With the armour removing his limitations Guts unleashes all his strength, destroying Grunbeld’s shield and hammer and wounding him. Schierke explains that as Guts is fighting without limits he is tearing his own body apart, and while the armour removes his pain he will eventually bleed to death. Grunbeld transforms into his Apostle form, a dragon with corundum scales. Guts stops a blow from Grunbeld’s tail and cracks the scales on his face with one swing. Schierke casts her mind into the spirit realm and sees Guts ego trapped inside the Beast of Darkness, but a spell cast by Flora has prevented Guts ego from vanishing. Schierke reminds him of his love for Casca and Guts awakens. He flees from Grunbeld and saves his friends while Flora’s spirit holds Grunbeld back with spirit fire. In Windham City an underground resistance meet with Laban of the Midland Arklaw Knights to ask his help in rescuing Princess Charlotte. They are attacked by demons but are saved by Irvine the Archer and Sir Locus for an unknown reason. A month later Guts has healed but still wears the armour. Schierke fears if he has to fight again the armour will kill him.