Great Purpose

Hearing that Gardar has escaped, Einar hurries to Sverkel's place hoping to aid Arnheid, only to find Snake already lying in wait there. Arnheid admits she was the one who cut Gardar loose, fearing the guards would kill them both, and that he then slew the men who appeared. Thorfinn, noticing they are watched, has Einar kneel and help with the dishes as cover. Arnheid explains that a wounded Gardar fled with her to Sverkel's house, lost consciousness as she treated him, and was hidden with the old man's help before Snake arrived expecting the fugitive to surface. Though she is pregnant, she confesses she was chasing a dream of a family, and both Einar and Thorfinn agree to help the couple escape.

As Arnheid prepares food under watch as bait, Sverkel urges Snake to abandon his sword, offering his land and a farmer's life as a way out of whatever pursues him, but Snake flatly refuses field work and insists he cannot rest until Gardar is dead for killing five of his men. When Spider spots a figure behind a tree, Snake gives chase, unaware it is Einar in disguise drawing them off. Thorfinn borrows Sverkel's horse and cart, and the old man insists on riding along so their movement draws no suspicion, then reveals Gardar barely clinging to life beneath his bed. Snake grows suspicious of the fugitive's speed for a wounded man, leaves Badger and Spider on the trail, and doubles back. As Thorfinn loads Gardar and plans to split off later to distract the pursuers, Snake appears on foot, having dismounted to approach silently. He warns Thorfinn to surrender Gardar or die. A vision of Askeladd tells Thorfinn he must raise his fists to save someone and asks which path leads to becoming a true warrior. Thorfinn attacks, trades dodged blows with Snake, and settles into his old twin-dagger stance, which Snake recognizes at once.

Arnheid reveals she personally freed Gardar, and Einar and Thorfinn resolve to help the couple flee the farm. Sverkel offers Snake his land and a peaceful life in a bid to turn him from killing, but Snake refuses. Einar acts as a decoy to lure Snake's men away while Thorfinn loads the dying Gardar onto Sverkel's cart. Confronted by Snake and prompted by a vision of Askeladd, Thorfinn breaks from his pacifism and takes up his fighting stance to defend the escape.

Airing April 25, 2023, this is the fortieth episode overall and the sixteenth of the second season under MAPPA. It adapts the close of chapter 83 together with chapters 84 and 85. Tadahito Matsubayashi directed, with storyboards by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The title reflects the moral weight of the moment, as Thorfinn must decide whether protecting others can justify returning to violence.