'Outline for the Development of Web Novels' had sparked a wave of enthusiasm for webnovel writing throughout China. Kamiyā Yuu didn't forget to instruct 'BIUBIUBIU' to seize the opportunity and claim a share of the market.
At present, fanfiction was similarly unwelcome on Chinese webnovel platforms in this world and couldn't qualify for publishing contracts. However, the numerous genre concepts proposed in 'Outline for the Development of Web Novels', particularly infinite-flow fiction, would likely trigger a surge of interest in fanfiction throughout the webnovel industry.
Kamiyā Yuu used his 'BIUBIUBIU' account to contact Lin Ye, the person in charge of the website, and explained his idea.
"Establish another fiction section?"
Sitting in front of his computer, Kamiyā Yuu typed his response.
"Yes. Even in Japan, novels are gradually becoming one of the indispensable pillars supporting the anime industry. My purpose in establishing 'BIUBIUBIU' was to develop a mature anime industry chain in China. I've studied the Chinese webnovel market before, and I believe it's an industry worth investing in."
After a brief silence, Lin Ye carefully expressed his opinion.
"Funding won't be a problem. However, our company is already having a difficult time maintaining the video and social networking sections. We'll need some time to adjust."
Kamiyā Yuu had anticipated this response and continued typing.
"There's no need to rush. For now, we can make the fiction section a sharing platform, just like the original artwork section. Once we've accumulated a certain level of popularity, we can begin commercializing it. The two sections can also cooperate with each other. For example, we could introduce illustrations into Chinese webnovels, just like Japanese light novels. With proper management, that should be enough."
Fanfiction wasn't popular in the current webnovel industry, so Kamiyā Yuu intended to have 'BIUBIUBIU' prepare a place for it first.
Fanfiction was already a type of fiction that generally couldn't generate revenue through conventional webnovel platforms. Publishing it on a website like 'BIUBIUBIU', which emphasized ACG culture, would naturally be more advantageous.
Once the platform had grown sufficiently large, he could commercialize it on that foundation and establish a light novel industry with distinctly Chinese characteristics.
Previously, when Kamiyā Yuu had instructed Busujima Murasaki to contact the major animation production companies and anime production committees in Japan, he had already secured the legal rights to create derivative works.
These authorizations covered most of the anime currently produced in Japan, including 'RWBY', 'Magical Girl Nanoha', 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica', and 'Fate/Zero', all of which were produced by Yosuganosora Animation Studio.
Derivative works based on these titles were covered by the relevant authorizations.
There was no clear-cut definition separating webnovels from light novels. Once the industries grew large enough, they would inevitably converge despite their different origins.
Kamiyā Yuu patiently explained his plans.
Lin Ye could tell that this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, so he quickly agreed.
"I understand. I'll follow up on this."
...
December was the month when most autumn-season anime reached their conclusions, and 'Fate/Zero' was no exception.
In the already published fifth and final volume of the novel, the Holy Grail War had entered its concluding stages.
The King of Conquerors, Iskandar, faced off against the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.
After being strengthened by three Command Spells, the EX-rank Noble Phantasm, Ionioi Hetairoi—King's Army—was finally able to unleash its full power.
The warriors who followed Iskandar witnessed Oceanus, the Sea at the End of the World, alongside their king.
With their heroic ambitions burning brightly and without a trace of regret, they launched one final charge.
The revised version of 'Fate/Zero' hadn't been entirely successful in its portrayal of Gilgamesh.
Too much of the character development had been devoted to Zhao Yun, Saber, and Iskandar.
Nevertheless, Gilgamesh had always occupied a particularly unusual position in this Holy Grail War.
During his confrontations with other Heroic Spirits, he had revealed only glimpses of his abilities. His contemptuous attitude, as though he stood above everything in existence, made it difficult for viewers to gauge his true strength.
In this world, 'Fate/stay night' didn't exist as a preceding anime.
Although the spin-off novels had demonstrated Gilgamesh's wisdom as a king, his behavior as a human ruler and his behavior as a Heroic Spirit were worlds apart.
He maintained the same supreme arrogance, acting as though none beneath heaven or above earth could rival him, but in 'Fate/Zero' he was considerably more unrestrained.
Unlike other Heroic Spirits who desired the Holy Grail, Gilgamesh participated in the war as though he were playing a game.
For the sake of his own "amusement," he was even willing to turn Kirei Kotomine against Tokiomi Tohsaka and encourage him to murder his Master.
Without a basis for comparison, the shortcomings of a portrayal were harder to notice.
If the revised anime had portrayed the King of Heroes exactly as the original anime did, with Gilgamesh flying into a "rage" at every opportunity, the result would have been rather embarrassing.
Kamiyā Yuu had always felt that Gilgamesh's characterization in 'Fate/Zero' was somewhat inconsistent.
On the battlefield, he behaved like an easily angered, tyrannical king, yet in everyday situations he displayed considerable wisdom and an extraordinary ability to see through people's hearts.
In the revised anime, Gilgamesh's actual combat strength had remained a mystery.
The fifth volume of the novel, along with the upcoming anime episodes, would finally reveal a glimpse of his overwhelming power.
According to a survey conducted by Chiyo Bookstore, fans were even more excited about his duel with Iskandar than they were about Saber releasing the true name of her Noble Phantasm, Excalibur—Sword of Promised Victory.
After all, near the beginning of the anime, the King of Heroes had briefly demonstrated his true strength while attempting to punish Berserker Lancelot.
The golden vortices that appeared behind him, almost covering the entire sky, and the hundreds of Noble Phantasms emerging from them had left viewers awestruck.
Even though Gilgamesh possessed a Noble Phantasm on the level of Ea, the Sword of Rupture, audiences were more interested in seeing how the anime would depict the magnificent spectacle of Gate of Babylon confronting the million-strong army of Ionioi Hetairoi.
'Fate/Zero' had firmly established its reputation as an anime with an enormous production budget.
Even if someone called it the most expensive Japanese anime ever produced, there probably wouldn't be many Japanese viewers willing to argue.
Its 2D special effects had long since become one of the defining features of the series.
Previously, the spectacle of Zhao Yun charging back and forth through an army of a million soldiers had already given audiences a tremendous visual feast.
Naturally, they were even more excited about the grand confrontation between Gate of Babylon and Ionioi Hetairoi that Kamiyā Yuu had described in the fifth volume.
Furthermore, the ending of the revised anime would differ considerably from that of the original.
The reason once again lay with 'Fate/stay night', the preceding work in the original franchise.
Most viewers of the original 'Fate/Zero' anime had already encountered 'Fate/stay night'.
They knew what the Holy Grail actually was, and they understood Gilgamesh's true identity and abilities.
Even! With! All! That!
'Fate/Zero' had still been unable to avoid leaving viewers with the impression of a story that started strongly but ended weakly.
More precisely, the anime genuinely felt like a prequel.
It was almost as though Sakura Matou's route in 'Fate/stay night' was the true conclusion to the entire story.
Without a preceding work to support it, and with any sequel still a distant prospect, Kamiyā Yuu had been forced to plant foreshadowing about the Holy Grail War from the very beginning to give the anime a proper sense of conclusion.
Through indirect hints, he had informed viewers that the so-called Holy Grail was far from a good thing.
Kamiyā Yuu had no intention of producing an anime adaptation of Sakura Matou's route from 'Fate/stay night' in the near future.
That didn't mean he never wanted to produce it.
What he needed to do was avoid an anticlimactic ending while still accommodating the elements of the story that connected it to its eventual sequel.
Sakura's route was Kamiyā Yuu's first choice for a future continuation.
The inhumane treatment Sakura suffered in 'Fate/Zero' practically established her route as the intended conclusion to the Holy Grail War.
There was another anime in a similar situation: 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'.
At the end of its first season, the protagonist Lelouch was captured by Suzaku.
If that had been the conclusion of the entire anime, 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' would never have achieved its present popularity.
Although the first season's ending was anticlimactic, it also made it abundantly clear that a second season was coming.
However, the relationship between the Fourth and Fifth Holy Grail Wars was different from that between the first and second seasons of 'Code Geass'.
The former could essentially be treated as two separate anime, with almost entirely different casts of major characters.
For that reason, Kamiyā Yuu needed 'Fate/Zero' to convey the feeling that "this story has reached its conclusion," while still leaving room for another story to follow.
The key to eliminating the anticlimactic feeling of 'Fate/Zero' lay in making the character confrontations sufficiently exciting and giving their resolutions a sense of completeness.
Heroic Spirit confrontations:
The most spectacular duel: Iskandar's Ionioi Hetairoi—King's Army—versus Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon—King's Treasury.
The duel of knights: Artoria, the King of Knights, versus Lancelot, the Perfect Knight.
For the first confrontation, the anime would emphasize visual spectacle and special effects.
It would undoubtedly have to be even more magnificent and breathtaking than the previous battle between Ionioi Hetairoi and Zhao Yun.
The second confrontation would focus on the conflict between the characters' beliefs.
The endings of the two spin-off novels, 'Twilight of the Knights' and 'Lament of the Knights', had remained in the hearts of countless readers.
This confrontation would serve as a continuation of those novels and represent one of the finest parts of the entire anime.
Master confrontations:
The fated duel: Kiritsugu Emiya versus Kirei Kotomine.
The confrontation of human nature: The Holy Grail versus Kiritsugu Emiya.
Every one of these confrontations had been revised by Kamiyā Yuu.
The battle between Iskandar and Gilgamesh needed no further explanation.
The duel between the knights, however, had changed alongside Kamiyā Yuu's revisions to Saber's personality.
In the original, Saber had been continuously suppressed by Lancelot.
After discovering his true identity, she became overwhelmed with regret and despair. Ultimately, she only managed to achieve a narrow victory because of an unexpected factor.
Here, Kamiyā Yuu had transformed the confrontation into an intense battle between two knights.
It would also be a duel in which Saber proved the righteousness of her own path as a king by defeating and killing Lancelot.
As for the Masters, the battle between Kiritsugu Emiya and Kirei Kotomine would become considerably bloodier and more brutal.
Kiritsugu would rely on three extraordinary advantages: the scabbard Avalon—The Everdistant Utopia, his Origin Bullets, and his Innate Time Control.
Kirei, meanwhile, would rely on the magical reinforcement provided by Command Spells, which were crystallizations of powerful magecraft, along with the Chinese martial art Bajiquan.
It would be a confrontation between the combat abilities of the Magus Killer and the lethal techniques of a martial arts expert.
Bajiquan was the Chinese martial art that appeared most frequently in the Type-Moon universe.
Apart from Kirei Kotomine, Rin Tohsaka also knew Bajiquan, and there was even a Heroic Spirit who specialized in the martial art: Li Shuwen.
From these examples, it was easy to see that Nasu, the original creator, was practically a Bajiquan enthusiast.
In this confrontation between Masters, Kirei Kotomine would hold the advantage.
Kiritsugu Emiya would only be able to fight back with difficulty by relying on Avalon's scabbard.
The bloody spectacle of severed arms and broken legs would demonstrate exactly what the aesthetics of violence meant.
Kiritsugu would use the scabbard's healing abilities to test his opponent through a fighting style that risked his life in exchange for a chance to take Kirei's.
Kirei would counter with Bajiquan, reinforced by the magical energy supplied through his Command Spells.
Incidentally, Bajiquan was the most prominently featured Chinese martial art in the Type-Moon universe.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the strongest martial art in that setting.
There was also another martial art that viewers might remember vividly.
It was the assassination technique known as Snake, used by Kuzuki Sōichirō, the "Eighth Class," Teacher, of the Holy Grail War.
During the Fifth Holy Grail War, Kuzuki Sōichirō used Snake, enhanced by tools created by Caster, to instantly defeat Rider and completely overwhelm Saber.
Calling it a one-sided beating of Saber wasn't an exaggeration.
The main reason was that Saber's Master at the time was Shirou Emiya.
Due to the insufficient supply of magical energy, her abilities as a Heroic Spirit had been significantly weakened.
Furthermore, Snake possessed an extraordinarily powerful characteristic that could be described as "undefeated in the first encounter."
Snake was an assassination technique.
If it failed to achieve results during the first confrontation, an opponent could easily develop countermeasures against it.
At that point, the technique would lose at least half its effectiveness.
By overwhelming Saber during their first encounter, Kuzuki Sōichirō had earned his reputation as the "Eighth Class," Teacher.
There was no definitive answer as to whether Snake or Bajiquan was superior.
However, 'Fate/Zero' had previously mentioned that Kirei Kotomine was the sort of person who learned everything quickly but could never reach the absolute pinnacle of any discipline.
The Heroic Spirit Li Shuwen was the true representative of Bajiquan's power.
His Noble Phantasm, No Second Strike, carried a straightforward meaning:
Killing someone did not require a second blow.
Among all these confrontations, the discussion of justice between the Holy Grail and Kiritsugu Emiya was the most important.
It would complete the characterization of Kiritsugu, the nominal protagonist, while also subjecting his entire character to intense scrutiny.
However, the original version's philosophical confrontation had barely been any more convincing than the persuasive speeches delivered by Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of 'Naruto'.
A simple problem involving the repair of a boat had been enough to leave Kiritsugu completely dumbfounded.
Kamiyā Yuu had questioned that portrayal at the time.
If Kiritsugu Emiya truly possessed only that level of conviction, would he really have been capable of personally killing his own father?
Would he have been able to kill the mentor who had given him a second chance at life?
And afterward, could he have indirectly caused the death of his most beloved woman, Irisviel?
Following Kamiyā Yuu's revisions, the Holy Grail's confrontation with Kiritsugu would embody his own ruthless treatment of the character.
Its sharp questions would directly pierce through Kiritsugu's fantasies about justice and force him to confront the meaning of everything he had done throughout his life.
This exchange about human nature would have no definitive answer.
Instead, through the questions posed by the Holy Grail, viewers would come to understand Kiritsugu Emiya more deeply.
The right to judge Kiritsugu would be left entirely in the hands of the audience.
Through this confrontation, Kiritsugu would finally realize that the Holy Grail was absolutely not what he had been seeking.
He would order Saber to destroy it with Excalibur—Sword of Promised Victory.
The black mud pouring from the Holy Grail would then cause the great fire that engulfed Fuyuki City.
This ending would already make the creators' stance toward Kiritsugu Emiya clear.
It would also lend weight to the Holy Grail's pointed questions about his character.
The "official" stance referred to Gen Urobuchi's evaluation of Kiritsugu.
Kamiyā Yuu, however, believed that aside from the serious moral stain of indirectly causing Irisviel's death in his pursuit of justice, there wasn't actually much wrong with the principles Kiritsugu upheld.
They simply differed from the concept of justice commonly promoted by mainstream Japanese anime.
Kiritsugu Emiya's understanding of justice was much closer to the worldview held by many protagonists in web novels.
Together, the conclusions of all these "confrontations" would bring the Holy Grail War to its final curtain.