TV-Series
Description
Grunbeld Arcbeast, also known as the Great Flame Dragon, is an apostle who serves as a high-ranking officer in the reborn Band of the Falcon under Griffith. He leads the band's contingent of giants and is one of the most formidable warriors among their ranks, standing alongside figures like Zodd the Immortal. Before becoming an apostle, Grunbeld was a famous human warrior during the Hundred-Year War, known for defending his homeland against the Tudor Empire for over a decade with only three thousand soldiers. His full surname, Arcbeast, reflects his origins from the declining aristocratic Ahlqvist clan of the northern Grand Duchy of Grant.
Grunbeld is a massive figure, even in his human form, with red hair, reptilian eyes, and a bestial countenance. He is never seen without his elaborate silver dragon-shaped armor, and he wields a massive greathammer in battle. His left arm carries a large, monstrous-faced shield that is durable enough to repel cannonballs and conceals hidden blades, and is also capable of firing projectiles like a cannon.
In terms of personality, Grunbeld is highly unusual for an apostle. He is a serious and prideful warrior who dislikes jokes and foolishness, and he speaks more like an old, honorable soldier than a sadistic demon. He possesses a personal code of ethics, believing in fair combat. This is most notably demonstrated during the attack on the spirit tree mansion of the witch Flora. Grunbeld openly questions the mission, telling his adversary Guts that he does not believe it is honorable to use a large force to attack an isolated old woman. However, this sense of honor has limits. When he realizes the true threat posed by Guts, Grunbeld abandons his pretensions of a fair duel, resorts to cunning tactics, and transforms into his apostle form to gain the upper hand, leading Guts to accuse him and other monsters of hypocritically pretending to a code they do not possess.
The motivations and tragic background of Grunbeld are explored in greater depth. As a child in Grant, he was raised by his mother who instilled in him that a warrior's only path to the afterlife was to die bravely in battle. After his mother was raped and murdered during a Tudor invasion, he was captured and endured years of brutal conversion training. During this time, he formed deep bonds with two friends, Edvard and Sigur. Grunbeld became a celebrated knight, but political intrigue and jealousy from Edvard's father, the Grand Duke, led to a catastrophic betrayal. Cornered in battle, forced to protect the wounded blind priestess Benedikte, who was his closest confidante, Grunbeld faced death. In his final moments, his Beherit activated. The God Hand appeared and offered him the power to continue his battle, but at the cost of sacrificing those most precious to him. Grunbeld, seeing his own death and the suffering of his friends imminent, accepted the offer, sacrificed Sigur and Benedikte, and was reborn as the Dragon Apostle, devouring his treacherous friend Edvard in the process.
Grunbeld's role in the main story is primarily as a powerful antagonist and a key enforcer for Griffith. He is part of the inner circle of the new Band of the Falcon, serving as the "double wing" of Griffith alongside the knight Locus. One of his most significant confrontations is his battle with Guts at Flora's mansion. Though he initially overpowers a weakened Guts, he is forced to reveal his true form when Guts equips the Berserker Armor. In his apostle form, Grunbeld transforms into a wingless, four-legged dragon whose entire body is encased in incredibly durable corundum, a crystalline substance stronger than steel. In this state, he can also breathe fire. The battle ends in a stalemate, with Guts cracking Grunbeld's corundum face at the cost of breaking his own arm, establishing a deep enmity between them. He later fights against the Kushan emperor Ganishka's monstrous forces during the siege of Vritannis, demonstrating his loyalty to Griffith's cause by fighting alongside human soldiers against a common foe.
Grunbeld's key relationships define his character. He is utterly loyal to Griffith, whom he serves without question as his master. His primary rivalry is with Guts, whom he respects as a worthy warrior but is determined to destroy as an apostle of the Hawk. Among his peers, he has a noted respect for Zodd, even expressing a desire to cross swords with him. Within the Band of the Falcon, he shows a protective, paternal concern for the young prophet Sonia, who is unfazed by his fearsome appearance. A significant part of his development occurs before the main story, showing his transformation from a noble human hero into an apostle. While he retains remnants of his warrior's pride, his decision to sacrifice his loved ones for power demonstrates the fundamental selfishness at the core of every apostle, solidifying his status as a tragic monster who clings to the form, but not the substance, of an honorable knight.
Grunbeld is a massive figure, even in his human form, with red hair, reptilian eyes, and a bestial countenance. He is never seen without his elaborate silver dragon-shaped armor, and he wields a massive greathammer in battle. His left arm carries a large, monstrous-faced shield that is durable enough to repel cannonballs and conceals hidden blades, and is also capable of firing projectiles like a cannon.
In terms of personality, Grunbeld is highly unusual for an apostle. He is a serious and prideful warrior who dislikes jokes and foolishness, and he speaks more like an old, honorable soldier than a sadistic demon. He possesses a personal code of ethics, believing in fair combat. This is most notably demonstrated during the attack on the spirit tree mansion of the witch Flora. Grunbeld openly questions the mission, telling his adversary Guts that he does not believe it is honorable to use a large force to attack an isolated old woman. However, this sense of honor has limits. When he realizes the true threat posed by Guts, Grunbeld abandons his pretensions of a fair duel, resorts to cunning tactics, and transforms into his apostle form to gain the upper hand, leading Guts to accuse him and other monsters of hypocritically pretending to a code they do not possess.
The motivations and tragic background of Grunbeld are explored in greater depth. As a child in Grant, he was raised by his mother who instilled in him that a warrior's only path to the afterlife was to die bravely in battle. After his mother was raped and murdered during a Tudor invasion, he was captured and endured years of brutal conversion training. During this time, he formed deep bonds with two friends, Edvard and Sigur. Grunbeld became a celebrated knight, but political intrigue and jealousy from Edvard's father, the Grand Duke, led to a catastrophic betrayal. Cornered in battle, forced to protect the wounded blind priestess Benedikte, who was his closest confidante, Grunbeld faced death. In his final moments, his Beherit activated. The God Hand appeared and offered him the power to continue his battle, but at the cost of sacrificing those most precious to him. Grunbeld, seeing his own death and the suffering of his friends imminent, accepted the offer, sacrificed Sigur and Benedikte, and was reborn as the Dragon Apostle, devouring his treacherous friend Edvard in the process.
Grunbeld's role in the main story is primarily as a powerful antagonist and a key enforcer for Griffith. He is part of the inner circle of the new Band of the Falcon, serving as the "double wing" of Griffith alongside the knight Locus. One of his most significant confrontations is his battle with Guts at Flora's mansion. Though he initially overpowers a weakened Guts, he is forced to reveal his true form when Guts equips the Berserker Armor. In his apostle form, Grunbeld transforms into a wingless, four-legged dragon whose entire body is encased in incredibly durable corundum, a crystalline substance stronger than steel. In this state, he can also breathe fire. The battle ends in a stalemate, with Guts cracking Grunbeld's corundum face at the cost of breaking his own arm, establishing a deep enmity between them. He later fights against the Kushan emperor Ganishka's monstrous forces during the siege of Vritannis, demonstrating his loyalty to Griffith's cause by fighting alongside human soldiers against a common foe.
Grunbeld's key relationships define his character. He is utterly loyal to Griffith, whom he serves without question as his master. His primary rivalry is with Guts, whom he respects as a worthy warrior but is determined to destroy as an apostle of the Hawk. Among his peers, he has a noted respect for Zodd, even expressing a desire to cross swords with him. Within the Band of the Falcon, he shows a protective, paternal concern for the young prophet Sonia, who is unfazed by his fearsome appearance. A significant part of his development occurs before the main story, showing his transformation from a noble human hero into an apostle. While he retains remnants of his warrior's pride, his decision to sacrifice his loved ones for power demonstrates the fundamental selfishness at the core of every apostle, solidifying his status as a tragic monster who clings to the form, but not the substance, of an honorable knight.