Chapter 1: Prologue

Saber's body soared through the air. Engulfed in a torrent of light, she was soon smashed to the ground.

A large mass of blood gushed out of her mouth. That formidable armor was shattered, the cloth covering her left shoulder was gone, and her white skin was exposed.

I could do nothing but stare at her in a daze.

“Sa-ber?”

“Hmph, to be unable to even neutralize it. How anticlimactic, Saber.”

A voice echoed. My face turned towards it. At the end of my slow-moving gaze, Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes clad in golden armor, had the corner of his mouth turned up.

Fate/Imitation Saber

...Why? Why didn't I stop Saber?

“Saber! SAA-BERR!!”

I desperately shouted, but my mouth was so dry that my voice wouldn't come out properly.

“...Shiro...? Are you... there...?”

“Saber!?”

Saber's eyes were open. Yet, her gaze did not meet mine. Could it be that she... can't see?

Her gaze turned towards me in response to my voice, but her eyes weren't focused on me. Saber's eyes wandered through the air, anxiously trying to find me.

If I had truly stopped Saber... this wouldn't have happened. If I had used a Command Spell or anything to stop Saber!

When I met Gilgamesh, I had a bad feeling from that moment on. A vague anxiety that even Saber couldn't possibly defeat him.

I should have known that Saber was not at her best, having consumed her magical energy during the previous battle with Berserker.

...It's all my fault. The inability to supply magical energy, Saber being covered in so many wounds! It's all because of me!

“As expected, one cannot entrust the Lion to a mongrel.”

“—!!”

Gilgamesh approached Saber with an air of composure.

“Ngh?”

Gilgamesh suddenly stopped. Following his gaze, of course, Saber was there.

That's when I finally noticed it too. Saber's existence was flickering unstably. Her color was fading, and my senses were starting to feel the visible Saber as if she were non-existent.

“Hmph. It seems I misjudged the intensity a little. ...But to be unable to withstand even this much, I seem to have overestimated you slightly.”

“...”

The eyes that had been open toward me moments ago were now closed. There was no longer any response to my or Gilgamesh’s words. If this continued, Saber would disappear.

“I won’t let you do that...!”

I will save Saber! Even if it costs me my life!!

I circulated the remaining magical energy through my body and forced myself to stand up. At the same time, I pulled back the hammer in my head with a thunk. I somehow moved my wounded body, and with the best speed I could muster, I stood between Saber and Gilgamesh.

I routed all the remaining magical energy into my Magic Circuits. It seems this will be the final projection.

The sensation of my brain burning. What Rin mentioned about the body's guarantee not applying must be this.

—But this is not the time for such leisurely thoughts! No matter what happens... I must save Saber!!

“――――Trace, On.”

Faster, even faster!!

Suddenly, the face of that guy I disliked floated into my mind. The red man who fought Lancer, creating one Noble Phantasm after another.

—You are merely a maker, not a warrior.

His words, spoken when he went to hold off Berserker, resurfaced in my mind.

Now, I feel like I understand the meaning of his words. There's no way I can't do what he could do.

Surely, that guy is a ■■■■!

Like Archer. Yes, create it like him!

The sword, which Saber should not possess, Caliburn, the Golden Sword of the Victorious, was grasped in my left hand.

The various experiences contained within the sword. I projected and manifested them along with the sword itself. I held Caliburn with both hands and prepared to face Gilgamesh.

“...Step aside, Mongrel. I am in a bad mood.”

“I will protect Saber. I came to take Saber back!”

I told myself this, as if to drown out Gilgamesh's words and steel my resolve.

I channeled my depleted magical energy into my body and took a large step forward with my left foot. Maintaining that momentum, I swung horizontally at the abdomen of the one looking down on me.

A high-pitched clash of metal against metal echoed.

Gilgamesh had, at some point, drawn a sword—a Noble Phantasm, simple in decoration but containing immense magical power—in his right hand, and easily deflected the Caliburn I wielded.

I had thought that if I could manage close combat, Noble Phantasm fights aside, I'd have a chance, but he also possesses skills far beyond a normal person. Still, he's not as good as Saber!

I was trained by a Heroic Spirit who bore the name of the sword! I can't be defeated so easily!

Attack, attack, attack—! I swung my sword with all my might at the opponent in front of me.

Although all my slashes were being blocked, I absolutely wouldn't stop moving.

Protecting Saber—my strength of feeling on this point is second to none!

Gilgamesh leaped backward when my sword was greatly repelled. Though it was just one step, he easily jumped a distance of about five meters.

I exhaled roughly. I firmly regripped the hilt of Caliburn with my slightly numb right hand and glared at Gilgamesh.

Thanks to the swordsmanship I was trained in by Saber and the projected experiences within the sword, I managed to reach a state of equilibrium.

Although Gilgamesh's expression hadn't changed, anger was clearly radiating from his body. Not getting his way must be what displeases him the most.

“...Shall I kill you?”

A chilling shiver ran down my spine at the emotionless tone. With his whisper, Gilgamesh extended his right arm horizontally.

The space behind him warped, and a single sword appeared, settling into his right hand.

“—What?!”

That was... a familiar sword. Although the details were different, it was fundamentally the same as the sword I held in my left hand.

However, the sword in my sight had no superfluous ornamentation; one could sense neither the creator's will nor the wielder's experience in its make.

“Don't tell me...!”

“Hmph, so even a mongrel like you can recognize it. The demon sword, Gram. And beyond that, Merodach, its primal sin prototype.”

No sooner said than the demon sword was swung down towards me.

My sword—Caliburn—responded as if sensing its master's crisis, rising to defend.

In front of my eyes, fragments of metal scattered.

The sound of shattering glass echoed in the park, and with that single blow, the illusion was pulverized.

The Caliburn I held in my hand was broken. Its existence naturally faded away into a mist.

Unable to kill the shock at all, my body was enveloped in a sensation of floating.

Slowly, slowly, my vision spun. My body hit the ground, and I could hear it groaning with an unpleasant sound. My unnaturally light body slowed its speed while being scraped along the ground.

Finally, my body stopped. Everything hurt so much that I couldn't tell which part of my body was intact.

Enduring the pain, I opened my eyes, and right beside me was Saber.

Saber wasn't moving. Even though I was right next to her, she must have heard the sound of me sliding on the ground, but there was no reaction.

No sign of life could be felt from her face. Lying down, she must be unconscious. Her body looked transparent, as if she was about to vanish.

I want to protect her. Only one wish.

But my body is finished. —My lower half is gone.

I can see my lower half lying far away. I can no longer stand up and block that guy.

I reached out my hand to Saber. —I want to protect her.

Her, who became my sword and fought tirelessly. Her, who became my shield and protected me from many dangers.

Her, who trained me and fought alongside me. —I want to protect her, even if it costs me everything.

I simply, only wished for that.

Just wishing isn't enough.

It shouldn't just work out; I have to make it work.

If this body won't move, then use Magecraft—but not a single fragment of magical energy is left in my body.

—If there is no magical energy...!

My body creaked and groaned. The only decent thing I could create through Projection was a sword.

But something that is inside me, surely. I reached for what was inside my body, inside my heart, inside Emiya Shirou.

Everything in this world is an equivalent exchange. Magecraft also requires a substitute.

For simple Magecraft, it's magical energy. For greater Magecraft, the requirements steadily increase: steps, time, a catalyst, and knowledge.

What is left for me, who has no magical energy remaining—?

“What is it, Mongrel? No matter what you try now...”

Emiya Shirou's body emitted light and began to be remade.

What was formed was—a scabbard. Avalon, The Everdistant Utopia.

The scabbard shone brightly and was absorbed into Saber.

Immediately, Saber regained substance, her wounds vanished, and the armor covering her body was repaired.

And then... she quietly opened her eyes.

▼

“This is... what is happening?”

Gilgamesh didn't understand what was happening either.

What he understood was that Emiya Shirou vanished and was absorbed into the collapsed Saber.

And that Saber, who should have been dead, slowly stood up.

...And that the clothes covering Saber had turned red.

“Well, fine. Saber was about to disappear just now. If that Mongrel becomes Saber's nourishment, then his existence had value.”

A smile naturally formed on his lips. A pleasant miscalculation, one might say.

The output of Saber's Noble Phantasm, Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory, was weaker than he had expected. Saber's disappearance was not his intent. The Holy Grail was almost activated prematurely.

By the looks of it, the Saber before him was not connected to a Master's "line."

He must quickly capture Saber and have that fellow called Cú Chulainn absorbed by the Holy Grail.

For that...

He headed straight for Saber.

...He must weaken her first!!

In his hand, he held the demon sword, Gram, the Dragon Slayer. A natural enemy for Saber, who possessed a dragon factor.

He positioned his body diagonally, gripped the sword tightly in his right hand, swung it back broadly, and as soon as he entered striking range, he swept it wide diagonally.

“Hm? Did she recover enough stamina to parry?”

He was stopped by something before the swing was complete.

Looking, it was "Excalibur." It moved in the opposite trajectory to Gram and struck back.

Their blades met, and they entered a contest of strength. A grating, unpleasant sound lingered in his ears, but it didn't last long.

“What?!”

The sword lock, which seemed to be a stalemate, began to be pushed back by Saber.

Unlike before, dozens of times more magical energy was being released from Excalibur.

Saber's own magical energy must be sufficient. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to instantly repair her wounds and armor.

“Tch!”

He stepped back, creating distance. He could feel his brows furrowing naturally.

To think he would have to use this again.

He tossed Gram into Gate of Babylon and retrieved the Sword of Separation, Ea.

As magical energy flowed into it, the top and bottom of the sword began to rotate, and vortices of power erupted around the area. Excalibur, gripped by Saber, began to shine as if in response to Ea.

“Enuma Elish, the Heaven and Earth Separating —” “Excalibur, the Promised —”

“— Star of Creation that Split Heaven and Earth!!” “— Sword of Victory!!”

An immense light pushed and pulled, pulled and pushed. The surrounding darkness was illuminated by blinding white light. A shockwave occurred, and the nearby trees were all knocked down.

It lasted only a few seconds. The clashing energies neutralized each other and dispersed into mist.

“What did you say?”

She neutralized my Enuma Elish? ...Unbelievable.

Even if the opponent was the great hero, King Arthur, even if she was in perfect condition. There is no logic for her to cancel out my Enuma Elish.

“――――■■, ■■”

Zzzz...

I felt heat from my left shoulder to my right flank.

Was I... cut?

“That was... supposed to be shattered—”

The sword in Saber’s hand was Caliburn.

A sword that was not her possession—a sword that should have been lost forever.

And it was an illusion that could not exist without Emiya Shirou.

The light engulfed Gilgamesh’s body, causing him to vanish.

▽

“Ugh!”

I fell to one knee. All the magical energy left in my body was completely gone.

“...Even so, what is this body?”

The physical abilities are vastly different from what they were just moments ago.

Looking at my hands, I see gauntlets. Although the clothing is red, there is no doubt that this body is surely—

“Saber, huh.”

I don't know why Emiya Shirou has become Saber. But—

“I guess I don't have time to think.”

It must be because I used up all my magical energy. A sensation of powerlessness spread throughout my body. I could see my body gradually becoming transparent.

I wanted to save Saber, and I did what I thought I could.

Yet, in the end, I was unable to save Saber.

The Holy Grail War I entered to save everyone, to save Saber.

If I couldn't accomplish that, then Emiya Shirou's Holy Grail War ends here.

...No, not just the Holy Grail War, but this life too.

My consciousness was becoming hazy.

My eyelids were closing on their own.

I (Saber)'s hand was already transparent enough to see through to the other side.

I wanted to save her...

Her, who fought with me.

I wanted to protect her...

With everything I had.

I failed.

Only that fact brought regret.

When I closed my eyes, a hill spread out before me.

The sky was red like a sunset everywhere, and the clouds were tearing apart and flowing at a visible speed.

And extending endlessly was a featureless ground.

It was not completely empty.

Countless weapons were thrust into the ground, waiting to be drawn at any moment.

Someone's voice faintly echoed in the red sky and vanished.

In the middle of it, I felt a sense of relief.

Somehow, this bland world felt very comfortable to me.

“Sa-ber...”

The world turned to darkness.