vlad said:I perceive the storyline to have three possible (not cross-canceling) paths: 1. 2. 3.
These are good possibilities, but what you're saying is also a bit reductive. Guts won't necessarily have to kill every single apostle in the world for example, or most of them could die in the war against Ganishka.
Black_Devil said:1. It'd have to be someone of the supernatural realm, or some super-powered entity, since no regular humans can challenge Griffith
The topic is fighting the Neo Hawks here, not Griffith. So new allies wouldn't necessarily have to be supernatural beings.
Sparnage said:Aside the Eclipse, it seems to be since Guts has formed a group is when the crappier Apostles have come into the story, at least in comparison to the Snake Baron, The Count, Zodd, Wyald etc.
I don't think so. You want "crappy" apostles? How about the one on page 1 of volume 1? And since when is the Snake Baron not weak? He's on the level of the average apostle, I wouldn't give him 5 seconds against the current Guts. Then there's the guy that pursued Guts and Casca after the Occultation, plus all those that were gathered there as you said. There were always weaker apostles around, it's just that they weren't the focus before (i.e. the countless apostles Guts killed during his Black Swordsman days and that weren't shown in the manga), we only got to see the encounters that mattered. The Eclipse had a lot of weak apostles because a lot of them were gathered together, and thus it's the same for the Demon Army.
Sparnage said:Serpico would likely be ready to battle several average Apostles already.
Haha, several apostles? I think you're giving him too much credit. He couldn't even defeat one during the battle at Flora's mansion, he was saved by Guts along with Isidro. I think he might be able to hold his own against a weakling, but if any serious one showed up (like Volkov or the big ones that serve under Grunberd for example) he'd have to flee. Now eventually, yes I believe he will be able to battle apostles with his elemental equipment, but it's still a bit early for now.
Sparnage said:As Skully said, a Magic user can be more dangerous than an army of 10,000.
Just nitpicking a bit, but he said that Griffith probably thought so. It's important because it's related to the fact that Griffith can't be threatened by people in the corporeal world and through normal means, so it's specific to him.
Sparnage said:As you said Guts having stronger control over the armour, or even fighting in the Armour at full health. Guts hasn't had the chance to do so, and I think Miura has likely intentionally put that off so when he finally does have his wounds heal (etheral and otherwise) he will be on another level.
That's a likely possibility. However, let's not give the armor too much credit and not enough to Guts. The armor's power is mainly to suppress the pain and fear of its user, and apart from all the side effects it's still Guts inside, kicking ass in spite of his wounds. The armor was particularly useful and spectacular in that respect: the fact Guts displayed a prodigious power while he should have been unable to stand. Nevertheless I'm still eager to see him back in shape and using the armor while at his full potential, no doubt Elfhelm will play a big role in achieving that and preparing the group to their future battles (assuming they will all end up fighting the Demon Army).
xbigvmanx said:I like the fact Neo Hawks have a gruding respect for Guts.
Like Black_Devil said, a few apostles acknowledge his skill and talent, but calling it global respect from the Neo Hawks is already going a bit far. Even Zodd still talks to him like if he were worthless. Ganishka is probably the one giving him the most credit right now.
xbigvmanx said:It might be possible that their loyalty for Griffith could waver b/c Guts is just one cool bad azz.
Not going to happen.