The anime series "Helck," scheduled to air in the summer of 2023, is a fantasy that begins with the strong, kind, and ultimate hero Heruku, who is participating in a tournament to select a representative for the demons in order to destroy humanity, causing chaos for the organizers! "Helck" takes surprising twists and turns right from the start, so we've compiled a list of episodes from Volume 1 of the manga, the prologue to the series, in which Heuku participates in the tournament!
Episode 1: The Demon King is Defeated! And So the Battle to Decide the New Demon King Begins
In a certain country, a hero defeats one of the demon kings! The people rejoice at the victory and believe peace has arrived. However, in the demon world, a tournament to determine the new Demon King was being held. Vamirio, one of the Empire's Four Heavenly Kings and the tournament's director, had a feeling that this tournament would be extremely high-level, but there was one incredible participant among them.
Episode 2: Let's Destroy Humans!
This incredible participant was none other than the human hero "Herk." Due to his power, Herk had attracted the enthusiasm of the audience as a favorite to win the tournament. Vamirio reacted in a perfectly natural way, asking, "Why is a human here!?" and "It's not right for humans to participate!", wondering what he was up to. Heruku himself had been uttering threatening remarks about his hatred for humans and his desire to destroy them. Naturally, Vamirio suspected he was up to something, and began working behind the scenes to eliminate Heruku.
Episode 3: The Card Tower Challenge! Vamirio's Foolish Play
The special contract magic used in the tournament made assassination impossible, and there was no way to win a direct fight against Heruku, whose combat level was 99. Heruku had to be eliminated through the competition. So, the organizers came up with the Card Tower challenge, which required dexterity rather than fistfighting. Even a level 99 hero would be no match for the Tower of Cards, but Heruku, who is quite skillful, manages to complete it first. Vamirio is furious, making harsh remarks.
Episode 4: A Strange Premonition in the Human Kingdom...
While the tournament was reaching its peak and Vamirio was losing his temper, Vamirio's spy, Asta, arrived in the human kingdom to gather information on the heroes. Mass disappearances in the country created a sense of unease. Vamirio's strategy was in vain, and Heruku continued to advance smoothly through the tournament.
Episode 5: New Developments! Mysterious Invading Forces!
Information from an intelligence agent reveals that it wasn't Herc who defeated the Demon King, but Herc's younger brother, Cress. For some reason, Herc is being treated as a criminal for killing Cress, further deepening the mystery. Meanwhile, Ulm Castle, the home of a different Demon King, is attacked and falls. Vamirio receives a report that the Demon King defending it has also been killed in battle. It's said that the attack on the castle was not by humans... but by mysterious winged soldiers.
Episode 6: Horseback Riding Race Showdown! What will happen to Heruku?
In light of the humans' suspicious behavior, the organizers, eager to eliminate Heruku as soon as possible, choose a horseback riding race as the next competition. Vamilio grimaces, thinking that even Heruku will be helpless if a weak horse is assigned to him in the horse racing and obstacles are set up that put a disadvantage on him. However, she also knows that this isn't the end of the story.
Episode 7: Heruku Runs! Obstacles are Destroyed with Physics!
Although Heruku seemed in a dire situation, he dismounted and took off at breakneck speed. Destroying obstacles as he went, he eventually crossed the finish line in first place. Vamilio, who was on high alert due to the mysterious soldier incident, was approached by one of the Empire's Four Heavenly Kings,
Azudra the Blue, who proposed that the final battle be a battle to recapture the fallen Ulm Castle. Azudra is one of the most powerful demons, but for some reason, he had sustained a serious injury.
Episode 8: Off to Ulm Castle! The Birth of Ann the Administrator
The reason for setting the final battle to recapture Ulm Castle was to defeat the mysterious Winged Soldiers and to discover Herk's true intentions. However, they also had to consider the unlikely event that Herk turned against them. Therefore, Vamilio, hiding her true identity, accompanies Herk and the other finalists as a tournament organizer and Administrator Ann (Acting Level 2), and they all head for Ulm Castle.
Episode 9: A mysterious monster infected with earth poison appears along the way.
The Empire is constantly plagued by a poison known as earth poison, which can kill anyone who comes into contact with it for extended periods. While the living areas are protected by a barrier, the finalists are beginning to show signs of fatigue from fighting the poison-tainted monsters they encounter along the way and the effects of the poison. Heruku, however, remains incredibly energetic. The group arrives at a rest stop surrounded by a barrier and rests for the time being.
Episode 10: Why Heruku Participated in the Tournament and the Reason for Azdra's Injury
Why was Heruku able to participate in the tournament? It was because Azdra, one of the Empire's Four Heavenly Kings, taught him. Azdra had met Heruku at the fall of Thor Castle. Heruku was unaffected by numerous powerful traps, and Azdra even prepared himself for death. Azdra's serious injury was from his battle with Heruku... but it wasn't. He was caught in his own trap, and Heruku had nothing to do with it.
Episode 11: Finally, we arrive at Ulm Castle!
Along the way, the group (Herk) defeats the New World creatures born from the poison of the earth, and finally arrives at Ulm Castle. They are discovered by the Winged Soldiers, and a battle ensues. However, immediately after the battle, one of the most powerful participants, Hyla, loses one of her arms.
【Helck】Manga Volume 1 Summary
This time, we've summarized the contents of Volume 1 of the Helck manga, the summer 2023 anime! At the beginning, the hero Helk declares his intention to destroy humanity and takes part in a tournament to decide the Demon King. The tournament director, Vamilio, makes some sarcastic remarks and pulls off some villainous moves to try and bring Helk down, starting off on a comical note, but the story unfolds with a completely different tone than what you'd expect from volume 1! It's a fascinating fantasy with many twists and turns, and a truly memorable work, so I highly recommend you check out the anime version!
