, abbreviated as , is a Japanese light novel series written by and illustrated by Ao Nekonabe. Fujimi Shobo, under Kadokawa Corporation, has published sixteen volumes and three short story collections since May 2017 under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko label. A manga adaptation by Okama was serialized in Hakusensha's Young Animal magazine from May 2018 to March 2021. Both the light novel and manga are licensed in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation by Silver Link aired from October to December 2020. A second season by Silver Link and Studio Palette aired from July 2024 to June 2025.
Plot
For years, a seemingly endless war has raged between the technologically advanced Heavenly Empire and the country of powerful magic users known as the Nebulis Sovereignty. In the present day, a master swordsman from the Empire named Iska and the "Ice Calamity Witch" from Nebulis' ruling family, Aliceliese, meet on the battlefield, determined to kill each other. However, even as enemies, both harbor a secret desire to peacefully end the war between their two nations without further bloodshed. As circumstances continuously conspire to bring them together, Iska and Alice begin to wonder if they can find peace with each other at first, and through this, create a path to bring an end to this war.
Characters
Main characters
The unofficial leader of the Heavenly Empire's 907th Unit and an unparalleled swordsman who wields the black and white colored astral swords that can negate most types of magic. At the age of 16, he was recognized as the youngest Saint Disciple in the Empire's history. However, for unexplained reasons, he freed a witch who was being held in an Imperial prison, resulting in him being stripped of his title and then imprisoned for a year as punishment. Now, the leaders of the Empire have given him another chance at freedom, provided he kills a certain purebred witch. However, Iska seeks to find a way to end the ongoing war without further bloodshed.
Aliceliese, or "Lady Alice," is the purebred "Ice Calamity Witch" with powerful ice-based magic that rivals most other astral mages in her homeland of the Nebulis Sovereignty. As a daughter of the Nebulis royal family, Alice is in line for the throne that Millavair, the current queen and her mother, holds. After running into Iska multiple times, she starts to develop feelings for him, and even makes an attempt to recruit him to her cause. Like Iska, she quietly seeks to end the war between the two countries without further bloodshed as well. However, these ideals raise tensions with her mother, who sees no path to peace with the Empire, even going as far as burning artwork in her personal room that was made within the Empire.
Heavenly Empire
Emperor
The emperor of the Empire.
907th Unit
Captain of the 907th Unit. Despite looking like a child, acting like a klutz, and having low physical strength, she still provides moral support to her comrades in the Unit. Later on, she gets exposed to a star vortex and is branded as an astral mage. Though her powers are currently unknown, the rest of the Unit is forced to hide her brand lest she be experimented on by the Empire.
A skilled sharpshooter with the 907th Unit who usually speaks in a dry tone.
A high-spirited field mechanic and weapons designer in the 907th Unit who creates and deploys anti-magic equipment during missions.
Saint Disciples
The first seat of the Saint Disciples.
The third seat of the Saint Disciples.
The fourth seat of the Saint Disciples.
The fifth seat of the Saint Disciples.
An assassin who is the eighth seat of the Saint Disciples.
The tenth seat of the Saint Disciples.
The eleventh seat of the Saint Disciples.
104th Unit
The captain of the 104th Unit. She is a friend of Mismis.
Nebulis Sovereignty
Founder
The founder of the Nebulis Sovereignty.
House of Lou
Queen of the Nebulis Sovereignty.
Alice and Sisbell's older sister.
Alice's younger sister who was held captive in the Empire until Iska freed her one year prior to the start of the story. She has a psychometric-style ability called "Lamplight," where she can see things that happened up to 200 years in the past, within 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) around her. She believes there is a threat to her family that only Iska can help her with.
Alice's personal maid and bodyguard who has served her from early childhood. In addition to her physical and martial prowess, Rin is a powerful astral mage who uses earth-based magic to create golems.
Sisbell's elderly butler.
A servant of the Lou family.
A servant of the Lou family. Her astral spirit allows her to collect and analyze sounds. It is also capable of muffling some voices and footsteps.
A servant of the Lou family.
A servant of the Lou family. Her astral spirit allows her to camouflage herself and others for a set period of time.
A servant of the Lou family.
House of Zoa
The head of the Zoa family. He uses a wheelchair.
The acting head of the Zoa family. His real name is .
A purebred member of the Zoa family. She has the power to deconstruct and reconstruct matter.
House of Hydra
The head of the Hydra family.
A member of the Hydra family who is an inquisitor.
A purebred member of the Hydra family who is Talisman's niece.
An elderly witch who is known as the "Midnight Sun Witch". She is capable of creating blizzards and golems made of snow.
Other characters
The former wielder of the astral swords who is Iska and Jhin's mentor.
A criminal who is imprisoned for attacking the previous queen.
Media
Light novel
Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World is written by and illustrated by Ao Nekonabe. The first light novel volume was published on May 20, 2017, by Fujimi Shobo under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint. As of October 2024, sixteen volumes and three short story collections have been published. Yen Press has acquired the license for the series in North America and published the first volume on September 24, 2019.
Volumes
Manga
A manga adaptation of the series by Okama was serialized in Hakusensha's Young Animal magazine from May 11, 2018, to March 12, 2021. Seven volumes were published from December 26, 2018, to April 28, 2021. Yen Press also licensed the manga for North American release, and released it from November 5, 2019, to October 24, 2023.
Volumes
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced at the "Fantasia Bunko Dai Kanshasai 2019" event on October 20, 2019. The series was animated by Silver Link and directed by Shin Oonuma and Mirai Minato, with Kento Shimoyama handling series composition and Kaori Sato as character designer and chief animation director. Seima Iwahashi, RyÃ
Âta Tomura, and RyÃ
«ichirÃ
 Fujinaga of Elements Garden composed the series' music. The series aired from October 7 to December 23, 2020, on AT-X and other channels. Kaori Ishihara performed the opening theme "Against.", while Sora Amamiya performed the ending theme .
Funimation acquired the series and streamed it on its website in North America and Britain and Ireland, and on AnimeLab in Australia and New Zealand. On October 27, 2020, Funimation announced that the series would receive an English dub, which premiered the following day. Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll.
A sequel was green-lit on October 1, 2021, which was later revealed to be a second season. It was animated by Silver Link and Studio Palette, and directed by Yuki Inaba, with Studio Palette credited for series composition, Kaori Yoshihara designing the characters, and Elements Garden composing the music. It was initially scheduled for 2023, but was later delayed, and eventually aired from July 10, 2024, to June 26, 2025. The opening theme song is performed by AliA, while the ending theme song is "Para Bellum", performed by Sizuk. Crunchyroll is streaming the series. Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the series in Southeast Asia, broadcasting it on Aniplus Asia.
On August 6, 2024, it was announced that the fifth and future episodes of the second season would be delayed indefinitely, with the reasoning being "to maintain the quality" of the production. In its place, selected episodes from the first season occupied the remainder of its broadcast. The season restarted airing on April 10, 2025, with the first new episode airing on May 8 of the same year.
See also
Notes
References
External links