Choujinki Metalder - Characters - Neros Empire

The Neros Empire (ネロス帝国, Nerosu Teikoku?) is the underbelly of the Kirihara Konzern (桐原コンツェルン, Kirihara Kontserun?) Corporation. Located at Shinjuku, it covertly controls all activities of the world's criminal organizations, including terrorists and finance. The Neros Empire's goal is world domination with economic and military might. The leaders meet at the Ghost Bank, a ring of gates containing key army officers surrounding God Neros' throne. The area enclosed by the gates and throne serves as both an arena and as a strategy room. Divided into four Units: Armored, Robotic Warrior, Monster and Armament.

God Neros (ゴッドネロス, Goddonerosu?)is the leader of the Neros Empire. God Neros has a god complex and wants to rule the world through the arms market. His original identity is that of Kunio Muraki (村木 國夫, Muraki Kunio?), a former technical major within the Japanese Army who assisted Dr. Koga in development of the Choujinki project. Testing on prisoners of war led to Muraki's arrest and supposed execution at Singapore, but he managed to fake his death by bribing prison officials. Muraki escapes to America where he joins several criminal syndicates, eventually killing their leaders off and stealing their riches. In addition, he undergoes plastic surgery to alter his appearance, making himself appear much more youthful than he really is. He then builds the Kirihara Konzern under the name of Gozo Kirihara (桐原 剛造, Kirihara Gōzō?). As far as the public knows, Gozo is a philanthropist at the head of an international financial empire. When entering the Ghost Bank, Kirihara undergoes a grotesque transformation revealing his true cyborg form as God Neros. He has Coolgin switch places with him, faking his death and manages to kill Top Gunder. In battle, God Neros can throw a sword like a spear, sprout tentacles from his throne to electrocute and bind opponents, blast lasers from the sphere on his helmet, and create/blast electrical energy from his hands. God Neros was beheaded at the end of the series by Metalder with the Laser Arm attack.

Beautiful Secretary K (美人秘書K, Bijin Hisho Kē?) and Beautiful Secretary S (美人秘書S, Bijin Hisho Esu?) are Gozo's spies. They are as ruthless and cruel as their boss. S dresses in a black leotard and wears her hair tied behind her head. K has green leotards and lets her hair drape to the right side of her head. Both die in the collapse of the Ghost Bank, denied their attempt to escape by Coolgin in the guise of God Neros.

The Four Armies of the Neros Empire (ネロス帝国軍4軍団, Nerosu Teikokugun Yon Gundan?) are God Neros' primary fighters. Each is led by a "Victorious Saint" (凱聖, Gaisei?), with nine ranks beneath it. From highest to lowest:

• • Brave General (豪将, Gōshō?):
  • Violent Spirit (暴魂, Bōkon?):
  • Heroic Fighter (雄闘, Yūtō?):
  • Explosive Fighter (爆闘士, Bakutōshi?):
  • Furious Fighter (激闘士, Gekitōshi?):
  • Fierce Fighter (烈闘士, Rettōshi?):
  • Strong Fighter (強闘士, Kyōtōshi?):
  • Medium Fighter (中闘士, Chūtōshi?):
  • Light Fighter (軽闘士, Keitōshi?):

Members that are ranked below Light Fighter are given miscellaneous designations such as Light Fighter Apprentice (軽闘士見習い, Keitōshi Minarai?), Slave (奴隷, Dorei?), and Musical Robot (音楽ロボット, Ongaku Robotto?). The ranks from Keitōshi through Gekitōshi are named after the severity levels of earthquakes in Japanese (i.e. Gekitōshi is derived from gekishin (激震?), a severe earthquake).