True Identity
Archer is actually a future adult Shiro Emiya, the main character of Fate/stay night. He is ultimately the winner of the 5th Holy Grail War, and is a living incarnation of the "Hero of Justice". The Throne of Heroes, which preserves the souls of all Epic Spirits, exists outside of any conventional timeline, so Archer can be called from any point in history. The amulet Rin used as a catalyst in Archer's summoning was the same jewel she used to save Shirō's life shortly after Archer was summoned (though she knew of neither fact at the time). This creates a time loop, linking the jewel to Shiro so that Archer is summoned if the jewel is used to summon a Servant, explaining his appearance instead of a Saber-class Servant Rin wanted.
His history differs from that of Shirō in any particular storyline, although he is most similar to the version who progressed through the Fate scenario. Archer was formerly Master of Saber. He cares deeply for Illyasviel von Einzbern, and his inability to prevent her death one year after the war's end is his greatest regret. At one point in his future life, Archer finds himself incapable of saving the lives of several hundred people; to change the course of their destinies, he forges a pact with the world, whereby in exchange for a miracle he is obligated to posthumously and indefinitely serve humanity as a Counter Guardian, a spirit that protects the world from disasters. Later, one of those many people that he saved uses him as a political scapegoat, executing Archer under the accusations of war crimes for wanton violence and destruction.
Throughout his heroic career, Archer struggles with the same doubt his father, Kiritsugu, acknowledged many years before; when the life of one person is saved, another person must be left to die. After fighting in many future battles, he is horrified to discover himself slaughtering countless numbers of the nefarious and innocent alike. In time, the once idealistic Shirō comes to the pessimistic conclusion that attempting to preserve all human life is futile, for the few must be sacrificed for the survival of the many. Accepting this concept frustrates Archer, for it betrays his life's conviction and renders his selfless dedication to defending mankind worthless.
Through his deal with the world, which turned him into a Counter Guardian of the world, he still had hoped to serve mankind somehow in afterlife. However, as a Counter Guardian, he is only summoned to prevent the impending doom of the world by eliminating the cause, which usually means killing people who are responsible for bringing the disaster. This is not what Archer had hoped to do, but he is forever doomed to serve as a Counter Guardian by the deal he made with the world, and will have to continue to kill dozens to save hundreds, and thousands to save millions. In the end, he was betrayed even by his own ideal.
Broken, bitter, and angry, Archer gambles on the small hope of being summoned as a Servant back in the 5th Holy Grail War. His rationale is to kill his younger self and cause a time paradox, which Archer hopes will spare Shirō the anguish of realizing his ideals are a sham and free himself from the eternal servitude as a Counter Guardian, even at a cost of ripping the fabric of reality asunder.
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