Episode 159 (Manga)

Template:Manga Episode Infobox The Threatened (脅えし者 , Obieshimono^?) is the 159th numbered episode of the Berserk manga series, written and illustrated by Kentarou Miura.

Summary

The Egg-Shaped Apostle continues its story. After being given its new powers, it climbed out of its hole and began to observe the people of Albion, whose numbers were rapidly growing thanks to the incoming refugees. He watched as they died just as quickly as they arrived, killed by starvation and sickness, problems that they attempted to escape by fleeing to Albion only for them to be exacerbated; and the establishment of the Holy See, which keeps up the facade that the refugees' situations are improving. It had also seen some refugees succumb to heresy in the cave, and watched them be burned after they were caught. It did not like what it saw.

It then says that one girl in particular caught its attention. This girl clung to another for the emotional support she desperately needed, but by clinging to this person, the girl only pushed herself deeper into her own problems.

As she listens, Luca realizes that the girl is Nina, and the person she clung to was Luca herself. The Egg-Shaped Apostle says that like Nina clings to Luca, all humans cling to the one thing which both placates them and makes them see the evil in the world.

Guts brings the Dragon Slayer down with enough force to partially cut through Mozgus' muscle-bound baby-faced disciple's wooden wheel, cutting its shoulder in the process. The pliers-wielding disciple strikes next, using its eponymous weapons to wildly try to poke at Guts' face. Guts blocks with the blade of the Dragon Slayer before flipping its hilt upwards, striking the disciple and making it spin in mid-air. Before Guts can deliver the final blow, however, the disciple with the misshapen skull throws its claw, which closes around the blade of the Dragon Slayer. Now defenseless, Guts can neither block or dodge the big wooden wheel disciple, which rams Guts with its weapon.

Guts begins his counterattack.

Guts recovers from the hit and swipes at the disciple's legs, one of which is severed. Just as quickly, he sends a throwing knife into the air and into the eye of the pliers disciple.

The fight comes to a natural pause. Guts stands up, ready to face more opponents; Mozgus and his remaining disciples are backed against a wall, holding Casca hostage; Jerome, Isidro and Farnese watch anxiously, but Nina breaks down, crying for Luca.