By Chapter 4 of Berserk, the fight with the Snake Baron is over.
But something important happens here.
The action slows down.
And the curse becomes clearer.
This chapter isn’t just about battle.
It’s about consequences.
1. The Aftermath of Violence
After killing the Apostle, Guts doesn’t celebrate.
He walks away.
Covered in blood.
Emotionless.
Silent.
The town remains terrified.
Even though he killed the monster, the people don’t see him as a hero.
They see him as dangerous.
This reinforces a recurring theme:
Guts saves people.
But he never belongs anywhere.
2. Night Falls – The Real Horror Begins
When night arrives, the Brand begins to bleed again.
Dark spirits appear.
Shadowy figures crawl from the darkness.
This chapter shows us clearly:
The Brand of Sacrifice is not symbolic only.
It actively attracts evil.
Guts isn’t just hunting demons.
He is hunted every single night.
No rest.
No peace.
No safety.
That detail makes his personality more understandable.
He isn’t angry for no reason.
He lives in constant war.
3. Puck Understands the Pain
Puck watches Guts fight the spirits.
He notices something others don’t.
Guts is exhausted.
He’s wounded.
But he refuses to show weakness.
Puck begins to realize:
Under the armor and cruelty, Guts is suffering.
This builds emotional contrast.
Without Puck, the early arc would feel purely brutal.
With Puck, we start seeing humanity.
4. Guts vs the Darkness Within
During the night attack, Guts fights relentlessly.
But something subtle happens.
We see hints of internal struggle.
He enjoys the fight.
He mocks the spirits.
There’s a dangerous edge to him.
It raises a powerful question:
Is Guts fighting monsters…
Or slowly becoming one?
This tension will grow throughout the series.
5. Thematic Importance of Chapter 4
Chapter 4 does something important for the story:
It shifts focus from revenge to survival.
We learn:
- The Brand is permanent.
- The supernatural world is always watching.
- Guts cannot escape the consequences of the Eclipse (even if we don’t fully know it yet).
This chapter deepens the mystery.
Who branded him?
What ritual caused this?
Why do demons recognize him?
The answers are coming.
But the weight of the curse is already clear.
Why Chapter 4 Matters
Chapter 4 makes the world of Berserk feel bigger.
It’s not just about Apostles ruling towns.
It’s about a cosmic system of sacrifice.
Guts is marked by something higher.
And whatever stands above Apostles…
Is far more terrifying.
Final Thoughts on Chapter 4
This chapter reminds us:
The real horror of Berserk isn’t just monsters.
It’s isolation.
Guts fights alone.
Sleeps alone.
Bleeds alone.
And yet…
He keeps moving forward.
That resilience is what makes him unforgettable.
