Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World [Season 2 from Episode 1 to Episode 12]

Okay, let’s talk about Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World Season 2—because if you were like me, you’ve been waiting forever for this after that gut-punch cliffhanger in Season 1. First off, can we address the wild delay? The season dropped in July 2024, then vanished after 4 episodes, and finally crawled back in April 2025. I swear, I refreshed my anime streaming app every Wednesday for months—total torture, but let’s be real, it was totally worth the wait.

For anyone who needs a quick catch-up: Stella is the fire-wielding princess of the Empire of the Sun (magic lovers, basically) and Iska is a sword-slinging knight from the Nexus Order (magic haters, duh). They’re supposed to be mortal enemies, but Season 1 had them falling for each other in secret—think Romeo and Juliet, but with more explosions and sparkly spells. Season 2 dives headfirst into their messy, forbidden relationship while the war between their worlds spirals into chaos.

Let’s get into the highlights. The fight scenes this season? Chef’s kiss. I saw a fan on MAL rave about the animation in Episode 10—especially when Stella unleashes her full fire magic against a Nexus battalion, and Iska has to fight his own allies to protect her. The fluidity of the moves, the way the colors pop—you can tell the studio stepped up their game. And don’t even get me started on Episode 5: Stella and Iska sneak away to a hidden forest, and for 10 whole minutes, they just… talk. No swords, no spells, just two kids who care about each other trying to figure out how to fix a war they didn’t start. It was so sweet I low-key teared up (don’t judge me, I’m a sucker for soft moments).

But it’s not all rainbows and secret dates. The side plots this season had mixed vibes. Some fans loved the rebellion subplot in the Empire—Stella’s brother, Diol, is plotting to overthrow their dad, and it adds this layer of tension because Stella has to choose between her family and her beliefs. Others thought it was a bit messy, like the writers tried to cram too many storylines into 12 episodes. Fair enough, but I think it made the world feel more real—war isn’t just about two people, right? It’s about politics, lies, and everyone caught in the middle.

The ending of Episode 12 left everyone on Twitter losing their minds. Stella’s dad finally finds out about her and Iska, and he gives her an ultimatum: kill Iska or lose her title (and maybe her life). The last shot is her standing in front of Iska with a sword in hand, her eyes filled with tears, and the screen cuts to black. Fans were split—some said she’ll fake his death, others think Iska will take the hit to protect her. Either way, I need Season 3 like yesterday.

Let’s talk about the characters. Stella and Iska’s chemistry is still off the charts. Their banter in Episode 7 (when they steal a batch of pastries from a market) had me laughing out loud, and their emotional scene in Episode 9 (when Iska admits he’s scared of losing her) had me reaching for tissues. Even the side characters got some love—Mismis, Iska’s friend, has a great arc where she learns to stand up to her superiors, and Nene, Stella’s maid, becomes her biggest supporter (secretly, of course).

Fan reactions online were all over the place, but most agreed that Season 2 was a solid follow-up. One Reddit user said, “The delay was worth it for the character development—Stella isn’t just a princess anymore; she’s a leader trying to do the right thing.” Another on MAL wrote, “The fight scenes are amazing, but the romance is what keeps me coming back. I just want these two to be happy.”

Overall, Season 2 was a win. It had the perfect mix of action, romance, and drama, and it left fans craving more. Even with the weird delay, it didn’t feel rushed or half-baked. If you’re into forbidden love stories with fantasy flair, this is definitely worth binging. Just make sure you have snacks—you won’t want to pause once you start.

P.S. Shoutout to the English dub voice actors—their performances were chef’s kiss. You could feel every emotion in their lines, especially during the sad scenes. 10/10 would recommend. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to rewatch Episode 5 and cry some more. Bye!