ONA
Description
Arshes Nei is a central figure in the narrative of Bastard!!, recognized as one of the most powerful and loyal companions to the sorcerer Dark Schneider. Known by her fearsome title, the Thunder Empress, she is a striking figure whose appearance reflects her mixed heritage as a half-human, half-dark elf. Born around a century before the main events of the story, her given name, Nei, meaning no or not true, signifies the rejection she faced from birth, as neither human nor dark elf societies would accept her. The dark elf clan she lived with belittled her and abandoned her at the first opportunity when conflict arose with the Wood Elves.
Left alone as a child, she encountered the legendary wizard Dark Schneider, who, feeling a rare moment of pity, took her in. He raised her as his own daughter and bestowed upon her the name Arshes, a name only he is permitted to use. This act of kindness forged an unbreakable, complex bond between them. As she came of age, her relationship with him evolved into that of a lover. She became his most trusted follower, the first of the Four Riders of Havoc to join his conquest of the world, and one of his chief commanders.
In battle, Arshes Nei is fierce, stern, and merciless, adopting a take-no-prisoners attitude. She commands loyalty through her overwhelming power, as seen with her own underlings, the Sorcerer Generals Sean Ari, Kai Harn, and the vampire Di-Amon, who dare not defy her. Her core motivation is her deep, passionate love for Dark Schneider, who represents both a lover and a father figure. This devotion is so absolute that she is willing to give everything for him. However, this love is also a source of great frustration, as she is exasperated by his incorrigible womanizing ways. The pain of feeling abandoned by him as he spent time with other women is a significant source of conflict for her, even factoring into her decisions after his resurrection.
Within the story, Arshes Nei holds the position of one of the Four Riders of Havoc. When the story begins, she is initially an antagonist, serving the Dark Rebel Army under the command of Dark Priest Abigail and Ice Lord Kall-Su. Because she is known to be the closest to Dark Schneider, Abigail does not trust her loyalty and forces her to fight against her former master by placing a curse on her called the Curse of the Accused, which would transform her into a toad if she betrays them. This leads to an intense, destructive battle between her and Dark Schneider. During their fight, her suppressed feelings resurface, and she secretly wishes for him to kill her to spare her the curse's humiliation. In a shocking act that breaks the curse, Dark Schneider rips his own heart out and sprinkles her with his blood. Freed from the curse, she immediately rejoins him to prevent the awakening of the god of destruction, Anthrax. She then fights alongside him and the other Riders against their celestial and demonic enemies.
Her key relationships are almost entirely centered on Dark Schneider, but she also has notable interactions with her fellow generals. She shares a rivalry and a complex camaraderie with Kall-Su, and she is later seen pursuing him. She also displays a protective, if harsh, mentorship over her own Sorcerer Generals, having granted Sean Ari and Kai Harn their powers. Over the course of the narrative, Arshes Nei undergoes significant development. She begins as a conflicted antagonist whose love has turned to bitter resentment, but through her battle with Dark Schneider, her original devotion is rekindled. Her arc is one of reclaiming her loyalty and identity, moving from a pawn of the Dark Rebel Army to a crucial ally in the fight to save the world. Her story continues across major time skips, during which her loyalty remains a defining characteristic, as she continues to believe in Dark Schneider's return when others do not.
Arshes Nei is a formidable warrior of immense power, said to be nearly as powerful as Dark Schneider himself. Her primary area of expertise is air and lightning magic, earning her the title of Thunder Empress. Her repertoire of spells includes Balvolt, which calls down a lightning strike; Thunder Riot, which unleashes a barrage of electrical discharges; Gilbert, which summons lightning elementals; Wolfgang, a wave of wind and electricity; and Raven, a high-mobility flight spell. She is also capable of powerful explosive spells like Megadeth. One of her most devastating techniques is Helloween, which opens the gates of hell to release a massive blast of energy, though it requires a full moon to cast. Another powerful ability is Def Leppard's Black Liquid Lightning Sphere, which creates a dimensional portal that absorbs all magical energy, forcing an opponent to fight without magic. In addition to her magical prowess, she is an adept and highly skilled swordswoman, a master of the secret Hariken Swordsmanship school, and her skill with a blade exceeds that of Dark Schneider. She wields the Raijin-Ken, the Lightning God Sword, which is inhabited by the Nue elemental. This legendary blade is capable of cutting through mountains and can regenerate even after being broken. Her sword techniques include the Raging Dragon Slayer Strike, the Super Ballistic Thunder Strike, and the Highest of Mysteries Imperial Sword Eagle Claw Strike. Her hybrid lineage grants her a greatly extended lifespan, appearing as a woman in her mid-twenties despite being over a century old. She also possesses enhanced strength, capable of shattering stone with her blows.
Left alone as a child, she encountered the legendary wizard Dark Schneider, who, feeling a rare moment of pity, took her in. He raised her as his own daughter and bestowed upon her the name Arshes, a name only he is permitted to use. This act of kindness forged an unbreakable, complex bond between them. As she came of age, her relationship with him evolved into that of a lover. She became his most trusted follower, the first of the Four Riders of Havoc to join his conquest of the world, and one of his chief commanders.
In battle, Arshes Nei is fierce, stern, and merciless, adopting a take-no-prisoners attitude. She commands loyalty through her overwhelming power, as seen with her own underlings, the Sorcerer Generals Sean Ari, Kai Harn, and the vampire Di-Amon, who dare not defy her. Her core motivation is her deep, passionate love for Dark Schneider, who represents both a lover and a father figure. This devotion is so absolute that she is willing to give everything for him. However, this love is also a source of great frustration, as she is exasperated by his incorrigible womanizing ways. The pain of feeling abandoned by him as he spent time with other women is a significant source of conflict for her, even factoring into her decisions after his resurrection.
Within the story, Arshes Nei holds the position of one of the Four Riders of Havoc. When the story begins, she is initially an antagonist, serving the Dark Rebel Army under the command of Dark Priest Abigail and Ice Lord Kall-Su. Because she is known to be the closest to Dark Schneider, Abigail does not trust her loyalty and forces her to fight against her former master by placing a curse on her called the Curse of the Accused, which would transform her into a toad if she betrays them. This leads to an intense, destructive battle between her and Dark Schneider. During their fight, her suppressed feelings resurface, and she secretly wishes for him to kill her to spare her the curse's humiliation. In a shocking act that breaks the curse, Dark Schneider rips his own heart out and sprinkles her with his blood. Freed from the curse, she immediately rejoins him to prevent the awakening of the god of destruction, Anthrax. She then fights alongside him and the other Riders against their celestial and demonic enemies.
Her key relationships are almost entirely centered on Dark Schneider, but she also has notable interactions with her fellow generals. She shares a rivalry and a complex camaraderie with Kall-Su, and she is later seen pursuing him. She also displays a protective, if harsh, mentorship over her own Sorcerer Generals, having granted Sean Ari and Kai Harn their powers. Over the course of the narrative, Arshes Nei undergoes significant development. She begins as a conflicted antagonist whose love has turned to bitter resentment, but through her battle with Dark Schneider, her original devotion is rekindled. Her arc is one of reclaiming her loyalty and identity, moving from a pawn of the Dark Rebel Army to a crucial ally in the fight to save the world. Her story continues across major time skips, during which her loyalty remains a defining characteristic, as she continues to believe in Dark Schneider's return when others do not.
Arshes Nei is a formidable warrior of immense power, said to be nearly as powerful as Dark Schneider himself. Her primary area of expertise is air and lightning magic, earning her the title of Thunder Empress. Her repertoire of spells includes Balvolt, which calls down a lightning strike; Thunder Riot, which unleashes a barrage of electrical discharges; Gilbert, which summons lightning elementals; Wolfgang, a wave of wind and electricity; and Raven, a high-mobility flight spell. She is also capable of powerful explosive spells like Megadeth. One of her most devastating techniques is Helloween, which opens the gates of hell to release a massive blast of energy, though it requires a full moon to cast. Another powerful ability is Def Leppard's Black Liquid Lightning Sphere, which creates a dimensional portal that absorbs all magical energy, forcing an opponent to fight without magic. In addition to her magical prowess, she is an adept and highly skilled swordswoman, a master of the secret Hariken Swordsmanship school, and her skill with a blade exceeds that of Dark Schneider. She wields the Raijin-Ken, the Lightning God Sword, which is inhabited by the Nue elemental. This legendary blade is capable of cutting through mountains and can regenerate even after being broken. Her sword techniques include the Raging Dragon Slayer Strike, the Super Ballistic Thunder Strike, and the Highest of Mysteries Imperial Sword Eagle Claw Strike. Her hybrid lineage grants her a greatly extended lifespan, appearing as a woman in her mid-twenties despite being over a century old. She also possesses enhanced strength, capable of shattering stone with her blows.