Did the Heroic Spirit I conquered become a reality?

After confirming that it wasn't a hallucination, she slowly reached out and rested her head in his arms. Feeling that familiar, warm embrace and the unique, comforting scent from her memories, Sakura Tohsaka's tense nerves finally broke down completely at that moment. All her grievances, fears, helplessness, and longing turned into a torrent of tears, and she burst into loud sobs.

She reached out her small hand and tightly grasped Tohsaka Yu's clothes, as if afraid that this was just another fleeting dream.

Yu Tohsaka held the girl, who was crying uncontrollably, tightly in his arms, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

Thankfully... everything is still in time.

While secretly relieved, he quickly felt an indescribable anger towards Zouken Matou.

The two embraced quietly, savoring this hard-won reunion and the warmth of having regained what they had lost.

However, this heartwarming reunion did not last long.

"Hmph... What a touching brother-sister relationship."

An old, hoarse voice, like the hiss of a viper, suddenly rang out from the shadows of the room, shattering the brief silence.

Yu Tohsaka suddenly raised her head, her eyes instantly turning cold and sharp as she stared intently in the direction from which the sound came.

A hunched, short figure, leaning on a cane, emerged slowly from the darkest corner of the room, like a real demon.

His old face, covered with wrinkles and lividity, appeared even more ferocious and terrifying in the dim light, his cloudy eyes gleaming with greedy and cunning light.

Matou Zouken!

"You are... that brat that Tokiomi Tohsaka took in back then?"

The old insect's cloudy eyes scanned Tohsaka Yu, a hint of surprise in his voice.

He remembered this child. When Tokiomi Tohsaka brought Sakura here, he seemed to have mentioned that the Tohsaka family had another talented adopted son who had been sent to the Clock Tower.

I never expected... to appear here in this way.

and……

Zouken Matou's gaze sharpened slightly. The incised insect familiars covering his entire body allowed him to clearly sense the exceptionally vast and pure magical power emanating from Yu Tohsaka.

This level of magic... is far beyond what an ordinary Clock Tower student could possess!

"I see... So you became a Servant?" Zouken Matou quickly revealed a knowing smile, a smile filled with greed and disdain. "Although I don't know how you became a Heroic Spirit, since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep... it saves me a lot of trouble."

In his view, even if a newly arrived Servant has immense magical power, how much combat experience could he possibly have? As long as he handles him carefully, he might have a chance to "deal with" him as well, making him another asset in his plan for immortality.

Before he finished speaking, countless black Crest Worms surged from Zouken Matou's aged body, sweeping towards Yu Tohsaka like a tidal wave!

However, Tohsaka Yu didn't even dodge, and his EX-level magic power suddenly erupted!

The magic power carrying the sacred aura of the "Sea of ​​Life" was like an invisible barrier. The moment those filthy marking insects came into contact with this pure magic power, they were as if they had encountered their nemesis, letting out shrill cries and turning into charred remains!

Immediately afterwards, a flash of light appeared in Yu Tohsaka's hand, and several high-quality gems were already in his grasp.

The magical gem surged forth wildly, instantly engulfing the entire room and Zouken Matou, who was trying to resist!

Rumble——! ! !

The deafening explosions continued, and the entire Matou family mansion trembled violently under the impact of this terrifying magical power!

"This...this is impossible!"

As the smoke and dust cleared, Zouken Matou emerged from the ruins in a disheveled state. His body, composed of countless insects, was now incomplete, and his cloudy old eyes were filled with disbelief, shock, and... a hint of fear.

This brat… how can his magic power be so immense?! And the way he uses gem magic… it's as if it requires absolutely no effort!

More importantly, the pure and sacred aura in his magic has a natural restraint on beings like him who rely on insects to survive!

This is simply no match for him!

Zouken Matou's cloudy, grayish-white eyes were filled with disbelief, shock, and... a hint of fear.

Having realized this, Zouken Matou had already decided to retreat. His remaining insect body writhed wildly backward, trying to escape the area.

He could sense that if he didn't escape this place soon, his decaying life, which he had managed to maintain for hundreds of years, might be coming to an end.

With this in mind, Zouken Matou abandoned most of his insect body without hesitation. The core few Crest Insects shot off like arrows towards the secret passage deeper in the Insect Bank, a passage known only to him, and instantly disappeared into the darkness.

Only then did Yuu Tohsaka finally have time to turn his gaze to Sakura Tohsaka, who was still trembling in his arms but clinging tightly to him. His eyes instantly softened.

"Sakura, it's alright now..." he said softly, gently patting her back.

"Waaah... Brother..." Sakura Tohsaka buried her face in his chest, her voice filled with endless grievance and fear.

Yu Tohsaka gently comforted the girl, then his gaze inadvertently drifted to the messy room, and even to the summoning circle in the distance that was faintly flashing with an ominous red light, his brows furrowing slightly.

Judging from this, it seems that the Matou family is conducting some kind of ritual to summon Heroic Spirits?

……

Meanwhile, at the Matou family mansion, at the entrance to the underground insect storage.

The summoning ritual of Matou Kariya is nearing its end.

His magical power surged out like a flood bursting its banks. He was teetering on the brink of collapse due to the intense exertion and the backlash from the Crest Worms, but his eyes remained exceptionally firm, filled with deep hatred for Zouken Matou and profound concern for Sakura Tohsaka.

boom--! ! !

Deep within the insect realm, the summoning circle belonging to the Berserker suddenly erupted with an even more violent and ominous dark purple light than before!

A terrifying aura, filled with endless resentment, destruction, and a thirst for revenge, swept through the entire Matou family mansion like an ancient monster awakening!

The light dissipated.

A tall, twisted figure, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression, slowly emerged from the center of the magic circle.

She had long, dark purple hair that cascaded down her back. It wasn't human hair, but rather made up of countless tiny, ominous demonic snakes that danced and hissed behind her, emanating a chilling aura.

Her face was beautiful yet eerie, her skin so pale it was almost transparent, and her eyes, which should have been as beautiful as amethyst, were now covered by a thick eye patch that seemed to be a manifestation of a curse.

But even with her eyes covered, it couldn't conceal the terrifying divinity emanating from her, a divinity that was almost tangible and filled with a desire for destruction and revenge!

Berserker - Gorgon!

It seems that the summoning ritual was interfered with by the aftermath of the battle between Tohsaka Yu and Matou Zouken, as well as by Matou Kariya's violent negative emotions. The spirit origin state of the Gorgon that has descended at this moment is... abnormally unstable. It can even be said that it is on the verge of going berserk!

"Roar--!!!"

Gorgon let out an angry roar that was unlike anything in human form, and terrifying magic spread outwards like a tsunami!

Just then, Zouken Matou, who had just escaped, emerged disheveled from another corner of the insect storage.

When he saw the Gorgon who had successfully arrived, and the terrifying aura emanating from her, the cloudy eyes on his old face, covered in lividity, instantly burst forth with a light of wild joy!

Success! This power...this aura...it's definitely top-tier Servant!

With her, victory in the Holy Grail War, and even the long-cherished wish of immortality, are just around the corner!

Almost the instant he saw the figure before him, Zouken Matou felt he had found hope.

"Success... This is definitely the strongest Berserker in these two Holy Grail Wars!"

On Matou Zouken's gloomy, aged face, he could no longer conceal the uncontrollable smile.

"Berserker... go kill those invaders! Go tear that arrogant brat... and the woman beside him to shreds!"

“Don’t let me die, you idiot.”

Gorgon's tone was icy, and he didn't even glance at Zouken Matou, but instead looked up in a certain direction from the Matou residence.

There, she could sense a fluctuation of a servant's magic power... although the magic power was quite large, that was all.

"To be scared away by a Servant of this level... It seems the Master who summoned me is quite weak."

Gorgon glanced casually at the white-haired man who was almost unconscious from summoning him, then looked at Zouken Matou and said, "Never mind... I'm in the mood tonight, so I'll play with the intruder for a bit."

Upon hearing this, Zouken Matou's eyes immediately lit up with anticipation.

As an 'insect', he possesses extremely strong perception, and at this moment, he can clearly feel the incredibly violent magical power emanating from Gorgon... No matter how vast Tohsaka Yu's magical power is, it is impossible for him to contend with the Berserker before him.

"Let me look forward to your power, Berserker."

……

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After calming the girl down, Yu Tohsaka carefully picked her up, his gaze sweeping over the dark room, and he was about to leave.

At that moment, Aika Sajou and Tiamat appeared silently at the doorway.

"Caster, have you found her?" Ayaka Sajou asked with an innocent smile, her emerald green eyes curiously examining the little girl in Yu Tohsaka's arms.

Tiamat tilted her head, her ruby-like eyes filled with kindness and a hint of... indescribable affection.

As the creator goddess, she instinctively felt a surge of maternal instinct when she saw the weak and helpless girl... especially since the girl was Tohsaka Yu's younger sister.

Yu Tohsaka nodded slightly, about to speak.

At that moment, an old and hoarse voice suddenly rang out from the doorway of the room.

"Isn't it... a bit too late to leave now?"

Suddenly, without anyone noticing, Zouken Matou's hunched and short figure appeared silently at the doorway!

But this time, he was not alone.

Beside him stood a figure radiating a suffocating sense of oppression—Berserker!

The summoning of the Matou family's Heroic Spirits... is complete!

"I have already sealed off the entire mansion in advance. Whether it is spatial teleportation or physical breakthrough, you will not be able to leave easily."

Zouken Matou's aged face revealed an extremely sinister smile, his gray eyes fixed on Yu Tohsaka: "Especially you... Tohsaka brat, since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, then you and your sister will become sacrifices for my eternal life."

Having said that, he turned to the Gorgon and slowly said, "Berserker, what are you waiting for... kill them! Kill them all—"

Before he could finish speaking, his order was interrupted by Gorgon's cold, emotionless voice.

"Shut up!"

Gorgon didn't even glance at Zouken Matou. His head, covered by an eyepatch, turned slightly, as if he were "observing" the people in the room in a way that transcended sight.

Almost the instant she was 'stared' at by Gorgon, Sakura Tohsaka's body trembled slightly involuntarily, and she subconsciously gripped Yu Tohsaka's arm, staring at the ominous Servant in front of her with fearful eyes.

"elder brother……"

Yu Tohsaka gently stroked Sakura Tohsaka's soft, flowing hair, reassuring her.

He simply stood quietly in place from beginning to end, as if he had no concern whatsoever about Gorgon's appearance.

Seemingly sensing the boy's composure, Gorgon smiled with amusement: "Although you are weak, your courage to face me is commendable."

"But this fearlessness and ignorance... will only make you regret it, Caster!"

After saying that, she suddenly moved, her figure turning into a blur as she headed towards Tohsaka Yu!

"elder brother--!"

Sakura Tohsaka almost cried out in surprise, but was astonished to find that Gorgon's target was not Yu Tohsaka, but Ayaka Sajou and Tiamat who were not far away from him!

Although neither of them emitted any magical energy fluctuations, there was no doubt that the woman had realized that one of the two people beside Tohsaka Yu was Tohsaka Yu's master.

Even though I don't know who it is... I just want to kill them all!

Gorgons' primary target was Tiamat.

“Berserker is much smarter than I thought.” Zouken Matou narrowed his eyes, his smile widening.

Normally, Berserkers should be irrational Servants. However, this Berserker seems to have his own unique combat experience and rationality, and actually chose to attack the Master behind Tohsaka Yu first.

Tiamat seemed not to have expected that Berserker would attack her first. She raised her head, her clear red eyes looking blankly at the Gorgon who had appeared in front of her, and the hand that was outstretched towards her.

"Are you too scared to move?"

Gorgon sneered, and suddenly grabbed Tiamat's shoulder with one hand, just as he was about to unleash his magic—

Time seemed to have completely frozen at this moment.

The Gorgon's massive, twisted body suddenly stiffened!

The wildly dancing demonic snakes behind her also froze instantly, as if they had been frozen in place!

The violent, destructive, and terrifying aura in the air vanished without a trace, as if it had been extinguished by an invisible hand!

An extreme fear, originating from the deepest part of his soul, or even from "existence itself," instantly engulfed Gorgon's entire consciousness like a flood bursting its banks!

Her body began to tremble violently and uncontrollably. The surrounding magic began to riot because of her loss of control, but it was forcibly suppressed by another, more ancient and primal will.

"This...this is..."

Gorgon's voice became sharp and distorted with extreme fear, filled with unbelievable horror!