#chapter 367

Something I noticed while looking for panels for an ask that I have queued up for the next day or two: this is the moment Guts' breakdown over his sword starts. When he does manage to hit Griffith as he's shielding Casca, but it doesn't work, his sword is stopped, and now he feels helpless and lost. Initally when I first read the chapter I assumed the 'what' was about Griffith protecting Casca again, but in full context of Guts' subsequent breakdown over his sword failing him and Griffith still being untouchable, it seems much more clearly a reaction to his failure to touch Griffith here.

And the funny thing is if Griffith hadn't magically stopped his sword here, Guts would've cut Casca in two along with Griffith. Based on that panel of his quivering hands, he might still be trying to, if they're quivering with effort rather than shock.

And I find it interesting that Guts' breakdown over not being able to hit Griffith with his sword even happens considering this moment exists. Not only is Casca's kidnapping not a factor we see him consider, Guts nearly killing her along with Griffith isn't a factor either. If he had successfully killed Griffith here, Casca would've died with him, and Guts is having a breakdown over failing to do that. He's not relieved that Griffith's power saved Casca's life from him here, he's not torn over his own capacity for destruction, he's in despair that his sword was stopped.

It's also a neat parallel to the Lost Children arc, the moment when Jill shields Rosine. The protector/protected roles are reversed, but either way Guts had the opportunity to kill one opponent and one innocent, and in both instances he tries to do it only to be stopped by an unforseen circumstance (Griff's invulnerability, a crossbow bolt from Jill's dad and Farnese's knights finding him).

That Guts in a rage aesthetic, sword held high, one glowing eye in a dark demonic silhouette, lots of visual similarities here.

Maybe Casca's endangerment is a coincidental detail we're not meant to examine too closely, it's hard to say with the new team stlil finding their feet. But yk, it does fit Casca's magic dream therapy sequence, where the Guts in her subconscious mind nearly kills her while fighting Griffith, and of course it fits Guts' whole blacking-everything-else-out-in-a-rage beast of darkness thing. It's a solid illustration of Guts' black-out rage, a theme so significant that it's what the story is named after.

I love them so much. I cannot believe these two are not gonna end up together, there’s too much chemistry. Now that I think about it, this might be the trigger point. Bakugou as never seen/heard Deku go feral for him. Wether it was when he was kidnapped or when Neito trash talked about him. Now afo/shigaraki told him he was Izu’s weak point. What if we wakes up with Deku so f*cking mad at afo/shigaraki. If it wasn’t for what he was told before "dying", he might’ve thought Deku had enough of their bs. But I wonder what he’ll think with that newly earned information.

“No, I was outside the door the entire time,” St. James said into the phone, carefully looking around to ensure he wasn’t being overheard.

“Prince Stephen is beside himself,” he continued. “They had a terrible argument, and Princess Jessica had to intervene on her stepson’s behalf.”

“Typical of Stephen to be so hard on his son, “ Caroline said. “But is it truly that serious?”

“Absolutely,” St. James replied. “The press is having a field day vilifying Crown Prince Michael, and even those most staunchly supportive of the monarchy are saying that Michael isn’t fit to rule.”

“And how is the young man handling the pressure?”

“He’s near his breaking point, I think,” St. James said. “Lady Helena is the only person holding him together, and honestly I don’t know that even her considerable charms will be sufficient to do so for long.”

“Do your best to ingratiate yourself with Crown Prince Michael, and drive a wedge between Stephen and his son,” Caroline replied. “If we can drive Michael over the edge, there won’t be much hope for the dynasty.”

“My thoughts exactly,” St. James said. “In one swift stroke, we can destroy Stephen and see Weston rid itself of the Marchand dynasty forever!”

“All in good time, St. James,” Caroline said. “Have you learned anything more about the prince’s health issues?”

“No, Bixby is being especially tight-lipped on the subject,” St. James said. “All he’ll say is that the prince has been tired lately, or that he’s having medical tests done – nothing specific.”

“Very well,” Caroline replied. “Keep trying to learn more – if Stephen is truly ill, fate may do our job for us. I’ll be monitoring the situation from here, but I expect you to call me regularly with updates.”

“It will,” St. James said. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll destroy this wretched family once and for all.”

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