18: Beast of Darkness Arm.

Far from the city where they had fought, wreaked havoc, and encountered the most powerful group of beings in the world, the four were on their way to their next destination. Along the way, they also rescued a young girl who had been kidnapped by a group of human scum and fought a monster tree that was there. 

The rain was pouring down as Guts single-handedly took care of the monster, using his huge sword and the energy he had now mastered with a bit more skill, he managed to barely take any significant damage, leaving a strong impression on the girl they had rescued.

"His sword... it's too big, heavy, it looks like a big hunk of metal, and the sound it makes when it hits those branches... but how can a human wield something like that?" the young girl whispered in shock, the image of Guts with a mad smile as he cut the branches from the body of that tree will forever accompany her in her dreams.

"That's because ever since he was a child, he pushed his body to the limit, training and fighting with swords much bigger than himself, and even now that habit of his hasn't gone away, but against the horrors out there in the world, a big weapon is always better," Samus said, coming to the girl's side and admiring Guts' feats, making the young girl pay attention to Samus.

She had to raise her head, as the blonde was obviously much taller than her, and although her clothes were strange, they looked quite high quality, which added to Samus' white skin and no trace of strain, as well as her blonde hair, the girl felt she was in front of the nobles she had heard about before, so she ducked her head, afraid that her look might upset this obvious noblewoman.

"Don't worry, we won't hurt you," Samus carried an umbrella to protect herself from the rain, although her umbrella wasn't normal, what she used to stop the water was an energy field and the stick she used was her alchemical staff, an interesting exercise in control she was doing. 

Ciri flashed up next to Samus, her face a little serious as Puck sat on the woman's shoulder, the sudden appearance of the two took the rescued girl by surprise, astonished to see a person and an unknown creature appear out of nowhere.

"You're right, we're approaching the territory of another supernatural being, probably another apostle," Ciri said, ignoring the normal girl in her presence, she felt no threat from her, so she paid no attention to her.

"I think this is the beginning of our friend's adventure, although everything has changed. But before Guts meets this creature, I'd like to help him," Samus replied, then waved her hand and created a small spark of fire that fell on a branch with a mouth that was trying to sneak up on her, reducing it to ashes. 

"Are you ready to go after this?" asked Ciri, making Puck's smile disappear.

"You can't go yet, we haven't had enough fun yet!" the little elf cried a little sadly, so Ciri took him in her hand while she waited for Samus to answer.

"We have to, Guts really doesn't need us, even though I'd like to help Caska, Guts has to have his own supernatural and epic adventure first, but I assure you it will be very different from what it was meant to be, besides, we didn't say we wouldn't come back.

You know, I'm glad I changed everything that was 'established', I don't know if you understand?

This way, at least I know that Caska won't suffer, nor will Guts, and because of our appearance, I doubt she'll be taken away again as originally planned, Guts will have a happy ending," Samus said, knowing that her words would reveal her knowledge of future events in this world, but that information was already outdated since they arrived here, besides, Puck was a being that could receive information from other worlds, so he would clearly understand what she was referring to. 

"Will I really see them again?" that was the only thing that really worried the little elf, he had grown very fond of Samus and Ciri, so he knew he would miss them very much.

"Yes, I'll even leave them a special amulet, it will allow them to communicate with us at any time, and if they need help they can ask for it, so we can help them in the shortest possible time," Samus looked at Guts, who had finished fighting and was leaning against a tree listening to them talk. 

"I guess the adventure will only have me and Puck for a while..." the swordsman said with some discomfort, he had gotten used to the presence of the two women, and well, it had been a long time since he had normal social interactions with any humans, Puck didn't count of course. 

"Don't worry, I'll help you with something you really need," Samus said, looking at Guts' mechanical arm, and Guts, noticing her gaze, felt uncomfortable but happy, even if he didn't say it, the fact that he had lost his arm, being a skilled swordsman, made him quite sad.

The rain stopped as the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, and although the rescued girl wanted to return home, she preferred to keep quiet, it was not a place she wanted to return to anytime soon. 

Besides, a rather interesting and strange world was opening up in front of her, even though the elf the grey-haired woman had was frightening her because of certain things that had happened in her village, but that didn't deter her. 

Samus and Ciri noticed this, but they didn't care, nor did Guts, who was excited about the idea of having a new arm, well, until Samus told him exactly what he had to do. 

"Unfortunately, your arm was lost in the event as part of a sacrifice, so normal methods won't be able to make it reappear, so we'll have to use abnormal methods," Samus' creepy smile made the swordsman shiver, not knowing whether to be happy or sad about falling into the hands of a self-proclaimed alchemist. 

After an hour, Guts was left alone with his pants on the floor, a matrix full of lines, symbols, and even some materials he didn't recognize, but also things like strands of his hair, a vial of his blood, and even his mechanical arm. 

"What I'm going to do is not just give you an arm, no, that would be too easy, don't you think? Let's harness that little mutt in your being and turn it into something useful," Samus' words sounded grim, the cultist-like red hooded trench coat the girl was wearing didn't help either. 

"Is all this paraphernalia really necessary?" asked Ciri, who watched with interest.

"Of course! Not only do I practice alchemy, but I also practice the strictest science... at least the science of my time." Samus' face was hidden from view, but Guts, Ciri, and Puck swore they could make out her smile.

"Now, let's get down to business," with these words, Samus waved her alchemical staff with both hands, channeling all of her stamina and mental energy into the surrounding energy, its influence refined by her gloves and amplified by her most prized tool.

With the movements of the staff, the previously invisible energy now took on the appearance of a silver mist that swirled counterclockwise around Guts, then submerged the matrix drawn on the ground. This required not only a great deal of energy, but also such finesse that any mistake would be fatal.

But Samus was in her prime, her short stay in this world had improved her abilities, and even her body and mind were a bit stronger. Moreover, she had recently performed a great alchemical deed that had shaken her home universe, so what she was doing now was minuscule in comparison. 

The girl who was rescued by them watched all this with longing, she wanted to be that capable, that skilled, she could not only defend herself from abuse, but also protect herself from the monsters that plagued her village, those monsters that disappeared children.

As the Matrix was energized, it lit up, sending Guts into a trance, and in his completely altered vision of reality, he saw a giant dog with a red eye looking at him with obvious disdain. 

"I suppose since I came from you, I should help you... but remember, no matter what I become, I will always be me, the representation of who you truly are. Never forget that," the dog said in a raspy voice full of mockery, the malice was palpable in his words, but they were true.

This creature was generated in him, it represented him perfectly, even if he didn't want it to, but meditation had made him examine himself long ago, he knew he had a damn dark side, but why not use it? As long as he could help him, as long as he could protect his own. Maybe this dog wouldn't become a scourge, but a guardian.

The silver mist entered Guts, catalyzed by the matrix beneath it, and flowed through his body, repairing the dark wounds of his body, and even the mark on his neck seemed blurred, though it was there, but it no longer felt so terrible. 

Nature was preparing him for what was to come. The alchemical matrix glowed brightly, and then pain washed over him. The objects Samus had carefully placed became silver particles of light that floated toward Guts' missing arm, the left one.

From there, invisible waves went out into the world, every being sensitive to the astral world, the OD, and especially causality, looking in a certain direction. It did not matter if they were supernatural beings, demons, divine beings, magicians, everyone was looking. 

Something else had irrevocably changed, altering even more what was established in this world, but also welcoming an existence that should not even appear. If Femto, in his Griffith incarnation, was now the Hawk of Light, Guts had become the opposite, a dog, a former hawk...

A beast of darkness.

When the Matrix stopped glowing, Samus removed the hood that covered her face, revealing her obvious exhaustion, but also her happiness. Every alchemical task, every transmutation, every analysis, every research was a small improvement for her. A depletion of her physical and mental stamina, but when she recovered, she would receive one more pisca than before. 

This was one of the five most difficult things she had ever done, but she could feel that when she fully recovered, she would be a little stronger. In addition, the knowledge of biological enhancement, dealing with spiritual entities, and most importantly, harmonizing various elements would be beneficial for the future.

"If I could further improve my speed, I would be an alchemist, but I would be no different from those mages. I should start studying hand signs or mudras, they would be useful to me," Samus said as she admired her handiwork, which was worthy of pride. 

Guts was still sitting, strands of his hair were white now, but not from stress or side effects, but from something deeper. And as they say out there, you'll only get stronger if you go bald or have white hair, Guts went the second way. 

He was a swordsman, he knew his body, keeping his balance came naturally to him, but now it felt strange, no, it felt like before. He looked down at his left arm and saw the one he had lost, the one he had thrown away that fateful day. 

Although it was different because it was completely black and had red lines that resembled lightning, but this was his arm, he felt the blood under his skin, his muscles flexing at its command. 

When he stood up, he almost stumbled, he had maintained a different posture and walk for a while due to the lack of his arm as well as the use of a prosthetic, but he quickly adapted. With the clenching of his fist, everyone could hear a low growl, like that of an angry dog, something that brought a broad smile to Guts' face.

"I guess this arm has some surprises," the swordsman channeled the OD into that limb, illuminating the red lines on his arm and extending his hand toward a group of trees, he let out what he was holding back.

The roar of a ferocious creature was heard as the Beast of Darkness emerged from his outstretched palm, taking physical form in this world, but without taking Guts' arm. Now, under his control, this creature was an integral part of him, not just a malevolent manifestation of his true self. 

"I like it," Guts and the Beast said at the same time, proving their connection. 

"Yeah... well, it looks like I went a little overboard, but hey, that means I have to get even better," Samus defended as she felt Ciri's curious gaze on her back.

Protagonists always change everything for the better, even if they are protagonists in a dark world like this one. That was something else Samus learned today.