Void

Void is one of the five members of the God Hand, the immensely powerful demonic beings who govern apostles and influence the world of Berserk through the laws of causality. Alongside Slan, Ubik, Conrad, and Femto, he occupies a position among the highest authorities of the supernatural world. Among the God Hand, Void is distinguished by his philosophical temperament, ceremonial authority, and extraordinary understanding of causality. He presides over sacrificial ceremonies and is the member most prominently associated with the Invocation of Doom, which brands those offered as sacrifices. Void is also the only known member of the present God Hand to have appeared alongside an entirely different group of four demonic beings approximately a millennium earlier. This establishes him as an exceptionally ancient figure whose history is closely connected to the Skull Knight. Although Void frequently assumes a leadership role, the precise hierarchy of the God Hand has not been established. Fandom +1 Appearance Void possesses one of the most grotesque appearances among the God Hand. His defining feature is his enormous, exposed brain, which protrudes from his elongated skull. His eyes appear sewn shut, while his skeletal face is distinguished by a permanent, tooth-baring expression. His body is concealed beneath an elaborate black robe with a high, angular collar and unusual ornamental structures. His disproportionately long arms terminate in hands possessing six fingers each. His overall appearance resembles a combination of a skeletal priest, a mummified corpse, and an otherworldly philosopher. Unlike Femto, whose demonic form retains aspects of Griffith's human beauty, Void's transformation has rendered him almost completely inhuman. His design emphasizes intellect and supernatural authority rather than physical strength. Personality Void is calm, philosophical, calculating, and extraordinarily detached. He rarely displays recognizable human emotions, even when confronted with violence, suffering, or unexpected developments. His manner of speaking is formal and ceremonial, reflecting his preoccupation with destiny, causality, and humanity's position within the supernatural order. Unlike Slan, who openly revels in cruelty and suffering, Void approaches atrocities with an almost ritualistic indifference. He views the deaths of sacrificial victims as necessary elements of a predetermined process rather than personal tragedies. He is also notably polite. During the Eclipse, he addresses Griffith and the Band of the Falcon with a degree of courtesy that contrasts disturbingly with the massacre he is preparing to oversee. Void believes that human beings exist within a vast chain of cause and effect. Individual choices, ambitions, and suffering are all influenced by forces that extend far beyond ordinary human understanding. However, his apparent acceptance of causality does not make him entirely omniscient. The Skull Knight's intervention during the Eclipse demonstrates that even the God Hand can encounter developments they have not fully anticipated. Origins and History Void's human origins remain one of the central mysteries of Berserk. Like the other members of the God Hand, he was once human before undergoing a supernatural transformation. His original identity, occupation, personal relationships, and the circumstances of his sacrifice have not been definitively revealed. The manga establishes that approximately a millennium before the main story, Void appeared alongside four other demonic beings who were entirely different from the present members of the God Hand. This earlier incarnation of the group is witnessed in a memory associated with the Skull Knight and the Berserker Armor. Void's presence suggests that he has survived multiple generations of the God Hand, although the fate of his former companions remains unknown. The connection to King Gaiseric Void's mysterious past is widely theorized to be connected to the destruction of King Gaiseric's ancient empire. According to an old legend, a sage was imprisoned and tortured during Gaiseric's reign. The sage reportedly called upon divine powers to punish the king, after which the capital was destroyed by a supernatural catastrophe. A prominent theory identifies Void as this imprisoned sage and the Skull Knight as the former King Gaiseric. The parallels between Gaiseric's downfall, the ancient Eclipse, and the Skull Knight's hatred of Void make this interpretation significant. However, Void's identity as the sage, the nature of his possible sacrifice, and the precise circumstances surrounding Gaiseric's downfall have not been explicitly confirmed in the manga. Fandom +2 Role in the Story The Black Swordsman Arc Void appears alongside the other God Hand members when the dying Count activates his Beherit. The God Hand offer the Count another opportunity to escape death by sacrificing his daughter, Theresia. Void oversees the proceedings as the Count struggles with the decision. Despite having previously sacrificed his wife to become an apostle, the Count cannot bring himself to surrender his daughter. When the Count refuses, he is dragged into the Vortex of Souls. The encounter establishes Void's role in administering the supernatural laws governing sacrifice and demonic transformation. The Golden Age Arc and the Eclipse Void plays a central role in Griffith's transformation into Femto. During Griffith's imprisonment, the God Hand appear to him in a vision and foreshadow his approaching destiny. Following Griffith's escape and the activation of the Crimson Beherit, the Eclipse begins. Griffith and the Band of the Falcon are transported into an otherworldly realm where the God Hand await them. Void explains the significance of the ceremony and presents Griffith with the opportunity to sacrifice his comrades in exchange for fulfilling his ambition. Once Griffith accepts the sacrifice, Void performs the Invocation of Doom, marking the Band of the Falcon with the Brand of Sacrifice. The branded mercenaries are subsequently massacred by apostles, providing the sacrifice necessary for Griffith's rebirth as Femto. Void remains composed throughout the ceremony, treating the destruction of the Band of the Falcon as the fulfillment of an ordained event. When the Skull Knight unexpectedly enters the Eclipse, he immediately attacks Void. Void responds by manipulating space, redirecting the Skull Knight's sword strike through supernatural portals. The confrontation suggests a longstanding history between the two. The Skull Knight ultimately rescues Guts and Casca, allowing them to escape their intended deaths. The Conviction Arc During the Incarnation Ceremony at Albion, Void and the other senior God Hand members manifest through the enormous concentration of restless spirits and negative human emotions. They oversee the supernatural events that allow Femto to obtain a physical body in the form of Griffith. Void's participation emphasizes the God Hand's ability to exploit humanity's collective suffering and desire to influence the physical world. The Millennium Falcon and Fantasia Arcs Following Griffith's incarnation, the remaining God Hand members exist within different regions of the Astral World. When Griffith's confrontation with Emperor Ganishka produces the Great Wave of the Astral World, the boundaries separating the physical and astral worlds collapse. Void and the other God Hand members subsequently manifest within the transformed world of Fantasia. The full implications of their presence in this new world remain unresolved. Fandom +1 Powers and Abilities Void possesses extraordinary supernatural abilities that distinguish him from ordinary apostles and human beings. Spatial manipulation: Void can distort space and create interconnected portals. During the Eclipse, he uses this ability to redirect the Skull Knight's attack, demonstrating that he can manipulate the trajectory of an incoming weapon without physically intercepting it. Invocation of Doom: Void can place the Brand of Sacrifice upon designated victims. Those bearing the Brand become offerings to demonkind, attracting malevolent astral entities and condemning their souls to the supernatural consequences of the sacrifice. Causal awareness: Void possesses an extraordinary understanding of causality. He can perceive the flow of events and recognize patterns that ordinary humans cannot comprehend. Nevertheless, his perception is not absolute, and he cannot anticipate every possible occurrence. Astral existence: As a member of the God Hand, Void's true existence transcends the ordinary physical world. Conventional weapons and attacks cannot easily reach him in his supernatural state. Demonic authority: Void participates in the ceremonies through which humans become apostles or ascend into the God Hand. His authority is demonstrated by his ability to administer sacrificial rituals and communicate the supernatural conditions governing them. Supernatural longevity: Void has existed for approximately a millennium or longer, having appeared alongside an earlier generation of the God Hand. Despite these abilities, the full extent of Void's powers remains unknown. His apparent seniority does not establish that he is stronger than every other member of the God Hand. Relationships Skull Knight: Void's most significant known adversary. Their relationship predates the events of the main story and appears to be connected to the destruction of Gaiseric's ancient kingdom. The Skull Knight specifically targets Void during the Eclipse, suggesting a deeply personal history. The precise nature of their former relationship remains unknown. Femto (Griffith): Void presides over Griffith's ascension into the God Hand. He encourages Griffith to accept the sacrifice required to fulfill his ambition and personally brands the Band of the Falcon. Guts: Void regards Guts as a sacrificial victim during the Eclipse.