# Chapter 2: Fate/Zero
The dim light flickered as Su Xiao stood in the center of the room, his hand resting on the hilt of Dragon-Slaying Flash. The air around him felt heavy, charged with an unfamiliar energy that made his skin prickle.
"Fate/Zero..." he muttered, scanning his surroundings.
The room was circular, with stone walls covered in ancient runes that pulsed with a faint blue light. In the center of the floor, a summoning circle was etched into the stone, its lines glowing with a soft silver luminescence. Seven pedestals stood around the circle, each holding a small, crystalline object that hummed with power.
[Notification: You have entered the world of Fate/Zero.]
[World Type: Holy Grail War]
[Objective: Survive and complete the main storyline.]
[Additional Objective: Obtain the Holy Grail or eliminate all other participants.]
[Warning: This world contains powerful heroic spirits and mages. Proceed with caution.]
Su Xiao's eyes narrowed. He had heard of this world before—a battle royale between seven mages, each summoning a legendary hero from history or myth to fight for the Holy Grail, a wish-granting artifact. The stakes were high, and the enemies were not to be underestimated.
He stepped forward, examining the summoning circle. The runes were complex, a mix of ancient languages and alchemical symbols. It was clear that this circle was meant to summon a servant, a heroic spirit bound to fight for its master.
"Interesting," Su Xiao said, his voice low. "But I'm not here to play by their rules."
He reached into his inventory and pulled out a small, black stone—a fragment of the Origin Stone: World. The stone pulsed with a dark energy, resonating with the summoning circle. Su Xiao placed it in the center of the circle, and the runes flared to life.
The room shook as a pillar of light erupted from the circle, filling the space with a blinding radiance. Su Xiao shielded his eyes, feeling the energy wash over him. When the light faded, a figure stood before him.
It was a woman, tall and elegant, with long silver hair that cascaded down her back. Her eyes were a deep crimson, and she wore a black dress that seemed to absorb the light around her. In her hand, she held a spear crackling with electricity.
"Are you my master?" she asked, her voice cold and commanding.
Su Xiao studied her for a moment. "That depends. Who are you?"
"I am Lancer," she replied. "A servant of the Lancer class. I have been summoned to fight in the Holy Grail War. And you... you are my master."
Su Xiao shook his head. "I didn't summon you. I just activated the circle."
Lancer's eyes narrowed. "Then how am I here?"
"Maybe the circle was already set to summon someone," Su Xiao said. "Or maybe you were drawn to me for some reason."
Lancer stepped closer, her spear still raised. "I don't trust you, master or not. But I have no choice. The summoning has bound me to you. For now, I will follow your commands."
Su Xiao shrugged. "Fine. But don't expect me to treat you like a servant. We're partners, or nothing at all."
Lancer's expression softened slightly. "Partners... that's a first. Very well, I can accept that."
She lowered her spear, and the tension in the room dissipated. Su Xiao turned to leave, but Lancer stopped him.
"Wait. Where are you going?"
"To scout the area," Su Xiao said. "I need to know what we're up against."
"I'll come with you," Lancer said. "It's my duty to protect you."
Su Xiao glanced at her. "Suit yourself."
They left the room, stepping into a long corridor lined with torches. The air was cold and damp, and the walls were covered in moss. It was clear that they were in some kind of underground structure, possibly a castle or a fortress.
As they walked, Su Xiao activated his Apostle's Eye, scanning the area for any signs of danger. The eye revealed several energy signatures nearby, some of them powerful.
"We're not alone," Su Xiao said. "There are other servants here."
Lancer nodded. "I can sense them too. There's a Saber-class servant to the north, and an Archer-class to the east. The others are harder to pinpoint."
"Then we'll start with the closest one," Su Xiao said. "Let's see if we can get some information."
They moved silently through the corridors, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. After a few minutes, they reached a large hall with a high ceiling. In the center of the hall stood a man in armor, his sword drawn.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a stern face and short black hair. His armor was ornate, covered in gold and silver engravings. He turned to face them, his eyes glowing with a faint blue light.
"So, another master has arrived," the man said, his voice deep and resonant. "I am Saber. State your name, and I will grant you a quick death."
Su Xiao smiled. "I'm not here to fight. I just want to talk."
Saber laughed. "Talk? In a Holy Grail War, there is no talking. Only battle."
He lunged forward, his sword cutting through the air with a deafening roar. Su Xiao sidestepped, drawing Dragon-Slashing Flash in one fluid motion. The two blades clashed, sending sparks flying across the hall.
Lancer moved to intervene, but Su Xiao held up his hand. "Stay back. I'll handle this."
He pushed Saber back, his blade glowing with Azure Steel Shadow energy. The power surged through him, enhancing his speed and strength. Saber's eyes widened in surprise.
"What is this power?" Saber asked, stepping back.
"It's called Azure Steel Shadow," Su Xiao said. "And it's more than enough to deal with you."
He attacked again, his movements a blur. Saber parried, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling. Su Xiao pressed his advantage, his blade striking faster and faster.
Saber gritted his teeth, his armor cracking under the onslaught. "You're strong, I'll give you that. But you're not strong enough."
He raised his sword, and a wave of energy erupted from it, forcing Su Xiao back. The ground beneath them cracked, and the walls shook.
"This is my Noble Phantasm," Saber said. "Excalibur!"
A beam of light shot from his sword, tearing through the hall. Su Xiao dodged, but the blast grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep gash. He stumbled, blood dripping from the wound.
Lancer stepped forward, her spear crackling with electricity. "Enough!"
She threw her spear, and it struck Saber in the chest, piercing his armor. Saber gasped, his eyes wide with shock. He fell to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground.
"You... you're strong," Saber said, his voice fading. "But this isn't over. The Holy Grail War has just begun."
He dissolved into particles of light, disappearing into the air. Su Xiao watched him go, his expression unreadable.
"One down," he said. "Six to go."
Lancer retrieved her spear, her eyes fixed on Su Xiao. "You fought well. But you need to be more careful. Saber was only the first."
Su Xiao nodded. "I know. But I'm not here to win the war. I'm here to survive."
He turned and walked away, leaving Lancer to follow. The Holy Grail War had begun, and Su Xiao was determined to come out on top.