The anime "Helck," scheduled to air in the summer of 2023, begins with Herk, the strongest human hero, participating in a competition to select the representative of the demon race in order to destroy humanity. He's a strong and kind character, and the kind of character who would never normally say, "Let's destroy humanity." But he does. Why does Hek try to do such a terrible thing? This time, we'll explore Hek's past!
Helk's Present: A Hero Who Wants to Destroy Humanity
At the start of the story, Herk is still a human, but he's participating in a competition to select the representative of the demon race. He also says some pretty threatening things, like "I hate humans" and "I want to destroy them." He's also wanted in the human kingdom for murdering his younger brother. Heruku himself is a strong, kind, and easygoing person, so he doesn't seem like the type of person who would do something like that. What could have happened to him to make him do this?
Herk's Past Part 1: His Parents Are Dead! He and His Brother Flee to the Royal Capital
Herk and his younger brother Cress lost their parents in a monster attack when they were six years old. Their village is destroyed, and Heruku and his family flee to the royal capital with a glimmer of hope. However, in the capital, where the gap between rich and poor is stark, the two are treated like livestock. Heruku shields his brother from violence at the hands of the nobles and somehow manages to survive by using his super-regenerative abilities to restore his battered body. Life in the royal capital is hellish, but the outside world is even more dangerous, so they have no choice but to live here.
Herk's Past Part 2: His Younger Brother, Cress, Falls Ill, and Herk Runs Around
One day, his younger brother, Cress, falls ill and is bedridden. Due to the harsh living conditions and malnutrition, Cress was on the verge of death. Heruku ran around the snowy royal capital, but no one paid him any attention. However, a young noblewoman happened to pass by and rescued Cress. While it may have been a whim on her part, it ultimately saved Cress's life. From that day on, the fates of Heruku and Cress changed dramatically.
Herk's Past, Part 3: A few years later, Cress has become a fine soldier.
Sharuami, the noblewoman who rescued Cress, was the eldest daughter of the Raphaed family, one of the most prominent aristocrats in the royal capital. Even after their illnesses were cured, Sharuami took an interest in the two and began to play with them, and his slave-like treatment of them also changed. Cress believed that the reason the country's current situation remained unchanged was because the threat of monsters had made the people lose their sense of security. From that day on, Cress trained himself, and by the time he turned 18, he had become a platoon leader at a young age, acquiring the strength to inspire the people.
Herk's Past, Part 4: The Appearance of New World Creatures
Since Cress began to be seen as a hero, monsters have appeared more frequently than ever, and the kingdom has implemented further conscription, with Heruku joining the fight as a soldier. There, Heruku encountered powerful monsters and his unit was nearly wiped out. Among them was Edil, who had attacked the Demon Realm as a Winged Soldier. The monster was a New World creature feared even by the demons, and Heruku remained behind as his retainer. However, after a fierce battle, he defeated the New World creature.
Herk's Past Part 5: Edil's Alliance with the Mercenary Group
Edil was the son of a lord in a town near the border, and he had petitioned the royal capital to lend him soldiers. However, his unit was nearly wiped out, and in despair, he was about to return to town. Heruku, realizing his own strength, encourages Edil, believing that he might be able to save the city, and heads toward it. Monsters have already attacked the city, but thanks to the efforts of the mercenary group staying in town and Heruku's arrival, the city is successfully defended.
Herk's Past, Part 6: Meeting Alicia
Alicia, the leader of the mercenary group, was impressed by Heruku's strength and began working with Heruku and Edil to defend the city, protecting it from monster attacks. Around that time, Cress, carrying the hopes of the people, was chosen to embark on an expedition to the Demon King's Castle. The people were told that defeating the Demon King would prevent the emergence of monsters, and they believed it, but in reality, it actually prevented them from appearing.
Herk's Past Part 7: Heruku and Azdra's Encounter
Cress returns home after defeating the Demon King, but is seriously injured. The people rejoice that the threat of monsters is gone, but in reality, the number of monsters is increasing rather than decreasing. The people call for Cress to march out, and Herk heads to the Demon King's castle in Cress's place, as he is unable to move. Heruku meets Azdra at the Demon King's Castle, where he learns that demons have suppressed the emergence of monsters and that demons and humans can coexist.
Herk's Past Part 8: Nobles Are Really Shit
Returning from the Demon King's Castle, Heruku and his friends reunite with their comrades, exhausted from the monster attack. The nobles had closed the castle gates during the monster attack, forcing those who fought into a battle from which they could not retreat. Furthermore, the nobles, due to the extent of the damage, incite hatred toward demons, and as a countermeasure, they spread the word that they have developed a technique to awaken humans as heroes. Those who awaken as heroes are powerful, able to easily annihilate the monsters that had previously plagued them.
Herk's Past, Part 9: A Terrifying Plan
The birth of a hero protected the people, but Heruku was worried. Meanwhile, Zelzion, the heavy infantry commander who accompanied Cress on his expedition, visits him. Zelzion explains that the awakening of the hero's power is an incredible spell that destroys the mind, renders the pawns self-conscious, and simply obeys the caster's commands. Becoming a hero will make them less than slaves. Furthermore, he reveals that the nobles are planning to use this spell on all citizens except the nobles.
Herc's Past Part 10: The Cress Rescue Mission
Cress possesses a special power that can transform citizens into heroes, and with that power and the king's magic formula, the plan can be carried out. Since Cress was being used in the plan while unconscious, Herc, Zelzion, Edil, and Alicia carry out a plan to rescue Cress.
Herk's Past Part 11: Hero Killer
The king possessed the ability to manipulate humans at will. Herk was forced to fight Cress, who was controlled by this ability. Alicia's sword, the Hero Killer, was a weapon capable of dealing fatal damage to the hero, and after being cut, Cress briefly regained his senses. However, the sage Micalos, who was controlling everything behind the scenes, stole the Hero Killer, mortally wounding Herk.
Herk's Past Part 12: Cress's Death
Herk is about to be killed by Micalos, but Cress regains his senses and cuts off Micalos's head. Cress also stabs the king with his sword, but the king survives and attempts to use magic to control Cress again. However, Cress anticipates this and takes his own life.
Herk's Past Part 13: Heruku's Rage
The nobles, enraged by Cress's death and realizing their plan had been foiled, began hurling insults at them. In his rage, Heruku unleashes his powers and attempts to kill all of the nobles. However, Alicia's words bring him back to his senses and he loses consciousness.
Herk's Past Part 14: Despair
Herk wakes up to find that none of his friends are there. He learns that a large bounty has been placed on their heads, and that all of his friends sacrificed themselves to allow him to escape. Still, refusing to give up his last hope, Herk sets off.
Herk's Past Part 15: Double the Despair
Alicia, the leader of a mercenary group, was captured and on the verge of execution. Herk rushed to Alicia's aid and narrowly escaped execution. However, something strange happened to the spectators watching Alicia's execution. The king's plan to transform all of his subjects into heroes was underway. All those without the right aptitude were transformed into mindless monsters. After being rescued, Alicia also awakened as a hero in Herk's arms.
Herk's Past, Part 16: To the Demon Realm
His former friends and allies have become heroes, and now everyone else has become his enemy. Herk heads to the king to settle things, but for some reason, Micalos, still alive, stands in his way. He then learns that his younger brother, Cress, is being used half-dead in the heroization plan, but is instead transported to the Demon Realm by Micalos. The story then returns to the beginning, where Herk participates in a tournament to determine the Demon King in order to destroy humanity.
【Helck】Helck's Backstory Summary
Here's a look at the backstory of Helck, the protagonist of the anime series "Helck," scheduled to air in 2023! He makes threatening remarks about destroying humanity, but his reasons for doing so are incredibly heavy and dark, almost doubling down on despair. However, this episode is roughly the end of the first half of the series, and while it's shocking enough, the plot will only get more unpredictable from here on out! So, I hope you'll watch the anime to find out more!
