Fate/Zero/Nightmare Fuel

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< Fate‎ | Zero


As nightmare inducing as Fate Stay Night is, there are reasons why Fate/Zero is considered Darker and Edgier.


  • Joy to the world, the anime adaption of Fate/Zero gives us a very nice animated look at what Zouken put Sakura through when she was a child. It's absolutely, utterly horrifying and disgusting. If you don't have a fear of bugs and (specifically) worms, you will after this scene. To fellow tropers who haven't yet seen it: a shower right afterwards is helpful, possibly necessary. Zouken, you will burn in hell for this...
  • Again from the Fate/Zero anime, Ryunosuke Uryu and Caster's introduction is full of nightmare-inducing images. It doesn't help that both of them are completely and totally immoral and insane.
  • Sola torturing Kayneth might not be as extreme as all the other examples mentioned here, but boy is it both creepy and nightmarish.
    • Probably because there are no Eldritch Abominations, serial killers, or other supernatural aspects, just a paralyzed man who's lost his reason for existence (his magic) being emotionally manipulated - and then, when it doesn't work, physically mutilated with the threat of being reduced to a limbless husk - by the one person he cares for.
  • Oh, and Caster's lab. Oh gods, Caster's lab. Think Kirei's basement from Fate/stay night, just with a lot more blood and a lot less purpose.
    • To clarify, his lab consists of the still alive bodies of men, women, and children carved up and turned into instruments, artwork, and furniture. Excuse me, I need a hug.
  • Fate/Zero episode 10 has a very Slasher Movie feel. Ryunosuke being the villain and Rin being the focus character does not help one bit, even though you know Rin survives. Well, it's Nightmare Fuel up until Ryunosuke gets beaten down (no real magic talent) by a small, extremely magically-talented, girl. Then it's a Crowning Moment of Awesome for Rin. And then Rin nearly gets jumped by one of Caster's tentacle abominations, and Kariya gets to pull an awesome Big Damn Heroes moment.
  • Just Berserker possessing a JASDF F-15J with the pilot still inside. Also includes said destruction at the hands of Lancer.
    • How about Caster's monster eating one of the planes with the pilot still in it?

Command: "Report, what do you see? Report!"
Pilot: "Eyes. So many eyes."

  • Episode 16: There's something extremely unsettling about watching Lancer's complete meltdown as he dies with his honor completely crushed, raving madly at everyone present.
    • Those orange eyes pouring blood... There's nothing worse (or sadder) than seeing Lancer cursing the world with that expression...
    • If you want to take things a step further, there's what became of Kayneth and Sola seconds after that. Maybe not "scary" nightmare fuel, but it is... hauntingly tragic and heart breaking. Seriously. If NOTHING in episode 16 affected you in some sad way, then you are either dead inside or Kirei Kotomine.
  • Episode 22: First, it is extremely unsettling to see Kirei snap at Irisviel because he can't stand an Artificial Human with genuine feelings, when he, a genuine human, can't feel nor comprehend real emotions...