01x11 - The Troubadour's Song

[bunniefuu]

[narrator] After saving Erille,

Helck and company resume

their journey.

In the next town, they

enter a cooking competition

and win enough money

to purchase a map

to lead them back

to the Demon Empire.

Yep.

First, we'll need to get

through these two kingdoms

and then head for

this desert town.

Wait, ma'am. Here's a

piece of friendly advice.

Avoid the northwest,

or just don't go anywhere

near the territory

of the two kingdoms.

Why is that?

A warrior of darkness

prowls there.

"A warrior of darkness"?

[opening theme]

[THE TROUBADOUR'S SONG]

[dramatic fanfare]

Oh, Madam Iris.

Oh, Miss Singin' Lady.

What's up?

[Vermilio] Piwi already

made a buddy?

[Iris] It looks like

you found your friends.

- Good for you.

- Mhm!

Tell us more about

this warrior of darkness.

He's a soldier

who wanders the land

where the two kingdoms were.

Crossing paths with him

means certain death.

If you value your lives,

I suggest you take

the long way around.

- Right.

- Don't know.

Taking a detour like that

will eat up a lot of time.

- Yes, it will.

- So you know?

Right there with you.

Ah, thank you for the warning.

It's just we don't have the

luxury of time right now.

I see.

You gotta listen to reason.

Once you're dead, I mean,

that's kind of the end.

Yes, I know that.

But the two of us can

hold our own in a fight.

Thanks for the map.

Let's go.

We gotta scoot!

[Iris] Hey, Piwi.

Yes, miss?

[Iris] Um

[Vermilio] Piwi, wrap it up.

Come on.

Okay! Bye-bye, lady!

You're just gonna let 'em go?

They seem like decent folk.

Real shame they're gonna die.

[Helck] We've been following

a trail of ruined

buildings for a while.

These must be the remains

of one of the two kingdoms.

[Vermilio] Yeah, it must have

had a pretty large population.

From the way things look,

it's safe to say a fierce

w*r was waged around here

and I bet a staggering amount

of lives were lost as a result.

[Piwi giggling]

[Piwi humming]

Looking, looking. Oh.

[eerie music]

[Vermilio gasps]

What was that?

A wicked chill just

shot down my spine.

Must be this

warrior of darkness.

[suspenseful music]

[Vermilio and Helck gasp]

[dark figure growls]

We need to get away from here!

I don't know what that is,

but it can't be good!

Whoa!

[suspenseful music]

[gasps] Damn it.

It closed the gap between us

like it was nothing.

How'd you

You good?

- [Piwi whimpers]

- Yeah, I'm fine.

Thanks for the help.

That was close.

I almost launched my spell

right into his face.

Now what the hell

is that thing?

I don't like how fast

it can move.

And that eerie aura

emanating from it.

It reminds me of when the

Tothman King transformed.

[Helck] Anne.

[Vermilio gasps]

Go grab Piwi.

Get yourself some distance.

Running past this guy

isn't going to happen.

I'm staying back and fighting.

All right.

But stay on your toes.

That thing is supernatural.

I'll come back to help

once Piwi is safe.

Agreed.

Come to me, Piwi!

[Piwi] 'Kay!

[Vermilio grunts]

[Piwi] I'm sorry.

[Vermilio] You're fine.

[dramatic music]

Insane. It's powerful

enough to injure Helck?

There's no doubt about it.

This thing has to be

the warrior of darkness

that girl warned us about.

Even with the advantage

of armor and weapons,

it's still hard to believe

that there's a being

strong enough to fight Helck.

Plus, it has more than

just physical strength.

I can sense it drawing

upon something sinister,

but what exactly is it?

The shroud of darkness

and its means to teleport.

I've fought against my

fair share of creatures,

but never anything like this.

Damn it. It really is

like the Tothman King!

I'm so on edge that I

can't think straight.

I need to get back

there and help.

[Piwi] Cheep!

[Helck grunts]

[Vermilio] He snapped the blade

in two! What's he made of?

Okay then.

That should reduce its power.

The battle is

practically over now.

Oh hell no.

The shadows are gathering

around the broken sword.

What? Now it's back to normal!

That's not fair!

I've never even heard

of a weapon

that can reconstruct itself.

[Helck grunts]

Piwi, keep yourself hidden.

But, Annie, I-

Don't you worry, okay?

I'll be back soon.

'Kay.

That thing has

taken multiple blows,

but it doesn't seem anywhere

close to going down,

which means on top of

its great strength, speed,

and stamina,

it also has incredibly

tough defense.

And now it may have some sort

of regenerative powers.

Standard attacks aren't

going to do anything.

I need to hit it with

something extremely powerful,

otherwise we have no chance.

Right. How about this?

Pull back, Helck!

[dramatic choral music]

Oh sh*t.

That usually has enough power

to wipe out a New-World

Lifeform in one hit,

but it didn't even

scratch this thing.

[blade slices]

All right, it's wide open.

My apologies, but we

don't have time for this,

so I'm gonna need you to

stay out of our damn way!

[Vermilio]

Such incredible force.

[dramatic music continues]

[Vermilio and Helck gasp]

[blade slices]

[Vermilio yelps]

Helck!

[Helck grunts]

[dramatic music continues]

[Helck gasps, grunts]

Helck, over here!

[Helck grunts]

Helck's movements

are getting slower.

His wounds must be deep.

I don't get it.

How does it continue to survive

after taking so

many powerful hits?

[Helck gasps]

[dramatic music]

That's it. You b*stard.

I've had enough of you!

Must be a special magic

at work here.

Some sort of spell

like Azudra can do.

There's no way to break it

without knowing who cast it.

Our only choice

is to push through

and get somewhere outside

the range of the spell.

Okay. If Helck and I

combine powers,

we should be able to get away.

[gasps]

[footsteps approach]

[Helck] You.

Keep your dirty hands

off my friend.

Get your a*s over here

and fight.

Holy sh*t.

[Vermilio gasps]

[Helck grunts]

[Vermilio gasps]

[Helck roaring]

[Great Witch] You know,

I'm talking about

that Helck fella.

Trust me, he is far

more dangerous

than you could ever

possibly imagine.

He'll be okay for right now.

In fact, I'm sure he'll end

up being a reliable ally.

However, you can't expect

that to be the case forever.

There is a vortex

of negative emotions

bottled up inside him.

He walks a road to darkness

and who can say what lies

at the end of the hopeless

goal he seeks?

You must never forget that.

Hidden deep inside of the very

man that you are traveling with

is the potential to bring

about terrible suffering.

Make the right choice.

[Vermilio gasps]

[Helck roars]

That's enough, Helck! Run away!

That thing is invincible.

Stop fighting it!

Don't use any more of

your power. Listen to me!

Stop it!

Helck!

[Helck yelling]

[Piwi vocalizing]

[gasps] Piwi!

What are you doing?

I'm singin' a song, Annie!

I thought I told you

to stay hidden.

Hmm

[resumes vocalizing]

[Vermilio] Don't ignore me, you

little green turd! Come on.

Just hide somewhere before

we can't get- [gasps]

[Piwi continues vocalizing]

[soft lute music]

It just stopped its attacks.

I don't get why it just stopped

fighting all of a sudden.

Oh, that singing lady said to.

She said that song would

get us outta trouble.

What? No freaking way.

Your singing stopped it?

It was a long way

to get back here.

That means I actually

made the situation worse

by taking you to safety!

Helck, are you okay?

All good. I'll be fine.

I kind of flew off

the handle a bit.

[Vermilio] More than

a bit, you maniac!

Don't worry me like that!

You're right. I'm sorry.

[Vermilio] I hope you

aren't hurt too bad.

Let me stop the bleeding

for you. Just wait here.

Thanks. But I'll

take care of it.

[Helck grunts]

[Vermilio]

What the sh*t was that?

Just my super recovery mode.

My wounds should heal

over before long.

[Piwi] Whoa, that's amazing!

[solemn music]

Hm?

[Vermilio] That thing's

wounds aren't healing.

You know what? I think

that we should follow it.

Okay.

[solemn music continues]

We don't know what's

waiting in there.

Keep your wits about you.

Of course.

Uh, okay.

[gasps] Over there.

Must be victims from the w*r.

[warrior] Peace was all

we ever wanted.

Everyone was against the w*r.

What? Now it wants to chat?

[warrior] However,

as we watched our friends

and families viciously m*rder*d,

people began to despise

the other kingdom

and fully embraced their rage.

Soon enough,

there was no one left

who objected to fighting back.

Then it spiraled out of control.

The scale of the w*r

grew larger each day

and the hatred that it spawned

broke open the forbidden

magic of this land,

known as "the hex of darkness."

It set us on the path to ruin.

All of the knights in the

kingdom

who selfishly used the hex

to boost their strength

gradually lost their minds

and mutated into

godless heathens.

Then they went on a m*ssacre.

The hex of darkness

did bring an end

to the w*r between

our two kingdoms,

but it also destroyed

everything.

Some of the monsters

continued to terrorize.

Those fortunate enough to escape

did everything they could

to fight back and survive.

But they were helpless

against such darkness.

There was only one hope left.

And even though it came with

the risk of producing yet

another beast,

it was our only choice.

We had to rely on that

same power of darkness.

I did what I had to do.

There was someone I was

so desperate to protect,

I didn't care what

would happen to me.

That sentiment became the

anchor that kept me sane.

But then

[warrior] Stop!

[Vermilio] How sad.

He became a warrior of darkness

to try and save his people.

[warrior] I swore I would never

succumb to the hex of darkness.

I promised I would keep her

safe no matter the cost.

But I failed.

[helmet shattering]

And in the end,

I couldn't save a single

one of them.

Brave warriors, even though

I was in a trance,

I do remember our battle.

You are strong.

[body crumbling]

And thanks to you, I've

regained my sanity.

You have my thanks.

Hey, your body's falling apart.

My physical form was

destroyed many ages ago.

Now that I am free of

the hex of darkness,

this vessel will

crumble to dust.

But then you'll-

[sighs]

I see. You know it all too well.

That's quite the weapon

you have there. Impressive.

Who would've guessed

something like that existed?

[Vermilio gasps]

But we both know you shouldn't

be in possession of it.

No one should.

Take this with you.

Consider it an apology

and a gift.

It bears a minor curse, but

I'm sure you can wield it.

A minor curse?

I can tell there are

more battles in your future

and you will need it.

So use it.

I'm sorry. And thank you.

Don't end up on the same path

I did. I wish you much luck.

[Vermilio and Helck gasp]

My time has come. This is it.

But before I go, may I

ask you one last favor?

[Helck] What is it?

That song from earlier,

would you sing it for me?

I always loved that song.

Uh, Piwi, can you do it?

Yep.

[inhales]

[Iris] Wait, Piwi.

Please allow me.

Oh, the singing lady's here.

It would seem my curiosity

got the better of me.

You're so powerful.

Never in my wildest dreams

did I think

someone strong enough to

save him would come.

[Vermilio gasps]

[tender music]

[warrior gasps]

I don't believe it.

[Iris sobs]

Dear Augis,

my sweet big brother.

It's me. I'm here.

Talk to me.

[Augis] This is unbelievable.

How did you survive?

Do you not remember? It was

you who saved my life, Augis.

[Augis] Me?

[young Iris whimpering]

[dark figure roars]

[Young Augis] Stop!

[Iris] The hex of darkness

has deprived you of so much

for so long.

But you protected me,

dear brother.

And I'm not the only one.

You ended up saving

many of our people

from the fate of the darkness.

Is that true?

I really saved people?

You did. You did.

[tender music]

I'm sorry.

I wish I could have

found you sooner.

I'm sorry.

No. It's okay.

Knowing you're safe

is everything.

[Iris whimpers]

Truly.

[Helck] Anne, Piwi. Let's go.

- Let's scoot.

- Yeah.

[Iris vocalizing]

[ending theme]

[Helck] Could be a long way

until we reach the next town.

[Vermilio] Yeah, we might have

to camp outside tonight.

[Helck] You know,

it's really great

those two had the

chance to reunite.

[Vermilio] Mhm.

Hey, uh, Annie? Hey, Helcky.

Look over there!

- Hmm?

- Hmm?

[Vermilio] I guess there

was a town here too.

[Piwi] Cool. So whoever falls

off the bricks is a loser.

What are you talking about?

We're gonna have a

race to that tree there.

- No, we're not.

- Hm?

Someone could break an ankle,

wake up another hexed monster.

We have to proceed with

caution and not be idiots.

Well, I'm in!

Speaking of idiots!

We need to conserve our stamina!

All righty, on your marks.

I said, no, we are not

doing this sh*t. You hear me?

Get ready now. Go!

- [Helck laughs]

- [Vermilio] You can't beat me!

You're going down!

[all panting]

[Vermilio]

He's carrying all our stuff.

How can he be so light

on his big fat feet?

I feel like I've said it a

million times,

but I'll say it again!

Helck is a freak of nature!

[Piwi] Hey.

Huh?

[Piwi whimpers]

Well, look at this.

Someone pecked off more than

they could chew, didn't they?

You lose, fuzzybutt!

Nuh-uh! It isn't over yet!

[Vermilio gasps]

[Piwi grunts]

[Piwi] Wee!

Whoa, whoa!

What the flying hell?!

Fat birds aren't

supposed to fly!

Bird? I'm a Piwi!

Ah!

Oh my God!

You're about

to be eaten, you dumbass!

[narrator] Negligence

is one's greatest enemy.

Exercise caution when

traveling the unknown.

[jaws chomp]

[narrator] Next time:

"The Spirit of Faith"