After reading 298 after such a long time away from Berserk, many images rushed into my head, primarily those introduced in volume 10 during Charlotte's explanation of how Midland was founded. The following is an exact transcription of Dark Horse's translation of that scene, juxtaposed with images of what I see as reoccurances of that empire 1000 years ago. This isn't a new concept by any stretch of the imagination. We all saw this coming, but it's good to review your history in order to understand what's happening now.
However, events don't always happen exactly as they did. After all, causality is a spiral, not a circle. These events aren't perfectly congruent, nor do I think they were meant to be. But there are overarching themes that fit both timelines. I'm sure not everyone will agree with some of the parallels I make, nor do I claim to have all the answers here, but I'm already excitedly anticipating discussion from this.
Griffith is actually called the God of Death on the battlefield in volume 5. Of course, Ganishka is also referred to as a Demon King in volume 27, and thus the murky water begins.
Obviously, this scenario is a little more complicated. Wyndham is being decimated by Ganishka, and by the end of the night, it will have been wiped off the map. An "angel" did come to save the land from the tyranny of the evil king. He just wasn't the one destroying the city.
The same tower where Charlotte was held prisoner, and that was later possibly decimated by Ganishka.
For convenience sake, click here for the full transcription without any of these bullshit images.
However, events don't always happen exactly as they did. After all, causality is a spiral, not a circle. These events aren't perfectly congruent, nor do I think they were meant to be. But there are overarching themes that fit both timelines. I'm sure not everyone will agree with some of the parallels I make, nor do I claim to have all the answers here, but I'm already excitedly anticipating discussion from this.
Charlotte: In those days, this continent saw constant warring between small city-states and different tribes. Apparently it was an age of rival warlords.
Continuous warfare ruined the land, and due to food shortages, plague and the like, it's said that fully a third of the population died.
Guts: (Doesn't sound too different from nowadays ... No progress).
I actually split this comparison two ways. The warring can easily be connected to the 100-years war:
... followed much later by plague, starvation and rampant death.
... followed much later by plague, starvation and rampant death.
Charlotte: But finally, someone appeared who put an end to the warring age.
Supreme King Gaiseric -- He was an emperor able to subjugate dozens of nations and establish an age-old empire encompassing the entire continent for the first and only time in history.
No one knows what country he came from or when or how he raised an army.
No records remain whatsoever regarding his account prior to his arrival on the stage of history.
Guts: (Sounds kind of like Griffith).
Charlotte: From the merciless and ruthless way of fighting, the emperor would use against those enemies who opposed him, it seems he was given such names as Demon King, and The King of Galloping Death. But there was one other reason for this.
Whenever Emperor Gaiseric went into battle... he would don a dreadful helmet shaped after a skull.
Griffith is actually called the God of Death on the battlefield in volume 5. Of course, Ganishka is also referred to as a Demon King in volume 27, and thus the murky water begins.
No pic for this, this could be alluding to a possible reconstruction of a capital city (Falconia?) in the future, since Wyndham is being destroyed now.Judo: Ah, that one I've heard of. The fairy tale of the Skull King.
According to legend, I think he gathered workers from all over the empire, and forced them through hard labor to build a large capital city.
Then the king lived in the utmost extravagance while levying heavier and heavier taxes on the people. The city ended up becoming a melting pot of feasting and pleasure ... at least I think.
But God finally decided he couldn't condone the Skull King's deeds and sent five angels. By lightning and great earthquakes, the city was erased from the face of the earth, without a trace in the span of a night.
Casca: Weren't there four of them?
Judo: Oh, yeah?
Five? Four? How about just one really BIG one?
Obviously, this scenario is a little more complicated. Wyndham is being decimated by Ganishka, and by the end of the night, it will have been wiped off the map. An "angel" did come to save the land from the tyranny of the evil king. He just wasn't the one destroying the city.
Judo: But what does a fairy tale have to do with this hole?
Charlotte: It's not just a fairy tale. At least, the city did exist.
Apparently the name of the city meant "Land in the middle of nations." So it received the name "Midland." And that city that fell into the ground by natural calamity ... is said to be sleeping still, just as it was then, in a place untouched by either sunlight or wind ... at the bottom of this hole.
Guts: Is that true?
Charlotte: All of that was taught to me by my history teacher. I don't know if it's true or not.
But it seems that after the emperor's death and the collapse of the imperial capital, the continent gradually became the territory covered with assorted countries we know today. The emperor had no children, so it isn't a direct line, but it is said that even out of all those countries, the Midland royal family is the only one that carries Gaiseric's blood.
It is said the Tower of Rebirth was built in order to seal that unclean past.
The same tower where Charlotte was held prisoner, and that was later possibly decimated by Ganishka.
For convenience sake, click here for the full transcription without any of these bullshit images.