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Welcome to the Solaris Blog! ヾ( ʚ̴̶̷ .̫ ʚ̴̶̷ )ﾉ”
Today we are diving deep into the thrilling world of Mato Seihei no Slave, or Chained Soldier, a manga series that's part action, part fantasy, and a dash of fanservice for flavor! The story is written by Takahiro, who is best known for his previous works such as Akame ga Kill! and Yuki Yuna is a Hero. The manga began serialization on Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ online platform on January 5, 2019 and is still ongoing. An anime adaptation produced by Seven Arcs is currently airing so it's the perfect time to get hooked on this fun series!

What is Chained Soldier All About?

The plot of Chained Soldier is set in a world where mysterious gates to another dimension called Mato have opened across Japan, unleashing monsters known as Shuuki that threaten the human world. To combat these creatures, a special force of female soldiers called the Demon Defense Force (DDF) has been formed. Why female soldiers? They use a resource called Peach that grants them supernatural powers. However, the Peach can only be consumed by women. This situation causes a complete overhaul in society and a matriarchy is formed where men are considered the lowest rung.

Enter Yuuki Wakura, a recent high school graduate who has been searching for his sister who disappeared during a Mato disaster. Fate (or plot convenience) throws him into the arms of Kyouka Uzen, the commander of the 7th squad of the DDF. Kyouka has the power to enslave Shuuki and mount them for combat. When meeting Yuuki, she is cornered by an overwhelming number of enemies and asks Yuuki if she can enslave him. He agrees and becomes her slave. They manage to defeat the Shuuki, but Kyouka discovers that in exchange for using his body, she must give him an appropriate reward… que the fanservice…
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 the Mato. Together, they battle monsters, uncover mysteries, and, inevitably, build a relationship that keeps readers (hopefully also viewers) hooked.

Kyouka isn't your typical commander. She's got the whole package – strength, confidence and ambition. With a cold exterior and a heart of gold (or maybe Peach), Kyouka juggles her leadership duties, personal goals and a budding romance with Yuuki. Without spoiling any of the plot, Kyouka's journey is more than just enslaving monsters; it's about personal growth and opening up to the joys of life.

A Great Figure for a Great Character

Kyouka’s figure by FuRyu is highly detailed and is based on the original illustration by the manga artist Yohei Takemura. FuRyu was able to capture the beauty and strength of Kyouka. The dark-colored military uniform with red and gold accents and white gloves create good visual contrast. The addition of a pair of long boots was a great design choice for the character. To create some harmless fanservice, zettai ryouiki is always appreciated.FuRyu added a lot of fine detail that looks absolutely amazing! The hilt of her word looks like it was wrapped with leather. The way her clothing wrinkles and wraps around her body help accentuate her slender but gifted figure. The flowing hair gives a sense of movement and fine details throughout can be spotted.

Kyouka's has a sharp and elegant look while simultaneously giving off a commanding presence. The dynamic pose of her preparing for battle is matched well with her confident smile and determined gaze. Holding her sword and with a chain ready to enslave, the heat of the moment is expertly captured. While I don’t love the plastic support for the chain, it is likely needed for support. On the plus side, it looks as minimal as possible and is not all that distracting thanks to the excellent figure design!

The figures base is also nicely done. Featuring an important character that resembles a Mato, the base becomes an integral part of the sculpt. A pedestal like this really helps elevate a figure to the next level and this particular figure is akin to the Zero and Youhei figure from Grimoire of Zero.The base does have a slightly different visual look compared to Kyouka with a more fantasy feel. This gives a bit of contrast between human and monster. The same attention to detail given to Kyouka was also added to the base with nicely done musculature.Chained Soldier is a series that would be enjoyed by anyone who likes action, fantasy and fanservice. The series has a captivating plot and a likable cast of characters. Of course it has its quirks, from over-the-top fanservice at times, to the occasional cliché, but it's a rollercoaster you won't want to get off.

With the winter anime season upon us, what show are you hyped to watch?

Thank you for reading!