Fate Grand Order: Broadcasting Master Love — Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Light Screen Descends Upon the Nasuverse

Without warning, a blinding light swept across the entire Nasuverse in a single heartbeat.

That illumination was neither the ether-tinged brilliance conjured by modern magecraft nor the dazzling, mana-dense radiance of a Heroic Spirit answering a summons. It was clear, deep, and utterly silent, yet it carried a heavy pressure that filled the sky. Slowly, the phenomenon condensed into a colossal light screen spanning the void. It hung suspended between heaven and earth, crystal clear in the vision of every living being. From ancient phantasms slumbering on the Reverse Side of the World to ordinary pedestrians handling bustling city streets, no one could avoid its glare. No one could look away.

With the appearance of the light screen, the entire Nasuverse erupted into chaos. Masters and Servants from various timelines and factions were startled by the sudden anomaly, and heated discussions broke out across the globe.

In Fuyuki City, the lingering ash and trauma of the Fourth Holy Grail War had not yet dissipated. Inside the Tohsaka Manor, Tohsaka Tokiomi gazed at the sky through his study window. A deep crease formed between his brows. He traced the Magic Crest on his arm, his voice tight with wariness. “The power required for a full-domain projection is far beyond the reach of ordinary mages. It surpasses even the scope of the Greater Grail. Whose handiwork could this possibly be?”

Gilgamesh leaned against a nearby pillar, his crimson eyes scanning the anomaly. A defiant, mocking smirk played on his lips. “A boring trick. Nothing more than the petty magic of mongrels. To dare show off before this King. I want to see what this pathetic screen truly intends to do.”

Kotomine Kirei stood quietly in the corner, his face as still as a stagnant pool. He slowly caressed the hilts of the Black Keys hidden in his sleeves. ‘An unknown anomaly. Perhaps it can bring me some unexpected pleasure. It is worth looking forward to.’

Hidden in the shadows of a distant rooftop, Emiya Kiritsugu watched the sky with dead, calculating eyes. Any unknown disturbance threatened his absolute objective. He exhaled a thin breath into the cold air. “An irrelevant variable. It must be thoroughly investigated.”

Beside Irisviel, Artoria gripped the invisible hilt of her holy sword. She sensed the faint, unmistakable aura of the Throne of Heroes bleeding from the sky. “This aura… it is related to Heroic Spirits, yet it feels entirely foreign. Its purpose is far from simple.”

In the same Fuyuki, but shifted into the timeline of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Emiya Shirou stood on the engawa of his home, staring up in utter bewilderment. “What is this? I have never heard of magecraft capable of covering all of Fuyuki.”

Tohsaka Rin stood beside him in the courtyard. The crimson gem in her palm pulsed with a faint glow as she tried to analyze the phenomenon. “It makes no sense. I cannot detect its energy source at all. It completely defies the fundamental laws of magecraft.”

Matou Sakura peeked out from under the veranda, her timid eyes reflecting the massive glow. “Such bright light… will it bring danger?”

Elsewhere, Matou Shinji clicked his tongue in annoyance, though a greedy glint flashed in his eyes. “What the hell is this garbage? Do not tell me it is some useless junk that will interfere with the Holy Grail War. But if there is any benefit to be had, it absolutely belongs to me.”

Saber Artoria stood tall in the Emiya courtyard, her green eyes locked on the sky. “This power contains no malice, yet it is extraordinarily potent. It shares countless connections with the Throne of Heroes. We must treat it with utmost caution.”

Perched on a high wall across the district, Red A crossed his arms. His steely gaze swept over the glowing anomaly. “What a troublesome turn of events. I only hope it does not add unnecessary complications to my plans.”

Inside the New Chaldea control room, crimson warning lights bathed the facility in a frantic glow. Sirens blared continuously. Every monitoring panel had gone offline, throwing the operational staff into absolute panic. Director Gordolf Musik pounded his heavy fist against the main console. “Immediately identify the source of the light screen! Mobilize all available resources! Even if we have to forcibly analyze it, find a clue!”

An operator wiped a thick layer of sweat from his forehead. “Director, it is impossible! All instruments are completely paralyzed. This phenomenon seems to exist entirely outside the rules of the world. We cannot capture a single fluctuation!”

Little Da Vinci pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by extreme gravity. “Terrifying. This kind of power surpasses our entire understanding of magecraft and Heroic Spirit Saint Graphs. The Storm Border defenses are treating it like it does not even exist.”

Sitting comfortably in the back, Fujimaru Ritsuka looked up at the dome monitors. A relaxed, almost amused sigh escaped his lips. “Hmm, it seems quite interesting.”

Having survived countless Singularities and the grueling march through the Seven Lostbelts, his nerves were forged from steel. He felt no panic. If anything, this bizarre event felt like a welcome distraction to relieve the crushing stress of his journey.

Mash gripped the heavy metal of her shield. Her clear eyes darted around the room, filled with worry. “Master, this light screen appeared out of nowhere. It is too mysterious. Will it have any adverse effects on us and Chaldea?”

Leaning against the wall beside them, Miss Avalon gave her magic wand a lazy twirl. A playful, fox-like smile stretched across her face. “Oh my, how interesting. How very interesting. Such a grand spectacle. It is the first time I have seen something quite like this. It seems some real excitement is about to begin.”

Other Heroic Spirits and Masters scattered across various locations reacted with equal intensity. Inside the Clock Tower, Lord El-Melloi II took a long drag from his cigar. He stared out the window, his brow heavily furrowed. “Such an anomaly is by no means accidental. Could it be…” His students murmured animatedly behind him, their voices thick with shock.

Deep within the Holy Church, executioners and priests clutched their holy texts. An elderly priest stepped forward, his face a mask of righteous fury. “Neither holy power nor magical energy, yet it possesses such overwhelming might. We must monitor it closely and strictly guard against heretical movements.”

Just as the entire Nasuverse fractured into endless debates, the colossal screen above the void finally shifted. On the originally pure white surface, a line of gilded characters slowly bled into existence. The script was grand and vigorous, piercing straight through the boundaries of time and space. The words branded themselves into the retinas of every observer, instantly silencing the clamor of the world.

“Inventory of the Nasuverse: Those MasterLoves of the Highest Purity”

Those mere dozen words struck like a physical blow, instantly igniting a firestorm across every timeline.

Emiya Kiritsugu froze. His pupils constricted to pinpricks. “Master Love? Who loves their Master? Servants? Someone actually dares to broadcast the emotional attachments between Masters and Servants to the entire world?”

Artoria tilted her head, genuinely unfamiliar with the concept. “Master and Servant are bound by a strict contract. Can this so-called Love actually be quantified and inventoried?”

Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald sneered, his tone dripping with aristocratic disdain. “Absurd! Servants are merely disposable tools for a magus to achieve their goals. To speak of love is to completely reverse the natural order of things.”

Gilgamesh scoffed loudly. “This King wants to see which ant-like existences are even worthy of discussing this so-called pure bond.”

Emiya Shirou scratched his cheek, utterly lost. “Love between Master and Servant… Does such a thing really exist?”

Tohsaka Rin crossed her arms and pouted, though she leaned forward slightly. “Although it sounds completely ridiculous, if it is actually true, I would like to know who makes the list.”

Red A closed his eyes, a faint, knowing smirk touching his lips. “Emotions that transcend the command seals? It is certainly possible, but a purity worthy of being broadcasted may not be so easily obtained.”

Saber Artoria felt a strange, unexplainable flutter in her chest. She looked down at her armored hands. “A bond of the highest purity… what kind of sight would that be?”

Inside Chaldea, Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly sat up straight. He could not maintain his relaxed posture anymore. Flashes of fighting alongside countless Servants, sharing quiet moments in the halls, and bleeding together across the Lostbelts flooded his mind. “Inventorying Master Love… wait, could it be about me? Am I the entertainment?”

Mash brightened, a sudden flush of anticipation warming her cheeks. “If that is the case, there must be many Servants with very deep bonds with you who will be chosen, Master.” She paused, her voice dropping a fraction of an octave, carrying a subtle, unmistakable trace of jealousy. “Many of them.”

Miss Avalon chuckled softly. “Well, well. It seems this grand excitement is about the connection of hearts. This is vastly more entertaining than mere fighting and killing.”

Gordolf Musik wiped his brow, his posture relaxing instantly. “Emmm, it seems it does not concern my impeccable leadership after all. But what exactly does this screen intend to do? Regardless, all New Chaldea personnel, remain vigilant!”

At the Clock Tower, Lord El-Melloi II abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “To dare broadcast such intimate secrets to the entire world… the existence behind this possesses unfathomable power! The highest purity must refer to an emotional connection utterly absolute, entirely devoid of contractual obligation or magical energy.”

The priests of the Holy Church were less analytical. One elderly bishop slammed his fist on a pew. “Absurd! A Master harboring romantic feelings for a familiar? Such transgressive emotions are a violation of natural law!”

The gilded text on the light screen paused briefly, allowing the world to digest the shock, before slowly fading into particles of light. Immediately after, a new line of text struck the screen like lightning. It locked the gaze of the entire world, announcing the official commencement of the broadcast.

“First on the List — Jeanne d’Arc Alter”

The moment that name materialized, the Nasuverse erupted into a second, even louder uproar.

Tohsaka Rin tilted her head. “Jeanne d’Arc Alter? Does that mean an inverted version of Jeanne d’Arc? What would the holy Saintess even look like if she were corrupted?”

Emiya Shirou frowned. “Jeanne d’Arc Alter? I have never read about this Heroic Spirit in any of the texts. What kind of existence is she?”

Red A narrowed his eyes, analyzing the implications. “An Inverted Heroic Spirit is usually born from overwhelming negative emotions. They are entities composed entirely of resentment and malice. Could such a dark existence truly possess a Master Love of the highest purity?”

Inside Chaldea, a specific image instantly flashed through Fujimaru Ritsuka’s mind. He pictured a figure draped in dark black attire, armed with a tattered flag and a vicious tongue, full of absolute defiance yet hiding a clumsy, burning tenderness beneath it all. He smiled knowingly. “It is Jalter? Then it really is about me, isn’t it?”

Mash nodded gently, a look of deep realization settling over her features. “Miss Jeanne d’Arc Alter. I did not expect her to be the very first one on the list.”

Miss Avalon smiled and shook her head slowly. “The world only knows her endless resentment, but they do not understand her deep, burning affection. She truly deserves to be the first to take the stage.”

Gilgamesh raised a golden eyebrow, genuinely surprised. “Oh? The inverted Saintess. How truly unexpected. This King wants to see what her so-called pure love truly looks like.”

Artoria felt a complex knot tighten in her stomach. The idea of the pure Saintess being twisted into an inverted existence was difficult to swallow. “Can a Heroic Spirit entangled so deeply with hatred and resentment truly harbor such a pure bond?”

High above the world, the gilded characters slowly dissolved. As the light and shadow gradually solidified, the visual records of the listed individual began to play. Dark, tattered robes vaguely emerged within the massive screen, accompanied by the slow, swirling dance of fine black flames. That figure, feared by the world as a witch of vengeance yet willing to pour out her clumsy tenderness only for her Master, was finally revealing her true form to the universe.