Berserker (Fate/Grand Order - Darius III)

Berserker (バーサーカー) is a Berserker-class Servant able to be summoned by the Protagonist in the Grand Orders of Fate/Grand Order.

Identity
Berserker's True Name is Dareiosu san-sei, a valorous king of Ancient Persia. A character from the 4th Century BC. Known as the last emperor of the. A "worthy rival" of Iskandar, the King of Conquerors of Macedonia, whom he faced in combat many times.

He was born in a branch of the royal family descended from the great ancestor, known as a king with excellent discernment and superior government ability. Darius I was a wise king among wise kings, who built the military roads that connected the cities and established the post-station system, fomenting the commerce and culture exchanges, and who filled the state coffers by making the tax collection from the provinces more efficient, with his system and his new tax system. And with respect the province rule, he showed great tolerance by giving freedom to the conquered peoples to practice their beliefs and customs; and at the same time, he prevented military insurrections by monitoring the satraps and the provinces with his inspectors, the "Eyes of the King" and the "Ears of the King". Indeed, the First was a benevolent king, who didn't bind down the people, but instead loved the culture and exchanges, and made the country wealthy. Darius I has opened the "Door to Babylon" without hesitation, thus his descendants gained some measure of wealth. And thus, they were embroiled in a great many wars.

As an adult, he obtained the position of satrap (a governor-general) and took his post as the governor of a province. And then, suddenly, he became the new king. He was supported as the new king by the eunuch, who had killed in succession and his son the. He also wanted to be like the Darius I. There was a single reason that made him, born in a mere branch of the royal family, decide to take upon the name of that great king and become Darius III. Even if he had obtained the throne at the end of a bloody and tragic conspiracy, he aspired to become a great king, loved by his people and land. However, he couldn't become a benevolent king. Due to his own choice. Now as king Darius III, he immediately purged the treacherous Bagoas. And just as he was about to bring order to the state system, his destiny arrived.

That was the invasion of the awe-inspiring great king, the King of Conquerors of Macedonia, Iskandar. Compared with this great king, that treacherous retainer that once had violated the country like he owned the place amounted to nothing. Darius III compares the traitor Bagoas and Iskandar differently. The difference between a scoundrel that plunders the country and abuses of the people and somebody that doesn't is evident. Iskandar, Alexander the Great; at the very least, he was not a villain. There was no doubt that he was suitable to be a great king around whom the conquered kings and generals and peoples gather and become retainers. He chose himself as a war king, a wall against that great king, a "worthy rival" of Iskandar. Darius III never bowed his head in front of his "worthy opponent" Iskandar, even as he ruled the conquered peoples in a way reminiscing that of Darius I. He neither considered to become a wing of the glorious Machedonian army, like the other kings.

He chose to fight. Darius III stood up against the fierce attack of the Macedonian army and of the king Iskandar, his real destined opponent. He became determined to become not a benevolent king, but a War King. Leading a massive army several times larger than the looming Macedonian army, he clashed once and again with a fierceness surpassing that of mere interceptions, and even after being defeated he always came back to obstruct king Iskander's way. Without losing his bravery even after being defeated once and again and again.

His land was eventually conquered by Iskandar. Upon sitting on his throne, Iskander could not have his feet reach even Darius' footstool and had to swap it out with a table.

Appearance
Although it is told in history books that Alexander was a short man, the reality was that Darius simply towered over the 212cm man at over three meters in height.

His normal facial expression is calm. Still, he is constantly filled with a firm fighting spirit. During battle, he open his eyes and begins the destruction of the target by becoming a storm itself.

Personality
An unwavering man. His expression at peacetime is calm. An indomitable man with an unshakable fighting spirit. Although he still gives off the style of a monarch, his extremely high Mad Enhancement has scattered most of that human nature.

In contrary to the sternness of his fight, strangely his reactions towards his Master are mostly obedient. Maybe it depends on the summoning system or maybe in the Master's qualities, as he does not run wildly in normal times, and comparatively listens properly to what he is told, his effective Disengage Skill is also not wasted when retreating from battle. However, since he is usually silent there is not much point in conversing with him.

His wish for the Holy Grail is to have "a rematch with Iskandar". Not a one-on-one, he desires a rematch that is clash of troops against troops. Although a comparatively obedient Servant, he is likely to run wild when his wish is involved, so special attention is required. Under normal circumstances, he is silent but he can yell out the name "Iskandar."

Relationships

 * Iskandar
 * His destined great opponent and his eternal worthy rival. He will try to fight the moment they meet. Just like Berserker Lancelot when he sees Saber (Artoria).


 * Nitocris
 * It's a different person with the same name, but there's a connection between the Assyrian queen and his ancestor.


 * Gilgamesh
 * There's a distant connection by way of the Assyrian queen Nitocris.

Septem: Eternal Madness Empire
Darius III appears in the "Eternal Madness Empire".

Other appearances
He was mentioned by Rider in the Fate/Zero novel, and the manga, when Waver Velvet questions about Alexander the Great's height. Iskandar holds him in high regard, his expression at hearing Darius' name showing reminiscence akin to remembering an old friend. He describes both Darius' caliber as an emperor and his figure as a person as majestic, and tells that Darius was a fitting ruler for the mighty Persian Empire.

In Fate/GUDAGUDA Order, he is noted to be from Persia and a rival to the King of Conquerors. He looks like an Indian and he was breathing out fire, to which the manga parodies him like Dhalsim. Saber tells the audience to read Fate/Zero, whereas Rider points out that he doesn't appear in Fate/Zero. Waver Velvet and Rider both appear to recognize him. Dar-ius (誰イオス) is his given nickname in Fate/GUDAGUDA Order. It uses a combination of Japanese word Who (誰) and ios (イオス) to make it sound like Darius.

Abilities
He is seen wielding two axes. Besides combat performance, monetary assets are also a part of his strength. His Noble Phantasm is Athanaton Ten Thousand.

Due to his Mad Enhancement, all Parameters are increased but most reason is lost.

Golden Rule is a skill that measures the destiny of being blessed with money during one's life. Since he had enough assets to challenge Iskandar several times during his life, Darius III possesses this skill at rank B. His financial power is a part of his strength as much as his combat ability.

Creation and Conception
PFALZ is the character designer for Berserker. Hikaru Sakurai is the scenario writer for Berserker in Fate/Grand Order.