A Berserk Story Like No Other

Here's the fourth chapter. Enjoy. (Seems life can hold anyone back…)

It had been a few days since the two companions had stormed the mercenary contract station, though for the half demon, everything had been slowly looking up for her. The past few days have felt warmer, brighter and for once, she felt the need to smile in a more genuine manner when they walked along the wilderness to the next place Guts decided to go. However, even if all these small yet good things came by, it seems impossible to move the obvious tension between the two companions that was slowly becoming thicker by the moments. Ever since the night before they left, and the large man had said she was a 'human' to him, that air had become thick but bearable. But now… Now it just felt hard to breathe.

Her amethyst eyes turned to the side to look at her human… Friend? Comrade? She didn't know what to call him now since 'companion' didn't feel right now. She frowned lightly as she saw him revert to his old self after what he said that night but for some reason, he didn't lash out but instead, became more dismissive.

'At least he isn't glaring at me with that cold eye of his… Oh God, his eye…'

She suddenly stopped her memory when she thought of looking into his eye once more just to see that visible coldness in it or perhaps the hidden rage that boils within the depths of his soul… Something that even sent shivers into her core. She could sense it and it intrigued her greatly to know exactly what was actually held within him. It wasn't long until she saw him look towards with that gaze once more, a deep grunt escaping from his person which made her snap out of her thoughts and look away quickly to focus back on the dirt road ahead.

With the Black Swordsman however, he was raging an internal battle with himself and has been for the past few days. What the hell was he thinking? He had nothing to prove to this half demon, he had no obligation to help her with her battles and he was certainly not under the pretence of her little womanly tricks… Or was he? Now that he thought about it, he hadn't been with someone of the opposite gender like this for a long time now since he was reverting to his old ways, in a sense. Only this time, he was on a journey for revenge against the one who wronged him and the rest of his old companions… Ones he considered irreplaceable. The Band of the Hawk.

He took in her appearance for what seemed to be the thousandth time in the last day. Her tanned yet scarred facial features that made even the most beautiful woman or even the most beautiful sunset pale in comparison. Her slender yet fairly muscular form, from what he could see, was nothing short of mind boggling if he was honest since he didn't expect such a woman of her stature to hold that much force… But really, it also made him sullen and angry at what she reminded him of. Her eyes however… They were something he'd never seen before. For some reason, they even made HIS eyes look dull from how much brightness and emotion he could see in her amethyst crystals. It sort of reminded him of the ocean, how he felt as if he could be sucked in by a single glance and just be taken to the depths of the purple abyss.

He turned away and looked ahead, frowning deeply at his sudden thoughts of the woman beside him but just continued to walk. Still… He would definitely like to know what has made think of these things.

'Thoughts for another day. Right now, I just have to find my next target. I have to keep searching until I can find a way to use this Behelit.'

From what Guts could remember, there was apparently a village about another day's walk away from them and that just made it easier for them to stock up on supplies if the case needed it. If Nalia wished to rest there for the night, they could do that too since they had been walking basically none stop for the past few days. Exhaustion is the worst kind of feeling when going into battle… He didn't fancy another fight like the damn Holy See Knights who tried to capture him a few years ago. Now that he remembered the fight, it was pure luck that he was captured anyway.

"Oi, Nalia."

In that moment, the half demon in question was suddenly pulled out of her thoughts as she heard name being called from the swordsman. Her eyes went wide for a split second before focusing on Guts, a light blush upon her cheeks already made it seem like her thoughts consisted of something that she had very rarely thought of before… Luckily for the her though, he wasn't looking her way but was instead focused on the road ahead. Her silence gave the large man an opening to carry on speaking since he could already tell he had her attention.

"Another day until we're there. We'll go through the night. Prepare yourself."

"R-Right."

The woman nodded gently, muttering a silently to herself before looking ahead and focusing back on her thoughts once more. The Black Swordsman didn't understand her right now because of this 'unusual' behaviour that he's never seen from her before and honestly it was starting to piss him off. Where the hell was this cold side of hers? What about her teasing? Over-confident nature?

"Tsk, you're not making this easy, are you?"

"Huh?"

Nalia whirled around to stare at the large man with slight wide eyes, suddenly feeling a little on edge of what he was saying.

"This. You're being difficult for no reason whatsoever."

She could see his obsidian coloured eye boring into her like his sword driving itself through the thinnest piece of metal and honestly, it was very unnerving to say the least. She knew exactly why she was being like this but for one reason or another she couldn't accept it. Just the thought of it made her feel warm all over while also making her heritage grow more erratic every time she thought about it… It was driving her insane.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Ah, there was that coldness he was looking for. That defiance. It intrigued him as well as pissed him off. A small glare was all he gave the woman before grunting something incoherently, moving ahead a little faster. It would be nightfall soon and he was sure another night of him killing perilous monsters would drive away these inner thoughts of his companion.

With the half demon though, she could already feel her demonic heritage wanting to gain control over her human side, just so she could rip this human to shreds because he was definitely starting to get on her nerves. Running her hand through the white side of her hair, Nalia heard yet another message come from her inner demon side.

'Why am I still here with him? I can face Father on my own! I can do it all myself! So… Why can't I bring myself to just be rid of him?'

She couldn't figure out a single explanation for this but decided to just leave it for now and focus on the task at hand. Get through the night and make it to the village to have something to eat and to sleep, just so she can forget about all this for a few hours. She sighed softly under her breath and followed the swordsman.

By the time night had come, the air between the two had become borderline unbearable for them both but with the depths of darkness lurking in the shadows, now was definitely not the time to even speak about it. Blood began to slowly seep from the Brand on Guts' neck, making him grit his teeth lightly at the aching pain that flooded into his body… Spirits of the astral plane wanted to come out to play again. The half demon could also sense them easily but unfortunately, these weren't barely worth a lick of salt. It sometimes made her miss fighting the demons, but then again, it also made her on edge for a reason.

Both companions were quick to draw their weapons when a sea of spirits stood before them, ready to take over their living bodies just to feel warmth once again or to see the world that isn't just black and white… The Black Swordsman tightened the grip on his iron Dragonslayer.

"Let's get started. Don't fall behind."

All that was heard was a light huff that was accustomed with a scowl. He could tell Nalia was still being difficult but then again, he could also blame himself for not being a people's person. People got in his way and he never needed them… It was the same with her, but she seemed to handle people just fine. With light a shake of his head, he sprung off into the night long battle by giving the incoming horde a large backhanded swing while the half demon dashed off to the side to take on her own little horde.

All that could be heard was the sound of metal crashing and slicing against the ethereal beings and a few ragged roars of battle cries, but even with Guts doing this every night for the past few years, there are times where he would get too overwhelmed with their numbers… Not every warrior is as invincible as they want to believe. He could smell his own blood, he could hear the cries of the damned trying to reach out for him but what actually caught his attention the most, was the fact that the thickness in the air had become even more menacing than before.

The moment he turned to decapitate another spirit, it quickly dissipated into thin air, as did the rest that surrounded the two companions… What the hell was going on? The large man's lone eye went towards the half demon to see if she knew what was going on but only received a breathless shrug in return. However, before she could utter a single word to the man, her amethyst eyes went wide as she felt a sudden presence surround them.

'They're here…! Already?'

Nalia's eyes were quick to scan the area in hopes to find exactly where these newcomers were but she couldn't see them. Her mind was already frantic with her psychological state from earlier with Guts but now this? This was becoming more of a problem.

'They've come to hunt me again, have they? They haven't done so in years… It seems the message has gone through already.'

The spear in her grasp was quick to be held tightly as she began to move back to her companion, keeping an eye out for the new presences.

"Guts-"

"Quiet."

Nalia recoiled her gaze to the swordsman and was about to reprimand him on his response when she saw his gaze was not on her. But instead, behind her. She scowled under her breath as she knew they were behind her. She cursed silently under her breath before slowly turning to face the presences behind her, seeing the only hunter that had escaped her grasp many years ago. However, the person or rather, demon, had only eyes for the half demon in front of them with a smile adorning his features that was far too innocent for what he was doing.

"All it took was a single message and I've finally found our little runaway… We're here to bring you back."

"I'm not going back…"

"I never said you had a choice."

There were three armoured beings behind the 'leader' who definitely seemed more than they were, considering if one were to look closely, their skin was a crimson red underneath their armour with thin scales. The half demon scowled at the sudden predicament, seeing the three armoured beings move to intercept their target. Nalia quickly readied her spear before smirking a little, her body already warmed up from their previous battle.

"I won't allow you to take me back… Father will not have me, and neither will you…"

"Ah and I thought you missed me Princess?"

In that moment however, it was then the demon looked behind Nalia to see the cold yet icy glare of the Black Swordsman which only made him raise an eyebrow slightly before smirking widely.

"I'm guessing this is the mortal that proclaimed to keep you? Such a shame that you had to brainwash this poor soul to get him on your side… And to substitute him for me? So cold…"

The half demon felt herself growing more and more angry by the second at hearing those words… She wasn't using Guts and she most definitely wasn't letting him get in her pants either. The nerve! But in that moment, she felt it… That heat, that darkness… Nalia slowly looked behind her to see Guts still not taking his eye off of the male demon but she could sense something within him. This malice that she had never felt before… It was worse than when she first met him.

The Black Swordsman already had a little too many questions running through his mind and not enough answers. He needed information to get his revenge, not take part in some demon quarrel.

"A man of few words hm? I can appreciate that… Kill him but take her alive."

Two of the armoured guards went straight for the large man at the back while a single one went for the half demon. The two that went for Guts were quick to raise their battle axes and bring it down upon him, only for the attack to hit the air. Not even a moment later, a deep clang of iron was heard, and both of their bodies were messily torn apart by the huge slab of iron that resided in the man's hands.

The half demon herself used the precious little time she had to quickly slice and stab the one armoured demon that had tried to take her, piercing their body through the gaps of their armour. A sigh passed the demon's lips as he watched his men be easily took down by this simple human and the one and only half demon that should be his and his alone… He frowned. Her power should be his. The demon moved closer to Nalia, who was also quick to bring her guard back up, so she could finally be rid of one the pests that had took the one thing every woman could only ever have once… Her innocence.

"You couldn't fight me then, what makes you think you can win now Princess?"

"Don't call me Princess…"

"You could've been and still could be one of the most powerful demons to ever walk among us if you just went through with the ritual. Your Father would be so proud… You could even be betrothed to yours truly if you just come back Nalia. What's the point in pretending to be human? They won't ever accept you!"

The half demon in question was about to retort when felt another demon rush right beside her, making her swing her spear round to intercept the battle axe of a hidden demon before feeling something come crashing into the side of her head… Before she knew, her body went crashing into a tree nearby, cracking the bark and splintering it everywhere with her body soon dropping limp at the base of the tree. Blood began to pool from her lips and head as well as her hand was slowly yet gently moving to cradle her ribs…

'I… I didn't even feel him move… I-I'm still weak…'

Guts watched the scene before him unfold and quickly came to the single conclusion he could. This guy… This demon was as powerful or more powerful than an Apostle…

"Now that my prize is out, it seems I'll take out the trash."

The Black Swordsman couldn't stop this feeling inside him and he knew it was impossible to try at this point… Why was he so angry right now? Sure, the information he wanted was important but… His eye slowly looked over to the limp form of Nalia and he couldn't help but feel the rage and hatred within him flare. This bastard… He will pay. And for the first time in a very long time, did his inner beast agree with him.

"That strength, that power, that darkness… That fear. I can feel it all within you darling… Let me see it one more time!"

That voice… That voice is not welcome within his brain. He could feel her lurking and crawling in the back of his mind, tainting his mind with images of death and despair of that fateful day. She wants to feel every emotion within him, he knew but if he was honest, she was the least of his worries right now. The demon ahead of the Black Swordsman could feel the air suddenly grow cold but what really peaked his interest was the malicious grin that now sported the human's features.

"Pay attention demon. I will only ask this once."

Guts didn't hesitate to bring the large slab of iron in front of him, ready to face off against the enemy before him.

"Oh? So, you do speak?"

"The God Hand… Where are they?"

That made the demon stiffen slightly, his smirk instantly being wiped off his features and was quickly substituted for a low snarl. How did this human know of the Angels? He watched as the swordsman took a single heavy step and tightened his grip on the heavy sword he held.

"Seems you've lost your tongue. Your kind would laugh at you for being rendered speechless by a mere human…"

A dark yet deep chuckle erupted from Guts' throat as he watched the demon's face contort into one of anger and hatred. Their fists clenched tightly before they readied their sword themselves.

"You dare speak their name you wretched filth… I will enjoy killing you human!"

Without a moment's notice, the single hunter appeared before the Black Swordsman swinging their sword down with the intent to slice off Guts' head. However, steel met iron as the sword collided with Dragonslayer and before he could comprehend to give the human another attack, the demon felt something collide with the side of his head. The Branded Swordsman had guided their sword to the side and had used his iron prosthetic to knock the demon away, which worked more than he actually thought.

The demon's body flew back and skidded across the ground, a silent cackle actually escaping their lips as they slowly stood up. Blood trickled down the side of their head as well as from their right ear, which had burst his ear drum. They turned their head to see Guts already in front of them, his sword ready to cause massive damage.

"Now then… Let's get started."

And with that, Dragonslayer collided across the demon's stomach with loud clang of metal.