Ah, the Death.
A concept well known to all living beings in this world since its mere "existence" has always caused controversy within the "World of the Living". As you all know, every "living" being is subjected to this so it is no surprise that we feel curious and overwhelmed by death.
In my opinion death is quite possibly the most discussed concept in all of human history. Many people have different definitions of what "Death" is.
Christians, as well as many other religious factions, think that death is just the beginning of something new - something better or worse. They think that, once your life time is over, you are judged in Purgatory to decide whether you will go to paradise or hell depending on your actions and "morals".
Buddhists think that once your life ends, depending on your actions and unfinished business, your spirit is reborn on a higher, lower or even the same existential plane where you started... This confuses me because, if we apply this concept to ALL living beings, then what does a snail do to "level up"?
Atheists think that there is nothing beyond material existence and that there is only an infinite void. They say that we simply won't turn into cosmic dust and disappear into the universe – Yes, I know, it's a very gloomy and dark vision.
Ironically, I think the latter are right... Why do I say that? Well, let's say other people can come to the same conclusion as me when we find ourselves in an infinite void after we die.
Yes, that's right. I actually DIED.
And ler me tell you, it wasn't a pleasant experience and frankly I don't want to talk about it. Dying was something that traumatized me to some extent.
I have been in this "Empty World" for a long, long time – Although it is difficult to measure time when you are on an existential plane where the mere concept of "Time" doesn't exist.
At first I got scared and panicked. I was not able to move my body, emit any sound or listen to anything, I was in a semi-vegetative state. I was literally conscious of my existential... But I couldn't do anything. It was as if I had been imprisoned within my own mind.
After a couple of weeks, I went crazy. But the time passed I got bored as hell of it. In the first couple of decades I was so driven for insanity that I actually considered to kill for fun an entire race, ie, mankind— But don't worry guys, I'm now insanitily sane.
—Anyway, during my long stay in this place I had a lot of free time that I used to "see" my past memories over and over again because I didn't have any reading material or other kind of entertainment... And then I came to the conclusion that I never did anything "productive" in my life.
I had a girlfriend, a family, friends, and a decent job. But deep down in my heart I was always unhappy, as I never reached my full potential and wasted many opportunities that came very often.
It came to a point where I began to notice that the things we consider important – such as popularity, money, and jobs – were nothing. It's like I've reached an epiphany. I noticed that these things, which occupy most of our thoughts, were obstacles that had no real value.
I regret many things and, if I were able to live again, I would gladly dedicate myself to improving and enjoying my life to the fullest. All to die without regrets.
I want a worthwhile existence. I don't want to be just another dumbass in a long line of dumbass. I want to make a change.
Your request has been heard, mortal. And your wish will be granted
… Huh? The heck?... Who are you?
I'm just the remanent – the shadow – of an ancient Entity of unparalled power whose existence has been shredered during a fight with another powerful being.
Ah, ooook… So, what do you want?
Nothing, as nothing matters to me now. The only thing I can do now is bestow another beings with a fragment of my own power, thus granting them another chance to live in another world.
Then you want to gave me a second chance to live?... Just like that? What's the catch?
As I say, there is nothing in this world that matters to me. Why would I wanto to trick mortals in the first place? Low-Existence Beings' business are meaningless to me. But if you don't want this gift, I could always grant it to another spirit in this Empty World.
… Well, I guess it can't be helped. I indeed say that I want t olive one more time. I accept the deal, though I warm that I gonna kill you if this is somekind of trick for your own personal gain.
Whatever you say, mortal. In the future you will thank me for this cuz IT will awake one more time. So grow stronger and gather allies, because IT is coming.
Huh? IT? What do you mean by "IT"?
That's nothing relevant right now.
Ok, that's clearly a bullshiting foreshadowing.
…
Hello? Are you in?... Don't tell that… Does It left me here? But It hasn't told me about this supposed "Gift" and—
[Welcome to the [TYPE-MOON's RPG Adventure], Player 04!]
Holy shit… A screen appearing before my sight, a robotic voice greeting me as if this was a Video game…! No way—
This is the Gamer Power!
Nold on… Does the System said I'm gonna be sent into the Nasuverse? The same Metaverse were the vast majority of the protagonist get bittersweet ends that are most bitters than sweet ones? The World were the mages are amoral bastard that do ANYTHING in order to reach their own goals?
You are actually gonna send me to the very World were there are several being aside the magi that threat the mankind? You know, the world were the Greatest Heroes resurrect temporally and fight each others in order to obtain an almost all mighty wish-granting device?
[Indeed, Player 04]
Well shit. I'm gonna die… Again
The Nasuver is one of the deadliest Metaverse you can reborn. Not only there are several magi that can kill an entire nation just to reach their goals as I said before but there are Overpowered Alien-like monsters, Demonic Beings and Ancient Monsters form other dimensions, including Eildrich Abominations!
If you are a powerless human or a powerful but naïve guy, them this world filled with manipulative bastard is gonna smack you and spill you on the ground like a bubblegum.
[Before we can continue with the [Introduction], please select one of the the following [Backgrounds] in the list below the screen]
[WARNING: The setting and even your personality will be influenced by the [Background] selected. Translation, this will rebound in your destination, hasty choices could be fatal in your conditions and you could end in the World of Notes or a timeline where Angra Mainyu emerged victorious in the Fifth Holy Grail War]
Oh, great! That's concerning at all… Why not?
Now this thing is basically saying me that if I chose the wrong [Background] then I could be sent to a post-apocaliptic world like the World of Notes. Meh, it could be worst so it can be helped… I guess.
[Reborn throught Fire – Fate Route]
After a terrible incident you bécame the only survivor of your family, thus you're basically an orphan. However, this tragedy turned out to bless you with great power directly conected to the incident.
[Magic Freelancer – Kaleidoscope Route] [х]
Shortly after your birth you were found by a mercenary Magus who raised you as his son and taught you all his secrets. You are disliked by the most orthodox Magi for your use of modern technology and your lack of interest in reaching the Root. Be the best mercenary in the world and conquest the women hearts!
[Member of the Aristocracy – Apocryphal Route] [х]
Born as a child from a Magi family of the Clock Tower. You will have access to a lot of luxuries for the rest of your life and you will have a safe pass inside the Moonlit Word. You has to reach the Root and get the absolute knowledge!
[Blood Linage – Tsukihime Route]
As a member of an ancient family that carries the blood of one of the most prominent Phantasmal Species in Japan, you got the Oni Kind power running through your veins. Unleash the power of the Crimson Vermillion One!
[Outcast Fighter – Witch Nights route] [х]
One of your ancestor was once a member of a powerful Clan but sudden she abandoned her village and family, stealing several scroll with the ancient knowledge of the entire Clan. Now, several centuries later, you have awaken the latent power of an extinct Clan with god-like fighting prowess. Use this secret techniques to beat your enemies.
[Deadline Journey – Garden of Sinners Route]
Most kids just has a pretty normal and boring life, but you are not one of them. You has a talent to attract the "Supernatural" wherever you go, thus you always has some bizarre adventures even since your childhood. But everything scaled a whole new level when you suddenly met a certain girl with peculiar eyes. And now you have to fight in order to survive at the new misadventure before you and kill a mad monk to regain "normal life" your life
… Damn
Watching all this closely reminds me of the various "routes" you find in a role-playing game. I'm sure these routes cover the most familiar and important worlds within the Nasuverse.
First I encounter the worlds where the main plot focuses on the magi and the spiritual entities known as Heroic Spirits. A region focused on the struggle for ideals and dreams. Fate/Stay Night, Fate/Apocrypha, Fate/Kaleid Prisma Illya... Possibly the best known series within the Nasuverse thanks to Fate/Zero, Fate/Grand Order and Fate/Extra.
... I wonder why those last two are not available in the options... Meh, it shouldn't be important.
—Then we find the less popular yet popular universes.
Unlike Fate's worlds, these three contain more grim and perhaps more relevant themes to understand how this Metaverse works. They are worlds in which we come into contact with the "True Self" behind each person, the secrets of the fantasy world and the important role played by Dead Apostles.
These three worlds are incredible but at the same time they are potentially more dangerous for different reasons - Not every day you meet a beautiful vampire roots give you an omen about the true purpose of the Moon or you meet a sexi magus with the power to control "Extinction" and Time, and I'm sure it's not something mundane to meet a pseudo-Goddess who is directly connected to Akasha.
This is a very difficult thing but from what I see there have already been OTHER players who chose different routes on the Nasuverse leaving only a few options for someone like me - A man who wants to live as well as possible but who wants to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
So many possibilities, and so little time.
Going to Tsukihime's world would be a bad idea as there are many conspiracies around the Tohno family (Never expect one of the redheaded twins to be a ruthless assassin who wanted to kill everyone. WTF?!) and the battles against the supernatural entities that have the tendency to invade the city. But in Tsukihime there are very interesting and charismatic characters like Arcueid and Ciel, two of my favorite heroines, and Tohno Shiki, who under the right conditions can help everyone and have a relatively happy ending... Unfortunately I don't remember much about the Visual Novel and it's likely to die quickly if I'm not careful, and the possibility of becoming a destructive monster doesn't comfort me despite its advantages. So I won't go there.
Kara no Kyokai is another great no. Just watching the introduction made it clear to me that I would inevitably end up getting involved in incidents and all manner of bloodthirsty battles. I always liked Ryogi Shiki, but I cannot trust much that I will be able to survive a life as a friend.
Well... I think my only option is to go to the Fate/Stay Night world.
[You've chosen [Reborn through Fire - Fate Route] as your [Background]!]
[Are you sure of your decision?]
Yes, I am
I know, it's a very cliché decision and I agree with you but I have other hidden reasons for going to that world.
Truly, Fate/Stay Night is one of the most dangerous within the Fate World beause literally it can happens practically anything once the Holy Grail War begins. There three possible outcomes according to the Player (Ie. Emiya Shirou-Kun) decision and frankly, almost all of them are bullshiting in their one way.
In the FATE route, Shirou never stop to pursuit his "Dream", thus is most likely that he becomes a Counter Guardian in order to reach Avalon and reunite with his lovely Saber/Arturia Pendragon. It's technically a "good" end but there sereveal things that are ignored! What about the poor Sakura or Illyasviel?! I'm pretty sure neither of them received the oportunity to has a "true" happy ending. And let's not forget to whole subject about the "Magus Killer" enemies because I'm not dumb enough to believe that Kiritsugu enemies will not go after Shirou or the people he cares about… Well, leaving my own opinions about this route aside, it's still a "good" bittersweet end.
UBW route, or the Unlimited Blade Works route, is the second most completed version of the Fifth Holy Grail War. Not only we can finally discover Archer's true identity but we can finally see a more competent Shirou fighting against the mother fucking Gilgamesh (And being able to defeat him if I may add). In this route we can see more of Tohsaka Rin's life as a magus while we can discover the true meaning of being a "Hero of Justice"… Saddly, at the end of the story (the TRUE end) we apparently saw that Shirou didn't chose a life with a girl that LOVES him but his dream instead! I was so angered that I wanted to go and beat the crap out of Shirou. I respect you, man, but the decisions you took were the wrong ones.
Finally we have the Heaven's Feel route, the most completed side of the story. We can finally understand the whole situation and sufering of Matou Sakura when she was adopted by the Matou and as the "vessel" of a Lesser Grail's Blackened version. Not only that but we can see the nature of the Grail itself and turns out that it was not a wish-granting device originally but a "Gate" to reach the Root and adquire the True Magic – The Third Magic that once belonged to the Einzbern before they "lost" it. Also, we can see how Shirou FINALLY trow away that childish and impossible dream to save the ones he loves… He only was able to save Sakura, though… And the poor Illya die done more time.
Knowing all this shit, I'm sure some of you may had thought: "Then you want to actually save those persons?" And my answer is… OBVIOUSLY!
Sakura deserved something better, she was girl who just wanted some love and a decent life – Though she obtain it in Heaven's Feel's Epilogue, it is dificult to predict how the world will react with my mere presence. As far as I know, things could end pretty much WORST if I fuck everything. And there is the whole "Illyasviel's Situation", Illya clearly does NOT deserved a destiny like that just because a jackass and a false god messed up her thoughts about her father to the point she was willing to kill everyone just to have her revenge.
I know it looks like a imposible task, but truly is just VERY difficult to accomplish it. But don't worry, I have a plan for this.
I'm gonna help Shirou to develo phis talents as much as I can while I try to help Sakura by giving her a friend to rely – Not in the sexual context because I don't think I could conquest her heart or Rider's, I never had a ladiesman's skills so is most likely that I couldn't find a girl that is/was not interest in Shirou.
The other thing is Illyasviel. I need to find a way to alter her body so she can lives a "normal" life or at least give her a much larger life-span, to accomplish that I need a master in the Spiritual Arts of Magecraft like Aozaki Touko or… Kotomine Kirei… Shit.
Now that I think about it, Kirei is the only man that could help me with Illya but the man is a sadic that loves evil way too much and he will enjoy my suffering if Illya diez because of my lack of skill. And Kirei "spiritual techniques" are one of the only ways to help Sakura with those things inside of her. The risk is too much and Kirei would mess up my whole plan.
—Though if I can help those innocent girls to get a happy life, then I could die without regrets. A worth life, that's the "dream" I want to reach.