Amidst a swirl of fan theories and eager anticipation, the Fate anime premiered its first episode. Starting with the Fate route, fans saw the story of Saber's path unfold.
The screen showed Fuyuki City late at night, a city still at peace, the winter lights flickering softly—until flames suddenly erupted in one part of town, smoke billowing high.
The camera swept across the landscape, finally zooming in on the fiery scene, which was a battlefield.
A man in gleaming golden armor stood proudly, rays of golden light radiating from behind him. Opposite him stood a petite girl clad in armor, her hands gripping an invisible sword.
As the fire's heat surged, viewers could just make out the outline of a long sword in her hands as she charged at the armored man, with a fierce intensity.
But the man leapt back calmly, evading her strike, his cold gaze flashing, his eyes sharp like a serpent's.
"That's Gilgamesh and Saber, right?"
Many viewers immediately recognized the two figures.
Around them lay a ruined battlefield. When their swords clashed, energy crackled, filling the air, as if the power of their strikes could warp the sky.
Then, a massive explosion split the air, creating a vacuum where flames swirled into a massive fireball, which burst, sending fire sweeping out in all directions.
This brief opening scene captured the audience's attention completely.
It didn't take long for the viewers to realize when this scene took place.
"Is this Saber and Gil's final battle from Fate/Zero?"
For fans, this was an unexpected but delightful throwback.
After all, Fate/Zero had introduced many of them to the Fate universe. For those who'd first entered the world through Fate/Zero, seeing this scene from a decade ago brought a rush of nostalgia.
The scene shifted, showing Kotomine Kirei stepping into view.
Seeing him, many viewers felt a sudden urge to punch the screen.
Anyone who had watched the HF route knew that Kotomine was one of the main villains in Fate/stay night.
If it hadn't been for him allowing Sakura's corruption, Illya wouldn't have met her tragic end.
In the HF route, after his wife's suicide, Kotomine's cold words were unforgettable:
"It's a misunderstanding."
"Yes, I did feel sadness, but not because of her death. Rather, if she had to die, I would have preferred to end her myself…"
This twisted logic left an impression that audiences couldn't shake, making Kotomine one of the most memorable antagonists in the series.
However, oblivious to the hatred directed at him, Kotomine began his narration in a cold, deep voice, summarizing the Holy Grail War for viewers unfamiliar with the Fate series.
"The time has come. Seven mages have been chosen. They summon servants of seven classes to fight for the Holy Grail. And so, the Holy Grail War begins…"
The scene shifted again to a dimly lit room. Rin stood holding a book, a large magic circle on the floor beneath her. As she recited her chant, the air filled with energy, lifting her hair and skirt in the wind.
When her words ended, the blood-red circle on the floor glowed brightly, and a faint figure rose from it in a burst of crimson light.
Viewers noted that some scenes in this new Fate/stay night adaptation had appeared in the HF movie, as if they were now being remastered in HD. But there were also new scenes never before shown.
One such scene was the summoning of Red Archer by Rin.
No one had expected that Rin's summoning would take place slightly earlier, resulting in an "incomplete summoning." It explained why, in the HF route, all they knew about Red Archer was his codename, "Archer."
Though the first half of the episode mainly introduced the backstory with minimal action, the tension and excitement kept viewers glued to their screens.
Then the real highlight of Fate/stay night began—the showdown between the heroic spirits!
On a school field, two fighters—one in red, the other in blue—clashed.
"This is what I've been waiting for!" shouted many fans.
They had already seen this fight in the HF route, but somehow, it never got old.
The clanging of swords and the sparks from the metal filled the screen. The fighters' roars and the flashes of light from their attacks drew viewers in, making them feel as though they were right there on the battlefield.
Soon, a particularly iconic scene unfolded.
A small, blonde girl with emerald-green eyes and an air of calm confidence appeared, her hands wrapped around an invisible sword.
She turned her face slightly, her tranquil green eyes glowing in the light, her armor and the blue of her cloak standing out against the night.
In the moonlight, she looked like she could light up the world.
Accompanied by her soft, serene theme music, Saber—Artoria Pendragon—made her entrance.
She was like the moon in a dark sky, drawing every viewer's gaze.
"Servant Saber, I have come as summoned. Are you my master?"
Time seemed to stop.
Tears welled up in viewers' eyes as Saber appeared.
"Just seeing Saber's entrance… my life is complete!"
"Yes! Saber!"
"Where Saber's sword points, our hearts follow!"
The audience was transfixed, savoring every moment of Saber's debut.
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