Guts manages to get Casca back at Albion and returns to Godo’s shack. There, he sees Rickert talking to Griffith, who had just regained physical form in Albion. Guts is unable to hold back his rage and attacks, but Zod gets in his way. An intense battle between the two who have improved their swordsmanship begins!

In order to get away from the disasters that the brand brings to them, Guts decides to head toward Puck’s homeland. However, traveling with Casca was proving to be difficult, and darkness was stirring within Guts. Meanwhile, Farnese and Serpico, who had parted ways with Guts in Albion, had renounced the Holy See and were trying to find him. Under the cold winter night, Serpico remembers the day that Farnese had first found him...

Guts receives unexpected visitors with a surprising request. Meanwhile, Griffith and his force continue their advance, gaining new allies both fair and foul along the way.

Farnese has a moment of self-realization as she tries to adjust to her change in circumstance. Her abrupt about-face surprises Guts and his comrades, but nothing prepares them for the surprise audience with a witch in the forest who seems to know everything about them.

While speaking with the witch of the forest, she tells Guts she is much more knowledgable of his situation than he thought. She indicated someone has told her to expect them. Guts is keen on finally getting some answers to all of his questions, but the witch can sense Guts' inner turmoil. She has her young apprentice join Guts' band to help remove trolls from a nearby village.

Guts' band are not welcomed kindly when they arrive to help dispel trolls from a nearby village. Despite this, they manage to be allowed to stay the night, hoping they can intercept the trolls. Soon enough, the trolls come, but unlike before where there were just a few...the entire heard comes storming upon the city.

Schierke's shield withholds against the trolls, but an Ogre and Kelpie appear and cause further havoc. As Guts and Serpico fight them off, Schierke loses control of the water spirit and the town floods. Just as everything washes away, two fall in...

Farnese and Casca have been taken by the trolls to Qliphoth, an astral place between life and death. Just as Guts and his party save them, a member of God Hand appears...

After rescuing Casca and Farnese, Guts has retained grievous injuries from his encounter in the spiritual realm. The group decides to take Guts back to Flora for treatment, only to discover that Griffith has sent an assault force to kill Flora.

In his new cursed armor, Guts does not feel pain. This makes him near unstoppable, to the point that even one of the apostles of light cannot defeat him. But even if he doesn't feel pain, the damage still remains, and the armor itself threatens to engulf his soul...

Guts and party resume their journey to Puck’s home, an island called Skellig that exist between the planes and is home to both elves and mages. Skull Knight warns Guts of the effects of using the Berserker Armor. At night they are attacked by giant humanoid crocodiles controlled by Kushan sorcerers.

Guts' group approach the city of Vritannis where Ishidro upsets Schierke about her witch’s clothing. Schierke's learns that Vritannis traded in Kushan slaves, but all the slaves have been hanged as religious enemies of the Holy See. Schierke adn Ishidoro save a group of children from pirate kidnappers.