Ep 3. Wave of Catastrophe

In The Rising of the Shield Hero season 1 episode 3, titled "Wave of Catastrophe," the three legendary heroes are summoned by the King to attend a meeting about the upcoming calamity. But they never expected to see a fourth hero, Naofumi Iwatani, the Shield Hero, at the conference.

The King reveals that Melromarc is facing an apocalyptic catastrophe as waves of monsters will soon arrive and destroy everything in their path. The heroes' primary objective is to protect the kingdom from the waves and defeat the monsters that spawn from them.

The Sword, Bow, and Spear Heroes are ecstatic at the news, as they believe that their unique abilities will surely make them invaluable assets to the kingdom. But Naofumi is an exception: he is unwilling to participate, knowing that he has been previously betrayed by the kingdom and the other heroes. The King, angered by Naofumi's lack of cooperation, publicly berates him and strips him of his right to participate in the waves' fight.

Without support from the other heroes and with forced isolation by the kingdom, Naofumi must find other ways to become stronger and face the upcoming challenges head-on. He tries to purchase new equipment and weapons, but his budget is too scarce, and he is forced to find alternative solutions.

The initial wave finally arrives, and the Sword, Bow, and Spear Heroes are sent to different locations to repel the monsters. Naofumi's lack of participation in the fight eventually proves to be a terrible yet fortunate action as the Shield Hero's shield provides crucial protection for the kingdom and his allies.

However, the waves continue to spawn stronger and more formidable monsters, and the heroes must find a way to work together to defeat them. As the battles intensify, Naofumi slowly realizes the severity of the situation and the importance of working as part of a team. He begins to trust his fellow heroes, and they start to bond and collaborate, developing a new strategy to overcome their enemies.

In the end, the heroes emerge victorious, but the aftermath of the waves leaves the kingdom in ruins. Naofumi's reputation and role as a hero begin to change around the people he has saved, and they start to respect and appreciate his abilities.

"Wave of Catastrophe" is a thrilling episode that sets the stage for the upcoming challenges that Naofumi and his fellow heroes will face together. It showcases the hero's growth and development, not just in battle skills but also in their characters. The episode also teaches viewers the importance of compassion, trust, and teamwork when facing an impending doom.