HUH

Dark Cacao could have this little moments when he feels helpless against Mystic Flour’s sickness and thus feel himself stumble while carrying the weight of being a pillar of strength to his kingdom.

But being as closed off as he is (something that made me be okay with DC not telling PV and HB about his berserk form during the odyssey) he would try to push the curse down or let it leak through the cracks of his stoicism in the privacy of his room or any other place where he is alone.

(Very happy with this one :D)

I personally don’t make every “mid way” stage be all the same. Sometimes it spreads down his face till the top half is outlined and glowing white like the previous drawing, other times it will simply be his hair floating slightly and becoming kinda translucent near the ends, feeling cold to the touch, and other times it will start from his fingers and wrists, emanating some smoke from them like when he is fully transformed.

Obviously it wouldn’t be a secret, the denizens (or at least those he is closest to or where there to witness the event) are aware of his berserk form but no one has been able to catch the monarch in one of his episodes, so unfortunately no one can really help as DC would not want anyone else to be burdened with what he would view as one of his most significant failure as the holder of the light of resolution.

Another thing I personally made in my version is that DC in his berserk form can’t emote with his face, not even blink. Making the only way to know what he is feeling being his body language…

Or tears in some cases…

If I were to tackled the whole chapter of his kingdom, I would have definitely made a moment like this.

DC is not himself and I would have made it that his way of thinking is simplified akin to an animal. Having thoughts as “family hurt” “protect” “enemy” “attack, don’t flee” and so on, but he would not realize that he is attacking those he believes are the attackers. Eventually leading to a moment of clarity and having the tears run down. Something he would have never let himself show if he had been normal, believing he does not deserve comfort.

Another thing I made in my version of berserk DC is that despite being a phantom, his face is solid and a bit liquid like.

I remember fighting the boss level and noticing how berserk doesn’t have a mouth unless he does that screech which has a description about intimidating and weakening the opponent’s will to keep fighting.

Which made me have it that the first time DC went into this form and battled the others, he tried to screech or howl, whichever, to get them to stop but also to let out the pain he is feeling (both physically and emotionally) making him pause mid fight to touch his face only for the black sludge to come out instead, so what is DC’s next course of action?

That is for a future post •w•)

Lastly for this ramble that became longer than I planned, I have it that when DC fully turns into berserk (all post the chapter where it was first introduced) he is more calm? At least not prone to go on a rampage at the drop of a hat. Usually wandering around looking for his children.

Once he finds at least one of them, Crunchy Chip and Caramel Arrow (yes in my version those two are also DC’s adopted kids alongside Dark Choco) he will simply be there, kinda like a sentinel.

Both Crunchy Chip and Caramel Arrow will spend time with him until he calms down enough to turn back.

Naturally DC wouldn’t tell them what exactly caused him to turn again, but perhaps he will eventually let them help before turning.