugged.
"I've talked to Flora she told me of your tragic end, well ascension. She described Void, I know you are all of their enemies but of course, he's your Griffith. What's your plan?" Guts elaborated, Skull Knight looked back to the balcony which Flora was standing speaking to Schierke.
"It is of the realm of impossibility, for the likes of me to destroy him. Without him becoming reborn such as your situation. There is no plan for myself, just opportunity." Skull Knight said, Guts nodded in understanding.
"Well, in any case, when does this party kick-off?" Guts asked, Skull Knight then raises a hand, his horse galloping next to him.
"He should be fully reborn by daybreak tomorrow so we'll depart now." Skull Knight spoke, Guts nodded as he and Skull Knight mounted his horse.
—
"Is everything in order?" Femto asked, the other members of the Godhand all nodded in unison. Femto crossed his arms as he closed his eyes. "Very well, I have dispatched Zodd to assist me in my travels."
"It's only a matter of time now." Void spoke as they all stood and waited.
In Albion, where the tower of Conviction stood a great battle was taking place. Amongst the Holy Iron Chain Knights, a cult of crazed lunatics and wicked spirits that Guts had involuntarily summoned due to the mark of sacrifice. All the while innocents were consumed and tortured in between. Guts and Skull Knight stood by watching the battle unfold. On top of a ridge that encompassed the town. Guts sat on the edge with a knee close to his chest and his other leg hanging off. While Skull Knight sat on his horse overlooking the scene.
"You sure you don't want to go down there, sure would pass the time." Guts asked, Skull Knight studied the battle watching tendrils of the dead swallow up the citizens.
"I advise against it, now that you have the berserker armor it would be hard to contain you. Say if Griffith is reborn while your bloodlust is high." Skull Knight spoke, Guts sighed as he looked down again at the chaos. Ivalera then appeared from behind Skull Knight's shoulder.
"What're you guys doing now? EEP!" Ivalera shrieked as she saw the bloodbath below, Guts looked back to her as did Skull Knight not knowing of her presence.
"Ivalera I suggest you close your eyes, it's pretty bad down there." Guts spoke turning back, Ivalera then flew over to him and crawled into his armor through his neck.
"Just tell me when it's over!" She said as she hid inside, Guts just continued to look on.
"I'm going to locate where the rebirth will be taking place." Skull Knight informed him, Guts didn't say anything as the Knight's horse trotted off. Ivalera poked her head out facing Guts, whose face was steeled.
"What's the matter Guts? It looks like something on your mind?" Ivalera asked him, Guts continued to watch on the fire from the battle reflecting in his eyes.
"Griffith's about to be reborn and I can finally have my crack at killing him. Though the slaughter of these people just reminds me of my friends who died the same way as they are down there. It just angers me even more, we should've just left him to rot in that tower." Guts said, feeling foolish for having a hand in helping free him from that.
"Well don't beat yourself up about it, you didn't know at the time." Ivalera tried to comfort him, Guts didn't make any sign that he heard her. Which made Ivalera sink back into his armor. Guts kept watching the battle until he saw way past the battle on the western side of the city. A handful of ghouls were circling a figure. Guts adjusted his position so he could get a better look. He lifted a brow as his eyes weren't fooling him. Someone was fighting a group of spirits away and they were by themselves. He wondered who that person was and why a group of demons were so far from the main battle. His suspicions grew when he saw the figure who fought them back was actually succeeding. He then gripped the hilt of his base and stood up.
"Ivalera the rides about to get a little bumpy." He told her before running off, he didn't look but Ivalera stuck a thumb out from his armor.
—
"Hey, Casca you can open your eyes now." Puck told her, Casca opened them and saw that it was night. She could hear faint screaming and roar in the distance. She was outside of a city she never seen before. Puck looked around a little spooked by the scene himself. They both saw smoke and fire emitting from the city in front of them. Casca then felt her brand burn and ache she pressed her hand against it.
"I haven't formally met King yet but why am I not surprised he's near a battle." Casca stated as she looked around she saw the entrance right in front of her and figured she go inside the city. "I don't have any armor or weapon and it's night. Somethings telling me we'd better find a weapon soon." Casca said as she ran inside the city.
"Well why would head into battle? Shouldn't we go away from screams and flames?" Puck suggested, Casca shook her head as she started to check empty buildings.
"Well yes if I didn't have this brand on me, those demons could pop up at any moment now. I want to have something to defend us with. Plus King is somewhere near here. I don't want to miss the opportunity to find him." Casca spoke as she tumbled through a barrel. While her attention was elsewhere, Puck saw something coming from the ground. It was a corpse's hand emerging from the earth. He shuttered as he pointed at the hand.
"Umm Casca" Puck said quietly, she was still checking the barrels in front of a vacant shop.
"What is it?" Casca asked, Puck, screamed as the living corpse's head popped out of the ground. Casca turned around and spotted it. She breathed in a curse and began to run. "It's too late we've got to move!" Puck held onto her shirt for dear life as she ran through the city. As she ran she noticed more corpses rising from the ground. She also saw limbs of people scattered across the street as she ran. 'It's just like-' She thought before she stumbled a bit then fell to the ground.
"Casca!" Puck shouted as she landed roughly, she looked up to come face to face with a dead soldier. She got up quickly raising a hand defensively before realizing. From his navel down was torn apart most of his legs were eaten. But Casca saw her saving grace in his hand, a sword. She picked it up and got to her feet. She turned around and faced the corpses that were headed toward her.
"Hungry..."
"Sacrifice..."
"I'm so...cold..."
The corpses mumbled as they approached her, Casca then swiped her blade at the air getting used to the blade. She then gave a determined look, she wouldn't be bested by the dead. Keeping her eyes on them she spoke to Puck.
"Watch my back let me know if they try to attack me from behind." She asked of Puck who saluted and flew off her shirt. Right, when they were in range Casca began to cut them down. She sliced one in half before gliding past it and stabbing another through the chest. She pulled the blade back before decapitating it. She then looked to the others that were coming. This was like that nightmare all over again. She had to find Skull Knight and quickly she didn't want to miss her opportunity. Especially since she didn't know where she was. She turned around and ran deeper into the city.
As she looked left and right drastically searching for the spirit. Then that's when she saw a goat-like apostle standing in front of her along with humans that looked to be possessed. The apostle had a goat head with long horns and a human body and goat legs. His arms were elongated and stood on all four limbs. The creature turned around and acknowledged her. Puck screamed once more pointing at the hideous apostle. The goat said no words simply pointed in her direction. His followers looked at her and began to run at her. Casca looked behind her and saw the corpses were right behind her as well. She started to panic, her situation bleak. She gripped her sword tightly wiping the bead of sweat from her forehead.
"Tell me when to strike behind me Puck," Casca said knowing the followers would reach her before the corpses did. Puck just nodded in terror as he stuck to the back of her neck. Casca then let out a war cry as she rammed her blade into her first victim. She pushed the body away before kicking the next in his face before swinging her blade slitting his throat. The possessed follower grabbed his throat as blood started to pour from his wound falling to his knees.
"Casca behind you!" Puck shouted before Casca turned around and decapitated a corpse. Puck was then face to face with another possessed follower. "Cascaaaaaaaaa!" Puck yelled, Casca wasn't fast enough before the follower hit her in the back of the head and threw her against a building. Casca lifted herself up as she looked up to see the followers and corpses walk toward her.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!" An enraged voice exclaimed, Casca's eyes widened 'Was that-' Casca couldn't finish her thought as the followers and corpses looked up. At the last sight they saw a black swordsman coming down and slicing them all in half. Puck and Casca looked on in amazement as the man cut down the rest of the followers and ghouls with ease. The goat apostle then stepped up slamming its hands on the ground before roaring. The swordsman had looked back and down at Casca and Puck as he walked off toward the apostle. Casca had a feeling she knew it was Guts just by his blade alone but with the helmet that was covering his face, she could only see his eyes. A fairy then flew out of his armor and flew towards them.
"Hey, are you okay?" The fairy asked, she then saw Puck and smiled. "Oh wow, you have a fairy with you as well." She stated, Puck, came up to her and eyed her up and down.
"What are you doing with him?" Puck asked, the fairy simply waved him off.
"Oh that's just Guts, he's always like that." The fairy spoke, Casca then stood up at her words.
"You called him Guts?" Casca asked, the fairy nodded her head as Casca turned back to see Guts going toe to toe with the apostle. It had lunged at him with his hand, Guts jumped over it before coming down hard chopping its arm off. The got apostle gave out a cry of pain, Guts very quickly beheaded the monster silencing its cries. He looked down at the monster before looking up. The screams that were heard earlier began to become louder. Guts then sheathed his blade and ran back toward the others. He swiftly ran up and picked Casca up as gently as he could then began to run fully from where they were. Casca looked up to his face which was still covered by his helmet. She reached a handout and touched his helmet. As if reacting to her touch the helmet then recoiled back into his armor. Guts having taken notice of it looked down to her. This was the first time they had locked eyes in two years.
Guts continued to run, however, Puck and Ivalera were right behind them. Once out of the city Guts made a b line for the ridge that he descended from. Casca was amazed at how fast he was running for the period of time that had passed. Once at the beginning of the ridge, Guts began to go up, he didn't stop running till he made it to the top. Once there he turned around and saw that nothing followed them. He then proceeded to place her down, Casca stood on her feet and looked up to him. Guts already staring at her noticed a scar she got from where she fell. He lifted her arm and took out a bottle of fairy dust and applied it to her small wound. He then pulled out a roll of bandages from his pouch and began wrapping it.
"I don't know what you were thinking out there, what possessed you to run toward the battlefield with no armor. You saw the chaos that was going on why would you run toward it. Thank the heavens I saw you cause if-" Guts cut himself off when he finished wrapping her arm. She was just staring at him, Guts then looked concerned. "Are you okay? Did they manage to help you? Well, they did something cause you didn't want anything to do with me the last time." Casca then slapped him, Guts touched his cheek and looked back at her.
"You!" Casca shouted, Guts put up his hands defensively. "You just let me go with some strange spirit and left me alone!" Guts started to try and explain but Casca interrupted him. "You even killed our-" Casca then stopped herself causing Guts' eyes to widen. Tears burned her eyes as she looked away from him. Puck and Ivalera stood by watching the scene unfold exchanging glances every few moments.
"Casca I" Guts started, Casca then met his gaze. "It was the best course of action at the time Casca. I didn't want you to have to deal with what you just dealt with. The old bastard promised me you'd be taken care of. Weren't you?" Guts said, Casca then looked away.
"Guts, it's only been two days for me since that day." Casca stated, Guts then remembered what Skull Knight had told him.
"Well it's been two years out here, a lot of things have happened." Guts told her, he himself then looked away. "As far as our child goes Casca, I didn't want it to lead that kind of life. You and I have already been through a lot I don't want our child to go through one fourth of what we've been through. What would you have had me do?" Guts asked her Casca then looked at him. Guts looking her in her eyes. Casca could see how the past two years had taken a toll on him. She finally took the time to take him all in. His face had somehow matured and a part of his hair was gray. He had a scar right under his right eye and his body was covered in armor.
"... It seems as though Danan was able to save your psyche. It's good to see you alive and well." The voice of Skull Knight was heard, Casca looked behind her and saw him. He was on his horse looking down upon them. Skull Knight looked at Guts who had a solemn expression on his face. "I should have guessed that causality reaches as far as Elfhelm."
"Do you think I wanted this Casca?" Guts spoke after his silence. Casca and the others then turned their attention to Guts. He had his fists clenched and only one of his eyes could be seen as he stared at Casca. "Do you think I'm proud of I what I've done? Or do you think that maybe for a second I felt like I did the right thing?" Casca feigned silence as she bit her bottom lip. Guts took a step closer he could feel the raw emotion building up in his throat. "Swinging this damned sword is what got me into this shit. It's the only thing that's got me this far! It's been two years for me, I've had a lot of time to think! I'm sorry Casca I am but how could I have expected this? How?! Not a single day goes by that it doesn't haunt me. That it doesn't remind me of what happened, I know once I kill Griffith it'll be there. It'll always be there!" Casca was in tears at this point, she ran up to him and slammed her fist into his chest.
"Why couldn't you just have stayed Guts! Why did you have to leave!?" Casca shouted she then looked up to Guts and got in his face. "I don't blame you for what happened, like you said before you were just following your own path. But look at this! We're both shattered Guts, if it wasn't for King and you, I'd still be insane! And you still want to kill?! Why!? For what?! You see where it's gotten us! Why can't we just leave and put this behind us!" Casca shouted, Guts got closer to her face their noses almost touching by a hair.
"You think we can do that now Casca? Just go on our merry way and start over begin a new huh? Well in case you haven't noticed when the sun falls every fucking demon that's crawled out of the crevices of hell comes out and tries to kill us! Killing Griffith now is what's going to free us from this brand! I'm doing this for the both of us." Guts spoke, Casca looked back at Skull Knight, who was just watching the two go back and forth. Puck and Ivalera are the same way both fairies with looks of sorrow on their faces.
"So that's what this is huh?" Casca asked Skull Knight, who slowly shook his head.
"No, this is the rebirth of Griffith, we're here because causality called for it. Once we have bore witness we will take our leave." Skull Knight explained, Casca then looked back to Guts still close to his face. Both of them realize that they were speaking deeply amid company. She jabbed a finger into his chest, locking eyes with him.
"Will finish this later." She said, Guts nodded in agreement, they stared at one another for a few more moments before Casca hugged him tightly. Guts being in shock at first eventually returned the embrace. He saw her tears stream down her face and onto his armor. Guts held her tightly as he shed his own tear. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Guts whispered back, the two then let one another go still holding each other's gaze. Just then, the tower of conviction started to collapse. The group turned their attention toward it as the tower began to form a hand. Casca and Guts knew what it was having seen it before. Skull Knight very familiar with it, both Casca and Guts grunted in pain as Guts grabbed his neck and Casca her chest. The brand burning them like no other. They all looked to see the spirits form a hand reaching out to the sky. The Godhand standing on each finger except Femto, a huge behelit could be seen crawling up the hand. It stopped once it reached the palm. As they watched a baby could be seen in the center of the egg. Just like before, Guts could feel his wrath boil but kept his composure. The baby inside began to morph and age quickly turning into a grown adult.
The eyes on the egg began to bleed and a smile formed on its face. Once the egg cracked the Tower of Conviction began to crumble. Skull Knight looked to the horizon and saw the sun starting to peak. Once the egg cracked all the way the tower crumbled to the ground.
"It has been done, he is among the living once more. Your vengeance and freedom is that much more attainable Struggler." Skull Knight spoke as his horse turned around facing the land. "Let us go back to the spirit tree. The astral and physical worlds are now one. Things are about to get more treacherous." Skull Knight spoke Casca walked up to the horse before looking back and seeing Guts still watching. He stared down at the collapse of the building. Standing there in nothing but his flesh was Griffith. Who looked angelic if anything, Guts merely watched him. As the sun beamed upon them, he saw Zodd in his bestial form flapping toward Griffith.
Griffith saw his ride land in front of him, Zodd drop to his knees, and bowed. Griffith placing a hand on his head, Griffith felt invigorated in his new body. His senses were keen and like new. With that being said, however, he felt a presence that of which was unfamiliar. It was hot, it was like a calm flame but if touched would burn anything to a chard crisp. He looked to his right and saw it. What stood out most was his eyes. They were low and like daggers. Guts and Griffith had made eye contact. Griffith lowered his hand from Zodd and turned his body toward Guts. Zodd's attention was taken by the Kushan warriors who were charging them. Griffith was intrigued by Guts, he hadn't moved nor yelled out for him. Yet his mere presence had what grabbed his attention. Griffith's eyes widened, it was just like that day when Guts had dueled him for his freedom. Griffith then was shocked to see something from behind Guts. It was like a shadow but Griffith could see it clearly. It was some sort of animal that was behind him. Eyes a piercing red, it wore a smile its teeth as sharp as razors.
"Are you ready...to play the game Griffith?..." a dark voice had said as if it were right beside Griffith. Guts hadn't spoken a word but that animal did behind him. 'What kind of sorcery is this?' Griffith thought, Guts then turned around with a flow of his cape and walked off. Griffith frowned, despite his powers and ascension to a god he hadn't felt this human in a long time.