Chapter 10 of Berserk continues the Golden Age flashback — and it shows us something shocking.
Young Guts is no ordinary child.
He doesn’t fight like a scared boy.
He fights like someone who was born for war.
1. A Child in Real Combat
In this chapter, Guts enters a real battlefield — not training, not preparation.
Real war.
And instead of freezing…
He kills.
Cleanly.
Efficiently.
Without hesitation.
The other mercenaries are shocked.
He’s too young.
But his sword doesn’t care about age.
This moment establishes a painful truth:
Guts never had a childhood.
2. Gambino’s Influence
Gambino watches Guts fight.
There’s pride.
But also something darker.
Gambino trained him to survive.
But he also uses him.
Guts becomes an asset on the battlefield.
Not a son.
Not a child.
A weapon.
This dynamic will eventually shatter their relationship.
3. The Making of a Warrior
Chapter 10 shows how Guts becomes physically exceptional.
His sword is too large for someone his age.
Yet he swings it anyway.
He doesn’t complain.
He doesn’t cry.
He adapts.
That adaptability becomes one of his greatest strengths later in life.
4. Isolation Even Among Soldiers
Despite fighting alongside adults, Guts remains isolated.
He doesn’t laugh with them.
He doesn’t bond deeply.
He sits alone.
This emotional isolation is important.
Because when he later finds companionship in the Band of the Hawk…
It will feel revolutionary.
And fragile.
5. The Emotional Undercurrent
Chapter 10 is intense, but it’s not about glory.
It’s about conditioning.
Guts is being shaped into something powerful.
But at a cost:
- Emotional vulnerability
- Trust
- Innocence
War becomes normal for him.
And when violence is normal…
Peace feels unnatural.
Why Chapter 10 Matters
This chapter reinforces that Guts’ strength isn’t supernatural.
It’s forged.
Through:
- Training
- Trauma
- Survival
He didn’t wake up strong.
He was forced to become strong.
And that difference makes his character tragic instead of heroic.
Final Thoughts on Chapter 10
By now, we understand something clearly:
The Black Swordsman wasn’t born in the Eclipse.
He was born in childhood battlefields.
Forged in mercenary camps.
Raised by instability.
And he is still only a boy.
Soon…
He will meet someone who changes everything.
