01x19 - Vermilio of the Four Elite Lords

[bunniefuu]

[narrator] Helck saves Alicia

just before she is ex*cuted.

However, he then watches

helplessly as all around him

begin to painfully transform,

and ultimately Alicia as well.

[opening theme]

[VERMILIO OF THE

FOUR ELITE LORDS]

[dramatic fanfare]

[fire crackles]

Let's kick every human a*s!

So I want you to always

be smiling forever.

[somber music]

[Vermilio] I knew it.

He was lying about something.

That smile of his was

bullshit the whole time.

[Helck] I'm sure you must

think I'm pretty selfish.

I should have k*lled her

out of mercy

before she had to suffer,

but I couldn't do it.

She was a friend

and worth saving.

I couldn't lose her.

At least not like that,

but well, it didn't matter.

I never had a chance in hell.

[Helck pants]

[Raphaed] That girl begged

for the embrace of death.

Why did you not give it to her?

How cruel.

The more you try

to resist the truth,

the greater the despair

you shall face!

Shut up! I'll reverse it!

I'll find a way!

It will not end like this!

She's fighting the change!

There's still a chance!

I just need to

stop this g*dd*mn snow.

[Zeruzeon] Give it up, Helck.

Huh?

[Zeruzeon] It's all over.

Zeru, is that you?

You look different

than the others.

Seems if we have a high

enough aptitude for awakening,

then we can turn out like you

and retain both

our mind and body.

But because of that,

I had to witness the

most horrific nightmare

unfold in front of me.

I couldn't do a damn thing.

I just had to sit there

and watch

as my friends begged for help.

Zeru, does this mean

you survived it?

You resisted the change?

[Zeruzeon] Resisted?

[sword slashes]

Zeru!

What reason is there

to resist this, huh?

Don't you get it?

I'm so much stronger.

It's like I've been

living weighed down

by chains up until now!

It's wonderful!

It gives everything!

The power of heroes.

And energy filled

with infinite possibilities.

I have what you have.

I'm a Hero as well.

I am one of the chosen!

[Zeruzeon laughs]

[Helck] Zeru.

So he got drunk with power.

He couldn't retain

his character.

He became someone else

with the same memories.

The snow kept falling even after

the awakening process was done.

There were no regular

humans to be found anywhere.

But what about taking

down the king?

You could have at least freed

them from his control, right?

Even if a million

of these heroes

were standing in your way,

it should have been possible

for you to fight past them

and take his a*s down!

That is exactly what

I tried to do,

but simply k*lling the king

does not solve the problem.

The awakening process

makes humans go berserk,

and the only way to control

it is for the king's power

to take over their minds.

[Vermilio gasps]

Take away that control

and every awakened human

will rampage.

It would be destruction for

the rest of their lives.

Reduced to nothing more

than the monsters.

[dramatic music]

You're lying!

I'm not falling for it!

I'm k*lling your king

and fixing everything that

you b*stards have done!

[Mikaros chuckles]

You really don't know

when to quit, do you?

Everything that

Raphaed said is true.

k*lling the king will not

lead to some perfect future.

Mikaros.

You're still alive!

Not for long.

[wind howling]

[Mikaros] Ah, there's

that power. Splendid.

I've come across a large number

of exceptional warriors

in my time,

but none of them

have been able to tap

as deeply into

their power as you.

This is all your fault!

It's all your damn fault!

This never would've

happened without you!

My brother could've

lived a happy life!

[Mikaros] Cless would've

died on that snowy night

if it weren't for

my help, remember?

Shut up!

And there's one

more important thing

- you seem to have forgotten.

- [Helck roars]

I mentioned Cless was

an irreplaceable part

of my plan, didn't I?

Look below you.

[Helck gasps]

[squirming sounds]

[Mikaros] Can you

tell who that is?

[Helck gasps]

[Helck] Cless

[Mikaros] It seems

the hero-k*lling magic

of that sword was

greatly reduced

after being split in two.

Although he looks quite

repulsive now,

I managed to keep him alive.

I mean, his death wouldn't

be such a big deal.

His body still has its uses.

I will keep him working,

even if he's reduced

to nothing but a head.

Mikaros, you piece of sh*t.

I'll k*ll you!

How does this rage

make you feel?

Stronger perhaps, or sad?

Surely conflicted.

This awakening only

came to fruition

because I kept that

pile of flesh alive.

[Helck roars]

[intense music]

What a staggering

amount of power!

Imagine if that young

girl never spoke to you,

it could have changed everything

and prevented all of

this from happening.

Yes.

[Mikaros laughs]

Although I'm willing

to bet the end result

could have been you

obliterating the human race.

[Helck roars]

[Mikaros gasps]

What was that?

You truly are a freak.

I should have k*lled you

when I had the chance.

So I cannot allow you

to stand in the way now.

The special abilities

within Cless

can draw upon powers

from another world.

Those powers created

this pathway,

and it will take you away.

It is too dangerous for me

to fight you at the moment.

So I'm afraid

I must take my leave.

Who knows where you will end up?

[rubble crumbling]

[Helck groans]

[Raphaed] Helck, my boy.

You have done well.

Impressive how much

resistance you've conjured up.

But this is how the world works.

This is the natural

flow of events

that no one can

ever hope to reverse.

Humans cannot return

to normal once awakened.

The future you so strongly

desire isn't coming.

Do yourself a favor and find

a quiet place to settle down

and live the rest of your days.

[Helck screams]

No!

Goddamnit!

[Vermilio] Ah, so that's how

you got to the demon realm.

Everything that I did,

it amounted to nothing.

I couldn't save my

friends, not one.

Brash humans.

New-World Lifeforms should

have never manifested.

And how did Mikaros and

Raphaead come to be?

There are a lot of things

that stand out to me,

but for right now,

I can't help

but think about how

painful Helck's experience

must have been.

I have nothing but

sympathy for you,

[Helck] But I'm

gonna keep fighting.

I have the power to defeat

every last one of them.

It is my duty.

[Vermilio] Are you really

sure you can fight them?

Huh?

[Vermilio] They're people

you care about, right?

I know it must be hard on you.

You can stop.

You don't need

to fight anymore.

Anne

We are the ones they

want to eradicate.

So let us handle things

from here on out.

You can let it go.

[Helck] After I got

sent to the demon realm,

I wandered aimlessly

through the wasteland

until Kenros saved me.

[gentle music]

[Kenros] What's a human

doing all the way out here?

Geez, you're a wreck man.

Ah, what the hell?

I'm sure you could

use some food.

Come on back to my place.

We'll get you back on your feet.

[Helck] He didn't bat an eye at

the fact that I was a human.

He invited me,

a stranger, into his home

and the townsfolk, they

didn't seem to care either.

Even when I told them my

brother k*lled the demon lord,

they treated me with

nothing but kindness.

I was thrilled.

Not only because they were kind,

but also that

they were good people

full of families and friends.

None of them

deserved to be hurt.

[Vermilio gasps]

I was under the impression

his main motivation

was to free all his friends

he couldn't save

from the spell.

But there's more

to it than that.

On his journey, he has

found the place in his heart

for so many more people

and races he's met.

So his reason to keep

fighting hasn't changed.

He just has more friends

he wants to protect.

Come on, Helck.

You've got enough problems

to be worrying

about everybody else.

You poor big dummy.

Hmm.

Listen, Anne, humankind

is a far greater threat

than anything you've imagined.

It's ungodly.

They have done more

than just awaken

the power of heroes.

There's some dark magic at work.

All the awakened humans

can now revive themselves

after being k*lled.

Ah! Oh, I get it.

That's why you stopped

Hyura from k*lling one.

Humankind is a mutated force

that even your warriors

from the empire

would struggle to defeat,

which is why I must

be the one to do it.

As one of the human breed myself

I am obligated to

put an end to this

even if it costs me my life.

I have the power to do it,

and this is the time for

me to wield that power.

Now, of course, there

is a chance my strength

is even more destructive

than the humans are.

I'm sure you've already

[sword clinks]

figured that

out for yourself.

Sometimes my rage is so strong,

I'm not able to keep

myself under control.

And if I ever let myself

go into a blind rage,

I have no doubt that

I would bring harm

to all of you as well.

And that's why you

offered me Hero Slayer?

Yes, I had wanted

Azudra to have it.

I figured one of the

Empire's Four Elite Lords

would be able to stop me.

But I never got the chance.

I should have known

it wouldn't be so easy

to meet with someone

of such elite status.

[Vermilio] No, Azudra was

just in the infirmary again.

I wish I didn't have

to drag you into this,

but you're the only person

I can rely on right now.

You are strong.

You have what it takes.

If it all goes sideways, I know

that you'll be able to stop me.

With that said, I'm gonna

ask you one more time, Anne,

will you please hold

onto Hero Slayer?

And if I ever go too far,

I want you to do

whatever it takes.

Stop me.

k*ll me.

Before I do

irreversible damage.

Before I give you my answer,

I also have something important

that I need to tell you.

So, like, my name isn't

actually Anne, okay?

Huh?

The truth is, I am

one of the demon lords.

I'm Vermilio the Red

of the Four Elite Lords.

I'm sorry for lying to you

but, Helck, I fully understand

where you're coming from.

I accept your request as

one of the Elite Lords

and also as one

of your friends.

You can count on me

to see it through.

I swear to you

here and now

that I won't

betray your wishes.

- Anne

- But in exchange,

you must promise me something.

Never fight with

the fear of death,

but fight with the drive

and hunger for life!

And remember, you're

not in this alone.

[uplifting music]

And when it's all over,

you have a home with

us in the empire.

You'll always be welcome there.

[uplifting music continues]

Thank you.

[uplifting music ends]

[scout] Yikety, yikes!

I didn't know you

could get attacked

by sky monsters

outside the empire.

How can I be the only one left

on my very first mission ever?

[TRACKING LEVEL: 29, NOVICE

SEARCH & RESCUE MEMBER: HARPEY]

Oh no, this is a big

old bunch of bananas.

I mean, how am

I supposed to find

Lady Vermilio all by myself?

[flag rustling]

[Helck] Um, can't

we just walk there?

[Vermilio] No, it's better

to wait for the train.

From what I know, it

moves faster than feet.

Well, I can't wait to see it.

I've never seen something

like this train thing before.

[Piwi] Me neither!

[train chugging]

[Vermilio] Ah, here it comes.

[train whistle blows]

- [Piwi] Oh, oh, choo choo!

- [Helck] Whoa!

[Vermilio] I do love

me some good timing.

Hello there.

You mind if we hitch a ride?

Hmm.

Hop on!

[military choir music]

[GREAT PLAINS ICED MILK: 8 LIN]

- So, Fluffy.

- My name's Piwi!

- Lost your way?

- No, sir!

- You a big fan of trains?

- Oh yeah!

[conductor laughs]

Shweet!

[GREAT PLAINS

PASTA SET: 150 LIN]

[choir music continues]

[music continues]

[train whistle blows]

Thanks a bunch!

Let's get going.

Right.

[Piwi hums]

[Vermilio] A tough hide,

powerful jaws, and sharp teeth,

plus an intense fiery breath

erupting from the mouth.

No doubt, a great

number of warriors

have lost their lives to you.

But you have met your end today.

[body thuds]

- Right on!

- Cheep!

We haven't seen a monster

that ferocious in quite a while.

It's faint, but I'm starting

to sense the odious atmosphere

of the demon realm.

We must be getting close.

It's likely more

enemies like this

are going to be

showing up from now on.

That said, don't you

worry about that stuff.

You stay focused on

keeping Piwi safe.

Let me handle the small fries.

- [Helck] You got it.

- Let's move it.

We need to try and reach a

town before the sun goes down

or we won't get to

eat dinner tonight.

Goodness, never expected

to see travelers out here.

I'm the chieftain of

the town just up ahead.

Take my advice.

Leave this place immediately.

It is far too

dangerous around here.

It won't be long before we are

plagued by death and madness.

- Um, what?

- The evil that was once

imprisoned has escaped.

Ages ago, a sorcerer

used his dark arts

to give rise to the world's

most dreadful monster.

"The world's most

dreadful monster"?

Its thick hide can

repel every type of blade,

and its massive jaws

can even crush stone.

It rules the sky

with powerful wings

that can lift its

huge body into the air.

And the super-heated flame

it emits from his mouth,

can burn anything to ashes.

Countless brave warriors

have met their end

at the hand of that awful beast.

The few warriors who

remain are planning

to launch one final

desperate as*ault today.

But I don't hold much hope.

No one can possibly defeat

that diabolical creature.

Go, you must leave this place

before you become

its next victim.

- Um

- You need not worry about

what happens to us.

My people have held

this land for eons

and I'm prepared to do the same.

Actually, I'm pretty

sure we just defeated

the monster

you're talking about.

Oh my dear, that's a

very nice thing to say,

but please do not

toy with an old man.

No, I'm being serious.

Take a look at the big,

dead corpse over there.

[chief] Stop it!

I told you that is enough!

It takes a real jerk

to mess with the elderly!

You think it's funny?

[warrior 1] Yo, check it out!

The monster's dead!

[warrior 2] You sure?

Could be faking.

[warrior 1]

Nah, man, look at it!

That thing's deader than dead.

Oh hey, Chief!

The monster's dead!

We're saved!

Huh?

Let's party!

[group cheers]

[Piwi] Yeah, Granny!

Everybody's cut loose!

Looks like we won't

get much sleep tonight.

Well, we can't

complain too much.

Even if it was coincidence,

you saved these people.

That's good stuff.

You know,

I guess you're right.

They even hooked us up with

some food and a place to stay.

I almost feel like we

should be thanking them.

Ah, the wind sure

does feel great.

Huh?

[Harpey gasping]

I have no idea what Lady

Vermilio actually looks like!

Time for process

of elimination!

This guy Huh?!

That's Helck!

Oh, what kind of

creature is that?

Hmm, it might could

possibly be her.

No wait, Lady Vermilio

has red hair!

This has to be her.

Um, are you by

chance Lady Vermilio?

Did Azudra send you

to find me?

Ah, that's right.

I'm Harpey from the

search and rescue team,

milady, lord ma'am!

- Oh.

- I knew it.

- Is Azudra and everyone okay?

- Yes, ma'am.

Whenever I left, they

weren't having much trouble

and seemed to be

in dandy spirits.

All is well.

That's a relief.

I was getting a little worried

after everything Helck told me.

But I suppose they

wouldn't go down easy

as long as Azudra's around.

[Harpey whimpers]

I really found you!

My mission is finally

completely complete.

I did it!

I really, really did it!

[Helck] There's nothing

to cry about.

[Harpey gasps]

You did great.

[Harpey] Ah, Helck!

Many, many thankies.

[Vermilio] Did you

come here by yourself?

Yeppers, the sky monsters got

the rest of the team though.

I was the only one left

who was able to flap free.

That must have been awful.

You were very brave to come all

this way despite the danger.

- I'm grateful.

- Huh, oh no, no, no.

I was just doing my duty.

But unfortunately,

even if she could

carry Piwi and I,

she definitely

can't carry Helck.

She made it

all this way to find us,

but we still have to make

our way back on foot.

Wait, hold on.

Azudra surely must have

known this was a possibility.

[Harpey] Oh, actually, milady,

there's one more big reason I

made the journey to find you.

To deliver a letter

from Lord Azudra.

Ah, from Azudra?

[Azudra] Dear Vermi-germy,

if you are still traveling

with our big muscle-bound

friend Helck,

make for the southern

edge of the human realm

rather than the empire.

Your pal, Azu.

[Vermilio] Interesting.

So he made us the crux

of his plan,

despite the fact

that we were MIA.

Typical.

And so, what's it say?

Don't you worry.

It doesn't really change

our present course at all.

Actually, Helck, you

might be happy to know

that you've already been added

to the head count

of the empire's forces.

Oh?

[Hon] Huh?

Are we seriously just going

to fight off the

humans over and over?

How are we ever supposed to

defeat their king like that?

It's plan A.

We are not the ones who

will defeat the king.

We are but a diversion.

Our job is to draw all

the attention to us.

You understand, yes?

Leave the rest to our assassins,

Helck and Vermi-germ will

take care of the human king.

[ending theme]

[narrator] Next time:

"The Mysterious Woman"