Magic Users
Wielding ancient magic, they reshape the battlefield with a word.
In the manga series Bastard!!, magic users are individuals who wield supernatural abilities, often through innate power, ancient knowledge, or demonic pacts. The most prominent is Dark Schneider, noted to be the most powerful wizard, created during the final days of the Old World by the Ten Wise Men of Europa. Other notable magic users include the Four Divine Kings of the Dark Rebel Army, such as Ninja Master Gara, who commands a sword drawing life force from its wielder for magic attacks, and Kall-Su, who is innately magically powerful and can transform into an Ice-Dragon. These practitioners shape the conflicts of the story through their devastating spells and ancient arts.
- Role
- Practitioners of The Art
- Affiliation
- Various (Crimson Court, Bastard Crew, Guilds)
- First Appears
- The Lies of Locke Lamora
- Status
- Active and Central to Plot
- Key Ability
- Mental manipulation of reality
- Primary Limitation
- Mental strain and physical exhaustion
Lore & Background
The hierarchy among magic users in Bastard!! is defined by raw power and mastery of specific arts. Dark Schneider, the most powerful wizard, was created as the pilot of the 'Dragon Knight,' a 500 meters (1,600 ft) mecha built to destroy Anthrasax. His Four Divine Kings each command unique abilities: Gara is a master of Ninjutsu whose sword can draw life force for unbeatable magic attacks, though the strongest attack is usually fatal to use. Arshes Nei, a half-human, half-Dark Elf, revived some ancient magic used by her followers. Kall-Su commands the Ice-Falchion, a great sword, and is capable of destroying an entire city with his spell Vizkaya, which freezes everyone into solid ice. Abigail, originally a scientist from the Old World as a member of the Ten Wise Men of Europa, studied spiritual matter and played a role in Anthrasax's creation. The use of magic comes at a cost: Gara's strongest attack is usually fatal, and Dark Schneider tore out his own heart to drive off the power of the Accused spell, later resurrecting himself.
In Their Own Story
When Gara learned of Dark's resurrection, he abducted Yoko and forced Dark to confront him at his keep. Their battle caused each to lose an arm. Though defeated, Dark won back Gara's services after restoring his arm and keeping his men alive during the keep's destruction. Later, when Nei's loyalty to the Dark Rebel Army came into question, she allowed herself to be cursed by Abigail with the spell Accused. When Nei confronted Dark, Lucien's spirit made Dark Schneider aware of what was driving his daughter to attack. Dark was outraged and tore out his own heart to drive off the power of the Accused spell, later resurrecting himself. Arshes rejoined him at that point, and they destroyed the advancing armies. After losing his battle against Anthrasax, Dark was cast into the depths of the upper levels of Hell where he encountered the fallen angel Satan, who revealed Dark is a reabsorbed fragment of his brother Lucifer, the first fallen angel and Lucien's true identity.
Reader's Guide
Magic users in Bastard!! often begin as prodigies or creations of ancient science. Dark Schneider was created by the Ten Wise Men of Europa, while Kall-Su was born in a distant village, persecuted for his father being an Ice-Dragon in human form, leading him to kill his ashamed mother in self-defense and destroy his village. He was later found and adopted by Dark, treated as an indentured servant. Within the Dark Rebel Army, the Four Divine Kings act as Dark's most powerful generals. Their abilities are tied to specific weapons or transformations: Gara's sword draws life force, Kall-Su's Ice-Falchion commands ice magic, and Arshes Nei revives ancient magic. Their reliance on these powers makes them formidable but vulnerable; Gara's strongest attack is usually fatal, and Kall-Su's power increased exponentially over four years without explanation. As the series progresses, these characters evolve from servants of Dark's ambition into figures grappling with larger cosmic conflicts. Kall, Nei and Gara discovered that 'glowing beings of light' are angels sent from God to kill a third of mankind. Four years after the battle on earth, Kall-Su is found blinded, filled with the same power as Elijah and deemed worthy to be his successor, and is said to be the 'true' king of Metallicana.
Did You Know?
- Dark Schneider is noted to be named after Udo Dirkschneider.
- Arshes Nei's name is a reference to Whitesnake.
- Kall-Su's name is a reference to Kal Swan of the bands Lion and Bad Moon Rising.
- Dark Schneider was created as the pilot of the 'Dragon Knight', a 500 meters (1,600 ft) mecha.
- Kall-Su destroyed the entire city of Whiteos-Neiki with his spell Vizkaya, freezing everyone into solid ice.