A girl is being assaulted in a bar as Guts walks in. He kills all the assailants but one and orders him to tell his master that the Black Swordsman is coming.

During a flashback, Corkus tries to rob Guts and Casca gets drawn into the battle, Guts defeats her but is seriously injured by Griffith. Griffith orders Casca to lie with Guts as he convalesces.

Griffith makes Guts a member of his mercenary band the Hawks after defeating him. Griffith selects Guts for the most important position when the Hawks go on a midnight raid, asking him to protect the rear.

Guts settles in with the Band of the Hawk, and Griffith shows him his Behelit. Guts remembers his childhood of being raised by his adoptive father and mentor Gambino.

Guts is now a commander in Griffith's army. He is taking risks in battle, and although he succeeds, Casca has a go at him for it.

Guts battles against Zodd the Immortal, a fearsome giant warrior. Despite the assistance of Griffith and a group of Hawks, they are unable to defeat him.