Record of Ragnarok II

When the divine council votes to wipe out humanity, the only thing standing between total annihilation and survival is a tournament: thirteen one-on-one fights, gods versus history's greatest humans. That's the premise of Record of Ragnarok, and this second season picks up right after humanity scores its first upset win. The gods aren't happy about it. Zeus sends Heracles, a demigod who's basically the most likable fighter in the arena, beloved by both sides. Brunhilde, the Valkyrie managing humanity's roster, counters with Jack the Ripper. Yeah, that Jack the Ripper. Victorian London's most notorious serial killer is now humanity's champion, and suddenly you're watching a fight where you genuinely don't know who to root for. The show leans hard into that moral gray area, exploring what justice and redemption actually mean when a hero fights a monster fighting for the species he terrorized. Each human fighter gets paired with a Valkyrie who literally transforms into their weapon, which adds a layer of emotional stakes beyond just punching really hard. The animation from Graphinica steps up here with more fluid fight choreography, and the soundtrack swings between orchestral grandeur and darker, moodier tones that match the seinen edge. If you liked the mythological roster battles of Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works or the raw tournament energy of Kengan Ashura and Baki, this 10-episode ONA hits a similar nerve, but just with way more philosophical weight behind each punch.