Fate/Zero Episodes Season 1

Fate/Zero Season 1 Episode Summaries

Episode 1: The Summoning of Heroes

“The Summoning of Heroes” starts with the birth of Kiritsugu Emiya and his wife Irisviel von Einzbern daughter Illyasviel von Einzbern. Kiritsugu Emiya is distraught over being the “cause” of Irisviel Von Einzbern’s death though she accepts it since it is “the very reason she exists.” She desires no pity and is grateful for the like Kiritsugu Emiya has helped create together with her - one that kept her from being treated just as a mere puppet. Kiritsugu also feels he has no right to even hold his own child. Irisviel reminds him of his goal to create a whole new world where no one cries through the Holy Grail. She encourages him to hold their daughter close and be proud like any other father would be.

There is then a flashback to three years ago with Kirei Kotomine, having just lost his wife a few days prior, learning from Tokiomi Tohsaka about the mark known as a Command Seal on his hand which identifies him as a participant in the Holy Grail War, a battle for an ancient relic which grants wishes and grants him the ability to command a heroic servant to battle for him. Normally those chosen are accomplished mages and it is highly unusual that he was chosen because he has no connection to magic whatsoever. He is also informed of the unspoken agreement to keep everything he knows of the Holy Grail Wars a secret. Someone of the Holy Church is always set as an observer to make sure this rule is kept. As was done 60 years ago for the last Holy Grail War, Kirei Kotomine’s father has been chosen to oversee the upcoming Holy Grail War. We also learn that the Tohsaka desire to “reach the root” which they believe is the most noble of desires for winning the Holy Grail War. They feel the other families, Matou and Einzbern, that once shared their desire, have less altruistic plans. Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine will pretend to be enemies but will work together to defeat the other five families so that Tokiomi Tohsaka can win in the end. Kirei Kotomine is told he must visit Japan and be trained as a mage so he can be prepared to command a hero in three years time.

Time skips forward to only one year ago and Kariya Matou is saying hello to Aoi Tohsaka and her daughter Rin Tohsaka, who refers to him as Uncle Kariya, in a park in Japan. He asks where Sakura is and learns that she’s been given to the Matou family to fight in the Holy Grail Wars since she has the blood of a mage received through her father Tokiomi Tohsakaa’s bloodline. The head of the Tohsaka family decided to do this and Aoi could not speak against it. Kariya quickly goes to his father Zouken Matou who tells him this would have never happened had Kariya Matou chosen to learn the ways of being a mage. Kariya makes a deal with Zouken that he will fight and win the Holy Grail War so that Sakura can return to her family and live out a normal life. He agrees to using Zouken worm technique with “Crest Worms” to speed up the process of his training. It is then that Zouken tells him he is… a little too late. Sakura has been subjected to the Crest Worms already for four days - the first three of which she didn’t do anything but constantly scream. Kariya is disgusted at the sight of her lifeless eyes - having now been in there for 12 hours that day. Zouken agrees he will release her if Kariya wins the war, but he will continue to train her until that happens. Kariya starts by being a “breeding ground” for the Crest Worms to test if he’ll even be able to survive.

Time then returns to the present day where students are learning about magic in London Tower. The professor is teaching the students about how magic ability strengthens with each generation of mages in a family therefore making mages whose families have the oldest generation of mages the strongest. He brings this up because he also wanted to and ends up ridiculing one of his students for submitting a paper questioning this belief and stating if a mage learned enough he could be just as strong. This student, Waver Velvet, also happens to come from a family of just three generations of mages - basically babies in the mage worldview. This upsets Waver greatly and stumbles into a mail clerk while he was raging through the hallway after walking out of class. The mail clerk asks him to deliver a package to his instructor but he instead decides to keep it. He learns that the rumors of the Holy Grail War are true. He reads piles of books in the library learning as much as he can including the seven classes of the servants - Rider, Archer, Assassin, Caster, Saber, Berserker, and Lancer. He also learns a relic is needed to summon a servant and discovers that is exactly what was in the package meant for his instructor. Thinking the Holy Grail War will be the perfect place to prove himself, he decided to hold onto it and plan to summon a servant of his own.

When then see Kirei Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka talking about the other mages in the upcoming Holy Grail War. Tokiomi Tohsaka isn’t concerned that two are unaccounted for because usually those chosen to round out the group are not as strong as the main families. Kirei’s Servant Assassin materializes in the room to confirm no one has followed his Master or is watching his house. He then vanishes again to continue guarding the surrounding area. Kirei Kotomine goes on to talk about the Einzbern pure-blood family who suddenly allowed an outsider mage nine years ago mage to marry into the family. The Einzbern mages have committed themselves solely to alchemy making them unfit for battle which is the cause of their losses in previous Holy Grail Wars. Tokiomi however thinks they have run out of patience because of their latest Master choice Kiritsugu Emiya who he refers to as the “Mage Killer.” Officially he was a rogue mage that didn’t belong to the association of mages. They say he spent his life as a freelance assassin for the extermination of mages through a variety of means including bringing down an entire plane because his target was on it. The scene flashes to Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern kneeling in a church as Kiritsugu is about to receive his relic for summoning his servant while the conversation between Kirei and Tokiomi continues.

Then Kiritsu Emiya is shown researching the other Masters as well. He focuses mostly on Kirei Kotomine who he fears because he also sees him as a ruthless mage killer as well as someone who has studied in a variety of magic disciplines but just before mastering one switches his focus and never looks back. He doesn’t understand why he would do that. Both Kiritsu Emiya and Kirei Kotomine are shown questioning the others behavior and desires for the Holy Grail.

Then Kariya Matou is shown lying in the fetal position on the floor beside a tray of food dishes. Zouken Matou walks in to assess his progress. Kariya does not have a command seal on his hand, marking him as a chosen master for the Holy Grail War, but he isn’t looking well at all. His hair has turned white and he is incredibly weak from the Crest Worms inside of his body moving beneath his skin. He has survived an entire year and Zouken tells him in congratulation he has his relic prepared.

Waver Velvet is then shown in a bedroom excited and happy that he has a command seal too. He decides to prepare to summon his servant. He wakes up the next morning to have breakfast with his “grandfather” and “grandmother.” Once they notice his new Command Seals, he offers them coffee and after they look into it they pass out. He complains about having to start their hypnosis all over again. They’re not really his grandparents… He’s only been making them believe that.

The scene shoots back to Kiritsugu Emiya looking at his relic - the Excalibur, the legendary sword of Arthur Pendragon. It is said to be able to heal the wields wounds as well as halt the ageing process when supplied with the mana of its original wielder King Arthur. Kiritsugu states that his servant and the sword is just a tool and thinking otherwise will cause the master to not have the wherewithal to win the Holy Grail War. He also notes that he could benefit from the healing powers of the sword when used with his servant. He believes he will have the strongest servant in the battle.

Rin is seen pulling her suitcase and saying hello with a scowl when responding to Kirei Kotomine’s greeting as she packs up to live with the Zenjou family for a time. She knows he is staying to fight alongside her father Tokiomi Tohsaka and asks him to promise he will keep him from danger which Kirei states he is unable to make. Tokiomi Tohsaka is then showing Kirei Kotomine the relic he obtained - a fossil of the very first skin shed by a snake in the world.

Kariya Matou stands in the doorframe of Sakura Matous room. His body shows signs of damage including his eye and arm which he holds. His hair is still white and he walks with a limp. Sakura comments on this and that she doesn’t have to go to the Crest Worm pit because there will be a more important ceremony for her to attend. He is going to the basement instead. She asks if he will be going somewhere far away, but he promises once his job is finally done he will go somewhere with her, her mom, and her sister to just have fun, but Sakura says she has no family and that her grandfather said it would be better she thought they never existed. Kariya hugs her and reassures her that she will see them again. He gives her his word.

Kariya Matou and Zouken Matou are seen in the basement about to summon his servant with the addition of the “insanity affinity” to the summoning to try to boost their abilities. Waver Velvet is also seen in a forest using his stolen chickens for the blood needed to create his summoning circle. The quick cuts also show Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine at their summoning circle as well as Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern at Kiritsugu’s. Kirei Kotomine summons Archer Gilgamesh, Kiritsugu Emiya summons Lancer King Arthur (who appears as a female), and Waver Velvet summons Rider Alexander the Great. The episode then comes to a close.

Episode 2: The Fake First Shot

The episode opens with Waver Velvet scolding Rider for breaking the shutter door after stealing books for him. Rider looks through the books of maps to prepare for war and is interested in learning where all his old territories are located. He wants to conquer every land that they pass through as they go across the Earth back to Macedonia and Persia. He asks Waver what he wants to do with the Holy Grail because he would be his enemy if he was also wanted to conquer the world. Waver tells him he just wants his peers back at the London Tower to admit to him that they were wrong. Rider finds it small, narrowminded, and stupid. Waver almost uses his Command Seal on him out of anger, but remembers that it can only be used three times. Rider then gives Waver a show of his strength by swinging his sword which causes the street lights to flicker and a bolt of lightning to shoot down from the sky which dissipates to reveal Zeus’ chariot.

Meanwhile, Kiritsugu Emiya and his daughter Illyasviel von Einzbern are looking for chestnut buds in the snow together as Saber watches from a window of the mansion and Irisviel von Einzbern prepares tea. Saber is surprised because she had the impression that Kiritsugu had a colder heart than he was showing. They speak about how shocked Kiritsugu and Irisviel were when they saw that Saber was a woman. Saber explains how she pretended to be a man and Irisviel reassures her that Kiritsugu will not underestimate her ability simply because she is a woman. She does however think that what does upset Kiritsugu is the people that forced being a king upon Saber and her taking that upon herself as her fate. Saber doesn’t think he has the right to question the decision of people made during her time. In response to this, Irisviel fears the two will never get along. Saber reveals that her wish is similar to Kiritsugu and believes their wish is something to be proud of. She wishes that she could save Britain since she could not save it during her lifetime. In the forest while riding on her dad’s shoulders, Illyasviel asks him when she’ll see him and her mom again and he brings her to the ground then embraces her in a hug while asking her to promise to wait for him even if she is lonely. Illyasviel was told by her mother earlier that it will be a very long time until she sees her again, but she will always be with her.

In a dark room with the news playing, a young man works on his summoning circle to summon a demon using his foot to draw a bloody pentagram on the floor. The news reports a murder with a bloody pentagram found in the home, hinting that the young man had failed to do it properly prior and was trying it again. There are buckets of blood around the room and open-eyed dead men. A young boy is bound and muffled on the floor in the corner, whimpering. The summoner introduces himself in a creepy, jokingly fashion as Ryuunosuke Uryuu - a demon! He also asks him, though the child can’t respond, that if he manages to find a demon if he will let him kill him, but his sadistic fun is cut off when his servant is summoned from his circle. Ryuunosuke introduces himself saying his name, that he works odd jobs, and his hobby is murder of all variaties especially kids and young woman. The servant also speaks of the Holy Grail, but Ryuunosuke has no idea what he is talking about and offers him the child to eat. The servant smiles at the child and unbinds him, telling him he can leave the room, but once he has seen the door out and sheds a tear of happiness, he consumes him with a tentacle attack while he screams. He purposefully wanted the feeling and flavor of fresh terror - the moment sublime home turns to despair. Ryuunosuke is extremely impressed and though he knows nothing of the Holy Grail says he is with him and wants to see more ways to kill. The servant introduces himself as “Bluebeard.”

Later that night, Kirei Kotomine is talking to his servant Assassin at the top of a hill about Caster Bluebeard, the final summoned servant marking the start of the Holy Grail War. He instructs him to leave immediately and go to the Tohsaka manor to eliminate Tokiomi Tohsaka at once, turning on him the first moment he could. The Assassin gracefully disables the many traps outside the manor while missing each of the triggering beams until he reaches for the crystal power source which bursts painfully in his hand from Gilgamesh having thrown his spear through it pinning his hand to the top of the pillar. He then sends another at his face, telling him he has no right to look up at him. The Holy Grail War has begun.

Episode 3: Fuyuki City

The scene opens with Tokiomi Tohsaka humbly explaining to Gilgamesh he had him fight Assassin to show his strength and help him decide who to battle first. Gilgamesh had seen it as trivial, but obliged and decided to spend some of his time strolling around since he finds the current era quite interesting though also disgusting. He wants to find in it treasures worthy of his collection and if he was summoned into a world with no such treasures he would take it as a great offense, but Tokiomi reassures him that the Holy Grail will satisfy his tastes.

Waver Velvet is excited to share this news with Rider who is snacking while watching military planes with books about the military all around him in a relaxed manner. Rider doesn’t care about the death of Assassin having thought him nothing to worry about anyways. He is however interested in who defeated Assassin. Waver tells him his Noble Phantasm seemed unique because instead of having just one special weapon or powerful move, he was able to throw tons of different weapons down at the Assassin. Rider becomes excited at the idea of defeating him and chooses to hunt the servants one after another as they go after the shiny gold servant that Waver spoke of assuming that they all likely know of him now too.

Back at the Holy Church, Kirei Kotomine seeks asylum and is granted it as per the rules. He is assured of his safety though asks still for a guard to be posted which causes a female Assassin to materialize. She also reports that four magical presences were felt at the scene when asked if anyone had seen it. More Assassins begin to appear and contemplate why one servant hadn’t seen the battle, something Kirei Kotomine states he intended. They state that once the other Master’s lower their guard they, the Heroic Spirits of Shadows, will appear behind them.

Irisviel von Einzbern is seen getting off a jet that has landed in Kiritsugu Emiya’s home country. They arrive together to convince the other Masters that she is Saber’s master. Saber is with her dresses in an all black suit with her hair pulled back into a low ponytail. Saber reveals that she isn’t very impressed with the country nor plane since when she is summoned to the era she is given some information about it an, as one of her core skills, she is also capable of riding anything, mortal or divine so she could even fly the plane. They are chauffeured around Japan, and while Saber wants to rendezvous with Kiritsugu, Irisviel wants to enjoy Japan a bit because she has never been outside the manor. She further explains that she was just a puppet made for the Holy Grail War, but that Kiritsugu showed her photos and movies and taught her many things about the places and current events of the world. Saber decides to signal for the car to pull over so she can escort Irisviel through Japan.

Meanwhile Kiritsugu Emiya knocks on a hotel door a young woman peeks out, shuts the door, then quickly opens it again to let him in, shutting it once more and locking it twice. She is a weapons dealer and has placed all his equipment on one of the hotel beds. She also shows him the footage of the Assassins defeat and claims it to have been too good to be true. She assumes that they knew a servant was coming and that Kirei Kotomine must have done it deliberately. He asks her to send a familiar to the Holy Church as close as it can get without attracting the Father’s notice. Emiya then inspects his weapons, including a single shot pistol which he states is still heavier than his daughter. The weapons dealer embraces him, encourages him to focus only on his task, and then kisses him hinting to a closeness between the two.

With Saber in her company, Irisviel von Einzbern looks out at the ocean commenting on how beautiful it is. They have had a pleasant day together which they reflect on together. She comments that happiness only seems to bring Emiya pain when Saber assumes Irisviel would have rather spent the day walking around with him. Saber then senses something lurking in the darkness nearby and takes it as a challenge.

Waver Velvet quivers atop a bridge as Rider enjoys the view considering an ideal spot for observing their enemy with a beverage in hand and feeling pumped.

Back near the water Lancer reveals himself to Saber and Irisviel. Saber transforms out of her black suit and into her armor with a smoky sword in hand as the scene closes.

Episode 4: Spearhead

The scene opens with Lancer and Saber having pre-battle banter and then the fight commences. Saber notices Lancer has the ability to use Charm Magic. They exchange blows with Kiritsugu Emiya and his companion as well as Rider and Waver Velvet observing the battle. Interestingly, Lancer’s Master is not revealing himself. Emiya and Maiya decide to approach the crane from west and east to see if Lancer’s Master is atop it. The battle continues with Saber paying close attention to both of Lancer’s spears in hopes of figuring out which one is his Noble Phantasm so she can come up with a battle plan. Both are somewhat fighting blind because neither of them know the identity of the other. Saber is also using wind magic on her sword so that Lancer doesn’t know what kind it is or its length. Emiya spots Lancer’s Master atop the warehouse roof. He says he will take care of him, but then is struck with a blow of wind which draws his gaze elsewhere and he sees Assassin perched atop a stair railing.

The scene flashes to Kirei Kotomine talking with Tokiomi Tohsaka about the battle which Kirei states is taking place at the Mion River waterside warehouses. From Assassins observations, Kirei is able to report that Saber is a formidable opponent with all her stats a solid Rank A and also that there is a woman with red eyes, silver hair, and white skin standing behind her that Tokiomi refers to as an Einzbern homunculus and an artificial master. Tokiomi orders Kirei to keep someone watching her at all times.

Back on the battlefield, Lancer and Saber are complementing each other's abilities when over a loudspeaker Lancer’s Master is heard directing Lancer to get on with the fight and that he may use his Noble Phantasm at which time he drops one of his spears revealing his longer spear was his Noble Phantasm. Lancer approaches and spears at her weapon to reveal it momentarily by dispelling the magic. Lancer makes several attacks at Saber, at one point even cutting off a bit of the tips of her hair but Saber continues to block. She realizes his spear is shaving away at the Invisible Air of her sword. Lancer tells her he now knows the full length of her sword and it doesn’t matter if he can see it or not now. Saber decides to let him slightly strike her with a misplaced attack, believing her armor will protect her, so that she may strike him when he makes himself vulnerable. But something isn’t right. She bleeds from the attack. Irisviel promptly heals her. The armor, that she thought would protect her, seems unharmed and she realizes that his spear is able to sever magic since her armor is in fact a magical barrier. She might as well have no armor given Lancer’s spear ability and drops her armor to fight in her armorless blue and gold dress. She does some kind of charge to her sword and propels herself forward only to see Lancer pull from the ground his other spear which turns out to be another Noble Phantasm. It cuts her arm and she falls to the ground.

Meanwhile Rider isn’t liking what he is seeing. He doesn’t want Lacner to end the fight, but instead to have more servants show up before that happens so he can see their abilities. He would prefer to fight and defeat all his enemies at once than to hunt them down one by one. He wants the chance to cross swords with these heroes from other times and the more he watches Lancer and Saber, the more he wants to join the fight. Rider slashes the air with his sword calling from his chariot.

Lancer is standing again, but she is unable to move her thumb due to slash of her arm. Irisviel tries to heal her, but her wound doesn’t mend as it should. Had she had kept her armor, she wouldn’t have been wounded from the second yellow spear which inflicts cursed wounds that cannot be healed. Saber comes to the realization that he is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and Lancer realizes her identity as well. Before they are about to continue fighting, Rider crashes the battle field in his chariot and regally introduces himself at the surprise of everyone.

Episode 5: A Wicked Beast’s Roar

The scene opens with Rider crashing the fight between Lancer and Saber. He introduces himself and offers them the chance to surrender the Holy Grail to him and become his allies. Lancer denies the request due to his loyalty to his Master and Saber is insulted he would interrupt their battle with such a request. Lancer’s master notices Waver Velvet and reveals himself over the loudspeaker as the instructor who he stole his summoning relic from. He threatens him, but Rider returns his threats with an insult, telling him it would have made him sick to have had a Master that doesn’t have the courage to come out and stand beside him on the battlefield. He then calls out to the other servants telling them he knows they are spying on the battle and to show themselves or be held in his contempt. Kirei Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka are not happy about this.

Gilgamesh then materializes from sparkling gold, as he does, atop a streetlight and calls the other servants dogs claiming he is the only true king on Earth. From being angered by Rider ordering him to tell his name he reveals his Noble Phantasm. Rider is quick to stand in front of Irisviel in case of an oncoming attack. Kariya Matou lurking against a cement wall in a shadowy area, decides to send his Servant into battle which is revealed to be a dark, ghastly Berserker in black knight armor with glowing red eyes. It is quickly realized that the Heroic Spirit is under an enchantment that obscures his identity and abilities. Kiritsugu Emiya instructs Maiya to keep Assassin in her sights as he looks for Berserker’s Master. Gilgamesh decides to pick a fight with Berserker because he was looking at him. Gilgamesh throw two swords down at him, but Berserker catches on by its handle and swings it to hit the other sword away. Gilgamesh then calls forth 16 weapons from the sky all of which (but perhaps one that doesn’t do any serious damage) he dodges or casts away with those he catches even ricocheting one at the lamp post Gilgamesh is standing on making it fall. Gilgamesh calls forth another even greater amount of weapons, but Tokiomi thinks him using his Noble Phantasm a second time in front of the servant would be a bad idea and decides to use one of his three Command Spells to order him to stand down and retreat.

Berserker then grabs the fallen light pole and throws it down and Saber which she blocks. It’s revealed that anything the Berserker holds becomes his Noble Phantasm. Berserker nearly strikes her when Lancer cuts off his attack by cutting through the pole stating he has already claimed this fight with Saber and if he continues to fight it will have to be against them both. Lancer’s Master however does not approve and decides to use a Command Spell to order him to fight alongside Berserker against Saber to which Lancer is disheartened and apologizes to Saber but must comply. To get control of the situation Kiritsugu Emiya instructs Maiya to shoot Assassin on his count and he will take out Lancer’s Master. But right before the shot is fired or the battle continues, Rider runs his chariot into Berserker throwing him to the ground where he vanishes. Lancer is able to dodge the chariot. Rider then calls out to the Master of Lancer telling him if the fight is to continue it will be against both Rider and Saber now. Lancer is called back in response. Rider then tells Saber she must fight Lancer first and she knows this also to be true because she needs to kill him in order for the cursed wounded affecting her hand to heal. She would be at a great disadvantage in all other fights should it not be healed first. Meanwhile Waver Velvet is exhausted from all the action.

Meanwhile, Emiya is laughing over the fear inflicted in the Servants upon Berserker entering the battle, but he coughs up blood and Crest Worms due to Berserker flipping out on Saber which can’t keep happening if Emiya is too survive. He must be able to control Berserker in order to live and then if he can do that he feels he will win. Back at the church a spy reports to Kirei that a familiar has been found spying on the church. And last we are shown Caster was watching the battle from a crystal ball with Ryuunosuke Uryuu. Caster goes on and on about finding his soulmate at last claiming it to be Saber and that soon they will be together.

Episode 6: A Night of Schemes

The scene opens with Irisviel having fun riding a fast car from Kiritsugu on a windy cliffside with Saber. Suddenly Saber tells her to stop the car as Caster is standing in the middle of the road. They get out of the car and Caster greets them calling Saber his holy virgin. Saber claims not to recognize him. He introduces himself and claims he longer for the miracle that would reunite them and even leapt through time to find her, Jeanne. Saber replies she doesn’t know who Jeanne is either to which Caster believes she has forgotten her past life. Saber introduces herself and Caster in convinced she’s gone mad. It seems he is mistaking her for someone else. Saber gives him a warning shot after he claims he must have already won because he thinks the Holy Grail has already brought them together which was his wish. He vows he will remove the curse upon her making her not know she is Jeanne and then bows as he exits. Spies of Kirei were sitting in the trees watching it all go down and decide to follow both their trails.

Meanwhile, Ryuunosuke is seen happy with a surgical knife and blood on his hands as Caster reappears. Caster reports what he’s seen of Saber and calls for more sacrifice starting with the 11 children they currently have held and then getting a new set. Ryuunosuke isn’t all that happy about the change from quantity over quality killings but abides.

The scene switches to Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald scolding Lancer in his hotel room for not killing Saber when his arranged fiance Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri interrupts and switches the possibility of blame to his judgement. She even goes as far as to call him a pitiful coward for hiding in the shadows and not attacking Saber’s Master if it was so important to kill Saber since she is seemingly strongest of the Servants. Lancer cuts of the conversation stating that allowing it to go further would be of disrespect to his Master which he cannot stand by and allow being that he is a knight. A fire alarm rings and he is alerted through a phone call that there is a fire on the lower floor. They believe it is part of an attack from Saber and her master, so Kayneth orders Lancer to go meet her downstairs and kill her. He then describes the entire floor he has magically enforced with 24 barriers, three mana circuits, dozens of demonic spirits on guard, countless traps, and hallways with portals to alternate dimensions. He seems pleased to be fighting with this advantage.

Outside the rest of the hotel guests are outside as staff calls of names making sure everyone has evacuated the building. When Kayneth’s name is called Kiritsugu claims to be him. After calling Maiya who is in another building with her sniper, he dials a number that explodes the building and it completely free falls. Maiya reports that the target, Kayneth, hasn’t moved at all and that he never evacuated the building, but Emiya can’t think of a magical barrier that would protect him from a 150 meter free fall. He calls for Maiya to fall back, but their connection goes to static. Kotomine is standing watching the destruction on the same level as Maiya and begins speaking with her. He asks where the man is that we wanted to find instead and throws the familiar bat found outside the church near her. She tries to shoot back but he throws a dagger that cuts her hand and knocks her pistol out of it. A can of smoke is set off and she jumps down gets away from jumping down a shaft. The smoke however was not thrown by her. He was pleased to have found out at least someone is looking out for her. One of his spies appears behind him to report they have located Caster.

Kotomine, Tokiomi, and Risei Kotomine discuss Caster and his Master using their magic recklessly and killing 15 children so far. They find it dangerous because it could reveal the Holy Grail war so they decide they will try to convince the other Masters to ally with them against Caster.

Shortly thereafter Kirei finds Gilgamesh in his office drinking all his wine and relaxing reclined on his sofa. Gilgamesh speaks about Tokiomi’s goal to reach the root as being as dull as he is and asks Kirei what he would ask of the Holy Grail to which Kirei responds he does not have one nor any desires. His view is doing things for his own bliss is a sin that would stain his soul. Gilgamesh responds Kirei needs to learn what pleasure really is and also requests him to find out the other Servants’ motivations. Gilgamesh disappears and Kirei wonders if he could learn what motivates Emiya he might learn what it is that he seeks too.

Episode 7: Dark Forest

The episode opens at the demolished hotel. First responders find what looks to be a ball of mercury. One of the men inserts his hand into it and seems to become possessed or commanded. He tells the rest to load it onto the truck.

The scene flashes to Risei reporting to the Master’s familiars Masters are to suspend the Holy Grail War and all focus on killing Caster as well as that whoever kills Caster first will receive additional Command Spells and then the Holy Grail War will continue as usual. Since there were five familiars listening in at the church Risei and Tokiomi are able to confirm that Lord El-Melloi and Lancer are still alive. They plan to let the other Masters find Caster and then when he is weak have Archer be the one to finish him.

Back at the house Waver Velvet is staying at, Rider receives a package from a delivery man. He ordered a T-shirt with a world map on it and “Admirable Master Strategist” upon hearing about mail-order shopping and wanting to have tried it. Rider now wants to go outside, Waver having not let him before, because he saw that Saber was able to as long as she was in modern day clothes. Unfortunately, Rider doesn’t have any modern day pants and Waver stops him from leaving before he walks outside in his boxers. They make a deal that Waver will get him pants and let him go outside if he kills a servant.

Emiya, Irisviel, and Saber are discussing what is to be done about Caster. They know they have an advantage because, for whatever reason, Caster thinks Saber is Jeanne d’Arc. Emiya suggests they should wait for an opening, but Saber disagrees as she wants to deal with him as soon as possible so that no more innocent children are killed by him. Irisviel is more worried about Saber’s cursed wound having not healed yet and Lancer still being alive. She suggests Saber should focus on killing Lancer first. Emiya also says he doesn’t trust Risei’s truce because he’s harboring Assassin’s Master and pretending otherwise. He says he might be in league with Tohsaka.

Shortly thereafter Emiya is outside at night contemplating abandoning everything, going back for his daughter, and running away with her and his wife to dedicate the rest of his life to being with them and keeping them safe. But Irisviel doesn’t think he could ever run away because he would never forgive himself for abandoning the grail and the world. Emiya is also frightened that Kirei is after him. Maiya told him that Kirei used Kayneth as bait to lure him into the open. Their talking is interrupted by sensing an attack. Back in the mansion Irisviel uses a crystal ball to watch Caster in the forest as Kirei and Maiyu ready their guns. Caster has children with him and knows they are watching him. He tells them as promised he has come for Jeanne and with a snap of his fingers snaps the children back from being mind controlled by them and offers to play a game of hide and seek in which if you are you found you are killed. Irisviel calls for Saber to kill Caster right away in an effort to save the children and Saber is seen running through the forest to commence the battle. Unfortunately she sees dead children everywhere except one, terrified, at the hands of Caster. She calls for him to release the child, which he does. The child runs to her screaming and she tells him of a castle he can run too, but before he lets go of hugging around her waist a tentacle creature explodes from his back and binds her. More of the creatures appear all around her. She declares that the battle with him is no longer about the Holy Grail.

Caster keeps going on about her forgetting who she was. He’s just confused. Saber breaks her binds and then starts the fight with him. She starts by cutting up his tentacle creatures that cover the battle field. However, they immediately come back. She wishes she could use her left hand. Emiya tells Maiyu To take Irisviel out of the mansion because it is not safe for her. Saber wonders why Caster has such unlimited mana and realizes that his Noble Phantasm is supplying it to him in the form of a book. He continues to go about her forgetting who she is and the relationship they had together. She continues to fight all the creatures, but they bind her again. Then suddenly, Lancer shows up. He cuts her free from her binds. He tells Caster it is him who will kill Saber. Caster says that he belongs to her though. Lancer tells Saber not to get the wrong idea. He’s only there to kill Caster because he was ordered. They decided to team up and fight Caster.

Meanwhile, Kayneth is outside the mansion and enters by using some kind of mercury-like substance he calls Volumen Hydragram. He calls out to Emiya and walks forward which triggers a ton of traps, but the ball of mercury that follows him creates a shield right away to protect him. It can also go through door locks to seek him out and he can use it to stand on for him to move up or down. It also has an explosive element. Emiya gets away quickly by manipulating his body time. He runs away and hides behind a corner, but the mercury is still seeking him. He uses Time Alter: Triple Stagnate to slow his heartbeat and breath so much that the mercury can not detect him as a living thing. It has no eyes. Kayneth comes around the corner and Emiya shoots at him, but he is able to throw up his mercury cover again.

Episode 8: The Mage-Slayer

The scene opens with Irisviel and Maiyu going into the forest. Irisviel senses that Kirei Kotomine is in the forest as well and the two agree that they have to protect Emiya. That they can’t let Kirei get to him. There seems to be some hints that they both have feelings for Emiya though neither is upset with the other about it.

Meanwhile in the mansion Emiya is shooting Kayneth who is keeping a barrier up to block the bullets. Emiya is thinking he’s pretty dense to be doing the same attack that was futile before. Then Emiya pulls out his special gun that has his special bullets and shoots one at Kayneth. This bullet however pierces through the barrier to Kayneths great surprise. Emiya runs around the corner as Kayneth holds his bleeding shoulder. Kayneth realizes how serious this has become and declares to up his game.

Back in the forest, Maiyu shoots at Kirei and having thought she brought him down walks closer only to have a knife thrown in her leg. Kirei then punches and kicks her knocking her to the ground and making her cough blood. Maiyu wants her to flee, but Irisviel won’t have it and she uses a special ability that looks like a cord of light that she calls Shape Ist Lebel which transforms into a bird of the glowing cords. It flies toward Kirei and then binds his arms. He runs after her but she controls the cords throwing him into a tree and binding him to it. It looks like things are working out for the girls, until Kirei moves the entire tree. Kirei then breaks off his binds like it was a piece of cake and proceeds to walk over to Maiyu. She pulls out her gun but he kicks her in the face.

Then… Saber and Lancer are trying to figure out how to deal with Caster since they are surrounded by his creepy tentacle creatures and breaking through them will take so much mana. Saber decides to use a power move of hers to blast through the creatures in which Lancer takes the opportunity to dashingly fly through the gap and with his spear cut just another of Caster’s awful Noble Phantasm making it rain… a lot… of blood all over the battlefield as those creepy creatures explode.

Then there are some explosions… at the mansion. Things there are getting more and more intense. Kayneth and his shiny powerful silver Volumen Hydrargyrum blob are walking through the hallways destroying the walls to find Emiya, which works. Kayneth thinks he knows how to deal with the bullet if it hits him again and wastes Emiyas time talking all about how we will torture him again and again before he finally dies. Emiya isn’t having it and shoots his auto gun (not the special bullets) in which Kayneth yells “FERVOR MEI SANGUIS!” and cowardly hides behind his shiny silver Volumen Hydrargyrum wall. But then…. Emiya whips around his other arm and shoots another special bullet from earlier.

The scenes cuts and before Saber is able to give a final blow to Caster he lives with a huge cascade of blood. Lancer says he has to leave too because his Master is in danger. Saber tells him to go save his master and he says he is in her debt.

FLASHBACK. There is a woman explaining to a young Emiya what those bullets actually are. He isn’t looking so good. They contain a bit of his ground up ribs and when they enter a mage or a mage tries to deflect them with magic his origin will cut their Magic Circuits rendering them unable to use magic again. The more capable the mage, the worse the Circuits will blow out. The mage will never be the same again. This woman made 66 of these origin bullets. He has 66 origin shots.

TIME JUMPS TO THE PRESENT MOMENT. Kayneth is throwing up blood. His plan to protect himself from the bullet using a fancy looking barrier of his Volumen Hydrargyrum backfired and he’s feeling it. Talk about instant regret. The whole blob blows up and he screams scratching at his body as more and more blood falls to the floor, which he also… falls in. His eyes twitch. Emiya approaches… BUT LANCER IS THERE!

Lancer says he could easily slash him down right where he stands, but that’s not how he is because he;s a knight. He honorably only grabs his master then jumps out the window, dashingly.

Irisviel is being choked by Kirei for answers. He knows she is a homunculus assigned to protect the Grail Vessel. He wants to know who ordered her to fight. Maiyu still has some life in her and grabs at his ankle. Then an Assassin shows itself telling him Lancer and Caster have left the forest and that Saber is closing in on his position. KIREI STABS IRISVIEL with his three long daggers. He knew it was too dangerous to stay and runs off.

Irisviel wakes up to Saber holding her face. Saber tells her that Kirei escaped, Maiyu is hurt but will survive, but that Irisviel is who she is worried about because she has lost so much blood. However, there are NO wounds?! This is then explained in a flashback. The scabbard of the Excalibur has healing properties as long as Saber is nearby. Emiya told her to keep it within her at all times, but Saber isn’t aware of this. As soon as Saber was close to her, the scabbard started using its healing powers. Irisviel then stabilizes Maiyu. They fear that Kirei is just as dangerous if not more than they had thought. Together they vow to keep Emiya safe. Cue ending theme.

Episode 9: Master and Servant

The episode opens with a flashback for Lancer. It shows his king celebrating the betrothal of his daughter to a man she doesn’t want to marry. She falls for him and the king says he will pay for being a traitor. The woman wants to run away with him and he wants to protect her. He thinks that the king has accepted their love, but it was a lie. He never forgave him and he killed him. However, this dream isn't a flashback… IT WAS A DREAM! A dream Kayneth was having! Roll opening theme… Grab snacks.

We are met with Kayneth again talking to his fiance Sola-Ui about the dream he had. His head is bandaged. He recalls trying to defend himself with his Volumen Hydrargyrum power but doesn’t understand what happened to him. Sola-Ui explains, quite bluntly, that every Magic Circuit in his body has shorted out and he will never be able to use magic again. She was only able to save his internal organs. She rubs it in a bit more by telling him he won’t ever be able to cast another spell. She tells him to stop crying as it’s too early to give up. She says they just need to win and then they can return everything to normal, and asks if he will give her his Command Spells. He says he trusts her but doesn’t think Lancer will swear his allegiance to her. She thinks it should be a problem. But Kayneth says Lancer has stated that he has no desire for the Grail . Sola-Ui then begins to torture him by breaking his pinky… She says he can agree to give her the Command Seals willingly or she’ll just cut off his arm.

Meanwhile, Maiyu is looking hurt in bed with bandages on her forehead, neck, and eye. Irisviel gives her some healing energy and pulls her blanket up. Irisviel goes to talk to Emiya but before doing so Saber requests that she tell him to prioritize Caster because she doesn’t want more innocents dying at his hand. Emiya tells them all to stay put as he goes and finishes off Lancer’s master who he still thinks is Kayneth. He already knows what Saber has requested but argues against it as it isn't their priority.

Back with Sola-Ui is Lancer asking the condition of his Master Kayneth. She shows him that she now has the Command Spells but Lancer says he is a knight first and servant second. He doesn’t want to change who he honors and is indebted to. Sola-Ui gives him her best puppy eyes and begs him to fight with her. She says it will only take a miracle to heal him, so if Lancer cares about him he should fight with her so he can deliver the grail to him to heal him. Sola-Ui swears that is why she wants the grail, and although it’s not all that convincing, Lancer seems easily fooled and agrees to the deal.

For the first time in the episode, Rider and Waver Velvet make an appearance. The scene is them both eating with Waver’s “grandparents.” Waver is grumpy because he told Rider he needs to dematerialize, but Rider says he wouldn’t have been able to get the vials of water from points on the river Waver had asked for. Also, he says he got some pants. Waver does alchemy with the water and is able to follow the trail of a mage due to magical residue in the water that comes off of spells. He sees where the magic stops and Rider remembers that there was a large sewer hole there. They think it is probably a lair for Caster. Rider compliments him on his technique for finding this all out. He says he is filled with pride for his simple way, rather than a big complex plan, when it isn’t needed. They decided to venture into the tunnel. It has more of those creepy tentacle creatures. Once they arrive inside Rider tells Waver it’s probably better he doesn’t look. Waver decides to anyways. He creates some light with a magic capsule but then splashes in the blood on the floor. The WHOLE FLOOR is bloody. Also, there is a shoe. One creepy shoe. Waver throws up. Rider tells him it isn’t a time for stoicism and that he’d pummel any person who could look on this and not flinch.

Then BAM. They are being attacked! There are Assassins inside the lair! Rider immediately jumps into action protecting Waver. They now know that Assasin is alive. A couple vanish but Riber says to stay alert. They have no idea how many are in there. Even if they could find clues in the lair, they must leave. The lair has too many advantages for an Assassin. They decide to burn it all down and regally ride out on Rider’s chariot from a sea of flames. And the one shoe… it burns. Rider knows Caster will now be forced into the open and takes that for a win.

Episode 10: Rin’s Big Adventure

Rin’s Big Adventure is an episode that focuses on Rin Tohsaka, the daughter of Tokiomi Tohsaka. It starts with a flashback of Rin trying to concentrate her mana on a crystal which she accidently shatters. After the opening theme we are brought to the present day at school. Rin is protecting her friend Kotone from being bullied. The scene flashes back to her dad Tokiomi teaching her she must concentrate her mana or it will rebound and not only damage her but those around her. He says it is important, the essence of the Tohsaka family to use their mana with composure and elegance. Back at school her friend is thanking her for helping her. Then we flashback again to the father daughter duo. Her dad is able to shape the crystal into a horse. Rin wants to learn, but he says that is too difficult for her right now. She just needs to practice every day and she’ll be able to do it. She’s a member of the Tohsaka family after all. At school again everyone is asking Rin to help them with their school work and Rin is happy to help out. There is a bit of a montage of Rin practicing and Kotone and her playing. Then we get another flashback where Tokiomi is explaining to Rin and her mom that they have to leave Fuyuki City because it is going to get too dangerous for them. Rin is not happy about this. She wants to be able to help. She decides she just hasn’t learned enough and goes downstairs to read some books. She realizes there is a lot she doesn’t know. Then she opens a book that has a ton of black handprints appearing on it. She can’t seem to close it. Magical arms come out of it and try to pull her inside. Tokiomi runs in and saves her. He tells her that some items are imbued with so much mana that she can’t handle them yet. He gives her a compass and shows her how to identify such objects. The compass normally won’t point anywhere unless there is a magical item nearby imbued with mana. He says with the Holy Grail War is over he will give her a real education in Gem Magic.

She’s seen in school again noticing that weird things are starting to happen. Children are starting to go missing. Classes are starting to be cancelled. And she even saw that one of her classmates was killed. He’s not in the casket even because the death was so gruesome. She decides to call home, but she just gets the message machine. She hops on a train and goes to Fuyuki City. She feels it seems totally different at night. A feeling she doesn’t like. Her compass is just spinning and spinning which means there are traces of mana everywhere. But she must find Kotone! Kotone is missing. She runs down the street and then looks down an alley. She sees a man walking with a boy, which she thinks is pretty suspicious this time at night. That man is Ryuunosuke Uryuu. She trails him and sees he has another child with him. They seem to be mind controlled. She also nearly gets seen by a cop car. Rin knows she can’t save them just by sneaking around so she boldly runs in the direction of the mana compass which brings her to what seems like a closed bar

Her compass flashes and spins from whatever is done there, but she proceeds anyways down the steps. She screams at the sight of Kotone on the floor. Something has been done to her. Her eyes look blank and she doesn’t speak. She looks up and sees Ryuunosuke there. He tosses two more kids aside and then asks her if she’d like to “join the party.” She notices that there are a ton of other kids zoned out around the bar. She isn’t about to go down without a fight and starts throwing things his way. She notices that he is controlling them with his bracelet and grasps it. She is almost controlled by it but fights back. She remembers that if she uses enough mana she can destroy something. Her compass necklace floats in the air from all the mana she charges at once into the bracelet, SHATTERING IT! Ryuunosuke shouts in pain covering his eyes and all the kids wake up. She tells them to run! The cops arrive and help the kids but Rin has left the scene.

She’s about to go home but her compass goes crazy and she sees that there is something against her ability to handle. A creepy tentacle creature falls to the ground! Then hundreds of flying Crest Worms fly past her and Kariya Matou stands before her, coming to her rescue. Her mom is seen frantically driving to Fuyuki City worried and in disbelief her daughter went there. She sees Rin resting on a bench at the park from the first scene of them in the anime and also sees Kariya. She is shocked by his appearance. He tells her that it is the Matou family magic. He also explains how he is sacrificing himself for the chance of Sakura and all them being able to play together again at the very park they are at right. Rin wakes up and apologizes while crying to her mother for coming to Fuyuki City. Assassin was watching the entire thing and reports it to his master who tells him to follow the trail of Berserker’s master Kariya.

An ending montage follows Rin saying she must learn more but she believes one day she will become a powerful mage if she keeps working hard.

Episode 11: Discussing the Grail

The episode opens with Irisviel walking through the damaged mansion and realizing that Rider is on his way. She becomes weak and falls, resting on a wall. Saber and Irisviel meet Rider in the entryway of the mansion. He says hello to Rider and that he doesn’t want to fight, but instead shares a drink with her. He’s got a huge keg with him. They sit together in the courtyard and share a drink. Their conversation is about the Grail. Rider doesn’t think that war is necessary. He thinks the issue can resolve itself if they just talk with another to come to an agreement of who ranks the highest. Gilgamesh then materializes. Rider had invited him. He arrived late. Rider offers him a drink, but he says it isn’t to his liking. He then materializes a golden jug and golden glasses for everyone. They all sip and it tastes delicious. Rider wants to know everyone’s reason for seeking the Grail. Gilgamesh says that is beyond the point because the Grail is his. Everything is his. Treasure is his. He doesn’t even know all of the items in his possession. But, They. Are. All. His. Giglamesh has no wish to fulfill. He just wants the treasure.

Saber then asks Rider why he wants the Grail. He reveals he wants to be reincarnated, which his master is very surprised about because he had told him that he wanted to conquer the world. Saber thinks that’s not how a king should act and Rider responds by questioning her reasoning. She says she wants to change Britain’s fate of destruction. She wants to alter history itself. Gilgamesh chuckles at her. She tells them not to mock her, but their vision of a king is very different. They believe a king should be a tyrant. That they should not regret the fall of their reign. That a king should offer no sacrifices. That his country and his subject should offer themselves for him. Not the other way around. Saber thinks to rule a country is to give up living one’s life for themselves. She says that he seeks the grail out of pure selfishness and that he only rose to power to satisfy his own greed. Rider says that no one can admire her life of martyrdom. He thinks a king should live a life in extremes of every normal person so that commoners will both envy and admire the king, longing to be like them. We see a flashback of Saber on a battlefield bloody and defeated with the army all dead around her. He says she is not a real king, but a naive little girl.

Then another presence is felt. Assassin! And many many more Assassin appear - all over the grounds and even on the roof. They are “shadows.” They are one Heroic Spirit with multiple personalities and each embodied. Rider offers them a seat to talk and drink, but they throw a dagger through his serving ladle of which he responds by saying he will spill their blood in the same manner as they spilled the wine. He uses a special power that casts a bright light and then everyone finds themselves in sandy dunes of a desert. Irisviel calls this power a “Reality Marble.” He summoned a vision from his mind into the real world. Then, Ride’s huge army approaches, their souls returned to the world as Heroic Spirits still pledging their allegiance to Rider. This is Rider’s greatest Noble Phantasm - Ionioi Hetairoi. Each of the soldiers which numbers disappear out of view are a servant to Rider and thus Waver Velvet. Rider’s loyal stead, a black horse, also comes to his side. He then turns to the Assassins to battle them. The desert gives him all the advantage and the Assassins none. His army stampedes them, cutting them down. Some run but are brought down by spears. Others fight but are slashed by swords, and some are taken down with no fight at all knowing there is no hope. Rider defeats Assassin. They all return to the courtyard and Rider continues to drink, commenting on how uninteresting the battle had ended up being. He then leaves, but for tells Saber he know longer sees her as a king and she’s “a little girl that needs to wake up from her dream.” Gilgamesh however, after Rider leaves, gives her words of support and encourages her to follow her dream then dematerializes. But Saber still has doubts of herself growing within her heart.

Episode 11: Discussing the Grail

The episode opens with Kirei Kotomine talking with Tokiomi Tohsaka about the defeat of Assassin and the immeasurable Noble Phantasm used by Rider. Tohsaka says it is now time to act on Rider with Gilgamesh given the intel collected through Assassin. Cue opening theme.

When the opening theme closes we are met with Kiritsugu Emiya in a hotel speaking on a phone with Maiyu who reports that every Assassin had been a part of that battle, so Assassin had been fully defeated. While eating a burger, Emiya looks at all the info he has pinned up on the wall about Kariya Matou and feels its best to let Matou be for now if for no other reason than to keep Archer and Tohsaka in check. He also notes that Lord El-Melloi should now be effectively incapacitated, yet Lancer is still active so he must find out who his new master is as soon as possible. He also has no known last location for Caster although children abductions are still continuing so he knows their rampage is continuing. Rider’s ability to travel in his chariot makes him difficult to track and his Ionioi Hertaoiroi concerns Emiya. He believes he is the target of Kirei Kotomine but is unsure as to why.

The scene switches to Kirei Kotomine entering his office and seeing Gilgamesh again resting on the couch and drinking his wine. Gilgamesh says he doesn’t care for the Holy Grail because something more interesting has caught his attention and that being Kirei. Kirei explains to him what happens to Command spells in several different scenarios such as a Master losing his servant or vice versa. A Master is given refuge in the Holy Church because if the Holy Grail is to choose another master for a servant is typically chooses someone that has already been a Master. That’s why in the Holy Grail War people seek to not merely incapacitate Masters but to kill them. Kotomine doesn’t feel he will be given more Command Spells however because he feels he has already fulfilled his purpose which was to provide the Tohsaka family with important intel and has faith Tokiomi has already formulated a strategy that will defeat all the other Masters and Servants.

Meanwhile Saber is enjoying a chance to drive Irisviel’s car which she believes is wondrous. She is taking Irisviel to their new base. It looks like a slightly rundown traditional Japanese building in a rural town. The grass around it is overgrown and Irisviel comments that it looks like one of Japan’s traditional haunted houses. Maiyu hands Saber instead of Irisviel the keys at Irisviel’s request and she asks about a rusted one that stands out from the rest. Maiyu says it belongs to an old storehouse in the backyard. Upon inspection Irisviel believes it provides many obstacles for a mage’s base. She says all the open space will make too much mana dissipate. Though the earthen storehouse in the back is old and cramped, it has been declared safe by Maiyu and when they enter it Irisviel is happy with it as a magic workshop. She begins to order Saber to help her set up. Saber asks Iri sviel why she has deliberately avoided touching anything all day or if she has been imagining this. She wants to be able to protect her should anything be wrong. Irisviel apologizes and tells her it is true that something is wrong. She holds Saber’s hand and squeezes it with all her strength, but it is barely anything. Irisviel is very weak. Just getting dressed in the morning was brutal. She stopped her sense of touch because she feels under the weather. Being able to do this one advantage to being a homunculus. Irisviel tells her it is like a structural defect originating in her body’s creation. Since she is not a normal human, she can’t go to a doctor. From now on she will need a lot more help from Saber. She believes however she rests within a magical circle properly connected to the Earth’s ley lines her condition might improve. Saber gets to work helping her.

Kirei Kotomine is shown again talking to Gilgamesh about Saber’s master. He considers him just a mercenary hired by the Einzberns. Gilgamesh also sees him just as a mongrel with a pathetic reason for obtaining the Holy Grail. Kirei is upset that after all the trouble he went through to find their motives, Gilgamesh doesn’t have a better response. Gilgamesh says he’s a man who has yet to understand the meaning of joy, but even that being true his subconscious instinctively seeks it through curiosity or interest. He says his words have revealed where his interest most heavily lies - with Kariya Matou. He also asks him if he could imagine a scenario where Berserker and his Master by a miracle and sheer luck survive to the end and tell him what would happen which Kirei ponders for a moment. Gilgamesh then says the true reason for him asking the question was to show that if he had asked the same question about any other master he would have responded immediately that the exercise was pointless, but that wasn’t the case with Kariya.He let his mind wander. Gilgamesh thinks put simply he enjoyed the thought and now knows the meaning of happiness. Suddenly, after shaming Gilgamesh for him obtaining happiness from seeing others suffer and calling him a sinner, a Command Seal appears on his hand even though there are no free Servants. Giglamesh tells him to answer the call of the Holy Grail since it seems to have deemed him worthy. He also says there is no doubt now that you do indeed have a wish for the Grail to grant. He thinks it is something buried deep within his heart of which he is still unaware. If he is to obtain the Holy Grail then his wish would be revealed to him, but first he must destroy the chances of everyone else’s wishes and make his teacher into his enemy. Gilgamesh tells him he’ll have to start by stealing a Servant from another master.

Episode 13: The Forbidden Feast of Madness

The episode opens with Rider looking out at the ocean with his troops. Then Waver Velvet is woken up by his snores and it flashes to the two of them walking down the street on a sunny day. Cue the opening theme.

After the opening theme we see Ryuunosuke Uryuu in shambles of the destruction of his and Caster’s lair. Caster tries to console Ryuunosuke and tells him only a few people can understand the beauty of what they do while the many others are bent on destroying it. Ryuunosuke thinks God must be punishing them, but Caster shouts that God doesn’t punish humans, he merely toys with them. Caster considers himself proof of this because no matter how many atrocities he has committed his punishment never came from God but from fellow humans in the form of simple thievery. Ryuunosuke goes on about how he still believes God is real though because the world is full of so many strange and wonderful things it could not be chance. He thinks God is like an author and has a love for his art that is the world and characters in it, but has the same love for mankind’s ideals like bravery and hope as well as the opposite like despair and bloodshed. Caster is really impressed and happy to hear of this creed from Ryuunosuke. Caster proclaims then that blasphemy and praise are both forms of worship because an author would love to play against his villains too. Caster declares he wants to now do something even grander than ever before to entertain his Heavenly author.

Meanwhile Waver Velvet is seen in the bookstore and pulls a book out on Alexander the Great. We learn that the scene that opened the episode was a dream Waver had and actually happened. Rider left the governing and politics of his new territory to the local nobility once he had seen the ocean. It is all he had wanted to do. Before he could read much more, Rider met up with him. Rider shoes him that he bought the latest Admirable Grand Strategy video games (and console to play it on) which is also the T-shirt that he wears. Rider sees that he has been reading about him and just asks that if he wants to know anything to just ask him, the genuine article.

Meanwhile Caster is standing in the middle of the river as Ryuunosuke calls out to him excited to see whatever cool thing he is about to do. Caster pulls out his Noble Phantasm, speaks a spell, and the water begins to swirl around him. While Waver Velvet and Rider are walking home Waver Velvet says he can’t be proud of winning the Grail with such a powerful servant and that he would’ve been better off summoning Assassin instead. Rider does not agree. Waver says he would have been fine if he had been dead by now because at least he would have been fighting his own battles. Rider makes the point that against taking over the world they are both small so what’s the point in comparing each other. Rider also says to Waver that his feeling of insecurity also is a sign of a fine military leader. He reveals that he never made it to seeing the ocean and it is still his final destination. Suddenly, they sense a presence on the river.

As for Saber and Irisviel, well Saber is seen zooming down the road to the river. She spots Caster standing there with his Noble Phantasm open and him standing still as he performs some kind of incredible spell. Caster sees them and bows, welcoming “his holy virgin.” Suddenly a huge creature raises from out of the water, enveloping Caster as he continues to speak about his fury. Rider also shows up in his chariot. He calls a truce for tonight to fight Caster. Lancer has also agreed. Saber agrees as well to fight by their side. They begin to discuss a strategy. Right now Caster is providing the mana to the creature so it can maintain its form but if it finds its own food source, such as you know humans on land, it will be able to sustain itself and all will be lost. They realize they must destroy Caster before it reaches land, but Caster is within the creature. Lancer arrives and suggests they force Caster out of the creature. If they can expose his Noble Phantasm his Gae Dearg can break the spell in one strike. Rider can take him head on with the power of his Chariot that can even ride where there is no road and Saber has the protection of the Lady of the Lake so no water can impede her, no matter its depth. Rider goes ahead and sets off to strike first. Saber follows shortly thereafter and runs across the water jumping up from the water to land a slash.