Fate/Grand Order story · Part 2: Cosmos in the Lostbelt, Realm of the Thanatos Impulse, Traum
Glorious Knights, Secret Escapades
Realm of the Thanatos Impulse, Traum. Righteous Realm Base
7 scenes, 548 lines
1. Before the battle
115 lines
Morning! All set?
You know it!
I'm so sorry, Master.
The Ortinax's maintenance is coming along well...
...but I'm afraid there are still some malfunctions that will probably prevent me from joining you in this battle.
It's okay, Mash. You can join us whenever you're able.
？！
Thank you, Master!
I gotta say though, it's gonna be rough for us without a Shielder here.
...I know. I'm sorry...
Hey, none of that elbowing in the ribs or stomping on my foot shit just for telling the truth!
...All right.
The Revenge Realm is home to Kriemhild, Zhang Jue, and 12,000 Servants.
They've also got a mysterious Archer who killed Kōnstantînos from over twenty kilometers away.
Saying the odds are against us would be waaay underselling it. You could even say we're pretty much guaranteed to lose...
...if we were fighting a conventional war, that is.
But we're all heroes. Triumphing over impossible odds is what we do best.
Didn't we just get our teeth kicked in in a preeetty similar battle?
It's different now though.
We don't have a secret we need to protect anymore.
So all we have to do is keep moving forward, regardless of what's in our way!
Also, damn, Astolfo, don't be such a downer!
Once we're done here, you're gonna give me ten laps around campus!
Okey dokey!
As for the Archer, I came up with a plan.
When?
Well, my first thought was to lash Roland to a spear and use him as a shield.
What is WRONG with you!?
So yeah, I thought better of that one. Instead
I'll go.
My Noble Phantasm should be able to endure this Archer's arrows, no matter how strong they may be.
So I'll fight on the front line and use my sword primarily for defense.
The only problem is, I won't also be able to pay much attention to nearby enemy soldiers.
Don't worry about that.
Fujimaru, me, and my paladins will handle them.
Except for you, Astolfo.
Hm?
You're my secret anti-Archer weapon.
I want you to walk with us until the Archer makes their move...
...then take them down no matter what.
...As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty. I'll fight like my life depends on it!
Don Quixote, I want you protecting Count Vlad, Pope Johanna, and Sancho from the middle guard.
Yes, sir!
Most of us just have to worry about charging ahead, but you're a knight, which makes you the best choice to protect the middle.
Sir Quixote. As a fellow seasoned knight-errant, I will be counting on you to keep those three safe.
...It will be my honor!
Good. I will be counting on you as well.
Okay, Lord Fujimaru, let me give you this now before things get hectic.
The Holy Grail!
？！
That's right. Since your survival matters more than any of us, I want you to have it.
Okay. Xu Fu, I'm assigning you to the middle, too.
Can I go home if I get tired?
Go nuts. Not sure how easy it'll be for you to make it back in the heat of battle, though.
What about me, Emperor Charlemagne?
Hmm... Can you bring up the rear?
Of course. Bringing up the rear is a knight's greatest honor. Consider it done.
...
No, sir, you can't trade places with him just because you're jealous.
I know that!
This marks the beginning of our second major battle.
Even attempting tactics or coordinating troop movements would be an exercise in futility.
Our only path to victory is to keep pushing forward as fast as we can.
Once we leave this place, we will no longer have the luxury of turning back.
If you don't think you can handle what is being asked of you, then either end yourself now or go over to the enemy's side.
... ...
All right, my Master. Before we leave for the battlefield, there is a ritual we must complete.
Please, give us the order!
Everyone, move out!
？！
Our lookouts have reported that the entire Righteous/Reinstatement Realm's combined army is on the move.
All 1,005 them.
Huh? That's it?
They're valiant soldiers.
Valiant soldiers...
Remember this well, Caster.
Valiant soldiers are those who fight as though their lives depended on it. They never once hesitate or waver.
They are the strongest kind of soldier in the world.
Be that as it may, we're under no obligation to face them head-on.
We can just take our time surrounding them.
...No. We're going to fight them with everything we've got.
Huh?
If we show any hesitation, they'll pounce on it in a heartbeat.
The only match for their mad soldiers is our own mad soldiers.
...Hmm.
Prepare Tametomo.
Have him snipe the elite Servants that will surely be found among their front ranks.
At once.
I'll wait here. Remember, all of you: failure is not an option.
If our enemies should make it to this throne room, I expect all of you who still live to pay with your lives.
Yes, my queen!
Kriemhild's heart starts to beat faster, elated at the thought of what's to come.
She imagines every Servant in the Revenge Realm slaughtering their weak enemies with all of their might.
The strategic part of her mind, however, understands they will be in for a difficult fight.
She knows the enemy's bonds are tight and that they will charge forward with no fear for their own lives.
Against foes like these, who refuse to even let their allies be caught in friendly fire, Zhang Jue's special Qi Men Dun Jia will be useless.
They will let nothing stop their advance on the castle.
Even so, it won't stop me from saying this.
"Die. Die. I want every last one of you to drop dead. Death is what has defined my life."
We're about to make first contact with the enemy! Is everyone ready!?
All good here!
Yup! I've got plenty of stimulant ampoules all set to go!
I am!
Great! Okay, everyone! These plains are our first battlefield!
The enemy army will try to pressure our left and right flanks.
Meanwhile, we're, of course, going to keep trying to break through their center!
The Servants on our right and left flank will probably try to chase us down.
But just ignore them! All we need to do to get through this is to be faster than them!
I see. So it's a race, huh? That'll keep things nice and simple!
Yup. If we let them drag out our head-on assault, that'll be it for us!
All right, let's do this! My name is Charles! You all know the rest!
You could at least give us your full name, my liege!
2. Before the battle
22 lines
We got them! And we haven't even lost any momentum!
Move, move, move!
This is as far as I go. Good luck, my friends!
Same here!
...Let's go!
？！
You know it! Keep running!
Fujimaru! Here's a stim amp!
Thanks!
？！
No need to thank me. You're basically taking out an advance on your own lifespan when you use these things.
Even with your Mystic Code boosts, it's no easy feat to keep pace with Servants for this long.
...All right, enough's enough. I'm doing this whether you like it or not.
Did you really just tuck me under your arm!?
？！
You got a better idea? All the Servants already have their hands full!
Now, hold on! I'm running for it!
Alert! Alert! The Revenge Realm has sent in Demonic Beasts!
And the enemy has caught up to the rear!
Lord Diarmuid is fending them off as we speak!
I see. Well, as he said, bringing up the rear is a knight's greatest honor.
Come on! We need to keep moving!
3. Before the battle
57 linesHrn!
Lord Diarmuid! The vanguard has broken through the Demonic Beasts' blockade!
I see. Then, have the rear guard merge with the middle guard.
Archers, keep firing your Noble Phantasms for as long as you can! I'll take things from here.
What about you, sir?
I'm going to stay behind, of course! Bringing up the rear is a knight's greatest honor.
Now, go on. You should get out of here before
No, sir, I'm staying too. Teamwork is the key to victory, after all.
You do understand you won't survive, right?
So what?
We may be nowhere close to Hassan-i Sabbah's level, but we still do not fear death.
Especially not when we have a chance to achieve the kind of glory in battle we never had when we were alive.
All we ever wanted was love and peace. If our lives are the cost of that, then we'll pay it gladly!
Very well then, Assassin.
Come then! Let us go as far as our path can take us!
Yes, sir!
Though the road before them was hellish, they moved along it with the grace and lightness of those ascending to heaven.
Fujimaru and his team continued to move ever forward, leaving behind everything that might slow them down.
Soon, they would reach the main gate into the Revenge Realm.
It was here that the Archer who felled the Byzantine emperor made his move.
Activate the heavy bombardment puppet archer.
Servant, Archer-class. True Name, Chinzei Hachirou Tametomo.
Target, enemy vanguard. Aim for Charles the Great!
... ...
The monster began to move.
The magical energy being fed to him gave off a ghostly blue light as it swirled about him.
The Casters who had been called on to aid his Noble Phantasm with support spells trembled in fear at the living weapon's sheer power.
The arrows he fired, each with the same destructive force as a sacred or demonic sword from the Age of Gods, were closer to ballistic missiles than normal projectiles.
Even if they could not be fired freely, they were still sufficiently powerful to smash through Kōnstantînos's nigh impenetrable defenses.
Ready to fire! Stand back!
...Here it comes.
Heroes who fight on battlefields sometimes get an intuitive sense of what is to come.
It may not reach the level of a properly defined skill, but their wealth of combat experience helps account for the difference.
On top of that, Holmes had taken testimony from Johanna, Bradamante, and other Reinstatement Realm servants.
He related that information to Siegfried along with an educated guess as to where and when the next arrow would strike.
Now, Siegfried had successfully read that timing himself.
He could sense the incredibly dense arrow bearing down on them, tearing the air apart as it moved faster than sound.
He takes a deep breath.
Get back!
As he spoke, Siegfried took a terrifying step forward.
Behind his back, Astolfo made his move. So far, everything was going as planned.
All the others in the vanguard gave them a little space. This, too, was all part of the plan.
True Ether, release.
Siegfried's fantastical greatsword, a simultaneously sacred and cursed blade, began to unleash its true power.
Pin him down! Don't let him use his Noble Phantasm!
Holding him in place would, of course, be the end of them.
The oncoming arrow would obliterate everything around its point of impact, with no regard for friend or foe.
But if it also succeeded in destroying the small enemy army, that would ensure their victory.
Those who fell in this battle would finally achieve the glory they soughtthe glory known only to those who lived lives complete with triumph.
Everyone there saw victory there for the taking and reached out to try and snatch it.
Fujimaru!
Which is why it fell on him to stop them.
He quickly set about summoning Servants where Siegfried indicated.
I'll settle this in no time...!
？！
4. After the battle
16 linesBlue light exploded where sword and arrow met. The air groaned under the immense pressure. Magical energy spilled out wildly in all directions.
And when the dust settled...the dragon-slaying hero still stood tall.
Whoa...
Not a scratch on him...
Let's go. We should still have some time before the next arrow.
H-he...he isn't even wounded!
This can't be right! It's just not possible!
That same arrow even pierced Kōnstantînos's defenses!
It was little wonder that the Casters had gone pale at this turn of events.
They knew there were few heroes indeed who could survive that arrowa kind of cannon shell that would obliterate most humans' frail bodies.
They had no idea that this new warrior headed their way...
...was both a legendary dragon-slayer and one of the greatest heroes of all time.
A man whose body became invulnerable after being bathed in dragon blood.
When it came to defending a forward march, there were none indeed who could hope to match him.
His name was Siegfried, and the pallid light of his sword tore the red sky asunder.
5. Before the battle
63 lines...He deflected it.
The Archer's aim was not the problem. Someone had interfered with his arrow's trajectory.
The unknown foe's sword was surprisingly durable.
It had to be a Noble Phantasm. No question.
It must either be from the Age of Gods or a part of an incredible legend.
The real problem was what came next.
It was not terribly surprising that this unknown hero managed to strike the arrow with his sword.
What was surprising was how skillfully he dealt with the tremendous energy in the arrow.
No, surprising was not the word for it. It was downright absurd.
Most swordfighters attempting to defend against that arrow would still have been annihilated by the incredible amount of magical energy packed into its shaft.
But this strange foe could endure even that.
And, in defiance of all belief, he did so without taking so much as a scratch.
Obviously, it had to be some sort of Noble Phantasm; perhaps it was one that made him extremely tough or even invincible.
There were many kinds of defensive Noble Phantasms in this world, and Tametomo certainly wasn't intimately familiar with all of them.
Still, he could at least understand durability. What he could not understand was his foe's unreal skill with his sword.
It was not unheard of for skilled swordfighters to deflect bullets with their blade, but no one could possibly deflect a missile.
And there would be no point in even trying, as it would do nothing about the explosion.
There was no swordsmanship in the world that could possibly do anything against an arrow with the power of a ballistic missile.
Or so he had thought.
...Revising trajectory. Initiating recalculation.
Huh? Hey! What's he doing!?
He's supposed to wait for our orders before firing! Shut it down! Shut it down now!
Dammit. Activate emergency shutdown system!
I-I can't! The system's refusing! It's just giving me an error!
Are you kidding me!?
Th-then, does this mean that Chinzei Hachirou Tametomo is
Yes. He's capable of firing of his own volition.
C-cut him off! Cut off his magical energy now, before he
Nobody stops me.
Activating Noble Phantasm. Target, enemy vanguard hero. Call Sign: Dragon.
Although Tametomo hadn't put much thought into the name he gave his target, his selection was more apt than he realized.
The dragon-slayer was, in some ways, a dragon himself. He bore their impenetrable hide and their sharp fangs.
So, what to do? What to do, what to do, what to do?
...Firing volley shot.
Tametomo's arrow split into three in his hands.
The tower was intended only to provide enough magical energy to fire one arrow at a time...
...but now, that restriction was gone.
...Firing Noble Phantasm.
In this Singularity, Minamoto-no-Tametomo had no criteria for right or wrong. He didn't even have the kinds of principles he normally would.
His only purpose was to stand there and fire his arrows.
But that was all it took to drive him mad.
A single one of Tametomo's arrows contained more than enough destructive force to defeat most any hero.
And now, three of them streaked across the pale red sky towards their target.
Here comes another one! All of you, stay back!
Coming in real fast! ...Astolfo!
...There! I can see where they came from! I'll head there right now!
I don't know if I'll be able to come back, so I'm gonna say my goodbyes now!
Master of Chaldea! My liege! My fellow Twelve Paladins!
Farewell!
Go get 'em, Astolfo! And whatever you do, don't screw this one up!
Man, I'm real nervous leaving this all up to you! Wish I could do more to help than just pray!
Hang in there, 'Stolfo! Just focus on what you have to do! Don't think about anything stupid!
Do you always say things like that to comrades heading off to die!?
Good luck, Astolfo!
？！
Thanks, Master! I'll do my best to bring you victory! Hippogriff!
Saber! I mean, Siegfried! I'm all set!
...There! I just saw a light on the top floor of a tower 15.8 kilometers away. That's where you'll find the target!
Roger that!
Now, the only problem is...what to do about these next shots.
Hang in there, Fujimaru! We're all counting on you to keep Siegfried safe again!
6. After the battle
137 linesThere are three this time...!
Siegfried instantly knew it would be impossible to perfectly defend against all three arrows.
So he shifted his stance to be certain he would at least not take a fatal blow.
At first glance, his stance appeared passivefar too passive to have any hope of success.
But Siegfried's was the exception to the rule.
(First arrow...)
Balmung collided with the first arrow, erasing it.
(Second arrow...)
He expertly swung his sword to alter the arrow's trajectory, never once being led astray by its intricately interwoven feints.
But, this was the most Siegfried could do. Even his supreme skill was not enough to completely fend off a third arrow.
This one, he would simply have to endure.
Although the third arrow struck slightly later than the first two thanks to its more complicated trajectory...
...there was still next to nothing Siegfried could do in response.
He could neither deflect it nor evade it. Throwing down his sword and crossing his arms to lessen the impact was not an option, either.
The mostthe very most he could do was to turn his body slightly. Needless to say, it would not be enough to prevent the arrow from reaching his Spirit Core.
At best, he could throw off the arrow's point of impact by a few centimeters. And given its sheer power, it would still be more than enough to kill him.
Or, at least it would have been, were he anyone other than Siegfried.
Minamoto-no-Tametomo's arrow flew true and struck its mark.
This legendary arrow which, let us remember, single-handedly sunk an entire ship.
But Siegfried...
...Target remains alive.
Siegfried still stood, though he was no longer entirely unharmed.
But he retained his grasp on his sword, and his glare at his assailant remained unphased.
It was unbelievable. But unbelievable as it was, it didn't stop Tametomo from finally realizing the truth.
...Damage cut.
The dragon's Noble Phantasm must reduce the physical damage he takes no matter where his body is struck.
It was as though his body had been reconstructed with steel or subjected to a curse.
Regardless, Minamoto-no-Tametomo decided his next move was to find the dragon's weakness.
But then, he noticed the beast flying towards him at the speed of sound.
Intercepting.
Naturally, Tametomo shifted focus to the new threat headed his way. He had expected something like this to happen.
He was not so foolish as to think he could attack the enemy twice without any attempt at retribution.
The Demonic Beast tearing across the sky charged straight at him with incredible speed.
But its flight path was incredibly straightforward, sacrificing misdirection for maximum speed.
This could only mean the enemy had something up their sleeve.
In response, Tametomo fired an arrow at his new target. He certainly hoped to kill it, but did not expect to succeed.
Surely enough, the Demonic Beast made no effort to evade. Instead, the arrow seemed to pass right through its body.
After seeing the target evade his arrow, Tametomo's analysis was complete.
...Calculations complete. Firing.
Of course, not even he could tell how permeable the Demonic Beast was with only one shot.
But he could tell the effect wasn't permanent.
If it were, the beast would obviously remain in that state while making its way towards him.
The fact that it wasn't meant that it must have a limit.
Perhaps it was distance, time, or both. Regardless, Tametomo's response would be the same.
Not an issue.
In a matter of seconds, he calculated the time and distance to his target and loosed a volley of arrows, firing as many as a small army of archers could manage at once.
He knew there would be no way for his target to evade them all, even if he fled into another dimension.
He was right. Three of his arrows pierced Astolfo's body.
Guh...!
Though they lacked the destructive force of Tametomo's Noble Phantasm, the arrows were still more than powerful enough to rip him apart.
But that was okay. He'd known something like this would happen from the beginning.
I'm not done yet!
He kept flying across the red sky, cutting through it like a streak of light.
Astolfo had no fear of death. Indeed, he'd long been absent that particular impulse.
Similarly, he had no fear of pain.
The only fear he felt was the fear that he might not complete his mission.
C'mon, Astolfo! Don't you die yet! Keep fighting! If you die here, that's it for everyone!
Astolfo continued to weave between dimensions until he finally closed in on Minamoto-no-Tametomo.
Okay, Hippogriff! Last one!
Tametomo's arrows sunk deep into the hippogriff's flesh.
My True Name is Astolfo! I am one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne!
The hippogriff crashed to the ground, but Astolfo had already leaped off.
Without wings to carry him, the cavalier fell straight at the Archer in what felt like a charge.
...Reloading.
And even then, Tametomo reacted with almost chilling calm.
He nocked another arrow and took aim for the Rider's heart, his Spirit Origin.
Meanwhile...
Here goes!
Rather than the sword he carried at his hip, Astolfo held the lance from his Noble Phantasm.
This was no coincidence, and it certainly wasn't Astolfo's own idea.
I suspect the Archer who killed Kōnstantînos is making use of that tower.
As I recall, it was designed with a platform that could transform a Servant into a fixed cannon.
Which means there must be a tradeoff.
In all likelihood, this Archer is unable to move from their post and will die if they are rendered unable to receive a magical energy supply through their legs.
They simply could not have pierced Kōnstantînos's defenses without such a severe trade-off.
Magical energy through their legs, huh. Theeen...maybe you could use that thing?
What thing?
You know, your Noble Phantasm. The lance one. Yeah, that's the ticket. Okay, that's settled!
Siegfried, you'll defend against this mysterious Archer's attacks...
...and Astolfo, you'll be the one to take him down!
...Oh, right! THAT one!
That's right. Your Noble Phantasm.
If you can manage to reach this Archer's position...
...that's when you use your Noble Phantasm!
...Are you the one who's going to kill that Archer?
I see.
...I know that Archer was just doing their job. They probably didn't have anything against Kōnstantînos.
They were just summoned, ordered to fire their bow, and did what was demanded of them.
Yeah...
...But even so.
I'm still SUPER pissed at them for killing the man I loved!
So I'm counting on you to avenge him for me! Can I offer you any blessings!?
Hey, if you got blessings, I want blessings!
What...!?
Johanna's holy words were meant to do one thing:
Create a miracle.
Even with his heart pierced, Astolfo stood tall and defiant.
Trap of...
Next arr
Astolfo couldn't take another step.
Even with the pope's blessing, his Spirit Core could not recover from Tametomo's arrow.
But her blessing did let him stave off its effects for a short while.
For a brief moment, Astolfo cheated death.
That was all the miracle he needed to discharge his duty.
With his lance, Astolfo swiftly severed the magical energy connection to Tametomo's legs.
Now that he could no longer use the tower to consume massive amounts of magical energy directly from the leyline...
...Minamoto-no-Tametomo's death was a foregone conclusion.
He tried to stretch out his hand, hoping he may still be able to fight...
...and realized he had no objective of his own.
...If I lived as a weapon, perhaps it is only right that I die as one.
Indeed, this is what was now expected of him.
Of course, a broken down machine could not move. Miracles are the province of human hands alone.
...So this is a miracle.
Nah...I'm gonna die pretty soon, too.
I see. Still, you should be proud.
You have defeated Chinzei HachirouMinamoto-no-Tametomo.
Be proud. You have earned it.
That's cool. I did kinda cheat this time, though.
So, next time, I'll beat you fair and square, and then I'll tell eeeveryone I know!
Aha. I see. Unfortunately for you, that will never happen.
The next time we fight, I will be the victor.
Hahaha! We'll just see about that!
Even with the unsettling red sky looming overhead, the two warriors were still oddly happy.
...Now that was a good fight.
Indeed.
Despite having nothing in commonnot their time, nor their age, nor their culture, nor their race...
...the two Servants both disappeared satisfied, each thinking the same thing.
7. Before the battle
138 linesThe arrows... They've stopped!
All right! Astolfo did it! I've giving him a big reward when he gets back!
Now, keep moving! Don't waste a single second!
One hundred meters to go until we reach the Revenge Realm's main gate!
Whoa, that's close! Won't be much longer now!
Our Casters think the gate can stand up to at least five A-rank Anti-Army Noble Phantasms!
And to make matters worse, it's embedded with a reflect spell that'll send any half-assed Noble Phantasms right back at their user!
...Which is apparently why they call it the Retribution Gate!
Soooooo...
Yeah!?
This might be as far as I go, General!
Got it.
Master! Hey, Master! Roland's probably not gonna make it past here.
So make sure you've got some other Servants ready to go!
...Got it!
Looks like this is goodbye, Master.
I knew backing Proper Human History was the right choice. You guys were awesome!
Hey, give my regards to Don Quixote too, okay?
Oh, and also to that really cute girl who sometimes pops up on your calls!
Hang on. Can you really do this!?
？！
'Course I can. This is Durendal, the sacred sword I inherited from Hektor himself.
The same incredible sword Mandricardo used to create a miracle.
So, now I'm going to show you all the kinda miracle its proper owner can pull off!
Roland!
Yeah!?
It might not've been long, but it was an honor to fight by your side!
Even though, yeah, it really wasn't for very long!
Thanks! 'Course, we would've had more time together if you hadn't gone to fight for the enemy!
All right...it's miracle time!
Sir! The Righteous/Reinstatement Alliance Army has stopped its march thirty meters from the gate!
I believe they're having trouble getting it open!
Good. Have the other Casters layer it with more protective spells.
I don't care where they're fromthe East, the West, the Middle East, South America, wherever. Just cast whatever you've got.
Is that really necessary, sir?
The gate can already shrug off multiple A-rank Anti-Army Noble Phantasms!
It's even been reinforced with a multitude of conceptual spells which make it incredibly difficult even for us to open it once it's been closed.
That's exactly it.
Sir?
At the end of the day, gates are made to be opened, not closed.
If the enemy were to open it not with force, but with a concept that overpowers ours...
...a concept that could render all the hard work we've put into it meaningless...
...they may be able to open the Retribution Gate with surprising ease.
Allow me to handle this one, Lord Siegfried!
It's all yours!
Durendal. Remainder of the great saint. I implore you, grant a miracle unto mine army once again.
Roland's swordthe legendary Durendal.
The sword was once wielded by Hektor, the great hero of Troy.
However, there was one aspect in which it differed from Hektor's time.
Having been possessed by a saint once before, it had gained an additional ability:
Miracles.
Roland raised this sword high above his head to open the Retribution Gatea gate that would surely remain impervious even to Johanna's prayers.
Retribution Gate...open!
Oho, so that's Roland. He's supposed to be the strongest of the Twelve Paladins.
But it seems he's not impervious to arrows.
Odd. They never affected him before...
Guess it just means luck is on our side today. Fire at will!
Hmm, the gate's not budged an inch. I suppose I was worried over nothing.
It won't be long now before we can send in a battalion to surround them.
Then, we'll wipe them all out at once.
...!
Stay back!
Wait! Siegfried might be able to help!
But I thought Roland was invincible!?
That's right. He is.
？！
Roland's always been blessed with an invincible bodya body so hard it may as well be diamond.
It's how he made a name for himself among the Twelve Paladins.
But invincibility alone won't be enough to open this gate. So, he's let go of it.
No. It's more that he gave it up.
All to make this miracle happen.
(But...what if it's not enough? I guess then Siegfried and I'll have to use our Noble Phantasms.)
(It's a big sacrifice... Is this really our only option?)
According to Charlemagne, Roland was giving up everything he had to open the gate.
But, he was actually only half right.
The fact is, Roland was giving up even more than that.
Man... Arrows really hurt, don't they...
Roland smiled wryly as the words brought a froth of blood to his lips. He spat.
But, this'll get the gate open... I'm sure of it...
But it remained steadfastly closed. A miracle, it seemed, would take more than has yet been given.
No! Dammit!
Open... Open... Open up! Come on, miracle!
I'm begging you! Please! Please don't let me be late again!
Please... Please don't let this be another bloody Battle of Roncevaux Pass!
Forget me! I don't care if I survive! Just please, save my friends!
Take my life, if that's what you need!
And if I have anything else to give, take that too! I'll give up everything! Everything!!!
The sacred sword heard his wish.
To give up everything.
That is what it takes for a miracle.
A sacred sword isn't enough. A relic alone won't do the job.
Even throwing in his life wasn't quite enough.
What is it? What more can I possibly give!?
There was one thing. Just one more thing left.
A small, humble dream he had kept to himself.
...That's it!
But, is that really what you want?
... ...
Right. In one sense...I value that even more than my life.
Hear me, gate! I offer you everything I am! All my memories!
Everything, you hear me!? Everything! That includes all the memories of me!
I don't care if nobody ever knows who died to open this gate!
You can even take their joy of knowing who they fought beside!
I don't care if I can never be proud of this accomplishment!
I don't care if nobody ever knows what happened here!
To this day, nobody remembers how or why the gate opened.
They all forgot Roland had fought herethat he had even been there.
Even Sherlock Holmes, who should have been able to piece the events together logically, was none the wiser.
Nor, of course, was Roland himself.
That...is the cost of a miracle.
Come on, miracle! Come on!
At this point, there wasn't even anything human. There was nothing more than a vague concept.
But, at last, the gate began to open.
All right! It's opening! It's really opening!
No idea WHY it's opening, but it is! Come on! Now's our chance!
Why'd it open all of a sudden!?
Charge!!!
Huh!? Who opened the gate!?
I-I don't know, sir! It just started to open on its own all of a sudden!
Dammit! Is there a traitor among us!?
Close it now! Hurry! Hurry up, dammit!
...Fall back! Fall back to the castle!
No one could stop the gate from opening.
To do so would require stopping someone who became the very phenomenon of opening it.
And until the gate was fully opened and closed again...
...that phenomenon would continue to produce a miracle.
And so, once the gate had seen that the last of the Alliance Army's survivors had made it inside, it finally closed itself again.
There appeared to be nothing there. No sign of who had opened the gate or how it had been done.
No one had any recollection, either friend or foe. Not the Master who should have remembered or the observers from Chaldea.
As far as they knew, the gate had opened and closed all on its own.
But that's okay, thought , as he smiled and forgot, slowly disappearing into the ether...
...leaving behind nothing and no one.