Saber (Fate/Crossover - Heishiro Mitsurugi)

**Saber** (セイバー, *Seibā*) is the servant of ??? in the ??? Holy Grail War.

"Mercy? I have none!" — Heishiro Mitsurugi

## Profile

### Identity

Saber's true identity is **Heishiro Mitsurugi**, a samurai born the fourth son of a farmer in Bizen, Japan; but after many years of seeing his homeland ravaged by war, he decided to become a samurai. After his parents' death in his 14th year, he took a sword and the last name Mitsurugi. He went to train under the powerful warlord of the Murakami clan. At this time, Japan was in the middle of the Sengoku Jidai or "the age of the country at war" in which the feudal lords or "daimyos" attempted to claim the title of Shogun. Mitsurugi was a powerful force on the battlefield, and rumors of him spread like wildfire, heralding him as the warrior that could mow down foes like fields of wheat, and he was noted by Uesugi Kenshin and Oda Nobunaga as a great warrior. He received numerous military commendations and eventually reached the rank of commissioned officer in the Japanese armed forces. But all along, his only true desire was a worthy opponent.

### Appearance

Mitsurugi appears as a well-built Japanese man with slightly long black hair and black eyes. He wears a red breastplate with yellow accents and matching greaves, left brace and shoulder armor, which the left one has more of an dragon-like design with another layer of sode armor coming from the mouth. He wears a black and gold haori underneath the breastplate, with the left sleeve covering his armored and gloved arm while the other is bare with a beaded bracelet, matching baggy pants with a gold tiger design on the left leg tied by a purple rope belt and a green and gold cloth covering the other leg.

### Personality

Mitsurugi has only one goal in mind: To seek out the strongest warrior and challenge them to a duel then become the strongest warrior in history. He is never satisfied at the opponents he defeated in battle. Aside from being annoying and to good, Mitsurugi is the kind of a person who sticks to his words; he's not all show. Being a ronin, he fights with honour and kills his opponents in an honourable fashion, and several of his endings reveal that he has a moral side. As shown in one such ending, he is shown to believe that true strength lies within a person and not from the weapon. He is considered a neutral character.

## Abilities

Mitsurugi is a highly skilled tactician. Dozens of years of combat experience against numerous different fighting styles. He even Fought opponents much stronger than regular humans, and Consistently challenges riflemen with just his sword and has also deflected bullets.

Shishi-Oh
Mitsurugi decided to rethink his fighting style to combat the power of the Tanegashima. He arrived at the conclusion he needed a new blade to fit his new style.

Visiting many a swordsmith on his travels, the samurai tried out various swords, until eventually he settled on Shishi-Oh. Though neither rare nor particularly unusual, the blade is relatively long and wide. It is sharp, weighty, and cuts the air cleanly, making it ideal for Mitsurugi’s aggressive style.

Tenpu-Kosai-Ryu Kai
Mitsurugi calls his style Tenpu-Kosai-Ryu. Unlike most fighters of a new style, he has no desire to open a school and gather disciples to pass it on to. Rather, it is likely that he uses his skills simply as means to help his services as a mercenary. Mitsurugi's style was developed naturally through countless hard-fought battles, and as such it differs greatly from more systematic styles. That being said, he constantly strove to improve his techniques as he searched for a weapon stronger than Tanegashima. This led him to favor moves that allow him to strike and move quickly when faced with projectile-firing weapons.

It was likely that it was during this period of his life that Mitsurugi searched out and battled opponents wielding a variety of different styles. In Japan, the Warring States period was in full swing, and rarely did anyone turn down a challenge once issued. Mitsurugi used this opportunity to learn from those he defeated, and make their techniques his own.

### Noble Phantasm

#### **Demon Slayer**

Mitsurugi performs four quick slashes that briefly ignites the opponent in fire.

#### **Thunderbolt Blade**

Slashes his opponent which lifts them up into the air, then strikes them down with another slash which launches them higher into the air.

## References

https://soulcalibur.fandom.com/wiki/Mitsurugi

https://vsbattles.fandom.com/wiki/Mitsurugi