Chained
Soldier fans will
have to wait a little longer to find out how the story of Yuuki and the members
of the Demonic Defense Force continues. The official Shonen Jump+
account announced that the manga will delay its return until December 12,
2026, because its illustrator, Yōhei Takemura, is still recovering from an
injury to his right wrist.
The work
was originally scheduled to resume publication on November 14, after going on
hiatus during October. However, those responsible decided to give the artist
more time to prevent his physical problems from worsening. The good news is
that, according to the new statement, Takemura has already resumed his
drawing work, although the publisher considers it necessary to maintain the
break from serialization for a few additional weeks.
The
situation began in June of this year, when Takemura suffered an injury to his
right wrist that affected fibrocartilage, a tissue important for the movement
and stability of this joint. Despite the problem, he continued to draw the
manga's chapters using a wrist strap to try and reduce the discomfort.
Unfortunately,
the long days of drawing ended up hindering his recovery. The artist himself
previously explained that the constant use of the hand caused pain and that the
injury needed more time to heal. For this reason, he decided to temporarily
interrupt the elaboration of the manuscripts and concentrate on their
treatment.
When the
original hiatus was announced, the Shonen Jump+ editorial team assured
that Takemura's recovery would be the top priority. He also explained
that any decision on the pace of publication would be made in conjunction with
screenwriter Takahiro and following medical recommendations.
Now, with
the new postponement, chapter 189 is expected to arrive on Saturday,
December 12. The date is still a forecast of the publisher, so it could be
modified if the illustrator's recovery requires it.
For those
unfamiliar with the franchise, Chained Soldier, known in Japan as Mato
Seihei no Slave, is a manga written by Takahiro and illustrated by Yōhei
Takemura that began publishing in January 2019 through Shonen Jump+.
The story
takes place in a world where mysterious portals connect Japan with a dimension
inhabited by monsters called Shuuki. In that place grow special peaches that
grant supernatural powers, although they only work on women. For this reason,
humanity depends on a female organization in charge of combating these
creatures.
The
protagonist is Yuuki Wakura, a student who ends up meeting Kyouka Uzen,
captain of the seventh squad of the Demon Defense Force. After discovering that
he can transform into a powerful weapon under his command, he begins a rather
peculiar life where supernatural battles are accompanied by rewards that are
not always appropriate for all audiences.
The
franchise received its first anime adaptation in January 2024, followed by a
second season released in January 2026. In addition, a third season is
already announced, although it does not yet have a confirmed premiere date.
For now,
readers will have to wait until December to rediscover the manga. At least, the
new statement confirms that Takemura has been able to resume some of his work,
while the publisher continues to take precautions so that his recovery is not
harmed.
