Helck (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[tense music]
[wind howling]
[dramatic choir music]
[demon yelling]
[Helck wincing]
[Helck grunting]
[demon shouts]
[Helck yells]
[writhing noise]
[demon yelling]
That one seems peculiar.
I'm sensing a somewhat
unfathomable power within him.
[assistant]
Ah, so you've noticed.
That man is favored to be the
champion of the tournament.
His name is Helck.
He has battled his way through
the preliminary rounds.
He's a hero
from the human realm.
Did you just say
that he's human?
[opening theme]
[HELCK THE HERO]
[dramatic fanfare]
[blade slashes, stabs]
[demon roaring]
[blood sloshing]
[narrator]
Off in a distant land,
there was a lone human hero
who defeated
the powerful Demon Lord.
[CASTLE THOR]
Seeing an opportunity,
the human army stormed
the Demon Lord's castle,
taking control of it,
thus sealing their victory.
Joy and celebration
flooded the human realm
as all fear towards the
demonkin was washed away.
Then roughly three months
later, here in the Demon Realm,
a fierce competition
was just underway
to fill the empty throne
with a new Demon Lord.
My name is Vermilio.
[COMBAT LEVEL: 78,
VERMILIO THE RED]
Since Azudra is hindered with
injury,
I will serve as manager
for the tournament.
My name is Hon and I will
be assistant to the manager.
[ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL: 48]
Nice to be working with you.
Now tell me, how is
the tournament going?
We finished the preliminary
rounds as of yesterday.
Many skilled warriors
are participating.
So hopes are high we'll
have a new Demon Lord,
even stronger than the
late great Lord Thor.
[Vermilio] And security?
I assume the barrier
is holding up.
[Hon] Everything
has been reinforced
since the last tournament.
Furthermore, to ensure that all
of the participants can
engage in pure competition,
we have prepared
this little document
known as the
"Deep Green Contract."
[Vermilio] I see.
Azudra is working
his usual magic.
- [Hon] Indeed.
- Wonderful.
Then moving on, I would like
to see some of it firsthand.
Do you have records?
I do.
I have it all right here.
Well, now. How interesting.
[Hon] The average level
of the combatants
for this tournament is 45.
A record high for us, ma'am.
[chuckles]
With such warriors,
we can do more than just
take back our realm.
We'll even be able to
take some land claimed
by those hideous humans!
That one seems peculiar.
I'm sensing a somewhat
unfathomable power within him.
Ah, so you've noticed.
That man is favored to be the
champion of the tournament.
His name is Helck.
He has battled his way through
the preliminary rounds.
He's a hero from
the human realm.
Oh yeah?
DID YOU SAY HE'S A HUMAN HERO?!
What the hell's a
human doing here?
Well, he managed to survive
through the preliminary.
He shouldn't even be
participating!
All of the races are
allowed to participate, madam.
Except for humans, obviously!
What's the matter
with those guys?
They're our mortal enemies!
Of course. [giggles]
You need not worry, ma'am.
He may be a human, but
he is actually a pretty-
[Vermilio] No, no, no!
[Hon shouts]
Well, if you would please
take a look at this first.
That was an
incredible victory!
Share a few words about how
you're feeling right now.
I despise the human race.
[crowd cheering]
Let's kick every human ass!
[Helck laughing heartily]
So you see, there's
nothing to worry about.
LIKE HELL!
He's playing you
and everybody else!
It's written all
over his fat face!
Look at it
from his perspective.
A human hero has
invaded our sanctuary!
How could you let him in?
Didn't anybody stop to consider
the consequences?
Does everyone wanna die?
Oh gosh, well, I'm sure
it will all work out.
CONGRATULATIONS,
YOU KILLED US ALL!
He did sign the
Deep Green Contract.
Uh, what?
[Hon] This powerful document
nullifies all attacks
made against any being
outside of the ring.
Participants are incapable
of hurting anyone.
Even the great human hero
Helck doesn't have the strength
to overcome such a contract.
All right, so then
you're telling me
that this hero is
essentially powerless?
Uh-huh.
There is no creature alive
who can escape
the binding contents
of the contract
until the tournament ends.
No, I still don't
understand it.
[Rococo]
And Chupabra goes down!
The contest.
Hang on a second.
I think I know what he's after.
[Rococo] Nine, 10.
Helck the hero
has done it again!
Wait, what's this?
Helck wants a little more
action before this is over!
He's using your precious
green contract to his advantage.
Right now, nobody but his
opponents in the tournament
can stand against him.
[Rococo]
Chupabra is still down,
completely helpless!
What is Helck going to do?
You can see what
he's doing, can't you?
He'll fight through
the tournament
and slowly but surely,
he'll slaughter every
warrior we have
who's strong enough
to become the Demon Lord!
[Rococo] Look at this.
He's lending a hand!
You're a pretty
tough fella.
Well, you pummeled me.
[Rococo] Aw, what
a touching moment.
Looks like a
cool enough guy.
Then what the hell
does he freaking want?
It's so hard to believe
he's legitimately
interested in being
the Demon Lord?
Absolutely not!
He obviously has
some sort of dastardly,
ulterior motive!
Besides, even if he
did win the tournament,
there's no way the citizens
would just accept him
as Demon Lord!
- You rock!
- We love you!
You're the man, man!
I'd say he's
getting along well.
[Vermilio yells]
[echoing boom]
Am I the only one here
with any brains?
I mean, come on!
We're practically begging
the humans to invade us!
Please try to see it
from the- [shouts]
We are out of options.
I'll just have to eliminate
the human myself!
About that contract.
It also nullifies attacks
we might make on
the participants.
Holy crap, you're an idiot!
Now look, you need to
make his next match
someone he can't beat.
So fun fact, Helck kind
of has a combat level of 99.
[Vermilio spurts]
Level 99!
Are you freaking kidding me?
That human is
gonna win for sure!
[Hon] I believe I said he's
the one who's favored to win.
[Vermilio]
You've killed us all!
[Hon] Oh my. Isn't this
a lovely night tonight?
Humans have such
short lifespans.
How the hell did
he get to level 99?
Dammit. We're in
some deep trouble now.
My liege, will I be
facing any punishment
for this unfortunate
misunderstanding?
Oh, most definitely.
And let me say, a simple
demotion won't cut it.
Ah, please, no! I
don't handle pain well.
I'm the one who should
be crying right now, okay?
Let me at least help
you with a good strategy.
You honestly think
there's any way for us
to defeat a level 99 hero?
Oh, I got a great idea!
That was fast.
We can just change the
format at the next match.
I will destroy you
if you suggest poker!
No, my idea was actually
to build a house.
A what?
Yes! A house of cards!
Whoever is the first to
build one is the winner.
And get this! We'll make sure
our hero gets a deck of cards
that are extra glossy.
All right, I'll admit that
would definitely help us
level the playing field a bit.
But remember, we're
talking about a tournament
that decides the
next Demon Lord.
Imagine what
everyone will think.
I know, I know, but please
just give me a chance.
[Vermilio groans]
Please, one eensy teensy
chance, my lady?
[Vermilio growls]
[birds chirping]
[narrator] The human realm.
This is Asta, a demonkin spy.
[SPY LEVEL: 55]
Under the orders of Vermilio,
she was dispatched
to gather information
about the human hero Helck.
Her mission is just beginning.
However
What's going on?
Where the heck is everybody?
What do I do now?
Anybody here?
[footsteps]
Well, okay, then.
I'll just have to report
back all the nothing
that's going on here.
[trumpets blaring]
I admit that I was concerned.
Never thought they'd go for
this house of cards nonsense.
[Rococo] Here come
our brave warriors!
[Helck chuckling]
I heard they're doing
something different
than a battle this time.
It's a whole mew game now.
They don't need very
much to be entertained.
[Rococo] Thank you for
your patience, everyone.
We continue the quest
for our new Demon Lord!
Let the competition begin!
[bell chimes]
[crowd cheering]
Well, this is lame.
Yes ma'am, lame indeed.
[Rococo] The rules
of this match are simple.
All the participants have to do
is complete a 10-story
house of cards.
Only those who finish in the
top 10 will be able to make it
to the next round.
Who among them will be
the first to finish?
Oh, no! Helck the hero is
struggling with this one,
ladies and gents!
He's falling pretty far
behind the other participants.
[Helck sighs]
[Vermilio chuckling]
Just look at him.
His burly hands
don't have what it takes.
He hasn't even managed to
compete the bottom floor.
I must say, I feel
sorry for the warriors
who will fail here
without the chance
to show their full potential.
No matter, we can just put
any of the noteworthy ones
under my command.
I'll need a full list
of the fighters-
[hands clap]
[Vermilio gasps]
I must hone my focus.
[Helck yells]
[contestants shout]
[Vermilio gasps]
[echoing explosion]
[tense music]
[triumphant choir music]
[Rococo] Holy guacamole!
Helck is like a blur as he
stacks layer after layer
of cards on the table!
[Vermilio gasps]
[Helck grunts]
[Rococo] And he's finished!
Just like that,
Helck has won the match!
[crowd cheering]
That's ridiculous!
How does someone
move that fast without
knocking any cards over?
Come on!
That's against the damn rules!
[barking]
Yeah, he's a big cheater!
Well, I never thought
it would go like this,
but I'm not sure it's a good
idea to change the rules now.
Oh, yes it is. This is our
chance to get rid of him.
[contestant]
What? Against the rules?
Ha. Sounds like
sour grapes to me.
[barking]
[COMBAT LEVEL: 38,
KENROS THE GODSPEED]
Did you seriously think this
contest was really
about something so simple as
building a house of cards?
- Huh?
- Huh?
Huh?
Let me break it
down for you guys.
The house of cards
that we are building
represents our home base.
It is the Demon Lord's castle.
The act of stacking
the cards is a metaphor
for expanding the castle
to greater heights.
So in essence, my friends,
this is a contest
where we must be able to
protect our own castle
while wiping out
that of our opponents'.
The gust of wind
triggered by his aura
was something we all should
have defended against,
a two-pronged strategy!
Because anyone incapable of
finishing a simple castle
of cards has no right to
become our next Demon Lord.
You had your chance
and you failed!
Why is he reading
so much into this?
He's ruining everything!
This guy is a blathering idiot.
[COMBAT LEVEL: 50,
HYURA THE IMMORTAL]
He's speaking nonsense.
[crowdmember 1] Oh man,
this house of card
stuff is deep!
[crowdmember 2]
I totally knew there had
to be more to this match.
[crowdmember 3] It all
makes perfect sense!
You saw it right here, folks!
Helck The Hero is
the first to finish!
[crowd cheers]
[Helck laughs]
But it ain't over yet!
[frantic music]
Eat this!
[contestant]
Hey! Don't burn my cards!
[explosions booming]
I'm afraid it's impossible
to make it against the
rules down, my lady.
Ah. That meathead was
planning this the whole time.
He already knew
he was going to win.
He intentionally threw the
entire match into chaos
and turned everyone else against
each other in the process.
Now half the participants will
end up injured and worthless!
- I hate this guy!
- Madam, please!
I'm sure it was nothing
intentional or nefarious.
More like a coincidence.
YOU NEED TO SHUT YOUR
BIG FAT WALRUS MOUTH!
GODDAMMIT!
[explosion booms]
Badass! Fireworks!
That guy's a hero.
Helck yeah!
Hello, Asta.
It's good to hear from you.
[SPY LEVEL: 48,
INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVE: ISTA]
Took you long enough
to report in.
[Asta] Yes. Sorry, Ista.
[narrator] Type-2 special
abilities.
Some citizens of the empire
have unique talents activated
upon creating certain
conditions.
For example, twins Asta
and Ista, can send messages
to one another through the
action of drinking coffee.
[Ista] So what's
the situation like?
Well, I did figure
a few things out,
but first, how's
the tournament going?
That's checkmate.
You've bested me.
[Rococo] And Helck
claims yet another victory.
Exactly why you should have
blocked with the damn pawn!
Come on!
I'm sure we can get him
on the next one!
It's going to be
a sculpting match.
I made sure his carving
tools will be dull and rusty.
Check it out!
[Rococo] And there you have it.
Straight 10s!
We're having a food war next
and I made sure
to really mess
with him this time!
Just make me
one of the judges.
No matter what he cooks up,
he gets a zero!
You're going to show
yourself in public, my lady?
Don't have a hissy!
I'll wear a disguise so everyone
thinks I'm an ordinary judge.
[chimes shimmering]
[harp trills]
[Vermilio moaning]
I love it
[Hon shouts]
[Rococo] Hibachi Helck is
on his way to the semifinals!
Tell us what
you're feeling today.
The demon realm's groovy!
[crowd cheers]
[Vermilio whimpers]
I wasn't able to lie.
Why was it so delicious?
Ngh. I knew I should
have added candied yams.
One of those judges
looks familiar.
Son of a bitch!
That ice cream was tasty!
I could just kill that guy!
Please hold your temper.
An explosion here would
surely have casualties.
Yes. Yes, I know.
Hmm?
Wait, who is on this poster?
I haven't seen any of
these guys out there.
Did they not show up?
[Hon] Oh, no, no,
no, no, my liege.
They were all highly
skilled fighters
expected to do well
in the tournament
until they fought Helck
and got their asses kicked.
[Vermilio yells]
[Hon] Ah. She's gonna blow.
I need a barrier.
Cookachoo!
You okay?
Do you have any tape?
Um, sure.
[orchestral music]
The trials cannot
continue like this.
I must find a way
to protect our citizens.
[Ista] Lady Vermilio.
I've just gotten some intel
from Asta regarding Helck.
Hmm.
[Kenros] Yo, Helck.
Great stuff out there.
[Helck] You too, Kenros.
What are you looking at?
That some sort of picture?
Sure is. You want to see?
Heck yeah!
Ah ah ah!
Oh, come on. I want to-
[Helck and Kenros laugh]
I'm gonna get it!
The lunkhead hero
and babbling buffoon.
It's like the circus left a few
of their dumbest clowns behind.
If either one of them
touches me,
I'll cut their fingers off.
[Ista] This Helck person has
an enormous bounty on his head.
He has been labeled as
the worst criminal
in all of human history.
And his crime was
killing his own brother.
[tense music]
Well, he may be a hero,
but he's still just a human.
Such a disgusting race.
So what can you tell me
about the brother?
Yes. So about that.
His brother was the one who
brought down Demon Lord Thor.
Wait. So Helck isn't the one
who defeated the Demon Lord?
That's correct.
That hero was named Cless.
It seems there were
two heroes born into
the world this time.
[tense music]
[Kenros] Yoink.
Woo-hoo. I got it!
[Helck] Okay. Have
yourself a look.
Oh, is this guy your brother?
Yep. That's right.
Oh, I can totally
see the resemblance,
but he's way more
of a hunk than you are.
I know, right?
He gets it from our mama.
Oh, really? A hunk?
There's one more thing
I should mention.
Asta said that she visited
three different towns,
but she couldn't find a
single human in any of them.
No one?
And based on how
things were left,
it's like people had been
there living normally
and until very recently.
[rapid footsteps]
Lady Vermilio, there's
trouble in the north!
I'm afraid to report
Castle Urum has fallen.
That's impossible!
Demon Lord Urum is guarded
by a squad of elite soldiers!
How did the humans find warriors
with the strength to fight that?
They must have somehow
found even more heroes!
I don't think so.
There were no heroes reported.
Just some kind
of strange knights.
White knights clad with wings.
They must have been much
stronger than any humans
we fought before.
I've never heard of anything
like humans who have wings.
Are the citizens okay?
[Hon] Good news, bad news.
I'm afraid Lord Urum
stepped in and
sacrificed himself
to buy time for everyone else.
It allowed for most
of the soldiers
and residents to escape.
Dear God.
He must have fought to
the end with such honor.
[Helck yells]
[hollow thud]]
[Kenros laughs]
Rock, paper, scissors.
[tense music continues]
Hate to ask, but
is there any chance
the humans have somehow
learned of the capital?
I'm honestly not all too
concerned if they discover that.
The biggest issue is the
fact they have marched
upon our land and have now
taken control of Castle Urum.
If they still have strength,
the next place
they'll attack is here!
Reinforce the barrier and
prepare forces for combat!
Right away.
[Helck yelling]
[loud crack]
[Hyura gasps]
[Kenros laughs]
I didn't feel a thing!
That green contract
does the trick.
Crazy, right?
[both laughing]
[Vermilio growls]
Those goddamn humans.
What in the hell
are they up to now?
[ending theme]
[narrator] Next time:
"Anne from Management"