Helck: Season 1, Episode 1 - Helck the Hero (2023)

The episode opens with Helck, a muscular blue-haired human, fighting multiple demonic warriors in a large arena. He effortlessly defeats each opponent with overwhelming strength, drawing the attention of onlookers. A woman named Vermilio, one of the Four Elite Lords of the Empire, watches from the sidelines and comments on Helck's extraordinary power. Another observer remarks that Helck is a human from the human realm, which surprises Vermilio.

A narrator provides background: three months prior, a lone hero defeated the powerful Demon Lord Thor, leading to the collapse of his rule. In the aftermath, the Demon Realm has organized a tournament to select a new heir to Thor's throne. The tournament is being managed by Vermilio, who is visibly concerned about Helck's participation as a human.

Vermilio is assisted by Hon, a dinosaur-like creature who serves as the tournament's submanager. Hon informs Vermilio that the tournament is progressing quickly and that a new heir may soon be crowned. To prevent cheating or rule-breaking, Hon confirms that the "Deep Green Contract" has been prepared and will be enforced on all participants.

As the tournament continues, Helck remains undefeated, drawing increasing attention and suspicion from the demonic participants and officials. Vermilio grows increasingly agitated, fearing that a human might claim the throne of the Demon Realm. She attempts to find ways to disqualify Helck or rig the tournament against him, but her efforts are thwarted by the strict enforcement of the Deep Green Contract.

Helck's motivations remain mysterious. He displays no hostility toward the demons and instead behaves with a mix of confidence and playful detachment. His actions and demeanor puzzle Vermilio, who cannot understand why a human would fight so fiercely to become the next Demon Lord.

The episode ends with Helck advancing to the next stage of the tournament, remaining the favorite to win. Vermilio is left frustrated and determined to uncover Helck's true intentions, while Hon continues to oversee the tournament's proceedings. The stage is set for further conflict as the competition intensifies and the mystery surrounding Helck deepens.

The ending of Helck Season 1 Episode 1, "Helck the Hero," is simple: Helck wins his match in the Demon Realm tournament, but the episode closes on a tense note as the human army launches a surprise attack on the Demon Realm, leaving the fate of the tournament and its participants uncertain.

The episode concludes with Helck standing victorious in the arena after defeating his opponent in a single, powerful blow. The crowd of demons is stunned, murmuring about the strength of this human hero who now fights among them. Vermilio, the red-haired demon lord overseeing the tournament, watches from the stands with a mixture of suspicion and anger. She is visibly disturbed by Helck's presence and his overwhelming power, but she cannot act against him because of the Deep Green Contract that binds all participants--no one can harm another until the tournament is officially over.

As Helck walks away from the arena, the camera pans out to show the vast landscape of the Demon Realm. Suddenly, the sky darkens. A massive fleet of human warships appears on the horizon, cannons blazing. The human army, led by unknown commanders, begins a full-scale assault on the Demon Realm's capital. Explosions rock the city, and demons scramble to defend their home. The attack is swift and brutal, catching the demons completely off guard.

Vermilio rushes to the battlements, her expression shifting from anger at Helck to shock and fury at the human invasion. Hon, the dinosaur-like assistant manager, stands beside her, barking orders to mobilize the defense. The tournament is abruptly suspended, and the fate of the remaining participants is left hanging.

Helck, still within the arena grounds, watches the chaos unfold. His face remains unreadable, but his eyes narrow as he observes the human army's actions. The episode ends with a close-up of Helck's face, then cuts to a wide shot of the burning city as the human fleet continues its bombardment. The final scene lingers on the destruction, with no resolution given for the tournament or the immediate fate of the main characters.

Vermilio is shown preparing for battle, her determination clear. Hon is coordinating the demon forces, trying to organize a defense. Helck remains in the arena, neither joining the fight nor fleeing, his intentions still a mystery. The human army's motives are not explained, nor is the reason for their sudden attack. The episode closes with the conflict unresolved, setting the stage for the next chapter in the story.

There is no post-credit scene in Helck, Season 1, Episode 1 titled "Helck the Hero" produced in 2023. The episode concludes with the main story and ends directly with the credits rolling, without any additional scene or teaser following the credits.

Helck, a human, participates in the demon tournament because he is seeking to become the new Demon Lord. Despite being a human and a hero who defeated the previous Demon Lord, Helck is motivated by his own mysterious goals and a deep-seated hatred for humanity. His participation shocks the demons, especially Vermilio, who finds it unusual and suspicious for a human to compete for such a position, but Helck is bound by the tournament's rules and cannot harm others until the contest concludes.

Vermilio, also known as Vermilio the Red, is one of the Four Elite Lords of the Empire and serves as the manager of the tournament to select the new Demon Lord. She oversees the proceedings and is responsible for ensuring the rules are followed, including the enforcement of the Deep Green Contract. Vermilio is skeptical and wary of Helck's participation, believing his intentions may be dangerous, and she schemes to undermine him, suspecting he may be planning to eliminate the other candidates.

The Deep Green Contract is a magical agreement put in place to prevent participants from breaking the tournament rules. It ensures that no contestant can harm another until the tournament officially ends, and vice versa. This contract is crucial for maintaining order and fairness during the competition, and it is specifically mentioned as a safeguard against Helck, whose immense power could otherwise disrupt the proceedings.

Helck's power level being 99 is significant because it indicates that he is exceptionally strong, far surpassing the other participants in the tournament. This high power level makes him a formidable candidate for the Demon Lord position and causes concern among the demon lords, particularly Vermilio, who fears he may be too powerful to control and suspects he might be using the tournament as a means to eliminate the competition.

When Vermilio's subordinate is sent to investigate a human village to gather information, they discover that all the humans in the village are gone. This mysterious disappearance adds to the intrigue surrounding Helck and raises questions about his true motives and the fate of the human population, further fueling Vermilio's suspicions about Helck's intentions in the tournament.

The first episode of Helck (Season 1, Episode 1, "Helck the Hero," 2023) is not fully family friendly and is best suited for older teens and adults rather than young children or very sensitive viewers.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting content includes:

• Moderate violence and gore: There are scenes involving sword fights, characters getting cut, and one character stabbing himself in the neck with a sword shard. The violence is somewhat bloody but not excessively graphic or drawn out.
• Moderate profanity: There is some strong language, including explicit curse words used in a single scene.
• Moderate frightening and intense scenes: Some moments may be intense or unsettling, fitting the fantasy action and dark themes of the show.
• Mild alcohol use: Some mild depiction of alcohol consumption occurs.
• No sexual content or nudity is present in this episode.

The tone mixes comedic and serious elements, with some emotional outbursts and fantasy violence, which might be confusing or intense for younger or sensitive viewers. The show's themes involve complex moral ambiguity and fantasy battles, which are more appropriate for a mature audience.

Overall, Helck Episode 1 is rated TV-14 in the U.S., indicating parental guidance is suggested for viewers under 14 due to the above content.