O'Neal

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	O'Neal Grey (奥尼尔)
Alias(es)	Commander O'Neal; Follower Knight O'Neal; Legion Commander O'Neal
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Loyal Lion Mercenary Group (formerly); Roland's territory; Loyal Lion Brigade; Bulwark Heavy Armor Brigade/Legion
Occupation/Role	Mercenary commander; Follower Knight; military commander
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 25

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Advanced Warrior / Level 7 Warrior	25 54	Initially the sole Advanced Warrior of the Loyal Lion Mercenary Group; later leads the 110-man Loyal Lion Brigade.
Near Level 8 Warrior	79	His physique improves greatly through the Eel Scale Fish Migration, leaving him close to advancement.
Level 8 Warrior	119	Breaks through before the assault on Rainforest Island and overwhelms several pirate captains.
Earth Warrior	186 196	Advances after Roland refines a Level 9 Magic Potion; later confronts the Level 12 Azure Sea Emperor Beast.
Level 11 Earth Warrior	302 345	Holds a fief and demonstrates sufficient force to test Blue Gold Heavy Armor at 60% strength.
Saint Domain expert	582 604	Represents Roland in a death duel against Bolso, a foe who temporarily attains Legendary power through divine assistance.

Background / History

O'Neal began as the commander of the Loyal Lion Mercenary Group, a reputable and credible force based in Gomosa Town under Highland City. At the time of Roland's assessment, the group had 105 registered members: O'Neal as its only Advanced Warrior, five Intermediate Warriors, and twenty-eight Beginner Warriors. 25

His early ambitions were repeatedly constrained by his origins and circumstances. Encouraged by his father, he trained as a warrior at ten with dreams of reaching the Sky Warrior realm. After his father died, he sought revenge; later, he hoped to develop the Loyal Lion Mercenary Group into a large organization. By age thirty-four, as a Level 7 Warrior, he believed these ambitions were beyond his reach. 53

Roland's declaration that Rising Light Island was a place for dreams rekindled O'Neal's resolve. O'Neal swore an ancient knight's oath, becoming Roland's Follower Knight; Roland then reorganized the territory guard into the Loyal Lion Brigade under his command. Every member of the former mercenary group chose to remain and join the brigade. 53 54

Appearance

O'Neal is a tall, heavily built man who weighs more than three hundred pounds. His later appearance is described as broad-faced and honest-looking, though decades of command leave him with sharp features, deep eyes, and an imposing authority. 30 743

• Larger than most warriors, though slightly smaller than Scarface Henry. 30
• Carries a signature heavy greatsword. 345
• Fights in heavy armor during major engagements and the death duel against Bolso. 604
• His broad, honest face can contrast with the ferocious expressions he displays in battle. 622

Personality

O'Neal is defined by directness, courage, and intense personal loyalty. He defended Roland against Scarface Henry despite the overwhelming difference in strength, and his knightly oath commits him to stand before Roland until his death. 30 53

He is earnest and highly motivated to prove his worth. Early in Roland's service, he trains the guard more diligently when he feels overlooked; he also studies military strategy and naval warfare to improve as a commander. 50 147

His strengths are balanced by impulsiveness. He sometimes pursues threats too aggressively, including sending over twenty scouts into the Azure Sea Emperor Beast's lair and volunteering for a dangerous death duel before considering the political trap behind it. Roland values his honesty and courage but recognizes his limited strategic foresight. 193 232 582

Abilities & Skills

Warrior Combat

O'Neal is a powerful earth-element warrior who relies on physical strength, Battle Qi, a greatsword, and heavy equipment.

• As an Advanced Warrior, he holds back the stronger Neil Bergman through defensive skill despite being a level below him. 44
• Defeats and captures a Level 4 Green-Haired Turtle leader after exhausting it through prolonged defense. 51
• Breaks pirate resistance at Rainforest Island after advancing to Level 8 Warrior. 119
• Blocks the Azure Sea Emperor Beast's full-powered attack with the Graystone Shield, creating an opening for Roland's other Earth Warriors. 196
• Reaches Level 11 Earth Warrior and can heavily damage Blue Gold Heavy Armor even while using only 60% of his strength. 345

Defensive Fighting

His greatest individual combat strength is defense rather than offense, a trait that also strengthens the formations he commands. 44

• Withstands stronger opponents long enough to protect Roland or maintain the battle line. 44 196
• Uses patient defensive tactics to wear down Magical Beasts for capture rather than kill them. 51
• Leads warriors in sealing a breach in Ironflow Fortress after the Azure Sea Emperor Beast destroys part of its wall. 155

Military Command

O'Neal is an effective frontline commander with strong authority over his troops.

• Quickly restores routed mercenaries into organized squads during the Armor Crab attack. 37
• Uses guerrilla tactics to defeat Armor Crabs with the Loyal Lion Mercenary Group. 38
• Commands a night landing force of 400 warriors during the seizure of Rainforest Island. 119
• Coordinates Green-Haired Turtle Knights, flanking companies, and reserve forces to surround the Mad Serpent Pirates. 119
• Adjusts his campaign after an enemy leader escapes, rapidly conquering Elephant Mountain Island and Snow Mountain Island to reduce complications. 120
• Builds the Bulwark from a newly established heavy-infantry brigade into a six-thousand-warrior elite legion. 186 428

Training and Organization

O'Neal develops Roland's forces through rigorous training and organizational work.

• Serves as the principal instructor for Roland's first territory guard, alongside co-instructor Artur. 46
• Oversees the Loyal Lion Brigade's growth to 400 troops, including four Advanced Warriors and a large number of mid-level Warriors. 150
• Integrates captured warriors and receives responsibility for training a horsemanship group. 147
• Is tasked with expanding the Bulwark Heavy Armor Brigade while training new Warriors from the territory's growing population. 187
• Incorporates more than one hundred Earth Giants into the Bulwark Brigade. 211

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy greatsword — O'Neal's signature weapon. 345
• Graystone Shield — Level 10 magic equipment used to block the Azure Sea Emperor Beast's attack. 196
• Earth-element Saint Domain armor — Acquired for the death duel. 596
• Heavy Earth Blade — Saint Domain-grade greatsword provided by the Medici Family. 596 604
• Rock Vein battle boots — Saint Domain-grade boots provided by the Medici Family. 596 604
• Level 7 Earth Element Essence — Given by Roland to support his advancement. 147

Relationships

• Roland — Lord and master. O'Neal becomes Roland's Follower Knight after swearing an ancient knight's oath; their relationship is founded on loyalty, trust, and Roland's cultivation of O'Neal's potential. 53 121
• Artur — Fellow officer and early co-instructor of the territory guard; later commands the Green-Haired Turtle Legion while O'Neal leads the Bulwark. 46 428
• Leslie — Roland's political adviser and fellow Earth Warrior. Leslie is irritated by O'Neal's frequent resource requests but acknowledges his work. 196 428
• Caesar — Nephew. O'Neal acts as a proud, politically experienced mentor to him at the City of Guardianship. 743 744
• Scarface Henry — Initially defeats O'Neal with a single punch; years later, Roland hands the captured Scarface over to O'Neal. 30 297
• Luke — Subordinate legion commander whom O'Neal reprimands after the costly battle at Samog City. 776

Story Role / Major Arcs

Loyal Lion Mercenary Group

O'Neal first meets Roland as commander of the Loyal Lion Mercenary Group and accepts employment for Roland's territorial venture. On White Whale Island, he attempts to shield Roland from Scarface Henry but is severely injured in a single exchange, demonstrating both his courage and the wider world's power gap. 25 30

On Rising Light Island, he oversees construction labor, organizes defenses against Armor Crabs, and demonstrates the command presence that lets ordinary mercenaries fight effectively as a unit. 33 37 38

Follower Knight and Loyal Lion Brigade

Concerned that his mercenary contract will expire and his group will decline, O'Neal is persuaded by Roland's ambition to pledge his life as a Follower Knight. The Loyal Lion Mercenary Group is dissolved, its members becoming the Loyal Lion Brigade under O'Neal's command. 53 54

He leads the brigade in Roland's early conquests, including the destruction of Neil Bergman's forces, the capture of Green-Haired Turtles for future knights, and the seizure of Rainforest, Elephant Mountain, and Snow Mountain Islands. 66 79 119 120

Bulwark Commander

After becoming an Earth Warrior, O'Neal is appointed captain of the Magic Pattern Heavy Infantry Brigade, later known as the Bulwark. Although initially inexperienced with heavy infantry doctrine, he is entrusted with expanding and training the force. 186 187

The Bulwark grows into one of Roland's three elite legions, numbering six thousand warriors. Roland openly praises O'Neal's efforts, while Leslie complains about his continual demands for resources. 428

Saint Domain Duel

O'Neal volunteers as Roland's representative in a death duel with the Miles Family. Despite receiving Saint Domain equipment and preparing to fight alongside Cassius, he is ultimately confronted by Bolso, the Pope of the Church of Death, whose borrowed divine power temporarily elevates him to Legendary status. O'Neal nevertheless enters the arena as a Saint Domain expert and holds his resolve while Roland's preparations reverse the battle's balance. 582 596 598 604

Senior Commander

O'Neal later commands major formations across Roland's expanding power, including a force assigned to garrison the Mystic Tide Sea Region. He also serves as a seasoned authority at the City of Guardianship, advising Caesar on the Kingdom's long-term policy of integrating Beastkins into its military and ultimately annexing the Beastkin Empire. 437 743 744

During the war against the Beastkin, he commands the human army pursuing the Behemoth Imperial Guard Legions at Samog City. Though initially determined to annihilate the remaining Behemoths, he accepts the need to halt after learning the likely cost and receiving news of peace talks. 776

Trivia

• O'Neal's original dream was to become a Sky Warrior. 53
• He once described resource-poor Rising Light Island only as having “quite nice” scenery before Roland explained its significance to him. 53
• He studies A Brief History of Military Strategy and Memorandum on Naval Warfare. 147
• Roland considers O'Neal more important than a Saint Domain expert because his death could destabilize the military system Roland built. 581