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* ''Manga/OnePiece'''s Egghead Arc introduces the [[spoiler:Holy Knights, royal guards who operate within the Holy Land of Mariejois. They are the true guards of the Holy Land, moreso than [=CP0=], and revolutionary Moneky D. Dragon remarks that the real war will begin once they are mobilized, hinting at their potential power]].
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* ''Manga/OnePiece'''s Egghead Arc introduces the [[spoiler:Holy Knights, royal guards who operate within the Holy Land of Mariejois. They are the true guards of the Holy Land, moreso than [=CP0=], with even the authority to go after the otherwise untouchable World Nobles, and revolutionary Moneky Monkey D. Dragon remarks that the real war will begin once they are mobilized, hinting at their potential power]].
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* ''Manga/OnePiece'''s Egghead Arc introduces the [[spoiler:Holy Knights, royal guards who operate within the Holy Land of Mariejois. They are the true guards of the Holy Land, moreso than CP0, and revolutionary Moneky D. Dragon remarks that the real war will begin once they are mobilized, hinting at their potential power]].
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* ''Manga/OnePiece'''s Egghead Arc introduces the [[spoiler:Holy Knights, royal guards who operate within the Holy Land of Mariejois. They are the true guards of the Holy Land, moreso than CP0, [=CP0=], and revolutionary Moneky D. Dragon remarks that the real war will begin once they are mobilized, hinting at their potential power]].
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** While this somewhat got forgotten in later years, the original intention was reinforced when the male Ooku was reinstated for Ieyoshi's heir Iesada: on the surface it's to provide her a harem to conceive heirs, in reality they're her bodyguards to protect her [[spoiler:from Ieyoshi, who loves ParentalIncest a little too much.]]
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* ''Manga/OnePiece'''s Egghead Arc introduces the [[spoiler:Holy Knights, royal guards who operate within the Holy Land of Mariejois. The Holy Knights are made up of World Nobles (descendants of the founders of the World Government) who have decided to devote themselves to upholding the law as it applies to the World Nobles as a whole. Part of this involved becoming so incredibly strong that revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon considers them a serious threat]].
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* ''Manga/OnePiece'''s Egghead Arc introduces the [[spoiler:Holy Knights, royal guards who operate within the Holy Land of Mariejois. The Holy Knights They are made up of World Nobles (descendants the true guards of the founders of the World Government) who have decided to devote themselves to upholding the law as it applies to the World Nobles as a whole. Part of this involved becoming so incredibly strong that Holy Land, moreso than CP0, and revolutionary Monkey Moneky D. Dragon considers them a serious threat]].remarks that the real war will begin once they are mobilized, hinting at their potential power]].
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* ''Manga/OnePiece'''s Egghead Arc introduces the [[spoiler:Holy Knights, royal guards who operate within the Holy Land of Mariejois. The Holy Knights are made up of World Nobles (descendants of the founders of the World Government) who have decided to devote themselves to upholding the law as it applies to the World Nobles as a whole. Part of this involved becoming so incredibly strong that revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon considers them a serious threat]].
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*** [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Guy Crimson]] has [[NinjaMaid his two maids]] Misery and Rain. Despite their appearances, they're actually fellow [[MonsterProgenitor Primordial Demons]] and it's noted their power is on par with an average True Demon Lord. Guy just so happens to be [[WorldsStrongestMan one of the two strongest Demon Lords in the world]] and thus is even stronger.
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*** [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Guy Crimson]] has [[NinjaMaid his two maids]] Misery and Rain. Despite their appearances, they're actually fellow [[MonsterProgenitor Primordial Demons]] and it's noted their power is on par with an average True Demon Lord. Guy just so happens to be [[WorldsStrongestMan one of the two strongest Demon Lords in the world]] and thus is even stronger. Some might make the mistake of believing White Ice Dragon [[DragonsAreDivine Velzard]] is part of this group, but they would be wrong; Velzard is explicitly Guy's "partner" rather than subordinate due to her comparable power.
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*** [[TheHero Rimuru Tempest]] plays this straight and spoofs it, with his original spoof attempt at the "[[EliteFour Big Four]]" being made up of Benimaru, Shion, Diablo, and ''Gobta'' (he won the right via tournament). His actual guard is known as the Twelve Patrons, [[spoiler:each with the strength of a True Demon Lord, while Rimuru himself has grown strong enough to challenge and even surpass Guy and Milim as the strongest around]].
** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augmented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]], and the strongest among even them wielding Mythical/God-class gear. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel, while only the Single Digits #3-6 were specifically tasked with guarding the Emperor as his Four Knights/Horsemen. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]
** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augmented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]], and the strongest among even them wielding Mythical/God-class gear. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel, while only the Single Digits #3-6 were specifically tasked with guarding the Emperor as his Four Knights/Horsemen. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]
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*** [[TheHero Rimuru Tempest]] plays this straight and spoofs it, with his original spoof attempt at the "[[EliteFour Big Four]]" being made up of Benimaru, Shion, Diablo, and ''Gobta'' (he won the right via tournament). His actual guard is known as the Twelve Patrons, Guardian Lords (consisting of Benimaru, Shion, Diablo, Ranga, Geld, Gabiru, Zegion, Kurama, Adalman, Testarossa, Ultima, and Carrera), [[spoiler:each with the strength of a True Demon Lord, while Rimuru himself has grown strong enough to challenge and even surpass Guy and Milim as the strongest around]].
around]]. At a glance one might assume Storm Dragon [[DragonsAreDivine Veldora Tempest]] to be a part of this group given his deference to Rimuru, but like his sister Velzard with Guy, Veldora is simply Rimuru's "partner" rather than subordinate.
** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augmented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]], and the strongest among even them wielding Mythical/God-class gear. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel, while only the Single Digits #3-6 were specifically tasked with guarding the Emperor as his Four Knights/Horsemen. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]]] Unlike her siblings Velzard and Veldora, it would be accurate to refer to Scorch Dragon [[DragonsAreDivine Velgrynd]] as Rudra's strongest subordinate (as she's officially the Marshal of the entire military and only answers to him) rather than just his "partner", though there's [[DivineDate another reason for that deference]].
** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augmented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]], and the strongest among even them wielding Mythical/God-class gear. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel, while only the Single Digits #3-6 were specifically tasked with guarding the Emperor as his Four Knights/Horsemen. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.
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** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': The Egypt 9 Glory Gods are this to [[BigBad DIO]], they're all much stronger than the Tarot Users (except [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Oingo and Boingo]]) and are the last obstacle to DIO's hideout in Egypt. Vanilla Ice counts too, being TheDragon and extremely loyal to DIO, he [[spoiler:manages to [[HeroKiller kill two of the heroes]]]].
** ''Manga/GoldenWind'': After the heroes defect from [[TheMafia Passione]] to unveil a way to defeat [[TheDon Diavolo]], he sends his Elite Guard squadron to take them out as they attempt to find his identity and weakness before confronting him.
** ''Manga/StoneOcean'': The Sons of DIO are summoned by [[SinisterMinister Enrico Pucci]] once he begins finalizing the EvilPlan that'll allow him obtain "Heaven", with each of them taking on Jolyne and the others, serving as the last opponents prior to the final battle with Pucci.
** ''Manga/GoldenWind'': After the heroes defect from [[TheMafia Passione]] to unveil a way to defeat [[TheDon Diavolo]], he sends his Elite Guard squadron to take them out as they attempt to find his identity and weakness before confronting him.
** ''Manga/StoneOcean'': The Sons of DIO are summoned by [[SinisterMinister Enrico Pucci]] once he begins finalizing the EvilPlan that'll allow him obtain "Heaven", with each of them taking on Jolyne and the others, serving as the last opponents prior to the final battle with Pucci.
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** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'': The Egypt 9 Glory Gods are this to [[BigBad DIO]], they're all much stronger than the Tarot Users (except [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Oingo and Boingo]]) and are the last obstacle to DIO's hideout in Egypt. Vanilla Ice counts too, being TheDragon and extremely loyal to DIO, he [[spoiler:manages to [[HeroKiller kill two of the heroes]]]].
**''Manga/GoldenWind'': ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'': After the heroes defect from [[TheMafia Passione]] to unveil a way to defeat [[TheDon Diavolo]], he sends his Elite Guard squadron to take them out as they attempt to find his identity and weakness before confronting him.
**''Manga/StoneOcean'': ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]'': The Sons of DIO are summoned by [[SinisterMinister Enrico Pucci]] once he begins finalizing the EvilPlan that'll allow him obtain "Heaven", with each of them taking on Jolyne and the others, serving as the last opponents prior to the final battle with Pucci.
**
**
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* In ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'', the Pleiades [[NinjaMaid combat maids]] serve as [[VillainProtagonist Momonga/Ainz's]] personal bodyguards and the last line of defense of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Though, they're Second-to-last line, actually – the narrative explains that their intended purpose was always only ever to [[YouShallNotPass buy time]] so that the member-players of Ainz Ooal Gown could amass in the throne room for a final counteroffensive. Ultimately {{zigzagged|Trope}}, however, as Nazarick was never penetrated deeply enough for it to be an issue.
* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'':
* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'':
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* In ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'', ''Literature/Overlord2012'', the Pleiades [[NinjaMaid combat maids]] serve as [[VillainProtagonist Momonga/Ainz's]] personal bodyguards and the last line of defense of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Though, they're Second-to-last line, actually – the narrative explains that their intended purpose was always only ever to [[YouShallNotPass buy time]] so that the member-players of Ainz Ooal Gown could amass in the throne room for a final counteroffensive. Ultimately {{zigzagged|Trope}}, however, as Nazarick was never penetrated deeply enough for it to be an issue.
*''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'':''Literature/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'':
*
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*** [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Guy Crimson]] has [[NinjaMaid his two maids]] Mizari and Rhein. Despite their appearances, they're actually fellow [[MonsterProgenitor Primordial Demons]] and it's noted their power is on par with an average True Demon Lord. Guy just so happens to be [[WorldsStrongestMan one of the two strongest Demon Lords in the world]] and thus is even stronger.
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*** [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Guy Crimson]] has [[NinjaMaid his two maids]] Mizari Misery and Rhein.Rain. Despite their appearances, they're actually fellow [[MonsterProgenitor Primordial Demons]] and it's noted their power is on par with an average True Demon Lord. Guy just so happens to be [[WorldsStrongestMan one of the two strongest Demon Lords in the world]] and thus is even stronger.
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Asskicking Leads To Leadership is the new name of the trope.
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** Pretty much every single [[MaouTheDemonKing Demon Lord]] has one of these, oftentimes made up of their [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority strongest fighters]].
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** Pretty much every single [[MaouTheDemonKing Demon Lord]] has one of these, oftentimes made up of their [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership strongest fighters]].
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** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augmented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]], and the strongest among even them wielding Mythical/God-class gear. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel, while only the Single Digits #3-6 were specifically tasked with guarding the Emperor as his Four Knights/Horsemen. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]
to:
** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augmented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]], and the strongest among even them wielding Mythical/God-class gear. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel, while only the Single Digits #3-6 were specifically tasked with guarding the Emperor as his Four Knights/Horsemen. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]]]
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** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augumented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]]. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]
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** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augumented augmented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]]. Skill]], and the strongest among even them wielding Mythical/God-class gear. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel.intel, while only the Single Digits #3-6 were specifically tasked with guarding the Emperor as his Four Knights/Horsemen. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]
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* The Royal Guards in ''Manga/Acca13TerritoryInspectionDept'' are very proud of their UndyingLoyalty to the royals they protect. They idolize Abend, a guard who died protecting his princess. [[spoiler: That's the public story, at least.]]
* In ''Manga/{{Aposimz}}'' the emperor Nichiko Suou is guarded by two giant spearwomen which are stated to be the strongest of the Rebedoa soldiers.
* The Knights of the Round in ''Anime/CodeGeass''. Also, the Zero squad. Don't do much difference in battles, but Kallen is [[BodyguardCrush very attached]] to her post as Captain of Zero's personal guard.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** The Zero Division, the Royal Special Task Force (commonly called the Royal Guard by fans), is tasked with protecting the Soul King. Its members are all captain-class shinigami promoted from the Gotei-13. It's said that the five of them ''alone'' are stronger than the entirety of the thirteen divisions.
** The BigBad and leader of the Vandenreich, Yhwach, also has a guard of his own, formed by four high-ranked Sternritters named the Schutzstaffel: [[BoisterousBruiser Gerard Valkyrie]], [[ColdSniper Lille Barro]], [[LargeHam Askin Nakk Le Vaar]] and [[InTheHood Pernida Parnkgjas]]. They utterly crush the Royal Guard above.
* The Guardian Senshi (Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter) in ''Anime/SailorMoon''. Their purpose is to protect the future Neo-Queen Serenity. Also, in the [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]] and likely in [[Anime/SailorMoonCrystal the Crystal anime]], the ''Shitennou'' (Kunzite, Zoisite, Jadeite, and Nephrite), Prince Endymion's former generals; and the Sailor Quartet (Sailor Ceres, Sailor Pallas, Sailor Juno, and Sailor Vesta) Chibiusa's protectors.
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' you can measure eliteness by the elaborateness of the mecha sleeves. Sinanju has goldplated sleeves and Frontal's royal guard have the same decorations but in white. They also have spike shoulder armor upgrades. Normal cannon fodder only have stripes. For the Londo Bell, the 12 Jesta units, AceCustom of Jegans serve as this role as they escort the Unicorn Gundam and handle non-Newtype enemies so the Unicorn can focus on destroying enemy Newtype weapons.
* The men of the Shogun's harem in ''Manga/OokuTheInnerChambers'' form one as part of their duties. In a Japan decimated by a {{gendercide}} plague, they're probably the largest group of armed men available.
* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'':
** Meryuem, the Chimera Ant King, has inherited the three Royal Guards [[TheDragon Neferpitou]], [[EvilGenius Shaiapouf]] and [[TheBrute Menthuthuyoupi]] from his mother when she [[DeathByChildBirth gave him birth and died]]. Each of the guards is more powerful than the Hunter Committee's Chairman [[BigGood Isaac Netero]], and the king is much more powerful than them, of course. [[spoiler:Only Neferpitou is killed in combat, while the other two get infected by the poison which is infected on Meryuem when Netero blows up himself with the Miniature Rose. The poison kills all three of them.]]
** The Mafia also had the Shadow Beasts, a group of ten highly-trained, highly-skilled fighters with an {{Animal Motif|s}}, one for each of the Ten Dons. [[spoiler:The Phantom Troupe kills them all in a hurry--while Uvogin almost perishes through his recklessness, Feitan gets rid of the remaining ones effortlessly.]]
* FAITH ([[FunWithAcronyms Fast Acting Integrated Tactical Headquarters]]) in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny''. They're a [=ZAFT=] special ops unit that only answers to Chairman Durandal. While they're not the Chairman's bodyguards full-time, they do end up protecting him during the Armory One attack and serving him during the Battle of Messiah.
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'':
** The Military Police, whose ranks are made up of only the top ten trainees of each class, count "bodyguard for the king" among their duties. The irony that this means that those with the most skill at fighting titans are kept the farthest away from the fighting is fully lampshaded, although the main character's class is the exception as several of the top ten volunteer for the front line instead. Later it also emerges that the Military Police are hopelessly corrupt.
** [[spoiler:The Military Police's Central 1st Brigade is this for the ''real'' Royal family: the Reiss family. They are formed by the most skilled, ruthless, and amoral members of the MP, and have a pinch of SecretPolice and StateSec on top of it, as they have unlimited authority given by the true King of the Walls to track down and eliminate people who might threaten the status quo -- by inventing new technologies (and thus break the setting's MedievalStasis), are questioning the government's official positions or are too curious about the world outside the walls, maintaining TheMasquerade.]]
* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' has Zarbon, Dodoria and the Ginyu Force be this for the galactic warlord Frieza. Zarbon and Dodoria are constantly at Frieza's side, while The Ginyu Force is called in to deal with threats too powerful for Zarbon and Dodoria, but not yet threatening enough for Frieza to personally intervene. In this case, it isn't because Frieza is a NonActionGuy who needs bodyguards ([[BodyguardingABadass at this point, he's pretty much the strongest entity in the universe, and leagues beyond Captain Ginyu, who's his strongest subordinate]]). Frieza takes this trope seriously too, he prefers to wait for the Ginyu Force to arrive rather than deal with the heroes himself, though this is partly because all of his scouters had been destroyed and he had no way of tracking them.
* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', the Alvarez Empire's ruler has the Spriggan 12, the hand-picked guards of Emperor Spriggan ([[spoiler:aka Zeref, the BigBad]]), who are all on par with, if not stronger than the Ten Wizard Saints of Ishgal. They also have the benefit of being at the top of the chain of command of Alvarez's military with many of them possessing their own personal squads. They are: [[ElementalPowers God Serena]] (the former #1 Wizard Saint), [[SizeShifter Brandish μ]], [[AnIcePerson Invel Yura]], [[DishingOutDirt Ajeel Raml]], [[TimeMaster DiMaria Yesta]], [[WalkingArmory Wall Eehto]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Bloodman]], [[EnemySummoner Neinhart]], [[KungFuWizard Jacob Lessio]], [[TheArchmage August]], [[LadyOfBlackMagic Irene Belserion]], and [[SevenDeadlySins Larcade]].
* ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles'' is a rare example of the protagonist belonging to one: Oscar is part of the ''Gardes du Corps du Roi'' (translates as "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bodyguards of the King]]") and later transfers to the ''Gardes Françaises'' (French Guards), both regiments of the ''Maison Militaire du Roi'' (Military Household of the King), the royal guards. See below in RealLife for more.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': The Egypt 9 Glory Gods are this to [[BigBad DIO]], they're all much stronger than the Tarot Users (except [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Oingo and Boingo]]) and are the last obstacle to DIO's hideout in Egypt. Vanilla Ice counts too, being TheDragon and extremely loyal to DIO, he [[spoiler:manages to [[HeroKiller kill two of the heroes]]]].
** ''Manga/GoldenWind'': After the heroes defect from [[TheMafia Passione]] to unveil a way to defeat [[TheDon Diavolo]], he sends his Elite Guard squadron to take them out as they attempt to find his identity and weakness before confronting him.
** ''Manga/StoneOcean'': The Sons of DIO are summoned by [[SinisterMinister Enrico Pucci]] once he begins finalizing the EvilPlan that'll allow him obtain "Heaven", with each of them taking on Jolyne and the others, serving as the last opponents prior to the final battle with Pucci.
* In ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'', the Pleiades [[NinjaMaid combat maids]] serve as [[VillainProtagonist Momonga/Ainz's]] personal bodyguards and the last line of defense of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Though, they're Second-to-last line, actually – the narrative explains that their intended purpose was always only ever to [[YouShallNotPass buy time]] so that the member-players of Ainz Ooal Gown could amass in the throne room for a final counteroffensive. Ultimately {{zigzagged|Trope}}, however, as Nazarick was never penetrated deeply enough for it to be an issue.
* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'':
** Pretty much every single [[MaouTheDemonKing Demon Lord]] has one of these, oftentimes made up of their [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority strongest fighters]].
*** [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Guy Crimson]] has [[NinjaMaid his two maids]] Mizari and Rhein. Despite their appearances, they're actually fellow [[MonsterProgenitor Primordial Demons]] and it's noted their power is on par with an average True Demon Lord. Guy just so happens to be [[WorldsStrongestMan one of the two strongest Demon Lords in the world]] and thus is even stronger.
*** [[DragonAncestry Milim Nava]] originally didn't ''have'' a guard ([[WorldsStrongestMan not that she needed it being one of Guy's few rivals]]) since she's a free spirit whose "territory" wasn't even a nation so much as land she laid claim to that her worshipers of the Dragon Faithful lived on. [[spoiler:Once Demon Lords Carrion and Frey abdicate and become her subordinates, however, they and their own guards effectively became hers.]]
*** [[KingOfBeasts Carrion]] has his Three Beastketeers (Albis, Suphia, and Phobio).
*** [[HarpingOnAboutHarpies Frey]] has her Twin Wings, Claire and Rucia, who are also her daughters.
*** [[LazyBum Dino]] has his fellow {{Fallen Angel}}s Pico and Gracia. Similar to Milim, however, Dino doesn't have a "kingdom" and is more of a bum squatting in other territories.
*** [[VampireMonarch Ruminas Valentine]] has her vampire subordinates Louis and Roy Valentine alongside Gunther [[spoiler:and technically the hero [[ThePaladin Hinata Sakaguchi]]]].
*** [[LightEmUp Leon Cromwell]] has the leaders of his [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight Orders]].
*** [[TheChessmaster Clayman]] has his Five Fingers [[spoiler:and he himself is technically part of the guard of former Demon Lord Kazaream as one of the four [[MonsterClown Moderate Clown Troupe]].]]
*** [[TheFairFolk Ramiris]] originally had no such thing until she got [[DarkIsNotEvil Beretta]] and [[PlantPerson Treyni]].
*** [[TheHero Rimuru Tempest]] plays this straight and spoofs it, with his original spoof attempt at the "[[EliteFour Big Four]]" being made up of Benimaru, Shion, Diablo, and ''Gobta'' (he won the right via tournament). His actual guard is known as the Twelve Patrons, [[spoiler:each with the strength of a True Demon Lord, while Rimuru himself has grown strong enough to challenge and even surpass Guy and Milim as the strongest around]].
** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augumented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]]. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]
* In ''Manga/{{Aposimz}}'' the emperor Nichiko Suou is guarded by two giant spearwomen which are stated to be the strongest of the Rebedoa soldiers.
* The Knights of the Round in ''Anime/CodeGeass''. Also, the Zero squad. Don't do much difference in battles, but Kallen is [[BodyguardCrush very attached]] to her post as Captain of Zero's personal guard.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** The Zero Division, the Royal Special Task Force (commonly called the Royal Guard by fans), is tasked with protecting the Soul King. Its members are all captain-class shinigami promoted from the Gotei-13. It's said that the five of them ''alone'' are stronger than the entirety of the thirteen divisions.
** The BigBad and leader of the Vandenreich, Yhwach, also has a guard of his own, formed by four high-ranked Sternritters named the Schutzstaffel: [[BoisterousBruiser Gerard Valkyrie]], [[ColdSniper Lille Barro]], [[LargeHam Askin Nakk Le Vaar]] and [[InTheHood Pernida Parnkgjas]]. They utterly crush the Royal Guard above.
* The Guardian Senshi (Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter) in ''Anime/SailorMoon''. Their purpose is to protect the future Neo-Queen Serenity. Also, in the [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]] and likely in [[Anime/SailorMoonCrystal the Crystal anime]], the ''Shitennou'' (Kunzite, Zoisite, Jadeite, and Nephrite), Prince Endymion's former generals; and the Sailor Quartet (Sailor Ceres, Sailor Pallas, Sailor Juno, and Sailor Vesta) Chibiusa's protectors.
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' you can measure eliteness by the elaborateness of the mecha sleeves. Sinanju has goldplated sleeves and Frontal's royal guard have the same decorations but in white. They also have spike shoulder armor upgrades. Normal cannon fodder only have stripes. For the Londo Bell, the 12 Jesta units, AceCustom of Jegans serve as this role as they escort the Unicorn Gundam and handle non-Newtype enemies so the Unicorn can focus on destroying enemy Newtype weapons.
* The men of the Shogun's harem in ''Manga/OokuTheInnerChambers'' form one as part of their duties. In a Japan decimated by a {{gendercide}} plague, they're probably the largest group of armed men available.
* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'':
** Meryuem, the Chimera Ant King, has inherited the three Royal Guards [[TheDragon Neferpitou]], [[EvilGenius Shaiapouf]] and [[TheBrute Menthuthuyoupi]] from his mother when she [[DeathByChildBirth gave him birth and died]]. Each of the guards is more powerful than the Hunter Committee's Chairman [[BigGood Isaac Netero]], and the king is much more powerful than them, of course. [[spoiler:Only Neferpitou is killed in combat, while the other two get infected by the poison which is infected on Meryuem when Netero blows up himself with the Miniature Rose. The poison kills all three of them.]]
** The Mafia also had the Shadow Beasts, a group of ten highly-trained, highly-skilled fighters with an {{Animal Motif|s}}, one for each of the Ten Dons. [[spoiler:The Phantom Troupe kills them all in a hurry--while Uvogin almost perishes through his recklessness, Feitan gets rid of the remaining ones effortlessly.]]
* FAITH ([[FunWithAcronyms Fast Acting Integrated Tactical Headquarters]]) in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny''. They're a [=ZAFT=] special ops unit that only answers to Chairman Durandal. While they're not the Chairman's bodyguards full-time, they do end up protecting him during the Armory One attack and serving him during the Battle of Messiah.
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'':
** The Military Police, whose ranks are made up of only the top ten trainees of each class, count "bodyguard for the king" among their duties. The irony that this means that those with the most skill at fighting titans are kept the farthest away from the fighting is fully lampshaded, although the main character's class is the exception as several of the top ten volunteer for the front line instead. Later it also emerges that the Military Police are hopelessly corrupt.
** [[spoiler:The Military Police's Central 1st Brigade is this for the ''real'' Royal family: the Reiss family. They are formed by the most skilled, ruthless, and amoral members of the MP, and have a pinch of SecretPolice and StateSec on top of it, as they have unlimited authority given by the true King of the Walls to track down and eliminate people who might threaten the status quo -- by inventing new technologies (and thus break the setting's MedievalStasis), are questioning the government's official positions or are too curious about the world outside the walls, maintaining TheMasquerade.]]
* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' has Zarbon, Dodoria and the Ginyu Force be this for the galactic warlord Frieza. Zarbon and Dodoria are constantly at Frieza's side, while The Ginyu Force is called in to deal with threats too powerful for Zarbon and Dodoria, but not yet threatening enough for Frieza to personally intervene. In this case, it isn't because Frieza is a NonActionGuy who needs bodyguards ([[BodyguardingABadass at this point, he's pretty much the strongest entity in the universe, and leagues beyond Captain Ginyu, who's his strongest subordinate]]). Frieza takes this trope seriously too, he prefers to wait for the Ginyu Force to arrive rather than deal with the heroes himself, though this is partly because all of his scouters had been destroyed and he had no way of tracking them.
* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', the Alvarez Empire's ruler has the Spriggan 12, the hand-picked guards of Emperor Spriggan ([[spoiler:aka Zeref, the BigBad]]), who are all on par with, if not stronger than the Ten Wizard Saints of Ishgal. They also have the benefit of being at the top of the chain of command of Alvarez's military with many of them possessing their own personal squads. They are: [[ElementalPowers God Serena]] (the former #1 Wizard Saint), [[SizeShifter Brandish μ]], [[AnIcePerson Invel Yura]], [[DishingOutDirt Ajeel Raml]], [[TimeMaster DiMaria Yesta]], [[WalkingArmory Wall Eehto]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Bloodman]], [[EnemySummoner Neinhart]], [[KungFuWizard Jacob Lessio]], [[TheArchmage August]], [[LadyOfBlackMagic Irene Belserion]], and [[SevenDeadlySins Larcade]].
* ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles'' is a rare example of the protagonist belonging to one: Oscar is part of the ''Gardes du Corps du Roi'' (translates as "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bodyguards of the King]]") and later transfers to the ''Gardes Françaises'' (French Guards), both regiments of the ''Maison Militaire du Roi'' (Military Household of the King), the royal guards. See below in RealLife for more.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': The Egypt 9 Glory Gods are this to [[BigBad DIO]], they're all much stronger than the Tarot Users (except [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Oingo and Boingo]]) and are the last obstacle to DIO's hideout in Egypt. Vanilla Ice counts too, being TheDragon and extremely loyal to DIO, he [[spoiler:manages to [[HeroKiller kill two of the heroes]]]].
** ''Manga/GoldenWind'': After the heroes defect from [[TheMafia Passione]] to unveil a way to defeat [[TheDon Diavolo]], he sends his Elite Guard squadron to take them out as they attempt to find his identity and weakness before confronting him.
** ''Manga/StoneOcean'': The Sons of DIO are summoned by [[SinisterMinister Enrico Pucci]] once he begins finalizing the EvilPlan that'll allow him obtain "Heaven", with each of them taking on Jolyne and the others, serving as the last opponents prior to the final battle with Pucci.
* In ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'', the Pleiades [[NinjaMaid combat maids]] serve as [[VillainProtagonist Momonga/Ainz's]] personal bodyguards and the last line of defense of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Though, they're Second-to-last line, actually – the narrative explains that their intended purpose was always only ever to [[YouShallNotPass buy time]] so that the member-players of Ainz Ooal Gown could amass in the throne room for a final counteroffensive. Ultimately {{zigzagged|Trope}}, however, as Nazarick was never penetrated deeply enough for it to be an issue.
* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'':
** Pretty much every single [[MaouTheDemonKing Demon Lord]] has one of these, oftentimes made up of their [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority strongest fighters]].
*** [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Guy Crimson]] has [[NinjaMaid his two maids]] Mizari and Rhein. Despite their appearances, they're actually fellow [[MonsterProgenitor Primordial Demons]] and it's noted their power is on par with an average True Demon Lord. Guy just so happens to be [[WorldsStrongestMan one of the two strongest Demon Lords in the world]] and thus is even stronger.
*** [[DragonAncestry Milim Nava]] originally didn't ''have'' a guard ([[WorldsStrongestMan not that she needed it being one of Guy's few rivals]]) since she's a free spirit whose "territory" wasn't even a nation so much as land she laid claim to that her worshipers of the Dragon Faithful lived on. [[spoiler:Once Demon Lords Carrion and Frey abdicate and become her subordinates, however, they and their own guards effectively became hers.]]
*** [[KingOfBeasts Carrion]] has his Three Beastketeers (Albis, Suphia, and Phobio).
*** [[HarpingOnAboutHarpies Frey]] has her Twin Wings, Claire and Rucia, who are also her daughters.
*** [[LazyBum Dino]] has his fellow {{Fallen Angel}}s Pico and Gracia. Similar to Milim, however, Dino doesn't have a "kingdom" and is more of a bum squatting in other territories.
*** [[VampireMonarch Ruminas Valentine]] has her vampire subordinates Louis and Roy Valentine alongside Gunther [[spoiler:and technically the hero [[ThePaladin Hinata Sakaguchi]]]].
*** [[LightEmUp Leon Cromwell]] has the leaders of his [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight Orders]].
*** [[TheChessmaster Clayman]] has his Five Fingers [[spoiler:and he himself is technically part of the guard of former Demon Lord Kazaream as one of the four [[MonsterClown Moderate Clown Troupe]].]]
*** [[TheFairFolk Ramiris]] originally had no such thing until she got [[DarkIsNotEvil Beretta]] and [[PlantPerson Treyni]].
*** [[TheHero Rimuru Tempest]] plays this straight and spoofs it, with his original spoof attempt at the "[[EliteFour Big Four]]" being made up of Benimaru, Shion, Diablo, and ''Gobta'' (he won the right via tournament). His actual guard is known as the Twelve Patrons, [[spoiler:each with the strength of a True Demon Lord, while Rimuru himself has grown strong enough to challenge and even surpass Guy and Milim as the strongest around]].
** [[GodEmperor Emperor Rudra]] of the Eastern Empire has the Imperial Guardians, 100 elite warriors chosen for their strength that combined are considered worth ''the rest of the two million-strong Imperial Army'' (itself filled to the brim with augumented {{Super Soldier}}s). Each one is armed with at least Legendary-class gear (the sort of equipment that in the rest of the world is only owned by the Demon Lords and the strongest humans and monsters). The Single Digits of the Guard are the elite of the elite, not only possessing Legendary-class gear but also [[SuperEmpowering a personal blessing from Rudra]] that gives them a pseudo-[[RealityWarper Ultimate Skill]]. Notable for such a guard, many of them spend time working incognito as observers and spies, whether as agents situated in the other divisions of the Empire or acting aboard to gather intel. [[spoiler:The #2 Single Digit Damrada was even working long-term as a DoubleAgent in Yuuki's own ranks.]]
