The Holy Iron Chain Knights finally encircle Guts, whom they know as the Falcon of Darkness, on orders from the Holy See to answer for a village massacre he never committed. Their noble-born ranks prove no match for his prosthetic strikes and a single sweeping blow that fells five men, prompting Azan to enter the fray.
Summary
Guts hears the knights close in and finds himself ringed by them, with Farnese boasting that she has him at last. To the Holy Iron Chain Knights he is the Falcon of Darkness, and they marvel that any man could handle a blade the size of the Dragon Slayer. Farnese declares that the Holy See sent them to seize him and demands he surrender his weapons or be taken by force. Baffled about what crime he has committed, Guts listens as she points to the blood on him and names it the blood of the children he supposedly butchered in Jill's village, then orders his capture.
Wary of the great sword, the knights close in far more cautiously than the fighters Guts usually meets. When one rushes him from behind, Guts blocks, yet the effort shoves him backward, for he lacks the strength to swing the enormous blade properly despite it dwarfing the soldier's weapon. Emboldened by the sight, the whole company attacks together, but Guts still dodges nimbly and kills a man with each strike of his prosthetic hand rather than the sword.
As Farnese shrieks that he must be taken alive, Serpico calmly notes that these are not seasoned warriors but the sons of nobles kept from real combat, an order that grants prestige without danger. When Azan asks why he himself joined, Serpico admits he simply dislikes the sight of blood. Cornered against a tree by five men, Guts summons everything he has and fells all five with one tremendous swing, a feat that stuns the onlookers and moves Azan to step into the battle.
Key Events
The Holy Iron Chain Knights surround Guts as the Falcon of Darkness and demand his surrender on the Holy See's orders. Guts fights back with his prosthetic hand, killing a soldier per blow. Serpico reveals the knights are pampered noble sons, and Guts fells five men in a single swing, prompting Azan to join the fight.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Holy Iron Chain Knights?
The Holy Iron Chain Knights are a Holy See order that surrounds Guts in this chapter, led by commander Farnese and made up largely of pampered noble sons who, according to Serpico, are usually kept away from real combat.
Why are the Holy Iron Chain Knights after Guts?
The knights are sent by the Holy See to capture the man they know as the Falcon of Darkness, believing the blood on him proves he massacred the children of Jill's village.
What happened to Azan in Berserk?
In this chapter, Azan watches Guts fell five knights with one sweeping blow of the Dragon Slayer, a feat so stunning it prompts Azan himself to step into the fight.
How does Guts fight off the Holy Iron Chain Knights?
Guts dodges nimbly since he lacks the strength to properly swing the huge Dragon Slayer, instead killing a soldier with nearly every blow of his prosthetic hand as the knights close in.
What does Serpico reveal about the Holy Iron Chain Knights' ranks?
Serpico notes that the knights are not seasoned warriors but the sons of nobles assigned to a prestigious, low-risk duty, and he admits he joined simply because he dislikes the sight of blood.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Holy Iron Chain Knights (1)? The Berserk Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Berserk anime series, manga, and official materials. Berserk was created by Kentaro Miura, published by Hakusensha, and animated by OLM. All rights to Berserk and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byKentaro Miura
- Published byHakusensha
- Animated byOLM
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to OLM and Hakusensha.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to the game's respective publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: volume covers, credited to Hakusensha and Kentaro Miura.
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