Hermann Salza is a central character in the anime Blassreiter, whose journey is marked by fierce loyalty, profound loss, and a relentless struggle to protect those he cares about. Before the events of the series, Hermann was a professional motorcycle racer, where his greatest friend and rival was Gerd Frentzen. Following his racing career, he became an officer of the Xenogenesis Assault Team, or XAT, a special task force formed to combat the outbreak of demoniacs, which are humans infected with a techno-organic plague that transforms them into monstrous, powerful beings.

In his role at XAT, Hermann is partnered with Amanda Werner. His personality stands in stark contrast to her calm and professional demeanor; Hermann is hot-blooded, impulsive, and driven by his personal feelings and strong sense of right and wrong. He is known for being vocal and often questions orders that clash with his own moral compass, frequently charging into dangerous situations without a second thought, especially when friends are involved. This loyalty is most powerfully demonstrated through his bond with Gerd. When a rival sabotage causes Gerd to suffer a career-ending paralysis and he becomes ostracized by society, Hermann remains a steadfast and unwavering presence at his side, believing in his friend when no one else would. When Gerd eventually transforms into a Blassreiter and goes on a rampage, Hermann holds onto the hope that he can overcome the corruption. Tragically, Gerd ultimately dies in Hermann's arms, an event that deeply scars him. After witnessing the mysterious Joseph Jobson, also known as Blue, deliver a fatal blow to the rampaging Gerd, Hermann develops a powerful and deep-seated grudge against him.

Hermann's own destiny becomes intertwined with the very threat he fights. After a devastating attack by fusion beings that wipes out much of XAT, Hermann is infected and becomes a demoniac himself, transforming into a powerful red Blassreiter. For a time, he is controlled by an outside force and used to destroy a Zwölf base, but a chance encounter with his partner Amanda helps him break free from that control and regain his self-awareness, unleashing his tremendous latent power. Having been revived as a demoniac after dying in a helicopter crash, he now exists in a transformed state, continuing his fight against the forces that created the plague. In this new existence, he steals a powerful prototype motorcycle and launches a lone search to end the twisted actions of a figure named Wolf, whom he eventually kills with help from a revived ally.

Throughout the latter half of the story, Hermann's protective nature extends to Amanda's adopted younger brother, Malek. After helping Amanda rescue Malek from the Zwölf organization, they take refuge together, and Hermann becomes a guardian figure to the boy. His final confrontation comes when he senses the approach of Beatrice, the one responsible for the fates of both his friend Gerd and Malek. He leaves to face her alone. In the ensuing fierce battle, he manages to win with the aid of a newly awakened Malek. At the last moment, Beatrice launches a final attack aimed at the boy, and Hermann sacrifices himself to shield Malek from the blow. As he dies in Amanda's arms, his final words are a question to Malek, asking if he could have been a good brother to him. As a demoniac, Hermann wields a massive, imposing axe as his primary weapon. His abilities as a Blassreiter grant him superhuman strength, speed, and resilience, allowing him to engage in the brutal close-quarters combat that defines his fighting style.