When Takahiro’s Chained Soldier, Vol. 1 landed on physical shelves, it hooked readers with a potent mix of high-stakes battle fantasy, distinct power hierarchies, and supernatural monster hunting. Set in a world where interdimensional gates open into the demonic realm of Mato, the story turns conventional combat dynamics on their head. Men who enter Mato gain no supernatural abilities from its native peaches, leaving the defense of humanity to elite all-female Anti-Demon Squads. When Yuki Wakura finds himself bound into a servitude contract with Chief Kyouka Uzen, his transformation into her combat mount creates one of the most memorable dual-fighting dynamics in modern manga.

What keeps readers turning pages is not just the intense monster slaying—it is the friction between characters, the cost of powerful transformation contracts, and the constant escalation of otherworldly threats. If you have caught up with the physical releases and want that same blend of lethal combat, supernatural organizations, and compelling partner contracts, finding the right follow-up can be tricky. You want series that do not shy away from mature edge, physical stakes, and memorable character chemistry.

As manga editors who spend hours organizing shelves and reading every major release, we have pulled together nine series that match specific elements of Takahiro's hit story. Whether you are chasing supernatural squad tactics, contracts forged with monstrous entities, or pure dark fantasy combat, these nine manga will fill that void on your bookshelf.

Contract Bonds and Dynamic Power Mechanics

One of the defining hooks of Chained Soldier is the contract system—the idea that a protagonist exchanges autonomy or forms a symbiotic bond with a dominant partner to unleash a devastating supernatural combat form. These three series explore similar contractual relationships where power comes with strict conditions and high personal friction.

1. Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1 — Tatsuki Fujimoto

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s breakout hit shares a striking thematic foundation with Takahiro’s work. In Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1, young Denji lives a desperate existence hunting devils alongside his canine devil Pochita until a betrayal forces a literal flesh-and-blood contract between them. Fused into a devil hybrid, Denji is recruited into Public Safety Special Division 4—a government agency staffed by eccentric, ruthless devil hunters operating under strict hierarchy and authority figures who keep Denji on a short leash. The series delivers relentless visceral action, dark humor, and a sharp focus on how power structures handle weaponized human hybrids. Readers who love the tension between servitude, affection, and brutal demon hunting in Mato will feel right at home with Public Safety's devil hunters. Expect graphic violence and mature themes in a fast-paced volume available under $15.

2. Soul Eater, Vol. 1 — Atsushi Ohkubo

For readers who enjoy the concept of human partners transforming into weaponized forms for their handlers, Soul Eater, Vol. 1 offers a masterclass in master-weapon combat mechanics. Set at the Death Weapon Meister Academy, human weapons who can transform into physical scythes, guns, and blades team up with skilled Meisters to hunt corrupted souls and monstrous witches. The bond between weapon and meister requires precise soul resonance, echoing the synchronization required between Yuki and his squad commanders. While Atsushi Ohkubo’s art style leans into gothic halloween aesthetics, the core appeal remains the symbiotic partnership and tactical teamwork under strict institutional oversight. It provides a thrilling, action-heavy alternative for older teens and adult readers seeking creative power systems, with initial volumes priced under $15.

3. Record of Ragnarok, Vol. 1 — Shinya Umemura

If the bond between powerful commanders and their sworn combat instruments is what draws you in, Record of Ragnarok, Vol. 1 escalates that dynamic to divine proportions. When the council of gods decrees the total extinction of humanity, the Valkyrie Brunhilde invokes an ancient clause allowing thirteen human champions to duel thirteen gods in one-on-one combat. To fight deity-level entities, each human warrior performs a Volund contract with a Valkyrie, who transforms her soul into a custom divine weapon tailored to the warrior’s fighting style. The stakes are absolute, as a defeat destroys both warrior and Valkyrie permanently. Shinya Umemura crafts explosive, multi-chapter duels driven by intense martial pride and deep personal sacrifices between human fighters and their weaponized Valkyrie partners. Look for these oversized battle manga volumes under $20.

Monster-Hunting Squads and Dark Dimensions

Beyond partner contracts, Chained Soldier relies heavily on the structure of specialized military units venturing into dangerous alien domains to eliminate monstrous threats. These picks emphasize squad coordination, supernatural infestations, and high-intensity dark fantasy battle zones.

4. Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 1 — Sui Ishida

Sui Ishida’s dark urban fantasy plunges readers into a shadowy world where human society exists alongside Ghouls—predatory creatures who can only feed on human flesh. In Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 1, college student Ken Kaneki survives a deadly encounter only to receive organ transplants from his attacker, transforming him into a half-ghoul hybrid caught between two warring sides. The story balances Kaneki’s struggle with his new monster-like body with the tactical operations of the Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG), a specialized military agency armed with weaponized ghoul organs called Quinques. Much like the Anti-Demon Squads operating out of Mato, the CCG features distinct squad command structures, specialized combat units, and psychological tension between monster hunters and the monsters they hunt. It is a gritty, atmospheric read for fans of dark transformation action, with single volumes available under $20.

5. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 — Gege Akutami

Before the main story of Yuji Itadori, Gege Akutami crafted Jujutsu Kaisen 0, a standalone prequel focusing on Yuta Okkotsu and his terrifying relationship with a high-grade cursed spirit. Bound by a childhood promise, Yuta is haunted by Rika, a monstrous entity that violently protects him from any perceived threat. Recruited into Tokyo Jujutsu High, Yuta must learn to control his terrifying connection while training alongside elite sorcerers to exorcise deadly curses threatening non-magical humans. The balance between monstrous manifestation, specialized sorcery academies, and intense tactical combat aligns seamlessly with the Anti-Demon Squad dynamics fans adore. It serves as an ideal entry point into Akutami’s dark supernatural world for under $15.

6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1 — Koyoharu Gotouge

For readers who appreciate structured corps hunting bloodthirsty supernatural beings, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1 delivers pure battle action. Following the slaughter of his family and the transformation of his sister Nezuko into a demon, Tanjiro Kamado joins the Demon Slayer Corps—an unsanctioned military organization dedicated to eradicating demons using specialized breathing techniques and Nichirin swords. Like the commanders in Chained Soldier, the high-ranking Hashira represent elite combat commanders with unique martial styles and distinct personalities. The combination of lethal monster encounters, strict organizational rankings, and fierce protective bonds makes this an essential recommendation, with opening volumes under $15.

High-Octane Combat and Supernatural Escalation

If your favorite aspect of Takahiro's storytelling is the constant escalation of wild abilities, relentless pacing, and uninhibited dark fantasy action, these final picks offer non-stop momentum and extreme combat scenarios.

7. Dandadan, Vol. 1 — Yukinobu Tatsu

Yukinobu Tatsu’s breakout hit Dandadan, Vol. 1 mixes occult ghost hunting with alien sci-fi in a hyper-kinetic whirlwind of action and humor. High schooler Momo Ayase believes in ghosts but rejects aliens, while her classmate Ken "Okarun" Takashiro believes in aliens but dismisses ghosts. Their attempt to prove each other wrong results in both being targeted by terrifying supernatural entities—leading Okarun to be cursed by Turbo Babaa, granting him a bizarre, high-speed demonic transformation form. Much like Yuki’s battle form in Mato, Okarun’s powers require assistance and anchor control from Momo’s spiritual abilities. The series features kinetic artwork, bizarre monster designs, and a strong dynamic between its leads, with physical volumes under $15.

8. Gachiakuta 1 — Kei Urana

Kei Urana presents a gritty dark fantasy world built around harsh societal exile and monstrous trash creatures in Gachiakuta 1. Rudo lives in the slums beneath a wealthy floating sphere city until he is framed for murder and cast down into the Abyss—a wasteland where human refuse transforms into massive, aggressive beasts. Saved by a member of the Raiders, a specialized group that hunts these trash beasts, Rudo unlocks the ability to draw out the soul of cherished objects to forge deadly weapons known as Jinki. The oppressive setting, squad-based monster hunting in a desolate alternate domain, and fierce combat momentum align brilliantly with readers seeking dark, action-heavy worldbuilding, available under $15.

9. Berserk Volume 1 — Kentaro Miura

For fans who want to trace the dark fantasy roots of lethal monster combat and terrifying demonic dimensions back to the gold standard, Berserk Volume 1 remains unmatched. Kentaro Miura’s legendary opus introduces Guts, the Black Swordsman, who travels a ruined land hunting demonic Apostles born from the terrifying domain of the God Hand. Carrying a massive sword and cursed with a brand that attracts evil spirits every night, Guts fights through overwhelming horror through sheer human force and uncompromising grit. While significantly darker and more visceral than modern battle manga, its influence on dark fantasy dimension shifts, monstrous squad foes, and high-octane combat is undeniable. This dark fantasy masterpiece is available in physical editions under $20.

How to Choose Your Next Supernatural Action Manga

With nine distinct recommendations stretching across dark fantasy, partner mechanics, and squad-based combat, picking your immediate next read comes down to which specific element of Chained Soldier kept you hooked:

Every reader enters Mato for a different reason, whether it is Takahiro's sharp character interactions or the high-octane battle sequences. Whichever path you choose, these series will keep your manga stack filled with relentless action and supernatural thrillers.