The student gasped at his harsh comment. "Bloodline determines a Mage's power. This is a hard, unchanging truth." This made the student abruptly stood up from his seat, startling a few of his classmates next to him.
This caught the professor's attention, along with the other students in the classroom. "Waver Velvet-kun. I'm very, very disappointed that one of my students would indulge in this nonsense."
"But sir, I was only trying to address a question the Mage's Association is reluctant to-"
"Waver-kun" Waver was cut off before he could finish. "Your family has only produced three generations of Magi, correct? Listen to me. Your family is but a newborn baby compared to the history of the Mage's Association. Shouldn't a baby learn to talk before questioning his parents?" The students listening couldn't help but laugh and chuckle, while Waver just hung his head low in shame.
The Professors and Headmaster's frown fell deeper showing their disapproval towards Kayneth's offhanded comment while the rest of the adults had the same feeling as well.
The students could only feel sad for Waver being insulted by his teacher in front of his class, while they also felt angry at Kayneth for looking down on his work like that and humiliating him.
"What the hell!" Coco said, with a disapproving frown. "I know a few professors can be harsh to their students so they can learn, but that was crossing a line!"
"Yeah! Who does that jerk think he is!" Nora shouted, angry at Kayneth.
"His profile will be explained soon, so save your angry comments until then," D said, making a two give an angry huff as they watch.
The scenes cut to Waver, stomping his way through the halls of Clock Tower. "How dare he make fun of me! How dare he!" Waver growls, nearly shouting as he raises his arms in frustration. "Is that how a lecturer should act?!"
"Never." Ozpin immediately said. "A lecturers may be harsh on his students for them to grow, but there are lines they shouldn't cross, and Kayneth just did."
"He read my paper and got jealous!" Waver shouts to himself as he continues his march. "He's afraid of my talent!" He continues to say as he shut his eyes closed, contemplating. "That's why he shamed me in front of everyone!" Then suddenly without paying attention to where he was walking, he tripped and fell. "Nghue!" The fall made a loud noise echoing the hallway. He held down his foot while in pain.
The viewers cringed at his unfortunate injury.
"Today is not his day," Jaune winced, everyone mentally nods for the poor kid.
"I'm sorry." Said a man who was holding a platform trolley with boxes on top of it. No doubt that what was the student collided to. "Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine." Waver said, still in pain as he looked up to the man.
"Aren't you a student in the Necromancer's circle?" The man asked. "Why aren't you in class?"
"Well…" Waver tried to make an excuse since he just basically walked out of class not too long ago. "P-Professor Archibald asked me to run an errand for him. I was in a hurry, so…"
"He barged out of class?" Pyrrha asked.
"Not surprising that he did that," Yang said with her arms crossed. "If it were me, I would have done the same."
"You would have what? Ms. Xiao Long?" Ms. Goodwitch said with a stern tone.
"I-I mean, I-I would… ah… sit down and listen?" Yang answered as she shrunk back in her seat.
"Good," Glynda said then turn back to the screen, while Yang took a deep breath of relief while her friends held their snicker.
"I see. That's great." The man said without question then pointed something at the box on the trolley. "Can you give this to Professor Archibald?"
Waver looked at the box being pointed at then took it. "This?" He confusingly asked as he studied the large package the size of a big book.
"Something tells me Kayneth is going to need that for the war," Ruby noted.
"Thanks." The delivery man said as he walked past Waver while he pushed the trolley. "It's apparently something important."
Ruby smiled at being right.
Waver perked up at the last word the delivery man said, not looking away from the package. "Important?" He then looks close to the delivery details. "It was sent from Macedonia…"
Waver Velvet quickly turns around, making sure that nobody else was around.
(OST: Strategy)
The scene cuts with a tone of books slammed on a table, and then one book opened while Waver's finger-pointing at the words on the page of the book.
"This is it." Waver said as he sat in the library of Clock Tower. "Those rumors that Kayneth would be fighting in some kind of Far East magic tournament were true." He looked at the package resting on the desk next to him that he took before then snapped his head back on the book. "The Holy Grail War."
Everyone perked up at the last phrase.
"Listen carefully, everyone. The history of the Holy Grail War will now be revealed." D said. "Well… most of it."
"Two hundred years ago, the families known as the Founding Three, Einzbern, Makiri, and Tohsaka, worked together to successfully summon the Holy Grail, said to have the power to grant any wish."
"So they were the ones who created the Holy Grail," Blake commented.
"Just to let you all know that the Makiris changed there names to Matou." D clarified. The viewers could only give a silent growl towards the name.
Waver reads out loud as he turns a page. "However, the Holy Grail would answer only one prayer. And their cooperation turned into a bloody battle. That was how the Holy Grail Wars began."
Sienna huffed at that part. "Of course, they would selfishly fight for it in the end."
The scene cuts again as Waver looks through the large shelves filled with books collecting books that relate to the Holy Grail War.
"Ever since then, once every sixty years, the Holy Grail appears in the city of Fuyuki. It selects seven Magi with the right to hold it and grants them the power to summon the powerful Heroic Spirits known as Servants." Waver said back in his seat then looks at another book.
"Archer." A picture of a woman holding a longbow and arrow aimed high.
"Saber." A picture of an ironclad knight with a red main, proudly holding a sword upward.
"Lancer." A picture of a man in red and white attire, holding a thin lance.
"Rider." A picture of a man atop a chariot.
"Assassin." A picture of a tall man wearing a skull mask, holding a short sword at each hand.
"Caster." A picture shows an older man with a long white beard in a purple robe.
"Berserker." Lastly, a picture of a lean, beast-like man holding a sword.
"Whoa…" All of the students said in unison in awe as they learned more about War and especially the Servants, even the adults can't help but be awed by them.
"Heroic Spirits…" Ruby whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. Despite her whisper, everyone can tell how much awe there was in that quiet tone of hers.
"Heroic Spirits." D echoed, catching everyone's attention. "They are spirits of heroes who achieved great deeds in life, have become objects of worship after their deaths. These spirits are freed from the constraints of time itself and removed from the ring of reincarnation and moved to the Throne of Heroes, a place existing outside of both the World and the time axis."
The residents of Remnant could only stay silent in shock and awe in what they learned. The Heroic Spirits. The Servants. The legendary heroes who have proven themselves to dwell in the Throne of Heroes.
"That's… incredible…" Weiss muttered in awe.
"I'm… I'm actually excited to see these heroes…" Surprisingly, it was who Blake said that, earning a surprised look from her friends. "Is this… what it's like when Ruby talks about heroes in fairy tails?"
"Hey!" Ruby squeaked as her face blushed red, making her friends laugh.
As Waver continued his research, thunder cracked outside of the library windows, showing that it is raining. "Divided into these seven classes, the Servant fight to the death to determine who is worthy to win the Grail." After finishing his research through the large stack of books in front of him, he took a deep breath and leaned back at his chair.
"So the Holy Grail War is a battle of pure ability where titles and influence mean nothing." Waver smirks under what he has learned. "It's the perfect stage for me."
"Looks like someone's fired up," Yang smirked, then it slightly dropped. "Wait, is he even a Master?"
"You'll see." D simply answers.
But when he looked at the book again, he noticed that there was still more to know. "It also says a relic of a Servant is needed, as a catalyst, to summon them."
Ozpin and his inner-circle perked up at that word. Relic.
"Cool, so that's how you summon them?" Jaune asked.
"They'll show it in the end." The deity says.
Waver was in deep thought after that last part. "A relic…" He mutters to himself, then looks at the package. Without a second thought, he opens the box and sees that it was a small black chest. As soon as he opens it, he was at first surprised then awed at sight at what's inside — a shard of red cloth. Despite its tattered old age, it still held its bright scarlet theme.
"Whoa!" Coco nearly shouted as she took off her shade and had a good long look at the shard. "Is that really a relic? I can tell you that it's old, but it's color… I can only guess that it's just a couple of years old."
That surprised everyone, even Velvet. She knows very well that Coco is a top-notch fashionista and has a right eye on clothing for her teammates and friends, but to find out a relic of a shard of red cloth being mistakenly seen for a couple of years old? That was something?
D chuckles. "That's proof of a genuine relic of a Hero's past."
"Who does it belong too?" Ren asked curiously.
"That would be telling." He smirked as Ren lightly chuckled.
The scene now cuts to Waver sitting inside a plane on its way to Fuyuki. He gives another look at the chest then looks ahead, smiling, ready for the war.
(OST Ends)
The scene changes late at night, showing a mansion.
The scene cuts again, showing a unique kind of typewriting machine was writing down on a piece of paper.
"Is that a typewriter?" Penny asked as she tilted her head.
"The Magus kind." D answers.
"Interesting."
The scene zooms out, showing Tokiomi watching the typewriter with his arms crossed inside of a dimly light room with candles. The basement is a Mage workshop.
"Oh… him…" Yang snarled, remembering that this failure of a father sold off his daughter to Zouken.
The rest of the viewers frowned at the memory as well.
Moments later, Kirei enters. Just in time for the typewriter to finish, which Tokiomi uses a knife to cut off the paper from the machine. "That device still strikes me as unseeingly to this day." Kirei comments.
"I honestly find it intriguing," Ozpin noted, earning an eye roll from his inner-circle.
Tokiomi snorts in amusement. "I have a report from the Clock Tower. Lord El-Melloi has acquired another relic, apparently. His participation is certain now."
"Shoot." Nora snapped her fingers in unamusement. "Hoped that jerk would get forfeited or something."
"It troubles me that two spaces are still unaccounted for."
"Two spaces?" Pyrrha asked. "So, Waver isn't a Master yet?"
"Don't worry." The head of Tohsaka assures him. "The Grail will select seven individuals when the time comes, regardless of skill. The ones it completes the group with are nearly always weak." He bluntly says without remorse. "There's no need to worry about them."
Jaune narrows his eyes towards Tokiomi. "That guy seriously pisses me off." As he said, most of his friends agree while the adults only stayed quiet, but deep down, they also disapprove of him. Heck, the guy sold off his daughter to a sadistic nut, and he looks down on his enemies? They all hate him.
"More importantly, Kirei. No one saw you enter the mansion, correct?"
"Don't worry." The young priest answered. "There are no familiars or magic devices, visible or invisible, that are watching this mansion. I…"
"I guarantee it." A new voice said, finishing Kirei's sentence. Suddenly a black cloud appears before Kirei and Tokiomi. The shadow materializes, taking the form of a human figure. The shadow disappears now, showing a tall black skin, bald man wearing a white human skull mask. He's shirtless but shows that he is muscular thin, he wears black pants and black shoes and wears a black tattered shroud around his waist that that nearly reaches off to his feet. This is Servant Assassin.
Everyone slightly jumped at the new figure. The moment they took a good look at the newcomer, they could quickly tell that he is powerful. Dangerously powerful.
The Faunus connected to the White Fang nearly mistook him as one of their own but remembered that there are no Faunus in their world. But they could quickly tell he is someone who shouldn't be trifled with.
"Is that… a Servant?" Tai asked a bit shaken by the Servant's Aura it presents.
"Yes." D answers. "The first Servant summoned by Kirei. This is Servant Class: Assassin."
"He really looks the part." Velvet said, rubbing her shoulder, honestly getting the chills from him.
"No matter what tricks they use, no one can device the eyes of Hassan, Heroic Spirit of stratagems." The now named Servant said. "There is no trace of anyone following my Master." The Servant said as he bows before the Two Masters. "Rest assured."
"Hassan?" James echoed the name. "Is that… Assassin's name."
"His True Name, to be precise." The overseer answers. "The Servant you see before you, Hassan-i-Sabbah, the Old Man of the Mountain. Known to be one of the leaders of the Hashshashin, a medieval assassin sect."
"Wait, does an assassin even count as a hero?" Penny tilted her in confusion, honestly asking. A good question that made everyone perked up.
"Which are you asking? The Class or the actual profession?" D asked.
"Um… both."
"Honestly, that depends on the said person and legend we are talking about," D explains. "For said individuals that fall on the Assassin Class, they don't necessarily have to be an actual assassin. It mostly depends on their skills and legend, such as there stealth, espionage, a fighting style close to the assassination, heck even a ninja would be an excellent candidate for that class."
Blake's ears twitched at the mention of ninjas since her fascination with a particular book she likes.
"…Is Hassan a hero?" Ruby said, getting everyone's attention. Her eyes narrowed with a small frown. "He… doesn't look the part."
"Let's hold that question for another time and focus on the story. I'll explain about Hassan later." Ruby slowly nods but still doesn't feel like she doesn't want to wait.
"If a Servant is summoned, my father will know without fail. The other Magi will not act for a while longer." Kirei said, reminding his Servant. "Continue guarding the surrounding area."
"As you wish." Hassan obeys as he disappears in the black smoke.
"Can all Assassins do that?" Roman asked.
"Dematerialization? All of the Servants can do that." The deity answers.
"Interesting…" Roman said, then looks at Neo with a smirk. "That trick can give you a run for your money Neo."
Neo pouts and gives him an annoyed look as she raised a brow.
As the Servant vanishes, the typewriting machine activates itself, writing more information on the roll of paper.
"It's only a matter of time, however." The head of the Tohsaka said as he walks up to the machine. "The grounds of this mansion will soon be rife with the familiars of the other masters."
"Familiars?" Weiss asked.
"Let's just say there similar to your summons." D said, earning an 'ah' from her.
"What's that?" Kirei asks curiously on the new information the machine typed down.
"Another matter." His mentor said as he cuts the paper. "I was gathering information on the Einzbern Master." After hearing this, the young priest attentively listens.
The same could be said with the viewers as they stood straight in there seats to listen more.
"Nine years ago, the Einzberns, known for their pride in their pure blood, welcomed in a Mage from outside the family out of the blue," Tokiomi explains as the scene slowly turns to the Einzbern castle. Then the scene now changes to inside a church of sorts showing Iri and Kiritsugu kneeling before and Einzbern Elder. "The Einzbern Magi specialized solely in alchemy, making them unfit for combat. That was why they lost in previous Holy Grail Wars. They must have run out of patience."
"So, they hired a mercenary out of desperation," Qrow said. "What? They got tired of losing?"
"Oh, you have no idea," D said with a smirk. "In the past Grail Wars, the Einzberns have always been the first ones to bite the dust."
The scene switches back to Kirei's listening. "The Mage they chose was perfect for the role. Emiya Kiritsugu." Tokiomi turns to his student with a stern expression. "The man known as the Mage Killer." The scene switches back to Emiya Kiritsugu, showing the empty look on his eyes.
Everyone felt a chill after hearing Kiritsugu's title, the Mage Killer.
"M-Mage Killer?" Jaune stuttered, uttering the name.
"Yes, also known as the boogyman of for all Magus out there," D said. "Just watch and listen, then you'll understand why they fear and despise him."
The scene now fully shows the Kiritsugu and Iri kneeling in front of the Elder.
"The relic we've long been searching for in Cornwall has finally been found." The Elderly said. "If you use it as a catalyst, you can summon a sword-wielding Heroic Spirit that is perhaps the strongest of Servants. Kiritsugu. This is the greatest aid the Einzbern can give you."
"So he's going to summon a Saber Class Servant?" Tai asked. "Either that old man sure is getting ahead of himself or whoever there going to summon must be one heck of hero."
"Can't deny what he says, the Saber Class Servant's are considered the strongest servant with the highest Parameters."
"Parameters?" Pyrrha asked.
"I'll explain that later."
"I am honored, Elder." The Mage Killer said, still kneeling with his head down low with his eyes closed along with his wife.
"There are to be no survivors this time." The Elder ordered. "Slay the other six Servants and complete the third true magic, "Heaven's Feel"."
"Third?" Ozpin noted, earning his interest. "Is this connected to Zelrech's Second Magic?"
"No, Second, and Third Magic are two different Magics." D answers. "There are only Five Magics that exist, well, there is the theory of Sixth and beyond Magic, but as of now, it currently doesn't exist."
"What kinds of magic are they?" Nora asked with a bit sparkles in her eyes.
"The First Magic, It is one of the oldest Magics, but sadly the details are unknown due to its age, but it is common knowledge to Magi that it's connected to the generation of Ether clumps, elements, which have been called 'materialized nothing.' The Second Magic, also known as the Kaleidoscope, which you all know that can travel to parallel worlds. The Third Magic, Heaven's Feel, is the materialization of the soul, it's what made summoning the Servants possible and a significant connection towards the Holy Grail. The Fourth Magic sadly is entirely unknown, and its history was lost for centuries. And finally, the Fifth Magic, Magic Blue, the details are hidden, but many believe that it's connected to Time Travel." The deity let out a big breath after he finished his explanation.
Everyone was speechless in what they learned, they already know about Zelrech's ability, but the rest? They couldn't help but be awed in these miracles of magic.
"Uggghhh! All this magic is amazing and all, but it's giving me a headache…" Yang groaned as she rubbed her head with her hands. "Don't suppose you have a magic for that do you D?"
"Not unless you want a brain hemorrhoid."
"Nevermind I asked."
"Understood." The Master of the Einzbern answered as he slightly opens his eyes, still looking down.
Scene switches back to Kirei and Tokiomi.
"Emiya Kiritsugu…" The Master of Assassin muttered. "I know that name."
"So even the Church has heard of him?" Tokiomi said in slight amusement as Kirei walked closer to him to read the information. "Emiya, the Mage Killer, had quite the reputation in his time. On the surface, he was a heretic that didn't belong to the Association. However, the higher-ups found him quite useful for their own purposes."
"Similar to us Executors of the Church." The young Executor asked.
"Executors are the Church's enforcers in dealing against heretics." The Deity explains.
"Worse." The fellow Master answered as he sat down on one of the chairs and looks down on the table. "He's essentially a freelance assassin who specializes in the killing of Magi. He understands Magi very well, he hunts them down in very non-magelike ways." He then faces his student gesturing to information in his hand. "Read it."
Doing what he says he reads the information out loud, while the scene cuts to the Mage Killer and his wife walking on the halls of Einzbern's castle. "Sniping. Poisoning. Bombing public places. He brought down an entire jetliner just because his target was on it."
"WHAT?!" Was echoed throughout the theatre room.
"He-He did all that?!" Ruby cried in shock and horror.
"Forget mercenary! this man's a terrorist!" Weiss shouted.
Blake couldn't believe what she heard, sure she might have come from terrorist group herself, but even the White Fang wouldn't go as far as downing a jetliner. Heck, Sienna was no stranger to that kind of violence, but also she knows not to cross a line.
"He is a man who will use underhand methods without thinking twice," Tokiomi says, describing the Mage Killer.
The scene now switches back to the chamber.
"The world's laws do not apply to Magi, so we must carefully obey the laws we set for ourselves. However, he lacks any trace of a Mage's pride. His methods are unforgivable."
"I see… so hence being a heretic." Ren deduced. "Does that mean the Church targets him?"
"No, no, not that kind of heretic, what I meant was that the Church targets Dead Apostles." D corrected.
"Wait. What?" Qrow blinked in surprise. "Does that mean they'll hunt Zelrech?"
D just chuckles. "No, he's a special case; his allegiance is with humanity. He happens to be a Wizard Marshal, A title given by those who possess a certain degree of military authority within the Association. Plus, he is the only one currently has that title, and you can imagine how important he is in the Association."
All jaws were agape in what they learned. A vampire… Earning the highest military rank for a Magus… Granted, they could understand due to his powers but what they couldn't understand… was his personality.
"Best not to think about it, and just continue to watch," D said as if he read their minds, they absent-mindedly nodded their heads and just watched.
Kirei listens to his mentor as he carefully reads the information on hand. "Well, what does this Emiya Kiritsugu…" He pauses for a moment as if he was struggling to find the right words. "…hope to gain by killing?"
"Money, I would imagine." The head of Tohsaka answers. "As you can read in that report, Mage assassinations weren't all he was involved in. He's appeared in war zones all over the planet, offering his services as a mercenary."
"Pft. Typical for a mercenary." James sneered, while the others agreed with him.
"May I borrow this report for a while?" The young priest asked.
The scene now changes back to Kiritsugu, and Iri as a modern printer was printing out papers.
Iri curiously watches the printer as the Mage Killer takes the printed-out papers.
"Let's go over what we know, Iri." The Mage Killer said as he was sitting on his study desk as his wife walked closer to him. "Of the seven Masters the Grail will choose, we know four."
Everyones carefully listens to the information of the Masters.
"Tohsaka Tokiomi, the head of the Tohsaka family," Kiristugu said as the scene cuts to a file showing Tokiomi's picture. "A fire Mage who uses jewel magic. A difficult opponent." The mercenary admits.
"Interesting… Using jewels similar to Fire Dust." Winter said with fascination.
"Hope that jerk loses," Yang said with her arms crossed as she frowns towards Tokiomi's picture.
"Matou Kariya." The scene now cuts the Master of Matou's file and picture. "So they took the kid who left the family and made him a Master, huh?" The Master of the Einzbern snorts in amusement. "That old man must be desperate."
"Hey! It's not like he wanted to!" Ruby shouted as she shuddered at remembering the reason why Kariya is fighting in this war.
Weiss notices this and places a hand towards her partner's shoulder, comforting her, which Ruby smiles in return.
"Kayneth El-Meilloi Archibald." The scene now cuts to the file and picture of Clock Tower's professor. "He has the double affinity of wind and water, and is an expert in Necromancy, Summoning, and Alchemy."
"Whoa… that's a lot." Velvet said but then tilted her head with a confused look. "Wait, can a Magus learn more than just one thing? It's kinda like having more than one Semblance." This caught everyone's interest.
"You are referring to Magic Crests, the most important treasure of a lineage of magi," D answered. "Think of them as hereditary Semblances except a Magic Crest is a series of Magic Circuits, magic nerves, or a pseudo-nervous system that spreads itself through the human body and what qualifies a person to be a magus, think of it as similar to Aura. Think of the Crest as an archive that stores all of the knowledge and experience of the magus' life, they can store many, if not all, spells that he learned in life and then pass it down to his successor. Then the process is continued to the next generation, the older a lineage is, the greater the number of Circuits forming the Crest, and the greater the amount of knowledge stored inside it."
"That's… that's incredible!" The young heiress breathed out in awe. She knows that she came from a family with a hereditary Semblance of casting Glyphs, but learning about the Magic Crest surpasses all that, even Winter thought the same.
"That would explain Kayneth's arrogance," Blake noted, remembering that he commented that he was from an older generation.
"It's similar to the process of the Maidens," Ozpin said in his head, then slowly looked down head downcasted. "Yet mine is…"
"Ozpin?" The said Headmaster looks up to see Glynda wondering if something was wrong with him. He shakes his head, showing that nothing was wrong. "My apologies Glynda, I was just deep in thought is all. I was simply wondering if this process can be theoretically be mimicked to those who unlocked there Aura."
"I was thinking the same thing Oz." The General joined in the conversation. "So far, Specialist Schnee and Penny have been taking notes of what they have learned up to know, given this could give us a few ideas in the future."
"Excellent, James."
"And…"
"Emiya Kiritsugu." Iri cuts in, making her husband look up to her. "The newest member of the Einzbern family and their trump card. And the man I love." Iri said as she gives a warm smile to him. Making Kiritsugu smile in return.
The girls blushed up towards that comment. Kali lovingly held her husband, Taiyang smiled, remembering the time with Raven and Summer.
"How in the world did that guy find a woman like that?" Coco said, having a small blush on her face.
"A story for another time," D said, earning a wine from the younger women.
The Mage Killer looks back to files returning to his stern look. "And the fourth… I mean, the fifth Master is Kotomine Kirei, agent of the Church."
The audience perked up at the mention of the name.
"Finally! We get to learn more about this guy." Nora said.
The scene now cuts to Kirei with his file and photo.
(OST: Unrest (Without the heartbeats))
"The Church?" Iri asked, slightly surprised.
"He's the son of the judge, Kotomine Risei, the priest," Kiritsugu answers as he continues his description of him. "He studied under Tohsaka Tokiomi for three years but split with him after his Command Spells appeared."
"False intel? I see they prepared ahead." Winter comment, slightly impressed with the alliance between Tokiomi and Kirei.
"Is something wrong?" Iri asked, noticing her at how her husband is focusing so much on Kirei's file.
"This is his personal history…" He hands the file to her. "Read it."
"Kotomine Kirei." Iri reads out. "Followed his father Risei on pilgrimage since childhood. Graduated from the St. Ignatius School of Divinity, in Manresa. Skipped two years… and graduated as valedictorian?!" She says in a slight surprise and awe. "He's pretty impressive."
"The guy's a genius?" Jaune asked, surprised about him skipping two years head of a School he never heard. "He's like you, Ruby."
"What! No, he's not." Ruby blushed a bit at the compliment Jaune gave her.
"NEVER compare that man with any of you here in the room," D said with a stern voice surprising everyone by his tone.
"H-huh?" Ruby stuttered. "What do you-."
"Trust me… You'll understand soon."
"But he suddenly leaves the primrose path and volunteers for the Holy Church," Kiritsugu said. "Why would someone like that work for one of the Church's secret organizations?"
"Because of his father, maybe?" His wife guests. The scene then cuts back to Kirei in the chambers alone as he studies the report. "Look, it says he's a member of the Church's 8th Sacrament Assembly, like his father."
"He would've pursued that from the start, then." Kiritsugu countered. "Yet, until he arrived at the same place as his father, he changed positions three times. He was even appointed as an Executor."
The scene now switches back to the two.
"An Executor?" Iri confusingly asked.
"A heretic hunter." Her husband answered. "Basically…" he pauses, making an ironic smile. "…what I used to be. A Mage killer."
"…They're both the same…" Blake said with a realization.
The scene now switches to Kirei.
"Emiya Kiritsugu." The Executor said out loud. "His assignations were always performed one after another over short periods. During the same general time periods, he appeared in war zones, but only when combat was at its fiercest. It's as if he was obsessed with chasing death itself. His actions were clearly suicidal."
The viewers silently watched, unaware that there growing more obsessed with learning more of the two.
He silently reads through the report, then narrows his eyes with confusion. "What on Earth is this?"
"That's what we want to know too," Qrow said, wanting to know more along with the others.
The scene switches back to Kiritsugu.
"Alchemy. Necromancy. Summoning. Divination. Healing. Look at all the types of magic he's studied." The former Mage killer said as he stood up from his chair. "Why does he try so hard? He gets almost to the point of mastery, then switches to another type without looking back. It's as if he throws away everything he's learned like trash." He says as he walks up to the window of the room.
"Iri. This Kotomine Kirei frightens me."
"I'm starting to get scared of him too," Ruby said, sinking back in her chair.
The scene switches to Kirei.
"The entire concept of self-interest is foreign to him." The heretic hunter deduces the Mage killer. "His actions are completely removed from any thought of risk versus reward. There's no way he's just a freelancer who's in it for the money."
"Freelancer?" Sienna asked.
"Magi, who do not directly belong to any of the Mage's Association branches or other organizations." The deity answers.
Scene switches to Kiritsugu and Iri again.
"This man has never experienced passion in his entire life." The Mage killer deduces his fellow enemy Master. "He doesn't believe in anything. He doesn't have a single wish he'd want to be granted."
"A man like that…"
Scene switches to Kirei again.
"What could he be after, then?" The young priest asks himself.
Back to Kiritsugu and Iri.
"Ugh… I'm getting dizzy with the scene changing…" Nora said, having a confused look on her eyes.
"Why would he risk his life for the Grail?" The Master of the Einzbern either asks himself or his wife.
"But the Grail chose Kotomine Kirei as one of the Masters." Iri reminds his husband, feeling a bit confused with herself with the topic.
"That's right." Her husband agrees. "He must have some reason to covet the Grail. But I have no idea what it could be. That's what frightens me."
Iri looks down, also concerned about how dangerous their enemy is.
"Kotomine Kirei," Kiritsugu says in his head as he stares out the window with a stern look.
Back to Kirei.
"Emiya Kiritsugu," Kirei says in his head as he puts away the report and slowly walks out of the chamber. "His endless strings of battles came to a sudden halt nine years ago, when he met the Magi of the North, the Einzberns."
"So he basically found his answer then." Before he walks out of the entrance, he pauses. "Then I must ask the question… What did he seek in those battles?" He turns around and takes one final look at the report he left behind before quickly leaving. "And what did he find at the end?" As soon as he left, the paper ignited into flames burning out the paper following with the candles leaving the room left in the dark.
Everyone was silent, letting all the information they learn sink in.
"Interesting, isn't it." The deity said, cutting everyone's train of thought. "A man who's whole life was dedicated in battle only for all of to stop as he found an answer to his battles. While the other an empty man who has done countless things to fill that emptiness only to find nothing to fill it. These two each on the sides of the same coin. What future do you think will happen when they both meet?"
The residents of Remnant could not answer that question, but deep down, they all know that it is something they would never forget.
(OST ends)
The scene now opens to Kariya lying on the floor in a recovery position inside a room late at night with a tray of food next to him that was untouched.
The scene cuts to his face slightly bruised, and his hair once black now turned completely white. He stares at his right hand that now has a Command Spell in the shape of a tri-zigzag spiral. Proof that he is now a Master
The audience gasped in horror.
"H-His face…" Velvet whispered as she covered her mouth with her hands.
"You almost didn't make it." Kariya didn't bother to move; he blinked and rolled his eyes towards the sound of his father. "The Grail's chosen you, which means it recognizes you as a Mage to some degree." Matou Zouken enters the empty room, slowly walking towards his son with his walking stick. "I'll give you that much, Kariya."
Kariya tried to stand up but collapsed to the ground. He sat down, doing his best to support himself. "But you know… You look terrible." The scene cuts to Kariya's face fully showing not only that he has white hair but now has a sickly pale complexion, the left side of his face is slightly disfigured, and his left eye clearly shows that it is blind.
The audience was once again horrified and disgusted at sight; the once normal looking man has now been disfigured. Thankfully it was not enough for any of them to hurl.
"This is the side-affect of the Crest Worms," D answered with a slight tone of disgust in his voice. "As you already know, these worms come with a price."
Ruby could only look away from Kariya's face, but then her eyes opened wide open in realization. "Sakura! What about Sakura?!" Shouting the name in concern, everyone gasped in realization as well. If the worms could do something so terrible to Kariya, they could only imagine what they would do to the poor girl.
"You'll see her soon," D said. "That's all I can say."
A few wished to demand an answer, but after having a good look at D, they could tell that he has no intention in answering; they had no choice but wait and watch.
The Master furiously grits his teeth and looks away.
"Does your left leg work?" The head of the Matou said with a cruel smirk as he stomps his walking stick towards Kariya's left leg. Kariya groans in pain as he collapsed to the floor again. He glares up to his father, showing something squirming under the surface of his facial skin.
"Bastard!" Tai shouted in anger while a few just looked away, few gritted their teeth in anger, while others just watched with narrowed eyes with strong disapproval.
Zouken laughs at his reaction. "Don't get mad. The Crest Worms inside you will devour you if you excite them. Either way, I'd say you'll only be living for another month at best."
The audience was shocked and sad to learn this.
Kariya calms himself down and looks away while is face stops squirming. "That's plenty." The Master mutters.
"What?"
"I said that's plenty," Kariya said a bit louder, still not facing his father.
"Damn, you completely have my respect, Kariya." Qrow gave a sad smile if he was ever in his position; he would gladly do the same for his family.
Zouken laughs again. "Kariya, I've found the perfect relic for you to reward you for lasting an entire year. Don't let your father's kindness go to waste."
The scene now changes to a bright room with a right hand facing the roof while the back of the hand shows a Command Spell in the shape of a sword in the middle while both sides are shaped liked spiked axes face outward.
The scene switches to Waver Velvet being the one looking at his Command Spells. He makes a smug smile and drops his hand while lying on a bed inside a bedroom, along with his luggage on the ground.
"Oh! Waver's a Master now," Pyrrha said with a small smile, glad to have a change of scenery. "Good for him."
He quietly chuckles on his bed then laughs as he quickly sat up on his bed and raises his right hand with a prideful smile. "I've got Command Spells, too!" He then happily held his right hand close to his chest. "The Grail chose me! The Grail acknowledged my ability!" The new Master cheerfully said as he fell back on his bed.
The audience laughed in amusement at Waver's antic.
Ruby made a thoughtful look on her face as she turned to her partner. "Hey, Weiss, would you have done the same if you became team leader instead of me?"
"Pfffft!" Yang and Blake held their snickers as hard as they can while holding back their stomachs before they laughed their hearts, imagine the sight of Weiss doing that after their initiation.
Weiss blushed hard at that question. "W-w-w-what are you talking about you dult?!" She shouted as she looked away, still holding her blush. "I would never do something so childish… in public." She ended her sentence with a whisper everyone did not hear that last part, well except the Faunus with there good hearing, they gave an amused smirk at that, including Khan, hey, she even found it funny.
Then quickly sat up again with a stern look dropping all happiness like it was nothing. "I can't just sit around and be happy. I have to prepare for the summoning of my Servant!" He says as the scene fades out with a chest containing the relic last being seen.
The scene opens, showing a house early in the morning while the sound of a rooster crowing.
"The sixth-grade girl who went missing in Fuyuki City two nights ago, Miki Nishimoto, was found dead this morning in the woods in Miyama district." Said a news reporter as the scene switches to a television inside the house with the headline titled, 'Serial Killer in Fuyuki City'.
The audience gasped at hearing the news.
"The poor thing…" Kali said with a sad tone.
"Way to make a good morning." Yang sarcastically said, then her eyes narrowed at the 'Serial Killer' at the scene. "What's this about a serial killer?"
"You'll find out later," D said.
While the reporter continued the report, the sound of a door was opening.
"Good morning, Waver." An elderly male voice greeted.
"Good morning, Waver-chan." An elderly female voice followed as soon as Waver entered while wearing his pajamas as he entered the dining room. He sat down on the table to join them.
"Morning, Grandpa, Grandma." Waver greeted them while yawning a bit, still a bit sleepy.
Everyone blinked in surprised about that. Waver is with his grandparents?
"Wait, he's with his grandparents?" Coco said, surprised along with the others. "Are they also Magus?"
"Just watch," D said.
The grandfather turned his head towards the television with a worried expression. "Fuyuki's pretty unsafe these days."
"It really is." His wife agreed with him.
"Anyway, Martha, the roosters were really loud this morning." He asked his wife, Martha. "What's going on?"
"There are three roosters in our yard." Martha answers.
"In our yard?"
"That's right." Martha agrees with his confused husband. "I wonder where they came from."
A few of the audience raised their eyebrows at that question. Why are there roosters doing in their yard?
Deciding not to press the topic anymore, the elderly husband reached out for a mug of coffee.
"Waver-chan, would you like some coffee?" Martha asked her grandson as he watched him rubbed his eyes with both his hands but then noticed the Command Spells on his right hand. "Waver-chan, what happen to your hand?"
Hearing what she said, the young Master looks at his hand and slightly gasped as how he carelessly left his Command Spells out in the open. "Crap." He swears quietly as he quickly covered his hand.
"Busted," Yang smirked. "Probably should have worn a glove or something."
"Actually, they can make the Command Spell disappear if they want to or not," D said. "Waver just got careless."
"That mark," Martha stated.
"Mark?" Her husband asked now a bit curious himself.
"That mark wasn't there yesterday." The elderly wife noted as she walked up to Waver to have a good look at it.
As soon as Martha checked on his hand, Waver shouted in annoyance, which startled her a bit and took a step back. "Geez! You notice the most unnecessary things…" He moaned as he slumps down on his seat.
"Whoa! You can't just act like that in front of your grandparents!" Jaune said, taken back by Waver's action, along with the others.
"Wh-What's wrong, Waver?" The grandfather asked, slightly surprised and worried.
"Waver-chan?" The grandmother also said surprised and worried about Waver's tone.
"Nothing's wrong." Waver sighed as he prepares a cup of coffee. "Come on, have some coffee. I've put lots of milk in it. Don't you both like coffee?" he said as he places the coffee on the table.
"Wha… what is he doing?" Blake said, confused in Waver's sudden action.
The moment the couple looked at the coffee, they suddenly looked tired, then they both unexpectedly pass out, Martha collapsing the ground (thankfully she fell on her knees than on her side to cushion herself) while the husband falls unconscious on his chair.
Everyone flinched in shock at two elderly justs passing out like that.
"W-w-w-w-what just happened?!" Ruby panicked as she waved her hands around.
Waver took a deep breath and sighs. "Must I really cast another spell to make them think I'm their grandson, back from being a foreign exchange student abroad?"
"He… he hypnotized them?" Ghira said, dumbstruck. "So, that's not his family?"
"Nope, he's just using there home for a place to stay in Fuyuki," D explains. "Don't worry, Waver has no intention of dragging the Mackenzies in the fight; in fact, he already made preparations for there safety."
"That's good to hear, at least." Kali breathed out in relief.
The sound of roosters crowing in the background, making Waver face the noise. "I'll have to find an explanation for those roosters I stole, too."
The scene then switches to a beautiful blue and golden scabbard with runic symbols written on it as it lays resting on a chest.
Everyone watching where in awe as they saw the scabbard, how beautiful it's designed is. Jaune looking at it couldn't help but compare it to his scabbard-shield from Crocea Mors, it's beauty pales from the comparison of his family's weapon. Velvet being the lover of taking pictures, wished that she has her camera-weapon Anesidora, to have a good picture or two of it. Ruby's silver eyes shined as she took a good look at the sheath; in all her life, she has never seen anything so beautifully made.
"I can't believe they actually found the scabbard of the legendary sword," Kiritsugu says with a hint of awe in his voice. "There isn't a single scratch. Id this excavated object really 1,500 years old?"
"1,500 YEARS OLD?!" Everyone shouted in unison.
"Damn it… If I've known they'd keep shouting like this, I would have brought at least some earplugs." D inwardly moaned as he was growing annoyed with the constant shocks on the first episode.
"The object itself is a type of Conceptual Weapon." Iri answers. "It doesn't rust or degrade like normal physical objects do. Just like in the legends, it heals its bearer's wounds and stops them from aging. Of course, that's only if it's supplied with the mana of its original owner."
Again, they were awed that such a simple sheath is capable of all that.
"Conceptional Weapons are magical items that often have accumulated history and cause more than physical interference as they execute a specific built-in 'concept,' a predetermined phenomenon. Even to this day, these various weapons are created."
"These weapons can probably be on par with the relics, maybe even more." Ozpin thought, while his inner-circle thought the same.
"WOW!" Ruby squealed in complete shock and amazement like a little girl seeing a new toy. Wait, she is that little girl. "I wonder what kind of hero wielded that scabbard!" She cheered, hoping that the answer would come soon.
"In other words, it can be used to tandem with its summoned Heroic Spirit to protect its Maser." The Master deduced as they both stare at the scabbard inside on top of the altar of the Einzbern's church.
"That's just like you." Iri sighs in amusement as she watches her husband walk away from the shrine. "A tool is always a tool, right?"
"That goes for Servants, too." Kiritsugu offhandedly said, which made his wife blink in confusion.
The audience blinked, not expecting that comment at all.
"What?" Ruby simply said.
"No matter how famous the Heroic Spirit, a Servant is nothing but it's Master's tool once summoned." He continues to explain as he walks. "Anyone who lets their fantasies get ahead of them will never emerge from this battle victorious."
"What?! How can he say that?!" Ruby shouted in anger, not believing what the Magus Killer said. "So what if you think the Servants are just tools! They're still people! Heroes who did great things in their lives! What gives you the right to treat any of them like that?!"
"Sadly, he's not the only one who thinks that," D said, earning everyone's attention. "Most Magus would just consider Servants as nothing more as summoned familiars, just to do their bidding."
"So, the Servants are just basically slaves?" Sienna growled, being familiar with the term for her people.
"Yes and no. It's all about Master-Servant relationships in situations like this, heck, it wouldn't even be strange for the Servant to kill there Master to find a new one to replace them."
The audience cringed at the thought, was it really that bad? "Is that possible?" Penny asked.
"It is. As long as the Servant finds someone to keep them anchored in the world."
(OST: Assassin)
"And that's why my great grandfather decided that this scabbard was just the relic for you," Iri said with a small smile.
"Is that so I wonder?" The Master questions which made Iri inwardly gasps.
"Are you not satisfied with his present?"
"Of course not." Kiritsugu mused with a snort as he sat down on of the pew. "Acht did well. I doubt the other Masters have a trump card this powerful."
"What's wrong, then?" His wife curiously asks.
"Given how perfectly connected the relic is to its owner, the Heroic Spirit we're after will surely respond to the summons," Kiritsugu explains as the scene zooms close to his face. "The legendary King of Knights, Arthur Pendragon."
In just hearing that name and title, the residents of Remant couldn't help but feel shiver throughout their spines. It wasn't a shiver of fear, disgust, or any malice intent. Instead, it was a shiver of awe and respect.
D watches the expression on their faces, the younger students having a look filled with awe and wonder, the adults having the same emotions, while Sienna was interestingly contemplating how she should react to this.
D shakes his and chuckles. "Judging by your reactions, I bet you all felt the weight of the Legendary figure Kiritsugu is planning to summon." They all snapped out of their daze and again looked towards the deity.
"Who is he?" Ruby whispered loud enough for everyone to hear; her tone still filled with awe.
"Arthur Pendragon, the King of the Kingdom of Camelot, leader of the Knights of the Round Table, and wielder of the holy sword, Excaliber. Arthur is one of the most legendary figures the world has ever known. He goes by many titles, the Proud Knight-King, the Once and Future King, the Perfect King, and most recognizable is the King of Knights."
"Whoa… the King of Knights…" Jaune breathed out in awe. Not only is this guy a knight but a king, a king to his country, and all knights and a hero to boot!
"I hope he's hot." Yang purred with a smirk, making everyone snap out from there thoughts.
"Yaaaaaang!" Ruby wined with her face being as her theme.
"I'm with you on that one, Yang," Coco smirked, agreeing with the yellow boxer.
"Coco!" Velvet squeaked, her face is as red as Ruby's.
"Oh, hush, Bun-bun me and Yang are just voicing what all the women are thinking in their heads." Most of the women slightly blushed and just coughed at the comment. Well, Nora didn't really since she's Nora.
D suppressed the urge to laugh his heart out in what they said. Oh, Lord, are they in for a shocker.
"How compatible I am with him is a secondary concern."
Most of the audience frowned at what he said.
"But as the wielder of Excalibur, surely he must be the strongest Saber-class Servant," Iri interjects about their soon to be summoned Servant.
"Indeed." The Master of Saber agrees. "I'll have a Servant far stronger than any other. The question is how to use that power. To be honest, in terms of ease of use, Caster or Assassin would suit me a lot better."
"What will you do if you're worried before even summoning him?" Iri playfully asks. "We don't know what the King of Knights was like."
"What's more, no matter your tactics, once he learns of your ideals, your dream…" Iri turns around to face the scabbard. "I'm sure he'll understand." She says as she drags her fingers on the face of Arthur's scabbard as she makes a small smile. "Just like me."
Again the women blushed at the loving sight.
"Okay, seriously, how did those two get together?" Yang demanded.
After listening to Iri's speech, Kiritsugu was in deep thought for a moment. Then he stood up from the pew, making Iri face him blinked in surprise but quickly smiled at him. "What?"
"I figured my strategy." The Master says as he walked to the middle of the walkway of the church. "The best way…" He turns to his wife with a confident smile. "…to use the strongest Servant."
"I can't wait to see Arthur Pendragon!" Ruby squealed in excitement.
(OST ends)
The scene now changes to a suitcase dragging on the ground showing Rin having trouble pulling it.
"Is that Rin?" Tai said, not expecting to see the child again.
"Hello, Rin." The young Tohsaka was a bit startled and looked up to see Kirei on the stairs of the mansion greeting her.
Rin gives a cute glare at him. "Hello, Kirei."
"Awe, she even has the same cute little glare Ruby gives." Yang chimes.
"Yaaaaaang! Stop it!" Ruby wines as her face grow red.
"Heading out?" The Master of Assassin asked as he walked down the stairs to meet with her. "That's a lot of luggage you have there."
"Yes, I'll be living with the Zenjou family from now on," Rin answers, looking away from the Master. She pauses a bit then looks back at him. "You're staying to fight along with Dad, right?" She asks as she lets go of her suitcase and leaves it standing on the floor.
"That's why I'm here as his student." She looks away with a worried expression on her face.
"Kirei, can I trust you?" Kirei blinks at her question. "Will you promise me you'll protect my father until the very end?"
The parents and parent figures of the group can't help but feel sad at this scene knowing that Rin's father is going to fight in a war and there was the high chance that he might not come back, even a few of the students can't help but feel sad at that fact.
"That's impossible." He bluntly answers. "If the battle were simple enough that I could make that promise, we wouldn't have to send you or you mom anyway."
Rin turns to glare at him. "I just can't like you, after all."
"He could have at least lied to make her feel better." Ruby frowned.
"Better to tell the truth immediately then giving false hope." D countered, making her frown deeper.
"But-."
"But nothing." D immediately cut her off. "Anything can happen in a war. There are never any promises."
Ruby wanted to rebuke, but her teammates stopped her from doing so, showing that she shouldn't argue anymore. Ruby slowly nodded and focused back on her seat. Deep down, she knows better not to lie to people about the truth. It's just that she wants to give hope so they could feel better.
"Rin, you shouldn't speak your thoughts like that." Kirei lectures the girl. "People might start thinking bad of your father, the one who raises you."
Rin shakes angrily. "What does my dad have to do with this?!" She shouts to him as she stomps her foot to the ground. "Listen Kirei! I won't forgive you if my dad gets hurt because you were slacking off!"
"Rin, what are you yelling about?" Aoi enters the room, wondering about the yelling.
Rin was startled by her mother's entrance, and she fidgets, trying to say the right word to her mother. "Um… uh…"
"She was giving me a pep talk before saying goodbye, Madam." Kirei answers for Rin making her pout in annoyance then went back to glaring him. "Let me help." He gestures as he extends his hand. "That suitcase is too heavy for you."
"Hmm, he's surprisingly nice to her," Blake commented.
"He's the student of Tokiomi. Perhaps he doesn't want to show a bad example." Ren said.
"It's fine." Rin frustratingly said as she took the luggage and walked away. "I can carry it myself."
"Kotomine-san, please take care of my husband," Aoi asked of Kirei as she bows her head to him. "Please help him achieve his wish."
"I'll do my best. Don't worry." Kotomine assures her despite showing a blank look from the start.
While Aoi was bowing her head, she didn't notice that Rin was behind her doing an Akanbe, (Japanese facial gesture showing someone pulling done a lower eyelid and sticking their tongue out) as she taunts in front of Kirei.
Yang was about to open her mouth, but Ruby stopped her. "Not another word Yang." Yang just made a mock pout not getting the chance to tease Ruby again.
The scene cuts to Kirei opening a door. "Excuse me."
"Excellent timing," Tokiomi said as he stood in his large study room as his student closes the door and walks up to him. "The relic I arranged for finally arrived this morning. Look."
(OST: The Battle to Come)
Kirei sees the package that was delivered to his mentor. The kit contains the fossilized skin of a snake.
"Is that… a snake?" Glynda asked as she narrowed her eyes towards the fossil.
"What's this?"
The head of Tohsaka chuckles. "The fossils of the first snake's skin ever shed in ancient times." He answers as he continues his explanation. "If we use it as a catalyst and manage to summon what we're after, our victory is assured."
Everyone was surprised by this. An ancient fossil of the first snake's shed skin, but the real question is, what kind of hero was this relic connected too?
"I know what your all thinking, and I'll say this once." The overseer announced getting everyone's attention. "I will not tell you who the Servant's name and history are unless their names are revealed. So, I'll let your minds wander on what kind of people they are planning to summon."
They all excepted that rule and decided to wait for these legends to show themselves.
(OST ends)
The scene then cuts to Kariya limping on the hallways of the Matou mansion. He grunts slightly in pain as he falters. He held on his left arm, clearly showing that the left side of his body is paralyzed.
"Oh, Oum… he's now a cripple…" Kali whispered in sadness as she covered her mouth with her hand.
As he walks, he meets Sakura by the halls. Sakura wears a purple dress her once brown hair is now purple and what's more noticeable is how empty her eyes looked. She gasps, seeing her uncle.
The audience silently gasped, seeing Sakura for the first time, aside from being swarmed in the pit of worms.
"Is that… Sakura?" Winter gasped, seeing the condition of the poor girl. "Her eyes…"
Yes… her eyes… empty as if there was no life in them, eyes that no children should ever have.
"Look at the bright side," D said with a sad tone in his voice. "Aside from the color of her hair being changed, she's hasn't suffered any disabilities as bad as Kariya's."
(OST: Tragedy and Fate)
"Hey, Sakura-chan." Kariya smiles, looking down at her niece. "Did I surprise you?"
"He has such a strong will." Ozpin praised with a sad smile.
"No, but your face…" Sakura answers with an empty tone in her voice.
"Well, you know… Looks like I lost a little to the worms inside me again." Kariya said with a calm and reassuring tone. "I guess I'm not as tough as you are, Sakura-chan." He chuckles.
"You're turning into a different person, aren't you?" The sudden question made Kariya confusingly look at her but just shrugged and smiled towards her.
"Maybe."
"He's so kind." Velvet commented.
"I don't have to go to the bug room tonight," Sakura informs him. "Grandpa said there's going to be a more important ceremony."
"That old bastard has no right to be called that," Yang spat.
"Yeah, I know." The Master said. "That's why I'm going to the basement tonight instead."
"Uncle Kariya, are you going away?"
"I'll be pretty busy with an important job for a while." He regretfully says to her. "I probably won't have much time to talk to you anymore."
The audience all know what he was talking about; the chance that he might not come back from the war was high.
"I see," Sakura says, still having the negative tone in her voice.
"Hey, Sakura-chan," Kariya said with a smile on his face. "Once I'm done with my job, why don't we all go somewhere and have some fun? With your mom and sister?"
"I don't have anyone I can call my mom or sister…" This made the disfigured Master frown at what she said. "Grandpa said I should think that they never even existed."
A few of the audience's hearts slightly broke from her words. Good god, this girl is slowing breaking apart.
"I see." Was Kariya could say giving a sad frown at her but turned into a bitter smile as he limped towards her and kneeled to her level and hugged her.
"Uncle?"
"Let's take Aoi-san and Rin-chan from the Tohsakas and go somewhere far away," Kariya said, still holding her niece. "We can play together again like we used to."
"Will I really be able to see them again?" Sakura asks even though being hugged, her blank expression and tone haven't changed one bit.
"Yeah, you will." Kariya confidently answers. "I promise you that."
Finally, at that moment, even the tiniest bit, there was a small glint have sadness or happiness on Sakura was being held.
The sounds of sniffing and tears were falling where being heard among the audience, mostly from the women, plus Tai and Jaune. They were touched on how far Kariya would go for a single person.
"Oh, Kariya…" Weiss cried. "I certainly hope you succeed."
"Weiss… I'm sure he will." Her partner cried as she hugged her.
"Don't touch me, you dult." The heiress words betrayed her as she returned the hug to her partner.
"Well, I have to get going." The Master said as he let go of her niece and gave her one last smile.
"Okay." Sakura nodded as she watched her uncle limped away. "Bye-bye, Uncle Kariya." She continues to watch her uncle doing his best as he limps. "Bye-bye." She whispers in the end.
With that, all the of the ones crying had their hearts broken after hearing Sakura's parting words, while the others' hearts were slightly broken as well. Deep down, they hope that Kariya succeeds.
D could only make a sad frown seeing all this. "A shame that they won't expect the ending they'll see." He thought to himself, knowing full well of the ultimate fate of the Master of the Matou family.
(OST: ends)
The scene now switches to Kariya and Zouken in the Bug Room, albeit the basement is empty of bugs and on the floor was a large red circle that held magic and runic symbols.
"What you're all about to witness is the summoning of the Servants," D announces, making everyone focus more on the screen.
Ruby and her classmates and friends were getting excited to see these heroes. Ozpin and his inner-circle carefully gaze and study this remote ritual they are about to witness. While the rest were intrigued to witness this scene.
(OST: Point Zero)
"You've learned the summoning spell, right?" Zouken asked as he stares at the table that's holding the relic next to the magic circle.
"Yeah." The Master said as he stood before the circle.
"Very good, but I'll have you add two extra lines to the incantation."
"Lines?" Weiss asked.
"To summon the Servant, they have to say a long chant do so," D answered.
"What do you mean?"
"It's simple." The sadistic Matou said as he turned to face him. "Kariya, your rank as a Mage is slightly below that of the other Masters. This will affect your Servant's base stats." He continues to inform his son. "That means we'll have to pick a class of Servant that can raise those parameters."
"Kariya, I want you to add the "Berserk" property to the Servant to summon."
"So, Kariya is going to summon Berserker?!" Ruby gasped.
"Yes, and as you may guess, that Servant is one of the difficult ones to handle." The deity said.
"How so?" Ren asked.
"As I said, I'd explain about the Servants later."
The scene changes showing blood being spilled at the soil of the ground outside of some forest. The scene zooms out to show Waver using a dead rooster's blood to create a magic circle while his relic stood on a stone table before the ring.
"Ew, Gross!" Nora gagged, along with a few others at sight. "That's what the roosters were for?!"
"Certain animal blood is an excellent form of magic catalysts," D explained. "Now pay attention, the Masters are now performing their summons."
"Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill!" Waver chanted as he takes a step back from the circle and tosses the dead Rooster next to a pile of dead ones. "Repeat five times. But destroy each when filled."
The scene changes to the Tohsaka's chamber, showing the two Kotomine's standing at the side of the room, watching, while Tokiomi was standing in front of his magic circle.
"A base of silver and steel." The Tohsaka Master chanted. "A foundation of stone and the Archduke of Contracts. An ancestor, my great master, Schweinorg. A wall to block the falling wind. The gates of all four directions close. Form the Crown, come forth, and follow the forked road to the Kingdom."
The scene now switches to Kiritsugu and Iri inside the Einzbern church.
"Is a simple ritual like that enough to summon a Heroic Spirit?" Iri curiously asks her husband as she held the scabbard.
"Surprisingly, yes." The Einzbern Master answers as he finishes the preparation of his magic circle, but unlike the others, this one was silver-colored. Summoning a Servant doesn't require an elaborate evocation. "The Grail is what does the actual summoning. As a Master, my job is to anchor the heroic Spirit to this world once it appears and give it enough mana for it to take physical form."
"Really? That's kinda disappointing." Jaune said.
"Did you expect a complicated magic ritual or something at from a game?" D said with a teasing smirk.
"I-I, ah, kinda was…" Jaune nervously laughed as he scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
He gives one last look towards his circle. "This should be good." He says as he stood up and turns to his wife. "Iri, place the relic on the altar. Our preparations will then be complete."
Ruby could only squeal in excitement, being impatient for the heroes to come.
The scene switches back to Waver.
"I hereby propose." As Waver continues his chant, his circle began to glow brightly. "Though shalt come under my command, and my fate shall be thy sword. Abiding by the summons of the Holy Grail, if thou dost accede to this will and reason, answer me!" He shouts as he holds out his right hand before the circle.
The viewers leaned forward, watching without blinking their eyes.
The scene switches again to Kiritsugu facing his circle, which is shining brightly while an intense pressure of wind follows. And Iri watches by the sides.
"I hereby swear." The Master declares. "I will be all that is good in the eternal world. I will be the disposer of evil in the eternal world."
The scene switches back to the Matou basement as Zouken wickedly smiles as he watches Kariya perform his summoning while the circle glows brighter, and the pressure of wind grows stiff, and the ground begins to tremble.
"But let chaos cloud thine eyes," Kariya shouts as he struggles to say his chant as the worms inside his body begins to wiggle through his face. "Thou, who art trapped in a cage of madness. And I, who doth hold thy chains!"
"Quick note, that part of the line is only for summoning Berserker." D quickly explained.
Scene switches back to Tokiomi.
"Thou, the seven days clad in the Great Trinity, come forth from the circle of constraint," Tokiomi shouts as held his right arm as his Command Spell begins to glow. The summoning circle began to shake violently, making the two Kotomines to brace themselves. "Guardian of the Heavenly Scales!"
As he finishes his chant, a flash of bright light exploded enveloping everyone in the chamber. The same happened to the other Masters in their positions.
The audience could only watch in silence, unaware that each of them was holding there breath.
The scene cuts to Waver as the full moon's light shines down on him, gasping slowly as he looks upward, he fells down to his butt in exhaustion.
Before Waver is a gigantic man standing more than two meters in height, he has large muscles, a dazzling flow in his eyes, and burning red hair and beard. He wears bronze armor, with cuffs and greaves with white-furred fringes that leaves his arms and thighs and wears a thick red mantle with a fluffy white fur collar.
"He's huge!" Everyone unknowingly shouted inside of there heads in unison, as they gazed upon the summoned Servant in shock and awe before them. And they could all tell from the aura he is showing that he is someone of vast superiority.
Waver could only stare for a moment then switches to a smile of success.
The scene switches to Kariya as he held his left arm, gasping in pain as he gazes towards his Servant.
His Servant stands before him appearing like a black silhouetted humanoid figure enwrapped by shadow-like smoke.
Kariya could only give a stern determine look towards his Servant.
"Awe, we didn't get to see this one properly." Ruby pouted.
The scene switches back to Tokiomi.
"We've won this battle, Kirei." Tokiomi said with full determination in his voice as he and the two Kotomines as they gaze upon his Servant. "Victory is ours!"
The scene takes a close up look to the Servant, a dignified man who wears a golden armor, and he has golden hair standing up like a blazing flame, his face describes as handsome and his eyes, crimson like blood, that are visibly not those of a human.
Unlike the first Servant they saw, they all felt a shiver straight from there spines the moment they gazed upon the eyes of the golden armored Servant. It was the combination of awe and fear as if those eyes could easily pierce right through you with a pure gaze.
The audience couldn't say a word. The only sound that made was a few people swallowing a dry lump from there throats.
D could only inwardly snicker at there reactions. "Oh, I can tell this is going to be fun when they find out their personalities," D said as he looks back at the screen. "Know for Saber's intro."
Then finally, the scene cuts back to Einzbern church as the light and wind died down.
Ruby excitingly gasped as she leaned forward to see the King of Knights. Her team, friends, and family were excited and interested as well, while the others were mostly just interested.
But boy, they were not expecting this setting though.
Iri gasps in surprise at the Servant her husband summoned.
"Who…" Was all Kiritsugu said for he was also shocked at the unexpected appearance of his Servant.
"I ask you…" A new voice asked the Master, but unexpectedly this was the voice of a woman. The scene cuts to the Servant's face, the face of a young woman, her hair was spun gold tied into a bun at the back of her hair head and a stray Ahoge jutting from her head, she opens her eyes to show her emerald green eyes and faced her Master. "Are you my Master?"
Episode 1
Summoning of the Heroic Spirits
-269:15:47
(The countdown goes down by four seconds.)
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Three, Two, One," D smirked as he counted down.
"WHAAAAAAAT?!" The students all shouted together in absolute shock, while the adults just had their eyes popped open while their jaws nearly dropped to the ground. None of them were expecting that King Arthur was a girl.
"Bet you girls felt silly thinking about your knight in shining armor, huh?" D teasingly smirked, reminding them about Yang and Coco's comment.
"B-b-b-b-but how is that possible?" Ruby stuttered, still shellshocked that the King was a woman. Wait, wouldn't that make her a Queen instead?
"Not all history, myths, legends, fairy tales and stories are as accurate as people would claim them to be." D answers. "Arther Pendragon, or in this case, Artoria Pendragon, was never a man but a woman, who pretended to be one."
That made a lot of sense for them. Heck, this still surprised them.
"Quiet the plot twist, don't you all think?"
"Indeed," Ozpin said, now more intrigued in this story than ever. "Though I do wonder, why is it that Artoria pretended to be a man?"
"A story for another time." D shrugs off.
"Um... D? What was that countdown back then?" Penny asked curiously in what it represents.
"Every end is a beginning and every beginning is an end." D cryptically answers leaving a few of the students confused in what he said while Ozpin and a few other adults having an inkling in its meaning. "Don't worry about that for now. But now, we watch the opening theme."
"Opening theme?" Penny asked while she tilted her head.
(Opening Theme: Oath Sign by LiSA)
The scene opens, showing the camera travels fast through the lake of Fuyuki late at night then goes through the Fuyuki bridge then raises towards the cloudy sky of the night, showing the title of the series.
Fate/Zero
Kurikaesu sekai nando te wo nobashitara
(How many times must I reach my hand out to this repeating world)
Cuts to Iri smiling in awe and wonder as she explores the streets of Fuyuki wearing here coat as Saber accompanying her.
The scene now shows Kiritsugu's Command Spells.
Hakanai namida wa kuroi kokoro tokasu no?
(For the fleeting tears to softens my black heart?)
Kiritsugu is sitting by the Einzbern church's altar smoking. He puts the cigar away, then walks out of the church, followed by another woman, Maya.
The scene switches to Kirei standing in a different church, raising his head as he held his Command Spell before dropping it.
Mebaedashita omoi ga mune ni hibiita nara
(If these awakened feelings resonated in my heart)
The scene now switches to Waver and his Servant inside Waver's room. Waver was studying regarding Thaumaturgy until his Servant, Rider slams a book on his head looking bored while the Master swats it away being irritated himself.
The scene switches to Ryuunosuke and his Servant, Caster, hidden somewhere in Fuyuki.
Next, Kayneth, inside their hotel room with his fiancé, Sola-Ui, and his Servant, Lancer.
Kimi no tonari de zutto kawarazu mamoru darou
(I'd stand guard beside you forever and ever)
Now Tokiomi gazing out the window, behind him was his wife Aoi and their child Rin running up to her.
The Scene switches to Sakura sitting on the floor in the Matou bug room looking up.
Finally, Kariya standing on the top of the building as flying Crest Worms swarm around him
Ochita kibou wo hirotte
(If I could pick up these fallen hopes)
Saber stands as she wore a black suit and black gloves, surrounded by blue particles of light as she stares at her right hand.
Asu ni tsunaide yukeba
(And link them on to tomorrow)
Then as she clenches it, her armor materialized around her as her sword followed on her hand.
Karamatta ibitsu na negai date hodokeru
(Even these entwined, twisted wishes will come apart)
Kiritsugu stands on top of the building smoking as he gazes at the city late at night.
The scene changes to Saber kneeling on a hill filled with corpses of knights, then quickly switches to her standing surrounded by the blue particles again as she held up her sword high as it glows with a golden light. She readies herself for battle.
Hikari wo kazashite tamerai wo keshita
(I've held up the light and erased my hesitation)
Saber charges towards her enemy somewhere in the docks of Fuyuki as she slams her sword against another Servant, Berserker's attack making the area between them explode.
Agetakatta no wa mirai de
(What I wanted to give you is in the future)
Lancer appears showing his skills with his twin lances.
Naiteru your daita mama
(Crying and embracing the night)
Waver runs, trying to catch up with his Servant as Rider caught his hand, pulling him in his chariot.
Nageki wo sakende
(Screaming its grief out loud)
Caster, casting magic by using his book as he makes an unpleasant smile.
Kariya clings his fingers against the wall as he gasps in pain.
Tokiomi twirls around his staff as flames are combusted, while his Servant, Archer, crosses his arms, merely smiling as he gazes out towards the city.
Fumiireta ashi wo tooku no risou ga
(The distant ideals gently heal)
Saber prepares herself in a battle stance on top of a constructed building as her sword produces an intense amount of wind around it, she blocks knives from the charging Assassin as she strikes him back.
The scene changes to Kiritsugu kneeling inside a deserted building holding a gun as he gives hand signs orders to Maya as she did as he commands.
Sotto iyashite yuku
(These legs that've stepped forward)
The scene now changes to Illya smiling towards her mother in the Einzbern Mansion.
Tashika na kizuna wo tsuyoku nigirisusumou
(I'll hold on tight to these definite bonds as I advance)
The scene now turns to Iri as she stood outside of the Einzbern mansion of the blizzard of the forest as she looks up.
Kirei looks ahead inside his church.
Kotomine kneels inside an abandoned building holding a sniper as he looks ahead while smoking.
Then Saber falls from the sky as she strikes down Excalibur while it shows its golden glow.
Dokomade mo
(No matter where I go)
Following a giant pillar of golden light shines as it pierces through the sky.
Kegarekitta kiseki wo se ni
(I'll shoulder these tainted miracles)
A picture of Waver with Rider riding his chariot, Ryuunosuke, and Caster, sadistically smiling, Tokiomi with Archer in his casual clothing as he enjoys a glass of wine, Kayneth walking with his fiancé and Lancer in the halls of the hotel, Kariya by himself sitting by himself in pile of garbage in an alleyway.
Finally, the scene ends back to the lake of Fuyuki city in the daylight as the screen fades in black as the camera travels through the water of the lake.
(Opening lyric ends then instrumental theme starts for one minute.)
The audience could only watch in silence as soon as they reached the ending of the song. And none of them could lie; it was remarkable.
"That. Was. AWESOME!" Ruby and Nora shouted together in pure awe and amazement.
"Love the song!" Yang said with a smirk and Jaune agreed with her. "There were a lot of messages in that song."
"Yes, it was charming," Weiss said while Pyrrha agreed with her.
"Plus, the scenes perfectly matched with the lines of the song," Blake said with a small smile along with Ren.
Everyone leased had there on opinions with the theme and they all agreed that it was good.
(OST: To be continued)
"Is this a preview?" Velvet asked.
A preview of the episode begins by showing a 3D version of the crystal-shaped version of Kiritsugu's Command Spell.
"My, how very artistic." Winter praised the visual art on the preview.
"I think what you and Kiritsugu seek is right." Saber's voice said in the background.
"Is that Artoria's voice?" Coco asked.
"Yup, sneak peek for the next episode," D said.
Next, the Command Spell of Waver appeared.
"The world cannot serve two lords." Rider's voice said.
"I'm betting that's the big guy's voice," Roman stated, while Neo agreed with him.
The Command Spell of Tokiomi appears, but unlike the other shards of crystals, this shoots shards out from it.
"You are not worthy to gaze upon me." Archer's arrogant voice said.
"…I'm guessing that's the voice with the golden armor," Sienna said already not liking this character despite the chill he gave after seeing his eyes.
Ryuunosuke's Command Spell appears next but seemed to be fractured.
"You're so cool, man!" The Master shouted in awe.
"Huh? Who's voice is that?" Pyrrha said, confused.
Finally, the last Command Spell was Kirei's
"You are to promptly kill Tohsaka Tokiomi." The Master said without any remorse in his tone.
Everyone recognized that voice and was not expecting that last part. Kirei is planning to betray Tokiomi?