Berserk is a dark fantasy manga written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, which began in 1989. The story follows the brutal and tragic journey of Guts, a lone warrior with prodigious strength, in a ruthless medieval world marked by war, dark magic, and demonic creatures.

Guts, scarred by a traumatic past, was once a member of the Falcon Troop, a mercenary group led by the charismatic Griffith, a leader in search of absolute power. Their relationship, based on admiration and rivalry, takes a tragic turn when Griffith sacrifices his companions to achieve his dream of becoming a god, during the cataclysmic event known as the Eclipse. Guts, witnessing this betrayal and marked by a cursed seal, is destined to be hunted by demons for the rest of his life.