Black Bullet

Set in the year 2021, Tokyo stands behind massive protective walls called the Monoliths after a parasitic virus known as Gastrea wiped out most of humanity. The story follows Rentarō Satomi, a former police officer who lost his sister to the infection and now works for Civil Security. He partners with Enju Aihara, a Cursed Child, a young girl infected with the parasite but retaining her human form and superhuman abilities. Together they hunt down Gastrea while navigating a society that fears and discriminates against their kind.

The original seven-volume series ran from July 2011 to April 2014 under the Dengeki Bunko imprint. Author Shiden Kanzaki took an eleven-year hiatus due to burnout before announcing a reboot titled Black Bullet: New World Order in September 2026. This new chapter is scheduled to launch in November 2026, releasing two volumes simultaneously before continuing with monthly releases.

Beyond the novels, the franchise expanded into a 13-episode anime adaptation produced by Orange and Kinema Citrus in 2014. The show explored themes of trauma, corporate corruption, and the moral ambiguity of using children as weapons. While the initial run faced some criticism for pacing issues, it remains a significant entry in the biopunk genre for its emotional depth and unique world-building. [edit]