Full Moon (2)

The flame-creature presses its hand to Guts' chest, telling him not to lose sight of his friends. Guts wrestles inwardly against the od of the Berserker Armor, gaining and losing ground as the helmet recedes and clamps back down. Watching from the physical world, Guts' companions learn of his plight from Schierke, who judges the moment right to act. She springs onto his back, speaks a spell, and forces the helmet to withdraw, returning Guts to his senses.

With the danger past, Serpico and Roderick realize Guts has cleared nearly every slug and tentacle, and the Captain Sharkrider has slipped away. Attention turns to Casca, and everyone is startled to find the black-haired boy from the beach standing there again. Only Schierke notes that both of his appearances have fallen on full-moon nights, when magical energy peaks. As before, Guts suspects the boy and the flame-creature are one and the same. Isma, hunting rubble for a shirt to clothe the naked child, mentions he is not an islander.

Isidro asks Roderick whether Isma, alone on the island, might sail with them aboard the Seahorse. Roderick agrees, and after a stunned pause Isma accepts, thrilled at the prospect of adventure. As Roderick moves to make quick repairs so they can flee, Guts stops him, insisting the tentacles' nest be wiped out first to spare the ship future attacks. Isma reveals the nest lies within the Sea God's cave, and Schierke calls everyone back to the Seahorse to prepare. On deck, she and Farnese plan to summon the Four Kings to shield the vessel from Astral creatures. Anxious about her scant training, Farnese steadies herself under Schierke's reassurance, and both girls send their luminous bodies into the Astral world.

Schierke's spell frees Guts from the Beast of Darkness, ending the battle. The Moonlight Boy reappears, and Schierke connects his visits to full-moon nights. Isma is invited to join the crew and accepts. Guts resolves to destroy the tentacles' nest in the Sea God's cave, and Schierke and Farnese prepare to summon the Four Kings to protect the Seahorse.

The second Full Moon chapter of the Fantasia Arc, this twenty-four-page installment appeared in Young Animal issue 22 on November 12, 2010. It establishes the full moon as the trigger for the Moonlight Boy's appearances and sets up the assault on the Sea God's lair.