This article includes spoilers from the Hunter x Hunter manga series.
Key Insights
- Halkenburg’s Nen ability, Grimmel The Dissonance, boasts immense power with an indeterminate Nen type.
- This ability has enabled Halkenburg to take control of Might’s body, significantly influencing the Succession War.
- There are uncertainties regarding how Grimmel The Dissonance will be utilized in the future arcs of HxH, especially concerning the aspects of consciousness and tactical approach.
Hunter x Hunter is intensively progressing with its latest chapters featuring the Succession War, putting intriguing characters like Halkenburg in the spotlight.
As one of the Kakin empire’s princes, Halkenburg is a pivotal character to watch. While he had previously showcased his abilities, chapter 403 finally reveals the name of his potent power, which holds the potential for significant ramifications in upcoming chapters.
Who is Prince Halkenburg in Hunter X Hunter?
- The 9th Prince of the Kakin Empire
- Son of King Nasubi and Queen Unma
Halkenburg stands out among the 14 princes of Kakin due to his driven nature and ambitions for political reform, seeking to transition from a monarchy to a democratic system.
Initially portrayed as a pacifist at the start of the Succession Contest arc, Halkenburg gradually embraces violence as the narrative unfolds.
“War transforms the enemy’s institutions through force. Combat obliterates will itself through the power of force. One must embrace death to wield such might!”— Halkenburg
For a long time, it was thought that Halkenburg was the child of King Nasubi and his second wife, Queen Duazul, making Camilla, Tubeppa, and Luzurus his full siblings. However, chapter 403 introduces a twist revealing that his mother is actually the first Queen, Unma. This reclassifies him as a full-blooded sibling to the first Prince Benjamin and the fourth Prince Tserriednich.
In correspondence to Benjamin, purportedly revealed by Kaiser and Fugetsu as Kacho, the truth about Halkenburg’s lineage was disclosed, indicating that his mother had entrusted him to the second queen as a precaution against assassination efforts from his brothers. Nonetheless, Benjamin seems skeptical, dismissing it as mere gossip.
It appears Halkenburg is aware of his true maternal lineage, maintaining a stronger bond with Unma compared to his adoptive mother, Duazul.
The Boy Who Shoots The Arrow: Grimmel The Dissonance
- Halkenburg’s Nen Ability
- Type: Unknown
Halkenburg is an underestimated force in the series. His Nen ability, known as both The Boy Who Shoots The Arrow and Grimmel The Dissonance, represents a formidable power of uncertain Nen classification and is among the strongest skills portrayed during the Succession War contest arc, possibly throughout all of HxH.
This ability enables him to generate an arrow from his Nen, which he can shoot to penetrate virtually any defense, including walls and other Nen techniques. Upon striking a target, Halkenburg can transfer his consciousness or the consciousness of a supporter into that individual. The original body falls into a coma-like sleep until the host body is killed, all while providing him with protective armor.
To activate this ability, Halkenburg must gather supporters. He utilizes his guardian beast, which employs a symbiotic enhancement ability to mark loyal individuals on the back of their hand with a pinion. Should the loyal supporters remain devoted to him, the mark persists; otherwise, it fades after ten minutes. This allows Halkenburg to channel their aura for The Boy Who Shoots The Arrow: Grimmel The Dissonance.
Although the Nen type of this technique is yet to be classified, it likely combines elements from multiple Nen categories, possibly incorporating emission, transmutation, and manipulation.
“To angle the shot at 26 degrees… I must step 60 cm forward. The Boy Who Shoots The Arrow: Grimmel The Dissonance! Fire!!”— Halkenburg
In the official English translation, the term “Grimmel The Dissonance” is used; however, its Katakana title is Grimal Les Dissonances, referencing a French orchestra that functions without a conductor—symbolizing how Halkenburg relies on supporters to execute his Nen technique and his vision for a democratic Kakin.
Several aspects of this ability remain unexplained, and fans hope Togashi will provide clarification in due time. Key questions include the status of the consciousness of a target post-transfer—whether it remains in the original body without control or undergoes a different process entirely. Additionally, it’s uncertain if Halkenburg can utilize this Nen technique while his consciousness inhabits another body. Currently, he resides in Might’s body, so his ability usage in this context is yet to be confirmed.
Future of Grimmel the Dissonance in HxH
Halkenburg’s Possession of Might’s Body
In the recent chapters of HxH, Halkenburg successfully utilized his ability against Balsamilco Might, a bodyguard of Prince Benjamin. By rallying support from various allies, he managed to strike his arrow into Might, who had aimed to assassinate him during a trial with the lethal TSK-17.
Now having transferred his consciousness into Balsamilco Might’s body, the next steps Halkenburg plans to take remain ambiguous. His original body has fallen into a state of deep sleep, surrounded by his supportive allies.
What unfolds next hinges on whether Halkenburg can activate Grimmel the Dissonance within Might’s body. Should he be capable, he might seek to switch bodies again, possibly targeting his older brother, Benjamin. Assuming Benjamin’s form would grant him access to substantial power, potentially altering the balance of the Succession War.
Alternatively, he might opt to remain in Might’s body until he neutralizes his brother Benjamin. By infiltrating Benjamin’s circle whilst presenting as Might, he could wield the very weapon intended for his demise.
This strategic maneuver could allow him to eliminate Benjamin, alongside some of his allies, while causing Might’s body to perish as well, permitting his return to his own body, thus leaving no traces linking him to his brother’s death.
Fans can catch up on Hunter x Hunter through Viz Media. Officially and freely, the series is accessible on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus app. The next chapter, Hunter x Hunter chapter 404, is scheduled for release on October 27, 2024.
Leave a Reply