01x23 - The Chosen Path

[bunniefuu]

[narrator] Asta tries to

escape the castle with Shalamy,

but instead runs into

the human king.

Meanwhile, at Castle Thor,

the demon army

is forced to retreat

after the

Winged Knights succumb

to the power of the New World

and become abominations.

Also, Azudra suffers a defeat

at the hands of Mikaros.

[Mikaros]

And now, the time is near.

It won't be long until

this world comes to an end.

A new world is on the horizon!

Like hell.

I've made sure it

won't go your way.

[Mikaros gasps]

[dramatic music]

[echoing slash]

[opening theme]

[THE CHOSEN PATH]

[dramatic fanfare]

Lady Vermilio is

already on the move.

It shouldn't take

her much longer.

Tell everyone to make the

preparations for her arrival.

I don't want any mishaps.

Roger, be sure to be safe on

your way back to the empire.

[TRACKING LEVEL: 43,

SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM: ROUFE]

Will do.

[fire crackles]

I spoke to a villager

on the way here.

The path up ahead is blocked

due to a broken bridge,

so we'll need to take a detour.

Ahem.

[Piwi speaks gibberish]

[playful music]

[Harpey] Ah, Lady Vermilio

looks so relaxed.

I'll do something

sweet for her too.

I can take care

of the cleaning ups.

[Helck] No, that's okay.

I'll handle it.

Today must have

been exhausting.

Go get yourself some rest.

[Harpey] Milady, please.

I very much want to help.

Yeah, no, shut up.

Go to sleep.

Huh? Okay, then I'll be on

the lookout patrol tonight.

Now don't wear yourself out.

We need you well rested

to deliver messages.

Huh?

[Helck] There's no

need to work so hard.

You're already helping us out

a ton by acting as our guide.

We are approaching

monster territory.

Starting tomorrow, I'll need

you to scout ahead for us.

So you see, rest up.

Mr. Helck Lady Anne

You must be tired too.

Hit the sack.

[Helck] I'm feeling good.

Get yourself some rest, Anne.

[Vermilio] No, you first.

[Helck] Sorry, I insist.

[Vermilio] I'm not even tired.

[Helck] Okay, then how

about a cup of cocoa?

[Vermilio] Okay.

[Helck] Cheers.

[Vermilio] Thank you.

Mm, so good!

[Helck] There's more

if you want.

[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.

Just a little farther.

Hm?

[Vermilio] According to Harpey,

the empire has established

a small military base

near the southern border

of the human realm.

If we forge straight

ahead without

taking time to restock on food,

we'll arrive in

two or three days

and then from that point,

it's a stone's throw

to the human kingdom.

Is that right?

That was really quick then.

I know we've been traveling

for quite a while now,

but it feels like just yesterday

we were sailing off the island.

It's been such a wild

and amazing journey.

Ah!

Sorry, seems like a

silly thing to say

with a big battle coming up.

No, no, I feel the same way.

I've hardly spent any time

outside of the empire until now.

Every day has

been something new.

I've enjoyed the journey.

Say, Helck?

[Helck] Yeah?

Well,

after Azudra hears

about the situation

with the human king from

Thundabar, it's very possible

that he'll come up with a

whole new plan of action

meant to keep casualties

to a minimum.

However, no matter

what that plan is,

we will be mainstays

on the b*ttlefield.

I'm pretty sure that Azudra

sees us as the only candidates

for assassinating the king.

He's already convinced our

combined strength can beat him.

That said, defeating him doesn't

mean the fighting will end.

In fact, that's where

the real battle begins.

[Helck] Yeah, the next

step will be for us

to deal with all the humans

who mutate as a result.

Uh-huh, it's not

going to be easy.

Don't worry.

Whether it's a thousand

or a million,

I will kick every

last human a*s.

Dumbass, I told you

to stop trying to do

it all on your own.

Huh?

You probably

haven't realized this,

but my powers are at their best

whenever I'm outnumbered.

In terms of wiping out

large numbers of enemies,

I'm just as good

as you, sort of.

Hmm, all right.

Anyway, you don't have

to worry about everything.

- Huh?

- [Vermilio] Just let me

handle the remaining

Winged Knights.

Azudra and his forces

should have already

started thinning them out.

So all you need to

focus on is pummeling

the sh*t out of assholes

like Mikaros and the king.

Hmm, Anne, thank you.

[gentle music]

[Vermilio] Listen, I know this

will be excruciating for you,

but you can't give in!

Not to them,

and not to yourself.

You can handle

whatever comes your way.

Right, count on me.

Great, Lady Vermilio's

sleeping quarters are ready now.

Uh, you forgot the oranges.

Oh, that's not good.

They should be

in cold storage,

and bring the orange

juice while you're at it.

Please and thank you!

[attendant] Fine!

Huh?

[dramatic music]

[gasping]

We're under attack!

Sound the alarm!

We're nearly near!

Everyone must be

jumping for joys

to meet the Lady Vermilio.

You don't say?

You don't see someone like

her in person very often.

They'll be tickled pickle pink.

You don't say?

Part of being an Elite Lord

means keeping a low profile.

Most people in the empire don't

even know what I look like.

I told you that before.

Yeah, I remember.

And Azudra's

the odd one out.

You see the mountain?

We'll be there once

we pass the peak.

Huh?

[gasp]

[Vermilio] A member

of the scouting team?

[Harpey] It's Roufe!

And she's wounded,

[Roufe grunts]

Roufe!

Lady Vermilio,

you must get out of here!

What happened?

It was the Winged Knights.

They launched a

surprise attack on us

and totally annihilated

the base!

[Vermilio gasps]

[Raphaed] I came here

searching for Helck.

Imagine my surprise to find

a pack of demons instead.

They must have been

planning an attack on us.

Sad, pitiful fools.

[arrows whistling]

[demon shouts]

Hunt down every last one.

k*ll them all.

[tense music]

[Roufe] Ugh.

Why do you think the

humans sent their army south?

They didn't give me the

impression they came this way

because they had

noticed our base.

Given the huge number of troops,

it seemed like they were

going to storm the kingdom.

But what if they, like, maybe,

somehow found out about you?

They might be coming to get you

while you're so far

from the empire.

That's why they

brought the baddies,

because they know

you're a kickass warrior

who kicks all the asses!

[Vermilio] Possibly.

But if that's really the case,

they wouldn't be after me.

Their target is Helck.

The humans fear Helck's

power just as much as we do.

They might be trying

to make sure

he doesn't join the w*r effort

by making him go berserk,

and if my guess is right,

it's already underway.

They have a plan in

place to make it happen.

[Helck roars]

[Vermilio grunts]

What am I so worried about?

It's gonna be okay.

Helck can handle anything.

It'll be fine.

It has to be.

[gasp]

[Helck] Anne.

We should go.

What's wrong with me?

I should be looking

after him right now.

Easy, Vermilio.

Helck is going to be fine.

He will.

[Vermilio clears throat]

This battle will prove

to be very dangerous.

Piwi, Harpey,

you two stay here

and start tending

to Roufe's wounds.

Right.

[footsteps thump]

Annie, Mr. Helck?

Be safe out there, y'all!

[dramatic music]

[Raphaed grunts]

Get away from here right now!

Run!

Huh?

[group gasps]

What the?!

[Dorshe] The floor's collapsing!

Damnit! What is happening?

Ah!

[group screams]

Not good!

[Mikaros chuckles]

This is surprising.

You were the last person

I would've expected

to find at Castle Urum.

[Helck growls]

Mikaros.

Now just how heartless

can you be?

Abandoning your comrades to

join the ranks of the demons.

It must have been quite

the shock to poor Edil.

Mikaros!

[gentle music]

[Mikaros] The gate could have

been fully completed back then

if Helck had never shown up.

Azudra was a formidable foe

who left me in

pretty terrible shape,

but in terms of power,

Helck is on another level.

A literal monstrosity.

In that short span,

he k*lled me more times

than I ever cared to count,

but by the end, Helck was once

again sucked into the gate

after trying to heroically

save all his friends.

I shudder to think how

things might have turned out

if the gate hadn't

lost stability

and ultimately malfunctioned.

[Mikaros laughs]

You know, Raphaed,

there is one thing

I became sure of after

reuniting with Helck that day.

If we make any mistakes

in dealing with him,

he'll become a far greater

threat than Azudra.

Helck's wrath is intense,

and his sorrow runs deep.

There is no doubt that he's

going to be a huge obstacle

as we try to advance our army.

That's why I've remained

incredibly cautious with him.

He's getting closer, yes?

[Mikaros] Yes.

This is a spell

that was invented

to accurately reveal

the current location

of any chosen person.

This type of magic

isn't hard to come by.

It's a common spell

that most everyone

has conceived of at least once.

[Mikaros chuckles] However,

it demands a high

skill level to cast,

and it also requires

something from the body

of the person whose

location you wish to know.

Things like flesh, hair,

tears, blood,

anything is fine really.

I see then.

This is why you

deliberately revealed

yourself to him that day.

Indeed, I did.

I took a bit of his blood.

It was a rigorous endeavor,

not easy.

Anyway, Helck is

heading from the south

and is already very close.

We do have a gate here if

the situation gets dicey,

but considering the absolute

worst case scenario,

I think our best move

is to deal with him

before he even has the

chance to reach the castle.

I will handle it.

Use this chance to focus on

recovering from your wounds.

You've been through a lot.

Oh-h*? Then that is

exactly what I will do.

All right, please be

sure to take that knight

along with you as well.

Hm?

She will definitely be of use.

[Mikaros chuckles]

You're sure about this?

You've broken her mind?

Well, Edil was a failure.

But have no fear, Raphaed,

she will not get out of line

as long as the king's spell

still remains in effect.

Right then.

[footsteps echoing]

[Raphaed] Helck, son, this

is the path you've chosen.

[dramatic music]

[arrows whistling]

[panting]

I cannot die here!

Reinforcements?

That's potent magic.

No ordinary demon

could wield it.

Huh?

That's fire magic.

Is it her?

[dramatic music]

[Raphaed grunts]

[flames roar]

[Raphaed grunts]

What happened to the others?

We got split up

during the retreat,

but I'm sure they

managed to escape.

Very good.

This battle is going

to be violent.

Get yourself a safe distance.

[gasp] Right. Yes.

[footsteps thump]

You seem in fine shape.

I thought you would be more

battered by all of this.

[Helck] I was always told

the demon realm was evil,

but the people there saved me,

and without their help, I

would've never made it this far.

I know.

You've surrounded yourself

with some solid companions.

Helck, my boy, you deserve

the truth from me.

The reason I came here

was to destroy you.

You are an obstacle standing

in the way of our plans.

[Helck grunts]

You must have already

realized the immense power

lying dormant inside of you.

And my job here is to cause

that power to go berserk,

lose control, and force

you out of commission.

But if you agree to simply walk

away of your own free will,

there is no reason to fight.

I am telling you one last time,

you cannot stop this.

The future you wish for

will never come.

There is no hope or

salvation to be found.

Take your new friends and find

somewhere far from the w*r

where you can live

out quiet lives.

If you truly want peace

in your future,

this is all I have to offer.

No one could blame you

for wanting that.

There is simply

no need to suffer

any more than you already have.

Like I said, Lord Raphaed,

the people of the demon

realm saved my life,

and I'm not the only one

fighting this fight anymore.

So no matter what

future awaits me,

if you insist on

attacking the demon realm

and continue inflicting

more senseless tragedy,

then I will remain on this

path I have found myself.

I will

destroy all humans!

[wind whistling]

You'll destroy us,

your own kind?

If you truly wish to

recklessly forge ahead

knowing every horror that

awaits you,

I cannot stop you,

[sword rattles]

but know that you are

a fool, Helck the hero.

[Helck grunts]

[fire roars]

Mark my words!

You can never overcome the

depths of tragic despair!

The pain of fighting your

friends will prove unbearable.

Making it that you will cease

to see your hopeless future,

for you will lose control

and be consumed by the immense

power that lies inside.

You will cease to be yourself

and emerge a raging monstrosity

that causes nothing but death,

even for those new

companions of yours!

[Helck] Then just try me.

I'll tough it out

until the end.

I swear it!

Attack!

[dramatic music]

[Helck grunts]

Remember, Helck,

you're not the only one

fighting this fight.

I can help take some of

the burden off your back.

And don't you

forget it, all right?

Yeah, of course not.

[Vermilio] Let's do this!

[Helck grunts]

[Vermilio grunts]

[explosions booming]

[dramatic music]

[Raphaed] A new ally?

Another friend who can

provide some moral support.

That's significant.

However, you have yet

to realize,

having such relationships

is a weakness.

They can shatter

your heart to pieces!

Look out!

[dramatic music]

[Raphaed gasps]

[expl*si*n booms]

Seriously, Helck!

You don't have to worry about

me dying from that crap!

There is no way in hell

I'd go down so easily!

You know you've seen me survive

far worse than this!

Focus, meathead!

I'll handle this chump!

You just stay focused

on your own fight

and don't worry

about anything else!

We'll send them packing

and get back to Piwi

and the others.

You got that?

Right.

[uplifting music]

[Raphaed] It's bad enough

she dodged my attack,

but the way she calls to Helck

with such a strong

and reassuring voice

is a real problem.

She snapped him back to

normal in a mere instant.

Who is this demon?

[Raphaed gasps]

[fire roars]

You don't know the first

thing about Helck do you?

You don't know sh*t.

Sure he's strong,

but his power comes

from both body and mind.

[Raphaed grunts]

He will beat you!

He will overcome

whatever you throw at him

and he will never be

your damn sl*ve!

[dramatic music]

[swords clashing]

[Raphaed]

We'll see about that.

From what I can tell, the

only reason he's hanging on

is because of your presence,

which means he will be consumed

by the power of rage

the instant he sees you perish!

Really? You think a d*ck

like you can k*ll me?

Well, even if

I were to go down,

I'm sure that Helck

would be okay.

His determination

is unyielding.

He will see this fight

through no matter what.

Helck is going to be just fine!

Except it's strange.

I trust him with

all of my heart.

There's no question of that.

So why do I still have

this nagging concern?

This ominous feeling?

It haunts me.

[dramatic music]

Huh?

Wait, that wasn't aimed at me.

Watch out!

They have reinforcements!

[dramatic music]

[Helck gasps]

[dramatic music]

[ending theme]

[narrator] Next time:

"Towards a Hopeful Future"