Launcher (Fate/Extra CCC)


 * This article is about the Fate/Extra CCC Servant. For the Fate/Apocrypha'' Servant, see Lancer of Red.

Karna (カルナ) is the Servant of Jinako Carigiri in the Moon Cell's Holy Grail War in Fate/Extra CCC. Unlike his counterpart summoned under the Lancer class, he is referred to as Karna and designated by his Master as being of the Launcher (ランチャー) Servant class.

Identity
Karna appears in the Indian epic The Mahabharata, as a hero on the vanquished side. The central conflict of The Mahabharata is the war over influence between the Pandava royal family and Kaurava royal family. Karna became famous as the rival of Arjuna, the great hero of Hindu mythology.

Early years
Karna was born from the daughter of a human king, Kunti, and the sun god, Surya. Kunti was the wife of the Kuru king Pandu, but he was under a curse that prevented him from producing children, so his queens each had no choice but other methods to bear children. Kunti was a woman who had a mantra that allowed her to copulate with and bear the child of any god and, by those means, gave Pandu children, but before she became the king's wife, she tested the mantra and bore a single child. That child was Karna, the golden hero who was born from relations with the sun god Surya. Kunti was a determined woman and, afraid of her first birth and anxiety over whether the god would acknowledge his own child, prayed to Surya:

"I want proof that this child is your son."

Surya heard Kunti's words and gave until the child, as he was born, his own power and attributes. This is the source of the golden armor that made Karna invulnerable. Though she was shown such grace and faithfulness, Kunti threw away her first son. For her, who was to become the queen of Kuru king Pandu, the existence of her son nothing but unnecessary. This is how Karna, who was thrown away by his owner mother, came to be ignorant of his own birth, but he lived with only the things he had been given by his father, the sun god Surya, held in his chest.

The form of Karna, who didn't know his own mother's face and who questioned whether his mother was motivated by dishonesty, couldn't be called beautiful. Though he possessed his father's brilliant authority, his form was stained black. His countenance was cruel, and his every action was violent. Because of his lack of human mother, he didn't learn the subtleties of human emotion and spent his days being considered a nuisance by the people around him. That was how Karna was raised, but he didn't hate his mother or his surroundings. Instead, he accepted everything. His mother and father were the ones who gave him life so he thought that no matter what kind of person his mother was, he did not hold contempt for her, as if there is anything he had to hate was himself alone. In contrast to his appearance, Karna was an exceedingly virtuous and perceptive child. Possibly the cause of that was because, while he was the child of a god, he was also a child without a single relative. Karna was blessed with the opportunity to question the poor, their lives, and their value. As a result, he chose, of his own free will, the path where he persisted in his own fastidiousness. He believed that as he was born with more than people should display a 'proof of my life' greater than those of people, if he doesn't do so, the people without power will not be rewarded. What Karna had was simply the conviction to live without bringing dishonor to his father's authority and without shaming the people who compensated him. "Though he may be relentless and ruthless, he is also full of majesty," is Karna's stance given form.

Adolescence
And Karna, who had grown to be a young man, participated in a conference of the Kuru family. At this conference, the five Pandava brothers indulged themselves in the martial arts they were so proud of and so famous for. The third son Arjuna's skill at the bow was especially magnificent, to the point that he was praised as having no equal. When the grounds were united as one voice looking for someone to equal the Pandavas, Karna leapt up to participate and displayed martial arts of the same rank as Arjuna's. Karna challenged Arjuna to determine which of them was superior. But to challenge Arjuna, a member of the royal family, one must be higher than a Kshatriya (military or royalty) and Karna seemed to be a Vaishya (merchant class) or a Shudrya (a slave). Karna, whose challenge was refused due to the difference in status, was a laughingstock. The one who saved Karna in this situation was the eldest of the one hundred princes of the Kaurava clan, who opposed the Pandavas, Duryodhana. He became interested in Karna and made him a king at that place.

This is how Karna was saved from disgrace, but his foster father, who had heard of his promotion, appeared and established his origins. The five Pandava brothers further ridiculed Karna, who displayed martial arts superior to their own, saying, "The son of a charioteer should have a sense of shame." These words enraged Karna. If it were about himself, he would accept and be resigned to anything, but he would not allow insults toward his foster father. Even if it was a foster father who announced himself out of greed, to Karna, he was the father who raised him, who Karna should take pride in. The antagonism between Karna and the five Pandava brothers had become something he could not step back from, but sunset had come and the curtain was drawn on the conference. From then again, Karna, as the friend of Duryodhana, who saved him and treated him as a king, lived as a guest of honor of the one hundred princes of the Kaurava clan.

Kurukshetra War
What awaited him beyond that was a cruel battle against the five Pandava brothers, and more specifically, against the great hero Arjuna. The antagonism between the Kauravas whom Karna entrusted his bow as a soldier and the Pandavas that Arjuna led intensified and finally became a war with their territory in the balance. That war is called the Kurukshetra War, and that is where Karna's life came to an end. Karna continued to wield his strength so that the one hundred Kaurava princes, and consequently Duryodhana, would be victorious. On the Pandava side, the only one who could oppose Karna was Arjuna, but even Arjuna could only be resigned to the fact that facing Karna directly was death.

Through several conflicts, pretexts, and mutual hatred, the war between this two camps arrived at Kurukshetra. Things having reached this point, Karna's mother, Kunti, wagered one last gamble: to reveal his lineage to Karna and draw him to the Pandava camp. Kunti told only Krishna, who was a friend of Arjuna in the guise of a normal person, of this situation, and the two of them went alone to meet Karna. Kunti revealed that she was Karna's mother, spoke how fighting with the five Pandava brothers would yield no benefits whilst weeping, and persuaded him that by fighting together with Arjuna, he would attain glory. Karna, without failing to show the friend of his arch-enemy Arjuna, Krishna, thanks, quietly listened to his mother's arguments.

Afterwards he said: "I understand your words. To join hands with the five brothers and return to my proper form. That would be a story filled with light, without a single fault."

Then, facing the rejoicing Kunti, Karna continued speaking in an even softer voice: "But I wish for you to answer one thing. Do you not feel that those words of yours were too late?"

She was too late in declaring she was his mother. She was too late in looking back upon Karna. "If you do not feel that this is a shame, then please answer. You, who declare yourself my mother, if you yourself have done no wrong, then accept the past without feeling ashamed of yourself."

While Kunti was a selfish woman, that was due to her natural innocence and and simple-mindedness; she was most definitely not a shameless woman. She knew her own deeds, throwing away Karna, who had just been born, for her own sake, were full of selfishness and reproached herself for that. And for that reason, she possessed a minimum amount of pride. She could not tell to Karna, who had been raised alone until now, who was grateful to his foster family, who had never once embraced hatred toward another, a horrible lie.

Kunti broke off the negotiation without answering. Karna said this to Kunti, who stood with her head hanging: "That is a deception, a complacent love. The only one your love can save is you. Your love is directed at no one but yourself. But I shall answer that feeling. From hereon, during the war, I will not kill any of the brothers who come to match me. I will only use all my power against my arch-enemy Arjuna."

Karna swore not to lay a hand on the brothers of the Pandava family who were inferior to him in strength. The countless times Karna allowed the five brothers to go after this was due to this pledge.

After that he concluded: "Return to the place that you obtained with your own hands. ...Though it was only once, I am grateful that you called me your son." Karna opened the castle gate and escorted Kunti out. That was the love that Karna bore for his mother, Kunti. It was not love for his mother at this late point in time but Kunti's resolution to raise "her feelings as mother" in the end... even if it wasn't genuine... That is what he answered. Kunti risked the danger of having her past come to light. To the hero of generosity Karna, such determination is worthy of compensation.

And so, just before the final battle. Arjuna's father, Indra, who understood that Karna could not be persuaded, took the form of a Brahmin, contacts Karna, and takes his golden armor. Though Karna had lost the property of being unkillable that he received from his father, he never said he would stop proceeding to the battlefield. He did not care that when he had lost his golden armor he had hastened his own death. Indra, who was touched by how gallant a figure Karna struck, asked why. Why did he continue to the battlefield, having lost his armor, but without reproaching Indra, who had hatched this scheme out of love for Arjuna?

Karna answered: "There is no need to hate you. It is simply a matter of being a step ahead. In fact--yes. Though you are a god, you are also a father. Such a thing brings me joy."

Then why do you advance toward the battlefield, asked Indra, to which he was responded: "To me, defeat is bringing shame upon my father. Even though death awaits me, I cannot run away." That was how Karna always lived. To him, who lived his life with pride in those who gave him life and raised him, his life was not his own.

Then, he added: "I owe Duryodhana a debt. For some reason, that impudent and timid man is so bright to me. It may be blasphemy against my father but, occasionally, I feel that that sweet light is the warmth of the sun." It was not the fire of the sun that Karna carried nor the absolute brilliance of Surya; to Karna, the sun was the imperfect charm that humans displayed.

Indra, who saw the divinity of Surya himself in that form, gave Karna his spear. He had taken from this noble hero something greater than his life. Unless he gave something as compensation, his honor would be stained; above all—he was charmed with him: if it were this man, he could wield the greatest spear, that Indra had not given even to his own son. After, Karna sent off the Brahmin, having lost his armor (flesh), and headed to the battlefield, as thin as a ghost.

The final battle with Arjuna. Karna was already without allies; his charioteer, whom he trusted with his body, was already an enemy, in collusion with the Pandavas. He had a large number of heavy burdens, his feelings towards his younger half-brothers. Due to his curse, the wheel of Karna's chariot was stuck in a rut. The string of Arjuna's bow was drawn back to its limits. These brothers who, for a long time, were manipulated by an unseen destiny to compete for supremacy, could only in this moment strike one another with all their might and sure enough, Arjuna's bow shot down the sun.

It is said that after his death, Karna became one with his father Surya. Called "the Hero of Generosity," he was a saint with the creed of not refusing when people came to ask or rely on him. The hero who, while possessing exceedingly high abilities, was within a tragedy where he was the enemy of his brothers by blood, received various curses, and lost his life without showing his true worth—that is Karna. This is a digression, but it is impossible to determine if Arjuna knew the truth that Karna was his older brother or not. It seems the only people who definitely knew that Karna was Kunti's son were Karna and Kunti, Krishna, and the sun god Surya.

Personality
His personality is the same as his counterpart.

According to the Maharabata, Karna is the Saint of Generosity. Karna is poor at expressing his emotions, but he has the tendency to become angry when those who have picked him up, those who have supported him, are scorned. Even if it is a relationship based only on mutual benefit, to repay a favor with a favor is how Karna lives. Possibly due to that selfless devotion of his, when people came to him, seeking something, he would generally grant it to them, as long as they were being truthful. And this was without considering possessions or assets but with him considering the state of their heart first. However, during the Holy Grail War, his master's victory is his priority, so a request for him to "yield his victory" will go unanswered, and he would admonish his opponent, as such a proposal would have no benefit for them. "What a ridiculous misunderstanding. First of all, victory is something one must attain for oneself. Is a victory that I give truly a victory for you?" This is not out of ill intentions, but rather because the question of "Doesn't having victory yielded to you cause you to lose at life?" is matter of real worry for him.

Truly, he was a immensely prudent and superhuman hero. He had the virtue to accept differing ideologies, even if they were his enemies', and their accompanying ways of life and respect them as "ways to live." But Karna has difficulty conveying his true nature. Karna's speech and conduct pricks at those true natures. Words and actions meant to deceive oneself, behavior meant to gloss over, conviction. Karna sees through all of those things and frankly states "the true nature that his opponent wants to hide." As a result, he comes to be hated by the majority of his opponents and is forced to fight them as anyone would hate having their faults being spoken of.

It goes without saying, but Karna's words and conduct do not contain any disgust at his opponent's faults. For Karna who affirms the position of every human, both faith that is not compatible with him and beauty and ugliness that he cannot understand are things to be held in esteem. Because he cannot put the admiration in his heart into words, people misunderstand him as someone who "denies and hates everything."

Development
Karna is one of Kinoko Nasu's favorite characters, and he was originally designed for the cancelled online Fate/Apocrypha game. At that time Nasu thought it is too good to be shelved away so he decided to put Karna into Fate/Extra CCC.

Arco Wada said the original design by pako was too complex to reproduce a 3D model, especially the flaming cape, so the design was changed but she kept the same impression as much as possible.

Fate/Extra CCC
Karna formed a contract with Jinako Carigiri during the Moon Cell Holy Grail War on the Near Side. Though she was technically disqualified during the early rounds, Jinako stayed within her room and avoided deletion because the system would not delete participants in that location. She was still ultimately doomed once the Holy Grail War would be completed and everything besides the winner was to be deleted, so Karna gave her his armor to allow her to return to the real world due to the nature of the sun overwhelming that of the moon. They were brought into the Far Side by BB along with the other remaining Masters but Jinako is one of the few masters who retained their servants. It was generally thought by others that Karna is a Lancer class. Hakuno Kishinami can interact with Karna only when Hakuno enters Jinako's room.

Chapter 3 - Alter Ego / M
When Hakuno Kishinami picked up the fragment data, a confused Jinako ran away somewhere in Sakura's Labyrinth. She recovered parts of her memories and complained about Karna's late rescue. Karna couldn't fully materialize himself due to lack of mana.

Julius B. Harwey also appears but he distracts Jinako and Karna while BB's shadow devours Jinako. Karna helplessly watches as Jinako is devoured by BB shadow and is forced to help BB's cause.

Chapter 4 - Sick, Home Sink
When Hakuno and the servant faced Karna for the first time in the 10th floor, Karna overpowers them. Jinako reveals that Karna has been placed under a special class known as Launcher. After Hakuno collected Jinako's first SG, Karna teleported away.

After collecting all of Jinako's SG, Hakuno must dive into her mind to face her and Karna. Karna expressed that he is grateful of Monji Gatou when he sacrifice himself to save Jinako. As a loyal servant, he fight Hakuno's servant. After his defeat, he can be encounter in Jinako's room.

Chapter 7 - I Love You
Before the school was deleted, Jinako was hiding in her room with Karna. Jinako screams as she thinks she is about to die again. Karna revealed to Jinako that she didn't die in the Moon Cell Holy Grail War and she was saved thanks to his golden armour. Surprised with this statement, Jinako asked why he didn't say anything. Karna said he was waiting for the right timing and asked if Jinako wants to return back to the real world. Jinako cries out saying she wants to return. Listening to her answer, Karna was happy that he interfered for her sake. Karna draws out his spear and cuts the space leading them to a different area, an exit for Jinako.

Jinako notices Karna's body to fade and he says to Jinako that regardless of breaking Moon Cell's rule, this would be his fate. Jinako ask why he is willing to save her and Karna replies that he serves her regardless of what kind of person she is. As Jinako cries, Karna ask if he did anything wrong and Jinako says nothing is wrong but she claims Karna to be a over protective father. Jinako thanks Karna for what he done for her and bids farewell before she made Karna depressed.

Karna starts flying away and wishes Jinako to live and he believes that there is someone waiting for her out there before disappearing.

Fate/Extra CCC Foxtail
Gawain fought against Meltlilith and Passionlip when they invaded the school. When the fight appears at a disadvantage, Karna helps Gawain. They teamed up and cut down Passionlip.

Abilities
Karna is a high class Heroic Spirit said to be on par with Gilgamesh. He was summoned under the Lancer-class, but Jinako wished to change his name to Launcher due to Brahmastra appearing similar to a beam attack. Furthermore, in Fate/Extra material, he is listed under the Lancer class. He has four Noble Phantasms, Kavacha and Kundala, Brahmastra, Brahmastra Kundala, and Vasavi Shakti but only Vasavi Shakti is counted as such in game. Jinako is below average in ability and unable to supply him with a proper amount of energy, so he can only materialize his spear briefly and normally uses his fists. Having given his armor, Kavacha and Kundala, to Jinako, he is forced to materialize Vasavi Shakti at great cost to himself.

Due to his real name being revealed, his Uncrowned Arms Mastership (無冠の武芸) skill no longer take effect. With this skill, each sword, spear, bow, Riding, and Divinity skill would be brought down one rank, with the attributes being displayed as their complete opposites.