Void has plans about Guts

[aesma]

Hello, during my recent re-read, something caught my attention, and I wanted to get your opinion on it.


In the "Guardians of Desire (5)" chapter, Guts is climbing the stairs with the Dragon Slayer to attack Femto. Of course, as he gets closer, the Brand of Sacrifice starts gushing blood, and Guts reaches the point of collapsing from both blood loss and the incredible pain from the Brand. Right here, after Slan says, "he is finished," there is a panel where we see Void.


Now, let's fast forward. In "Episode 88: Escape," a similar thing happens again as the Skull Knight takes Guts and Casca away. Slan says, "It's impossible to anticipate everything. We ourselves are not gods after all. Or else this too was fated to happen..." and we see Void again.


I think there is a parallel between these two events. I know what I'm saying doesn't have much of a basis because Void is already a very silent character, and it's hard to form a theory about him. Unlike the other God Hand members, he doesn't seem to care about anything other than the task he performs.


This is why these 2 events caught my interest. In 'Guardians of Desire,' the comments made by Ubik, Conrad, or Slan seem normal for their characteristics, but the panel featuring Void gave me the impression that he was thinking something about Guts. The same applies to Episode 88. It's as if Void knew and was expecting the Skull Knight to come and rescue Guts and Casca. Could Void know something about Guts that the other God Hand members don't? What is your opinion?

 

[TheItCrow]

Hi!

Just my two cents:

In the "Guardians of Desire (5)" chapter, Guts is climbing the stairs with the Dragon Slayer to attack Femto. Of course, as he gets closer, the Brand of Sacrifice starts gushing blood, and Guts reaches the point of collapsing from both blood loss and the incredible pain from the Brand. Right here, after Slan says, "he is finished," there is a panel where we see Void.

Void’s panel after Slan’s “He’s finished” suggests to me that Guts wasn’t finished at all - and that Void knew it. I also don’t think this would come as a surprise to him, given that chronologically the Eclipse happened beforehand and he had already witnessed what Guts was capable of. It also serves as a nice framing device for the reader: “Oh no, he’s finished… but wait, look at Void’s reaction - is he really?!”

Now, let's fast forward. In "Episode 88: Escape," a similar thing happens again as the Skull Knight takes Guts and Casca away. Slan says, "It's impossible to anticipate everything. We ourselves are not gods after all. Or else this too was fated to happen..." and we see Void again.

Void’s reaction isn’t definitive - and that’s intentional. He likely knew that SK was going to appear (since it was a conjunction point), but he probably didn’t know to what extent or for what purpose.

All of this is to say that nothing about his reaction struck me as out of character or that it indicates him having specific plans for Guts. He likely sees the parallels between SK’s former self and Guts, and therefore takes him more seriously than the rest of the God Hand (but again, he seemingly takes everything more seriously than the others who are more playful).

But if we went down your rabbit hole - what plans would he even have for him?

 

[aesma]

Void’s panel after Slan’s “He’s finished” suggests to me that Guts wasn’t finished at all - and that Void knew it. I also don’t think this would come as a surprise to him, given that chronologically the Eclipse happened beforehand and he had already witnessed what Guts was capable of. It also serves as a nice framing device for the reader: “Oh no, he’s finished… but wait, look at Void’s reaction - is he really?!”

Yes, I agree with you. I also think Void knew Guts wasn't finished and would make one last move, and the panel implies this. What I'm trying to say is that it seems strange to me that Void appears to care even a little about whether Guts is finished or not. He isn't someone who would find Guts's struggles entertaining, like the other God Hand members. Void is always focused on the bigger picture, and perhaps Guts is a part of this bigger picture.

Void’s reaction isn’t definitive - and that’s intentional. He likely knew that SK was going to appear (since it was a conjunction point), but he probably didn’t know to what extent or for what purpose.

Well, yes, Void doesn't explicitly say what's happening, but I think Slan's words and the paneling imply Void knows more. It's as if Slan was asking Void a question with her words, but Void didn't want to answer. Also, if Void only knew the Skull Knight was coming but not what he would do, wouldn't the other God Hand members have to know this in the same way? Maybe as the leader of the God Hand, he somehow has a more advanced foresight. I don't know.

He likely sees the parallels between SK’s former self and Guts, and therefore takes him more seriously than the rest of the God Hand

Why would a God Hand member take a mortal they don't care about seriously? If he truly saw Guts as an enemy, he could have killed him at any time.

But if we went down your rabbit hole - what plans would he even have for him?

I'd like to write about this more someday, but in short, what I have in mind is this: One of the main themes of the story is Guts breaking away from his monstrous state that only wants revenge and holding onto his human side—we already know this.

Maybe Void is planning to use Guts's vengeful side (Berserk, Beast of Darkness, Black Swordsman, whatever) as part of the grand plan. Perhaps the grand plan requires a puppet who will use the Berserk armor, and he is trying to turn Guts into exactly this puppet. A human who fights without thinking, who has fully unleashed the beast within.

Of course, in the finale, what Void has planned will not come to pass. One of the most incredible aspects of the Berserk universe is that despite this whole Causality issue, everyone has a degree of free will in their situation (like the Count). Guts, despite all his hatred, his Beast of Darkness persona, and the Berserk armor, will protect his human side somehow, and the centuries-old plan will end with Guts winning his internal struggle and doing the right thing.

My theory about the finale is more or less like this; maybe I'll write it in more detail someday. If you see any flaws, please let me know.

 

[Aazealh]

I think there is a parallel between these two events.

The parallel being that Void is a more composed, thoughtful character than Slan? Sure.

I know what I'm saying doesn't have much of a basis because Void is already a very silent character

Void presides over the God Hand's ceremonies so I wouldn't describe him as silent. Some of the series' most memorable lines are from him.

Unlike the other God Hand members, he doesn't seem to care about anything other than the task he performs.

We know very little about any of the members of the God Hand, save Femto, and even that is relative since we are not privy to his thoughts.

In 'Guardians of Desire,' the comments made by Ubik, Conrad, or Slan seem normal for their characteristics, but the panel featuring Void gave me the impression that he was thinking something about Guts.

The simplest explanation is that he was thinking Guts wasn't quite done yet, as TheItCrow said. This is basic scene composition: you have one or more onlooker say "it's over!!" and another one disagree to make the events more dramatic.

And as an aside, Void being extra knowledgeable also seems quite normal for his "characteristics", namely having a gigantic brain.

What I'm trying to say is that it seems strange to me that Void appears to care even a little about whether Guts is finished or not.

Well... Him not saying anything, not moving nor having any expression doesn't imply that he cares.

He isn't someone who would find Guts's struggles entertaining, like the other God Hand members. Void is always focused on the bigger picture, and perhaps Guts is a part of this bigger picture.

We don't know what Void cares about or not. Beware of projecting too much of your own interpretations onto a character that has been left mysterious on purpose.

Maybe Void is planning to use Guts's vengeful side (Berserk, Beast of Darkness, Black Swordsman, whatever) as part of the grand plan. Perhaps the grand plan requires a puppet who will use the Berserk armor, and he is trying to turn Guts into exactly this puppet. A human who fights without thinking, who has fully unleashed the beast within.

Given the scale of the God Hand's plans, I find that hard to imagine. What purpose would it serve?

 

[TheItCrow]

I agree with everything Aaz says, just to finish my thoughts with you:

Why would a God Hand member take a mortal they don't care about seriously?

My point was rather that Void seems to take everything more seriously - presumably because he’s the one who set everything in motion to begin with. "Serious" might even be the wrong word; he’s simply a very different kind of character.

Well, yes, Void doesn't explicitly say what's happening, but I think Slan's words and the paneling imply Void knows more. It's as if Slan was asking Void a question with her words, but Void didn't want to answer. Also, if Void only knew the Skull Knight was coming but not what he would do, wouldn't the other God Hand members have to know this in the same way? Maybe as the leader of the God Hand, he somehow has a more advanced foresight. I don't know.

Yes, hence why I said it’s left mysterious on purpose. Did he not want to answer? Maybe he couldn’t because he was just as surprised? That’s for the readers to decide! And even if he did know, I don’t think the other members of the God Hand would necessarily have known. The way Slan asks implies that to me. It’s not like they check in with each other every day. They all understand the grand design and their individual roles, but beyond that, they essentially act as they please - and Void doesn’t exactly strike me as the talkative type.

Anyway, the whole point of my answer was to give you specific purposes behind each of the panels so you wouldn’t feel the need to over-interpret them just to find meaning, as the meaning is already there.