Strictly speaking, there actually weren't many major roles in 'Fate/Zero' that suited Su Yan.
Kiritsugu Emiya's brooding, world-weary persona was far removed from Su Yan's own style. Maybe if Su Yan were ten years older, he could attempt that kind of role.
Kotomine Kirei was a possibility—but since there were more suitable characters available on the market, Su Yan didn't feel the need to compete for it.
As for Rider—
That was even less fitting.
So, not wanting to waste his own popularity—and admittedly being quite interested in playing a tall, rich, handsome character—Su Yan cast himself as the golden king, Gilgamesh.
Not too many scenes.
It wouldn't significantly affect his filming schedule for the 'Rurouni Kenshin' movie.
But highly memorable.
Enough to firmly hook his fans.
On set, Zhuang Yuxin, Shen Liqian, Gu Qingyuan, and the rest of the crew stared at him without blinking.
That dazzling golden armor.
That arrogant, fully immersed expression.
It was impossible to ignore.
Moreover, in the Xia Nation adaptation of 'Fate/Zero', Su Yan intended to give Gilgamesh slightly more action.
In the original version, the character mostly stood still and unleashed ultimate attacks. Cool, yes—but for a live-action drama, some close-quarters combat was necessary.
And with Su Yan's physical ability—
It would be a waste not to show it off.
Over the next few days, his schedule grew increasingly packed.
It was already June.
After 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' concluded, next month would see the nationwide release of '5 Centimeters per Second'.
The month after that—' We Made a Beautiful Bouquet'.
During filming, Su Yan also had to cooperate with promotional activities.
Time flew.
Soon—
Sunday arrived again.
After a week of fermentation, the resentment among Madoka fans had reached its peak.
No one could predict how Su Yan would end this story.
He had shown mercy before—granting characters happy endings.
But more often—
He delivered despair.
Madoka had already ascended as a god.
What about Homura?
For an entire week, fans of Shen Liqian and Gu Qingyuan had collectively criticized Su Yan.
And Su Yan's own fans?
Not only did they not defend him—
They cursed the loudest.
[If the old sadist doesn't deliver a satisfying ending tonight, we boycott '5 Centimeters per Second' next month.]
[Exactly! It's because you fans keep indulging him that he's so fearless. The story was progressing perfectly—why turn Homura into a witch? What nonsense.]
[But isn't Homura becoming a witch understandable? As long as Madoka ends her before she fully transforms.]
[The problem is—Madoka hasn't come! She's clueless! And Homura clearly looks like she's heading toward the same despair and self-destruction as Sayaka.]
[What if Homura becoming a witch is actually a happy ending? Since she and Madoka can't reunite in the living world—maybe they reunite in the afterlife?]
[?]
[Afterlife reunion? What are you talking about?]
[Sayaka's already dead, yet she entered Homura's labyrinth. That means witches don't just vanish after death. Maybe there's an afterlife?]
[Stop joking. We don't even understand Sayaka and Bebe yet. There's no way it's that simple.]
[What if the old sadist actually messed up this time? I genuinely can't see how he wraps this up in one episode.]
[? That's ridiculous. I can call him cruel—but I'll never call him incompetent.]
[You can question his morals, but never his skill!]
[Just wait. I can smell a rushed ending. One episode left—let's see how he patches this.]
[You wait. We may curse him—but tonight's ratings may surpass 'Tokyo Love Story'.]
At the end of the spring season, even Su Yan's anti-fans resurfaced.
Another S-tier drama, Peerless, had concluded two days earlier with a 5.1% finale rating.
But under Madoka's overwhelming heat—
It ended almost unnoticed.
Now the entire Xia Nation television industry cared about one thing:
Could 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' surpass 'Tokyo Love Story's 6.02%?
It didn't even need to surpass 6.02%.
Breaking 6% alone—
Would make history.
No one in Xia Nation drama history had ever achieved back-to-back works surpassing 6%.
Not in the past.
And likely never again.
8 p.m.
The final episode aired.
Wei Ruoyu immediately put down her phone.
Online, she had loudly declared she was done with the show.
In reality—
She didn't want to miss a single second.
The story continued directly from last week.
And Episode 11 wasted no time.
The truth was revealed immediately.
The witch of Mitakihara—
Was Homura.
The one who dragged everyone into the labyrinth—
Was also Homura.
But the Mitakihara they were in—
Was fake.
The real Homura, in the real world, was at the instant of transforming from a magical girl into a witch.
This Mitakihara—
Was a city constructed inside her Soul Gem during her witchification?
But—
That state had been sealed by Kyubey.
No power Homura did not permit was allowed to enter her Soul Gem.
And Kyubey's objective—
"You want to control Madoka, don't you?!"
Homura's furious voice ignited Wei Ruoyu's rage—and that of countless fans.
So that was it.
Kyubey was interested in the Law of Cycles.
And extremely curious about witches.
Assuming Homura's words were true—
At the moment when Homura reached the end of her magical girl life, just before she would transform and be erased by the Law of Cycles—
Kyubey sealed her Soul Gem.
Observed her.
And within it—
Observed the false Mitakihara.
Observed the impossible existence of Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki.
Observed—
Witches.
["Kyubey, you bastard!"] Wei Ruoyu was furious.
Everything made sense now.
The Madoka in the fake city—
Was the embodiment of the Law of Cycles.
Witches existed there because of Kyubey's interference.
Madoka hadn't purified Homura—
Also, because of Kyubey.
Soon, Wei Ruoyu's anger found release.
Upon learning the truth, Homura hunted Kyubey like a madwoman.
But there were too many of them.
Kill one—
Another appears.
Now that Kyubey had confirmed witches and Madoka's existence—
The next goal was to control Madoka's power.
"As expected, you should have become witches and fulfilled your value."
Wei Ruoyu laughed in anger.
Kyubey must die.
She didn't care about the ending anymore.
If the old thief doesn't destroy Kyubey—
This drama is zero points.
Exterminate them. Every last one.
But then—
The next development made her tear up.
To protect Madoka—
Homura willingly chose to become a witch.
Rather than be used as bait to lure and capture Madoka—
She chose self-destruction.
"My heart hurts…" Wei Ruoyu felt a knot in her stomach.
What exactly were Homura's feelings for Madoka?
Love?
Friendship?
Something beyond both?
At this point—
All the major mysteries were resolved.
What remained—
Was spectacle.
And Homura's final decision.
"If you fully become a witch inside the Soul Gem, you'll be destroyed beyond even the Law of Cycles' perception! No one will save your soul from despair! You will forever lose the chance to see Madoka Kaname again!"
Kyubey's urgent words brought tears to Wei Ruoyu's eyes.
Though Kyubey wanted to stop her only to preserve his bait—
Homura's resolve was clear.
Reuniting with Madoka—
It was her second greatest wish.
Her first—
Was protecting her.
Then—
The grand scene unfolded.
The massive witch rose within the false Mitakihara.
Her mouth sewn shut.
Her wrists were shackled.
This witch of despair walked step by step toward a scaffold.
Toward her own execution.
Her existence was not to spread despair—
But to execute herself.
As long as she died—
Madoka would have no weakness.
Kyubey—
Would lose his final bargaining chip against a god.
"This… is my despair!"
The witch's head fell—
And was crushed beneath her own foot.
"In the end… I couldn't say goodbye. I'm sorry."
The deepest voice of obsession within Witch Homura's heart.
Wei Ruoyu's eyes were red.
Tears welling.
Heartache.
Despair.
Wasn't this supposed to avoid depression?
Was this truly Homura's end?