Description: Radu versus Zalfa, Garo's uncertain peak and five rankings based on all 16 episodes of the original Narou web novel.
Full-story spoilers. Radu ranks first on demonstrated combat feats; Zalfa is the closest challenger. Their decisive sword fight never finishes, and Garo's prime is largely unseen. This is a ranking of evidence, not a prediction that one fighter always wins.
How the comparison works
The source is the completed 16-episode web text available October 16, 2026, including three final short extras. Direct fights, enemy difficulty, speed, technique, endurance and outside help matter most. Reports of past achievements count, but less than battles actually shown. Manga-only scenes are excluded. Latin spellings are editorial romanizations, not verified official translations.
1. Radu — the broadest record
He defeats a six-limbed second-class beast in episode 3. Jack provides help and weapons, so it is not a pure solo victory; the reactions and rapid weapon changes are Radu's own. In episode 12 he sustains extraordinary running speed. In episode 13 he dispatches four elite mercenaries and their leader Domugu. Instead of killing a summoned third-class beast, he knocks out its summoner Simka to make it disappear. Tactical judgment gives him the edge, although the gap to Zalfa is uncertain.
2. Zalfa — the hunter who hurts the hero
During their episode 10 clash, Zalfa survives Radu's rapid combinations through instinct and reflexes and injures his side. Radu cuts Zalfa's cheek in return. Guards interrupt as both draw their main swords. In episode 13 they face off again, but Zalfa quits the mercenary contract instead of fighting. He might win a completed duel. Second place reflects Radu's wider record, not a confirmed defeat.
3. Garo — a master's unknown ceiling
In the flashback episode 14, Radu easily kills three fifth-class and two fourth-class beasts. Garo then assigns the far more dangerous red-eyed beast as his pupil's final solo trial. His immense strength and hunting experience are evident, yet no full-power teacher–student fight is shown. Garo is already dead in the main timeline. A prime-Garo-first argument is possible; third place is provisional.
4. Domugu — a real past feat, a crushing loss
Episode 13 establishes that Domugu once killed a third-class beast alone. He surrounds Radu with four elite fighters, a sensible tactic on paper. Radu defeats all four in moments and overwhelms Domugu before he can meaningfully counterattack. His past feat outranks Jack's, but the direct loss separates him from the top three.
5. Jack — a verified solo hunt
Jack kills a fifth-class beast by himself in episode 2. Bell and Rolf cooperate to defeat a different beast; those results must not be combined. Jack also supports Radu against the six-limbed creature in episode 3. Solid swordsmanship, but weaker evidence than Domugu's third-class kill.
The debate and the verdict
A finished Radu–Zalfa duel could reverse the top two. Garo's best years remain unmeasured. Simka summons a third-class beast in episodes 12–13 but cannot control it reliably, so she belongs in a separate discussion of dangerous abilities. Radu has the strongest demonstrated record; Zalfa is the one opponent he cannot dismiss.
Sources and reading scope (checked October 16, 2026): Original index, official statistics, monthly completed-action ranking. All 16/16 episodes read, including three short extras; completed, last posted August 9, 2026; 15,740 total points, 2,805 bookmarks, monthly rank 10 with 94 points.
