Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World, a popular light novel series written by Kei Sazane and illustrated by Ao Nekonabe, has announced its entry into the final stretch of the story. The author revealed the news at the beginning of this year 2026, through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, accompanied by a special New Year’s illustration. This decision marks a crucial moment for fans of the franchise, who have been following the epic clash between the empire and the witches of the mist since the release of the first volumes.
The announcement comes at a significant time for the property, which has already won over audiences with its anime adaptation. The first season premiered back in 2020, while the second had a more turbulent path. Initially scheduled for 2023, it was postponed to July 2024 and, after a hiatus to ensure quality, resumed broadcasting from the first episode in April 2025. Therefore, the news of the final arc of the original work serves as a beacon for the future of the saga, indicating that the main narrative is heading towards its planned conclusion.
Other works by the author are also heading towards the end
Kei Sazane’s announcement brought a double revelation for fans. In addition to the end of Our Last Crusade, the manga adaptation of Sekai no Owari no Encore, another work by the author with original character design by Haruaki Fuyuno, is also entering its final arc. Drawn by Ryū Usui, this manga series began its serialization in Kadokawa’s Comic Alive magazine in 2015. Thus, January 2026 has become a month of major transitions for Sazane’s creations, which are paving the way for epic conclusions.
For the Brazilian audience following the series, the news is especially relevant, as the light novels and their manga adaptation are published in English by Yen Press, making them accessible to many fans. Meanwhile, the anime remains available globally on Crunchyroll, including with English dubbing. Despite the delays faced by the second season, the decision to restart the broadcast from the beginning seems to have been correct to maintain the production’s quality. Now, it remains for fans to wait and see how the author will conduct this “final battle” on paper, which, naturally, could influence any future animated adaptations.
