Episode 3

**The Unknown Enemy** (未知の敵, *Michi no Teki*) is the third episode of the Helck Anime series.

## Summary

Enjoying the natural grassy plane area she was at, Asta compares it to the barren wasteland that the Demon Empire lives in. Not to mention the barriers surrounding the castles of major areas that were created to protect them from the toxins from the outside world. Though Asta admits her envy of how well of an environment the Humans live in. Asta also recalls that the final match of the tournament involved reclaiming Castle Urum with the final four competitors, including Helck that the incognito Vermilio. With newfound confidence, Asta continues her endeavor to spy on the Humans.

On their way to Urum's Castle, Hyura slays some bug monsters in a canyon while the others observe. Soon, they're surrounded by the bug monsters, and Vermilio notes that their numbers have increased again and hopes that a certain one doesn't appear. Helck notes that the bug monsters are strange, which Kenros explains the bug monsters were created by the toxins plaguing the island. The detail of toxins makes Helck curious as Hyura continues her onslaught against the bug monsters.

Hoping to assist, Dorshe hoped to activate his special type-2 ability, creating a barrier after he ate some beans. However, Dorshe accidentally ate some chocolate because of his sweet tooth. So, Dorshe eats a bean as the number of bug monsters increases and begins to power up, but when Vermilio asks how long it'd take to create his barrier, he claims thirty minutes. This revelation infuriates Vermilio, who incinerates the surrounding monsters with her fire, drawing praise from Helck and Kenros and confirming Hyura's notion about something.

Continuing onward, the group reaches one of the rest areas, where they all rest up after walking from the Colusseum to there in a single day. There, Vermilio assesses her thoughts and opinions of Helck, noting his stamina is practically infinite and whether or not he's naturally immune to the land's toxins.

Afterward, Hyura and Kenros talk about Anne, and Hyura reveals that Anne is one of the four lords, Vermilio. Kenro's tepid response upsets Hyuras, claiming he should be a little more shocked by the revelation. When Kenros asks why Vermilio would be there in the first place, Hyuras answers it's to watch over Helck. On the other hand, Kenros wasn't suspicious of Helck in the slightest, noting how much of a great guy he was. Soon, "Anne" arrives, clarifies her identity to the two, and asks that they respect it and not reveal anything to the others, especially Helck.

Later, Helck prepares an eggplant parmesan dinner for everyone; though "Anne" dislikes eggplants, she still reluctantly tries it and surprisingly finds it good.

Meanwhile, Hon and Azudra play a board game together as Ista stands by the balcony. Rococo then delivers a status report of the competitors. It entails that the competitors have departed from the second rest area, and due to a nasty storm on the planned route, they're taking a detour through an underground path instead. Hon states that because of the potent toxicity in the underground path, it spawns high-volume monsters. Hearing this makes Azudra scold Hon, but Ista mediates the situation and opines her concern about the recent ominous events that have occurred. She suggests they send some troops as a precaution, but Azudra dismisses that suggestion and believes in Vermilio's capability. Still, Azudra was internally concerned for Vermilio and had hoped she'd be alright.

Navigating through the underground path, the combatants fight through the monsters there, and Kenros informs Helck of the variety of monster species that attacked them. They're soon confronted by a monster known as a New-World Lifeform. Although Vermilio had wanted to handle it, Helck stepped forward, noting his familiarity with the monster species. Suspected that Helck would use his sword against it, he defeats it with a single kick and then draws his small-looking sword in a victory pose. While incinerating the monster's body, Vermilio wonders how a New-World Lifeform monster could appear in the Human world.

Finally reaching the outside, the group's destination, Castle Urum, was in sight. Appearing from a camouflaged veil, spy Kushiki reveals himself and a hidden passageway leading into the castle. Before they continue onward, Vermilio restates that whoever defeats the leader of the castle attackers will be named the tournament winner. The tournament's competitors, aside from Helck, contemplate their situation, and Vermilio reinforces her motivation to stop Helck.

A flashback involving Vermilio and Azudra reveals how he received his injuries from the traps he set up while trying to stop Helck from continuing his invasion of Thor's Castle.

Back in the present, the combatants fight against the winged enemies, and although Hyura wants to face off against the enemy leader, he swiftly slices off her right arm. The act shocked everyone aside from Helck, who silently stood and watched.

## Characters

* Asuta
* Kenros
* Helck
* Vermilio
* Hyura
* Dorshe
* Urum (Mentioned)
* Hon
* Ista
* Azudra
* Rococo
* Kushiki
* Thor (Mentioned)
* Edil