Chapter 216: Fans: Sometimes, a Tribute Shouldn't Go All the Way!
On the screen, two dark figures clashed against each other.
To be precise, one was black and red, while the other was black and purple.
In the game script for Fate/stay night (FSN), Rider's primary color had always been described as black. However, Shinji speculated that the reason Rider left a stronger impression of being purple in visual portrayals was likely due to an artistic decision made during the sprite creation phase. If she had been purely black, the contrast in her illustration wouldn't have been strong enough, so a deep purple—also a dark color—was used as a substitute.
It was probably because Nasu was lazy. Rather than revising what he had already written, he simply left the text descriptions as "black."
Shinji really wanted to complain to Nasu—You're taking laziness to a whole new level, seriously!
Shinji had encountered the exact same issue while adapting FSN into a film.
Especially in this battle scene inside a cave. Due to the dim background, even with purple accents, Rider still appeared as a dark mass on screen.
More importantly, her colors clashed severely with the corrupted Arturia (Saber Alter). When their fight intensified, their movements became so fast that the audience could barely tell them apart.
Shinji's solution? Lighting.
Since Saber Alter's red markings were designed to glow due to magical energy, Shinji applied a layer of red magical fluorescent paint to her armor and sword.
He had used this trick before while filming Fate/Zero (FZ)—specifically for objects turned into Noble Phantasms by Lancelot's ability.
Originally, this type of paint was used by magus families to create defensive barriers, similar to the boundary field around the Emiya residence. When exposed to magical energy, it would glow.
With this, even in a pitch-black scene, Saber Alter could still be distinguished by the red glow.
Rider received a similar treatment.
However, since there was no "Alter" version of her, Shinji reinterpreted it as a "full power combat mode."
Starting from her glowing eyes, he applied streaks of purple magical fluorescent paint along her body's curves, the edges of her outfit, and her hair.
Rider wasn't happy with this decision.
Unlike Arturia, who had the paint applied to her armor, Rider had to endure it on her skin and hair, which made her uncomfortable.
That was why she was irritated with Shinji after filming.
But the results? Absolutely stunning.
On the silver screen, Rider's silhouette streaked across the ground at extreme speeds, the purple glow tracing her motion like a meteor cutting through the night sky.
In contrast, Saber Alter stood firm like a black sun.
She maintained her stance effortlessly, parrying Rider's fierce attacks with ease.
No matter how swiftly Rider leaped back and forth, aiming for blind spots, Saber Alter only needed a single swing to deflect all of Rider's daggers.
This stark contrast—one in constant motion, the other unwaveringly still—thrilled the audience while also sparking a bit of curiosity.
Although most fans preferred Saber Alter's black lace dress, the glowing red armor was undeniably cool.
And as for Rider? There was no need to say more—her toned thighs, smooth back, and perfectly curved hips…
Every single detail danced wildly along the XP thresholds of most male audience members.
However…
"This flashing red and purple light… Why does it feel so familiar?"
Chai Song squinted his eyes, unable to figure it out.
"Hmm… I think I got it," Fujita said, hooking a finger into his ear. "Doesn't it look just like the neon lights of Tokyo skyscrapers at night?"
On the screen, the flashing lights from Saber Alter and Rider did have a cyberpunk feel to them.
Unfortunately, in this world, the first cyberpunk film, Ultraseven X, was still in production, so Fujita couldn't have used that term.
That said, Fujita wasn't entirely wrong.
The real inspiration for Shinji's lighting effects in this fight scene actually came from the custom-built PC cases he had seen in his past life.
It didn't really matter what the style was—as long as the lights were bright enough and flashy enough, it was cool.
After all, what's considered tacky is always relative. Since this kind of "ghostfire punk" lighting hadn't caught on yet, audiences simply found it fresh and novel.
But even the most spectacular fight must eventually come to an end.
As the battle dragged on, Rider's attack speed began to slow.
It was clear that a prolonged fight put her at a disadvantage.
More importantly, with nearly limitless magical energy at her disposal, Saber Alter could instantly heal any superficial wounds.
Meanwhile, Rider, lacking a Master to provide backup, couldn't afford to take any damage at all.
This fight was like a smartphone trying to outmatch an Alienware gaming laptop in performance.
And to make things worse, the laptop was plugged into a power source, while the phone was running on a limited battery.
Gradually, the battle shifted in Saber Alter's favor.
Rider was still attacking relentlessly, but only to keep Saber Alter from going on the offensive.
Because the moment the black knight launched an attack, Rider wouldn't be the only one in danger—the boy behind her would be instantly slain as well.
By now, Rider's legs, worn from overuse, were beginning to break down from the inside.
In contrast, Saber Alter remained completely unscathed.
In skill, stamina, and magical energy—the three most important factors in a Servant battle—Saber Alter outclassed Rider in every way.
Watching from the sidelines, Shirou Emiya understood the situation clearly:
The moment Rider lost her greatest strength—her speed—they would be defeated.
And that moment was only a matter of time.
So—
Just as Rider surged forward once more, Shirou released the restraint on his left arm.
"Projection—begin! Aghhh—!!"
Even activating his magical energy caused him immense pain.
Archer's arm was already pushing his body and soul to their absolute limits.
One more step beyond this—
"I will no longer be myself— But even so—!!"
On the battlefield, Saber Alter's longsword slashed through empty air.
Rider had already escaped from her reach.
The two Servants were now at the farthest distance from each other.
Rider was ready.
Meanwhile, Saber Alter's legs were bound by chains.
"Rider——!!"
Shirou knew this was the moment Rider had been waiting for.
He was ready to act.
"Hmph—You think something like this can hold me?"
Magic surged through Saber Alter's body, shattering the chains with ease.
But—
It was already too late.
Rider's hand swung forward.
She drew the summoning magic circle.
In front of her, a massive eye, formed from gathered blood, emerged.
Rider was fully prepared to unleash her Noble Phantasm—her only chance at victory.
"A mere Noble Phantasm—"
Dark magical energy surged, whipping up violent winds as Saber Alter's sword began to glow with searing heat.
The tainted Holy Sword was ready to sever the incoming meteor-like impact.
"This is it!"
Every fan who had seen the Fate/stay night movie was on the edge of their seat.
One by one, they sat up straight, waiting eagerly for the scene they had been anticipating.
"Tribute! It's all fucking tributes!"
"I wonder who'll win this time?"
"Saber Alter shouldn't lose. She's way stronger now than before!"
…
As fans speculated furiously, the clash of Noble Phantasms finally arrived.
Saber Alter raised her blade horizontally.
The black magical energy first contracted, then traced an arc, and finally, at the moment of critical release, transformed into a burst of dark starlight.
On the other side, Rider had already summoned her Pegasus. Cloaked in white light, she flicked the reins.
"Bellero——!! (Bridle of——!!) "
Rider chanted her Noble Phantasm's true name.
"Excalibur——!! (Sword of——!!)"
Saber Alter did the same, revealing the true name of her blackened Holy Sword.
"Phon——!! (Chivalry——!!)"
"Morgan——!! (Promised Victory——!!)"
Saber Alter's sword erupted into a blaze of raging black flames. Meanwhile, Rider's white radiance illuminated the void.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze.
If the battle followed the logical course of their current conditions, Saber Alter should have won.
However, unlike the rooftop battle in the movie version, this time, Rider had a reliable Master.
Though they hadn't formally established a contract, Shirou Emiya was still her temporary Master, fighting alongside her.
And compared to Shinji Matou, Shirou Emiya was far more dependable in battle.
As Saber Alter launched her attack, Shirou charged forward to fulfill his role.
The missing portion of Rider's Noble Phantasm—he would supply it!
"I'll create the opening! Projection—begin!"
The projection was completed in an instant.
Using the knowledge inherited through his arm, Shirou projected the weapon that would secure Rider's victory.
"Rho Aias——!! (The Seven Rings that Cover the Burning Heavens——!!)"
The moment he chanted its true name, it materialized.
A storm of red petals shielded against the tide of black light.
The next second, Rider, mounted on her Pegasus, crashed into Saber Alter.
The swirling black radiance shattered, its fragments drifting down like scattered feathers.
Both Servants were thrown apart by the immense impact.
As Rider slammed into a rock wall, Shirou moved.
He ran forward, unsheathing the Azoth Sword that Rin Tohsaka had given him.
"Shirou….?"
Saber Alter slowly lifted her head to look at him.
She made no attempt to resist.
Shirou, too, gazed firmly at the black-clad knight.
Then—
With a decisive strike, the notorious "Whoever Gives It, Gets Stabbed" dagger pierced through Saber Alter's heart.
"Nooooooo!!!!!!"
Outside the screen, Fujita and the other Saber Alter fans clutched their heads and wailed in agony.
"Not this scene too!! Don't pay tribute to that moment from the movie!!!"
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