Gilthunder

Name: Gilthunder

Gender: Male

Race: Human (likely one-quarter Druid via his father Zaratras)

Age:

21 years old (during The Seven Deadly Sins)

37 years old (during Four Knights of the Apocalypse)

Height: 185 cm

Weight: 73 kg

Blood Type: A

Birthday: August 26

Power Level:

Before training: 1,970

After Druid trial: 2,330

Magic: 1,130

Strength: 670

Spirit: 530

Occupations and Ranks:

Holy Knight of Liones

Holy Knight Rank: Diamond (earlier) → Cardinal (later)

One of the two Great Holy Knight captains

Knight assigned to Princess Margaret Liones’ protection

Later, Cardinal attached directly to the King of Liones

Affiliations:

Liones Kingdom

Dreyfus faction within the Holy Knights

Family:

Father: Zaratras (former Great Holy Knight of Liones)

Uncle: Dreyfus

Cousin: Griamore

Wife: Margaret Liones (later, in Four Knights of the Apocalypse)

Children: Has at least one child with Margaret

Nicknames:

“Gil” (used by close friends)

“Gil-boy” (what Meliodas called him in childhood)

Voice Actors:

Mamoru Miyano (adult, Japanese)

Kazutomi Yamamoto (child, Japanese)

Gilthunder is introduced as a cold, ruthless Holy Knight who forces citizens into hard labor and even cuts off access to water if they resist.

Despite being childhood friends with Elizabeth Liones, he shows no mercy toward her or the people, seemingly placing duty above all else.

Underneath this harsh persona, however, he is deeply kind, earnest, and emotionally fragile.

As a child he was timid and pure-hearted, clinging to Meliodas as his personal hero and mentor.

For more than ten years, he is forced to act cruelly because Vivian holds his lover Margaret hostage and keeps him under constant magical surveillance.

This long-term coercion twists how everyone sees him, but internally he never abandons his sense of justice.

Gilthunder is loyal almost to a fault.

Once he trusts someone, he idolizes them: Meliodas in particular becomes the person he respects most and never wants as an enemy.

By the end of the Holy War, his personality softens back toward his original, straightforward warmth.

He expresses deep remorse for the suffering he caused and actively seeks atonement, proving he was never truly the villain he seemed.

Family Origins

Gilthunder is the son of Zaratras, the former Great Holy Knight who once stood at the top of Liones’ knight hierarchy.

Through Zaratras, who carries Druid blood, Gilthunder is probably one-quarter Druid, which helps explain his prodigious magical talent.

His uncle is Dreyfus, one of the two Great Holy Knight captains, making him part of a powerful noble knightly family.

Dreyfus’ son Griamore is therefore Gilthunder’s cousin.

Childhood and Connection to Meliodas

As a boy, Gilthunder trained directly under Meliodas, captain of The Seven Deadly Sins.

He revered Meliodas as a hero and older-brother figure.

Meliodas taught him a special “charm” or “spell” to use in times of unbearable hardship:

“When it is too painful, when it hurts, and you can’t rely on anyone, say: ‘I am stronger than anyone in The Seven Deadly Sins.’”

This phrase later becomes Gilthunder’s coded distress signal to Meliodas.

In his youth, Gilthunder was shy, gentle, and pure, far removed from the fearsome Holy Knight he later appears to be.

Those who knew him then remember a boy who looked up to Meliodas with absolute admiration.

Friends and Peers

Gilthunder grew up alongside Howzer and Griamore; the three form a core trio of childhood friends.

They share similar ages, backgrounds as noble knights, and a tangled relationship with The Seven Deadly Sins and the kingdom’s politics.

Although he later clashes with them due to his forced role under Vivian, they ultimately fight side by side.

After the Liones civil conflict, Gilthunder, Howzer, and Griamore travel together seeking atonement and truth.

Relationship with Margaret Liones

Gilthunder serves as the personal knight and bodyguard of Margaret Liones, the first princess of Liones.

Despite appearing distant or harsh on the surface, he and Margaret are actually lovers.

Vivian discovers Gilthunder learning the truth of Zaratras’ murder from Margaret.

She seizes Margaret as a hostage and uses a familiar to watch Gilthunder constantly, forcing his obedience for over a decade.

Because of this, Margaret outwardly curses him and shows hatred, masking their true relationship while she is magically controlled and used as leverage.

Once freed, Margaret’s real feelings are clear: Gilthunder is the person she loves, and he is the one who values her above all else.

In Four Knights of the Apocalypse, the two are married, and Gilthunder serves as a Cardinal in direct service to the king, balancing his duties with family life.

They have at least one child together, grounding him more than ever in peaceful responsibilities.

Relationship with Meliodas

Meliodas is the person Gilthunder admires most, both as a warrior and as a human being.

Even after Zaratras’ death is pinned on The Seven Deadly Sins, Gilthunder’s true feelings about Meliodas never fully vanish.

In public, he must act as if he hates Meliodas as his father’s supposed assassin.

In private, he uses the childhood “charm” phrase—“I am stronger than anyone in The Seven Deadly Sins”—as a disguised SOS, trusting that Meliodas will understand.

During the battle in the capital, Meliodas realizes Gilthunder is under duress and helps free Margaret from Vivian’s control.

After that, Gilthunder openly fights alongside Meliodas and the others.

Later, when Howzer worries about letting someone tied to the Demon Clan roam free, Gilthunder adamantly defends Meliodas.

He insists that there is no better Holy Knight and that he never wants to make Meliodas his enemy.

Official fan materials even describe Gilthunder as “Meliodas-loving,” listing Meliodas as:

The person he respects most

The person he never wants to fight

The one he looks up to above all others

Overall Strength

Gilthunder is considered one of the top-tier Holy Knights of Liones, second only to the Great Holy Knights at his peak.

His combat power rivals elite warriors despite his relatively young age.

After undergoing the Druid trial together with Howzer, he breaks through his former limitations and significantly raises his power level.

By creatively reshaping his fighting style, he turns his lightning magic into both lethal offense and layered defense.

Magic: “Thunderbolt”

Magic Ability Name: Thunderbolt

Gilthunder’s innate magic allows him to freely generate and control lightning.

He can call down enormous thunderclouds, shape lightning into weapons, and unleash precise or wide-area strikes.

Thunder Emperor’s Hammer

Gilthunder summons a powerful bolt of lightning to strike a specific target with pinpoint accuracy.

This is a concentrated, high-damage single-target attack that can be called down from above.

Thunder Emperor’s Purge

He generates a massive quantity of lightning across a wide area, sweeping enemies away in a storm of electricity.

This technique is suited for wiping out groups or controlling a battlefield with overwhelming power.

Pursuing Thunder Beast

Gilthunder creates a beast-shaped lightning projectile that homes in on its target.

Because it tracks the opponent, it is hard to evade and useful against agile foes.

Thunderclap Slash

He covers his entire body in lightning and then charges in for direct melee attacks with his sword.

The combination of enhanced speed, cutting power, and electric shock makes his close combat extremely dangerous.

Thunder Emperor’s Sword

Gilthunder infuses his sword with concentrated Thunderbolt magic, charging it before unleashing a devastating strike.

It requires some charge time but delivers immense power; the spear he throws into Baste Prison (commonly associated with the village where Meliodas resides) is empowered by this technique.

Thunder Emperor’s Heavy Armor

In this state, Gilthunder holds his weapon in one hand while tightly controlling the lightning coating it to prevent waste.

He uses the excess magic to form a shield of lightning in his free hand and a full-body armor of electricity.

By layering lightning around his body and weapon, he creates a defense-focused form with multiple overlapping barriers.

This configuration eliminates blind spots and protects him from attacks coming from any direction.

Embrace of the Thunder God

While in his Heavy Armor state, Gilthunder discharges lightning from both arms to envelop his opponent.

The enemy is trapped inside a crushing cocoon of raging electricity.

Judgement of the Thunder Emperor (Novel)

In the novel, he uses a technique similar to Thunder Emperor’s Hammer.

He calls down lightning on chosen targets at will, focusing power on specific enemies.

Combination Technique

Dragon Castle

This is a combination attack with Howzer.

Howzer’s Rising Tornado creates a massive spiral of wind, while Gilthunder’s Thunder Emperor’s Purge floods it with lightning.

The result is a deadly fortress of storm and lightning—the “castle” traps enemies in a raging whirlpool of wind and thunder.

Anyone inside faces both slicing winds and continuous electric shocks.

Before the Series and the Zaratras Assassination

Ten years prior to the main timeline, Zaratras is assassinated, and the blame is placed on The Seven Deadly Sins, especially Meliodas.

Gilthunder believes this at first and grows to hate his former mentor in appearance, even while part of him doubts the story.

He rises quickly through the Holy Knight ranks and becomes one of the most feared knights in the kingdom.

To the public, he is a symbol of the new, harsh regime that exploits citizens and crushes dissent.

Coercion by Vivian

The key twist is that Vivian, a powerful mage aligned with Hendrickson, uncovers that Margaret has revealed the truth about Zaratras’ murder to Gilthunder.

Vivian kidnaps Margaret and places her under magical restraint, using her as a hostage to control Gilthunder.

She also sets a familiar to watch him at all times, meaning he can never speak openly about the truth or her coercion.

As a result, for more than ten years, Gilthunder is forced to act as Vivian’s puppet, committing cruel acts he despises.

To those around him, his cruelty appears genuine, and Margaret publicly curses him, further hiding the truth.

Internally, Gilthunder is desperate but sees no path to rescue Margaret or defy Vivian.

Secret Signal to Meliodas

When Gilthunder and Meliodas reunite, he seizes a tiny chance to call for help without outing himself to Vivian.

He tells Meliodas, “I am stronger than anyone in The Seven Deadly Sins,” echoing the “charm” Meliodas gave him as a child.

Meliodas instantly realizes this is not arrogance but a distress signal.

From that point forward, Meliodas watches his actions more closely, suspecting blackmail or magical control.

Battle of the Capital and Liberation of Margaret

During the battle in the capital of Liones, Meliodas uses a risky maneuver to destroy the chimera-like fusion monster possessing Margaret.

With the creature removed and Margaret freed, Vivian’s leverage over Gilthunder collapses.

Gilthunder can finally fight openly for what he believes in.

He turns his blade against Hendrickson, the true enemy behind his father’s death and the kingdom’s corruption.

At one point, he appears to have defeated Hendrickson by cutting off his arm and beating him down.

However, Hendrickson transforms into a Demon Clan form, overpowering Gilthunder and leaving him near death until Ban uses a curse-removal orb to save him.

Journey of Atonement

After the Liones Kingdom is reclaimed, Gilthunder is filled with guilt over the suffering he helped inflict on the populace, even if he was forced.

Seeking both redemption and the full truth about past events, he sets out on a journey with Howzer and Griamore.

During this journey, they encounter a red demon and a gray demon.

They struggle in the fight until Hendrickson appears, complicating their understanding of who is truly friend or foe.

Gilthunder then travels with Hendrickson to a Druid village, where he and Howzer undergo a trial.

By breaking out of his old patterns and “breaking the mold,” Gilthunder increases his power level and refines his abilities.

Participation in the Vaizel Great Fight Festival

After reuniting with Meliodas and the others, Gilthunder takes part in the Vaizel Great Fight Festival.

The event brings together many powerful fighters in chaotic, often comedic brawls.

Following Meliodas’ defeat there, Gilthunder fights as part of the loyalist remnants seeking to stabilize the kingdom.

Even amid the spectacle, his loyalty to Meliodas and his drive to protect Margaret remain constant.

Abduction by Vivian Disguised as Gilfrost

During the later conflict at the capital, Gilthunder attempts to confront Fraudrin, one of the high-ranking demons.

However, he is abruptly abducted by Vivian, who is disguised as the mysterious Holy Knight Gilfrost.

Vivian transports him to a floating structure built by the Goddess Clan high above the clouds.

There, she imprisons him and obsessively tries to keep him by her side, while he repeatedly attempts to escape.

Gilthunder spends this period trapped and harassed by Vivian, continually seeking a way back to Liones and Margaret.

His imprisonment underscores how long Vivian’s obsession has ruined his life and relationships.

Intervention of Ludociel and Return to Liones

Eventually, Ludociel, one of the Four Archangels, appears in the floating temple.

He severely injures Vivian, leaving her half-dead, and this breaks her control over Gilthunder once and for all.

With Vivian neutralized and the path clear, Gilthunder returns to Liones.

He takes part in the Holy War, standing on the frontlines against the Demon Clan threats.

Role in the Holy War and the Camelot Assault

During the Holy War, Gilthunder joins an assault force heading to Camelot.

His main objective is to protect Margaret, who is again in danger due to the escalating conflict.

Hendrickson ultimately helps free Margaret from her captivity and manipulation.

Once she is safe, Gilthunder takes her and withdraws from Camelot ahead of others, prioritizing her safety above continuing the frontline assault.

Throughout the war, he continues to fight as a key Holy Knight of Liones, battling demons and supporting Meliodas’ group.

After the conflict, he returns to a more peaceful role as a protector of the royal family.

Life in Four Knights of the Apocalypse

In Four Knights of the Apocalypse, Gilthunder is now 37 years old.

He serves as a Cardinal directly attending the king of Liones and remains one of the kingdom’s central military figures.

He has married Margaret Liones, and together they have a child, firmly anchoring him in the royal household.

Gilthunder’s youthful torment, coercion, and guilt give way to a more stable life of duty, family, and guarded peace.

He still deeply respects Meliodas and maintains the bond formed through childhood training, shared battles, and mutual trust.

To those around him, he represents both the scars of Liones’ dark past and the hope of a more just future led by knights who have truly suffered, learned, and changed.