Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2

Muira, Kentaro. Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2. 2019. 704p. ISBN 9781506711997. 

In Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1, we were introduced to Guts and his quest to punish those who did him harm. In Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2, the story jumps back in time and tells of Gut growing up, how he ended up serving as a poor boy learning the skills of a soldier from Gambino, only to be sold to satisfy the needs of one of Gambino's soldiers. Having killed Gambino, Guts escaped and eventually ran into Griffon's Hawks, a famous mercenary outfit led by an overly ambitious and skilled soldier. Guts was subdued by Griffon in combat, and agreed to join the mercenary band. Casca, Griffon's second-in-command, was not pleased. 

Over the years, Guts and the Hawks fought in countless wars as mercenaries, defeating enemies on the battlefield. Guts got better, but he keeps on being used by those around him. As Griffin climbs the ladder of political power, Guts finds himself learning that he is but a pawn in a well thought-out game. Encountering Zod, a supernatural demon, Guts and Griffin were all but defeated when Zod noticed the behelit hanging around Griffin's neck and left the battle.

With power on the line, an attempt by the King's brother is made to assassinate Griffin, but its failure leads Griffin to instead unleash Guts on the general. Not everything goes according to plan, and Guts ends up slaughtering plenty of the members of the general's household during his escape. Meanwhile Casca is not thrilled by the direction Griffin seems to be heading ...