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Berserk 363 analysis (a thread)
The release starts off with the group making their return to the cherry blossom tree, which is the largest spirit tree in the world. We basically get a semi confirmation that the ceremony we saw in 362 was indeed an Eclipse, most likely that of Voids.
We then have a great moment in which Skull Knight visits the grave of his former lover who died in his arms, the cherry blossom "princess/priestess". Her being related to Dannan is obvious at this point, but does her title possibly suggest her being the daughter of her?
Based on her similarity to Dannan and her jewelry we were able to guess her heritage being of Skellig. My theory for now is that Sk met her during a campaign where he tried to raid the island. Morda talked about a Kingdom from the continent attacking the island in the past.
Schierke also notes the similar look and mentions how she was able to get a glimpse when she brought Guts back to reality in 362. She is unaware of the ceremony nor saw the God Hand though.
In addition, the symbol of the grave is the same as the protective Barriers we see outside of Elfhelm. It's possible that the same ones were used as a gesture of protecting the dead.
Afterwards, Skull knight gives a poetic line that basically translates into him only feeling a shadow of his former passions, which is the obvious result of living the way he has for the past 1000 years. This is also something Flora optimistically questioned at some point.
Beyond the shadow of his former emotions, he exists for a singular goal fueled by rage and what happened in the past. The goal being to eradicate the God Hand. This point is important, because it parallels the situation Guts partly is in already.
Schierke then asks about Floras connection to SK and we get a small bombshell of a revalation. Flora served the Priestess and was deeply connected to Gaiseric, but eventually exiled from the island for comitting a taboo. My guess?
I think the taboo she commited was attaching Gaiserics soul to the armor crafted by Hanarr. We lowkey got a hint through Volvaba, Mordas master who is an outsider on the island due to using dark arts. The connection here is that she also uses soul manipulation as magic!
We then get some pages involving Isidro getting revenge on the inhabitants of the island for what they did to him in 344 (lol...). Im not a fan of this part given the release, but i think Miura wanted to give the reader a small breather inbetween the rising intensity.
Only takeaway i have here is that we can see Isma befriend a hostile astral creature. This might tie later on into explaining how Humans survived during the ancient chaos where the worlds were already merged alongside the known usage of magic.
A common theme within this release is about whats next? The journey to Elfhelm is accomplished, Cascas mind was restored, but what comes after? This isn't only important for Guts, but also for Schierke who is conflicted about what happened with her master.
I think a different way through which we will solve this new piece of the puzzle was set up in 361 where we learned about the summoning of Daimons. We will potentially see Schierke summon Flora and talk with her about the past.
Speaking of Guts, there is a new interesting theme developing for his future. Rage is not something that can be eradicated, but it can be used in a motivational, or destructive way. Will the hellfire inside him burn him? Or will it help him to survive?
This is also where his parallels with Skull Knight continue to flourish. Sk was consumed by that hellfire after his lover died and he died inside the armor, Guts will face a similar fate if he isn't careful. The existence of Sk and his fascination with him serves as an omen.
Guts like always tries to play off his worries in a cool manner by swinging his sword and talking about the peaceful location that Elfhelm is, but like always, the idea of Griffith simply can't escape his mind...
Speaking of Griffith... Miura uses the moment to transition to the arrival of the Moonlight Boy who for the first time seeks out Guts instead of Casca. If you remember, at the end of 358 we saw Griffith transform into the boy and now he indirectly lands on Elfhelm through him.
The boy seeking out Guts instead of Casca almost makes me think that he does it, because he knows his presence could potentitally trigger Casca to remember the memory of Femto raping her. Ultimately the demon child was also the last memory fragment inside the corridor of dreams
But how would this benefit Griffith? Could it be that Causality indirectly guided him to Elfhelm for a purpose? Sk in 361 hinted at causality converging, and now Griffith is there. If there was only a way for him to call over his army in case of danger...
And there actually is. Griffiths army unlocked fast travel by travelling through the branches of the world spiral tree. The twist here is that only Griffith and Sonia can do it. There was foreshadowing of Griffith calling over Sonia, even if it was to the other side of the world.
In short, Shit is about to escalate very soon. Miura hinted at Guts and Griffiths first serious duel happening and the current set up of the storyline with the revalation of the Boy and Skull Knight serve in guiding Guts towards his final goal.
Will he leave the island to seek revenge? Will rage eat him up or be his main motivation? All of these big questions are about to be answered soon setting the stage for the final stretch of Berserk, and Elfhelm will be the place to showcase it.
There are many more complications that will arrive with Guts and Casca finding out about the connection of their child to their former comrade and enemy. Then there is also the question of how Sonia and the army will eventually pass through the barriers protecting the island.
My theory for now is that the army will be indirectly there alongside Femto to burn down the cherry blossom tree, similar to what happened at Floras mansion. One thing is for sure, Berserk reached a state of almost being unpredictable at this point and im all here for it!
