ONA
Description
Gara, also known as Ninja Master Gara, is a prominent character introduced in the Bastard!! manga and its anime adaptation Hell's Requiem. He initially appears as a formidable antagonist, serving as one of the Four Divine Kings of the Dark Rebel Army, before eventually switching his allegiance to the powerful sorcerer Dark Schneider.
Physically, Gara is depicted as a man of tall stature with a muscular build. He has dark, messy hair and bears a prominent scar on the left side of his face. His battle attire typically consists of chest armor and spiked shoulder pads, reflecting his aggressive and warrior-oriented nature.
Gara's personality is defined by a simple but powerful driving force: the pursuit of personal amusement and enjoyment, particularly in combat. He is a warrior who lives and dies for what he finds "fun" at any given moment. This hedonistic approach to battle is paired with a deep pride in his skills as a master ninja. However, his pride is balanced by a perceptive nature that prevents him from underestimating opponents, and he can accurately tell when an enemy is not using their full potential against him.
His code of loyalty is straightforward and pragmatic, based purely on following the strongest warrior. This philosophy explains his shift in allegiance to Dark Schneider, both fifteen years prior to the main story and again after a second defeat. While Gara shares some of Dark Schneider's perverted tendencies, such as enjoying a situation involving a clothes-dissolving slime, he finds the sorcerer's rampant womanizing to be shameful. He is also shown throughout the series to have romantic feelings for his comrade, Arshes Nei.
Gara's background reveals the origins of his warrior mindset. He was once the son of a great ninja who harbored the ambition to become so powerful that he could defeat anyone. When his father asked him what he would do after reaching such a goal, the young Gara had no answer. As an adult, he pledged his loyalty to an unnamed king, serving faithfully for years. When the wizard Dark Schneider began conquering kingdoms, including the one Gara served, the ninja requested permission to assassinate the invader. The king agreed, offering Gara the title of "Ninja Master" if he succeeded. Gara infiltrated Dark Schneider's base and attacked him while he was with Arshes Nei. After a battle in which Dark Schneider merely toyed with him, Gara chose to ally himself with the stronger wizard, becoming one of his Divine Kings.
Within the story of Hell's Requiem, Gara plays a significant role as a powerful fighter whose loyalties are in flux. He is first seen alongside other Divine Kings, discussing the return of Dark Schneider. After the destruction of Castle Metallicana, Gara is revealed to have survived. He was transported to a faraway land by Dark Schneider and spent the following two years crossing deserts and oceans to return. His journey during this "blank two years" is further detailed in a tie-in novel, where he finds himself in a desert town of beastmen and teams up with a wolf tribe swordsman named Rona to clear a mysterious labyrinth. Upon his return to the Valley of Graves, he continues to demonstrate his loyalty by protecting his allies and confronting powerful enemies like a Dragon Zombie.
Gara's key relationships are central to his development. His bond with Dark Schneider is complex, rooted in respect for strength rather than friendship, yet it commands his loyalty. He shares a close camaraderie and a hinted romantic connection with Arshes Nei, and he becomes protective when he believes she is in danger. His journey often intersects with other characters, such as Maclalpine Toni Strauss, whom he encounters and travels with for a time.
As a fighter, Gara is exceptionally powerful, known as one of the best swordsmen in the series alongside Arshes Nei. He wields the cursed magical blade Murasame, which allows him to perform several devastating techniques. These include sending shockwaves to cut enemies from a distance, a speed-boosting slash called Majinken, the True Majinken which launches a beam of wind and thunder, and techniques like Keiun Kininken that attack both the material and spiritual body. His ultimate sword technique, Majin Flashing Drive, unleashes a massive wave of force against an opponent.
Beyond his swordsmanship, Gara possesses vast knowledge of ninja arts and enhanced physical abilities. He demonstrates incredible speed, capable of creating up to six afterimages simply by moving back and forth, and performs techniques like the Ninja Art of the Seven Body Split to create illusions of himself. He has shown superhuman strength, withstanding blows that shatter the ground. A notable feat is his ability to catch an energy beam with his bare hands and throw it back at his opponent. He also employs a variety of ninja weaponry, including shurikens, kunai, and different sets of armor like the Hiei, which increases defense at the cost of speed, and the more powerful Dragon Armor. A common misconception is that Gara has a healing factor; however, any instances of regenerated limbs are actually the result of Dark Schneider's healing magic.
Physically, Gara is depicted as a man of tall stature with a muscular build. He has dark, messy hair and bears a prominent scar on the left side of his face. His battle attire typically consists of chest armor and spiked shoulder pads, reflecting his aggressive and warrior-oriented nature.
Gara's personality is defined by a simple but powerful driving force: the pursuit of personal amusement and enjoyment, particularly in combat. He is a warrior who lives and dies for what he finds "fun" at any given moment. This hedonistic approach to battle is paired with a deep pride in his skills as a master ninja. However, his pride is balanced by a perceptive nature that prevents him from underestimating opponents, and he can accurately tell when an enemy is not using their full potential against him.
His code of loyalty is straightforward and pragmatic, based purely on following the strongest warrior. This philosophy explains his shift in allegiance to Dark Schneider, both fifteen years prior to the main story and again after a second defeat. While Gara shares some of Dark Schneider's perverted tendencies, such as enjoying a situation involving a clothes-dissolving slime, he finds the sorcerer's rampant womanizing to be shameful. He is also shown throughout the series to have romantic feelings for his comrade, Arshes Nei.
Gara's background reveals the origins of his warrior mindset. He was once the son of a great ninja who harbored the ambition to become so powerful that he could defeat anyone. When his father asked him what he would do after reaching such a goal, the young Gara had no answer. As an adult, he pledged his loyalty to an unnamed king, serving faithfully for years. When the wizard Dark Schneider began conquering kingdoms, including the one Gara served, the ninja requested permission to assassinate the invader. The king agreed, offering Gara the title of "Ninja Master" if he succeeded. Gara infiltrated Dark Schneider's base and attacked him while he was with Arshes Nei. After a battle in which Dark Schneider merely toyed with him, Gara chose to ally himself with the stronger wizard, becoming one of his Divine Kings.
Within the story of Hell's Requiem, Gara plays a significant role as a powerful fighter whose loyalties are in flux. He is first seen alongside other Divine Kings, discussing the return of Dark Schneider. After the destruction of Castle Metallicana, Gara is revealed to have survived. He was transported to a faraway land by Dark Schneider and spent the following two years crossing deserts and oceans to return. His journey during this "blank two years" is further detailed in a tie-in novel, where he finds himself in a desert town of beastmen and teams up with a wolf tribe swordsman named Rona to clear a mysterious labyrinth. Upon his return to the Valley of Graves, he continues to demonstrate his loyalty by protecting his allies and confronting powerful enemies like a Dragon Zombie.
Gara's key relationships are central to his development. His bond with Dark Schneider is complex, rooted in respect for strength rather than friendship, yet it commands his loyalty. He shares a close camaraderie and a hinted romantic connection with Arshes Nei, and he becomes protective when he believes she is in danger. His journey often intersects with other characters, such as Maclalpine Toni Strauss, whom he encounters and travels with for a time.
As a fighter, Gara is exceptionally powerful, known as one of the best swordsmen in the series alongside Arshes Nei. He wields the cursed magical blade Murasame, which allows him to perform several devastating techniques. These include sending shockwaves to cut enemies from a distance, a speed-boosting slash called Majinken, the True Majinken which launches a beam of wind and thunder, and techniques like Keiun Kininken that attack both the material and spiritual body. His ultimate sword technique, Majin Flashing Drive, unleashes a massive wave of force against an opponent.
Beyond his swordsmanship, Gara possesses vast knowledge of ninja arts and enhanced physical abilities. He demonstrates incredible speed, capable of creating up to six afterimages simply by moving back and forth, and performs techniques like the Ninja Art of the Seven Body Split to create illusions of himself. He has shown superhuman strength, withstanding blows that shatter the ground. A notable feat is his ability to catch an energy beam with his bare hands and throw it back at his opponent. He also employs a variety of ninja weaponry, including shurikens, kunai, and different sets of armor like the Hiei, which increases defense at the cost of speed, and the more powerful Dragon Armor. A common misconception is that Gara has a healing factor; however, any instances of regenerated limbs are actually the result of Dark Schneider's healing magic.