Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World

This anime is based on a light novel series by writer Kei Sazane, with art by Ao Nekonabe. A light novel is a short Japanese novel with some pictures inside. The books started in 2017 from the publisher Fujimi Shobo, and Yen Press brings them out in English under the name Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World. Studio Silver Link made the first anime season, and it aired in Japan from October to December 2020.

The story takes place in a world split by a very old war. On one side is the Heavenly Empire, a nation of machines, guns, and modern science. On the other side is the Nebulis Sovereignty, a country of people who carry a magic power called astral power. The Empire calls these magic users witches and fears them. The Sovereignty sees the Empire as cruel and cold. The two sides have fought for about one hundred years, and almost nobody on either side can picture a world without the fighting.

The hero is Iska, a young swordsman from the Empire. He is very skilled. He was once the youngest Saint Disciple, one of the top warriors who guard the Empire's leader. But he lost that rank and spent a year in prison, because he helped a captured witch escape. Now he fights with a small team called the 907th Unit. His team is led by Mismis, a kind captain who looks much younger than she is. Jhin is a calm and sharp sniper, and Nene is a cheerful mechanic who builds the team's gear. Iska carries two special swords. One can cut through magic attacks, which makes him a rare match for even the strongest witch.

The heroine is Aliceliese Lou Nebulis IX, called Alice. She is a princess of Nebulis, and her ice magic is so strong that the Empire calls her the Ice Calamity Witch. Her loyal maid and guard, Rin, fights with earth magic and can make stone golems, which are moving creatures made of rock. Alice and Iska first meet on a battlefield, where each side wants them to kill the other. But in the fight, they learn something surprising. Both of them secretly want the war to end, and both believe peace is possible.

After that, the two keep running into each other. Sometimes it is in battle. Sometimes it is by chance, in a neutral city where neither can use their full power. Each meeting makes their feelings grow stronger. But this is dangerous. If anyone found out that they respect, or even like, each other, both would be seen as traitors by their own people. Alice also faces trouble at home, because her royal family is full of rivals and secret plans.

The show mixes big action fights with a romance between two enemies, a little like a fantasy Romeo and Juliet story. Much of the fun comes from the funny and sweet moments when Iska and Alice try to act like enemies but clearly care for each other. Under the action, the story also asks a serious question: can two people who were raised to hate each other build a bridge between their nations? Fans who enjoy war stories, magic battles, and slow-growing love between rivals will find a lot to like here.