Casca went from mountain peasant to skilled warrior and an essential Band of the Falcon member.

Source: https://gamerant.com/berserk-strongest-band-of-the-falcon-members/

Guts meets and defeats a few Apostles, while simultaneously trying to take care of the honorable and disciplined Casca.

Source: https://www.cbr.com/berserk-every-anime-adaptation-chronological-order/

He lost the woman he loved, Casca, to a gruesome fate, as well as experienced betrayal and pain in his relationships.

Source: https://gamerant.com/anime-characters-hate-valentines-day/

However, cutting out the Skull Knight resulted in an infamous plot hole as it fails to explain how Guts and Casca escape Femto after the Eclipse.

Source: https://www.cbr.com/berserk-every-anime-adaptation-chronological-order/