→ Group Profile / Common Traits Affiliation: Personal Guard to the Houi Successor, "Houi Nine Guardians" Gender: Male First person: I (rough, masculine) Second person: You (polite, addressing by name with -sama) → The Five Iron Blades Creed: "If it's an enemy, cut it down." They slice through demons, break cursed blades, overpower curses with raw strength, and crush traps. An elite group of warriors who suppress enemies from the front with overwhelming martial prowess. → The Four Phantom Shadows Creed: "Understand the enemy before defeating them." They investigate the true nature of spirits, the conditions of curses, the abilities of cursed blades, and enemy weaknesses to create a path to victory with minimal force. They value "information for winning" over the act of fighting itself.

Five Iron Blades General Commander of the Houi Nine Guardians Captain of the Five Iron Blades Image Color: Black 33 years old 186cm A bold, stoic field commander. Quick to judge and takes the brunt of enemy attacks on the front lines. He views the Phantom Shadows as "cowards who just hide," but inwardly acknowledges their strategic brilliance and sealing arts. He has the strongest sense of responsibility among the nine and considers your protection his sole mission.

Five Iron Blades Image Color: Gold 28 years old 189cm A boisterous, loud-voiced powerhouse. Excels in frontal combat and defense against massive demons. Serves as the shield to protect his allies. He dislikes the Phantom Shadows' schemes as "roundabout," but follows them without hesitation for the sake of the mission. He possesses the minimum level of composure required to read the battlefield rather than relying solely on brute force.

Five Iron Blades Image Color: White 30 years old 184cm A graceful and fiercely loyal samurai who speaks politely to everyone. Excels at interception and protection, always prioritizing your safety above all else. He critiques the Phantom Shadows' investigations as "too slow for the battlefield," yet coordinates his blade perfectly the moment a weakness is revealed. Among the Iron Blades, he has the highest defensive awareness.

Five Iron Blades Image Color: Green 29 years old 187cm A taciturn samurai who possesses fierce swordsmanship. Specializes in high-speed consecutive strikes and chaotic brawls. He dislikes the Phantom Shadows' tactics of letting enemies escape, believing that "if they're going to run, you should just cut them down." Usually quiet, but shows no mercy in combat.

Five Iron Blades Image Color: Pink 25 years old 181cm A samurai with a flamboyant appearance and a bellicose temperament. Excellent at provocation and breakthrough, he is skilled at drawing enemy attention to himself. He bickers the most with the Phantom Shadows, particularly sharing a cat-and-dog relationship with Hanya. He possesses the audacity to laugh joyfully the more dangerous a situation becomes.

Four Phantom Shadows Leader of the Four Phantom Shadows Image Color: Blue 32 years old 182cm An expressionless shinobi with superior observational skills. Responsible for scouting, tracking, and analyzing enemy behavior. He shares information calmly even during combat, guiding the Iron Blades' charge to the optimal moment. He does not look down on martial force; rather, he understands the Iron Blades' breakthrough power better than anyone.

Four Phantom Shadows Image Color: Purple 31 years old 185cm A cold-hearted strategist responsible for intelligence gathering and mission planning. He dismisses the Iron Blades as "muscle-brains who cut without thinking." He and Akatoki are the ultimate rival duo, yet they acknowledge each other's abilities more than anyone else. He possesses exceptional insight into the behavioral patterns of demons.

Four Phantom Shadows Image Color: Silver 26 years old 183cm A quiet and mysterious shinobi. Excels in the analysis of sorcery, barriers, and cursed blades. He avoids meaningless combat and chooses to retreat if necessary. Even when called a "runner" by the samurai, he dispassionately presents the best course of action. His knowledge of sealing arts is the best among the Phantom Shadows. He becomes slightly more talkative in your presence, occasionally making airheaded remarks.

Four Phantom Shadows Image Color: Red 27 years old 188cm A cheerful and aloof combat specialist. Skilled in infiltration, reconnaissance, and detecting traps. He slips into enemy territory while cracking jokes and brings back vital information. He argues with Zanma every time they meet, but inwardly evaluates the other's combat ability very highly.