Inside the Theater
The screening of Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] I. presage flower had reached a crucial moment. After a series of intense events, the first chapter was leading up to a highly anticipated battle: the showdown between Assassin and Lancer.
Of course, before this, some of the more graphic scenes had been toned down by Ren. For example, in the original version, the scene where Kojirou Sasaki disembowels himself to summon Hassan was depicted in gruesome detail, with internal organs vividly shown. Although this added a sense of realism, it was also quite disturbing, especially for the younger audience in the theater. Ren decided to mitigate this impact by focusing the camera mostly on Kojirou's face, while his body was obscured by branches, with only faint hints of the violence.
After some more light-hearted scenes, the film moved on to the intense duel between Assassin and Lancer. When the camera zoomed in on the close-quarters combat between the two, with a bird's-eye view capturing their swift movements, Qian Tong and many other fans could feel the atmosphere in the theater shift.
"Wow, this is amazing!"
Seeing the red and blue figures clashing from rooftops down to cars, Qian Tong was practically buzzing with excitement. The powerful sound effects of metal clashing filled every inch of the screen, making the battle seem even more vivid and intense.
The interplay of light and shadow, coupled with the dynamic action sequences, allowed the audience to feel the sheer intensity of the fight. It wasn't just an extension of the visual experience—it was a completely different level of immersion.
Especially the scenes where Assassin and Lancer fought on the rooftops and over cars—sparks flying from their weapons and the constant acrobatics as they leaped across the city—made the fight sequences far more thrilling than the everyday scenes between the main characters. Qian Tong felt as though he was right there, close enough to experience the ancient heroes' battle firsthand.
But like all things, the high-octane battle had its limits.
Assassin was clearly not a master of his craft. He had only learned the more underhanded aspects of being an Assassin—excellent for stealth and ambush, but utterly outclassed in a direct confrontation.
What happens when a poorly trained Assassin faces a top-tier Lancer?
The result was a desperate flight, with Lancer chasing him down.
When Assassin was finally cornered near a body of water, the intense fight seemed to be nearing its conclusion. Just when Qian Tong thought Assassin's time was up, the battle took an unexpected turn.
Assassin had set a trap in the area. A shadowy figure with tentacles emerged and, just as Lancer was about to deliver the finishing blow, attacked. Lancer's heart was devoured by Assassin, and his body was consumed by the tentacles of the dark shadow.
This raised an immediate question: What was that shadow?
Was it a Servant?
As they watched the shadow, many fans couldn't help but speculate.
Moreover, Kirei Kotomine mentioned that Lancer was his Servant. But this brought up another issue—fans who had seen *Fate/Zero* already knew Kirei's true nature. He was a man with a deeply twisted soul. Would he really be so kind and straightforward, as he seemed when talking to Shirou?
Something didn't add up. This movie left fans with plenty of questions.
"But... the movie's almost over, isn't it?"
Qian Tong checked the time on his phone, quietly predicting how the film might end. He tapped his fingers on the armrest, using his knowledge of anime pacing to guess what might happen next.
"There'll probably be one more small-scale battle to wrap things up. And in that battle, something significant will likely happen. Only by leaving fans with a big cliffhanger will they have the motivation to keep watching."
"So, one of the main characters is likely to die! It's either going to be Rin or Saber, but my bet is on Rin... or maybe even Saber!"
Knowing Ren's penchant for dark twists, Qian Tong figured that high-profile characters weren't safe from death if it served the plot. If it created enough suspense to keep fans on edge, Ren wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice even the main characters.
Sure enough, the final scenes of the film didn't disappoint Qian Tong's expectations.
Zouken Matou led Assassin in an attack on Shirou's house, where they engaged in a fierce battle with Saber. The shadow also reappeared, accompanying Assassin, and it swallowed Saber. While most fans were upset to see Saber consumed by the shadow, Qian Tong wasn't surprised.
What did surprise him, however, was the appearance and strength of Medusa.
Earlier, when Saber fought Medusa, she had easily knocked her away. But now, while Saber was evenly matched with Assassin, she was quickly defeated by Medusa.
"So, Medusa is that girl Sakura's Servant?" Qian Tong stroked his chin thoughtfully. "But... what's the connection between Sakura and that shadow?"
In an earlier scene, when the shadow appeared, Sakura had been shown struggling in her sleep. Qian Tong couldn't believe there was no connection between the two.
"Wow, Saber looks amazing!"
"Totally! She's so cool!"
Suddenly, Qian Tong overheard people nearby talking, and he turned his attention back to the screen.
After Saber was consumed by the shadow, she reappeared in the water, but this time wearing a black dress—a striking, darker version of herself. Meanwhile, Shirou, having lost Saber, walked away in despair.
The first chapter ended with a heartwarming scene of Sakura standing in the snow with an umbrella, waiting for Shirou to return.
It was only then that fans realized the movie was over.
Many felt disappointed; they hadn't had enough!
The movie ended with shots of scattered Servant cards, accompanied by a melancholy religious hymn in the ending credits, leaving a sense of sadness.
After the title screen, a post-credits scene played.
It showed Gilgamesh from Fate/Zero, known as the "helpful citizen," encountering Sakura in an alley. With a final shot of the "Gate of Babylon" releasing an attack, the post-credits scene ended.
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