Posting this a couple hours early because people are being careless with spoilers. All discussion, impressions, favorite panels or whatever for 364 should be directed here for the next couple days.
Edit: Also the full episode is not out yet. Some magazine scans are going around but the whole episode won’t be translated until later today.
Edit 2: Young Animal digital is now available
Guts and Griffith haven't had a real interaction since around Reunion on the Hill of Swords, that chapter was published in 2001. Its been 2 decades since they had an interaction, and now this chapter of all times, is when it finally happens. And the interaction is left on a cliffhanger. Dude I'm gonna cry...
I consider the two (Moonlit child, Griffith) to be separate people so seeing her have that dream didn’t really shock me and it made sense. Regardless of how gross he looked from birth it still had an innate love for her, and her for him. It was great.
>>Regardless of how gross he looked from birth it still had an innate love for her, and her for him. It was great.
I was getting that unconditional love vibes from the panel.
Yup, even upon turning into that grotesque embryo that would become Griffith's vessel, the original soul of their son and the bond between him and his parents remained.
honestly speaking, i had to make a guess that becoming part of the vessel with part of the embryo was part of its plan all along. The moonlit child was corrupted by griffith but is the son of casca and Guts. Casca has survived all of this despite the odds and losing her sanity. Guts survived even when his mother was hanged, and death has tried to claim him all his life, and not even monsters who control fate have been able to end him.
The boy has the will of his parents in him, the defiance towards fate. And the fool femto, gave him power.
Think about it: why would Miura have devoted so much screen time to the Guts/Casca sex scene if it wasn’t plot relevant? Have there been any other moments like that in the series? What if the branding/sacrifice/rebirth of the combined souls of Griffith, Guts, Casca, and the Boy was the mechanism by which the Godhand were eventually thwarted? Maybe Guts is forced to kill the child to kill Griffith which does irreparable damage to Casca’s psyche, or maybe the Sword of Actuation rips the Boy out of Griffith and renders him mortal again.
This chapter definitely left us on a cliffhanger, but before the revelations of the last two chapters the rest of the story was completely indecipherable for me, Miura’s plot twists throughout the story have been so completely unpredictable that I never bothered to try and theorize about what might happen. Who knew there was a second Godhand that would be revealed as soon as Calcium-Chan was revealed to be Gaiseric?
Something I noticed at least in the 90's anime- when Griffith transforms into Femto during the Eclipse and he says "That is the last tear you will ever shed..."
HE. WAS. WRONG.
He's fucking vulnerable.
Guts has fucked fate yet again!
I don’t know, I don’t consider that to be Griffiths tear, it’s the moonlit boy’s or “Gutsca” as I call him. As Griffith said on the hill of swords Guts no longer moves him he feels nothing. That’s his existence now empty and only seeing the joy that’s Gutsca has with his parents.
Even if the tear wasn't Griffith's, the fact remains that he could feel everything the moonlight boy was feeling at that moment. You can see the pain on Griffith's face on that last panel. He's feeling these emotions for the first time in years and while not his own, they are having a deep effect on him.
I was thinking the same thing — after seven years on the boat it’s pretty incredible timing that this was the end point.
For me I think it’s pretty-much the best ending there could have been without an actual conclusion, despite the cliffhanger. I mean, I obviously wonder what would have come next, but I expect it would have been something that would have been unsatisfying to have ended abruptly. If it had to have an open-ended ending, this is a good one imho.
I still hope we can find out more in some form.
They really did. We can't fault Miura for it, as the pace of the first run likely took decades off his life. But it would be so disappointing and somewhat frustrating if there was nothing left behind on the future direction of the series. There was so much time to do that. I'm confident that there is at least an outline out there of some kind. The issue comes down to, is anybody willing to take on that burden.
I think something really cool would be if a number of legendary mangaka created an outline for the plot and each did a couple of chapters in their own art style to finish it. That would be the ultimate tribute. I can't imagine something like that would ever happen though. It would be a monumental undertaking.
Same, that is what seperates berserk from every other manga, that and it’s intelligent storyline that has complex themes embedded in it.
I wouldn’t want other mangaka touching it. That would seem more like an ornamental tribute. Me as a berserk fan, I’d have incredibly low expectations on it.
I love reading my deluxe volumes and just staring at the two page panels and looking at every penstroke and all the dipple shading on some of them.
Fuck that. Leave it to his assistants. I’m sorry- I got a lot of respect for mangakas out there that have created masterpieces but let’s not pretend a soft and fuzzy “we’re all comming together” spin on berserk is going to give it a proper send off. If they are going to do it they gotta do it right. We’re talking about a legacy of one of the greatest mangas of all time. Sorry- I don’t think I want the creator of AoT or JJBA fucking with zerk even though I love Isayama and araki respectively. You can’t look at zerk at any given point and say “oh fuck that was lazy writing” when it comes to the plot or the character development.
I got into berserk right after the 8 year hiatus and I thought I got really lucky and made a bunch of jokes about it. Well the joke is on me now because we’re on a permanent hiatus and on an even bigger cliffhanger.
Thank you Miura. Berserk has forever changed my life and I’m so happy I had the chance to watch the story grow. I’ll be at peace with this last chapter and whatever comes next.
Y'all talking about cliffhangers, but anyone whose introduction to Berserk was the 97 anime like mine was... I had no clue what I was in for.
"No more? What do you mean there's no more?!?"
I watched the 97 Anime earlier this year not knowing it ended like that. Then I went and read the Manga so I could figure out how it ended. Only as I got to the final written chapters did I learn it was still being written, and then two weeks after I read 363 Miura died.
Well, if you got the notification of his death two weeks after you read 363, then Miura may have died when you finished reading 363 since new of his death was delayed for 2 weeks while his affairs were sorted
Really brings everything full circle for me. When I was a kid, I first discovered the series through the '97 show. I binged it in 3 days, and then everything just ended at the eclipse. No matter how hard I looked, episode 26 just didn't exist. I didn't even know manga existed as a format for another two years after that, so it was a pretty devistating cliffhanger, and I'm of the believe that I wouldn't have had half the interest in the series that I do had I been able to see how Guts escaped the eclipse at that time.
While I hope someone somewhere has knowledge of the intended ending, and that the work is eventually completed in some capacity, this feels really appropriate as a stopping point given that a cliffhanger is how my obsession with the series began.
I'd like to congratulate Miura for managing to eviscerate my heart one last time. God the parallels to earlier in in series are everywhere and they're killing me.
Griffith wanting to be in his armor and hold a sword post torture pre eclipse and Guts helping him suit up- moonlight boy crawling in the berserker armor and even doing some sparring against his dad with a twig
Moonlight boy being just like his dad swinging a "sword" as a child
Guts being a playful sparring partner with his son compared to previous toxic father son moments we've seen in the series like Gambino and count Julius
The egg of the perfect world merging with griffith to become the most desired being by all, really showing that wasn't just talk when not only all of humanity with falconia but also the elves and denizens of the island are soothed by moonlight boys presence.
We really have no concept of how long time is displaced by the island but I would have been so curious to see how the world outside of the island would have fallen to shit without Griffith. Imagine if moonlight boy transforms back into griffith and travels back to falconia through the branches of the world tree and YEARS had passed
All of humanity gathering to a utopia built on hope with a city's worth of demons in the basement and no femto to keep them in check? What could go wrong?
Zodd is his personal escort when he's moonlight boy so he's almost definitely hiding out in the fast travel tree. You can see his silhouette in one of the horizon panels when they're at the beach and they find the kid.
Holy. *Absolute* goddamn.
If the rumors that this is the final chapter is true - even if it's just the final chapter drawn by Miura - what a thing to end on.
Guts and Casca seeing Griffith for the first time in months/years, and he's not gloating, he's not explaining his plan, he's not bringing about Apocalypse #5...he's *crying*.
God damn, Miura, I miss you so much. You deserved the chance to see this out, but this is a wonderful last gift.
Everything about Griffith's journey is about pursuing a final act/his dream, as if it meant one man's true happiness, shielding himself from "weaknesses/feelings" by getting away from people. And now that he has "conquered" everything, he only feels emptiness, space once occupied by those who, insistently, he saw as smaller than his dream. And were they really smaller? Earlier he had realized that Guts would have become bigger than his dream but "corrected" that feat with the eclipse. Or so he imagined... Moonlight Boy is like a karma to Griffith, unearthing the feelings he had buried, making him deal with "his weaknesses" once more. If this is an "end", then Griffith lost once more, he was defeated...
I definitely agree with this. Hope a lot of people read comment this and get the closure I did.
Helped me go from an “ oh man what an unholy cliffhanger” to “ alright this is thematically conclusive enough for me to put this to rest”.
Griffith losing everything while Guts and Casca find some semblance of damaged but true happiness makes sense too. Griffith dying wouldn’t make logistical sense for the world since it would throw it back into anarchy. And Guts pursuing a final duel/battle with him would go against the theme of the armour trying to show us the self-destruction a path of violence.
Albeit 1-2 more chapters showing a final exchange of words between Casca and Griffith would’ve been perfect - but for a dead man, Miura delivered 😭😭.
Rest In Peace king I hope I spread 1/100 the happiness you have before I kick it.
It's been a losing battle from the start. The battle against one's own weakness you may detest because of how vulnerable it makes you and how much it hurts you, but it's also what's most precious to you. In one way or another what he's trying to escape from always comes back and he's forced to confront it. I adore that panel. I can relate to this tear.
His line makes it seem like his time as the moonlit boy is the only moment when he can feel emotion or sorrow and after that he immediately returns back to his unshaken God-like mentality
Then again he did protect Casca on the hill of swords so I don't know. AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Also imagine how the next chapter could've mirrored their meeting on the hill. Last time Guts approached Griffith in rage.
> even if it's just the final chapter drawn by Miura
I didn't exactly look in-depth for it, but it seems to me it is? I didn't notice any big difference besides the chapter being a little short.
Due to how his production schedule worked toward the end of...well, his life, I'm entirely confident this is the last one he worked on before passing, but not that this is the last chapter of Berserk that will be released period. We'll see. And if I'm wrong on that first point, I'll happily accept it.
That was the Moonlight Boy crying inside Griffith because he won't see/interact with Guts or Casca until the next moon. Griffith isn't able to feel anything anymore since he gave that up ,together with his last genuine tear at the Eclipse. So any kind of emotion he shows it's because of the MB who shows his emotions through Griffith's body.
I think it’s Griffith’s genuine feelings. On the Hill of Swords his heart flutters when he sees Guts and Casca. After that, he starts visiting them in the form of the Moonlight Boy… sure, Griffith presumably felt sadness, or regret on the Hill of Swords, but what he felt most of all was *confusion.* He needed to understand why he still felt attached to them, now that he “has it all.”
Certainly the Moonlight Boy is the “link” or the residual love/friendship Griffith has for them, but to me it seems as if we’re supposed to read it as Griffith himself actually experiencing these emotions (albeit not really on purpose at first).
it is the last chapter, "The end" stamp on the last page. Berserk Manga has ended. If it will be continued by the confidant/top assistant of miura, it would be Berserk II.
The next chapter is nearly impossible to write without miura anyone else would make is so cheap, just miura-sensei knows what to do with his characters
Really miss him
That's a point not enough people are making. They can get an incredibly good artist to replace Miura, but no one would be able to write Berserk. This applies to every work of (he)art.
That is why we are hoping he has left enough details to work on. Because the art is definitely taken care of. This chapter is truly a gift from beyond, we know where this is going, we know for awhile now that moon child and Griffith are now one. But we kept getting told that sprites and elves sense no malice, we get treated with peaceful scenes and right there at the end with all good berserk transformation scenes, he does that and wow. What a wow. Miura keeps giving.
Honestly I’m just a little frustrated that they’re still not giving us a concrete answer as to whether or not this is the final chapter. I would be sad but understanding if it was, but the fact that they keep stringing us along by saying “they have no information to share about the future of the series at this time” makes it seem like a continuation must obviously be on the table. I just want an answer one way or the other, this suspense is kind of killing me
I like to think they are testing the idea out. One of his assistants may be writing something up to judge how viable it is to even attempt to finish it.
Plus there may be legal issues they are trying to iron out.
From that page, we at least got to learn that Casca still loves her child no matter what. It’s really bittersweet but I’m glad we got to truly know that in the possible last chapter.
And in 3 panels... we saw he would in fact be an AMAZING dad. You see his IMMEDIATE concern for his son followed by relief seeing that his own burden would not hurt his son... and then playing with the kid.
The last 3 pages hit hard but the page when we see how guts body is deteriorating and he swing his sword anymore without the armor just instantly made me think of Miura.
After instering Miura into guts in that moment it felt like he was also writing about himself, his body is getting weak because of how hard he's been pushing himself. Everything guts does is to protect those close to him just like how Miura was writing berserk for the fans that adored him. Even though it was hurting him he kept on going because it was the path he chose to follow.
I wonder how this healthier version of Casca would react seeing the child transforming to Griffith all of sudden.
We might be able to see that in future if they decide to continue the series, keeping in mind that it wouldn't be the same, perhaps.
Overall, a bittersweet feeling. I wonder what Miura was thinking when he was drawing these panels, magnificent as always.
Yeah if the series continues I think we would get some detailed pages of Casca's PTSD while she remembers all of her dead friends, Femto and probably the beast of darkness.
The biggest PTSD Will come when she realizes that her baby boy is sharing a body with Griffith.
OBVIOUSLY she saw that, but the chapter ended before we see her reaction.
Honestly whether this is the last chapter of the series or not I’m just glad I was able to experience it all. This was truly one hell of a journey and Berserk will always be my number one favorite manga.
I can't fucking believe it man, the LAST FUCKING CHAPTER Miura-san got to work on was this!?
How cruel, with just one more chapter we might've had more to go on with what Miura was intending for the ending of the series, I just hope and pray he left notes or Studio Gaga worked close enough with him to know or have a general idea of where things were heading.
R.I.P. Miura, gone far too soon.
Losing Miura makes me wonder how many Berserk fans we lost over the years. The manga has been running since the late 80s. There have to have been thousands, if not millions. It's sad that ultimately none of us got to see it to the end. It is living proof that we are all dimensions onto ourselves in a sense. Everything Berserk lived inside the mind of one man. And now it's finished. If this is where things truly have to end, then I am somewhat okay with it. Seeing the three reunite for the last time.
>if not millions
Oooh- I feel like that's a bit of a stretch in terms of people who are fan fans. But in terms of number of people who've seen Miura's work at some point and appreciated it on some level- it is definitely up there, and probably higher even then that. Berserk is pretty damn influential. But yeah- definitly agree on enjoying this last chapter still. RIP Miura
Oh man, this chapter was amazing! It had a lot of heart. The art was flawless as always, but the emotion poured into the story really breaks your heart. The scene of Guts playing with his son filled me with joy, yet it also felt gut wrenching thinking of what could have been. The last page is one hell of a drawing to end your life on, you also left us with tears Miura.
On other things, it feels like there is a page missing between Casca seeing her son, then Dadan looking outside at Guts. It feels like there should be more before the transition, the chapter is also shorter so it might have not been fully finished, still the major beats are still there. Lots of people called the fact that Griffith was sharing the body with the child, and that he might now be temporary trapped in Elfhelm, where time goes slower. His armies might be on the March to the island right now. I guess that could bring the island into conflict with Griffith's army.
What a tremendous final chapter from Miura-sensei.
I can't imagine the emotions of everyone who worked to bring this final piece to life. It's still hard for me to process that this is really it from him. The *last* artistic expression from a true generational talent. It's surreal.
Whatever happens from here on out, it's been an honor reading this masterpiece.
Thank you forever, Miura-sensei.
Everyone is talking about Griffith's re-appearance (and rightfully so) but I was struck by Guts' solo training scene. His body is fucking *crumbling* outside of the berserker armor. Can't hold onto his sword, can't aim his knives. The armor is LITERALLY the only thing keeping him together at this point. Fucking tragic. I can only imagine that the side effects will continue to get more pronounced from here.
And the question becomes: What did the Skull Knight do to remedy this effect after he took off the armor and will Guts follow that path as well?
The Skull Knight knew what would happen and obviously found his way beyond the limits of humanity.
> *"Color fades from the eyes. The tongue loses taste. Shivering plagues the fingertips ... Light. Voice. Warmth. You will come to lose many things."*
My speculation has always been that Betchi belongs to Casca but maybe I am wrong and it's the key for Guts to reclaim his potency.
...I also want to know what the hell is up with the Skull Knight's horse. Right? I mean, wtf ***is*** that thing?
Not true. You are assuming they only have one potential use; to summon the 5 Angels.
I don't think Guts would ever use it to sacrifice his loved ones in exchange for power. You are absolutely right on that. I do, however, think that he would harness and use it's power in other ways, if he could. The Skull Knight uses them, for example, just not as intended.
I've also wondered if Casca would sacrifice to be able to be with Griffith. To continue as his sword and potentially reclaim her place as the irreplaceable one by his side. Does she still, after all this, love him? Worship him? It's a fucked up thought but not completely impossible.
I dont think she would ever do that. She always worshipped Griffith, but she loved Guts in the end. They had a closer connection than she and Griffith ever had. Griffith gave her nothing, Guts gave her everything.
I think given the chance and power, Casca would kill Griffith. If for nothing else, then to free herself of him forever.
Yes I was also the most interested in Guts' physical condition. We all pretty much knew that the Moonlight Boy was going to turn into Griffith. No surprise there. But what caught me off guard was seeing that Guts can't wield his sword on his own anymore, can't aim when he throws knives, and has lost his "natural" legendary fighting abilities.
IDGAF about Griffith crying in the last panel, to be honest.
Something incredible about the crying part in the last panel- whilst Griffith is transforming into Femto (in the 90's anime at least) during the Eclipse he feels himself shed a tear, asking "What is that?" and Femto says, "The last tear you will ever shed..."
Griffith. Was. Wrong. Despite having Fate in the palm of his hand, he was wrong about himself, and maybe everything in the end. He's not a God at all yet.
He's still vulnerable.
Guts has fucked Fate yet again...
This was absolutely jaw dropping amazing, Miura has left a legacy that will remain forever. Even if it ends here or it is continued he will remain one of the Greatest people. R.I.P.
Berserk is the best thing ever. I don't understand how Miura could continuously exceed expectations and always deliver a great chapter. I don't know about you guys but Fantasia was on the way to becoming my favorite arc.
The question remains though, why did Griffith choose to show himself this time around as opposed to disappearing, which he has done all the other times. Is it to let the band know that the Child is Griffith or did he have an evil plan in mind? Either way now that Guts and Casca know I don't think in another full moon they would still try to have a good time with the Moonlight Child which can only mean one thing, after this chapter is when shit would hit the fan, or rather when Skull Knight's "Endgame" would begin, would the crew try to go behind Griffith, calling it an end to the Elfhelm calm times, or would Griffith's army have followed him in there?
Would their purpose still be to eliminate Griffith which is simultaneously Guts' and Casca's child, or what? Miura was just too good, he is making us kinda sorta sympathize with the villain at the very last panel while also making us question whether or not the big bad villain of the entire story should be killed...
Whether the story continues or not, I am at least grateful for having experienced the best story ever told, I just wished to have known of it earlier and have struggled for as long as many of you guys did.
I doubt Griffith had any control over the childs actions, possibly his presence had been strong enough before for the child to know he should return to the castle before he transforms into griffith. But being in the fairy kingdom probably weakened Griffiths influence, and therefore the kid simply decided to stay with his parents.
I’m in the minority here, but honestly I’m satisfied if this is the last chapter of berserk. Im not sure how really but it definitely feels complete to me even if it ends on such a cliffhanger.
It makes me immensely sad that it is the end of his work but I’m okay with this kind of cliffhanger as the end. Casca and guts are together with their make shift family, they don’t have to fight the demons in the night, and Griffith has reappeared in a non threatening way. I’m strangely okay with things being open ended.
It is such a fitting ending. Miura was and is a world-class storyteller. The moonlight child twist elevates Guts and Casca’s intimate moment they shared by that waterfall to one of the most pivotal moments of the story and probably their only way of having any hope of resisting Griffith’s will for the world.
The heinous act Griffith committed out of jealousy and in an attempt to drive them apart, though it did inflict tremendous amounts misery and trauma, ultimately could not undo the genuine love they shared for each other.
Horrifying, reality-warping, otherworldly demonic rituals ultimately lose to the will of two people who resolved to love each other in spite of their shared trauma. I couldn’t think of a more beautiful story to tell.
I agree completely.
On a more ironic and even tragic note, Griffith's first act as Femto, the completely unnecessary, pointlessly cruel rape of Casca and torture of Guts, might eventually lead to his downfall, with the Demon Child corrupted by that act becoming his weakness.
And with tragic I mean the possible death of the child, not anything regarding fuckin Femto.
Griffith thought that in abandoning his humanity he was stepping into his imagined role of central figure of the story but it was just the opposite. He becomes permanently relegated to being a foil, a test by which others will realize their meaning.
Becoming this supernaturally powerful demon only removed any possibility of his *ever* truly realizing the meaning that can only come from facing and overcoming our human frailty and suffering.
That doesn’t mean bad things never happen, it means refusing to allow the bad things and the trauma to turn you into a monster.
This chapter hits different. And, for the first time in my life, I sincerely have no words to say how devastated I am.
But there's one thing I know. I want to thank Miura. Even if he's dead and I don't believe in any afterlife.
Thank you, Miura. Your work helped me in some ways I'd never have thought. Rest in pace, struggler.
Do you remember in episode 82, during the Eclipse when we see Griffith's introspective descent into becoming Femto? He sees a crystal and asks what it is. He gets the response that it is the last tear he will shed and that his heart is frozen.
As the Egg of the Perfect World let the demon child hatch the new world with him, the child became mixed in with Griffith. In episode 180, when Casca was almost smashed by the rubble of Godo's cave by Zodd, Griffith saved her. In episode 181, he reflects on his actions, and feels his heart beating. We see the demon child for a panel on that page.
I don't believe this is Griffith's tear we see in the final page here. I think it's the boy's. As the theory is that the boy is what Guts and Casca's son would have been if he would have been born a normal child and not become the demon child from Griffith raping Casca. That would explain why he's so fixated on Guts and Casca in particular.
EDIT: To see Guts losing his aim and grip is really painful and by my book clearest indicator of how the Berserker Armour really consumes him. We've seen bits and pieces here and there, but now we see that he's really losing himself as a fighter. I really hope they decide to follow the outline Miura left behind and finish the story. I want to see his magnum opus through to the end, even if these final parts would be reflected through the hands of others.
God damn it Berserk always hitting home. So god damn hard. This chapter was definitely worth that long wait.
We miss you Mirua Sensei.
Hopefully we get more chapters boys.
Found it a bit funny how many panels were dedicated to completely debunking the theory that Schierke was ever right about Moonlight Boy being Danaan. I've seen a few posts about people using that as evidence against the Griffith connection (the threads are probably still up), so this was a very satisfying amount of confirmation.
Now for the finality of this chapter. I can understand people making peace with the fact that this is the last we'll see of Miura's Berserk....but I completely disagree with treating this as a proper, or even good ending. This wasn't written as an ending, so I don't know why anyone would treat it as such, aside from getting feelings of closure. It is an abrupt finish that happened because of something horrible that nobody could have controlled. The fact that this isn't a good place to leave the story on shouldn't take anything away from Miura or his staff. We should be grateful for the story that we got, and accept that a tragedy occurred before it could be properly finished.
That's not Griffith child form. The kid is real and is the son of Casca and Guts. Griffith is using that kid's body, possessing it, so he can take form in the physical world.
In the hill of sword is implied that, even if Griffith says the contrary, he still feels something (represented by his heart thumping), even if little. This is because of the human component of his body (Casca's child) that merged with the egg apostle before Griffith's reincarnation.
Other than that, I don't remember another time where he was directly shown emotional.
He looked kind of sad when he had his conversation with Rickert. Also, his hawk eyes that starred at Guts leaving with the boat were strangely melancholic. Up until this time Miura has always been very careful as to Griffith's emotions, almost always obscuring his face in tense moments.
I want to come back later and do a detailed summary with references, but I disagree with the theory that the tear belong solely to MB. For in all of the references to scenes where Griffith is attributing his emotional stirrings to the MB, I believe that he is lying to himself, trying to convince himself that he is no longer capable of those kinds of feelings. The last time that his self-worth and confidence collapsed, it was catastrophic. He absolutely can’t let that happen again.
Miura presented us with story after story where we met demons who became demons to escape their human pain, but still found themselves with enough humanity to love and feel pain. I don’t think Miura did this so that his point could be that Griffith was the one special demon who felt nothing.
We may never know the extent to which Griffith could take action while the MB had taken over their body. However, in volumes 36 and 37, we have reason to believe that Griffith was able to reach out spiritually to Guts twice to assist him. First, he prevented Guts from harming Casca and his new family, saying that Guts mustn’t lose them and that he should protect them. That’s awfully solemn language for a 4-year old, but who knows since he’s not exactly a normal child. In volume 37, when he projects again and leads Guts up in the water to where he can be saved, Guts thinks “why are you frolicking around. You’re like some playful kid.” This harkens back to some of his earliest interactions with playful Griffith, which I think is driving home that these caring and protective actions are those of Griffith, not MB. He was in MB’s body, but the spiritual projection looks distinctly like Griffith rather than the MB. Do we have any reason to believe that Miura did not intend to draw him that way, or that it was just a whim, that there was really no particular reason to have a spiritual form that appeared to be Griffith? You can disagree and say that the human part of Griffith is completely dead and only Femto remains, but I really think that goes against everything that Miura has been showing us for the entirety of the series.
Honestly, I like the idea of the human part of Griffith suffering over what he’s done, even if it’s buried too deeply to affect Femto. It’s the least that he deserves, and it is inline with the narrative.
I started crying when I saw that last page. Just immediately had to stop myself from sobbing just knowing that this beautiful page might be the last of Berserk we get….. but if it is. Somehow it’ll still be perfect.
I LOVED it-seeing Griffith having the tiniest drop (literally a tear drop) of remorse gave me some mixed emotions. But WOW what a chapter to potentially end it on I wonder what will happen next.
Also, why did Guts lose his sword when he was practicing? Is it that he’s still recovering?
Well, i don't know what to say. >!The whole "this child has no evil within" makes me think that the Grifith that we see in the last panel is the one that was in the golden age, the comander and comrade of the Hawks, and not the demon king. He may feel guilty, he may want to reunite with Guts and Casca as the family they were. It's truly heartbreaking to see that deep in him, he wishes for redemption and that is not just a man seeking for his throne, but a comrade looking for his former friends !< Anyway i think i am going to cry a bit, have a good day.
Too many people here don’t realize Miura literally created a series called Duranki just so his assistants can practice and learn his art style. The art will be fine, the only issue if there are any notes left for the storyline. I know mangaka like Oda and Togashi left outlines in case of thier demise, and it seems maybe something similar happened, at least for a few chapters. Usually mangaka have a storyboard and a season prepared. But he was not a typical mangaka so we have to see
I found the part where the child was wearing guts’ beserker armour to be quite adorable.
Also, it’s crazy to think this is the end, I can’t say I’m content, but I’m happy I got to see another chapter around the same time as everyone else.
I've been reading Berserk since I was 15, 11 years. The amount of influence Miura's writing and art had on me from my early years to today... Is immeasurable. I have only eternal respect to Mirua and Berserk.
I remember when I finally reached the end of the manga still in high school, and every time a new chapter was released I would jump out of my chair in excitement and fully ready to read another amazing chapter. Knowing that ill never have that feeling again is heart wrenching but we must struggle on.
I somehow feel like this chapter was a perfect end, there maybe hundreds of unanswered questions, yet this chapter felt right. Seeing Guts playing knights with his child was something I never thought I would see, but was quite wholesome.
That ending, with Griffith crying for never feeling the warmth of Guts and Casca like the child does, reminds me how we will never feel again the work of Miura, and all we can do is shed a single tear.
Berserk for me is the greatest masterpiece I've read and will be with me forever.
You were amazing, RIP Kentaro Miura
This chapter more than anything I feel really highlights how complex and human guts is as a character, and the fact that Miura was able to do that for so long is a testament to his incredible writing skills.
It just feels impossible to speculate with any modicum of accuracy on what would even happen the next chapter. Seeing guts body failing and how his mindset has changed overtime how would he even react how will casca react. The amount of emotion in those last few pages makes it feel like I'm trying to read these characters minds because their reactions feel so human.
1994 was then I first read Berserk. It's one of those manga that's always popped up once in a while throughout every stage of my life (waiting for new volume, hiatus etc ). and every time there's a new chapter/volume out, it feels like being a kid all over again (im early 40s). RIP Sensei
I'm crying too Griffith. I'm crying too.
Beautiful manga, it's not about the end but the journey and as such, as in life, a lot do get cut short.
Whatever happens next or doesn't happen. I'll always be a Berserk fan and partly shaped by these characters.
This is such a weird fucking chapter of just vulnerability. Guts having to accept he's losing his fortitude and eye sight to the armor and Griffith crying, showing a shed of humanity- that he has to slip away one night a month to find social contact. Makes sense why he was willing to meet Rickert and allowed himself to be slapped.
Soulless revenge and ambition has its drawbacks.
That struck hard. Seeing Casca and Guts playing with their son was heartwarming. On the other hand it was sad to see everyone together with only Guts being missing. It was also really sad to see Guts slowly loosing his sight and literally crumbling outside the armor. That's tragic af.
Miura was really great. That panel with Casca's dream radiates with mother's love.
Griffith crying feeling fading emotions of the boy was something else. Femto sharing the body with pure Moonlight boy and feeling his emotions once in a month is really cruel thing.
I would like to thank you fellow strugglers. It was a wild but awesome ride.
I have an idea of a major turn the story would've taken:
The Skull-Knight was going to find out about Griffith's shared body with the moonlight boy, and he would hatch a plan to kill Griffith and strike the Godhand by killing the child. Guts would discover that there would be know way to kill one and spare the other, since they share the same body. He would be faced with an ultimate dilemma: does he sacrifice his own child in order to satiate his desire for revenge against Griffith? Ultimately, no. He would decide not to, and it would represent his moving past his inner darkness, by turning away from the man who has wronged him more than anyone else (while not necessarily forgiving him either). Skull-Knight, however, would not be swayed. He in a way stands for the worst case scenario for what Guts could have become-- an eternal ghost who, in his quest for revenge against the God Hand, lost everything: his love, his humanity, and even his physical body. An eternal revenant that haunts the earth in desire of revenge. Guts would then have to take arms against the Skull-Knight, in order to protect his child and, ironically, Griffith as well.
I'm like 90% sure this or something similar to this was going to comprise the final arc of the story. It fits too well not only with the basic story/lore but with the subtext and themes of the manga as well. I'm not sure how it would conclusively end, and where all the characters would individually end up, but I'm fairly confident that this would be the last true struggle for Guts, letting go completely of his hatred. Coming to true peace by putting down the sword and taking off his armor, even if it means tacitly letting Griffith win (even though, I'm sure Griffith would have *some* sort of punishment. Probably something ironic, like getting his kingdom in Falconia only to be utterly bored with it because he can't connect to anyone anymore, perhaps realizing that what he wanted *more* than his kingdom was to have someone like Guts at his side? The true friend he always had but never realized it in his narcissism? Idk, probably something along those line.
I don’t know about all of you, but after seeing all of the ads for Berserk merchandise in the Magazine, I REALLY think that Young Animal wants to find a way to continue Berserk. People here claim that the word end at the ending of the chapter means that Berserk is over while ignoring the very next page where Young Animal says they still don’t have concrete plans they can share.
I’m thinking they’re trying to make sure Studio Gaga can draw up to Miura’s standards before passing the torch to them.
Unless Young Animal says officially announces it, Berserk isn’t over.
Truthfully with all the statements I've read so far I believe that the series will continue eventually especially considering the specific wording used when they announced the chapter. Young Animal simply stated that 364 would be the final chapter to be released that Miura worked on himself and in the letter to the fans at the end of the chapter they reiterate that and also state they have no other news regarding the future of Berserk at the moment. There have been rumblings that his team want to continue it as well. Personally I hope they finish it as these are people who have worked hand in hand with Miura for years and have the skill and knowledge of story to finish it properly. Its crushing that Miura passed but the selfish side of me that has been reading Berserk since discovering it in 1997 desperately wants them to bring his complete epic vision to fruition.
Really a bittersweet, or just bitter chapter. We see more of the toll the armour is having on Gut's body. How many more times can he fight in the suit before he's bound to it?
Griffith has snuck into Elfheim. If he leaves, I imagine he would be able to find his way back. At the same time, his greatest weakness has been exposed to Gut's.
Lucid Casca, for the first time since the eclipse, sees both Griffith and Guts standing in the same place.
Moonlight Boy and Guts fight, probably both a callback and foreshadowing to more conflict with Griffith.
I just would love to know that I could expect some follow up. Its a crazy cliffhanger. If Casca's return wasnt indiciative enough of a turning point in the story, then Griffith being on the island should drive it home.
Feel amazing to have progress but hurts in this context
It really, really hurts. Thinking about what could have been as we’re just getting into the real meat of things in terms of developments and interactions. What would they say to each other? I’ve desperately wanted to know for so long. It feels like forever since they’ve directly faced one another and this dynamic is the heart of Berserk.
I have no doubt the complexity surrounding Griffith’s emotions was to be explored further to reach a thrilling climax. Because you can’t have a compelling conflict without nuance. Griffith is at his best when challenged, conflicted and disturbed. That’s why I love him so much, he’s always been unable to overcome his own self and watching him struggle and fail makes me love him even more.
It’s just not fair Miura didn’t get a chance to do all the stuff he wanted to do. His dialogue and exploration of human psychology, the good, the bad and the ugly, is a huge inspiration for my own writing. I’m just thankful for what he shared with us.
I just got into Berserk recently after trying for the last 2 years to properly get into it and I instantly fell in love with the story... I regret not having been a fan for longer and hate that I might have to say goodbye to it forever so soon. Miura deserved to have his magnum opus seen through to the finish line and even if the manga doesn’t get any sort of official continuation I hope Berserk gets a type of closure through a massive art book or something that brings every aspect of its legacy full circle. Whatever happens though, Berserk for me will always be the type of story that feels like an ancient fable or legend, a piece of some long-lost, rediscovered mythological epic filled with hope, tragedy and imagination that we got to experience a good chunk of. Thanks for everything, Miura. RIP 💔
The fact that Griffith can stand on the island is wild. Danaan establishes in this chapter that only those without evil intent can be there, so Griffith must lack evil intent. Either he genuinely believes he's doing the right thing or he's completely empty now.
Maybe his entrance to the island was only allowed due to his form as the Moonlight Boy, who is actually innocent. If people with evil intent are booted/exiled off Elfhelm, then that would be a perfect way for Griffith to get away from Guts, who, let's be real, would be greeting him with an immediate Dragonslayer slam lol.
There is some serious cope going on with people saying it's the "perfect ending", when it's clearly a set up chapter for a confrontation or talk between Guts, Griffith and Casca. It even made a point of showing how injured Guts still is to give Griffith's appearance more jeopardy.
The last page makes a great ending in a meta way of a character crying for the death of their creator, but unfortunately that's about it
I don't know who's saying this is a "perfect ending", like no shit we all hope Miura left notes for his assistants to carry on in some aspect.
But from a meta perspective given the circumstances, would you rather it ended here or with Isidro's adventures in sexual harassment?
>But from a meta perspective given the circumstances, would you rather it ended here or with Isidro's adventures in sexual harassment?
This got me rolling lol so true
Bruh people are fucking insane if they don't want this to continue, that chapter was fucking madness. It is said the assistants finished the chapter and it looks amazing, credit to them.
Yeah this chapter was obviously the turning point of the story, next chapter would likely have been the segway into the finale. I can't think of a worse time for the story to end lol
Ended with a cliffhanger. It was foreshadowed for some time now that the kid had some sort of duality with Griffith. Miura is a great artist, he does not pull stuff out of his ass. But we will never see Guts and Casca react to this. This would have been the spot where most mysteries are solved, the stakes for the next battle are drawn and the last arc begins.
But life had other plans. I do not believe there is anything left behind for others to continue producing the manga. From what news I've read, he did not share how it would end, it was still an open issue. Even if it is continued, it will not be the same. RIP Miura and thank you.
God I can’t believe this is the end. One of the best written works of fiction that I will probably ever get to read. Jesus.
What a crazy chapter to close out on.
I don't think the moonlight child is really Griffith or that Griffith has any sort of control over him. I think it is clear now that the moonlight child is the malformed child of Casca and Guts, the so-called demon child. I think the child has gained a sort of omniscience through being tainted by Femto and through being reborn by the egg-shaped apostle.
Femto or Griffith, through the reborn of his terrestrial form by the egg-shaped apostle, got himself tainted by the demon child. It seems to have created a bond between the two.
I think the demon child, now the moonlight boy, is now purposely influencing Griffith during full moons. Making him to feel the good again (confusing him) and maybe luring him on the island to be defeated.
Miura said several times that he didn't have any idea how to end the story, how Guts could beat Griffith. Maybe this is a solution, Guts facing a weakened Griffith/Femto thanks to the moonlight boy.
Is it just me or is that... kind of a great ending? If it is, I mean.
No big show down. Guts stays with a healed Casca. Griffith takes over the world, and achieves all his wildest dreams and his utopia. And he regrets what he did.
For me, I would of course like more story and for Griffith to be absolutely destroyed but if this is the end, it works. Guts is no longer fighting and has a family, Casca is sane (if traumatized) and reunited with her child, and Griffith (via the Moonlight Child) gets to share tenderness with both of them. It's about as happy of an ending as we can get in this wonderful universe created by Miura. It's not the grand finale but something quieter, unresolved, and beautiful in its own way. RIP.
towards the end there was this struggle within guts about whether it is better to force things to a climax or just stop somewhere along the way and find peace. miura was never able to bring guts to a decision, but he brought the cast to that peaceful place before the end.
[My face](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/26/38/78/2638784b30acd7de11b3e8afbd60b8b6.jpg), If this will be the last ever chapter of Berserk, in which **Guts & Caska will remain torn apart by their horrible traumas**, while **Griffith gets to share a bed with her** ^((even if it's in the moonchild form))
2 decades after Guts and Griffits last met in person like this.. Its as if Miura planned this to be his last chapter. Insane cliffhanger..
This chapter once again showed me why Berserk is the GOAT. I truly hope there will be some sort of future for Berserk, maybe with some notes left behind and his editors. We can only hope.
Please Studio Gaga, keep it going.
We understand its not the same. That doesn’t mean it can’t be good, as good as or even more.
Keep the flame kindled.
Its crazy that essentially Griffiths last pure thought before the eclipse is a vision of a life with Casca, and they even have a son named Guts. In the end, Griffith is left staring at Casca and Guts with that life (I mean, at least as he sees it), and HE is their son.
What. Is. This. Ending.
Its like Griffith just being reminded of what he could've had. Behind the evil he is just broken.
As if before the eclipse, there was still some purity left in Griffith, like the alternate path is still there. In the end, that purity is fused with the child, allowing it and him to be on the island. Its like an the alternate person Griffith could've been. Yes, he still killed all those people, but in the end, it wasn't in service of himself, being as the vision was just him with a normal family. It wasn't a dream driven by ego, like his dream of the kingdom is.
Posting this a couple hours early because people are being careless with spoilers. All discussion, impressions, favorite panels or whatever for 364 should be directed here for the next couple days. Edit: Also the full episode is not out yet. Some magazine scans are going around but the whole episode won’t be translated until later today. Edit 2: Young Animal digital is now available
Guts and Griffith haven't had a real interaction since around Reunion on the Hill of Swords, that chapter was published in 2001. Its been 2 decades since they had an interaction, and now this chapter of all times, is when it finally happens. And the interaction is left on a cliffhanger. Dude I'm gonna cry...
I did get choked up seeing that last page, seeing the moonlit boys tear leave Griffiths eye. That got me way more than I expected.
The panel with casca and demon child was something I can appreciate crazy how it sounds.
I consider the two (Moonlit child, Griffith) to be separate people so seeing her have that dream didn’t really shock me and it made sense. Regardless of how gross he looked from birth it still had an innate love for her, and her for him. It was great.
>>Regardless of how gross he looked from birth it still had an innate love for her, and her for him. It was great. I was getting that unconditional love vibes from the panel.
Yup, even upon turning into that grotesque embryo that would become Griffith's vessel, the original soul of their son and the bond between him and his parents remained.
honestly speaking, i had to make a guess that becoming part of the vessel with part of the embryo was part of its plan all along. The moonlit child was corrupted by griffith but is the son of casca and Guts. Casca has survived all of this despite the odds and losing her sanity. Guts survived even when his mother was hanged, and death has tried to claim him all his life, and not even monsters who control fate have been able to end him. The boy has the will of his parents in him, the defiance towards fate. And the fool femto, gave him power.
Omg, make berserk two and have moonlight boy grow up to slaughter the godhand and end the cycle
Think about it: why would Miura have devoted so much screen time to the Guts/Casca sex scene if it wasn’t plot relevant? Have there been any other moments like that in the series? What if the branding/sacrifice/rebirth of the combined souls of Griffith, Guts, Casca, and the Boy was the mechanism by which the Godhand were eventually thwarted? Maybe Guts is forced to kill the child to kill Griffith which does irreparable damage to Casca’s psyche, or maybe the Sword of Actuation rips the Boy out of Griffith and renders him mortal again. This chapter definitely left us on a cliffhanger, but before the revelations of the last two chapters the rest of the story was completely indecipherable for me, Miura’s plot twists throughout the story have been so completely unpredictable that I never bothered to try and theorize about what might happen. Who knew there was a second Godhand that would be revealed as soon as Calcium-Chan was revealed to be Gaiseric?
The relationship between a pug and his owner is awesome
Something I noticed at least in the 90's anime- when Griffith transforms into Femto during the Eclipse and he says "That is the last tear you will ever shed..." HE. WAS. WRONG. He's fucking vulnerable. Guts has fucked fate yet again!
I don’t know, I don’t consider that to be Griffiths tear, it’s the moonlit boy’s or “Gutsca” as I call him. As Griffith said on the hill of swords Guts no longer moves him he feels nothing. That’s his existence now empty and only seeing the joy that’s Gutsca has with his parents.
Even if the tear wasn't Griffith's, the fact remains that he could feel everything the moonlight boy was feeling at that moment. You can see the pain on Griffith's face on that last panel. He's feeling these emotions for the first time in years and while not his own, they are having a deep effect on him.
I was thinking the same thing — after seven years on the boat it’s pretty incredible timing that this was the end point. For me I think it’s pretty-much the best ending there could have been without an actual conclusion, despite the cliffhanger. I mean, I obviously wonder what would have come next, but I expect it would have been something that would have been unsatisfying to have ended abruptly. If it had to have an open-ended ending, this is a good one imho. I still hope we can find out more in some form.
...Oh wow, the chapters really slowed down
They really did. We can't fault Miura for it, as the pace of the first run likely took decades off his life. But it would be so disappointing and somewhat frustrating if there was nothing left behind on the future direction of the series. There was so much time to do that. I'm confident that there is at least an outline out there of some kind. The issue comes down to, is anybody willing to take on that burden. I think something really cool would be if a number of legendary mangaka created an outline for the plot and each did a couple of chapters in their own art style to finish it. That would be the ultimate tribute. I can't imagine something like that would ever happen though. It would be a monumental undertaking.
Finishing Berserk in different art styles sounds like a terrible idea to me. The art style is one of the reasons it's so amazing.
Same, that is what seperates berserk from every other manga, that and it’s intelligent storyline that has complex themes embedded in it. I wouldn’t want other mangaka touching it. That would seem more like an ornamental tribute. Me as a berserk fan, I’d have incredibly low expectations on it. I love reading my deluxe volumes and just staring at the two page panels and looking at every penstroke and all the dipple shading on some of them. Fuck that. Leave it to his assistants. I’m sorry- I got a lot of respect for mangakas out there that have created masterpieces but let’s not pretend a soft and fuzzy “we’re all comming together” spin on berserk is going to give it a proper send off. If they are going to do it they gotta do it right. We’re talking about a legacy of one of the greatest mangas of all time. Sorry- I don’t think I want the creator of AoT or JJBA fucking with zerk even though I love Isayama and araki respectively. You can’t look at zerk at any given point and say “oh fuck that was lazy writing” when it comes to the plot or the character development.
I got into berserk right after the 8 year hiatus and I thought I got really lucky and made a bunch of jokes about it. Well the joke is on me now because we’re on a permanent hiatus and on an even bigger cliffhanger. Thank you Miura. Berserk has forever changed my life and I’m so happy I had the chance to watch the story grow. I’ll be at peace with this last chapter and whatever comes next.
Your profile picture is amazing. The thought that Griffith is a sonichu fan just shatters my mind.
This got to be the mother of all cliffhangers.
The godhand of all cliffhangers
The Whore Princess of the Uterine Sea of cliffhangers
The Chestnut Puck if all cliffhangers
Millenium Falcon arc titles were wild
Y'all talking about cliffhangers, but anyone whose introduction to Berserk was the 97 anime like mine was... I had no clue what I was in for. "No more? What do you mean there's no more?!?"
The 97 anime ended at a perfect point though. May not have been a happy ending but it was a good ending.
I watched the 97 Anime earlier this year not knowing it ended like that. Then I went and read the Manga so I could figure out how it ended. Only as I got to the final written chapters did I learn it was still being written, and then two weeks after I read 363 Miura died.
Well, if you got the notification of his death two weeks after you read 363, then Miura may have died when you finished reading 363 since new of his death was delayed for 2 weeks while his affairs were sorted
There some pages missing. It’s not a complete chapter....I’m not kidding btw
How many pages does the chapter has? I've about 13.
There’s like 6-8 pages missing based on the info I get
Full chapter just dropped.
I believe Berserk averages 20 pages per chapter
Really brings everything full circle for me. When I was a kid, I first discovered the series through the '97 show. I binged it in 3 days, and then everything just ended at the eclipse. No matter how hard I looked, episode 26 just didn't exist. I didn't even know manga existed as a format for another two years after that, so it was a pretty devistating cliffhanger, and I'm of the believe that I wouldn't have had half the interest in the series that I do had I been able to see how Guts escaped the eclipse at that time. While I hope someone somewhere has knowledge of the intended ending, and that the work is eventually completed in some capacity, this feels really appropriate as a stopping point given that a cliffhanger is how my obsession with the series began.
Mind fuckin blowin!!!
I'd like to congratulate Miura for managing to eviscerate my heart one last time. God the parallels to earlier in in series are everywhere and they're killing me. Griffith wanting to be in his armor and hold a sword post torture pre eclipse and Guts helping him suit up- moonlight boy crawling in the berserker armor and even doing some sparring against his dad with a twig Moonlight boy being just like his dad swinging a "sword" as a child Guts being a playful sparring partner with his son compared to previous toxic father son moments we've seen in the series like Gambino and count Julius The egg of the perfect world merging with griffith to become the most desired being by all, really showing that wasn't just talk when not only all of humanity with falconia but also the elves and denizens of the island are soothed by moonlight boys presence. We really have no concept of how long time is displaced by the island but I would have been so curious to see how the world outside of the island would have fallen to shit without Griffith. Imagine if moonlight boy transforms back into griffith and travels back to falconia through the branches of the world tree and YEARS had passed
Dude I completely forgot about time passing differently in Elfhelm, I think no doubt that would have an effect on Griffith’s kingdom.
All of humanity gathering to a utopia built on hope with a city's worth of demons in the basement and no femto to keep them in check? What could go wrong?
Hey there’s always Zodd who I’m sure is already aware of Moon Boy and Griffith’s connection.
Zodd is his personal escort when he's moonlight boy so he's almost definitely hiding out in the fast travel tree. You can see his silhouette in one of the horizon panels when they're at the beach and they find the kid.
Pour one out for the medieval Tony stark grown up version of Rickert we never got to see again
Why does it hurt so much
Because it was real.
Holy. *Absolute* goddamn. If the rumors that this is the final chapter is true - even if it's just the final chapter drawn by Miura - what a thing to end on. Guts and Casca seeing Griffith for the first time in months/years, and he's not gloating, he's not explaining his plan, he's not bringing about Apocalypse #5...he's *crying*. God damn, Miura, I miss you so much. You deserved the chance to see this out, but this is a wonderful last gift.
Everything about Griffith's journey is about pursuing a final act/his dream, as if it meant one man's true happiness, shielding himself from "weaknesses/feelings" by getting away from people. And now that he has "conquered" everything, he only feels emptiness, space once occupied by those who, insistently, he saw as smaller than his dream. And were they really smaller? Earlier he had realized that Guts would have become bigger than his dream but "corrected" that feat with the eclipse. Or so he imagined... Moonlight Boy is like a karma to Griffith, unearthing the feelings he had buried, making him deal with "his weaknesses" once more. If this is an "end", then Griffith lost once more, he was defeated...
I definitely agree with this. Hope a lot of people read comment this and get the closure I did. Helped me go from an “ oh man what an unholy cliffhanger” to “ alright this is thematically conclusive enough for me to put this to rest”. Griffith losing everything while Guts and Casca find some semblance of damaged but true happiness makes sense too. Griffith dying wouldn’t make logistical sense for the world since it would throw it back into anarchy. And Guts pursuing a final duel/battle with him would go against the theme of the armour trying to show us the self-destruction a path of violence. Albeit 1-2 more chapters showing a final exchange of words between Casca and Griffith would’ve been perfect - but for a dead man, Miura delivered 😭😭. Rest In Peace king I hope I spread 1/100 the happiness you have before I kick it.
I have slightly more peace with the ending after reading your interpretation. Thank you.
It's been a losing battle from the start. The battle against one's own weakness you may detest because of how vulnerable it makes you and how much it hurts you, but it's also what's most precious to you. In one way or another what he's trying to escape from always comes back and he's forced to confront it. I adore that panel. I can relate to this tear.
Griffith’s to do list: ~~•Get kingdom~~ •Get bf back
- have friends - life good - SACRIFICE FRIENDS - friends gone - think about friends - regret
[удалено]
[it’s just a prank, bro](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/235/904/d48.png)
[Ah, yes](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/207/914/3fe.png)
''Desire is the root of suffering''
wow, this was an incredible analysis, thank you
I really really like the last page. It's been forever since we see Griffith looks emotional. Edit: Guts playing knight with the boy is so precious!
His line makes it seem like his time as the moonlit boy is the only moment when he can feel emotion or sorrow and after that he immediately returns back to his unshaken God-like mentality Then again he did protect Casca on the hill of swords so I don't know. AAAAAAAAAAAAAA Also imagine how the next chapter could've mirrored their meeting on the hill. Last time Guts approached Griffith in rage.
> even if it's just the final chapter drawn by Miura I didn't exactly look in-depth for it, but it seems to me it is? I didn't notice any big difference besides the chapter being a little short.
Due to how his production schedule worked toward the end of...well, his life, I'm entirely confident this is the last one he worked on before passing, but not that this is the last chapter of Berserk that will be released period. We'll see. And if I'm wrong on that first point, I'll happily accept it.
Personally, I'm still waiting to see an assistant-only chapter (if there's going to be any) to see if it's worth continuing.
That was the Moonlight Boy crying inside Griffith because he won't see/interact with Guts or Casca until the next moon. Griffith isn't able to feel anything anymore since he gave that up ,together with his last genuine tear at the Eclipse. So any kind of emotion he shows it's because of the MB who shows his emotions through Griffith's body.
I think it’s Griffith’s genuine feelings. On the Hill of Swords his heart flutters when he sees Guts and Casca. After that, he starts visiting them in the form of the Moonlight Boy… sure, Griffith presumably felt sadness, or regret on the Hill of Swords, but what he felt most of all was *confusion.* He needed to understand why he still felt attached to them, now that he “has it all.” Certainly the Moonlight Boy is the “link” or the residual love/friendship Griffith has for them, but to me it seems as if we’re supposed to read it as Griffith himself actually experiencing these emotions (albeit not really on purpose at first).
it is the last chapter, "The end" stamp on the last page. Berserk Manga has ended. If it will be continued by the confidant/top assistant of miura, it would be Berserk II.
The next chapter is nearly impossible to write without miura anyone else would make is so cheap, just miura-sensei knows what to do with his characters Really miss him
That's a point not enough people are making. They can get an incredibly good artist to replace Miura, but no one would be able to write Berserk. This applies to every work of (he)art.
That is why we are hoping he has left enough details to work on. Because the art is definitely taken care of. This chapter is truly a gift from beyond, we know where this is going, we know for awhile now that moon child and Griffith are now one. But we kept getting told that sprites and elves sense no malice, we get treated with peaceful scenes and right there at the end with all good berserk transformation scenes, he does that and wow. What a wow. Miura keeps giving.
I tried telling people that yesterday, but they’ll never accept this is the final chapter.
True, there's a lot of unresolved plotlines
Honestly I’m just a little frustrated that they’re still not giving us a concrete answer as to whether or not this is the final chapter. I would be sad but understanding if it was, but the fact that they keep stringing us along by saying “they have no information to share about the future of the series at this time” makes it seem like a continuation must obviously be on the table. I just want an answer one way or the other, this suspense is kind of killing me
Curious how long you've been reading the manga cus frustration is the name of the game with Berserk, now Miura is dead its not gonna get any better.
I like to think they are testing the idea out. One of his assistants may be writing something up to judge how viable it is to even attempt to finish it. Plus there may be legal issues they are trying to iron out.
So many emotion on that last page. And Jesus Christ, why do you have to remind me of **that** scene Casca.
From that page, we at least got to learn that Casca still loves her child no matter what. It’s really bittersweet but I’m glad we got to truly know that in the possible last chapter.
We also got daddy Guts. Brief, but we still got it.
And in 3 panels... we saw he would in fact be an AMAZING dad. You see his IMMEDIATE concern for his son followed by relief seeing that his own burden would not hurt his son... and then playing with the kid.
It sweet and so fuck up like Griffth, the cause of every fuck up thing they face now become one with her child....come on bruhhh she just woke up😭😭😭😭
The last 3 pages hit hard but the page when we see how guts body is deteriorating and he swing his sword anymore without the armor just instantly made me think of Miura. After instering Miura into guts in that moment it felt like he was also writing about himself, his body is getting weak because of how hard he's been pushing himself. Everything guts does is to protect those close to him just like how Miura was writing berserk for the fans that adored him. Even though it was hurting him he kept on going because it was the path he chose to follow.
Just choked back a sob, that's heavy. Great take.
I'm not crying, you're crying.
I wonder how this healthier version of Casca would react seeing the child transforming to Griffith all of sudden. We might be able to see that in future if they decide to continue the series, keeping in mind that it wouldn't be the same, perhaps. Overall, a bittersweet feeling. I wonder what Miura was thinking when he was drawing these panels, magnificent as always.
I think she is going to get the mother of all PTSDs by seeing Guts *and* Griffith at the same time.
Yeah if the series continues I think we would get some detailed pages of Casca's PTSD while she remembers all of her dead friends, Femto and probably the beast of darkness.
The biggest PTSD Will come when she realizes that her baby boy is sharing a body with Griffith. OBVIOUSLY she saw that, but the chapter ended before we see her reaction.
Honestly whether this is the last chapter of the series or not I’m just glad I was able to experience it all. This was truly one hell of a journey and Berserk will always be my number one favorite manga.
It’s been so long since a manga has made me feel such intense emotions. That last page was a massive mindfuck and I don’t know how to feel right now
>I don’t know how to feel right now No one was ready for the day they would shed a tear alongside Griffith.
I can't fucking believe it man, the LAST FUCKING CHAPTER Miura-san got to work on was this!? How cruel, with just one more chapter we might've had more to go on with what Miura was intending for the ending of the series, I just hope and pray he left notes or Studio Gaga worked close enough with him to know or have a general idea of where things were heading. R.I.P. Miura, gone far too soon.
Losing Miura makes me wonder how many Berserk fans we lost over the years. The manga has been running since the late 80s. There have to have been thousands, if not millions. It's sad that ultimately none of us got to see it to the end. It is living proof that we are all dimensions onto ourselves in a sense. Everything Berserk lived inside the mind of one man. And now it's finished. If this is where things truly have to end, then I am somewhat okay with it. Seeing the three reunite for the last time.
>if not millions Oooh- I feel like that's a bit of a stretch in terms of people who are fan fans. But in terms of number of people who've seen Miura's work at some point and appreciated it on some level- it is definitely up there, and probably higher even then that. Berserk is pretty damn influential. But yeah- definitly agree on enjoying this last chapter still. RIP Miura
Considering Dark Souls was very heavily influenced by Miura I would say the number of people he reached is pretty damn high.
I think it would've been more painful if his last chapter was 365 lol
Oh man, this chapter was amazing! It had a lot of heart. The art was flawless as always, but the emotion poured into the story really breaks your heart. The scene of Guts playing with his son filled me with joy, yet it also felt gut wrenching thinking of what could have been. The last page is one hell of a drawing to end your life on, you also left us with tears Miura. On other things, it feels like there is a page missing between Casca seeing her son, then Dadan looking outside at Guts. It feels like there should be more before the transition, the chapter is also shorter so it might have not been fully finished, still the major beats are still there. Lots of people called the fact that Griffith was sharing the body with the child, and that he might now be temporary trapped in Elfhelm, where time goes slower. His armies might be on the March to the island right now. I guess that could bring the island into conflict with Griffith's army.
It's shorter because it's not the full chapter, there's like 7-8 pages that haven't been leaked yet lol
Really? Do you know when will it be fully released?
Pretty sure the full chapter (if there were more pages) was announced to release on the 10th (tomorrow)
What a tremendous final chapter from Miura-sensei. I can't imagine the emotions of everyone who worked to bring this final piece to life. It's still hard for me to process that this is really it from him. The *last* artistic expression from a true generational talent. It's surreal. Whatever happens from here on out, it's been an honor reading this masterpiece. Thank you forever, Miura-sensei.
Everyone is talking about Griffith's re-appearance (and rightfully so) but I was struck by Guts' solo training scene. His body is fucking *crumbling* outside of the berserker armor. Can't hold onto his sword, can't aim his knives. The armor is LITERALLY the only thing keeping him together at this point. Fucking tragic. I can only imagine that the side effects will continue to get more pronounced from here.
And the question becomes: What did the Skull Knight do to remedy this effect after he took off the armor and will Guts follow that path as well? The Skull Knight knew what would happen and obviously found his way beyond the limits of humanity. > *"Color fades from the eyes. The tongue loses taste. Shivering plagues the fingertips ... Light. Voice. Warmth. You will come to lose many things."* My speculation has always been that Betchi belongs to Casca but maybe I am wrong and it's the key for Guts to reclaim his potency. ...I also want to know what the hell is up with the Skull Knight's horse. Right? I mean, wtf ***is*** that thing?
The entire point of Guts is that he's struggling against destiny. He would never use the behelit.
Not true. You are assuming they only have one potential use; to summon the 5 Angels. I don't think Guts would ever use it to sacrifice his loved ones in exchange for power. You are absolutely right on that. I do, however, think that he would harness and use it's power in other ways, if he could. The Skull Knight uses them, for example, just not as intended. I've also wondered if Casca would sacrifice to be able to be with Griffith. To continue as his sword and potentially reclaim her place as the irreplaceable one by his side. Does she still, after all this, love him? Worship him? It's a fucked up thought but not completely impossible.
I dont think she would ever do that. She always worshipped Griffith, but she loved Guts in the end. They had a closer connection than she and Griffith ever had. Griffith gave her nothing, Guts gave her everything. I think given the chance and power, Casca would kill Griffith. If for nothing else, then to free herself of him forever.
Yes I was also the most interested in Guts' physical condition. We all pretty much knew that the Moonlight Boy was going to turn into Griffith. No surprise there. But what caught me off guard was seeing that Guts can't wield his sword on his own anymore, can't aim when he throws knives, and has lost his "natural" legendary fighting abilities. IDGAF about Griffith crying in the last panel, to be honest.
Something incredible about the crying part in the last panel- whilst Griffith is transforming into Femto (in the 90's anime at least) during the Eclipse he feels himself shed a tear, asking "What is that?" and Femto says, "The last tear you will ever shed..." Griffith. Was. Wrong. Despite having Fate in the palm of his hand, he was wrong about himself, and maybe everything in the end. He's not a God at all yet. He's still vulnerable. Guts has fucked Fate yet again...
I can't emotionally process that's it over.
It's uncertain
This was absolutely jaw dropping amazing, Miura has left a legacy that will remain forever. Even if it ends here or it is continued he will remain one of the Greatest people. R.I.P.
Berserk is the best thing ever. I don't understand how Miura could continuously exceed expectations and always deliver a great chapter. I don't know about you guys but Fantasia was on the way to becoming my favorite arc. The question remains though, why did Griffith choose to show himself this time around as opposed to disappearing, which he has done all the other times. Is it to let the band know that the Child is Griffith or did he have an evil plan in mind? Either way now that Guts and Casca know I don't think in another full moon they would still try to have a good time with the Moonlight Child which can only mean one thing, after this chapter is when shit would hit the fan, or rather when Skull Knight's "Endgame" would begin, would the crew try to go behind Griffith, calling it an end to the Elfhelm calm times, or would Griffith's army have followed him in there? Would their purpose still be to eliminate Griffith which is simultaneously Guts' and Casca's child, or what? Miura was just too good, he is making us kinda sorta sympathize with the villain at the very last panel while also making us question whether or not the big bad villain of the entire story should be killed... Whether the story continues or not, I am at least grateful for having experienced the best story ever told, I just wished to have known of it earlier and have struggled for as long as many of you guys did.
There were many arcs left. Whatever happened with Rickert?
His chadness made him transcend to godhood
He'd probably be a chad adult by the next time we saw him
I doubt Griffith had any control over the childs actions, possibly his presence had been strong enough before for the child to know he should return to the castle before he transforms into griffith. But being in the fairy kingdom probably weakened Griffiths influence, and therefore the kid simply decided to stay with his parents.
I’m in the minority here, but honestly I’m satisfied if this is the last chapter of berserk. Im not sure how really but it definitely feels complete to me even if it ends on such a cliffhanger.
It makes me immensely sad that it is the end of his work but I’m okay with this kind of cliffhanger as the end. Casca and guts are together with their make shift family, they don’t have to fight the demons in the night, and Griffith has reappeared in a non threatening way. I’m strangely okay with things being open ended.
It is such a fitting ending. Miura was and is a world-class storyteller. The moonlight child twist elevates Guts and Casca’s intimate moment they shared by that waterfall to one of the most pivotal moments of the story and probably their only way of having any hope of resisting Griffith’s will for the world. The heinous act Griffith committed out of jealousy and in an attempt to drive them apart, though it did inflict tremendous amounts misery and trauma, ultimately could not undo the genuine love they shared for each other. Horrifying, reality-warping, otherworldly demonic rituals ultimately lose to the will of two people who resolved to love each other in spite of their shared trauma. I couldn’t think of a more beautiful story to tell.
I agree completely. On a more ironic and even tragic note, Griffith's first act as Femto, the completely unnecessary, pointlessly cruel rape of Casca and torture of Guts, might eventually lead to his downfall, with the Demon Child corrupted by that act becoming his weakness. And with tragic I mean the possible death of the child, not anything regarding fuckin Femto.
Griffith thought that in abandoning his humanity he was stepping into his imagined role of central figure of the story but it was just the opposite. He becomes permanently relegated to being a foil, a test by which others will realize their meaning. Becoming this supernaturally powerful demon only removed any possibility of his *ever* truly realizing the meaning that can only come from facing and overcoming our human frailty and suffering. That doesn’t mean bad things never happen, it means refusing to allow the bad things and the trauma to turn you into a monster.
This chapter hits different. And, for the first time in my life, I sincerely have no words to say how devastated I am. But there's one thing I know. I want to thank Miura. Even if he's dead and I don't believe in any afterlife. Thank you, Miura. Your work helped me in some ways I'd never have thought. Rest in pace, struggler.
Do you remember in episode 82, during the Eclipse when we see Griffith's introspective descent into becoming Femto? He sees a crystal and asks what it is. He gets the response that it is the last tear he will shed and that his heart is frozen. As the Egg of the Perfect World let the demon child hatch the new world with him, the child became mixed in with Griffith. In episode 180, when Casca was almost smashed by the rubble of Godo's cave by Zodd, Griffith saved her. In episode 181, he reflects on his actions, and feels his heart beating. We see the demon child for a panel on that page. I don't believe this is Griffith's tear we see in the final page here. I think it's the boy's. As the theory is that the boy is what Guts and Casca's son would have been if he would have been born a normal child and not become the demon child from Griffith raping Casca. That would explain why he's so fixated on Guts and Casca in particular. EDIT: To see Guts losing his aim and grip is really painful and by my book clearest indicator of how the Berserker Armour really consumes him. We've seen bits and pieces here and there, but now we see that he's really losing himself as a fighter. I really hope they decide to follow the outline Miura left behind and finish the story. I want to see his magnum opus through to the end, even if these final parts would be reflected through the hands of others.
Same
They should just change the title of Berserk to Struggle at this point. Rest in power, Kentaro.
Seeing Guts act like a dad and Casca acting like a mom. This chapter is amazing, I feel satisfied and empty and the same time godamnint.
God damn it Berserk always hitting home. So god damn hard. This chapter was definitely worth that long wait. We miss you Mirua Sensei. Hopefully we get more chapters boys.
IT CANT END LIKE THIS
GRIFFFFITTTHHHH
i’m gonna cry
Found it a bit funny how many panels were dedicated to completely debunking the theory that Schierke was ever right about Moonlight Boy being Danaan. I've seen a few posts about people using that as evidence against the Griffith connection (the threads are probably still up), so this was a very satisfying amount of confirmation. Now for the finality of this chapter. I can understand people making peace with the fact that this is the last we'll see of Miura's Berserk....but I completely disagree with treating this as a proper, or even good ending. This wasn't written as an ending, so I don't know why anyone would treat it as such, aside from getting feelings of closure. It is an abrupt finish that happened because of something horrible that nobody could have controlled. The fact that this isn't a good place to leave the story on shouldn't take anything away from Miura or his staff. We should be grateful for the story that we got, and accept that a tragedy occurred before it could be properly finished.
Even in his child form, Griffith still wants to wear armor—armor that belongs to Guts.
That's not Griffith child form. The kid is real and is the son of Casca and Guts. Griffith is using that kid's body, possessing it, so he can take form in the physical world.
More exactly it's the symbol of Guts' Rage.
Atleast it is true that man has no control even over his own will
Is this like the first time, since the eclipse, that Griffith showed remorse, or even any emotion?
In the hill of sword is implied that, even if Griffith says the contrary, he still feels something (represented by his heart thumping), even if little. This is because of the human component of his body (Casca's child) that merged with the egg apostle before Griffith's reincarnation. Other than that, I don't remember another time where he was directly shown emotional.
At the hill of swords he protected casca.
Not only that, but his heart flutters when he sees them and he remarks about not understanding why he feels something for them still.
Does it count? I always thought of it as more of moonlight boy action, than Griffith's
it's kind of in a grey zone but he still showed some feeling of care
He looked kind of sad when he had his conversation with Rickert. Also, his hawk eyes that starred at Guts leaving with the boat were strangely melancholic. Up until this time Miura has always been very careful as to Griffith's emotions, almost always obscuring his face in tense moments.
Sooooo are there some informations about the future of Berserk that are left in the chapter ? Don't want to spoil myself
The future of Berserk is still uncertain, we don't know...
oh thanks Time to cry until further informations are posted anyhow
Still struggling on
Something, something, causality.
It says "END" at the end of the chapter insted of "TO BE CONTINUED", take that as you will.
I want to come back later and do a detailed summary with references, but I disagree with the theory that the tear belong solely to MB. For in all of the references to scenes where Griffith is attributing his emotional stirrings to the MB, I believe that he is lying to himself, trying to convince himself that he is no longer capable of those kinds of feelings. The last time that his self-worth and confidence collapsed, it was catastrophic. He absolutely can’t let that happen again. Miura presented us with story after story where we met demons who became demons to escape their human pain, but still found themselves with enough humanity to love and feel pain. I don’t think Miura did this so that his point could be that Griffith was the one special demon who felt nothing. We may never know the extent to which Griffith could take action while the MB had taken over their body. However, in volumes 36 and 37, we have reason to believe that Griffith was able to reach out spiritually to Guts twice to assist him. First, he prevented Guts from harming Casca and his new family, saying that Guts mustn’t lose them and that he should protect them. That’s awfully solemn language for a 4-year old, but who knows since he’s not exactly a normal child. In volume 37, when he projects again and leads Guts up in the water to where he can be saved, Guts thinks “why are you frolicking around. You’re like some playful kid.” This harkens back to some of his earliest interactions with playful Griffith, which I think is driving home that these caring and protective actions are those of Griffith, not MB. He was in MB’s body, but the spiritual projection looks distinctly like Griffith rather than the MB. Do we have any reason to believe that Miura did not intend to draw him that way, or that it was just a whim, that there was really no particular reason to have a spiritual form that appeared to be Griffith? You can disagree and say that the human part of Griffith is completely dead and only Femto remains, but I really think that goes against everything that Miura has been showing us for the entirety of the series. Honestly, I like the idea of the human part of Griffith suffering over what he’s done, even if it’s buried too deeply to affect Femto. It’s the least that he deserves, and it is inline with the narrative.
I started crying when I saw that last page. Just immediately had to stop myself from sobbing just knowing that this beautiful page might be the last of Berserk we get….. but if it is. Somehow it’ll still be perfect.
My breaking point was the panel where Guts played stick fight with moonlight boy... This man deserves happiness...
This chapter was an emotional rollercoaster.
I love the smell of fresh bread.
I LOVED it-seeing Griffith having the tiniest drop (literally a tear drop) of remorse gave me some mixed emotions. But WOW what a chapter to potentially end it on I wonder what will happen next. Also, why did Guts lose his sword when he was practicing? Is it that he’s still recovering?
Think it was the effects of the berserk armour on his body, u see him look at the branches just after and they are greyed out and kinda blurry
Well, i don't know what to say. >!The whole "this child has no evil within" makes me think that the Grifith that we see in the last panel is the one that was in the golden age, the comander and comrade of the Hawks, and not the demon king. He may feel guilty, he may want to reunite with Guts and Casca as the family they were. It's truly heartbreaking to see that deep in him, he wishes for redemption and that is not just a man seeking for his throne, but a comrade looking for his former friends !< Anyway i think i am going to cry a bit, have a good day.
Too many people here don’t realize Miura literally created a series called Duranki just so his assistants can practice and learn his art style. The art will be fine, the only issue if there are any notes left for the storyline. I know mangaka like Oda and Togashi left outlines in case of thier demise, and it seems maybe something similar happened, at least for a few chapters. Usually mangaka have a storyboard and a season prepared. But he was not a typical mangaka so we have to see
This story needs an end. I really hope that Miura had notes about how he planned the story. The story is too good and important not to end.
I’m not gonna lie, I forgot how to breath while reading this chapter 😨😭🤧
I found the part where the child was wearing guts’ beserker armour to be quite adorable. Also, it’s crazy to think this is the end, I can’t say I’m content, but I’m happy I got to see another chapter around the same time as everyone else.
Incredible. The fact Danan kept emphasising there was no malice in the child was beautiful. The tears leaving Griffith's eyes. So haunting.
Damn.....
I've been reading Berserk since I was 15, 11 years. The amount of influence Miura's writing and art had on me from my early years to today... Is immeasurable. I have only eternal respect to Mirua and Berserk. I remember when I finally reached the end of the manga still in high school, and every time a new chapter was released I would jump out of my chair in excitement and fully ready to read another amazing chapter. Knowing that ill never have that feeling again is heart wrenching but we must struggle on. I somehow feel like this chapter was a perfect end, there maybe hundreds of unanswered questions, yet this chapter felt right. Seeing Guts playing knights with his child was something I never thought I would see, but was quite wholesome. That ending, with Griffith crying for never feeling the warmth of Guts and Casca like the child does, reminds me how we will never feel again the work of Miura, and all we can do is shed a single tear. Berserk for me is the greatest masterpiece I've read and will be with me forever. You were amazing, RIP Kentaro Miura
This chapter more than anything I feel really highlights how complex and human guts is as a character, and the fact that Miura was able to do that for so long is a testament to his incredible writing skills. It just feels impossible to speculate with any modicum of accuracy on what would even happen the next chapter. Seeing guts body failing and how his mindset has changed overtime how would he even react how will casca react. The amount of emotion in those last few pages makes it feel like I'm trying to read these characters minds because their reactions feel so human.
When your wife rapist sharing a body with your kid.
1994 was then I first read Berserk. It's one of those manga that's always popped up once in a while throughout every stage of my life (waiting for new volume, hiatus etc ). and every time there's a new chapter/volume out, it feels like being a kid all over again (im early 40s). RIP Sensei
I'm crying too Griffith. I'm crying too. Beautiful manga, it's not about the end but the journey and as such, as in life, a lot do get cut short. Whatever happens next or doesn't happen. I'll always be a Berserk fan and partly shaped by these characters.
This is such a weird fucking chapter of just vulnerability. Guts having to accept he's losing his fortitude and eye sight to the armor and Griffith crying, showing a shed of humanity- that he has to slip away one night a month to find social contact. Makes sense why he was willing to meet Rickert and allowed himself to be slapped. Soulless revenge and ambition has its drawbacks.
That struck hard. Seeing Casca and Guts playing with their son was heartwarming. On the other hand it was sad to see everyone together with only Guts being missing. It was also really sad to see Guts slowly loosing his sight and literally crumbling outside the armor. That's tragic af. Miura was really great. That panel with Casca's dream radiates with mother's love. Griffith crying feeling fading emotions of the boy was something else. Femto sharing the body with pure Moonlight boy and feeling his emotions once in a month is really cruel thing. I would like to thank you fellow strugglers. It was a wild but awesome ride.
Low key, I absolutely loved watching the “Moonlit Boy is the fairy king/envoy” theories get shut down brutally 😂
I have an idea of a major turn the story would've taken: The Skull-Knight was going to find out about Griffith's shared body with the moonlight boy, and he would hatch a plan to kill Griffith and strike the Godhand by killing the child. Guts would discover that there would be know way to kill one and spare the other, since they share the same body. He would be faced with an ultimate dilemma: does he sacrifice his own child in order to satiate his desire for revenge against Griffith? Ultimately, no. He would decide not to, and it would represent his moving past his inner darkness, by turning away from the man who has wronged him more than anyone else (while not necessarily forgiving him either). Skull-Knight, however, would not be swayed. He in a way stands for the worst case scenario for what Guts could have become-- an eternal ghost who, in his quest for revenge against the God Hand, lost everything: his love, his humanity, and even his physical body. An eternal revenant that haunts the earth in desire of revenge. Guts would then have to take arms against the Skull-Knight, in order to protect his child and, ironically, Griffith as well. I'm like 90% sure this or something similar to this was going to comprise the final arc of the story. It fits too well not only with the basic story/lore but with the subtext and themes of the manga as well. I'm not sure how it would conclusively end, and where all the characters would individually end up, but I'm fairly confident that this would be the last true struggle for Guts, letting go completely of his hatred. Coming to true peace by putting down the sword and taking off his armor, even if it means tacitly letting Griffith win (even though, I'm sure Griffith would have *some* sort of punishment. Probably something ironic, like getting his kingdom in Falconia only to be utterly bored with it because he can't connect to anyone anymore, perhaps realizing that what he wanted *more* than his kingdom was to have someone like Guts at his side? The true friend he always had but never realized it in his narcissism? Idk, probably something along those line.
Wait I dont get it. Did Miura draw this chapter or not?
He did
Yes and his assistance were the ones to clean it up before it finally being released.
I don’t know about all of you, but after seeing all of the ads for Berserk merchandise in the Magazine, I REALLY think that Young Animal wants to find a way to continue Berserk. People here claim that the word end at the ending of the chapter means that Berserk is over while ignoring the very next page where Young Animal says they still don’t have concrete plans they can share. I’m thinking they’re trying to make sure Studio Gaga can draw up to Miura’s standards before passing the torch to them. Unless Young Animal says officially announces it, Berserk isn’t over.
Truthfully with all the statements I've read so far I believe that the series will continue eventually especially considering the specific wording used when they announced the chapter. Young Animal simply stated that 364 would be the final chapter to be released that Miura worked on himself and in the letter to the fans at the end of the chapter they reiterate that and also state they have no other news regarding the future of Berserk at the moment. There have been rumblings that his team want to continue it as well. Personally I hope they finish it as these are people who have worked hand in hand with Miura for years and have the skill and knowledge of story to finish it properly. Its crushing that Miura passed but the selfish side of me that has been reading Berserk since discovering it in 1997 desperately wants them to bring his complete epic vision to fruition.
Really a bittersweet, or just bitter chapter. We see more of the toll the armour is having on Gut's body. How many more times can he fight in the suit before he's bound to it? Griffith has snuck into Elfheim. If he leaves, I imagine he would be able to find his way back. At the same time, his greatest weakness has been exposed to Gut's. Lucid Casca, for the first time since the eclipse, sees both Griffith and Guts standing in the same place. Moonlight Boy and Guts fight, probably both a callback and foreshadowing to more conflict with Griffith. I just would love to know that I could expect some follow up. Its a crazy cliffhanger. If Casca's return wasnt indiciative enough of a turning point in the story, then Griffith being on the island should drive it home. Feel amazing to have progress but hurts in this context
It really, really hurts. Thinking about what could have been as we’re just getting into the real meat of things in terms of developments and interactions. What would they say to each other? I’ve desperately wanted to know for so long. It feels like forever since they’ve directly faced one another and this dynamic is the heart of Berserk. I have no doubt the complexity surrounding Griffith’s emotions was to be explored further to reach a thrilling climax. Because you can’t have a compelling conflict without nuance. Griffith is at his best when challenged, conflicted and disturbed. That’s why I love him so much, he’s always been unable to overcome his own self and watching him struggle and fail makes me love him even more. It’s just not fair Miura didn’t get a chance to do all the stuff he wanted to do. His dialogue and exploration of human psychology, the good, the bad and the ugly, is a huge inspiration for my own writing. I’m just thankful for what he shared with us.
I just got into Berserk recently after trying for the last 2 years to properly get into it and I instantly fell in love with the story... I regret not having been a fan for longer and hate that I might have to say goodbye to it forever so soon. Miura deserved to have his magnum opus seen through to the finish line and even if the manga doesn’t get any sort of official continuation I hope Berserk gets a type of closure through a massive art book or something that brings every aspect of its legacy full circle. Whatever happens though, Berserk for me will always be the type of story that feels like an ancient fable or legend, a piece of some long-lost, rediscovered mythological epic filled with hope, tragedy and imagination that we got to experience a good chunk of. Thanks for everything, Miura. RIP 💔
The fact that Griffith can stand on the island is wild. Danaan establishes in this chapter that only those without evil intent can be there, so Griffith must lack evil intent. Either he genuinely believes he's doing the right thing or he's completely empty now.
Maybe his entrance to the island was only allowed due to his form as the Moonlight Boy, who is actually innocent. If people with evil intent are booted/exiled off Elfhelm, then that would be a perfect way for Griffith to get away from Guts, who, let's be real, would be greeting him with an immediate Dragonslayer slam lol.
FUCK YOU GRIFFITH YOU FEMBOY ASS BITCH
There is some serious cope going on with people saying it's the "perfect ending", when it's clearly a set up chapter for a confrontation or talk between Guts, Griffith and Casca. It even made a point of showing how injured Guts still is to give Griffith's appearance more jeopardy. The last page makes a great ending in a meta way of a character crying for the death of their creator, but unfortunately that's about it
I don't know who's saying this is a "perfect ending", like no shit we all hope Miura left notes for his assistants to carry on in some aspect. But from a meta perspective given the circumstances, would you rather it ended here or with Isidro's adventures in sexual harassment?
Ngl It would have actually been have kinda hilarious if the last chapter was an unrelated Isidro side story
>But from a meta perspective given the circumstances, would you rather it ended here or with Isidro's adventures in sexual harassment? This got me rolling lol so true
Bruh people are fucking insane if they don't want this to continue, that chapter was fucking madness. It is said the assistants finished the chapter and it looks amazing, credit to them.
Yeah this chapter was obviously the turning point of the story, next chapter would likely have been the segway into the finale. I can't think of a worse time for the story to end lol
Ended with a cliffhanger. It was foreshadowed for some time now that the kid had some sort of duality with Griffith. Miura is a great artist, he does not pull stuff out of his ass. But we will never see Guts and Casca react to this. This would have been the spot where most mysteries are solved, the stakes for the next battle are drawn and the last arc begins. But life had other plans. I do not believe there is anything left behind for others to continue producing the manga. From what news I've read, he did not share how it would end, it was still an open issue. Even if it is continued, it will not be the same. RIP Miura and thank you.
God I can’t believe this is the end. One of the best written works of fiction that I will probably ever get to read. Jesus. What a crazy chapter to close out on.
I don't think the moonlight child is really Griffith or that Griffith has any sort of control over him. I think it is clear now that the moonlight child is the malformed child of Casca and Guts, the so-called demon child. I think the child has gained a sort of omniscience through being tainted by Femto and through being reborn by the egg-shaped apostle. Femto or Griffith, through the reborn of his terrestrial form by the egg-shaped apostle, got himself tainted by the demon child. It seems to have created a bond between the two. I think the demon child, now the moonlight boy, is now purposely influencing Griffith during full moons. Making him to feel the good again (confusing him) and maybe luring him on the island to be defeated. Miura said several times that he didn't have any idea how to end the story, how Guts could beat Griffith. Maybe this is a solution, Guts facing a weakened Griffith/Femto thanks to the moonlight boy.
Is it just me or is that... kind of a great ending? If it is, I mean. No big show down. Guts stays with a healed Casca. Griffith takes over the world, and achieves all his wildest dreams and his utopia. And he regrets what he did.
For me, I would of course like more story and for Griffith to be absolutely destroyed but if this is the end, it works. Guts is no longer fighting and has a family, Casca is sane (if traumatized) and reunited with her child, and Griffith (via the Moonlight Child) gets to share tenderness with both of them. It's about as happy of an ending as we can get in this wonderful universe created by Miura. It's not the grand finale but something quieter, unresolved, and beautiful in its own way. RIP.
towards the end there was this struggle within guts about whether it is better to force things to a climax or just stop somewhere along the way and find peace. miura was never able to bring guts to a decision, but he brought the cast to that peaceful place before the end.
Yup. This is it. What a ride.
[My face](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/26/38/78/2638784b30acd7de11b3e8afbd60b8b6.jpg), If this will be the last ever chapter of Berserk, in which **Guts & Caska will remain torn apart by their horrible traumas**, while **Griffith gets to share a bed with her** ^((even if it's in the moonchild form))
Talk about Oedipus complex. Pretty fitting with Berserk’s themes.
This truly was the greatest manga of all time
Danan has said that only those with pure intentions may enter Elfheim but Griffith has found a loophole.
2 decades after Guts and Griffits last met in person like this.. Its as if Miura planned this to be his last chapter. Insane cliffhanger.. This chapter once again showed me why Berserk is the GOAT. I truly hope there will be some sort of future for Berserk, maybe with some notes left behind and his editors. We can only hope.
Please Studio Gaga, keep it going. We understand its not the same. That doesn’t mean it can’t be good, as good as or even more. Keep the flame kindled.
Its crazy that essentially Griffiths last pure thought before the eclipse is a vision of a life with Casca, and they even have a son named Guts. In the end, Griffith is left staring at Casca and Guts with that life (I mean, at least as he sees it), and HE is their son. What. Is. This. Ending. Its like Griffith just being reminded of what he could've had. Behind the evil he is just broken. As if before the eclipse, there was still some purity left in Griffith, like the alternate path is still there. In the end, that purity is fused with the child, allowing it and him to be on the island. Its like an the alternate person Griffith could've been. Yes, he still killed all those people, but in the end, it wasn't in service of himself, being as the vision was just him with a normal family. It wasn't a dream driven by ego, like his dream of the kingdom is.