Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World, the 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 early in 2026 via 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 followed 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 rockier road. Initially scheduled for 2023, it was delayed to July 2024 and, after a pause to ensure quality, resumed airing from the first episode in April 2025. As such, the news of the original work's final arc serves as a beacon for the saga's future, indicating that the main narrative is heading toward its planned conclusion.
Other works by the author are also heading toward their 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 designs by Haruaki Fuyuno, is also entering its final arc. Drawn by Ryū Usui, this manga series began serialization in Kadokawa's Comic Alive magazine in 2015. Thus, January 2026 has become a month of major transitions for Sazane's creations, setting the stage for epic conclusions.
For fans in Brazil, this news is especially relevant, as the light novels and their manga adaptation are published in English by Yen Press, making them accessible to many readers. Meanwhile, the anime is available globally on Crunchyroll, including an English dub. Despite the delays faced by the second season, the decision to restart the broadcast from the beginning seems to have been the right call to maintain the production's quality. Now, fans can only wait to see how the author will steer this final battle on the page, which may naturally influence any future animated adaptations.