Chained Soldier

Chained Soldier

Chained Soldier, known in Japan as Mato Seihei no Slave (Japanese: 魔都精兵のスレイブ, Hepburn: Mato Seihei no Sureibu; lit. 'Slave of the Magic Capital's Elite Troops'), is a Japanese web 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 is set in a near-future Japan where portals to a dangerous dimension, called Mato, have appeared across the country. In response, the government establishes the Mato Defense Force (MDF), a special military unit composed of superpowered women, to protect humankind and fight the dimension's inhabitants. The story follows Yuuki Wakura, a young man who accidentally wanders into Mato and is rescued by Kyouka Uzen, a top-ranking MDF officer.

An anime television series adaptation, animated by Seven Arcs, aired from January to March 2024. A second season, animated by Passione and Hayabusa Film, aired from January to March 2026.

By June 2025, the manga had over 5.5 million copies in circulation.

Plot

Chained Soldier

Several decades ago, mysterious gates opened across Japan, leading to an alternate dimension known as "Mato" (魔都; lit. ' Demonic Metropolis'). Two notable things were discovered within: malicious creatures known as "Shuuki" (醜鬼, Shūki), who are hostile towards humans, and Peaches, which grant superhuman powers to those who eat them. Since only women can gain powers by eating peaches, gender inequality was flipped and the world became matriarchal. To combat the Shuuki and establish a presence in Mato, the Japanese government took control of the portals and established the Mato Defense Force, a special paramilitary unit under the Japan Self-Defence Forces, tasked with protecting humanity and operating within the dimension.

In 2020, high school senior Yuuki Wakura is set to graduate and enter the workforce when he accidentally wanders through an open portal into Mato and is attacked by a horde of Shuuki. Kyouka Uzen, commander of the Mato Defense Force's 7th Squad, rescues him, but they are both cornered by increasing numbers of Shuuki. Kyouka offers to place Yuuki under her power, so he can fight on her behalf as a combat slave so they can survive. After the battle, Kyouka is forced to reward Yuuki for his efforts fighting the Shuuki, which, in his case, involve kissing and intimate physical contact.

Recognizing Yuuki's potential, Kyouka offers him a job with their unit after he graduates. Eager to become a hero and avenge his missing older sister, Yuuki accepts. The story follows Yuuki's service in the Mato Defense Force as Kyouka's combat slave and base caretaker, while he explores Mato and discovers its mysteries.

Media

Manga

Written by Takahiro and illustrated by Yohei Takemura, Chained Soldier began on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ online platform on January 5, 2019. Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on March 4, 2019. As of January 5, 2026, 20 volumes have been released.

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

Volumes

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	March 4, 2019	978-4-08-881786-6	August 16, 2022	978-1-97-534608-9
2	July 4, 2019	978-4-08-881896-2	October 4, 2022	978-1-97-534610-2
3	November 1, 2019	978-4-08-882113-9	February 21, 2023	978-1-97-534612-6
4	March 4, 2020	978-4-08-882235-8	June 20, 2023	978-1-97-534614-0
5	July 3, 2020	978-4-08-882359-1	September 19, 2023	978-1-97-534616-4
6	December 4, 2020	978-4-08-882481-9	January 23, 2024	978-1-97-534619-5
7	April 2, 2021	978-4-08-882604-2	April 16, 2024	978-1-97-537916-2
8	August 4, 2021	978-4-08-882743-8	July 23, 2024	978-1-97-538795-2
9	December 3, 2021	978-4-08-882857-2	October 15, 2024	978-1-97-538797-6
10	May 2, 2022	978-4-08-883109-1	January 21, 2025	978-1-97-538799-0
11	September 2, 2022	978-4-08-883234-0	April 22, 2025	978-1-97-538801-0
12	January 4, 2023	978-4-08-883342-2	September 9, 2025	978-1-97-538803-4
13	June 2, 2023	978-4-08-883494-8	December 16, 2025	978-1-97-538805-8
14	October 4, 2023	978-4-08-883636-2	July 28, 2026	979-8-85-540371-8
15	February 2, 2024	978-4-08-883829-8	—	—
16	July 4, 2024	978-4-08-884047-5	—	—
17	December 4, 2024	978-4-08-884257-8	—	—
18	April 4, 2025	978-4-08-884466-4	—	—
19	September 4, 2025	978-4-08-884622-4	—	—
20	January 5, 2026	978-4-08-884797-9	—	—

Anime

In November 2021, an anime television series adaptation was announced. It is produced by Seven Arcs and 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. The series was initially scheduled for 2023, but was later delayed, and 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; "String of Dreams"), performed by Akari Kitō, while the ending theme song is "Chain", performed by Maaya Uchida.

Sentai Filmworks licensed and streams the series uncensored on Hidive. In June 2024, an English dub for the series was announced, which premiered 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 first season's final episode. It is animated by Passione and Hayabusa Film, and directed by Masafumi Tamura, with Keiya Nakano replacing Yoshii as character designer. The season premiered on January 8, 2026. The opening theme song is "Hikari yo, Boku ni" (光よ、僕に。), performed by Kitō, and the ending theme song is "Love Love Beam" (LOVE LOVE ビーム), performed by Uchida.

Season 1 (2024)

<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Storyboarded by</th><th>Chief animation directed by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>"Birth, Yuuki, Awakening" Transliteration: "Tanjō, Yūki, Mezameru" (Japanese: 誕生、優希、目醒める)</td><td>Yuuta Takamura</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Gorō Kuji</td><td>Hiroyuki Yoshii</td><td>January 4, 2024 (2024-01-04)</td></tr><tr><td>Yuuki Wakura is a high school student who has had to live on his own after the mysterious disappearance of his sister many years ago. By sheer happenstance, he finds himself within the alternate dimension of Mato, where he is attacked by fearsome creatures called Shuuki. Yuuki is saved by the 7th squad of the JSDF's Mato Defense Force, led by Kyouka Eden. Kyouka tells her subordinates, Himari, Shushu, and Nei, to look for other survivors while she protects Yuuki. Unfortunately, the Shuuki she had enslaved and used for combat dies, until Kyouka gets the idea of using her Peach ability on Yuuki, who is suddenly transformed into a Shuuki-like monster. In this new form, Yuuki helps the 7th squad rescue other survivors. While the 7th squad evacuates the survivors, Kyouka gives Yuuki sexual pleasure as a reward for turning him into her slave, for that is the toll her Peach ability takes on her. She offers Yuuki the opportunity to join her squad, and he accepts, as he wants to become a hero and avenge his sister. Upon arriving at the 7th squad's dorm, however, Kyouka informs him that since men are not allowed to join the Mato Defense Force, he will only be able to contribute to the squad as a slave on the battlefield and as a caretaker within the dorm.</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>"Curiosity, Shushu, Undress" Transliteration: "Kyōmi, Shushu, Hadakeru" (Japanese: 興味、朱々、肌蹴る)</td><td>Kazunobu Fuseki</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Gorō Kuji</td><td>Maki Hashimoto</td><td>January 11, 2024 (2024-01-11)</td></tr><tr><td>Despite his best efforts to keep the dorm clean, Yuuki feels unsatisfied with his current duties, especially because Himari keeps antagonizing him and Shushu keeps taking photos of him for blackmail purposes. Nei explains that Mato is actually as big as the entire city of Tokyo, and that eight squads patrol it. She also says that she, Kyouka, and Himari will have to attend a meeting outside the dorm, so Yuuki and Shushu will be left in charge in their absence. Shushu, still showing some interest in Yuuki, challenges him to a video game. If she wins, he will become her slave; but if he wins, he will force her to delete the photos she took of him. Shushu wins and uses her Peach ability to take Yuuki's clothes off and take a look at his penis. Suddenly, a group of Shuuki attacks the dorm, and Shushu can only fight them for a while before the effects of her ability wear off. To help her, Yuuki begins touching and licking Kyouka's clothes to trigger a partial transformation, and he destroys the largest Shuuki in the dorm and saves Shushu. Sometime later, Kyouka penalizes Shushu for her recklessness by sentencing her to helping Yuuki with his housekeeping duties. Shushu, having developed feelings for Yuuki, continues teasing him and taking photos of him. Meanwhile, a mysterious female Shuuki attacks a squad of MDF forces soldiers and detects the presence of Yuuki within Mato.</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>"Encounter, Kyouka, Rampage" Transliteration: "Sōgū, Kyōka, Takeru" (Japanese: 遭遇、京香、猛る)</td><td>Yuuta Takamura</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Gorō Kuji</td><td>Kie Kikuno</td><td>January 18, 2024 (2024-01-18)</td></tr><tr><td>After going to the human realm and doing paperwork at the MDF's headquarters, Kyouka tells Yuuki her reasons for joining the MDF. Back when she was a child, her family and entire hometown were destroyed by a mysterious one-horned Shuuki that Kyouka has called the "Unihorn". Since then, she has promised to hunt down the Unihorn and avenge the loved ones she lost. Before returning to Mato, Yuuki convinces Kyouka to visit a cafe and enjoy the chance to relax. Once they return to Mato, the 7th squad is deployed to intercept a group of Shuuki led by the mysterious female Shuuki that has been attacking MDF soldiers recently. She also happens to be in command of the Unihorn, the appearance of which enrages Kyouka. During the battle, Yuuki and the female Shuuki seem to recognize each other, but the female Shuuki is forced to retreat when Kyouka violently attacks the Unihorn. Upon watching Yuuki trying to save Himari and Shushu, Kyouka realizes that the lives of their comrades are more important than her own need for revenge and orders a retreat. Upon returning to the dorm, Yuuki and Kyouka begin to suspect that the female Shuuki must be Yuuki's sister, Aoba. Still, before they can investigate any further, the 7th squad is visited by Tenka Izumo, commander of the 6th squad, and Yachiho, Himari's older sister.</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>"Whirlwind, Himari, Roar" Transliteration: "Senpuu, Himari, Hoeru" (Japanese: 旋風、日万凛、吠える)</td><td>Yoku Neruzō</td><td>Ryōta Kanō</td><td>Gorō Kuji</td><td>Issei Aragaki</td><td>January 25, 2024 (2024-01-25)</td></tr><tr><td>Because Shuuki attacks have become more frequent, Tenka suggests an exhibition match between the squads as a form of training. Himari, anxious to beat Yachiho, asks Kyouka for permission to use Yuuki as her slave in her match, despite the physical toll it will take on her, and explains that her ability allows her to copy other people's abilities, including Kyouka's. With Himari as his master, Yuuki unlocks a new Slave form that enhances his speed but reduces his strength; while Himari learns that, whenever she uses Yuuki as her slave, she will have to give him pleasure the same way Kyouka does. As their training progresses, Yuuki and Himari grow closer, and Himari reveals that her family, the Azumas, is filled with highly prestigious members and overachievers like Yachiho. Himari constantly tried to live up to her family's reputation, but she came up short, something that Yachiho always teased her for. She also explains that Yachiho's ability allows her to stop and rewind time, meaning that Himari and Yuuki will have to come up with a plan to get around it. To make up for his reduced strength, Yuuki learns to concentrate his strength in a single body part whenever Himari is his master. Once the match begins, Yachiho immediately uses her ability to rewind time, but Yuuki and Himari had already planned for that.</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>"Sisters, Yachiho, Ridicule" Transliteration: "Shimai, Yachiho, Azakeru" (Japanese: 姉妹、八千穂、嘲る)</td><td>Yuuta Takamura</td><td>Ryōta Kanō</td><td>Shōta Ihata</td><td>Soji Ninomiya</td><td>February 1, 2024 (2024-02-01)</td></tr><tr><td>Yuuki runs across the battlefield to trick Yachiho into constantly using her ability and exhausting herself. Once they are outside the range of Yachiho's ability, Himari tells Yuuki to attack her while Yachiho is vulnerable. Unfortunately, Yachiho stops time for 10 seconds and shoots Yuuki and Himari with special bullets modified for usage within Mato. Yuuki inspires Himari to keep fighting; together, they trick Yachiho into leaving herself open to a gunshot from Himari, who is declared the winner. Once the combatants' injuries are healed, Yuuki and Himari go to their kitchen to rest and relax, but the price of using Yuuki as a slave causes Himari to kiss him, an event witnessed by Shushu, who is about to begin her match with Sahara Wakasa. Meanwhile, mysterious figures watch the exhibition match from a distance.</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>"Blitz, Sahara, Twinkle" Transliteration: "Kyōshū, Sahara, Kirameku" (Japanese: 強襲、サハラ、煌めく)</td><td>Kazunobu Fuseki</td><td>Akira Kindaichi</td><td>Kazunobu Fuseki</td><td>Hitoshi Tadano</td><td>February 8, 2024 (2024-02-08)</td></tr><tr><td>The match between Shushu and Sahara begins. Shushu, wanting to impress Yuuki, attempts to beat Sahara without using her ability, but the longer the fight drags on, the combatants are forced to use their abilities. In her giant form, Shushu is stronger, but her attacks are easy to dodge; Sahara uses her ability to increase her speed and agility. Shushu stomps Sahara into the ground and knocks her unconscious, but this triggers a secondary ability of Sahara — if she gets knocked unconscious, her body will move on instinct and attack friends and foes alike. With this new power, Sahara beats Shushu, who is heartbroken that she did not impress Yuuki like Himari did. Yuuki attempts to console her, and Shushu uses the opportunity to steal a kiss from him. After Shushu and Sahara get their injuries treated, the 7th squad's dorm is attacked by an army of Shuuki, led by a humanoid known as Rairen. The MDF squads regroup and mount a defense. Kyouka and Himari enslave Yuuki at the same time, and Yuuki unlocks a new Slave form, while Yachiho fights Rairen on her own. Yachiho is left severely injured, but Tenka, having already obliterated a huge portion of the Shuuki army, rescues her and prepares to fight Rairen on her own.</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>"United Front, Tenka, Soar" Transliteration: "Kyōtō, Tenka, Kakeru" (Japanese: 共闘、天花、翔る)</td><td>Yuuta Takamura</td><td>Akira Kindaichi</td><td>Shina Kuzu</td><td>Erkin Kawabata</td><td>February 15, 2024 (2024-02-15)</td></tr><tr><td>The 6th and 7th squadrons continue their fight against the Shuuki army, while Tenka faces Rairen on her own. Even without her ability, Tenka causes a small injury on Rairen's arm and opens a hole in the spacetime continuum to throw Rairen into it. With the Shuuki army defeated, the 6th and 7th squads agree to call off the exhibition match and investigate the humanoid Shuuki that led the attack. Having used Yuuki as their slave at the same time, Kyouka and Himari have to reward him. Sometime later, Yuuki, Kyouka, and Himari visit the 6th squad's dorm so that Kyouka and Tenka can plan their next move. Yuuki does the 6th squad's laundry and sees that, in their own way, Himari and Yachiho have grown closer as sisters. As their meeting concludes, Tenka asks Kyouka if she can keep Yuuki. Meanwhile, Rairen is about to be consumed by the hole opened by Tenka until she is rescued by Shikoku, another humanoid Shuuki who has been attacking MDF squads to measure their strength. Since the 6th and 7th squads proved stronger than she anticipated, Shikoku believes she and the other Shuuki should join forces to fight the MDF.</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>"Promise, Nei, Remember" Transliteration: "Yakusoku, Nei, Obou" (Japanese: 約束、寧、憶う)</td><td>Yi Cao</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Shōta Ihata</td><td>Kie Kikuno</td><td>February 22, 2024 (2024-02-22)</td></tr><tr><td>Tenka attempts to convince Kyouka to relinquish Yuuki to the 6th squad and says that she can recommend Kyouka to the position of supreme commander, but Kyouka declines the offer, both for her own feelings for Yuuki and because she wants to ascend to the position on her own merits. Tenka teleports into Yuuki's room and tries to seduce him, only to be caught by the 7th squad. Even with Kyouka rejecting her advances, Tenka refuses to give up on Yuuki, as she has fallen in love with him. The next day, Kyouka tries to test new transformations for Yuuki, with Nei and Shushu volunteering. With Nei as his master, Yuuki obtains X-ray vision and enhanced hearing, and Kyouka decides to reserve that form for scouting. With Shushu as his master, Yuuki's strength increases at the cost of his speed and mobility, and Kyouka decides that form is impractical, much to Shushu's disappointment. Later, as Nei prepares to go to school, Yuuki offers to go with her, and Nei reveals she joined the MDF to find her parents, who disappeared in a Mato mishap. Kyouka and Tenka have a conversation about the recent attacks by humanoid Shuuki and learn that the commanders are planning a gathering to discuss their next move. An army of modified Shuuki attacks the 7th squad's territory, but thanks to Tenka's ability, the 7th squad eliminates the enemy without too much trouble. Shikoku, having modified the Shuuki, has observed the battle from a distance and becomes more interested in humans.</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>"Reunion, Koko, Lick" Transliteration: "Saikai, Koko, Neburu" (Japanese: 再会、ココ、舐る)</td><td>Yuuta Takamura</td><td>Akira Kindaichi</td><td>Shina Kuzu</td><td>Kie Kikuno</td><td>February 29, 2024 (2024-02-29)</td></tr><tr><td>Yuuki has become a respected member of the 7th squad, and Tenka's interest in him grows. Suddenly, Nei gets a vision of a human under attack by Shuuki, and the 7th squad deploys to defend her. Once they reach the victim, she reveals herself to be part of a trio of humanoid Shuuki who attack the 7th squad and kidnap Yuuki. While Himari tends to Shushu's injuries, Kyouka figures out that the ambush was simply a diversion to kidnap Yuuki, who is taken to a hidden village populated by humanoid Shuuki. There, Yuuki is attended by Aoba, who is finally revealed to be alive and a humanoid Shuuki, as well. She and her friends, Naon and Koko, reveal that despite their humanoid appearances, they still behave and think like humans. When Yuuki suggests that the humanoid Shuuki appeal their case to the MDF, they refuse, telling Yuuki that the MDF wouldn't consider them anything but enemies. Aoba does tell Yuuki about the Peaches from Mato, and Yuuki insists on hearing the whole story. Meanwhile, Kyouka's body begins reacting to Yuuki's presence within Mato, and she asks the 6th squad for help saving Yuuki.</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>10</td><td>"War, Naon, Recite" Transliteration: "Kaisen, Naon, Utau" (Japanese: 開戦、波音、詠う)</td><td>Kazunobu Fuseki</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Kazunobu Fuseki</td><td>Maki Hashimoto</td><td>March 7, 2024 (2024-03-07)</td></tr><tr><td>Aoba and her friends explain to Yuuki that they became humanoid Shuuki after consuming the Peaches of Mato and getting exposed to Mato's miasma. Koko and Naon were captured by a secret branch of the MDF that performed unethical experiments on humans mutated by the Peaches, but they managed to escape and met Aoba, who had secluded herself in a cave and worked hard for years to retain her human intellect. They plan to attack the MDF using wild Shuuki they had domesticated, including the Unihorn that had previously killed Kyouka's family. Suddenly, the 6th and 7th squads have tracked Yuuki down to the cave used by the humanoid Shuuki as a hideout and begin their rescue operation. They split into multiple teams: Shushu and Sahara facing Koko, and Himari and Yachiho facing Naon. Kyouka and Tenka catch up to Aoba, but Yuuki attempts to defuse the situation by explaining what happened to Aoba and her friends. Although the MDF captains offer a peaceful solution, Aoba still wants revenge for her friends, and a fight begins. Meanwhile, Shikoku and her faction of humanoid Shuuki become aware of the fight at the caves and prepare to move out.</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>11</td><td>"Death Match, Aoba, Excite" Transliteration: "Shitō, Aoba, Takaburu" (Japanese: 死闘、青羽、昂る)</td><td>Yuuta Takamura</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Masahiro Aizawa</td><td>Ken'ichi Hirata</td><td>March 14, 2024 (2024-03-14)</td></tr><tr><td>While Kyouka fights the Unihorn, Tenka keeps Aoba distracted with her portals. Aoba consumes as many Peaches as she can, forcing Tenka to engage in a sustained battle. On the outside, Koko and her pet Shuuki keep Shushu and Sahara on the defensive. To beat them, Shushu shrinks down to a very small size and throws herself into the Shuuki's mouth. Deep inside the beast's stomach, Shushu grows gigantic, tearing the beast apart from the inside, and Sahara uses one of the Shuuki's teeth to stab Koko. Meanwhile, deeper in the caves, Yachiho realizes that Naon and her Shuuki have been targeting Himari all along. Hence, she exhausts her energy trying to protect Himari until Himari realizes what Yachiho has been doing. To draw Naon out of hiding, Himari fires her guns in multiple directions and incapacitates the enemies while Yachiho shoots them with special bullets. Tenka baits Aoba into attacking the Unihorn and leaving herself exposed, but ultimately decides not to attack her, which allows Aoba to inflict damage on her. As the two enemy forces converge, they are ambushed by Shikoku's faction, the Eight Thunder Gods. Since they have no allegiance to other humanoid Shuuki, Shikoku brainwashes the Unihorn into attacking everyone present, but Yuuki and Kyouka step in to fight it.</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>12</td><td>"Homecoming, New, Resolve" Transliteration: "Kikan, Aratana, Ketsui" (Japanese: 帰還、新たな、決意)</td><td>Yoku Neruzō</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Gorō Kuji</td><td>Hiroyuki Yoshii</td><td>March 21, 2024 (2024-03-21)</td></tr><tr><td>The battle at the caverns continues, and the Unihorn mutates into a second, even stronger form. Still, Yuuki breaks its horn with his mouth and restrains it with his chains, giving Kyouka enough time to kill it. With the Unihorn dead, Kyouka finally gets closure for the destruction of her hometown, but Shikoku and Jouryuu retreat, having kidnapped Koko and Naon. While Tenka evacuates the injured back to the MDF's headquarters, Kyouka promises Aoba that she will become Supreme Commander of the MDF so that victims like Aoba will no longer suffer prosecution from the Onmyou Bureau, the secret organization that conducted illegal experiments on Shuuki. Aoba decides that she and her fellow humanoid Shuuki will stay hidden and avoid detection from Yamashiro, the MDF's current Supreme Commander and chief of the 10th unit. Shikoku takes Koko and Naon to her fortress and feeds them to a mysterious beast. Back at the 7th squad's dorm, Yuuki and his friends celebrate their victory with a party and continue their fight against the Shuuki.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Season 2 (2026)

<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Storyboarded by</th><th>Chief animation directed by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>13</td><td>1</td><td>"Commander Meeting" Transliteration: "Kumichō Kaigi" (Japanese: 組長会議)</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Keiya Nakano, Shinya Hashizume & Isamu Fukushima</td><td>January 8, 2026 (2026-01-08)</td></tr><tr><td>Yuuki's life with the 7th squad continues. Tenka delivers supplies to Aoba and her colony of humanoid Shuuki while the 6th and 7th squad work in a joint operation. Later, as Yuuki prepares for a training session with Kyouka, both are called to a meeting at the Supreme Commander's headquarters. Once they attend, they find that commanders from all other squads have been joined, like Mira, a personal rival of Kyouka for the position of Supreme Commander; Fubuki, mother of Himari and Yachiyo; and Ren, the current Supreme Commander who has no interest in stepping down. The commanders are trying to plan a strategy to defeat the Eight Thunder Gods, with Kyouka suggesting offense while Ren proposing defense. The meeting is interrupted by a group of Shuuki invading Ren's headquarters but the gathered commanders defeat the Shuuki, while Ren discovers the supposed masterminds behind the attack, a group of foreign terrorists. With her ability, which grants her infinite knowledge of the cosmos, Ren kills the terrorists before they can even fight back.</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>2</td><td>"Ren's Shadow" Transliteration: "Ren no Kage" (Japanese: 恋の影)</td><td>Takahide Ejiri</td><td>Ohine Ezaki</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Keiya Nakano, Shinya Hashizume & Isamu Fukushima</td><td>January 15, 2026 (2026-01-15)</td></tr><tr><td>After killing the terrorists, Ren takes a huge interest in Yuuki, but in a toxic way. Kyouka than further explains to him that she has a fond interest in dogs which is what she thinks of him. That night, Shushu attempts to flirt with Yuuki via sneaking into his room while he is asleep. It is interrupted when Shikoku having snuck through the barrier attempts to abduct him. Shushu with help from Tenka also having the same idea fend her off, forcing her to flee. Yuuki having not heard the fight in his sleep wakes up, and thanks Tenka, but she credits Shushu which makes her feel proud. The 7th squadron is forced to sleep together as a result for the rest of the night. Nei, and Yuuki conduct a scouting mission the following day where they encounter Ren who was watching them from above. Ren attempts to borrow Yuuki, but Kyouka refuses due to the consequences of multiple users in a row. Kyouka then punishes Yuuki warning him that he could be used as a plaything for the other commanders if word gets out. The 5th, 6th, and 7th squadron meetup to conduct a training session.</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>3</td><td>"A Storm Rolls In" Transliteration: "Yattekita Arashi" (Japanese: やってきた嵐)</td><td>Yūta Kida</td><td>Kyōta Kanō</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Shinya Hashizume & Isamu Fukushima</td><td>January 22, 2026 (2026-01-22)</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>4</td><td>"Rampage" Transliteration: "Bōsō" (Japanese: 暴走)</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Takahiro Nagase</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Keiya Nakano & Isamu Fukushima</td><td>January 29, 2026 (2026-01-29)</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>5</td><td>"The Azuma Banquet" Transliteration: "Azuma no Bansan" (Japanese: 東の晩餐)</td><td>Masaru Kawashima</td><td>Takahiro Nagase</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Shinya Hashizume</td><td>February 5, 2026 (2026-02-05)</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>6</td><td>"A New Azuma" Transliteration: "Aratanaru Azuma" (Japanese: 新たなる東)</td><td>Hiroki Moritomo</td><td>Ohine Ezaki</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Isamu Fukushima</td><td>February 12, 2026 (2026-02-12)</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>7</td><td>"Late Summer Slave" Transliteration: "Sureibu no Banka" (Japanese: スレイブの晩夏)</td><td>Ippei Ichii</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Isamu Fukushima</td><td>February 19, 2026 (2026-02-19)</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>8</td><td>"The Commander of the 2nd Squadron" Transliteration: "Ni Bangumi Kumichō" (Japanese: 二番組 組長)</td><td>Yuta Kita</td><td>Kyōta Kanō</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Shinya Hashizume & Isamu Fukushima</td><td>February 26, 2026 (2026-02-26)</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>9</td><td>"The Commander's Resolve" Transliteration: "Kumichō no Kakugo" (Japanese: 組長の覚悟)</td><td>Takahide Ejiri</td><td>Ohine Ezaki</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Keiya Nakano</td><td>March 5, 2026 (2026-03-05)</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>10</td><td>"Yokohama Showdown" Transliteration: "Yokohama Kessen" (Japanese: 横浜決戦)</td><td>Ippei Ichii & Takahide Ejiri</td><td>Takahiro Nagase</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Keiya Nakano & Isamu Fukushima</td><td>March 12, 2026 (2026-03-12)</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>11</td><td>"Slave: Heaven" Transliteration: "Mukyū no Kusari Ten" (Japanese: 無窮の鎖 天)</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Kyōta Kanō</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Keiya Nakano & Isamu Fukushima</td><td>March 19, 2026 (2026-03-19)</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>12</td><td>"Gods Assemble" Transliteration: "Kamuhakari" (Japanese: 神議)</td><td>Hiroki Moritomo</td><td>Yasuhiro Nakanishi</td><td>Masafumi Tamura</td><td>Isamu Fukushima</td><td>March 26, 2026 (2026-03-26)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Reception

Chained Soldier

By November 2021, the manga had over 1 million copies in circulation. By January 2024, when the anime's first season aired, it had over 2 million copies in circulation. By June 2025, it had over 5.5 million copies in circulation.