Having let out his first cry under his mother's corpse, Guts is taken in and raised harshly by Gambino, the leader of a mercenary troupe. Beyond the daily suffering, he becomes the warrior known to all. To defy Gambino's wickedness, Guts develops his swordsmanship and participates admirably in his first siege as a mercenary. But Gambino continues to treat him harshly. At night, Donovan, one of Gambino's comrades-in-arms, attacks Guts!