Suzerain of the Religious Domain

Guts brings the Dragon Slayer down on its flat, a single motion that shields him from the falling stone, blocks Serpico's thrust, and cracks against Serpico's skull all at once, dropping him hard and opening a heavily bleeding wound. Schierke hurries over and is relieved to find him alive and lucid. When Serpico asks whether Guts meant to defend and strike together, Guts confesses it was pure improvisation. Serpico then turns to the tearful witch, who has seen through their link what he dreads Guts might do to Farnese in a berserk state, and she swears she will never let it happen.

Asked what he intends once he reaches Farnese, Guts admits he has no plan and is trusting to chance. As he moves off, Isidro presses whether the two truly fought at full strength, and Guts' plain yes leaves the boy unsettled; Guts answers that going all out is simply a swordsman's way of life.

Serpico stops Isidro to name the courtesies Guts left unspoken: the two reached a silent understanding in which Guts agreed to fight where Serpico held the advantage, never drew his cannon, repeater crossbow, or throwing knives, and above all withheld the full power of the Berserker Armor. Guts again urges the party onward, warning that the beast already inside the hall means worse is coming. Reminded by Schierke of the harashada he killed on the beach and Sonia's plea to leave the city, Guts reasons that if the Kushan control the creature, it will strike at the ball's most important guests, Farnese among them. Serpico offers to lead him to the ballroom and receives the sylph cloak and sword, which drift into his arms as the sylphs take a liking to him.

Federico enters the ballroom and draws every eye, the guests murmuring that as the Holy See's sole benefactor he ranks among the most powerful men in its domain. From a dais he thanks the assembled lords for attending on the very eve of their march against the Kushan and closes with a toast to victory.

Seizing the moment, Magnifico calls the crowd's attention to announce that the two people behind him are engaged, only to turn and find Roderick standing alone, Farnese having vanished to search the guests for Serpico. As Magnifico scrambles to save face, neither he nor anyone present notices the demonic creature stalking just beyond the banquet hall windows. The twenty page chapter ran in Young Animal issue 12 on 10 June 2005 within the Millennium Falcon Arc.