Chained Soldier

Chained Soldier, known in Japan as Mato Seihei no Slave (魔都精兵のスレイブ), is a Japanese manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by Yohei Takemura. It has been serialized on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ online platform since January 2019. The series follows a young man named Yuuki Wakura, who watches as destructive monsters from the Mato dimension threaten the Earth, while women gifted with special superpowers consumed from Peaches try to stop them as Yuuki begins to join forces with Chief Kyouka Uzen as his servant both on the battlefield and at home.

An anime television series adaptation, animated by Seven Arcs, aired from January to March 2024. A second season, animated by Passione, has been announced. The series is licensed for English release by Sentai Filmworks.

Plot
Gates to another dimension, called Mato, begin opening across Japan, where monsters known as Shuuki begin attacking the inhabitants of the Earth. Inside these portals are a resource called a "Peach", which, when consumed by women, give them supernatural powers, leading to a matriarchal society. One day, Yuuki Wakura, a recent high school graduate, stumbles inside a gate and meets Kyouka Uzen, the commander of the 7th squad of the Demon Defense Force. Kyouka has the power to "enslave" Shuuki and mount them for combat, but cornered by an increasing number of Shuuki, she asks Yuuki if she can enslave him. He consents and turns into her "slave", and they defeat the Shuuki. However, in exchange for using his body, she must give him an appropriate reward, often extremely sexual in nature. Yuuki is left disturbed by this "reward", but begrudgingly decides to go along with it. Yuuki decides to join Kyouka's squad as a caretaker and support her dream of becoming the Supreme Commander, while fighting the Shuuki and discovering the mystery behind Mato.

Characters

 * Yuuki Wakura (和倉 優希)
 * The protagonist who serves as the dorm manager. He was previously a third-year high school student, but enters the demon capital after entering a gate that appeared. When he is enslaved by either Kyouka or Himari copying Kyouka's ability, he transforms into a Shuuki-like form with enhanced physical abilities. If someone else holds his chain and commands him, his form changes and he gains different powers depending on the person.
 * The protagonist who serves as the dorm manager. He was previously a third-year high school student, but enters the demon capital after entering a gate that appeared. When he is enslaved by either Kyouka or Himari copying Kyouka's ability, he transforms into a Shuuki-like form with enhanced physical abilities. If someone else holds his chain and commands him, his form changes and he gains different powers depending on the person.


 * Kyouka Uzen (羽前 京香)
 * She rescued Yuuki after he arrived in the other dimension. She was the only survivor of an incident. Her power allows her to enslave any Shuuki or human and enhance their abilities in the process, but she and anyone else who commanded them must offer a reward in exchange, often against their will. She also wields a katana in battle.
 * She rescued Yuuki after he arrived in the other dimension. She was the only survivor of an incident. Her power allows her to enslave any Shuuki or human and enhance their abilities in the process, but she and anyone else who commanded them must offer a reward in exchange, often against their will. She also wields a katana in battle.


 * Himari Azuma (東 日万凛)
 * She is prudish and initially hostile to Yuuki, but gradually warms up to him after he helps deal with her antagonistic sister. Her power lets her copy the powers of others, albeit at weaker levels.
 * She is prudish and initially hostile to Yuuki, but gradually warms up to him after he helps deal with her antagonistic sister. Her power lets her copy the powers of others, albeit at weaker levels.


 * Shushu Suruga (駿河 朱々)
 * Having grown up without a father or brothers, she latches on to Yuuki and constantly flirts with him. Her power lets her alter her size, gaining increased strength the larger she becomes.
 * Having grown up without a father or brothers, she latches on to Yuuki and constantly flirts with him. Her power lets her alter her size, gaining increased strength the larger she becomes.


 * Nei Ōkawamura (大川村 寧)
 * An 11-year-old whose parents went missing after a Shuuki attack. Her power gives her clairvoyance, allowing her to detect anything in around a 5 km radius.
 * An 11-year-old whose parents went missing after a Shuuki attack. Her power gives her clairvoyance, allowing her to detect anything in around a 5 km radius.


 * Tenka Izumo (出雲 天花)
 * A female general who falls head-over-heels in love with Yuuki at first sight. She almost always makes sexual advances towards and tries to win his heart. She fantasizes about marrying Yuuki and starting a family with him. Her power allows her to create portals.
 * A female general who falls head-over-heels in love with Yuuki at first sight. She almost always makes sexual advances towards and tries to win his heart. She fantasizes about marrying Yuuki and starting a family with him. Her power allows her to create portals.


 * Yachiho Azuma (東 八千穂)
 * Himari's older sister who constantly belittles her. Her power allows her to stop or rewind time, though it drains her stamina to use.
 * Himari's older sister who constantly belittles her. Her power allows her to stop or rewind time, though it drains her stamina to use.


 * Sahara Wakasa (若狭 サハラ)
 * An airhead who is constantly sleepy. Her power gives her enhanced strength for a time limit. The shorter the time limit, the stronger she becomes.
 * An airhead who is constantly sleepy. Her power gives her enhanced strength for a time limit. The shorter the time limit, the stronger she becomes.


 * Aoba Wakura (和倉 青羽)
 * Yuuki's older sister who disappeared in a Shuuki attack five years ago, only to resurface having been converted to a humanoid Shuuki, becoming the leader of similar beings. She appears to have an incestuous interest in Yuuki and tries to get him away from the Demon Defense Force. She can control her hair and use it as a weapon and she can consume Peaches to temporarily enhance her strength, speed, and senses.
 * Yuuki's older sister who disappeared in a Shuuki attack five years ago, only to resurface having been converted to a humanoid Shuuki, becoming the leader of similar beings. She appears to have an incestuous interest in Yuuki and tries to get him away from the Demon Defense Force. She can control her hair and use it as a weapon and she can consume Peaches to temporarily enhance her strength, speed, and senses.


 * Koko Zenibako (銭函 ココ)
 * A girl turned into a humanoid Shuuki under Aoba's command who is obsessed with fighting. She can secrete a slippery fluid to make attacks slide off and her saliva has healing properties.
 * A girl turned into a humanoid Shuuki under Aoba's command who is obsessed with fighting. She can secrete a slippery fluid to make attacks slide off and her saliva has healing properties.


 * Naon Yuno (湯野 波音)
 * A girl turned into a humanoid Shuuki under Aoba's command who is obsessed with beauty. She can turn intangible.
 * A girl turned into a humanoid Shuuki under Aoba's command who is obsessed with beauty. She can turn intangible.


 * Konomi Tatara (多々良 木乃実)
 * One of the chiefs and the leader of the first division. She is a high school student and has a lively personality. She and Yuuki call each other by their first names due to their closeness in age. Her power allows her to mimic the traits of animals. For example, she can become agile like a monkey or have the strength and slashing power of a tiger.

Manga
Chained Soldier, written by Takahiro and illustrated by Yohei Takemura, began on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ online platform on January 5, 2019. Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on March 4, 2019. As of July 4, 2024, 16 volumes have been released.

The manga has been licensed for English release in North America by Yen Press.

Anime
In November 2021, it was announced that the series would be adapted into an anime television series by Seven Arcs. The series is directed by Gorō Kuji, with Junji Nishimura serving as general director, Yasuhiro Nakanishi handling series composition, Ryota Kanō and Akira Kindaichi writing the scripts, Hiroyuki Yoshii designing the characters, and Kohta Yamamoto composing the music. It was initially scheduled for 2023, but was later delayed, which eventually aired from January 4 to March 21, 2024, on AT-X and other networks. The opening theme song is "Yume no Ito" (夢の糸), performed by Akari Kitō, while the ending theme song is "Chain", performed by Maaya Uchida.

Sentai Filmworks licensed the series, streaming it uncensored on Hidive. In June 2024, it was announced that the series will receive an English dub, set to premiere on Hidive on July 29 of the same year. Muse Communication licensed the series in Asia-Pacific.

A second season was announced on March 23, 2024, two days after the airing of the final episode. The season will be animated by Passione and directed by Masafumi Tamura. Keiya Nakano will serve as character designer for the second season.

Reception
By November 2021, the manga had over 1 million copies in circulation. By January 2024, it had over 2 million copies in circulation.