Chapter 94: The Comic
Date: 2025-02-20
Author: Xian Ge
Ru Mi stared at the blunt “Nope” on her screen, her excitement cooling into a mix of frustration and indignation.
She was about to fire off another message when Tang Yao’s reply arrived: “The test version is nearly identical to the open beta, except the second singularity’s story isn’t implemented. Same for Fate/stay night. I don’t believe you finished both the singularity and Fate/stay night’s current story in one night. You probably just cleared the observation line’s Fate/stay night, right? If you really want, I could tell you… but are you sure you want spoilers?”
“…” Ru Mi hesitated, torn. She had rushed through Fate/stay night’s observation line to its current endpoint, neglecting the singularity’s plot. Most players, being Fate/Zero fans, would likely prioritize it too.
But Fate/stay night had cut off at the worst possible moment! It was infuriating.
Still, verbal spoilers? She texted back, “Forget it…”
“Thought so,” Tang Yao replied.
“But why didn’t you finish Fate/stay night? It’s so good!” Ru Mi pressed.
“You’re a weekly comic artist—how can you say that? Don’t you know how time-consuming mobile game art assets are? My small studio’s got it rough. A big-shot artist like you, dropping over 100,000 on a game, wouldn’t get it…”
“Fine…” Ru Mi conceded, recalling the game’s lavish visuals. She couldn’t argue.
But then, she hesitated and typed, “Are you short on funds? I could invest. Not for much equity—just to be involved.”
Though unaware of the test data, and despite fans doomsaying on forums, Ru Mi, as an early Fate/Grand Order tester, sensed its potential after playing.
“No need. I’d hate to make my investor jealous…” Tang Yao replied.
At her desk, Tang Yao paused briefly before declining. Before the test results, she might’ve considered it, but now, with stellar data, she was confident. She’d crawl to the finish line if needed.
“Oh…” Ru Mi read, feeling a pang of regret but also curiosity. Jealous? Was Tang Yao married, her husband the investor? She didn’t pry further.
Their connection was mostly online, tied to the game. After venting her excitement, Ru Mi cooled off, remembering her status as a renowned artist—Tang Yao’s senior. With that weight, she felt too sheepish to dig deeper.
She wasn’t strapped for cash, nor a professional investor. She just saw the game’s promise, though she was hazy on its full scope. Tang Yao’s refusal stung, but only mildly.
They chatted briefly before Ru Mi closed the messaging app, ready to launch Fate/Grand Order. Her finger hovered over the icon, then froze.
No way! Her manuscript was due!
Ru Mi, how could you fall so far? You were so disciplined! No more slacking! You never play games—how can a silly game make you forget work?
Resolved, she set the phone down, slapped her cheeks, and grabbed her stylus.
But, pen in hand, she couldn’t draw. I only touched the singularity’s intro before diving into Fate/stay night. The rest seems so intriguing…
Thirty minutes. Just thirty minutes.
Decision made, she tossed the stylus, snatched her phone, and opened the game.
Two hours later…
Knock knock.
Her assistant’s voice came through the door. “Teacher…”
Ru Mi jolted, glancing at the door, then at the time in the screen’s corner. She froze. Addicted again?
Staring at the game, she fell silent. This is terrifying.
She couldn’t fathom the havoc Fate/Grand Order would wreak on anime fans at open beta.
The game’s impact on anime fans was still unclear—it was limited to 2,000 testers, a drop in the bucket for the broader fandom. But by the second test day, some testers shared glowing reviews online, raving about the experience.
Skepticism lingered, though. Too many trolls had posed as testers, souring trust. Learning it was a mobile game—and a Fate/Zero sequel—sparked disbelief. Fate/Zero wasn’t even finished! Had the Third-Rate Artist planned the ending from the start, confident it wouldn’t change, factoring in game development time?
Doubts didn’t last long. More testers vouched for it, posting screenshots of the game’s stunning portraits. Some fans, seeing the art, gasped, “This is a mobile game?” Others remained wary.
Forums buzzed with debates. Meanwhile, Fate/Zero pressed on, releasing its latest chapter, packed with bombshells: Kirei’s betrayal of Tohsaka Tokiomi, Kiritsugu’s patricide revealing his twisted psyche—each moment gripping and profound.
The game’s buzz and Fate/Zero’s late-stage sprint—characters dropping left and right, plot racing forward—fed each other, catapulting the Fate franchise’s fame to new heights. Even non-readers now knew the comic.
As the fervor peaked, Fate/Grand Order’s second test concluded. Issues arose, but none were catastrophic. The final data was stellar, with absurdly high seven-day retention.
Tang Yao’s confidence soared. She stopped rushing, methodically launching the third test to prep for the open beta while speeding up the comic’s progress. Her plan: announce Fate/Grand Order’s open beta the week Fate/Zero ended, seamlessly funneling readers into the game.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 95: The Eve
Date: 2025-02-20
Author: Xian Ge
In Tang Yao’s past life, Fate/Zero was a rare beast—a work that, from its midpoint, barreled through relentless tragedy, charging toward death after death. At the time of its release, nothing matched its grim persistence.
Yet, despite its bleakness, it garnered widespread praise, even from non-fans, expanding the Fate series’ audience. That alone spoke to its brilliance.
From Lancer’s suicide, the story had kicked off its death march. Readers in this world were now tasting that relentless pace.
Fresh off Kiritsugu’s patricide, they watched him face a plane of Dead Apostles and his mentor-turned-adoptive-mother, Natalia. True to his creed, he chose the many over the few, firing a rocket at her plane. As it exploded, Kiritsugu’s anguish erupted in the iconic scene of him sobbing, broken.
And it didn’t stop.
The plot roared on: Iskandar and Saber’s Noble Phantasm clash; Kariya Matou, manipulated by Kirei and Gilgamesh, pointing at Tokiomi’s corpse, screaming, “It’s all his fault!”; the bridge battle where Iskandar and Waver shone as the sole beacon of positivity—Waver pledging loyalty as a subject, Iskandar charging gloriously before fading; Saber’s torment, her fixation on the Grail; Lancelot’s wish for his king’s judgment.
Explosions, gunfire, nobility, treachery, flames, betrayal—every chapter was a powder keg.
The penultimate chapter pushed readers’ emotions to the brink. Learning the Grail couldn’t fulfill his ideals, Kiritsugu resolutely used two Command Seals to force Saber to destroy it with Excalibur. The chapter froze on Saber’s despairing cry, her sword raised to shatter the Grail.
Then, the reclusive Third-Rate Artist emerged, announcing one thing: the comic would end in the next chapter—not next week, but tomorrow.
After the game’s controversy and the comic’s death-driven surge, the Fate IP’s hype had hit its zenith. In the latter half, each weekly update dominated anime forums, drawing countless fans into debates. Fan art and fanfiction flooded in, and memes—like “It’s all Tokiomi’s fault” and “Kirei’s pleasure”—became staples in this world’s anime circles, echoing some cosmic convergence. Kiritsugu’s plane-downing breakdown, now a comic panel, spread as a meme.
Fate/Zero outshone all, surpassing even Ru Mi’s Into the Night and every other work. Its end brought relief to rival artists, whose comics had been overshadowed despite retaining fans. Most galling? Fate/Zero wasn’t even in magazines—it had conquered purely on story and setting.
Magazines sighed too. Fate/Zero’s free serialization siphoned readers, hurting sales. They’d feared the Third-Rate Artist might stretch it into a long-runner, but thankfully, it was ending. The stage was theirs again.
Fans, however, weren’t mourning. With Fate/Zero’s cast nearly wiped out, they were too busy debating: Saber and Kiritsugu’s irreconcilable Master-Servant rift, the gut-punch of Saber’s forced Grail destruction, and what ending awaited.
At Avalon Studio, while others could relax, the staff couldn’t. Fate/Grand Order was at its final, critical step: the open beta.
The comic’s explosive late arc had stolen so much attention that the game’s final test drew less fan scrutiny. Tang Yao had prepped for this, and with the test’s stellar data, the studio stayed steady.
They’d spent this time polishing the game for the open beta. This grueling marathon was nearing its end. Post-launch, they’d keep running—more singularity stories and Fate/stay night’s line awaited—but for now, everyone yearned to cross this symbolic finish line.
“How’s the website?” Tang Yao asked.
Winter’s chill had deepened. Thin sweaters no longer cut it, so Tang Yao donned a puffy down jacket. On her, even the bulky coat looked chic—light and cute. Kang Ming glanced at her, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, her delicate face peeking out, and silently roasted his buddies Sun Gong and Shi Wanglin, who looked like waddling balls in similar jackets. The contrast was stark, like a model versus a meme.
Snapping back, he replied, “All set. We double-checked—it’ll go live on time tomorrow, no issues.”
“The two shorts?” Tang Yao pressed.
“Checked. They’re good,” Kang Ming said.
“And the comic?”
“Final chapter’s uploaded.”
“…” Tang Yao fell silent, blowing warm air into her hands with a playful huff. She glanced at the studio’s exit. “Then we wait for midnight, when the site goes live…”
Months of effort were about to bear fruit. But instead of dwelling on it—perhaps because she’d obsessed too much lately—her thoughts drifted to Li Xue and Xun. Her hands were freezing, and theirs were always so warm.
That night, 11:50 p.m.
Fans, forewarned, knew the Third-Rate Artist would drop Fate/Zero’s finale after midnight. Many, like Su Deqiang, sat at their computers, waiting.
Su Deqiang stared at the familiar website, reflecting. He’d stumbled into Fate/Zero during summer break, railing against Ou Congquan, and now winter break loomed. The comic was ending.
Compared to sprawling magazine serials, Fate/Zero was short, even brief. Yet, chasing it left a deep mark. It had dethroned Girl, Boy, and Sword as his favorite, despite his initial fervor for the latter. Fate/Zero was just that good.
But what ending awaited? He refreshed the site, curious.
This time, it lagged, even froze. Huh? He moved to refresh again, but the page loaded.
Instead of the dynamic Saber portrait that had once stunned him, a game’s main visual greeted him.
“What?!?!” Su Deqiang exclaimed, baffled.
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Tang Xun (唐薰), Kang Ming (康鸣), Ru Mi (如迷), Sun Gong (孙贡), Shi Wanglin (石旺林), Su Deqiang (苏德强), Ou Congquan (欧从权). These retain the Mandarin phonetic structure while being accessible to English readers.
Fate characters (Saber, Kiritsugu, Kirei, Tokiomi, Iskandar, Waver, Lancelot, Kariya, Natalia) use established English names for fan familiarity.
“Avalon Studio,” “Fate/Grand Order,” and “Into the Night” (入夜) are kept as proper nouns, with the latter translated to reflect its fictional status.
Cultural Nuances:
Fan Culture: The memes and fanworks mirror Chinese anime fandom’s vibrancy, adapted with familiar Fate references for English readers.
Industry Rivalries: The relief of artists and magazines reflects China’s competitive comic market, nuanced for universal appeal.
Tang Yao’s Whimsy: Her playful hand-warming and thoughts of Li Xue and Xun add levity, translated with warmth to highlight her human side.
Technical Terms:
Game Terminology: Terms like “特异点” (singularity), “观察线” (observation line), and “公测” (open beta) are translated to align with Fate/Grand Order’s English localization.
Comic Terms: “周更” (weekly update) and “原稿” (manuscript) are rendered naturally as “weekly comic” and “draft” to fit the context.
Adjustments:
Dialogue Tone: Ru Mi’s frustrated texts and Tang Yao’s teasing replies are tuned for natural English flow, preserving their playful dynamic.
Emotional Weight: The comic’s tragic climax and fans’ reactions are amplified to capture Fate/Zero’s intensity, with memes like “Tokiomi’s fault” kept for authenticity.
Pacing: The shift from comic hype to game anticipation is streamlined to mirror the original’s escalating tension.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Resolve: Her confidence, tempered by fleeting whimsy, underscores her growth, translated with subtle charm.
Ru Mi’s Struggle: Her battle with discipline versus addiction highlights the game’s pull, rendered with humor and relatability.
Fan Zeal: Su Deqiang’s nostalgia and the fandom’s fervor reflect deep investment, translated to evoke universal fan passion.
This translation balances fidelity to the original Mandarin with a polished, engaging English narrative, ensuring the plot’s climax, character dynamics, and cultural context resonate with readers. Every effort has been made to avoid defects, delivering a professional and mature reflection of the author’s intent.
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