Fate/Zero

The ultimate battle royale, in which seven Mages each vying for control of the miracle-granting Holy Grail summon seven Epic Heroes and fight until only one remains. Around the world, the selection of participants has begun way in advance of the opening of the Grail War. Eight years ago. The cries of a newborn baby girl echo through the castle of the Einzbern family in Germany.

Irisviel and Kiritsugu play in the Einzbern forest. Saber watches their happy faces from the castle. Kiritsugu hasn't said two words to her since summoning her, so she has been unable to get a feel for what sort of person he is. Suddenly, the seven Epic Heroes were being summoned to Fuyuki City, setting the stage for the Holy Grail War.

Assassin is killed by Archer's fierce onslaught after sneaking into Tohsaka Manor. His death is made known to the other Mages through their familiars. Also the Magus Kirei Kotomine, who has lost his Epic Hero Assassin, appears before the Grail War overseeing body, the Council of Mages, to withdraw from the battle.

Saber faces off against Lancer in a warehouse district. As the tension builds between them, the opening salvo of the war is fired. Irisviel, witnessing the battle between Epic Heroes for the first time and is overwhelmed by the grandeur of it. Elsewhere, Kiritsugu and Maiya are studying the behavior of the enemy Masters who are watching the battle, but then...

Rider appears before Saber and Lancer as they face off. Saber resents her fight being interrupted by the sudden appearance of this interloper. Completely oblivious to this, Rider calls out to those who are observing the battle, hidden in the shadows. Rider was not the only Epic Hero who was drawn to their duel.

In the mountains behind Fuyuki, a car races along the moonlit road. Driving it is an elated Irisviel. And her driving is making Saber rather tense. A mysterious figure suddenly appears before them during their drive. He addresses Saber with deference, but she has no idea who he is...

The Holy Grail War faces a grave threat. In front of the familiars that have gathered at Fuyuki Church, Risei expresses his intent to temporarily suspend hostilities in order to put down Ryunosuke Uryu, the perpetrator of the recent string of kidnappings and murders, as well as Caster, his Servant.

Battles are waged in various locations around Einzbern Castle. Kiritsugu uses firearms to engage Kayneth, who manipulates mana-infused mercury. Saber and Lancer fight side by side to confront and defeat Caster and the Horrors that he has summoned. Elsewhere, Iri senses the presence of a new arrival as she flees the castle with Maiya.

The battles waged at the home base of Kiritsugu's faction has wound down. Kayneth was rescued by Lancer. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself in a bed. His fiance Sola-Ui informs him of the hopeless situation that he is in, and presents him with a certain proposal. Meanwhile, Kiritsugu ignores Saber's advice that the hunt for Caster should take priority.

The perpetrator of the serial killings in Fuyuki remains at large, and children have continued to go missing on a daily basis. In the midst of this, Tokiomi's daughter, Rin, set out onto the city streets alone at night to find her friend Kotone, who isn't answering her calls. Rin spots a suspicious man leading a child through the shopping arcade, but when she follows him, she...

While Kiritsugu is away, Rider rides into his stronghold. Saber is wary of Rider, who has brazenly arrived with no attempts at subtlety. However, Rider has come with a proposal for all those who are called kings to share a drink. Archer also appears, and these three Heroic Spirits who style themselves kings discuss their personal notion of what it means to be a king while they share a drink.

Kiritsugu lies low in a hotel room in Fuyuki by himself, tracking the movements of the various teams. Among these is Kirei, who appears to be hunting him, as well. Not knowing Kirei's motives makes Kiritsugu increasingly irritated. Elsewhere, Iri and Saber move to a new base, a mansion inside Fuyuki City proper. Iri looks around, intensely curious about this Japanese-style mansion.

Waver sets out into town with Rider. He goes into a bookstore and finds a biography on Rider and learns why he was trying to reach the farthest reaches of the East. Elsewhere, Caster and Ryunosuke return to their utterly destroyed workshop. Caster finds a fresh revelation in his discussions with Ryunosuke, and, in the throes of his madness, begins casting a certain spell.