 https://myanimelist.net/anime/56009/ Plot Summary "Hero" is the worst punishment in the world. Those convicted of heinous crimes are sentenced to become "Heroes" and forced to enter the mandatory military service in the war against the Demon Lords. These convicts are not even allowed to die—if killed, they will be resurrected to fight another day. Hero Xylo Forbartz, former head of the Order of the Holy Knights, leads a penal unit of deplorables fighting on the front lines. It is in these direst of circumstances that he meets Teoritta, one of the world's strongest weapons. "When every last enemy has been defeated, you are to shower me with praise and pat my head." In order to survive and to take revenge on those who wronged him, he makes a pact with the goddess and launches headfirst into a maelstrom of war and intrigue. Other Information Type: TV Episodes: 12 Status: Currently Airing Aired: Jan 3, 2026 to ? Premiered: Winter 2026 Broadcast: Thursdays at 22:30 (JST) Producers: Bit grooove promotion Licensors: None found, add some Studios: Studio KAI Source: Light novel Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Duration: Unknown Rating: None |
| Episode 1 It begins with Xylo saving Dotta from a monster as Dotta was ready to die, but in this world not even death will relieve a hero from their job, and with every death the hero loses a piece of their persona. Dotta stole a coffin that just so happens to contain the body of the goddess Teoritta, who awakens and becomes Xylo's partner. The situation gets really bad and it seems that their commander Kivia of the Holy Knights knowingly sent everybody to their deaths. Kivia leads an attack, but the troops quickly get overwhelmed and Xylo, who is wary of goddesses and would never make a pact with one, is convinced to make one with Teoritta, and with her help defeats the boss using his newly gained powers and a cutting edge bomb. So with that, the day is saved, but despite saving everybody who would been dead otherwise, he gets a harsh scolding from Kivia for making a pact illegally. As it turns out, Xylo is guilty of the crime of killing a goddess, but circumstances led him to doing so rather than doing it by choice as he tried to get his side of the story out. But it fell on deaf ears as the judge refuses to listen to him and silences him before he could explain the full story and deems him guilty of murdering a goddess, sentencing him to be a hero. This is one show I have high hopes for seeing that shows don't usually get an hour-long premiere unless that's the case, and hearing about Xylo's backstory has convinced me of it. That and Teoritta being a cute partner for Xylo for somebody living a hellish life and I'm certainly drawn in. The animation style will take awhile to get used to, but it works for the kind of show I'm expecting out of this. |
| That....was actually good? I heard this has a lot of animators from Jobless Reincarnation working on it. |
| That was a hell of a first episode...but so was Zenshu, and that ended up being a let-down. The overpowered loli who demands head pats is a bit of an overused trope too...kind of reminds me of "The Day I Became a God" |
| nice |
| Only the dead have seen the end of war |
| Wow, it's nice to see an anime that's not trying to fill all the current standard tropes. Yes, there are demon lords, but they put some effort into making these demons look different. We don't see any character levels or adventure guilds or monsters that vanish when you kill them. The first episode had excellent animation and action sequences. I'll be watching. |
| Mixed feelings about this one. The animation was good. But something about the character design bothers me. Maybe is just the web toon color palette. The eternal course is really a heavy topic. But then if they die in the middle of nothing nobody will bother to resurrect them. The show has some great fights scenes, but then the main character has the Superman problem solving mechanism. He merely makes a grimace of effort, rendering the immediately preceding fight meaningless. A 1000 pound monster. Oh! What a danger!... Minutes later he just blow away tens of giant monsters with one hand. And then the "zombie plague", just a touch and get infected. But later most characters are covered with infected goo but they all are ok. Well, I was too negative about the first episode. I'll watch a couple more. |
| <- just trolling |
| Wow where did this come from? Was there a hype train I missed somewhere? Anyway great start to the year 2026, honestly thought I was going to get bored but it was actually really good. Head pat lolis are kind of a danger sign but I'll allow it for now. Hopefully it can maintain some level close to this for the rest of the show. (reminded me of Mushouku Tensei) I really need an animation palate cleanse after having to endure OPM season 3. Looks like they covered up the loli for the anime (compared to the LN), wonder how long that will last  |
MenchiK1Jan 3, 12:16 PM
| There's a visual difference between the manga and light novel apparently, and the anime is using the manga. |
Reply to MenchiK1
Wow where did this come from? Was there a hype train I missed somewhere? Anyway great start to the year 2026, honestly thought I was going to get bored but it was actually really good. Head pat lolis are kind of a danger sign but I'll allow it for now. Hopefully it can maintain some level close to this for the rest of the show. (reminded me of Mushouku Tensei) I really need an animation palate cleanse after having to endure OPM season 3.
Looks like they covered up the loli for the anime (compared to the LN), wonder how long that will last
Looks like they covered up the loli for the anime (compared to the LN), wonder how long that will last
MenchiK1 said: Looks like they covered up the loli for the anime (compared to the LN), wonder how long that will last Her outfit is accurate to the manga at this point in the story. It looks like the lewd outfit is what she has underneath the robes(?). But I am completely fine with the anime not lewding her. Its bad enough she lives for head pats. |
| Better than I was expecting. Very good animation, though some of the action sequences could have been laid out better. Not shy about leaning into it's tropes, but I'd rather have that then a show that blunts the source material in an effort to be everything to everyone. I was a bit bothered by the character designs too. Mainly the MC. He's a bit too pretty. Pretty good music too. MenchiK1 said: What?has Cop Craft(p) flashback |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
Reply to zkeleton
Better than I was expecting. Very good animation, though some of the action sequences could have been laid out better. Not shy about leaning into it's tropes, but I'd rather have that then a show that blunts the source material in an effort to be everything to everyone.
I was a bit bothered by the character designs too. Mainly the MC. He's a bit too pretty.
Pretty good music too.
I was a bit bothered by the character designs too. Mainly the MC. He's a bit too pretty.
Pretty good music too.
MenchiK1 said:
has Cop Craft(p) flashback
What?has Cop Craft(p) flashback
| @zkeleton You don't remember Cop Craft? A detective gets paired with a blonde loli partner (from another world?) and it just turns into a crap loli fetish show? (like her using the kitty litter of the pet cat) |
Reply to MenchiK1
@zkeleton
You don't remember Cop Craft? A detective gets paired with a blonde loli partner (from another world?) and it just turns into a crap loli fetish show? (like her using the kitty litter of the pet cat)
You don't remember Cop Craft? A detective gets paired with a blonde loli partner (from another world?) and it just turns into a crap loli fetish show? (like her using the kitty litter of the pet cat)
| @MenchiK1 I remember the show I just remember it as being kind of a letdown but not really bad. (That's another one I forgot that I can add to my list too) |
zkeletonJan 4, 12:36 AM
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
| Of course, another Loli and Oji pairing xD Japan really be promoting their culture in Anime xP Seriously though, that was a very good first episode, especially for a 1-hour Special-- didn't even notice it until halfway through. The goddess showing up and being all "head tap pweeease!" did almost ruined the vibe of the show real quick but, it fortunately didn't. I already saw politics being in play with the hero's situation from miles away, but I think this revenge-driven story might actually be a good one. I unfortunately watched this in my Chromebook that has a low quality 853p screen, but I did still manage to see its animation quality with quite a smooth frame rate. Of course, I wouldn't expect that for every episode, but I'd love to see that quality in most. Good 1st Anime of the year for me. ^_^ |
   |
| okay. that was time well spent so far. |
| So is this supposed to be a series? With production values this high either the source material is Attack on Titan popular or someone has dropped a huge bankroll for this anime. |
| The tomatoes are coming! Arm the dicer! Prepare the olive oil! |
| Episode 2 Not long after defeating the Awd Goggie, the heroes are given their next mission, which is to deal with the Demon Lord Lotus to take care of a blight happening in the mines. Seems like a pointless mission seeing that the place is often left alone when faeries are trapped, but Kivia won't spill the beans. Norgalle is leading this operation and has a fancy trap set up, but unfortunately it's dangerous to both the faeries and the Holy Knights. And then the Holy Knights get attacked by the Blight and the faeries there were once human. While they took care of the faeries, there's the matter of saving the trapped miners knowing that heavy casualties are expected. So Xylo leads the rescue team with only heroes engaging as he asks Teoritta to stay behind as after all, these guys are dragged back to life when they are killed. So while Xylo and company continue to put up with these suicide missions, at least he's trying to be heroic about all this. That was a nice way to follow things up, though I hope that sooner rather than later, it gets to the main conspiracy at hand. |
| Sacred seals seem really convenient. Why there is no more people trying to make them? |
| <- just trolling |
| Ugh this show is so bleak, also I get the impression with all the problems going on not much is going to be accomplished in 12 episodes. |
MenchiK1 said: I get the impression with all the problems going on not much is going to be accomplished in 12 episodes. Yeah, episode 2 kind of dragged a little bit, still seems we are in the world building phase |
| I like that Teoritta's cutesy stuff is more on the little side stuff and not during the serious situations, and that the seriousness of the story keeps going. Already looking-forward to Tatsuya's memories being revealed. I'm hoping that his past is like a parallel of Xylo's, but one where he miserably kept failing to get the villains, getting so much worse as he keeps getting revived and have his memories deteriorate, until he just loses it all. That way, there will be an example of what Xylo shouldn't allow to happen in his own crusade against the villains. My only nitpick would be that Kivia seem to have trusted Xylo far too quick. It's only been an episode ago since she was seeing him just about the same as everyone else does. |
|
| I don't know how I feel about this show. The animation is quite good and the fights are well done, but the plot and characters are about as bog-standard trope as you can get. And Teoritta is steadily getting on my nerves. If something surprising doesn't happen soon my watch will just boil down to enjoying the animation. |
| The tomatoes are coming! Arm the dicer! Prepare the olive oil! |
| Episode 3 Xylo, Norgalle, and Tatsuya go in and it was originally supposed to be a mission involving only heroes, but this battle turns out to be more than they could handle alone as the source of the blight, Lotus, approaches them and her screech causes the miners to nearly submit to her. Tatsuya was the only one unaffected, and Teoritta ended up disobeying Xylo's orders and assisted him in battle. That body turns out to just be a decoy as the real Lotus is blocking the exit. Norgalle tries to engage with it, but is grabbed by the leg. He ends up cutting his own leg off to fight Lotus, and once he lands a hit, Xylo delivers the finishing blow with the sacred seal to defeat it and save the miners. While the heroes had a laundry list of violations there, at least Kivia stands up for them knowing that they saved lives even if it threatened the mission. Those heroes showed that they are truly heroes and not criminals who are heroes in name only. |
| It's nice to see the supporting characters getting fleshed out and making significant contributions. |
| I'm sensing a pattern. He throws blades and they explode. |
| Still not getting why these people hate these guys. They all just had their lives saved and yet their families are like "but aren't they criminals?" Huh? That's what you are focused on? Same with the knights who see these church guys are useless rats. It's coming off as a little too forced. Same with him trying to keep the goddess away. "Oh but you could get hurt" Isn't that a given for someone fighting on the front lines? I realize he had a bad experience but that doesn't mean it ill happen again. |
| Your Majesty!!! MVP of the episode! Tatsuya was on fire too! Then Xylo used Micro-transactions for an unlimited, long-ranged, powerful weapon-- BOOOOOO!!! xD My main nitpick now is that they're really blatantly showing that Xylo has a good heart. I don't mind that since that's part of him being the main character, but kinda wish they'd be subtle about it, so things doesn't have to be so shallow for the side-characters like "Oh wow... he cares about the people? Even though he's been branded a criminal by the government??? Respect." This has all the potential to be a proper mature story as it is-- no need to dumb it down to kiddie level. But I did hear that they want to end this in a single cour run so, I guess there's not enough time for proper character development. |
|
| Episode 4 After two missions, this one takes a break from the fighting as the backgrounds for Teoritta and Venetim, and Kivia is starting to respect Xylo seeing that he opened her eyes to the truth about what is really happening, and it turns out that Teoritta was going to become a test subject had she not made a pact with Xylo. The military and temple were arguing over how to use her as the military wanted to treat her like a weapon, while the temple opposed it, but the military got their way. As for the heroes, their mission is to fight alone to the death against Iblis at Mureed Fortress and kill it there. And then Venetim reveals what his crime was as while he lived as a con man, he was sentenced to be a hero to silence him from telling the truth knowing that he's somebody who can convince others to believe in him, something that would expose the military. So now, here is an info dumping episode as these guys who were sentenced to be heroes did not really commit crimes that fit the punishment. |
| Isekai, isn't? |
| <- just trolling |
| OK so we know the basic plot, demons are behind everything. But something about this is still pretty, meh, I don't know none of the characters are very likable. Or I don't know, kind of reminds me of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress it looks great, but the plot is just a bunch of random stuff slapped together and it's not really gelling. Like okay if they are framing these guys like Xylo why do they even want them out there with super powers fighting? Why not just kill them? How are they benefitting from sentencing them to be "heroes"? Also did they just make this an isekai by mentioning one of the angels might have summoned Tatsuya from another world? Ugh why would you do that? |
| I'm actually liking the writing in this; it has a mature feel while hewing close enough to an action show to remain worth watching. The fact that the "Suicide Gambit" is stupid does not bother me; one expects that sort of thing from generals, who no doubt hope that the heroes will wear the Demon Lord down enough that the previously unsuccessful poison attack will succeed. I look forward to Xylo and company somehow managing to win through and destroy the demon lord without dying themselves. And probably be punished for it. |
| I'm just going to pretend the first episode was an OAV and ignore all that comes after. |
| The tomatoes are coming! Arm the dicer! Prepare the olive oil! |
| Episode 5 The operation to defend Mureed Fortress from Iblis is on, and Tsav's background is revealed as unlike with the other heroes, he truly deserved his punishment as he is a serial killer. Xylo comes across another goddess in Pelmerry of the 9th Order and contracted to Hord. Norgalle brings some help leading the miners he just rescued to the battlefield. While Frenci was offering to send soldiers, Xylo is rejecting her help for some reason. And so, the attack begins and already things are off to a bad start with Norgalle's unit in the wrong place. But things take a turn when it turns out that humans are fighting for Iblis in this battle as they take down all the sacred seal defenses that allows the faeries to infiltrate the fortress. It's clear that some people are trying to sabotage humanity and Venetim being silenced was part of that plan, and now the battle became much more difficult than it would be if it were simply the heroes and Holy Knights working together to take Iblis down. |
| I am getting bored with this show. None of what is happening is interesting. Reminds me of Fairy Gone, all style no substance. This far in and these goddesses just whining for head pats, are they just here for the lolicons? I guess I finally realized they are using the term "hero" ironically, because obviously they are sentenced to just be cannon fodder but keep getting resurrected to repeat that and all these guys are just really crooks. Again not sure why they wouldn't just kill Xylo outright, since he is an actual threat to them. |
Reply to MenchiK1
I am getting bored with this show. None of what is happening is interesting. Reminds me of Fairy Gone, all style no substance. This far in and these goddesses just whining for head pats, are they just here for the lolicons? I guess I finally realized they are using the term "hero" ironically, because obviously they are sentenced to just be cannon fodder but keep getting resurrected to repeat that and all these guys are just really crooks. Again not sure why they wouldn't just kill Xylo outright, since he is an actual threat to them.
MenchiK1 said: This far in and these goddesses just whining for head pats, are they just here for the lolicons? I thought that was a given in the first episode once head pats were demanded. Although comparing it to the manga the anime seems to have leaned more into cute side of her design than the manga. She can at least make convincing serious expressions in the manga. |
| I hate it when they roll credits during actual action and story.... |
| Also making the guy who knows your secret an immortal doesn't really make sense |
Reply to HOOfan_1
I hate it when they roll credits during actual action and story....
| @HOOfan_1 Well, Re:Zero kind of normalized this seeing that the theme songs rarely played through the first two seasons. |
Reply to HOOfan_1
Also making the guy who knows your secret an immortal doesn't really make sense
| @HOOfan_1 It seems like there might be some people on the inside surreptitiously doing what they can to work against the demon worshiper/collaborators. Like the person who decides who gets turned into a hero. |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
| Your majesty is baaack! Let's go, King KFC!!! xD The new 'Hero' is annoyingly loud and noisy. I guess that's the point of his character. How convenient-- Xylo and Sus dude was just discussing the possibility of humans aiding the Demon Lord, and voila! They exposed it themselves without pressure. xP For the first time this season, Frieren and JJK aren't my Anime of the week. |
|
| Episode 6 The humans were quite a big problem as there's no question there is some conspiracy going on as battling the faeries and the demon lord is tough enough as it is, but when the humans are actively helping them out, that's mission impossible. Even so, Xylo knows that lives are at stake and his only chance at winning the fight is to take Iblis out, and it falls right into the trap he set during the scouting mission. But that demon lord is a lot tougher than it looks as even though it was trapped and took serious damage from those seals, it still can fight back and Xylo takes massive damage protecting Teoritta. Even though she's at her limit, she refuses to abandon Xylo and instead uses the last of her strength to make the most powerful sword she can to allow Xylo to defeat Iblis and put an end to this threat. And then he awakens days later after the battle where he lost some memories, but didn't die and still remembers Teoritta even though he had a vision of Senerva. And then that guy awakens with a warning that this faction called the Coexisters has a target on his head. So Xylo won the battle that somebody made for them to lose as if it were just a straightforward battle to take down Iblis then the heroes would have easily won that battle. But thanks to those humans sabotaging the heroes that there's something much more sinister at play. |
| Meh. What is the point of the sentenced to be a hero when Xilo is already immortal? And all it takes is a face of effort to overcome any challenge? |
| <- just trolling |
| Ugh I hate these monsters, you can blow them up or slice and kill them but the demon kings are immortal but you still just try to slice it up, why? 'Well now that that didn't work I will summon the sword that can kill anything'...uhhh why didn't you just use that to start when you had the advantage? So much manufactured unnecessary drama. Same with the thief, and most of this show. "Oh no humans" why were they afraid of humans compared to giant monsters? They should have been "oh good just humans we can kill those easy". So her outfit just covers up the skin from the LN cover. Big difference. Her throwing down her mantle was hilariously dumb. Now she's serious ooooh. |
MenchiK1Feb 12, 11:50 AM
| Episode 7 Next mission is inside the port town of Ioff and with Kivia now fully on Xylo's side having been tasked with leading the heroes, she orders the heroes to protect Teoritta at all costs, and as such they are being taken off the front lines for the next operation. So while they are being given a vacation of sorts, they need to consistently watch their back as assassins are after their lives, and there's a demon lord on the loose named Spriggan who has the ability to take the form of a human. Xylo meets up with Frenci, who is his former fiancee and is only former because heroes are not allowed to marry, and she vows to make sure Xylo upholds his end of the oath. So after going around and buying a knife for Teoritta to protect herself seeing that her power doesn't have any effect on humans, Xylo and company get attacked by assassins. They run away to the alleys not wanting the public to see what is going down, and there they are attacked by Shiji Bau, and her leader Boojum. And then Jayce and Neely strike from above to kill the assassins, but Boojum survives that, meaning that he very likely is Spriggan. So a new mission begins and Teoritta continues to be cute through all these serious moments, and while Xylo is off the front line, the front line is coming to him this time around. |
| Well that was at least better than fighting those dumb monsters. Fiance? She seems like a bitch. Poor military girl "dressed like a man", yeah because guys open the top buttons of their shirts to show their cleavage...Oh boy yet another type of super powered being with yet another allegiance different than the ones we have been shown until now. As if the political situation wasn't muddied enough. Dragon guy would be cool if he wasn't such a dick. They should rename this "Everyone Hates Xylo". |
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