Heroic Spirit

An elemental spirit of humanity that is considered a natural phenomenon in itself, Heroic Spirits (英霊, Eirei^?, "Legendary Souls" in the English version of Fate/Extra) are beings that accomplished great achievements such as saving the world and, after their death, became the object of worship and lore. As a result, they are placed outside the cycle of transmigration of the soul and ascend to an existence closer to a Divine Spirit in order to become a power that protects humanity. Note that despite the origins of the term, they are not bound to the common understanding of the word “hero”, thus even Heroic Spirits of evil alignment exist.

Nature

Just as Elementals are able to adopt a physical form based on the image of humans, Heroic Spirits create a container that allows them to materialize in the present era out of their own legends. Regardless of the authenticity, as long as the information about an individual is widespread enough among humans of any given age, a Heroic Spirit can be materialized into any era. Since heroes are known through their stories, information available about them is always composed by what is actually true, what was fictionally created in legends and what was omitted and is now forgotten. Hence, Heroic Spirits can be influenced to a degree by what is known about them in the modern world. Heroic Spirits that aren't Counter Guardians are simply treated as traditions that lend power to the later people.^[1]

Despite being an existence close to the gods, Heroic Spirits are still fundamentally human, thus they cannot contend against the greater mysteries with their powers alone. However, all Heroic Spirits possess Noble Phantasms, which are unique relics or anecdotes that are connected to their legends. Noble Phantasms are used as catalysts to reenact legendary feats and can pose a threat to even high-ranking Spirits. As Human Spirits, they are able to consume the souls and minds of people and convert them into energy. Their basic abilities do not change from such nourishment, but they become tougher as their magical energy capacity increases.

The majority of those who became Heroic Spirits are individuals ranging from the most ancient times of humanity to the end of the 19th Century. Each Heroic Spirit is a unique existence; they are those who stood out from the others of their time by performing deeds and possessing qualities that nobody else could have. It is almost impossible for someone of the present era to become a Heroic Spirit, for the great feats of the past can now be everyday occurrences. In an age when the destruction of the planet can be prevented all the time by simply preserving the Amazon forest from being plundered by industries, saving the world is not a big deal. Additionally, because modern firearms are widespread and gives instant power to anyone who wields them, it is hard for a hero who uses today’s firearms to be recognized as a unique being. Even the most outstanding modern gunslinger will be seen by the world as “an expert that everybody can become through training”, not as a “unique existence”. These people might turn to be legendary in a way, but not so legendary that they would appear in myths and legends to be told to future generations. If the conditions for the creation of a hero are met for a user of modern armaments, what will ascend to the rank of Heroic Spirit will be the gun instead, under the terms of “the best weapon of its time” and only if it has a soul bounded to it.^[2] Furthermore, the Heroic Spirit must be a mythical, incredibly legendary or even a historical figure that his/her adventures has become a lore or tale and figure of reverence or fear, not someone that is entirely fictional. For example, a Master cannot summon completely fictional heroes because the figures' exploits considered a miracle.

Once an individual is recognized as a Heroic Spirit, his soul will be removed from the cycle of transmigration and stored in the Throne of Heroes (英霊の座, Eirei no za^?), a spiritual location that is part of Akasha. He is left isolated there so to guarantee that no alteration that might compromise what is now considered a complete and perfect existence occurs. This is important since if a contradiction or existential paradox involving the hero is detected, the records of his existence might have to be erased so to preserve the stability of the world, though depending of the level of the distortion there might not be a need for such a drastic measure. The Throne itself, just like Akasha, is a place that is outside any parallel world or timeframe, which is also a factor that makes it possible for them to be summoned into any age. Should their legends disappear, they will become nameless Heroes that are simply considered Guardians.^[3] For the Heroic Spirits of the Moon Cell, they are recorded from humanity's history, but they are identical to those on the Throne of Heroes.^[4]

Because they are a type of phenomenon, most humans are unable to perceive the actions of Heroic Spirits for what they are. Rather, their actions are seen as a natural occurrence and they themselves as nothing but pure power. When they come to the world, they are usually in the form when their powers were at their prime, but this is not an unbreakable rule and cases where their shape was changed by external forces are known. Examples of this include one in which the Heroic Spirit appeared just as he was moments before his death-breath due a powerful curse imposed onto him and also the case of the two Sabers that were summoned by the Edelfelt sisters in the Heaven’s Feel 3, in which each Saber was in the form that best represented one of the aspects of his legend. On that account, it is also possible that the form that the hero takes is influenced somewhat by how his legend is known. It is also possible for Heroic Spirits to influence the world in response to the direct summoning of humans, but that happens through an indirect medium (such as relaying messages to an oracle or lending their power to a living person). Servants are a different case that will be studied separately ahead.

Note that the soul of the hero never leaves the Throne of Heroes, and what really descends upon the earth when the services of the Heroic Spirit is needed is merely a copy of him/her created based on the information stored on the Throne. This copy will lack the ego of the original and, when there is no longer a need for the hero’s presence, it will just disappear without relaying any knowledge acquired back to the “main body” in the Throne. However, it is possible for this main body to become aware to some extent of what happened by accessing the records of Akasha. Altria, however, is a special case. Although she is considered as a Heroic Spirit, her soul is not inside the Throne for she is not technically dead yet. Instead, in accordance with her contract with the world, her body is frozen in a state between life and death while her soul is partially detached from it so she can fulfill her role as a hero. The reason why she is able to remember the events of the 4th Grail War during the Heaven's Feel 5 is because the mind of her original body receives the memories of what she experiences each time that she is summoned in the form of dreams.

Form

Heroic Spirits will most often take the form that represents their golden age at the prime of their lives, but effects like those of a strong curse or a personal attachment to the form can change that to even their selves from just before death.^[5] Skills like Mad Enhancement, Mental Pollution, and Innocent Monster can influence their forms and personalities when summoned as Servants, changing them drastically depending on how they were perceived in life or after death. The preference of the Master and suitability for certain Servant classes may also affect them. It also may be the case that how history recorded them became distorted, such as Astolfo appearing feminine when history calls him the "most handsome" of his peers, Alexander the Great being very tall when history recorded him as shorter than average, and those of an opposite gender from their legends.

Elizabeth Bathory - Elizabeth is summoned as the unwed daughter of house Bathory, and Innocent Monster brings out the qualities of her dragon blood.^[6]
Hans Christian Andersen - Summoned in the form of a young boy for an unknown reason, he attributes it to either being the point where he was "most overflowing with sensitivity" or possibly the preference of his Master, Kiara Sessyoin. Innocent Monster causes him to take on a number of attributes from his stories.
Jack the Ripper - Having never been revealed to the public, this form of Jack the Ripper can take on the forms any of the multitude of theories behind the murders.
King Arthur - King Arthur is a special case in that she is not yet deceased as of her summoning. Taken directly from when she makes the Contract with the World, she is different from regular true Heroic Spirits.
Li Shuwen - Normally older after having discovered in life that his true strength was that of his convictions, his Master wishing for a stealthy Servant brings forth his younger self with traits more suited to his Assassin class.^[7]
Medusa - While she appears in the human state from before her decent as a monster, she is just the Gorgon in human form. Sides of herself can become those of a monster at any time, mirrored by her Monstrous Strength skill.^[8]
Nursery Rhyme takes on the form of its Master's projected feelings.
The Hundred-Faced Hassan - While a single being in life, his Noble Phantasm Zabaniya: Delusional Illusion has separated him into many different entities that wish to have a unified personality.
Vlad III - Strongly influenced by both his heroic deeds in Romania and the attribution of Dracula to his legend, he has been shown in two different states. Innocent Monster greatly applies the status of Dracula to him, while being summoned in Romania greatly emphasizes his heroic aspects.

Servants’ Case

As stated before, for the sake of preserving an existence that is already seen as complete, a Heroic Spirit is kept isolated in the Throne of Heroes; what is called forth to the world is merely a disposable clone based on the original “main body” inside the Throne. However, due to its connections to the Third Magic, Servants called by the Great Grail can temporary retrieve their lost human life by being summoned completely, including their ego that should be but a part of the main body. Furthermore, as is it known that Servants are eventually returned to the Throne after being defeated, it is possible that the summoned Heroic Spirits are able to retain the memories of when they were Servants. Finally, while in normal cases Heroic Spirits simply disappear when they are no longer needed, Servants can remain in the world as long as they still have a valid contract with a Master that can supply him/her with enough prana.

Counter Guardian

Counter Guardian (カウンターガーディアン, Kauntā Gādian^?), also called the Protectors of Balance (抑止の守護者, Yokushi no Shugosha^?) or the Beast of Alaya, is a special category found within the group of existences known as Heroic Spirits. If a regular Heroic Spirit is someone who became a hero by his own power and is admired for that, then a Guardian is an unknown person who has achieved a great feat due to the assistance of an external force. They are the ones who have made a pact with the World (Alaya) and offers his services as a Heroic Spirit after death in exchange for a miracle during his lifetime. While normal Heroic Spirits are a natural phenomenon that just happen to be beneficial to humanity, Counter Guardians are a strictly human phenomenon. Thus, unlike regular Heroic Spirits, Counter Guardians are not inducted into the Throne of Heroes and as such, they are not recognized by regular Heroic Spirits.

Due to their contract with Alaya, these heroes are incorporated as part of humanity’s Counter Force (hence the name Counter Guardians) and are summoned whenever a factor in the extinction of mankind is detected.^[9] They are the ones who appear on the site of great disasters in order to eliminate the source of that disaster and all those involved, even if the target of elimination are humans themselves. Not bounded by moral values such as good and evil, they exterminate guilty and innocent alike in order to protect those completely unrelated.

Those who became heroes by their own power are beyond the reach of Alaya, for they are pseudo-deities whose existence is closer to the level of a planet. Therefore, the Counter Force is limited to only Heroic Spirits who made use of its powers during their lifetime. Also, while a Guardian may become free of the control of the Counter Force by having his legend known and being revered for that, a true Heroic Spirit will not become part of the Counter Force even if his legend is forgotten.

Example of Counter Guardians are EMIYA and Joan D'Arc.

Anti-Hero

Anti-Heroes (反英雄, Haneiyuu^?) are contradictory beings that do not entirely fall under the concept of Heroic Spirits, but still exist due to certain factors. They are people who are hated, yet ultimately saved others as the result of their atrocities. They are those who define "good" with "evil", and although they are the target of curses, they are still worshipped as messiahs. That is the nature of Anti-Heroes, but such a thing as a true anti-hero does not exist. They ultimately only reach the level of "individuals who did good while carrying out evil", stopping short of being classified as a true anti-hero.

These people are those whose atrocious acts were ultimately beneficial to mankind, and the great majority of those who fall into this category are simply “accidental heroes” who performed good deeds despite having an evil nature. There are also the unwilling saviors, whose own demises served to save those around them. They are that which was born from humans but developed without the interference of humans, the contradiction created from that becomes something exempt of the pressure of the Counter Force: an enemy of the world. Assassin, Archer, and Avenger fall under this category. Rider and Caster, while not true Heroic Spirits, are also not true Anti-Heroes.^[10]

Chronology

Century	Heroic Spirits
26th century BC^WP	Pestilence The 666th Beast (Book of Revelation) Enkidu Gilgamesh
15th^WP-10th century BC^WP	Heracles Medusa Medea Atalanta Perseus Achilles Chiron
9th century BC^WP	Semiramis
6th^WP-5th century BC^WP	Karna David Angra Mainyu
4th^WP-3rd century BC^WP	Buddha Iskander
1st century BC^WP	Spartacus
1st century^WP	Cú Chulainn Diarmuid Ua Duinbhne Saint George Nero Claudius Caesar
2nd century^WP	Lü Bu
5th^WP-6th century^WP	Siegfried Arthur Pendragon (Prototype) Gawain Lancelot Bedivere Mordred
8th century^WP	Astolfo
11th century^WP	Hassan-i-Sabbah Avicebron
12th century^WP	Tamamo-no-Mae Sakata Kintoki Musashibo Benkei
13th century^WP	Robin Hood
15th century^WP	Jeanne d’Arc Gilles de Rais Vlad III
16th century^WP	Francis Drake William Shakespeare
17th century^WP	Sasaki Kojirou Elizabeth Báthory Amakusa Shirou Tokisada
19th century^WP	Hans Christian Andersen Li Shuwen Nursery Rhymes Frankenstein Jack the Ripper (strange fake) Okita Sōji
21st century^WP	EMIYA (EXTRA)

References

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[v] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Servants, p.132 Q: What kind of role does the World give to Heroic Spirits that aren't Guardians (Counter Guardians) ? Also, what do magi call people with high divinity or are closer to the planet?
English Japanese Q: What kind of role does the World give to Heroic Spirits that aren't Guardians (Counter Guardians)? Also, what do magi call people with high divinity or are closer to the planet? A: Heroic Spirits that aren't Guardians are simply treated as traditions that lend power to the later people. Those that became closer to the planet don't mix well with people so they fall into the categories of Divine Spirits and Elementals. Q：守護者ではない英霊たちは、どのような役割を世界から与えられているのでしょうか？また神性が高かったり、星寄りの存在になっている者を、魔術師たちはなんと呼んでいるのでしょうか？ A：守護者でない英霊は、単純に後世の人々に力を貸す伝承として扱われます。星寄りになったものは人間とは相容れないので神霊、精霊の類となります。

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[v] Comptiq special issue - Fate Dojo special edition: Q: If there are Heroic Spirits like Archer, who was summoned independent of time axis, is it possible for warriors from the future, who are loaded with modern weapons, to be summoned as Servants?
English Japanese Q: If there are Heroic Spirits like Archer, who was summoned independent of time axis, is it possible for warriors from the future, who are loaded with modern weapons, to be summoned as Servants? A: Although modern weapons are powerful, it is difficult for the users of modern weapons to be classified as Heroic Spirits. The advantage of modern weapons is "anyone can use them as long as they were trained", thus it is difficult for the user to become a Heroic Spirit, whose definition is "the one and only". The users of modern weapons are faceless heroes. If there are indeed heroes who are loaded with modern weapons, the users will not become Heroic Spirits, as they are merely "experts anyone can achieve through sufficient training". The actual Heroic Spirits being worshiped will be the "greatest weapon of that era". However, for the weapon to become a Heroic Spirit in this case, it must harbour a soul. Ｑ：アーチャーのように時間軸に関係なく召喚される英霊がいるならば、近代兵器で身を包んだ未来の戦士なんかもサーヴァントとして召喚されることがあるんでしょうか？Ａ：近代兵器は強力ですが、近代兵器をメインとする者は英霊のカテゴリーには含まれづらいです。近代兵器の最たる利点は“鍛えれば誰でも使える”という事。ですが、そうであるが故に“たったひとりの存在”にはなりづらい。それは顔のない英雄です。近代兵器に身を包んだ英雄がいたとするなら、英霊として扱われるのは“鍛えれば誰でもなれるエキスパート”たる所有者ではなく、“その時代でもっとも優れた兵器”そのものが英霊として祭りあげられるのでは、と。その場合、兵器そのものに魂が宿らなくてはならないのですが。

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[v] Fate/side material - Encyclopedia: Heroic Spirits [Circumstances], p.056 [T]Translations by food
English Japanese Heroic Spirits [Circumstances] The Heroes who achieved great deeds and were worshiped after death became Heroic Spirits. They were the greatest existences amongst the forces that safeguarded humanity. In terms of classification, they were not Wrath, but closer to Faeries. Faeries were materialized forces using the imagination of humans as framework, while Heroic Spirits were woven purely from the ideals of humans through and through. Amongst Heroic Spirits, there were ones who existed in legends, ones who actually lived, and ones who were never observed. Those who were rarely worshiped were included in the classification of "Counter Guardians", and were utilized as an unconscious Counter Force. In the Heroic Spirits in this story, only Archer functioned as a Counter Guardian. Other Heroic Spirits were aligned with the planet rather than humanity, due to their high divinity. Counter Guardians were not within this category. 英霊【事柄】生前偉大な功績をあげ、死後においてなお信仰の対象となった英雄がなるモノ。 “人間を守る”力としては最高位の存在であり、その分類は亡霊ではなく精霊に近い。精霊は人々のイメージという筐を使って具現化する“力"であるが、英霊はその中身も人々の理想で編まれている。英霊には、伝説上のもの、実在したもの、観測されなかったものがおり、信仰が薄いものは“守護者”という大きな分類に含まれ、意思のない“抑止力"として行使される。本編に登場する英霊の中で“守護者"として機能している者はアーチャーのみ。他の英霊たちは神性が高かったり、人間側ではなく星よりの存在になっている為、守護者に取り込まれずに済んでいる。

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Fate/Extra Sound Drama 2
English Japanese Summary: Basically the Moon Cell takes the Servants from its records of history, but the recorded heroes are identical to the ones in the Throne of Heroes anyway. 大河「ムーンセルのサーヴァントは抑止の輪から呼び出されたものじゃなくて、NPCと同じように再現されたコピーという認識は正しいのかしら？」桜「はい、その通り正しいです。より正確に言うと、ムーンセルが記録している人類史からの完全再現となります。ただし、この人類史は仮言的に英霊の座と繋がっているので、一概にコピーとは言えません。要するに、ムーンセルも自分で人類史を作っている認識なのですが、その人類史はそもそも英霊の座とまったく同じものなので、同一存在として仮言的には重なり合っている、みたいな感じです。」大河「ついでに言うと、抑止の輪はまた別ね。アーチャーさんは抑止の輪側の英霊だけど、エクストラのアーチャーさんは英霊の座から呼び出されたために、今回は抑止力の奴隷になっていないというわけ。」

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[v] Comptiq 2007-10 issue - Fate Dojo Q & A: Q. Concerning the Servants' appearance, do they take the form they had just before death, or the form they had during the prime of their lives?
English Japanese Q: Concerning the Servants' appearance, do they take the form they had just before death, or the form they had during the prime of their lives? A: Generally speaking, they take the appearance they had in their prime. However, if there's some kind of strong curse, or the Servant in question has an attachment to it, then their form from just before death can also appear. Ｑ：サーヴァントの姿って、死ぬ直前の姿？それとも全盛期の姿？（愛媛県／緑三閃）Ａ：基本的に全盛期の姿です。何かの強い呪い、ないし本人の執着があるのなら死ぬ直前の姿で現れることもありますが。

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[v] Fate/EXTRA CCC - Elizabeth Secret Garden [T]Translations by Tsukinoura
Profile Name: Elizabeth “The torture idol of the dragon family, Elizabeth Báthory! I’ll break your heart to pieces too!” Height: 154cm “No, 172cm! What do you think of this incredible supermodel-esque stature? My horns are quite tall.” Weight: 44kg “An idol’s age and weight ought to be kept secret, but, hey, do you really want to hear it? No matter what? Well then I suppose I’ll have to say…I’m a lovely 44kg.” 3Size: B77/W56/H80 “Don’t you have to do such and such to make them big? I-I'm not such an easy girl!” Home: House Báthory “The ancient dragons. The noble bloodline that bears their fangs. The House of Báthory in Hungary. The place that was everything to me.” Birthday: May 17th “Could you leave the presents with my manager?” Weak Point: If you expose my reverse scale I’ll never forgive you “I’ll have to stab you, crush you, wring you dry, and then... you have to take me as a bride!” Fetishism: Torture…? “No, that’s a duty of the nobility, so that’s different. So, then… w-with the opposite sex? I don’t know anything about that, but, uh, fingers are certainly lovely aren’t they?” What do you look for in a partner? There are a lot of things, but really… “Pedigree, wealth, work, hobbies… There are a lot of things, but ignoring all that, something that just comes like a lightning—that thing called destiny.” What’s your favorite color of underwear? Always what’s most fashionable in show business “And a top idol most definitely has stripes!” How do you spend your free time? Recovering from fatigue with a relaxing bath “It’s not that easy, keeping up this beauty.” Romanticism (Sweets): Elizabeth’s first SG. Written as "Romanticism" and read as "Sweets." Perhaps it could be described as delusional tendency to fall in love with love, a maiden’s heart like a mouth full of sweet cake draped with honey. Because she has never experienced romance herself, Elizabeth has a tendency to yearn for love stories she read in books. When combined with her nature of falling in love quickly, even the smallest things can raise “flags” for her, making this a very troublesome SG. Creatures that are fun to bully are her type. What seems to make her heart skip a beat is the strength of heart to firmly look back at her, even while shaking in pain, never giving in no matter how much she strikes or stabs. <> Although Elizabeth is known for her bloodbaths and penchant for torture, she has surprisingly pure and honest sense of chastity. As a noble who received proper education, she is a knowledgeable and prudent woman fit to be a feudal lady. ... If she didn’t have that strange delusional tendency and penchant for torture, that is. Fond of Cooking (Wish to be a Beloved Wife): Elizabeth’s second SG. Though Elizabeth herself says she likes cooking, this is not a simple fondness for the act of preparing food, like that of the red-mantled Archer. Elizabeth’s fondness for cooking comes from a desire to be praised by or to monopolize the person she likes. Essentially it amounts to nothing but a desire to be beloved as a wife. However, her skill in cooking is utterly lacking. From how fondness for cooking appears as the apex of her wish to be a wife, we can infer that Elizabeth places heavy emphasis on meals. Perhaps it is a dragon’s instinct. <> Though Elizabeth shares her love of song with Saber and her wish to be a beloved wife with Caster, what lies at the bottom of those wishes are completely different. Preparing food as a method to confirm husband’s love — to keep husband charmed — does not come from an “equal relationship.” She “bestows meals” to her husband as a noble. It’s no different from feeding... raising an animal. It contains none of the “romance” she longs for. The overlord disposition ingrained into her by heredity devours even her modest dreams. Purity (Inexperienced): Elizabeth’s third SG. We would like to leave just what constitutes “purity” to the reader’s imagination. Servants are revived in the form that represents golden age of their lives. So Elizabeth appears as an unwed daughter of house Báthory, a young girl in love with love… presumably. <> An idol must be pure like snow. Romance might be fine, but the moment she comes to know love, her radiance is lost. As long as she immerses herself in the idol business, this SG will be eternally indestructible.

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[] Fate/EXTRA - Li Shuwen (Assassin) Matrix [T]

Class: Assassin
Master: Julius Harway
True Name: Li Shuwen
Noble Phantasm: No Second Strike
Keyword: A second strike isn't needed, Obfuscation
Strength: B, Defense: C, Agility: A, Magic: E, Luck: E
Obfuscation: -, Liuhe Quan: A+++, Concealment: A

Kewords
English Japanese 01 - No Second Strike Li Shuwen's blows are almost always fatal, whether he throws a hard blow designed to kill or a simple feint to draw his opponent into an attack. A saying that has managed to survive the passing of years is, "For Li Shuwen, a second strike is needless." It is this saying from which his Noble Phantasm get its name. To be accurate, this isn't a Noble Phantasm in the traditional sense of term. Rather, it is the ultimate expressions of the true power possible by mastering the martial arts. Li Shuwen is considered to be one of the very few to have gained total mastery over his style, and in fact was believed to have transcended the need for physical attacks, instead defeating his opponents by engulfing them in Chi. There is much debate as to whether Li Shuwen actually uses his Chi to defeat his opponents, although the very few who have managed to survive a confrontation with him report suffering all of the effects associated with this attack, such as obscured senses, heightened state of paranoia, and the feeling that their nervous system was under almost unendurable strain. 02 - A second strike isn't needed This was the second name given to one of the strongest practitioners of kung fu in Bajiquan history. Considered to be the ultimate master of Bajiquan, it is said that this person was able to take the life of his opponents with a single gentle touch. 03 - Obfuscation A skill used to completely conceal one's presence. Although this ability allows the user to become almost completely invisible, the sheer amount of magical energy required almost screams out that some form of thaumaturgy is being used. Should this person's opponent be a skilled magus, their presence would be noticeable in some extrasensory fashion. There is a way to achieve this state of being without the use of any kind of magical aid and using only the abilities inherent within one's own physical form, but the level of concentration required is far beyond what humans are capable of. ０１ - 无二打李書文の剛打は、牽制やフェイントの為に放ったはずの一撃ですら敵の命を奪うに足るものであった。「李書文に二の打ち要らず（神槍无二打）」无二打は、そんな彼の称号がカタチになったものである。明確に言うと宝具ではなく、武術の真髄。李書文は達人であり、その勁力が優れているのは言うまでもないが、それ以上に重要なのが相手を「気で呑む」事を実践していたことにあると考えられる。一説によると、李書文は拳の破壊力だけで相手を倒してはいないらしい。彼によって絶命せしめられた者たちのほとんどは内臓の破壊ではなく、現在で言うところのショック死状態であったと伝えられる。「気で呑む」技法は、技法としては固定された名称がなく、わずかに仙道修行の周天行における空周天に酷似した発想があるのみである。周天行とは気（エネルギー）を心身に巡らせ、それによって全身を活性化した上で気を共鳴・増幅して養っていく鍛錬法の一種。そのひとつの到達点が全身を気で満たすものであり、また、周囲の空間に自身の気を満たす事にある。李書文はこの行法によって相手を「気で呑む」、つまり自身の気で満ちた空間を形成することで完全に自分のテリトリーを作っていたのではないか、と考察される。「気で呑まれた者」は、一部の感覚が眩惑され、緊張状態となり、この状態で相手の神経に直接衝撃を打ち込んだ場合、迷走神経反射によって心臓は停止する。即ち、ショック死である。０２ - 二の打ち要らず中国拳法史上、最強の一人と名高い拳法家に贈られた二つ名。この称号を贈られた拳法家は八極拳の使い手であり、仕合において、どのような軽い手であれ、触れれば相手の命を奪ったという。０３ - 気配遮断姿を隠して行動するスキル。その究極として透明化があるが、これは多大な魔力を使用するため“魔術が使われている”気配を残してしまう。よって、敵対者が優れた術者である場合、「姿は見えないが何者かが細工をしている」と感知されてしまうのだ。魔術にたよらず、自らの体術のみで行う透明化。それはもはや人間の域とは呼べない魔技である。

Skills
English Japanese Obfuscation [-] While a common skill of all Servants of the Assassin Class, the level to which he is able to almost completely obscure his presence goes far above the limits normally associated with this ability. Liuhe Quan [A+++] A Chinese meditiative ideal. It is a belief that true mastery of martial arts comes not through training, but acceptance. As this technique is extremely difficult to understand, let alone master, it is only when achieving the rank A that one is thought to have actually begun to learn. Those with ranks exceeding A are considered true masters of the arts. Concealment [A] A technique in which one uses their Chi to blend in with the whole of their surroundings. For masters of the ability, it is possible for them to truly become one with the world and have their very forms seem to become invisible. 気配遮断[-]：ｱｻｼﾝのｸﾗｽが持つ共通のｽｷﾙだが、このｻｰｳﾞｧﾝﾄが持つ気配遮断ｽｷﾙはそれらのどれにも該当しない。中国武術[A+++]: 中華の合理。宇宙と一体になることを目的とした武術をどれほど極めたかの値。拾得の難易度は最高ﾚﾍﾞﾙで、ほかのｽｷﾙとは違い、Aでようやく"修得した"と言えるﾚﾍﾞﾙ。+++となれば達人中の達人。圏境[A]：気を使い、周囲の状況を感知し、また、自らの存在を消失させる技法。極めたものは天地と合一し、その姿を自然に透けこませる事すら可能となる。

Details
English Japanese 01 - Character Background Li Shuwen (1864-1934) A Chinese martial arts master from Yanshan County, Hebei-Cangzhou. One of the foremost practitioners of the style of the style known as Bajiquan, he was so powerful that many remarked that with him, "a second strike is needless as long a single blow will suffice." In addition to his skills in hand-to-hand combat, he was also supremely talented in the use of the spear, so much so that he earned the name "Divine Spear Li." His occasional us of this weapon sometimes causes his opponents to mistakenly classify him as a Lancer. While this wouldn't normally be entirely incorrect, due to his Master's desire for a stealthy Servant capable of killing from the shadows, the traits more associated with the Assassin class have come to the fore. On a final note, since his ability to become invisible is based on his natural abilities and not on any form of thaumaturgy, he is all but undetectable to the vast majority of magi or anyone dependent on magic. 02 - "Master of the Demonic Fist" Li Shuwen, Master of the Demon Fist. One of the few undisputed masters of martial arts, he maintains a delicate balance between the innate goodness and inherent evil found in all men. He fell victim to poison after earning the undying hatred of the countless families of those he had killed. As a Servant, the balance he maintained in life has slipped slightly, but he still values rationality greatly. While he does not see much difference between good and evil, he will react with disgust and utter contempt for those who stray from rational thinking. And for those who allow what Christians call "The Seven Deadly Sins" to overwhelm their lives, he brings swift and inevitable death. Although he was known as a deadly fighter throughout his life, in his later years he discovered that true power lay not in the strength of his fists, but in the strength of his convictions. He spent the remainder of his life following valor, not violence. He freely acknowledge that in his current incarnation he is nothing more than a professional killer, but does so without bitterness or regret. And although he uses his power as Julius directs, could it be that...? ０１ - 人物背景：李書文。１８６４～１９３４年。河北省滄州市塩山県出身の中国武術家。「二の打ち要らず、一つあれば事足りる」と謳われる、中国拳法史上、有数の拳法家。李氏八極門の祖である李書文は、“神槍李”とあだ名されるほど槍に長けた人物であったとされている。彼の使った六合大槍は、八極門の基本的な武器であり、極論して良いならば八極門の素手の技法（八極拳）のほとんどはこの六合大槍の技法を学ぶための前段階に過ぎないとさえいえる。本来なら彼のクラスはランサーだが、その場合、晩年の姿として現れる。マスターであるユリウスとの相性から若く猛々しい李書文が望まれ、アサシンとして現れたと思われる。また、余談ではあるが彼の透明化は圏境による瞑想の極意である。何の魔術も使わない透明化である為、魔術理論に生きる者たちにとっては“絶対に感知できない”達人の技だ。 ……加えて余談ではあるが、かつて地上には李書文同様、何の魔術も使わず人の業のみで分身を自在とした剣士がいたらしい。その秘剣の名は燕返し。奇しくも、アサシンのクラスによる魔技であった。０２ - 『魔拳士』魔拳士・李書文。基本、義を通す善性だが、悪もまた良しとする武芸者。あまりに多くの対手を殺めた事で多くの憎しみを買い、最後は毒を盛られて命を終えたという。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆ サーヴァントとしての書文はその道徳性こと一般常識から逸脱していたが、人間性そのものは合理性を重んじる“良識人”である。正義も悪もそう大差はないが、某（なにがし）の行いが合理に損なっている…無駄が多い…のなら、某（なにがし）に対して露骨な嫌悪を向けるのである。この某（なにがし）が巨利をむさぼる悪党であった場合、そして某（なにがし）の被害にあっている者からの懇願があった場合、李書文は“縁が出来たな”として某（なにがし）と対峙し、結果として殺害する。一見、義侠の徒に見える行為だが、中華における義侠とは『情をもって剣を取る』なので、彼の考えは真逆にあたる。李書文の性格、合理性はむしろ現代人のそれに近いものだったようだ。単純に（純粋に、ではない）強さのみを求めた李書文だが、晩年は暴力の強さではなく、自身の生き方、信念の強さに武を見いだしたと言われる。自身を拳法家というより殺し屋のたぐいと自認しているが、それを卑下する事も、誇る事もない。生前は善（よ）く学び、善（よ）く戦い、善（よ）く殺めたので、無念や怨念はまったく持っていない。サーヴァントとして召還されてからは主であるユリウスの暗器として、ためらいなくその凶拳を振るったが……？

↑ Fate/hollow ataraxia - monster

↑

[v] Kara no Kyoukai Special Pamphlet - Encyclopedia: Counter Force [Others], p.041-042 [T]Translation by food
English Japanese Counter Force [Others] The Counter Force here is the safety device formed by the collective unconsciousness. The prayer to avert the demise of mankind, Alaya. And the prayer to extend the life of the planet, Gaia. These are the two aspect of the Counter Force. Both aspects have the goal of extending the existence of the current World. They will eradicate the factors that threaten to destroy the World at the moment of their occurance. Since the Counter Force is the unconscious, its appearance draws no attention, and no one will recognize it. The Counter Force is a formless spiral of power. It adjusts its scale based on the target that needs to be obliterated. The Counter Force will always appear with a status above the target, enough to absolutely secure a victory. Normally, the Counter Force empowers "a normal person" to remove the factor that can trigger destruction. As a result, these individuals are worshiped as "Heroes". Individuals who became Heroes through the aspect of Alaya are said to be integrated into Alaya after death. However, the accuracy of this statement is uncertain. These individuals are also called Counter Guardians. The emphasis here is "Counter", because they have no autonomy and will only activate in response to an event. 抑止力【よくしりょく】【その他】ここで挙げているのは、集合無意識によって作られた安全装置の事。人が願う破滅回避の祈りであるアラヤ、星が思う生命延長の祈りであるガイア、の二つに分けられる。どちらも現在の世界の延長を目的とし、世界を滅ぼす要因が発生した瞬間に出現、この要因を抹消する。無意識である為、発生しても誰の目にもとまらず、誰にも意識される事はない。抑止力はカタチのない力の渦で、抹消すべき対象に合わせて規模を変えて出現する。絶対に勝利できるよう、対象を上回る数値で現れるのだ。たいていは抑止力によって後押しされた『一般人』が滅びの要因を排除し、結果として『英雄』として扱われる。アラヤ側の抑止力によって英雄になった人間は、その死後はアラヤに組み込まれるというが、その真偽は定かではない。カウンターガーディアンとも呼ばれる。カウンターであるところがミソ。決して自分からは行動できず、起きた現象に対してのみ発動する。［＃改ページ］

↑

[v] Fate/side material - Encyclopedia: Anti-Heroes [Others], p.070
English Japanese Anti-Heroes [Others] People who are hated, yet the result of their atrocities ultimately saved others. They are the ones who define "good" with "evil". Although they are the targets of curses, they are still worshiped as messiahs. They are the anti-heroes. However, true anti-heroes do not exist. Ultimately they only reach the level of "individuals who did good while carrying out evil" (stopping short of being true anti-hero). Assassin and Archer fall into this category. Rider and Caster are not true Heroic Spirits, but they are not true anti-heroes either. 反英雄【その他】人々に憎悪される事.その悪行が結果として人々を救う事、悪を以って善を明確にするモノ。呪われる対象でありながら、奉られる事になった救世主。それが反英雄である。といっても、純粋な反英雄は存在しない。せいぜい悪でありながら善をおこなったモノ止まりである。アサシン、アーチャーがこれに该当する。ライダーやキャスターは正純の英霊ではないが、完全な反英雄という訳でもない。

Magecraft
Concepts
Bounded Field • Conceptual Weapon • Magic (Second Magic • Third Magic • Fifth Magic) • Magical Spells (Astromancy • Gradation Air • Flash Air • Tuning) • Marble Phantasm • Mystic Code • Mystic Eyes (Mystic Eyes of Death Perception) • Psychic • Reality Marble
Creatures
Bicorn • Centaur • Daemon • Dead Apostle • Demon • Demon Boar • Divine Spirit • Doll • Dragon • D'yavol Tron • Fairy • Familiar • Gazer • Giant • Golem • Homunculus • Human • Hydra • Lamia • Magician • Magus • Mixed-Blood • Oni • Outer God • Phantasmal Species • Soul Eater • Sphinx • Spirits • Vampire • Ultimate One • Tengu • True Ancestor • Witch • Wizard • Xian • Yaga
Holy Grail War
Anti-Hero • Catalyst • Command Spell • Blackening • Greater Holy Grail of Fuyuki • Lesser Holy Grail of Fuyuki • Heroic Spirit • Holy Grail • Incarnation • Master • Mirror World • Overseer • Noble Phantasm • Parameter Rules • Saint Graph • Servant (Class Card • Demi-Servant • Grand Servant • High-Servant • Pseudo-Servant • Servant Universe) • Servant classes • Skill
Organizations
Holy Church (Burial Agency (Remake)) • Chaldea Security Organization • Demon Hunter Organization • Mage's Association (Clock Tower • Atlas • Wandering Sea) • Spiral Manor • Summit Court • The Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors (Remake)
Terms
Advantage • Akasha • Authority • Anti-Purge Defense • Counter Force • Incantations • Immortality • Elements • World • World of Magecraft • Magic Circuit • Magical Energy • Magic Crest • Magical Workshop • Mystery • Soul • Spiritron • Starlog • Resurrection • Texture • Time Travel • Tradition Protection • Parallel World • Quantum Time-Lock • Underworld

Fate
Main works
Fate/Zero (Anime • Manga • Sound Drama) • Fate/stay night (Fate (Anime • Manga) • Unlimited Blade Works (Anime • Movie • Manga) • Heaven's Feel (Movies(Presage Flower • Lost Butterfly • Spring Song) Manga)) • Fate/hollow ataraxia (Manga)
Fate/Extra series
Fate/EXTRA (Manga • Last Encore • Record) • Fate/EXTRA CCC (Manga) • Fate/EXTRA CCC Fox Tail • Fate/EXTELLA • Fate/EXTELLA LINK
Fate/Grand Order series
5th Anniversary "under the same sky" • Arcade • Chaldea Case Files • Duel • Fate/Grand Order (Anime (First Order • Moonlight/Lostroom • Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia • Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot • Grand Temple of Time: Solomon) • Manga (Epic of Remnant (Agartha • Salem • SE.RA.PH • Shimousa • Shinjuku) • mortalis:stella • turas réalta) • Stage Plays (Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot • Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia • The Grand Time Temple: Solomon)) • From Lostbelt • The Heroic Spirit Food Chronicles • Heroic Spirit Lore ~Henry Jekyll/Hyde~ • Murder at the Kogetsukan • Strange Tales of Heroic Spirit Lore ~King of the Cavern, Edmond Dantès~ • A Study in the Dubious Meiho Manor • VR • Waltz in the MOONLIGHT/LOSTROOM
Other Works
The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II • The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II • Dominate Grail War • Fate/Apocrypha (Anime • Manga) • Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA (Anime) • Fate/Labyrinth • Fate:Lost Einherjar • Fate/Prototype • Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Sky Silver • Fate/Requiem • Fate/Samurai Remnant • Fate/strange Fake (Manga • Whispers of Dawn) • Fate/type Redline • Fate/unlimited codes • Fate/unpublished material • Fate/Zero Next Encounter • Garden of Avalon
Parody Works
Carnival Phantasm (TAKE MOON) • Fate/Grand Carnival • Fate/Freedom Order • Fate/GUDAGUDA Order • Fate/KOHA-ACE • Fate/Grand Order Gutentag Omen • Fate/Grand Order Gutentag Omen Adios • Fate/Grand Order: Medb・Medb・Medb! Shimo Aono Works • Fate/Grand Order MyCraft Lostbelt • Fate/Grand Order Quest • Fate/Ixtella • Fate/mahjong night: Holy Tile War • Fate/Pixel Wars • Fate/school life • Fate/stay night Comic Battle • Fate/tiger colosseum • Fate/Zero Black • Koha-Ace • Learn with Manga! FGO • Teach Us FGO! The Grand Order of Greats and Legends • Today's Menu for Emiya Family • TYPE-MOON Academy Chibichuki! • Fate/Grand Order: Heian HEROES Piyo Works • Yokai PARADE Piyo Fate/Grand Order Works • Yokai PARADE Piyo
Organizations
Argonauts • Caren Series • Chaldea Security Organization • Church • Crypters • Clan Calatin • Enforcement Knight • Four Flush • Four Heavenly Kings • German Third Reich(Artificial Heroic Spirit Soldiers Held Krieger) • Godbreaker Alliance • Hassan-i-Sabbah • Heroic Spirit Swordmaster • Hornet • Imperial Japanese Army • Japan's Three Great Monsters • Knights of Fianna • Knights of the Red Branch • Knights of the Round Table(Lion King • Lostbelt) • Lōkapāla • Machine God • Mage's Association(Clock Tower • Atlas • Wandering Sea) • Marble Trading Company • New Five Great Mafias • Nine Fox Foundation • Nine Worthies • Olympian Soldier • Olympus Defense Force • Sakura Five • Shingon Tachikawa School(Eiten) • Shinsengumi • Tamamo Nine • Thorn • Twelve Olympians • Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne • Western European Plutocracy • Zugzwang
Terms
Admirable Great Tactics • Advantage • Age of Gods • Ahnenerbe • Bajiquan • Divine Construct • Divine Spirit • Dragon • Dragon Smoke • Fuyuki City • Grand Order • Heroic Spirit • Hero of Justice • Lostbelt King • Magecraft • Magical Girl • Master • Moon Cell • Night Wars of the British Empire • Noble Phantasm • Parameter Rules • Round Table • Saberface • Saint • Servant(Alter • Class Card • Demi • Grand • High • Lily • Pseudo • Santa • Servant Universe) • Servant Universe • Skill • Wild Hunt
Holy Grail Wars
Fuyuki • Moon • True & False • Great • Ainsworth • Tokyo • Imperial • "After" • Subcategory • Grand Orders

[1] 

[v] Fate/complete material III: World material - FAQ with Nasu: Servants, p.132

Q: What kind of role does the World give to Heroic Spirits that aren't Guardians (Counter Guardians) ? Also, what do magi call people with high divinity or are closer to the planet?

English
Japanese

Q: What kind of role does the World give to Heroic Spirits that aren't Guardians (Counter Guardians)? Also, what do magi call people with high divinity or are closer to the planet?

A: Heroic Spirits that aren't Guardians are simply treated as traditions that lend power to the later people. Those that became closer to the planet don't mix well with people so they fall into the categories of Divine Spirits and Elementals.

Q：守護者ではない英霊たちは、どのような役割を世界から与えられているのでしょうか？また神性が高かったり、星寄りの存在になっている者を、魔術師たちはなんと呼んでいるのでしょうか？

A：守護者でない英霊は、単純に後世の人々に力を貸す伝承として扱われます。星寄りになったものは人間とは相容れないので神霊、精霊の類となります。

[2] English

[3] Japanese

[2] 

[v] Comptiq special issue - Fate Dojo special edition:
Q: If there are Heroic Spirits like Archer, who was summoned independent of time axis, is it possible for warriors from the future, who are loaded with modern weapons, to be summoned as Servants?

English
Japanese

Q: If there are Heroic Spirits like Archer, who was summoned independent of time axis, is it possible for warriors from the future, who are loaded with modern weapons, to be summoned as Servants?

A: Although modern weapons are powerful, it is difficult for the users of modern weapons to be classified as Heroic Spirits. The advantage of modern weapons is "anyone can use them as long as they were trained", thus it is difficult for the user to become a Heroic Spirit, whose definition is "the one and only". The users of modern weapons are faceless heroes. If there are indeed heroes who are loaded with modern weapons, the users will not become Heroic Spirits, as they are merely "experts anyone can achieve through sufficient training". The actual Heroic Spirits being worshiped will be the "greatest weapon of that era". However, for the weapon to become a Heroic Spirit in this case, it must harbour a soul.

Ｑ：アーチャーのように時間軸に関係なく召喚される英霊がいるならば、近代兵器で身を包んだ未来の戦士なんかもサーヴァントとして召喚されることがあるんでしょうか？

Ａ：近代兵器は強力ですが、近代兵器をメインとする者は英霊のカテゴリーには含まれづらいです。近代兵器の最たる利点は“鍛えれば誰でも使える”という事。ですが、そうであるが故に“たったひとりの存在”にはなりづらい。
それは顔のない英雄です。近代兵器に身を包んだ英雄がいたとするなら、英霊として扱われるのは“鍛えれば誰でもなれるエキスパート”たる所有者ではなく、“その時代でもっとも優れた兵器”そのものが英霊として祭りあげられるのでは、と。その場合、兵器そのものに魂が宿らなくてはならないのですが。

[5] English

[6] Japanese

[3] 

[v] Fate/side material - Encyclopedia: Heroic Spirits [Circumstances], p.056 [T]Translations by food

English
Japanese

Heroic Spirits [Circumstances]
The Heroes who achieved great deeds and were worshiped after death became Heroic Spirits.
They were the greatest existences amongst the forces that safeguarded humanity. In terms of classification, they were not Wrath, but closer to Faeries.
Faeries were materialized forces using the imagination of humans as framework, while Heroic Spirits were woven purely from the ideals of humans through and through.
Amongst Heroic Spirits, there were ones who existed in legends, ones who actually lived, and ones who were never observed. Those who were rarely worshiped were included in the classification of "Counter Guardians", and were utilized as an unconscious Counter Force.
In the Heroic Spirits in this story, only Archer functioned as a Counter Guardian.
Other Heroic Spirits were aligned with the planet rather than humanity, due to their high divinity. Counter Guardians were not within this category.

英霊【事柄】
生前偉大な功績をあげ、死後においてなお信仰の対象となった英雄がなるモノ。
“人間を守る”力としては最高位の存在であり、その分類は亡霊ではなく精霊に近い。
精霊は人々のイメージという筐を使って具現化する“力"であるが、英霊はその中身も人々の理想で編まれている。
英霊には、伝説上のもの、実在したもの、観測されなかったものがおり、信仰が薄いものは“守護者”という大きな分類に含まれ、意思のない“抑止力"として行使される。
本編に登場する英霊の中で“守護者"として機能している者はアーチャーのみ。
他の英霊たちは神性が高かったり、人間側ではなく星よりの存在になっている為、守護者に取り込まれずに済んでいる。

[8] English

[9] Japanese

[4] 

Fate/Extra Sound Drama 2

English
Japanese

Summary:
Basically the Moon Cell takes the Servants from its records of history, but the recorded heroes are identical to the ones in the Throne of Heroes anyway.

大河「ムーンセルのサーヴァントは抑止の輪から呼び出されたものじゃなくて、NPCと同じように再現されたコピーという認識は正しいのかしら？」
桜「はい、その通り正しいです。より正確に言うと、ムーンセルが記録している人類史からの完全再現となります。ただし、この人類史は仮言的に英霊の座と繋がっているので、一概にコピーとは言えません。要するに、ムーンセルも自分で人類史を作っている認識なのですが、その人類史はそもそも英霊の座とまったく同じものなので、同一存在として仮言的には重なり合っている、みたいな感じです。」
大河「ついでに言うと、抑止の輪はまた別ね。アーチャーさんは抑止の輪側の英霊だけど、エクストラのアーチャーさんは英霊の座から呼び出されたために、今回は抑止力の奴隷になっていないというわけ。」

[11] English

[12] Japanese

[5] 

[v] Comptiq 2007-10 issue - Fate Dojo Q & A:
Q. Concerning the Servants' appearance, do they take the form they had just before death, or the form they had during the prime of their lives?

English
Japanese

Q: Concerning the Servants' appearance, do they take the form they had just before death, or the form they had during the prime of their lives?

A: Generally speaking, they take the appearance they had in their prime. However, if there's some kind of strong curse, or the Servant in question has an attachment to it, then their form from just before death can also appear.

Ｑ：サーヴァントの姿って、死ぬ直前の姿？それとも全盛期の姿？（愛媛県／緑三閃）

Ａ：基本的に全盛期の姿です。何かの強い呪い、ないし本人の執着があるのなら死ぬ直前の姿で現れることもありますが。

[14] English

[15] Japanese

[6] 

[v] Fate/EXTRA CCC - Elizabeth Secret Garden [T]Translations by Tsukinoura

Profile
Name: Elizabeth “The torture idol of the dragon family, Elizabeth Báthory! I’ll break your heart to pieces too!”
Height: 154cm “No, 172cm! What do you think of this incredible supermodel-esque stature? My horns are quite tall.”
Weight: 44kg “An idol’s age and weight ought to be kept secret, but, hey, do you really want to hear it? No matter what? Well then I suppose I’ll have to say…I’m a lovely 44kg.”
3Size: B77/W56/H80 “Don’t you have to do such and such to make them big? I-I'm not such an easy girl!”
Home: House Báthory “The ancient dragons. The noble bloodline that bears their fangs. The House of Báthory in Hungary. The place that was everything to me.”
Birthday: May 17th “Could you leave the presents with my manager?”
Weak Point: If you expose my reverse scale I’ll never forgive you “I’ll have to stab you, crush you, wring you dry, and then... you have to take me as a bride!”
Fetishism: Torture…? “No, that’s a duty of the nobility, so that’s different. So, then… w-with the opposite sex? I don’t know anything about that, but, uh, fingers are certainly lovely aren’t they?”
What do you look for in a partner? There are a lot of things, but really… “Pedigree, wealth, work, hobbies… There are a lot of things, but ignoring all that, something that just comes like a lightning—that thing called destiny.”
What’s your favorite color of underwear? Always what’s most fashionable in show business “And a top idol most definitely has stripes!”
How do you spend your free time? Recovering from fatigue with a relaxing bath “It’s not that easy, keeping up this beauty.”

Romanticism (Sweets):

Elizabeth’s first SG.

Written as "Romanticism" and read as "Sweets." Perhaps it could be described as delusional tendency to fall in love with love, a maiden’s heart like a mouth full of sweet cake draped with honey.

Because she has never experienced romance herself, Elizabeth has a tendency to yearn for love stories she read in books. When combined with her nature of falling in love quickly, even the smallest things can raise “flags” for her, making this a very troublesome SG.

Creatures that are fun to bully are her type. What seems to make her heart skip a beat is the strength of heart to firmly look back at her, even while shaking in pain, never giving in no matter how much she strikes or stabs.

<>

Although Elizabeth is known for her bloodbaths and penchant for torture, she has surprisingly pure and honest sense of chastity. As a noble who received proper education, she is a knowledgeable and prudent woman fit to be a feudal lady.

... If she didn’t have that strange delusional tendency and penchant for torture, that is.

Fond of Cooking (Wish to be a Beloved Wife):

Elizabeth’s second SG.

Though Elizabeth herself says she likes cooking, this is not a simple fondness for the act of preparing food, like that of the red-mantled Archer. Elizabeth’s fondness for cooking comes from a desire to be praised by or to monopolize the person she likes. Essentially it amounts to nothing but a desire to be beloved as a wife. However, her skill in cooking is utterly lacking.

From how fondness for cooking appears as the apex of her wish to be a wife, we can infer that Elizabeth places heavy emphasis on meals. Perhaps it is a dragon’s instinct.

<>

Though Elizabeth shares her love of song with Saber and her wish to be a beloved wife with Caster, what lies at the bottom of those wishes are completely different.
Preparing food as a method to confirm husband’s love — to keep husband charmed — does not come from an “equal relationship.” She “bestows meals” to her husband as a noble. It’s no different from feeding... raising an animal. It contains none of the “romance” she longs for. The overlord disposition ingrained into her by heredity devours even her modest dreams.

Purity (Inexperienced):

Elizabeth’s third SG. We would like to leave just what constitutes “purity” to the reader’s imagination.

Servants are revived in the form that represents golden age of their lives. So Elizabeth appears as an unwed daughter of house Báthory, a young girl in love with love… presumably.

<>

An idol must be pure like snow. Romance might be fine, but the moment she comes to know love, her radiance is lost. As long as she immerses herself in the idol business, this SG will be eternally indestructible.

[7] 

[v] Fate/EXTRA - Li Shuwen (Assassin) Matrix [T]Translations by Aksys Games^WP

Class: Assassin
Master: Julius Harway
True Name: Li Shuwen
Noble Phantasm: No Second Strike
Keyword: A second strike isn't needed, Obfuscation
Strength: B, Defense: C, Agility: A, Magic: E, Luck: E
Obfuscation: -, Liuhe Quan: A+++, Concealment: A

Kewords

English
Japanese

01 - No Second Strike
Li Shuwen's blows are almost always fatal, whether he throws a hard blow designed to kill or a simple feint to draw his opponent into an attack. A saying that has managed to survive the passing of years is, "For Li Shuwen, a second strike is needless." It is this saying from which his Noble Phantasm get its name.

To be accurate, this isn't a Noble Phantasm in the traditional sense of term. Rather, it is the ultimate expressions of the true power possible by mastering the martial arts. Li Shuwen is considered to be one of the very few to have gained total mastery over his style, and in fact was believed to have transcended the need for physical attacks, instead defeating his opponents by engulfing them in Chi.

There is much debate as to whether Li Shuwen actually uses his Chi to defeat his opponents, although the very few who have managed to survive a confrontation with him report suffering all of the effects associated with this attack, such as obscured senses, heightened state of paranoia, and the feeling that their nervous system was under almost unendurable strain.

02 - A second strike isn't needed
This was the second name given to one of the strongest practitioners of kung fu in Bajiquan history. Considered to be the ultimate master of Bajiquan, it is said that this person was able to take the life of his opponents with a single gentle touch.

03 - Obfuscation
A skill used to completely conceal one's presence.

Although this ability allows the user to become almost completely invisible, the sheer amount of magical energy required almost screams out that some form of thaumaturgy is being used. Should this person's opponent be a skilled magus, their presence would be noticeable in some extrasensory fashion.

There is a way to achieve this state of being without the use of any kind of magical aid and using only the abilities inherent within one's own physical form, but the level of concentration required is far beyond what humans are capable of.

０１ - 无二打
李書文の剛打は、牽制やフェイントの為に放ったはずの一撃ですら敵の命を奪うに足るものであった。
「李書文に二の打ち要らず（神槍无二打）」
无二打は、そんな彼の称号がカタチになったものである。

明確に言うと宝具ではなく、武術の真髄。
李書文は達人であり、その勁力が優れているのは言うまでもないが、それ以上に重要なのが相手を「気で呑む」事を実践していたことにあると考えられる。
一説によると、李書文は拳の破壊力だけで相手を倒してはいないらしい。
彼によって絶命せしめられた者たちのほとんどは内臓の破壊ではなく、現在で言うところのショック死状態であったと伝えられる。

「気で呑む」技法は、技法としては固定された名称がなく、わずかに仙道修行の周天行における空周天に酷似した発想があるのみである。
周天行とは気（エネルギー）を心身に巡らせ、それによって全身を活性化した上で気を共鳴・増幅して養っていく鍛錬法の一種。
そのひとつの到達点が全身を気で満たすものであり、また、周囲の空間に自身の気を満たす事にある。

李書文はこの行法によって相手を「気で呑む」、つまり自身の気で満ちた空間を形成することで完全に自分のテリトリーを作っていたのではないか、と考察される。
「気で呑まれた者」は、一部の感覚が眩惑され、緊張状態となり、この状態で相手の神経に直接衝撃を打ち込んだ場合、迷走神経反射によって心臓は停止する。

即ち、ショック死である。

０２ - 二の打ち要らず
中国拳法史上、最強の一人と名高い拳法家に贈られた二つ名。
この称号を贈られた拳法家は八極拳の使い手であり、仕合において、どのような軽い手であれ、触れれば相手の命を奪ったという。

０３ - 気配遮断
姿を隠して行動するスキル。
その究極として透明化があるが、これは多大な魔力を使用するため“魔術が使われている”気配を残してしまう。
よって、敵対者が優れた術者である場合、
「姿は見えないが何者かが細工をしている」
と感知されてしまうのだ。

魔術にたよらず、自らの体術のみで行う透明化。
それはもはや人間の域とは呼べない魔技である。

Skills

English
Japanese

Obfuscation [-]
While a common skill of all Servants of the Assassin Class, the level to which he is able to almost completely obscure his presence goes far above the limits normally associated with this ability.

Liuhe Quan [A+++]
A Chinese meditiative ideal. It is a belief that true mastery of martial arts comes not through training, but acceptance. As this technique is extremely difficult to understand, let alone master, it is only when achieving the rank A that one is thought to have actually begun to learn. Those with ranks exceeding A are considered true masters of the arts.

Concealment [A]
A technique in which one uses their Chi to blend in with the whole of their surroundings. For masters of the ability, it is possible for them to truly become one with the world and have their very forms seem to become invisible.

気配遮断[-]：
ｱｻｼﾝのｸﾗｽが持つ共通のｽｷﾙだが、このｻｰｳﾞｧﾝﾄが持つ気配遮断ｽｷﾙはそれらのどれにも該当しない。

中国武術[A+++]:
中華の合理。宇宙と一体になることを目的とした武術をどれほど極めたかの値。拾得の難易度は最高ﾚﾍﾞﾙで、ほかのｽｷﾙとは違い、Aでようやく"修得した"と言えるﾚﾍﾞﾙ。+++となれば達人中の達人。

圏境[A]：
気を使い、周囲の状況を感知し、また、自らの存在を消失させる技法。極めたものは天地と合一し、その姿を自然に透けこませる事すら可能となる。

Details

English
Japanese

01 - Character Background
Li Shuwen (1864-1934)

A Chinese martial arts master from Yanshan County, Hebei-Cangzhou. One of the foremost practitioners of the style of the style known as Bajiquan, he was so powerful that many remarked that with him, "a second strike is needless as long a single blow will suffice."

In addition to his skills in hand-to-hand combat, he was also supremely talented in the use of the spear, so much so that he earned the name "Divine Spear Li." His occasional us of this weapon sometimes causes his opponents to mistakenly classify him as a Lancer. While this wouldn't normally be entirely incorrect, due to his Master's desire for a stealthy Servant capable of killing from the shadows, the traits more associated with the Assassin class have come to the fore.

On a final note, since his ability to become invisible is based on his natural abilities and not on any form of thaumaturgy, he is all but undetectable to the vast majority of magi or anyone dependent on magic.

02 - "Master of the Demonic Fist"
Li Shuwen, Master of the Demon Fist.

One of the few undisputed masters of martial arts, he maintains a delicate balance between the innate goodness and inherent evil found in all men. He fell victim to poison after earning the undying hatred of the countless families of those he had killed.

As a Servant, the balance he maintained in life has slipped slightly, but he still values rationality greatly. While he does not see much difference between good and evil, he will react with disgust and utter contempt for those who stray from rational thinking. And for those who allow what Christians call "The Seven Deadly Sins" to overwhelm their lives, he brings swift and inevitable death.

Although he was known as a deadly fighter throughout his life, in his later years he discovered that true power lay not in the strength of his fists, but in the strength of his convictions. He spent the remainder of his life following valor, not violence.

He freely acknowledge that in his current incarnation he is nothing more than a professional killer, but does so without bitterness or regret. And although he uses his power as Julius directs, could it be that...?

０１ - 人物背景：
李書文。１８６４～１９３４年。
河北省滄州市塩山県出身の中国武術家。
「二の打ち要らず、一つあれば事足りる」と謳われる、中国拳法史上、有数の拳法家。

李氏八極門の祖である李書文は、“神槍李”とあだ名されるほど槍に長けた人物であったとされている。
彼の使った六合大槍は、八極門の基本的な武器であり、極論して良いならば八極門の素手の技法（八極拳）のほとんどはこの六合大槍の技法を学ぶための前段階に過ぎないとさえいえる。
本来なら彼のクラスはランサーだが、その場合、晩年の姿として現れる。
マスターであるユリウスとの相性から若く猛々しい李書文が望まれ、アサシンとして現れたと思われる。

また、余談ではあるが彼の透明化は圏境による瞑想の極意である。
何の魔術も使わない透明化である為、魔術理論に生きる者たちにとっては“絶対に感知できない”達人の技だ。
……加えて余談ではあるが、かつて地上には李書文同様、何の魔術も使わず人の業のみで分身を自在とした剣士がいたらしい。
その秘剣の名は燕返し。
奇しくも、アサシンのクラスによる魔技であった。

０２ - 『魔拳士』
魔拳士・李書文。
基本、義を通す善性だが、悪もまた良しとする武芸者。
あまりに多くの対手を殺めた事で多くの憎しみを買い、最後は毒を盛られて命を終えたという。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆

サーヴァントとしての書文はその道徳性こと一般常識から逸脱していたが、人間性そのものは合理性を重んじる“良識人”である。

正義も悪もそう大差はないが、某（なにがし）の行いが合理に損なっている…無駄が多い…のなら、某（なにがし）に対して露骨な嫌悪を向けるのである。
この某（なにがし）が巨利をむさぼる悪党であった場合、そして某（なにがし）の被害にあっている者からの懇願があった場合、李書文は“縁が出来たな”として某（なにがし）と対峙し、結果として殺害する。

一見、義侠の徒に見える行為だが、中華における義侠とは『情をもって剣を取る』なので、彼の考えは真逆にあたる。李書文の性格、合理性はむしろ現代人のそれに近いものだったようだ。

単純に（純粋に、ではない）強さのみを求めた李書文だが、晩年は暴力の強さではなく、自身の生き方、信念の強さに武を見いだしたと言われる。

自身を拳法家というより殺し屋のたぐいと自認しているが、それを卑下する事も、誇る事もない。
生前は善（よ）く学び、善（よ）く戦い、善（よ）く殺めたので、無念や怨念はまったく持っていない。
サーヴァントとして召還されてからは主であるユリウスの暗器として、ためらいなくその凶拳を振るったが……？

[18] English

[19] Japanese

[20] English

[21] Japanese

[22] English

[23] Japanese

[8] Fate/hollow ataraxia - monster

[9] 

[v] Kara no Kyoukai Special Pamphlet - Encyclopedia: Counter Force [Others], p.041-042 [T]Translation by food

English
Japanese

Counter Force [Others]
The Counter Force here is the safety device formed by the collective unconsciousness.
The prayer to avert the demise of mankind, Alaya.
And the prayer to extend the life of the planet, Gaia.
These are the two aspect of the Counter Force.
Both aspects have the goal of extending the existence of the current World. They will eradicate the factors that threaten to destroy the World at the moment of their occurance.
Since the Counter Force is the unconscious, its appearance draws no attention, and no one will recognize it.
The Counter Force is a formless spiral of power. It adjusts its scale based on the target that needs to be obliterated. The Counter Force will always appear with a status above the target, enough to absolutely secure a victory.
Normally, the Counter Force empowers "a normal person" to remove the factor that can trigger destruction. As a result, these individuals are worshiped as "Heroes".
Individuals who became Heroes through the aspect of Alaya are said to be integrated into Alaya after death. However, the accuracy of this statement is uncertain.
These individuals are also called Counter Guardians. The emphasis here is "Counter", because they have no autonomy and will only activate in response to an event.

抑止力【よくしりょく】【その他】
ここで挙げているのは、集合無意識によって作られた安全装置の事。
人が願う破滅回避の祈りであるアラヤ、
星が思う生命延長の祈りであるガイア、
の二つに分けられる。
どちらも現在の世界の延長を目的とし、世界を滅ぼす要因が発生した瞬間に出現、この要因を抹消する。
無意識である為、発生しても誰の目にもとまらず、誰にも意識される事はない。
抑止力はカタチのない力の渦で、抹消すべき対象に合わせて規模を変えて出現する。絶対に勝利できるよう、対象を上回る数値で現れるのだ。
たいていは抑止力によって後押しされた『一般人』が滅びの要因を排除し、結果として『英雄』として扱われる。
アラヤ側の抑止力によって英雄になった人間は、その死後はアラヤに組み込まれるというが、その真偽は定かではない。
カウンターガーディアンとも呼ばれる。カウンターであるところがミソ。決して自分からは行動できず、起きた現象に対してのみ発動する。
［＃改ページ］

[26] English

[27] Japanese

[10] 

[v] Fate/side material - Encyclopedia: Anti-Heroes [Others], p.070

English
Japanese

Anti-Heroes [Others]
People who are hated, yet the result of their atrocities ultimately saved others. They are the ones who define "good" with "evil".
Although they are the targets of curses, they are still worshiped as messiahs.
They are the anti-heroes.
However, true anti-heroes do not exist.
Ultimately they only reach the level of "individuals who did good while carrying out evil" (stopping short of being true anti-hero).
Assassin and Archer fall into this category.
Rider and Caster are not true Heroic Spirits, but they are not true anti-heroes either.

反英雄【その他】
人々に憎悪される事.その悪行が結果として人々を救う事、悪を以って善を明確にするモノ。
呪われる対象でありながら、奉られる事になった救世主。
それが反英雄である。
といっても、純粋な反英雄は存在しない。
せいぜい悪でありながら善をおこなったモノ止まりである。
アサシン、アーチャーがこれに该当する。
ライダーやキャスターは正純の英霊ではないが、完全な反英雄という訳でもない。

[29] English

[30] Japanese

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