Creating Anime In A Fantasy World

“Irisviel, I have a question. Today, you seem to have been avoiding contact with anything. Is this just my imagination?”

“…”

“Whether it’s driving the car or handling the key… these small matters might not be worth noting, but even the crucial creation of the magic circle, you refrained from doing it yourself. There must be a reason. If I’m mistaken, please correct me—does something make it inconvenient for you today?”

…

“Kirei, why is your definition of ‘pleasure’ so narrow? What contradiction exists between pain, lamentation, and ‘pleasure’? True pleasure takes no specific form. Your failure to grasp this is why you’re confused.”

“That’s not true! King of Heroes, only someone as twisted as you would find joy in others’ suffering. But doing so is the act of a sinner and deserves punishment. No matter what, the path I, Kirei Kotomine, believe in will never align with yours!”

“So you claim that pleasure itself is evil? Hah, you’re good at spouting misguided nonsense. You, Kotomine, are becoming more and more interesting.”

…

“In this era, people have lost their faith, and nations have long abandoned divine will. I thought this world was doomed to perish… but to find a new believer like you in these times, Ryunosuke, my Master, is truly remarkable! But—if seen from your perspective of faith, wouldn’t my blasphemous actions be mere trifles?”

“Not at all! Your actions are a masterful performance. Your splendid comedic antics would surely bring joy to the gods, and they might even delight in playing along as your supporting act.”

“Blasphemy or reverence—are they both forms of worship to you? Ah, Ryunosuke, your philosophy is profound indeed. The gods, who toy with humanity as mere playthings, are themselves but clowns… I see! In that case, their wicked amusements become understandable. Excellent. Let us paint the divine realm in vibrant colors with despair and anguish! I will make those gods in heaven see that entertainment is not their monopoly.”

…

After the conclusion of the Three Kings Banquet, the plot transitioned swiftly—from Irisviel and Saber heading to the Emiya residence, to Gilgamesh enticing Kirei Kotomine to embrace his pleasures, to Caster and Ryunosuke bonding over shared ideals—culminating in the film’s final act.

At this point, despite the dialogue-heavy narrative, the audience’s enthusiasm remained undiminished. On the contrary, their excitement only grew. Having been deeply immersed in the story, even scenes heavy with exposition were a delight to fans eager to see their favorite characters on screen.

However, some viewers began to notice something unusual: despite the lengthy runtime, only Assassin had been eliminated from the Holy Grail War thus far. With six other Servants still in play, how many battles would it take to reach the end?

Still, the possibility of an abrupt conclusion didn’t cross their minds. Instead, they speculated on how the story might wrap up.

And as if to deliver a “perfect” answer to these curious viewers, the film’s narrative subtly transitioned to its climactic moment as the moon ascended to its zenith.

…

Sensing an unusual surge of magical energy over the ocean, all Masters and Servants turned their attention to the scene.

However, dense mist enshrouded the sea, deliberately obscuring the view. With human eyes, one could only glimpse the faint lights of the harbor; everything else was hidden behind the veil of fog.

It wasn’t until Saber and her ostensible Master, Irisviel, arrived that Caster emerged from the mist and spoke:

“Welcome, Saint. It is my utmost honor to see you again.”

“Repentant scoundrel… you fiend! What foul game are you playing tonight?”

“I apologize, Jeanne. You are not tonight’s guest of honor. Still, if you would grace us with your presence, I would be overjoyed. I, Gilles de Rais, have prepared a banquet of death and despair. Please, savor it to your heart’s content!”

In the next instant, as Caster was consumed by a massive tentacle, a voice, amplified to an overwhelming degree, erupted over the ocean:

“Today, I shall once again raise the banner of the Savior! Outcasts, gather around me! The despised, come to me! I shall lead you! Guide you! The grievances of the oppressed shall reach the ‘gods’! O Lord in Heaven! I will cleanse sins and glorify You!”

“Arrogant gods! Cold-hearted gods! We shall drag you from your thrones! The lambs beloved by God—humans who bear the image of the divine—shall be mocked, ravaged, and torn asunder! The scorn of us rebels shall ring out as we knock on Heaven’s gates with the cries of the Son of God!”

…

What unfolded before the audience’s eyes was a near-horrific scene. Foul masses of flesh swelled upon the ocean’s surface, taking form under the embrace of magical energy. Countless smaller abominations surrounded a colossal, mountainous shadow at the center, radiating an oppressive aura that was palpable even through the screen.

Faced with such a scene, the only feeling anyone could muster was pure, unadulterated fear. For a moment, the theater was engulfed in dead silence, followed by an explosive wave of discussions.

“Oh my god, what is that monstrosity?!”

“By the Light God above, I hope I never have to see something this disgusting in real life!”

“If we ever run into something like that on an adventure, please just stab me immediately. I’d rather die than have to deal with those fleshy tendrils—besides, I have trypophobia…”

“How on earth did you become an adventurer with trypophobia?”

“…”

As various murmurs rippled through the audience, the Emperor seated behind Edward, along with General Wilhelm, also displayed expressions of shock. Their eyes were wide with disbelief as they stared at the terrifying creature in the film, something seemingly capable of annihilating everything in its path. It didn’t take long for the Emperor to voice his question:

“Is that a real monster? Where was this movie filmed?”

In response to the Emperor’s query, Edward simply shook his head and explained, “It’s not a real monster. What you’re seeing is just an illusory projection created for the film. If something like that were to truly appear, its mere existence would cause catastrophic upheaval…”

“I see…”

Despite Edward’s reassurance, the Emperor’s unease remained evident. He could only continue watching the movie, his expression betraying both tension and anticipation for what was to come.

As Saber, Rider, and Lancer discussed their battle strategy, and Saber launched the first attack in a brilliantly shot long take, the narrative built to an exhilarating crescendo.

Then, suddenly, as the majestic ending theme began to play, the theater lights came on. Before anyone could react, the credits started rolling on the screen.

What did this mean?

At first, most of the audience didn’t grasp what was happening. But soon, when one viewer realized the horrifying truth, the entire theater erupted.

“What the hell?! That’s it?! The director’s messing with us, right? It just ends here?! Seriously?!”

“AAAAAAHHH! I’m gonna die! I’ll die if I don’t get more Fate! Give me more!”

“Damn it! I’m not going home until I see the ending of Fate/Zero!”

“Someone in charge, explain this! We paid good money for these tickets, and now the movie’s incomplete?!”

“What happens next?! Can the Servants really defeat that horrifying monster?”

“Yeah! Let’s protest together! This is unbearable!”

“…”

As chaos erupted, Edward, who had anticipated this reaction, rose calmly amidst the audience’s outrage. With a subtle gesture toward the shadows in the distance, he set the next part of his plan into motion.

Almost as if it had been planned all along, the screen flickered back to life. The closing theme faded, and fresh footage began to roll.

The theater fell silent instantly.

On-screen, brief flashes of Saber and Lancer battling, interspersed with the clash between the Servants and Caster, filled the frame. The final image was Saber unleashing her golden sword in a powerful strike. As the screen went dark, a single announcement appeared:

“Fate/Zero Chapter Two – Officially in Production. Scheduled for release in Imperial Calendar XXX, Winter.”

The revelation ignited the theater into a frenzy once more. This time, however, the tone had completely shifted.

The same audience that had been angrily shouting moments ago was now cheering with unrestrained excitement:

“Fate is the best!”

“The director’s a genius!”

“I’ll support the production team forever!”

“I’ll sell everything I own to back Fate/Zero!”

Even from a distance, Edward could feel the dramatic change in atmosphere. The crowd’s enthusiasm was practically tangible.