Chapter 110: The Premiere of "Fate Zero" (10)
Although the scene where Rider instantly kills Assassin is brief, it serves as a crucial point in the three kings' debate. The buildup and overall pacing are well-executed, making it enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with the Fate series' lore.
When the King of Conquerors summoned his Noble Phantasm—Ionioi Hetairoi—the breathtaking spectacle of a sandy battlefield instantly captivated countless viewers, turning them into fans of Rider.
In the scene...
"This is the land my army once traversed, etched deeply into the hearts of my brave warriors. This landscape, reappearing in the world, is because it's imprinted in the hearts of every one of us."
"Behold, my unmatched army!"
"Even though their bodies have perished, their heroic spirits are still summoned. They are the legendary loyal warriors who respond to my call across time and space. They are my greatest treasure! They embody my kingship! Iskandar's most powerful Noble Phantasm—'Ionioi Hetairoi'!!"
Rider, astride his horse, boldly declared, "A king must live more genuinely than anyone else, inspiring admiration from all!"
"Indeed! Indeed! Indeed!"
"The one who gathers the beliefs of all heroes and embarks on a journey to realize them is the king! Thus, a king is not solitary, for his will represents the wishes of all his subjects!"
"Indeed! Indeed! Indeed!"
The overwhelming shouts of the countless heroic spirits within Ionioi Hetairoi surged forward with terrifying momentum. In contrast, the previously menacing Assassins now stood trembling like lambs awaiting slaughter in the boundless desert world.
"Well then, let's begin! Assassins, as you can see, my materialized battlefield is a plain. Sorry to say, but I have the advantage when it comes to large numbers."
With that, amidst the Assassins' chaotic retreat, the King of Conquerors laughed heartily and decisively commanded:
"Trample them!"
"AAAALaLaLaLaLaie!!"
...
In nearly every theater where the movie was shown, the audience erupted in cheers.
These cheers not only highlighted how much Rider had won over the audience but also proved that he was undoubtedly a character full of personal charisma.
Whether through his grand demeanor or his formidable strength, viewers could almost feel the unique charm radiating from the King of Conquerors.
In contrast to the nearly unanimous cheers from the general audience in the theaters, the focus of the mages at the Imperial Mage Academy was notably different.
Observing the King of Conquerors deploy his Reality Marble, the mages, although aware it was a mere cinematic effect, couldn't help but be captivated by the very concept of a Reality Marble itself.
"A Reality Marble? Manifesting one's inner landscape? That's what Waver just mentioned, right?"
"It's simply... I can't even put it into words. Using Ryuunosuke's terms, it's just cool! That's the only feeling I have right now. If only we mages could learn such magic!"
"Does such an ability truly exist? And the King of Conquerors isn't a mage, right? How can he use such a peculiar ability?"
"Isn't this supposed to be a mage's ability? Why can he use it? It feels like we've lost somehow..."
"No, didn't you hear Waver say, 'Why can you use a Reality Marble? You're not a mage!'? It's clear that this kind of ability should only be usable by mages!"
"But still..."
As various discussions echoed across the plaza, up in the high tower of the Mage's Tower, the group of archmages were left almost speechless by the scene. No one dared to speak first until Dean Hohenheim broke the silence.
"First, it was the theory of origin, and now it's Reality Marbles... Durin really knows how to surprise us. The last time I heard a similar concept was in a lecture by the former dean. If he hadn't become so obsessed with his research and secretly pursued the path of immortality, he would've passed away with full honors instead of ending up despised by all..."
"True, but mentioning him now really dampens the mood. The issue at hand is the concept of Reality Marbles as depicted in this movie. Old Hohen, you said you've heard the former dean talk about something similar? I don't remember that."
In response to his close colleague, Dean Hohenheim said solemnly, "Of course you don't know. The specific details of this magic research were something I only found in the former dean's notes while collecting his belongings. In fact, this type of magic was originally part of his preliminary research into immortality. He intended to gather human fears and use that energy to construct a vast, non-material world, ultimately creating a mirage-like false reality to forcibly increase the success rate of achieving immortality. He even envisioned expanding the scope of the magic to bring about large-scale material transformations, turning everyone within the Reality Marble into immortals, thus creating a kingdom of the dead."
"Although the King of Conquerors' ability in the movie, named Ionioi Hetairoi, appears entirely different in presentation, I believe the essence is the same. Both rely on the emotional energy of humans to construct a phantasmal world and replace the real one. This concept holds true for both the Reality Marble in the movie and the former dean's research. Essentially, magic itself follows a similar principle, relying on human mental strength to forcibly alter the material world."
Upon hearing Dean Hohenheim's words, the archmages present felt an epiphany and began to expand their thoughts. One of the archmage even suggested:
"Do you think the concept of origin and the creation of a Reality Marble could be related? It feels like the movie's story is deliberately linking the two concepts. If we consider that the attributes of one's origin might be the prerequisites for forming a Reality Marble..."
Hohenheim sighed and replied with a touch of helplessness, "That kind of speculation lacks logical foundation. After watching this movie, I even feel as if I've glimpsed the dawn of the seventh tier of magic..."
"To be honest, I feel the same way..."
"Come on, you guys are just boasting. Do you think you're the protagonist of those popular novels where you can level up by eating or farting? I don't believe such nonsense. However, the concept of a Reality Marble is quite fascinating. I'll definitely look into it further."
"...."
----------
If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/EggZy