Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 432 The Zero Point of the Story (Fate/Zero Complete)
When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by scorched earth.

It looks like there's been a big fire.

The surrounding flames were as intense and unstoppable as in the movies and in my memory.

My eyelids felt unusually heavy, as if someone was holding them back from falling open.

There's no way to open your eyes, observe your surroundings, and determine the exact size of the fire.

Therefore, they are unable to determine their location.

But I could still clearly hear the roar of the collapsing buildings around me.

It also keenly captures the crackling sounds of various types of wood burning.

And then I heard these unfamiliar voices.

As if by instinct, my body raised its hand without thinking.

It sent out distress signals to all directions.

It's like a person who has fallen into the water and is about to drown, trying to grab onto something in order to survive.

After realizing that his body had made this foolish move.

My past experiences and life story make me want to give myself a good scolding for acting so cowardly.

Anyone who has received a normal education and whose intelligence is at the average level.

A little thought will lead to a conclusion.

Being in the heart of a fire so large it could cause buildings to collapse, I couldn't get any help even if I reached out.

Even firefighters who respond to an emergency in an instant may be forced back by flames outside the building.

If you want to get out of the fire and survive, you need to achieve the goal of "staying alive".

There was no other way but to stand up on your own.

Yes, there is no other way.

Everyone except yourself will eventually leave you; there is no one you can rely on.

In the end, the only person you can truly trust and rely on is yourself.

Therefore, in the end, only you can save yourself.

This is also why she was determined not to involve that man or anyone else, and to carry out the 'mission' alone.
-
But when I said those words in my heart, I felt like crying for some reason.

The heart also became fragmented.

It's as if I've betrayed something.

Therefore, it was as if he was trying to convince himself, or as if he was trying to convince himself of something he had forgotten.

I mentally repeated those words aloud, almost intentionally.

He raised his hand for a few more seconds, continuing this pointless and boring action.

[A waste of energy.]

After making this judgment instinctively in my mind.

I then wanted to put down that outstretched hand.

To conserve the little energy left in their bodies so they can get out of the fire.

But it doesn't matter anymore.
-
The cost of that [Projection] exceeded the healing limits of the [Reversal Spell] skill.

Presumably, even the "Reversal Technique" mentioned by that man, with its ambiguous prefix of "high-level skill with multiple trait bonuses," is likely not the real thing.

That's probably impossible.

After all, the man said something like that when he was teaching this skill.

Even if many memories are lost over time, they can be recalled with perfect clarity as long as this skill is used.

"If the physical damage does not last longer than a certain period of time, it should be recoverable.

"Although this skill is powerful, it can only restore the body to its previous state for now."

After explaining the basic functions of the skills, and after asking questions with surprise.

The man paused, then added this sentence.

"Also, if the body is cut in half or the brain is completely destroyed, this skill cannot be used.

"So it alone cannot save your fiancée, the only one you want to spend your life with, but who has a congenital physical defect."

"Instead, I need the help of a puppeteer I know."

"Furthermore, even if one travels through time, it would be impossible to save your father, Emiya Kiritsugu, whose organs were in complete failure and who eventually died, just like an old man."

"It's even more impossible to resurrect someone who's already dead."

After reliving the memories that surfaced in his mind once more, the red archer gave a bitter smile.

He then added, to his own self-serving, flawless disclaimer.

"Of course, this is only true for the moment."

"Maybe in the future I'll be able to surpass this skill itself!"

Then, almost instinctively, he used the [Reversal Spell] on himself once.

Sure enough, it failed.
-
After receiving the expected answer, the red archer did not feel the slightest bit disappointed.

Even though he possesses abilities beyond the limits of his skills, he is currently unable to heal himself.

Because the pre-projection of [All Symbols Will Break the Rules] severed the contract with Kiritsugu, preventing him from being influenced and controlled by the black mud.

The magic power can no longer be replenished from the Master.

The magic power provided by the skill 【Solitary Action A】 is also about to run out.

Meanwhile, the ritual known as the Holy Grail War has ended with the destruction of the Holy Grail.

The black mud that had previously provided magic power to him through his shared evil has also disappeared.

Therefore, the magical power or energy within one's own body used to activate this skill.

It's like the pockets of a gambler who's lost everything—completely empty.

Unless one can conjure up a rain of magic to replenish their magic.

Otherwise, there is no possibility of a cure.

At the same time, this applies to Shirou Emiya, who became a Guardian but was not a legitimate Heroic Spirit, or later Shirou von Einzbern.

This mission is now complete.

It is about to enter the 'awaiting recycling' stage.

Therefore, even if I manage to escape this fire, my shattered self will probably disappear immediately.
-
But even if such a fact is clear.

The red archer, now renamed [Shirou von Einzbern], resolutely opened his eyes.

He sat up halfway, trying to do something else.

The plot has changed, and the future is unpredictable.

It's possible that he won't become [Emiya Shirou] or [Shirou von Einzbern].

Therefore, it is impossible to summon the man as Saber ten years later to solve a series of problems in the future.

I need to do something more in these last few minutes.

He simply opened his eyes and saw the raging fire all around him and the surrounding ruins.

The red archer was stunned for a second.

Even if one's past memories are preserved over time and through the execution of multiple tasks.

It's worn out, just like a brake pad that's been used for many years.

But after seeing this scene...

Those hazy memories, like a dog that faithfully retrieves a frisbee after it has been thrown, surged up again.

"This is, that day."

With just a glance, the exhausted red archer, who was half-sitting up, spotted a strangely familiar charred corpse.

Meanwhile, in this fiery red world.

I saw the child who had collapsed in the fire due to exhaustion, and could only desperately reach out to the sky for help.

Or.

[My past self].
-
Although he lost a lot of his memories due to lack of oxygen at the time.

When Kiritsugu Emiya adopted her, she had even forgotten what the person who saved her from the fire looked like.

Surprisingly, the red archers could remember everything clearly, no matter when.

That hell so despairing and the sights seen within it.

The person who turned to charcoal in the fire and himself, the only one who survived.

The red archer looked at himself in the distance, reaching out to the sky for help.

He suddenly stood up, ready to save himself.

But it seems to be due to the erosion caused by something called 'black mud'.

He hesitated for once as he stood up.

Even though the 'plot' has changed quite a bit.

But judging from this fire, which seemed destined and unchangeable.

Right now, I am clearly witnessing a 'history' that is bound to happen and come to an end.

Or rather, the 'zero point' that constitutes who you are now.

If you don't want to change 'history', and you don't want to disappear.

She also didn't want to ruin the chance to summon that man in the next Holy Grail War.

All you need to do is do nothing.

Just wait for the person who will save your past self to appear.

At the same time, this also allows them to achieve their own goals.

My wish is to go back to the day I was saved and see what the person who saved me looked like, a memory I've forgotten because of brain damage.
-
Once such a thought arises in one's mind, all sorts of extremely despicable excuses follow one after another.

Then it welled up in my heart.

[Your magic power is almost gone; the released [Reversal Spell] cannot save him!]

This is a reasonable excuse.

[Saving him will sever your connection with Kiritsugu Emiya and Illya.]

Do you want to become strangers to them?

This is a selfish excuse.

Even if he does nothing, someone will save him.

If you save him, your existence might disappear.

This is an excuse for believing in the elusive concept of fate.

However, even if a thousand or even very reasonable excuses suddenly come to mind.

Without a moment's hesitation, the red archer resolutely stood up.

I stumbled and staggered back to my past self.

Just like the words spoken by the man she summoned, whom she only just remembered.

"When looking back at the things you gave up, if you want to find excuses for them."

"The excuses that can be obtained are too numerous to count."

"The reasons for abandoning justice and embracing evil are varied and often quite moving."

"Even if I say it out loud, people will think that I am justified in doing such a thing."

Reach out and grasp your past self, using your last remaining magic to activate the Reversal Spell to heal the enemy's red archer.

Looking at this familiar hell, he spoke of what he had already forgotten.

But now, the answer the other person gave me back then suddenly comes to mind.

"But to persist in this matter, all you need is a simple reason."

"Furthermore, no matter how tragic a person's past is or how much harm they have suffered, it is not a reason to do evil and harm other innocent people."

"The evil deeds committed are real, and while there are extenuating circumstances, they are unforgivable."

For him now, many things are in the past.

Over the long years, I have also had many things taken away from me and lost many things.

But the only thing that stands out is failing to save someone in distress and murdering them.

I can't do it myself.
-
The red archer picked up [his past self], who had fainted due to lack of oxygen.

They crawled, little by little, towards the edge of the fire.

At the same time, she gave the answer she had received from that man, an answer she had already forgotten.

So, in any case.

"Don't use these excuses to become the kind of person you hate."

At the same time, feeling that he could not get out of the fire, he looked up at the sky.

It's like waiting for a ship at an airport.

I hope that a torrential rain, which will not happen in the story, will arrive, but will be enough to quench the thirst of hell.

How could that be? If I remember correctly, that fire burned for a very, very long time.

As he looked up, the red archer laughed self-deprecatingly.

Then, the next moment.

The magical raindrops fell on his face. It was raining.

After the [Spiritual Source Returns to the Edge] disrupted the effectiveness of [World Weaving Technique],

Fuyuki City experienced a rain that was not supposed to fall.
-
Following the directions given by Kiritsugu Emiya, after crossing three city blocks...

Fang Yi saw the red archer, or rather, the [Guardian] who had turned black, panting.

She was pregnant with a child whose face was obscured by a thermal blanket.

Therefore, Fang Yi resolutely walked up to the two of them.

I greeted them with the mist of [Reversal Technique - Enhancement] and performed the treatment.

After ensuring that the child, whose face was obscured and who had fallen into a coma due to lack of oxygen, was breathing steadily.

Fang Yi then took out a slow recovery pill that hadn't been used for a long time and was on the verge of being obsolete.

He fed her the leftovers from the bottom of Miss Zhuang's bottle of "Short-acting Holy Water No. 5" and it cured some of the aftereffects.

They then approached the red archers, who were already showing signs of disappearing but remained silent.

Knowing that the other party was unwilling to say much, he asked some useful questions indirectly.

"Time is of the essence, so I won't bother with pleasantries like thank you."

"I'd like to know some of the possibilities surrounding this knife."

After seeing the other party's [projection], Fang Yi was ready to directly copy the answer and obtain some reference solutions for repairing and improving the knife.

Without exchanging pleasantries, the red archer directly revealed the answer to the riddle.

"The heroic spirits I summon don't often use that sword, but rather a [Minister's Tool]."

"According to him, it seems that it was because he did not acquire a skill in advance and also gave up a trait that he could take from his enemies."

"Therefore, no smart recommendations related to the knife were received during settlement."

"Therefore, the time of a [derivative world] was wasted, the progress was slowed down, and the knife could not be used at the beginning."

Fang Yi was only surprised that his [Heroic Spirit] status was actually effective and that he could really be summoned.

Then he instantly realized that what the other party was referring to was the [Resonance Spirit-Empowered Blade] that he had not yet solidified in the [Book of the Deceased].

Clearly, this skill is the key to Zhang Yong's ability to develop his sword into something similar to a Zanpakuto.

When she killed Sesshouin Kiara, she also killed her Master.

There is also an option to choose payment points, which can weaken the traits gained from "Substituting One Thing for Another" and also speed up the process.

I need to obtain these items before the settlement.

Upon seeing Kiritsugu Emiya's figure appear in the distance, Fang Yi tentatively asked the last question that would guarantee a definite benefit.

"What should I pay attention to regarding [talent]?"

Without hesitation, the red archer pointed out a possible 'wrong option' made by Fang Yi.

"The opportunity to gain additional talent benefits is more valuable than merit."

"There's no need to worry about not having enough merit points to take away a puppeteer who healed Ilya. Just accumulate them naturally."

Fang Yi instantly understood something.

He patted this, saying it would be 'forgotten' if he wasn't careful.

If Miss Zhuang hadn't reminded her, she would have mysteriously forgotten about the man.

He gave the last bit of time back to Kiritsugu Emiya, who wanted to say something.

At the same time, a commitment was made.

"Thank you, I've got it."

"We will respond later."

The red archer remained silent, simply watching Fang Yi's departing figure.

He added a sentence in a low voice.

“I should be thanking you, Saber.”

Then, he walked toward Kiritsugu Emiya.

He handed over "his past self" to the other person, smiling as he spoke.

"Master, the child who survived this disaster."

At this moment, the red archer had a vague sense of the answer he had been searching for all along.

In that hell, for the one who was saved...

There should be more than one possibility.

There is a possibility that he was saved by that man, formed a bond with him, and ten years later summoned him as the Saber to win the Holy Grail War.

There is also the possibility that the man in front of her might bury her in the lost scabbard and thus save her life.

There's even a tiny possibility that Yuta Etotsu, who still owes the other party a favor, could use the [Reversal Technique] to save them.

Or perhaps it will remain as it is now.

Save yourself.

It means they never gave up on their ideals.

My former self, who was once known as Emiya Shirou.

He looked at his past self and did nothing unnecessary to interfere in the other person's life.

There was no deliberate attempt to replicate history.

In the very end, his thoughts were unusually simple.

You can be whatever you want, and that's all allowed; it's your life.

[Let me become as twisted as I am again, carrying the ideal of becoming a "partner of justice" all the way to this point.]

Or you can have other ideals.

However, at this moment, the red archer was talking to Kiritsugu Emiya as he was walking towards his demise.

But then I faintly heard an unfamiliar notification sound in my ear.

That sentence seems to be...

[You meet the requirements and have been selected as a prospective 'scavenger'. Please...]
-
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Fang Yi!"

"Words cannot describe the great deeds you have accomplished. After today, you will be a hero of our time, someone who will ascend to the Throne of Heroes."

"But right now, I really can't offer any compensation."

"I even had to borrow money for my plane ticket for this Holy Grail War! I'm so sorry!!"

When Waver emerged from the lingering effects of his servant's death, he saw the man returning to the battlefield.

Mustering his courage, he lowered his head and uttered such a blatantly absurd statement that anyone who heard it would feel as if he were about to renege on his promise.

However, Fang Yi, who was receiving a bracelet-shaped "token" from a woman in a white cloak, simply waved his hand upon hearing this.

This future magician is very skilled at teaching and has nurtured countless outstanding talents; he will become [El-Melloi II].

They asked for a simple reward and made an investment in the future.

"Then let's make a note of this debt for now."

"Then, make good use of your strengths and accumulate some novel items like the [Magic Eye]."

"Also, if possible, I would like to teach the children of the Tohsaka and Matou families in the future."

"Of course, don't be too deliberate, just give them a chance."

Miss Merlin appeared here as if she had foreseen the future.

She brought herself a keepsake bracelet woven by Matou Sakura in advance.

Fang Yi was naturally happy to offer some extra help to the two little girls who had obtained the [token] for him.

On the other side, there is also a combatant named [Grey] who will gradually grow into a being similar to the 'King of Knights' due to the influence of Artoria's summoning.

It's a good childcare center.

Meanwhile, this kind-hearted magician will later come into contact with the Mystic Eye Collection Train, which contains many Mystic Eyes.

They might even come into contact with the Albion Tomb, which is related to the Dragon Heart on their own bodies.

The investment now will allow him to reap many valuable benefits related to alchemy and physical modification in the future.

Weber was puzzled by the 'reward' the other party was asking for.

But they still made the promise with unusual seriousness.

"I will work hard to accumulate wealth and await your request."

"I've also written down the names of those two children."

Then, at Fang Yi's suggestion, they left the place.
-
Looking at the man in front of her.

Miss Merlin subtly tugged at her sleeve.

It contained the broken blade made from scraps of men's swords collected from the battlefield, scraps with no recycling value.

She planned to hand this item over to that easily fooled, powerful [Relic] named [Rin Tohsaka] who desperately wanted to summon a Heroic Spirit.

Then create some unexpected 'surprises' for your Master.

Then, she was met with the extremely cold and murderous gaze of Miss Zhuang, who had exhausted her Command Seals and was unable to control herself.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to shake hands with the man, she secretly scratched his palm.

Using illusion magic, she whispered a sentence in the man's ear.

"Mr. Fang Yi, if you want to take me away next time..."

"Remember to accumulate more merits and points, I have high hopes for you!"

"Your progress here is a little faster than my Master's."

"Of course, it wouldn't matter if the Master took me away; it might even be more exciting."

As she spoke, Miss Merlin generously returned the relic, the severed bond, which had already become a token of value, to the man she had taken earlier.

He gave me a knowing look.

"This [relic] is truly unforgettable."

After saying those explicit words, she looked at the man with a rather strange expression.

Miss Merlin then openly patted the man on the shoulder and generously put her arm around him.

There was absolutely no shock at the man "saving the world".

Instead, he offered empty praise and then said goodbye.

"To be honest, Mr. Fang Yi, I didn't expect this kind of ending to the story!"
"I am very happy to watch your journey; you are much more interesting than those Knights of the Round Table."

"My lord, hero."

"if you can.
"Ouch! Ouch! Master, let me..."

With an unfriendly expression, Miss Zhuang pushed Miss Merlin aside and said the following to the man.

"I have something to tell her, and some things about the Tohsaka family, before I return."

"Wait a minute, don't forget to see you in the space."

"I'll give you something, along with that deal, and I'll also teach you some 'common sense'."

"Before entering Rank 2, we have a considerable amount of time to 'pack our bags' in the space."

After seeing Fang Yi nod, Miss Zhuang immediately took Miss Merlin away.

Fang Yi then walked towards Etsuku Yuta, who was panting heavily and had just run there.
-
Yi Gu You Tai, panting and leaning on his knees, saw that Fang Yi had not chosen to return but remained here.

His eyes lit up instantly.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and expressed his gratitude directly.

"I haven't had a chance to say thank you for this mission."

"In the end, by simply following Mr. Fang Yi's orders and doing simple things, I became much stronger."

"But without Mr. Fang Yi's plan, without that hand he gave me..."

He was halfway through his sentence when he glanced at the countdown that suddenly appeared in front of him: "'Scavenger,' you have 0 minutes and 34 minutes left until your return."

Yi Guyou directly handed Fang Yi a scroll-shaped item.

"There's probably no time to say anything more right now."

"I can't teach you the [Simple Domain] either, so please accept this gift that can integrate multiple skills."

"I hope we'll have the chance to meet again someday."

"excuse me!"

Then, he ran toward the red archer who was disappearing to the side.

It seems the boy and the red archer have a good relationship, and he wants to say something to the archer.
-
Fang Yi then walked to a spot not far away, occasionally peeking out to observe the swordswoman.

The swordswoman, who was about to become a special [follower] and had a strong desire to steal from him, saw her Master approaching.

He first looked around, and then handed over an item.

It simply expressed my feelings.

"Please do not abandon your swordsman."

"I promised before that I would stay with you, Master, all the way to hell."

Fang Yi simply accepted the item and then responded to the swordswoman with a simple remark.

"Okay, let's go."

The two returned directly to the space and began the process of transforming the swordswoman into a special [follower].

These special "followers" seem to be a 'perk' of this extremely difficult "assessment task".

(End of this chapter)