The biggest thing that makes this show stand out is its concept. In this world, being a hero is not something admirable. It is a punishment. People who commit serious crimes are sentenced to become heroes and forced to fight on the front lines, thrown into battles that most people would never survive.

And the worst part is they cannot escape it. Death is not an ending here. When they die, they are brought back and sent straight into battle again, over and over. There is no rest, no closure, no peace. Just an endless cycle of fighting and dying. Over time, they start losing parts of themselves. Sometimes it is their memories, sometimes pieces of their bodies, and sometimes it feels like their humanity itself is being chipped away. So instead of heroic figures, these characters feel more like broken, disposable soldiers being used up by a system that does not care about them.

The story follows a man named Xylo, a former knight who ends up leading one of these penal hero units. He is not your typical protagonist. There is a certain heaviness to him, like someone who has already seen too much and just keeps going because there is nothing else left. Watching him interact with his squad is one of the more interesting parts of the show, because you can tell he understands exactly what kind of world they are trapped in.

The world itself is controlled by a mix of military and religious power, and neither side feels particularly trustworthy. The church plays a major role, but instead of feeling holy or comforting, it comes off as cold and calculated. Even the so called goddesses are not really divine in the way you would expect. They feel artificial, like tools created for war rather than beings meant to be worshipped. That idea alone adds a layer of unease to the setting.

One thing I really liked is how society views heroes. Even when they save people, they are still looked down on. People see them as criminals first, not saviors. There is no glory in what they do, only suspicion and fear. It flips the usual fantasy idea in a way that actually sticks with you. It makes every “heroic” act feel a bit hollow, because you know it will not change how they are treated.

The characters are surprisingly solid. The main group all feel distinct, and they each have their own reasons for ending up where they are. Some were punished unfairly, some made genuine mistakes, and others already had a few screws loose to begin with. There is a messy, human quality to them that makes their interactions more engaging. As the story goes on, you start to see cracks in their personalities, but also moments where they try to hold onto what little humanity they have left.

The fights are another highlight. They are not just thrown in for spectacle. There is actual planning involved, with different roles and strategies depending on the situation. It feels closer to a tactical operation than a typical fantasy brawl. Xylo’s use of command seals to turn his attacks into explosive hits adds a nice visual identity to the combat, and it makes his presence in battle feel impactful without being overpowered.

Animation wise, the action scenes clearly get the most attention, and it shows. They are sharp, fluid, and carry a good sense of weight. Some of the quieter, dialogue-heavy scenes can feel a bit stiff in comparison, but it is not distracting enough to ruin the experience. If anything, it just makes the action stand out even more.

The overall vibe is very dark and heavy. There is this constant sense that things are not going to end well, no matter what the characters do. Even during calmer moments, there is tension lingering in the background. The world feels unforgiving, and the story does not try to soften that. It leans into it fully.

The pacing can slow down at times, especially when it is setting up lore or building character relationships, but those slower moments usually pay off later. When the show hits emotional beats or major turning points, it actually lands, because you have spent enough time with these characters to care about what happens to them.

Overall, this is not a perfect anime, but it stands out because it tries something different and commits to it. The concept does a lot of the heavy lifting, but it is supported by strong atmosphere, solid character writing, and a world that feels genuinely bleak. If you are into darker fantasy stories that mix action with strategy and moral ambiguity, this is definitely worth checking out.