[92] The Noble Phantasm of the King of Conquerors
Chapter 92: The Noble Phantasm of the King of Conquerors
Both the actors portraying Saber and Lancer were elite talents from the Imperial Knights. While they lacked the extensive real-world combat experience and flashy battle techniques of seasoned adventurers, their fighting skills exuded the noble aura of ancient heroic spirits. This was largely attributed to the current leader of the Imperial Knights, who ensured his subordinates remained diligent in their training. Consequently, even when abruptly pulled into filming, they performed admirably.
The intense sounds of battle, even during the night, drew the attention of Arkance's residents. Since the film hadn't gained popularity in the eastern region yet, most people didn't realize they were witnessing a movie shoot. They simply believed a fierce real fight was unfolding and came to watch the spectacle.
"Let's take a break, everyone. I need to disperse the onlookers first," Durin announced.
Upon his words, Saber and Lancer immediately halted their intense battle. The actors, deeply engaged in their heated exchange, found the sudden stop somewhat disorienting.
On the other side, Chase, who had been posing, also took a break. While assisting Durin in dispersing the crowd, he discussed the next steps in the filming process.
Honestly, the filming of "Fate Zero" was progressing much smoother than expected, mainly due to the impressive skills of the actors. The Snowflake Troupe comprised seasoned veterans, some of whom had been acting for years. Even the youngest, Chase's daughter, displayed remarkable acting prowess, thanks to her upbringing in the troupe, and showed no signs of stage fright while portraying Illya.
With three films already under his belt, Durin found this project surprisingly easy. He only needed to outline a rough idea of the desired scene, and the actors, led by Chase, would delve into the necessary performances themselves.
This experience made Durin acutely aware of the vast difference between professional actors and ordinary adventurers. Even after filming just a few scenes, the distinction was glaringly clear.
After Durin managed to disperse the onlookers and hired some locals to maintain order, filming for "Fate Zero" resumed!
...
A month earlier, Durin had instructed the workers in Arkance to construct a row of arches on the only bridge spanning both banks of the city. Although puzzled, the workers complied and constructed something that could reasonably be called arches according to Durin's specifications.
At this moment, as the crew arrived to shoot the scene between Rider Iskandar and Waver, the howling sea wind deterred most of them from approaching the precarious arch bridge. Despite Durin's zero-gravity barrier, the sheer height alone was intimidating for any ordinary person.
Consequently, besides Waver and the actor portraying the King of Conquerors, only Durin and the lich Laetitia ventured onto the bridge.
Laetitia, seldom seeing such a vast expanse of sea in the distance, hadn't yet expressed her admiration when the trembling actors nearby disrupted her mood.
Even though they knew Durin, the grand mage, was overseeing them, they still felt uneasy at such heights. While the actor playing Rider, a member of the Knight Order, had some courage, the actor portraying Waver was just an ordinary person. Merely standing here made him feel like he could fall to his death at any moment, let alone act in such an environment.
However, upon seeing his expression, Durin, as the director, didn't get angry. Instead, amidst the howling wind, he loudly instructed, "Yes, just like that. Keep acting like this."
Although the actor portraying Waver, lacking the mental capacity to contemplate what "like this" meant, could only obey Durin's orders, it was a testament to Chase's excellent training as the troupe's manager. With the Snowflake Troupe previously revolving around Chase as the central figure in charge of everything, actors rarely contradicted directors. It was basically a situation of the director dictating the action, and the actors complying.
With filming resuming, the plot of "Fate Zero" continued to unfold.
As the battle between Saber and Lancer intensified, with Saber gradually losing ground, Rider Iskandar exclaimed in surprise, "Uh-oh... This isn't good."
Unable to resist, he stood up.
"W-what's wrong?"
Despite gripping the arch beneath him tightly out of fear, Waver, unable to witness the scene in person, still asked, "What's happening?"
"Lancer has played his trump card; it seems he wants to settle the outcome quickly, but it's not the right time for that..."
"You fool! What are you saying?"
Ignoring Waver's shout, Rider Iskandar simply stomped loudly on the arch beneath his feet. Then, as his trembling master watched in fear, he exclaimed loudly, "I intended to wait and see before the people gathered, but if we continue like this, Saber will be at a disadvantage. It'll be too late to act then."
"Too late? ——Aren't you planning to strike when they're both exhausted from fighting each other!"
"...I say, young Master, have you misunderstood my intention?"
Furrowing his brow, Rider looked somewhat disappointed as he glanced down at his master and said, "I hope the battle between these two Servants can draw out the others. After all, instead of seeking them out one by one, it's better to gather them together and have a grand battle."
"..."
Waver forgot to respond, realizing the vast disparity in understanding between himself and this incredibly brave Heroic Spirit.
"Gather them together... for a grand battle?"
"Yes! Opportunities to clash with heroes and legends from different eras are few and far between. If all six are assembled, I won't let a single one escape! Saber and Lancer, I can see they both possess a thrilling sense of manliness. I admire them, and it would be a shame to let them die just like that."
"If we don't kill them, then what's the plan?! Isn't the Holy Grail War about killing each other!"
In response to Waver's roar, which showed he couldn't understand what the other was saying, Rider Iskandar simply puffed out his chest and said, "Victory without destroying opponents, dominance without humiliating them, that's true 'conquest'!"
In an instant, his sword at his waist slashed through the void, tearing open space. At the same time, out of the camera's view, Laetitia, who had long been prepared, manipulated astonishing magical power to summon a thundercloud.
Indeed, during the discussion on special effects, Durin had raised the question of how to portray the King of Conquerors' chariot. After all, ordinary horses lacked the necessary grandeur, and finding substitutes for mythical creatures like Bucephalus or the Gordius Wheel was too challenging in this world. Fortunately, with the addition of Laetitia, a super-tier lich, there was a solution to this aspect of special effects.
Watching the air boil with soul energy, Durin, unable to imagine the level of existence before the lich, could only try to keep the camera as stable as possible.
Soon, as the swirling torrents of magical energy coalesced, an awe-inspiring sight emerged, leaving everyone who witnessed it deeply shaken.
It is said that each lich possesses the ability to summon beings from other realms, and the most closely connected realm to this world is the Demon Realm, filled with creatures beyond imagination. Therefore, most liches have the ability to summon demonic beings.
Having now met two liches—Laetitia before him and Wiz, whose lich status is ambiguous—Durin had a far greater understanding of these unique undead than the average person. Yet, even with this knowledge, he still found himself frequently awestruck.
For instance, right now, as he gazed upon the chariot pulled by skeletal horses wreathed in azure flames emerging from the rift, even Durin, who had previously witnessed this spectacle to ensure its feasibility, along with the two actors, couldn't help but marvel in disbelief.
Skeletal horses are undead creatures from the Demon Realm. Although having undead creatures appear in a film might seem unsettling, Durin had already filmed a headless horseman before. With that experience under his belt, he felt more liberated this time.
The main reason for choosing skeletal horses was that they were the closest available substitute for the mythical Bucephalus of the original story. Finding a mount that could both serve as a steed and fly was rare, even among undead creatures.
"The time for observation is over. We're joining the battle, young Master."
As filming resumed, Rider Iskandar swung his cloak and leapt onto the chariot pulled by the skeletal horses. Waver, meanwhile, nearly got blown away by the fierce wind generated by the chariot's arrival, clinging desperately to the arch to avoid screaming.
"You idiot, idiot, idiot! What you're doing is reckless!"
"Hmm? If you don't want to come, then stay here and watch!"
"I'm going! Take me with you, idiot!"
"At your command! That's what makes you my Master!"
With a hearty laugh, Iskandar gently grabbed Waver by the collar. Once Waver was situated beside him, Iskandar shouted, "Now, let's go, Gordius Wheel!"
In an instant, his Noble Phantasm responded with a thunderous roar, charging fiercely towards the battlefield of Heroic Spirits in the distance.
Simultaneously, Durin, who had cast a gravity spell on himself, followed closely behind, capturing an impressively dramatic long shot.
As Rider charged into the fray and the camera cut to Saber and Lancer still locked in their duel, Iskandar's voice boomed:
"Both of you, sheathe your swords! You stand before a king! I am Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, summoned in this Holy Grail War under the Rider class!"
With these words, which shattered all previous expectations of the Holy Grail War, the chaotic battle scene of the first act of "Fate Zero" officially began.
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