Chapter 30 - The Best part - 1

Matou residence.

If there was a word to describe Nobunaga's mood right now, it would be… 'tense'.

Even in her spirit form, Nobu could feel that something was wrong with this place. Merely stepping within the Matou's territory was enough to make her feel her skin crawl. Even as a Heroic Spirit, the underlying need to raise her guard was… palpable. Not even a magus, she could still feel the atmosphere, if not sniff it out of the stench, that enveloped the property. Any sense of comfort was void.

'This entire place gives the smell of a rotten corpse.' Well, far more than just 'rotten' if the husk of a man she was accompanying was to be believed. 'If he didn't make a request of me, I wouldn't even bother…'

Nobu kept that thought to herself as she stayed in spirit form. The limping man who led her remained oblivious to her would-be rude comments.

"Zouken should be either in his office or the basement." Matou Kariya mumbled to inform her. Although it was unnecessary to do so, it seemed he was trying to distract himself by making small talk. "This damn place—ng!"

The man stopped and took a deep breath. The moment they got close to the property line, the Master of Berserker seemed to feel the pressure Nobu had been familiarizing herself with for quite a while now. Being such an inexperienced magus, the worm likely couldn't sense a thing beyond his own skin… or what was left of it anyway.

Yet, despite the decaying-but-still-living Kariya's state, without a doubt, the Fool of Owari would hardly consider him more disgusting than the overgrowth-covered home exuding a vile air before them.

"This way," gathering his bearings, Kariya finally pushed on past the creaking gate. All the while, Nobu said nothing. For now, she would remain obedient and stay quiet. Still, that didn't mean the redheaded daimyo wouldn't feel a tad irritated by her current situation.

'Here I thought it'd be a fun fight I traded with a night to end that blathering Rider.' If her ethereal form had a mouth, it'd be clicking in frustration. 'I will get back at Lelouch for this!'

That she, the rightful conqueror of Japan, had to play the role of Kariya's Servant today riled her to no end. How shameful! The half-dead Master of Berserker could barely handle his own Servant, and yet Lelouch wanted her to feign it all for their plan? It was a blessing that they didn't even have the know-how to temporarily switch contracts to make her link to him more believable.

An irritating fool Lulu was to force her into a role she disliked, Nobu would still only regard him as her one and only Master. Not the walking bag of worms. The Demon Emperor wouldn't get away with this!

'Forget teasing, I won't stop until I have him strapped to a bed, face flaring as red as blood!' she seethed with anticipation in making him squirm even more frantically than their interrupted night fun.

All that could wait, however. She still had a role to play.

The plan was pretty simple. They couldn't just burst inside the magi residence muskets blazing because of the hostage. So, they needed to get inside close to Zouken without starting a fight from the get-go. However, the issue was that Kariya couldn't just forcibly enter his family home. He'd been forbidden to for the duration of the war. It was both to stop him from getting any ideas as well as keep the old worm's workshop from being targeted by other participants.

Therefore, to get inside the mansion and close enough to the true head of the Matou clan, they needed a very good excuse. And Lelouch so easily came up with one barely ending their conversation at the coffeehouse.

Taking note that he'd been fairly confident this plan would work because of several points he cared to share with her via their mental link, Nobunaga was fairly impressed, slight grievances aside.

The boy had taken into account everything Kariya had to say of the old crone. About Zouken's plan to sit out this entire war, choosing instead to spy and observe the happenings from the comfort of his own home. Had he decided to use this relative safety to contribute to his son's plight, she wouldn't think less of him.

But the cowardly worm seemed to have decided on this merely to speculate the horrors Kariya would have to go through alone. For Nobu, it was despicable, to say the least.

He had abandoned his pitiful son and only thought to lend the sickly Kariya some aid in the form of more painfully ravenous Crest worms and a small plan to lure out Caster. But soon after that failed, Zouken had gone silent, foregoing everything to cloister himself in this dingy hell-hole of a home. What he was doing was anyone's guess.

Nobu wouldn't call Kariya lucky for having escaped the man's grasp temporarily. Not when he'd already been broken into a subhuman state that could expire any day now. But in a way, he was for having Lulu be the one to save his hide.

Had it been anyone else, Matou Kariya and Berserker would've long been removed from the fight, neither revenge nor salvation of the child ever to take place.

That being said, for salvation to be wrought, this had to succeed. Zouken was in hiding, but Kariya was still wary of the ancient insect watching their movements. Being that he had bugs for familiars, the reach of his reconnaissance should be impressive. It'd make sense to assume he was at least generally informed of who had died and lived, who'd come to cross blades and who'd walk away victorious.

But for the fact Nobu hadn't sensed someone eyeing her or her Master much since last night's events, that meant he hadn't been paying much attention though.

Servants like her were highly attuned with sensing the barest changes in magical energy. Unless they were Assassin, they couldn't hide no matter how hard they tried. She'd have noticed if someone was using magecraft to spy on her or Lulu. Even better, she could kill those eyes by simply burning the air where they flew or crawled. No one would be privy to her or her partner's actions without her say.

But the same could not be said of Matou Kariya who carried what was essentially a parasitic nest in his gut.

"Are they squirming?" For the first time in a while, she made to ask the man who'd limped his way from the gate to the very porch of the mansion.

"Not at the moment, no." Kariya, despite agreeing to it all, still shuddered nervously as he mumbled. "But it's just a matter of time…"

He expected them to be riled awake soon. Knowing who it was they were to kill tonight, he'd have to expect the worst, of course.

"Don't you dare die, worm. Else my Master's efforts would've been in vain."

"… I know…"

She couldn't help but voice the threat one last time. Considering she'd been so quiet that she might've wordlessly convinced him of such, there was no harm in emphasizing her frustration.

Good news for him, he'd live a long life if he played his cards right. Aside from her not killing him for his mad knight's transgressions, the pompous baldie's fiancé was able to suppress the bugs inside him long enough to keep them from reporting Kariya's activities until now. Bad news though, they only had enough medicine to last Kariya a few days. Less than one should this plan fail horribly.

It was because of the man's time limit that Lelouch decided to push for this plan much to Nobu's hesitation. But on the very brink of carrying it out, Nobu wondered if the man would expire before it was done or soon after the girl was rescued.

Though, Lulu would likely argue that it was why she was there to prevent his untimely demise as best as she could. After all, tonight, Oda Nobunaga was—loathe as she was to think it—Kariya's 'new' Avenger Servant. She was to act as a 'supposed lucky break' after the 'successful defeat of Archer at the hand of both her and Berserker', but with the adage that 'both the mad Servant and her Master bit the dust' soon after winning against the smug bastard.

It was a fine ploy. One that incorporated both her power and Kariya's lack thereof.

No one would expect Kariya to win, much less survive the events of the night before without some luck. That the presumed losses were the uncontrollable mutt and an inexperienced child wouldn't be too unbelievable. More so when Kariya had almost always just ducked back and let Berserker do the fighting all this time. And, as she presumably lost Lulu, a Servant without Independent Action would just about vanish soon.

Thus, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that she and Kariya formed a new alliance out of necessity, a need to win this war yet.

But be that as it may, being a more competent Servant with far more tools, almost competing with Archer's arsenal in that regard, it would also imply that she needed a mana supply far greater than Kariya's current store. That being said, even if he was a lucky dog, it wouldn't do to suddenly just fizzle out in the middle of the next fight, no? So, under the guise of seeking more Crest worms at the risk of killing himself, they 'reluctantly returned' to the Matou estate to 'beg assistance' from Zouken.

In the eyes of Zouken, Kariya would be the weakling who won a one-in-a-million jackpot and, not only survived but attained a stronger, more capable Servant out of the ordeal.

It was interesting how Lelouch could've thought up the bait-and-switch. Yet, it was also alarming he'd put himself at a far graver risk than Kariya was in. 'Stupid… Wasn't there a better way?'

She would've voiced her complaints hadn't she already done so not a few hours earlier. She'd likely ranted his mind to death through their mental bond. There was nothing she could do to convince him to change the plan, though.

The husk of a worm hive could easily be extinguished by his own father without Nobunaga protecting him. Hence the need for a Servant to be present by his side at all times. Yet, being so desperate and weak, while Kariya may harbour thoughts of rebellion, even with her help it would still seem unlikely at this point. Betrayal in the face of such a power gap between himself and Zouken was irrational if not suicidal if his trauma was anything to go by.

That's not to forget the hostage in play either. And Lelouch stressed to her the importance of providing a convincing enough act lest the elder Matou realize the jig was up and immediately end them all on the spot, including the girl.

Such ruthless wickedness, Nobu was reminded of her own family. No, more than that, she was reminded of the lengths a certain rebel leader went through. Although, comparing this spiteful worm to her only accomplice was certainly no competition. One was a selfless human reviled as the world's greatest demon. The other was just a cruel monster playing human.

Still, Lelouch was playing a far more dangerous game choosing to have Berserker accompany him this time.

While Nobu and Kariya acted out on centre stage, Lelouch had his part behind the scenes. Namely, using the Fuyuki sewer system to bypass prying eyes and sneak inside the Matou residence via the basement.

Kariya knew little about the worm pit despite spending a good amount of his childhood in it. The man didn't know the inner structure of the place, as well as Lelouch, had hoped, But after quietly procuring the sewer system maps from the local city hall, the boy had all the pieces he needed.

Yet, instead of her, Lelouch then mentioned he'd be relying on Berserker of all people instead!

With Kariya and she to act as the bait, the boy and Berserker would then enact a distraction from within the home itself, prompting Zouken and Byakuya's immediate attention and allowing Kariya and her to secure the girl before obliterating all resistance.

Still, it need not be said how so against Nobu was with letting the least sane, yet most violent, of their group be alone with her Master.

'This drives me mad!' as they entered the halls of the chilling mansion, such thoughts ran rampant in her ethereal form. 'Even if it's merely a part of the plan, I don't like it. Lelouch is my partner! Only I can stand next to him... Berserker better not try anything… or else—!'

Else she'd convert to a different class than the one she was summoned as. Forget being an Archer or Avenger, she'd usurp the knight's role as the madman if he tried anything. She'd burn all with an indiscriminate and eternal hell.

Even if it meant stripping away all she had, be it the skin on her back or her very sanity, she wouldn't let anyone take away the man she made a promise with! This, Nobunaga swore!

And while any bystander would've attributed this possessiveness as simple jealousy from the young woman, never mind that the mad knight she envied was obviously a man far too insane to consider as a romantic rival, let it not be unsaid that Nobunaga didn't trust him with Lelouch.

Hell, she didn't trust anyone with Lelouch. Anyone.

Yet somehow, despite the irrationality of the thought, Nobu couldn't shake a different tingle down her spine induced by the threat the mad Servant posed. It was to be expected of a guard who didn't have a single Command Seal binding him to Lulu's safety. Even she would so easily snap Kariya's neck should he become a noticeable threat to them.

But despite that, why couldn't she help but feel Berserker was not a knight she could trust with royalty in a far more… different sense?

'… I must be losing my marbles if this is what I feel about that boy…' In the shadows of the seemingly empty manor, hidden away by her spirit form, the woman felt her cheeks burn with less fury as her noble phantasm but about the same passion when she murdered her enemies. 'I am so gonna take my time making Lulu squirm!'

__________________

Sewers under the residence.

"Achoo!"

Sniffing to himself, Lelouch noted that the Servant behind him didn't flinch, not even slightly reacted, to his sudden sneeze. Excusing himself wasn't even acknowledged by the armour-clad man who continued to follow the boy's pace.

The eerie silence exuded by Berserker was far more unsettling than the dark and gloomy sewers they trekked through.

'Hm. For a 'Mad Servant', he's been pretty docile for quite some time.'

Berserker hardly made a sound. Hell, he barely made any move to acknowledge anything when they split off from each other. Giving Kariya only a nod after relaying Lelouch's orders for the knight, he'd been a silent stalking statue following his lead through the maze like tunnels that were the Fuyuki underground sewer system.

'It's such a maze, yet it's clearly of a proper design in accordance with the lay of the land.' Lelouch brought the sewer map closer so he could see where they were. The small glow of his flashlight was enough to illuminate their path whilst allowing him to navigate on paper the tunnel they were in. Without the 'borrowed' document, he could've been walking blind with his only companion never going to be of any real help. Being lost with Berserker was, thankfully, never going to be one of his worries. 'Then again, Caster might've had the best idea when it came to approaching this war.'

He sighed as he eyed the mishmash of lines, canals, tributaries and tunnels. The complex was an understatement though. Apart from providing a great hiding spot, should one's foe gain the upper hand anywhere, they need simply retreat and relocate. Less than a thirty minute jog could have them getting almost anywhere through the exit points and manholes of the cityscape. Give one great mobility in the form of Rider's chariot, then maybe hit-and-run tactics would've been plausible.

'If Nobu was instead a complacent Assassin, this could've also worked to our advantage from the start.' Stealth or mobility, it would've worked wonders on their foes who had little to no idea of the lay of the land. Kayneth himself was far from familiar with Fuyuki's aboveground, let alone the sewers. Had he the option to choose his Servant's class, it would've been a piece of cake. Mostly.

Although saying that, he didn't need to wonder what Nobu would think of the state of their living then.

She'd put up with their rundown shack, but the sewer tunnels were dangerous and unhealthy in more ways than one. The ones they've gone through to get under the Matou estate had been growing even worse than the access hatch they entered. Murkier waters, rampant mould and fungus growth, putrid stench getting evermore atrocious to the nostrils. It was far different from the least comfortable tunnels the former prince had once run through.

On the other hand, maybe he shouldn't be comparing the futuristic infrastructure of his world to this one. Even though the sewers of the Saitama Ghetto provided him a clean escape route when Cornelia once managed to best him, those ruins were far more efficient and well-kept because they were designed better than these aged passageways.

'Rotting yet overflowing pipes, barely any filters, small walkways… Compared to those of my own world, this one is built less for transport and accessibility and more for routing vast amounts of refuse.'

A 'quantity over quality' workmanship had him slightly disappointed but unperturbed. Two worlds of differing standards might've been a culture shock to him once upon a time, but right now, he had a job to do. No room for complaints.

'Especially not now if I run the risk of running his patience thin.' Lelouch subtly eyed the black-clad Servant from the corner of his eye.

Berserker hadn't gone into spirit form due to the need of being ready to spring into action as soon as the next phase of the plan had begun. Because Zouken was clearly a far more experienced magus than both he and Kariya put together, he would be on par with, if not excelling more than, Kayneth. Sensing two Servants inside his own home would be a cinch if Kayneth, or even Sola-Ui, could sense him and Avenger.

And since part of their plan was to make him believe Berserk dead, the black knight had to remain unidentified until the last moment. Too bad urgency clashed with secrecy. But thankfully, they need not worry about scouts hiding in the gutter waters.

'If Kariya's information on Zouken is true, then the old man should still be wary.' Using his own worms as a bait for Caster was a failure, prompting him to instead send his son after the Servant directly. But, considering Kariya was distracted by Tokiomi, as well as being ill-bodied himself already, he pretty much disappointed the immortal magus in that respect. 'If Zouken felt threatened by Caster for using the sewer tunnels, I can see why he'd urge Kariya to do it recklessly… But was it actually worth it?'

Lelouch wasn't sure. When Kariya lost all correspondence with Zouken, Lelouch thought it weird of the elder who constantly pushed his son around. But now that they'd eliminated Archer and he'd left Kariya in peace, it was… well beyond odd.

'What is he doing? What's his endgame?' Lelouch wasn't entirely sure. For one, he already surmised Zouken was the type to keep all his cards close. With his nature of working with familiar insects, Lelouch was further discouraged from trying to figure out Zouken's movements. He was also disgusted to think bug magic was even a thing. It was useful but still… disgusting.

Yet, the elder's movements, or lack thereof, was telling.

Zouken was holing up in his basement. Why? No one knew. But if he had all his cards, in this case 'bugs' in a single basket, then that left them with only one thing to do. Burn it all down.

'Reporting. We're in the mansion.' Lelouch hummed affirmation as he continued on his trek. Berserker wordlessly followed with slight clanks for every footstep. Due to Nobu being the only piece he could remotely command on the board, he was glad Kariya instructed Berserker to keep a 'close guard' of him.

Even if, as a backup plan, Kariya would have to use a Command Seal to summon Berserker in an emergency, the fact that Lelouch had somewhat of control over the mad Servant was reassuring, albeit lightly. One wrong move and the knight could still snap his neck with ease, of course.

Thankfully, his connection with Nobu had him informed at all times of the situation. If he was going to be abandoned, he knew to do the same and summon Nobu to his side should he need it.

Arriving at a junction, the boy paused as he eyed the three tunnels ahead of him whilst consulting the map. Fuyuki's official map of the entire system was pretty detailed. Before all this, he sought to use it in his hunt for Ryuunosuke while the serial killer had still been a threat. But there were some minor inconsistencies he noted.

One of them had been the size of the place they found Caster's workshop to be hidden in. The section of the map that covered it was far, far more compact than the area they discovered. Whether that was due to miscalculations in the mapping or Caster at work with his barrier, Lelouch couldn't be sure. But this time, he was certain Matou Zouken had a hand in the inconsistency.

Before him, three separate tunnels each leading towards a different cardinal direction. On the map, however, a single jagged line shakily leading away from the rest of the complex mesh of pipes. It felt off in more ways than one.

According to the document, Lelouch and Berserker should have been going through a single standard tunnel until they came to an endpoint barely a kilometre ahead. And yet they found themselves looking in several directions without any idea where to go. What's more, all the paths looked at least half a century old. Maybe more if they had only been barely maintained.

'Odd. The map states it's a recently revisited and repaired line.' The boy scoffed at taking the fine print at face value. Stuffing the map in his pocket with a sigh, he voiced an indirect explanation to his companion. "Either civil officials have been slacking off, or Zouken is cunning enough to alter official documents, hiding all possible access points to his domain. If we're to advance, we won't be relying on the map any further than this."

"… Grrrrrr…" A simple growl, or would it be a guttural purr echoing in a metal box? Either way, that was all the knight in black had to offer. Truly, Lelouch had his work cut out for him when it came to communicating with a mad warrior.

Sighing, the Demon Emperor stepped forward to look at the three old tunnels. The old man most definitely used magecraft to trick the local administration into wrongly mapping the lines that led to his domain. But be that as it may, they didn't have time to call for assistance.

Or maybe… Lelouch could do just that. "Which direction should we take, Berserker?"

Not even a second of hesitation, the knight leapt over Lelouch. It was a surprise to see the Servant forego the catwalk in favour of dropping right into the centre of the sewer junction. As he stood there in the middle of a gushing murky current, the glowing crimson visor eyed all directions minus the route they came through. Settling on the right-hand side one, the knight's gaze then lowered to the water rushing past him.

'Hm?' Eyeing the Servant who cared little about dousing himself in the cesspool, Lelouch made to rush to approach when, quite suddenly, Berserker snagged something beneath the water's surface before hopping back onto the catwalk. "What is it?"

Asking was pointless when Berserker himself tossed whatever he'd found to the floor before Lelouch. The clattering echoed up until it stopped sliding just before his shoes. Barely a second of directing his flashlight to it did Lelouch recognize the bleached white of bone.

A human skull. A partial one at that.

But unlike the skulls one would find from any random victim who accidentally drowned in a river of gunk and faeces, this one had roughly eroded along the edges. Where one of the eye sockets should've been, lines that resembled small nibbles trailed inwards, resembling the leaves one would find in a caterpillar-infested planter.

Whoever this person was, they'd been feasted upon, down to the bone and beyond.

"Well… that's as good enough proof as any." Ravenous insects that left little to nothing behind, might as well be a sign on a crossroads. "Right path it is."

As soon as he nodded assent, the mad Servant grunted before walking ahead into the chosen tunnel. All the while, he remained silent as Lelouch followed closely behind.

The quiet was… unsettling to say the least.

It wasn't just the half-eaten skull that had the boy tensing. The knight ahead of him was pretty intimidating enough, forget the sewer tunnel that was likely littered with even more hidden human remains. But the sharpness of Berserker's quiet… it was akin to a knifepoint every time his crimson visors were trained in Lelouch's direction.

'Animosity? No. I haven't done anything to offend him. At least, not intentionally. Then, suspicion? Or perhaps it's wariness?' The boy kept quiet in thought as their footsteps continued to echo against the damp concrete walls. 'That could be the case, considering I've convinced his Master to forsake winning the Grail.'

Kariya was easy to please. So long as the girl was saved, then there was no need for him to continue participating.

The same could not be said of the mad Servant who answered the man's summons due to his own desires for the Grail.

That was bad. Especially if there was a risk of betrayal on the Servant's part. Archer and Kotomine had done as much already with Tohsaka Tokiomi. What's there to stop Kariya from losing control of Berserker, more so when he hadn't much control, to begin with?

But for the part of not knowing just who Berserker had been in life, there was no way to know what wish he sought the Grail to fulfil. Aside from asking, of course, but besides throaty incoherent snarls, what else was Lelouch going to get from the man?

'Apart from her name, he hasn't said anything nor given away much in terms of identification.' He only had Arthurian legend to go on. That was a start. But considering that there could be differences with his knowledge of the legend and what applied in this world though, Lelouch was in a pickle. 'Taking care of Saber could be left to Berserker if they'd been foes in life. But Kariya might not last should he go on a rampage once more. Lose him, and we lose Berserker. Not a bad deal, but if we fail to remove either Rider or Saber before then, we'll be caught in the middle. A Mage Killer on our backs would only tighten the pincer.'

He kept a composed scowl whilst suppressing a sigh as they rounded a corner and met another fork. This time, Berserker need not be asked to inspect it. Just a glance down the right then at the waters of the left had the ironclad warrior moving with a quickened pace to the latter.

"Oy, wait up—!"

"GRRR!"

Cut off by an abrupt yet impatient growl, Lelouch kept his quiet as he simply followed after the Servant. Judging by the rush he seemed to be in, they were getting close.

Closer to their immediate objective, but not as much progress could be made in the long-term.

Berserker didn't seem to need light for his path as he continued to navigate the tunnel ahead of Lelouch with ease. The haze that enveloped Berserker obscured everything apart from the vague knightly armour and the glow within his helmet's eye slits. Even with his back turned, Lelouch couldn't help but feel the man still guarded against him.

With the adage that not even Kariya was aware of his own Servant's identity, the boy was left to ponder how to tackle this issue before they even hit the hostage situation they were working to resolve by the end of the day.

At the moment, Lelouch had drawn several theories, suggestions of who Berserker could really be. All of them were related to Saber's myth in one form or another, be they her allies or enemies.

'From the way, he shouted the King of Knight's name, it's enough evidence to assume the two Servants shared a history. Albeit, only Arturia was the one who'd been recognized.' Lelouch also noted that Berserk screamed Arturia masculine name, not her actual one. A small detail, but very important. 'It's possible he'd been among the many who didn't know the King of Camelot's true identity. But be that as it may, many of the Knight of the Rounds, as well as her foes, fit that same bill.'

How were they related? Was Berserk some notable knight who was slain by King Arthur? Or was he closer, someone who betrayed the King herself before or on the fields of Camlann.

Berserker was furious, frenzied when he confronted Arturia. It was possible he'd been a sworn enemy of the former king. Maybe a rival noble or lord who spat the name of Pendragon until his dying breath. From what could be seen under the haze, the armour he wore was clearly of the finest make. Lelouch could clearly recognize status, but of which order?

'Could he be a knight from the Galehaut Order? A prominent Lothian warrior… or maybe King Lot himself?' Those were known enemy knights of King Arthur in legends. The ones he was familiar with, at least. But the possibility of Berserker actually coming from among the Knights of the Round was not zero either. 'Especially not when he was able to keep up with all the foes Arturia herself has faced.'

If he'd been a foe killed by her hand, Berserker should've been somewhat weaker than Saber. But beyond keeping up, it seemed as if the relentless knight might actually be a better warrior. Lelouch would believe it so, considering the knight didn't even have a real weapon yet was able to hound all his foes with ease.

Lelouch's eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Berserker's broad back. An idea came to mind. There was one well-known knight who turned into an antagonist in King Arthur's legend. One who slew the members of the Round loyal to the King.

'It wouldn't be a stretch to assume him as the knight of treason. It might even be fate that he was summoned to fight against his father and mortal foe once more.' Then again, could Arturia actually count as a father though?

Lelouch brushed that question aside. The Arthurian myth was different in the Britannian stories he grew up with. Most notable of which, Arthur actually being a man. If he wanted a truly detailed explanation of how Arturia became to be called a 'father' in this world's past, he might as well just chalk it all up to the work of magic and the fae. Maybe this world's Merlin was actually a mage and not just some well-renowned scholar.

Still, he wouldn't get anywhere without pricing his theory right. So, taking a gamble and ready with his Command Seals, he dared to call the man out.

"Please, slow down! Sir Mordred?"

"… Grrrrrr…"

The slight growl and over-the-shoulder glance had Lelouch scraping his theory almost immediately.

Despite his face being covered by the black helmet, Lelouch could sense the confusion of the Servant. Had he truly been Mordred, an inquisitive snarl wouldn't have been the instant response. Also, if he'd been correct, then Saber herself wouldn't be clueless. There was no way a great warrior as her wouldn't immediately recognize her former friend and killer.

Lelouch couldn't help but curse himself for forgetting that whilst playing it off as a question.

"Perhaps, I got your identity wrong?"

"…"

"…"

"… Hrrrmp…"

The black knight stared at him in a long silence before letting out something akin to an irritated snort. If he was capable of proper speech and facial expression, he might've scoffed or mocked him for the question. Or maybe that was stretching it a bit, considering even now, Lelouch remained uncertain about a lot of things about the Servant.

''Wrong' it is. And without so much as a care to correct me… Hm.' The boy started to reevaluate his thoughts as soon as Berserker turned away to march on. 'It's either the wariness or his Mad Enhancement, but it's clear this man dislikes me.'

Be that as it may, that's one guess crossed out of the list. If he was not Sir Mordred the Traitor, then there were still half-a-dozen other options. But that made it even more concerning.

Of all the knights in the Arthurian legend, many were called heroes even in his world. But if the Throne of Heroes had chosen one among them to be a Berserker, which one had enough hate and enmity to madden a person beyond reason?

'Even if Berserker isn't Mordred, it doesn't rule out another one of the traitors. But be that as it may, which of them could compare, perhaps even overwhelm, their once-former and all-powerful king?'

To rival King Arthur and her holy sword, Excalibur, it should be someone of great skill and renown. There was one that came to mind, having been a loyal retainer of hers from her coronation to his one and only betrayal. But Lelouch couldn't help but snort at the coincidence.

After all, how much would fate dare tempt him if the maddened knight that regarded him with such caution was the namesake of a dear friend's Knightmare?

'A Knight of the Round Table that fell for the queen, stealing her away from King Arthur's court out of an impulsive desire as love.' Lelouch couldn't help but draw parallels now that his attention had been drawn to it. 'Truly, if there ever had to be a Lancelot-incarnate, no one would compare to Suzaku.'

An honourable individual then called a traitor by the people. A skilled warrior who draws both ire and admiration from his fellows, knights and civilians alike. A man who fell in love yet lost it all to ruin regardless of his efforts.

A knight forced to wear a mask, to hide his true self forever, in the name of honour and duty to those he wished to fight for…

Had this not been the middle of an operation, Lelouch would've chuckled aloud. He would've marvelled at the similarities, maybe even debated with Nobu about how an old friend of a past life would've been a perfect fit for the Throne of Heroes in this world.

But he wasn't that carefree to forget the task at hand. Nor was he that simpleminded to use the parallels as veritable proof.

'Lancelot or not, Berserker's wish still eludes me.' History's note on the man had him eluding King Arthur's wrath. Some edicts went so far as to call his and Guinevere's elopement as a romantic success. A happily ever after, if you will. But then there stands the question. 'What does Berserker gain out of this if that plight was already a foregone conclusion?'

King Arthur's reign had ended. Lancelot's story had proceeded without Camlann's fall affecting him much. Or so the stories went from his own world. Who knows how similar such details could be in this one? By technicality, should they even be believed to be the definite versions when King Arthur had already been proven to be a woman?

'Overthinking it now won't get me anywhere.' Perhaps it would be best to shelf this thought for another time. Maybe discuss it with Nobu, considering her insights as a Heroic Spirit herself. 'I should just observe. Maybe, given time, Berserker's actions might slip up and we get another chance to figure his identity out.'

Although saying that, there was little to no other ways to glean information from an insane knight who was relentlessly charged with disregard to his own Master's mana stores. That in itself was a hassle despite the unknown motive for seeking out the Grail.

The reckless fixation on Saber, the onslaught he unleashed against Archer. Despite such ferocity, Lelouch suspected that wasn't all. The mad Servant had yet to reveal all his cards, most notable of all was his unused noble phantasm.

'Even if I can't ascertain his identity, someone this powerful should still have a trump card I haven't seen.' Each of the Servants so far had something key to their identity or nature as a hero. Caster and his sorcerous summoning. Alexander the Great and his loyal armies. Nobunaga and her hate for the Divine. Arturia and her legendary sword. Hell, outrageous as Gilgamesh's armoury was, he at least had the excuse of the epic that gave him the title King of Heroes.

All noble phantasms had something to do with the Servant's legend. If that was the case, what legend could be gleaned from a skilled and relentless warrior maddened beyond reason? Where did the hero end and the madness begin?

Lelouch didn't know. And the fact that it could be a hindrance in the future troubled him so.

Catching the knight giving him a glance over his armoured shoulder, Lelouch nearly flinched in his steps. But soon after, the knight's gaze was returned to the fore. From henceforth, Berserker continued to ignore Lelouch.

'Hm. Quite the troublesome knight, indeed.' Dealing with a wary foe was simple. Dealing with a wary foe that could snap your neck in an instant was not so. Not without a backup plan at least. 'So long as he's wary of me, I can't do much besides portray myself as the charitable one looking to help Kariya out of goodwill. But that won't last long.'

The moment Berserker breaks free from Kariya, it would be the moment Lelouch would have to confront the unknown head-on. But… maybe, it need not be that way.

'I don't know what he might need the Grail for, but so long as he can be distracted by the former king, it should work out well for now.'

Even if he couldn't help but remain tense in the presence of the Servant, Lelouch would endure it until they saved the girl.

What comes after, be it Kariya's continued assistance, Berserker's betrayal, or both of their demise before Nobu can confront Rider and Saber… that would be left for the future.

__________

Inside the Matou residence.

Feeling unwelcome in one's own home was nothing new to Kariya. Even as he walked down the familiar hallway, the cold emptiness of the place made it far from homely. Being the place where he experienced the greatest horrors of his life, his 'home' was where he'd made the worst of memories.

Even now, he could still imagine the squirming, the squelching of the insects, the numerous tapping of critters, the buzz of wings. All reminders of the times he was locked in the basement with only his despair and ever-waning sanity to keep him company.

But now, such noises were absent.

The hall was silent. Deathly so. No insects, no nothing. Normally, one would be able to hear the tinkling of a wine bottle by their resident alcoholic. Or maybe some bugs roaming about as they accompanied the true master of the manor. But today, it was eerily quiet. Only Kariya's footsteps and the creaking floorboards made any sort of sound.

'If that bastard's holed up with what's left of his bugs… then…' This was his chance. It was time to move before Zouken could react. He and Avenger in spirit form had likely been sensed already, but no sense in dallying despite it. Tossing aside any urge to cower or hesitate, the crippled man called out to the almost empty mansion as loud as he could. "Byakuya?! You there?"

"K-Kariya?!" It didn't take long until he heard his brother's familiar voice. But unlike the man who'd shown the smallest hint of kindness when he saw him last, Kariya heard muffled swearing.

Taking a few steps to round the corner, he spotted Byakuya down the hall. Back to him, the man's expression in the shadows of their home looked shaken, panicked even. Zouken must've been pressuring him. Otherwise, there was no way the normally drunken Byakuya would be raising his voice at this time of day. More so without a bottle of alcohol in hand.

That might've explained the small box he was pushing into the shadows when he froze in place and stared at his little brother with a mix of shock and frustration.

"What the hell are you doing here?! Zouken said you can't return until the end of the war—"

"I only come for more mana." Kariya cut him off but stopped to stare, wondering curiously what had Byakuya on edge. "During my last fight, I used too much and… sorta lost Berserker. Loathe as I am to ask, I need Zouken's help—"

"Wait, you… You lost that monster?" Byakuya's tone shifted. The fact he sounded hopeful had Kariya narrowing his eyes as he slowly nodded.

'Had Byakuya been afraid of Berserker or something?' He tried ignoring it. So long as he got their little story out, his older brother's opinions of the Servant mattered little. "Yeah. Berserker got killed just as soon as I managed to off Archer—"

"Wait, what?" Now it was a tone of surprise. He must truly not think highly of Kariya's survival rates. Knowing Zouken's dismissiveness being non-too overt, it was to be expected. "How? How did you survive?!"

"I was able to make a contract with another Servant. One who lost her Master soon after I lost Berserker." His brother's disbelief was front and centre, clear to him even with their mansion's dim lighting. "I temporarily teamed up with another Master to take out Tokiomi and his Servant, but… the boy wasn't lucky enough and was killed by Archer. His Servant didn't want to fade away and made a contract with me."

At Kariya's hand motion to his side, the air shimmered as a beautiful young woman made her appearance. Clad in military garb with a trailing cape, she spared them both a glance, the lingering look of boredom momentarily turning hostile towards Byakuya before glancing around. She didn't utter a word, but Kariya could tell she was displeased.

She had been since the start. His senses weren't deadened enough to not notice her discontent.

Byakuya, startled by Avenger's sudden materialization, flinched with wide eyes staring at the redheaded servant. He must've been taken aback by the fact she didn't growl or howl like Berserker did. That she remained observant of her surroundings like a curious yet bored woman and not a statue of a murderous suit of armour must've been surprising.

"This is Avenger. While I know that Zouken prohibited me from coming here, I still lack mana to supply her."

"But… didn't father already provide you with more than enough?"

"Unlike Berserker, she's more high-maintenance. It should be proof enough that she survived when Berserker didn't." She didn't seem to take offence with that. In fact, Kariya swore she might've scoffed smugly from the corner of his eye, but he wasn't about to make a note of that when he was already laying it on thick with the lie. "Now, where is that old worm? If he wants me to have a good chance of winning this war right now, I need all the worms he has left. Only a few Servants remain. Surely Zouken wouldn't ignore this amount of progress."

When Byakuya didn't reply, Kariya looked around, now really wondering why the whole place was too quiet. Shouldn't Zouken have at least a couple of bugs monitoring the halls if he was being cautious?

"Answer me, brother. Where is the bastard?" If Byakuya was being stubborn, he wasn't having it. Not when he was this close at his own victory. "I'm close to winning and I'm not backing out now! So, where is Zouken?!"

But instead of responding, his brother froze again. A nervous stare down the hall had Kariya following Byakuya's gaze to the one corridor no one willingly ventured towards. Down the hall that led to the basement. "...It would have been better if you didn't come back… not tonight, Kariya…"

Something was off.

Kariya never expected a warm welcome, but his brother was acting strangely. Why was he shaking? Why did he avoid meeting Kariya's eyes?

Something was terribly wrong.

Why was it so quiet? Where was the constant buzz? The eerie feeling of being watched? The small but overbearing aura that haunted this decrepit place? Why did it feel like Zouken wasn't paying attention to him when he'd clearly violated orders?

From the shadows, Kariya noticed what his brother carried in his arms. A crate of bottles. It wouldn't have been odd if they were booze. But instead… they were bottles of empty healing salves and elixirs.

Why were they empty? What demanded the need of so many potions at once? Kariya had never dabbled much in alchemy, but he was at least aware those were for open injuries or poisons. Not something that could be used to heal Zouken who was already a mass of venomous insects possessed by a ghost.

"Byakuya… why are you lugging those around?" Kariya's gaze narrowed when his brother's shoulders twitched. He could see that his brother was seriously troubled by something.

"Zouken ordered me to… bring them... He said he'd need them… later..."

Kariya didn't buy it. Zouken never needed healing potions or elixirs. 'If he wanted to restore wounds, he'd sic his bugs on random people or animals. But if Zouken was using them, who would he be using it on—?!'

Realization struck him. There was only one person, one human who the solution would work on that was neither himself nor Byakuya. Only one other person resided within the mansion's walls.

With a cold tone, he asked grimly. "Byakuya… where is Sakura?"

"She's… indisposed. Don't dare look for her. Not when Zouken—!" He felt his blood boil as, without a word, he closed the distance and grabbed his brother by the collar. A crash followed when Byakuya lost grip of his cargo. "—O-oy! What are you doing?! Let go of—!"

"Where… is she?!" Kariya repeated. The same anger as he had for Tokiomi came to the fore in the face of his own flesh and blood. "Answer me, Byakuya! WHERE IS SHE?!"

Normally, Byakuya would have been able to fight him back. But surprised by the sudden anger of his usually passive little brother, the older sibling remained silent as Kariya tried to wring his neck but the shirt.

He was still sickly to the point that he could only lift Byakuya by pushing him against the wall. But, with the same adrenaline that gave him the strength to kill Tokiomi, the eldest of the Matou siblings was unable to escape.

"K-K-Kariya… stop it!" Through laboured breathing, Byakuya stuttered. "Sakura's… fine! Zouken… hasn't started… the ritual yet—!"

"Ritual?!" His working eye sharpened to the point of scaring Byakuya into silence. There was only one implication to the statement. 'That bastard—! He's gone against his word—!'

MMMMMMMMMMGGGHHH

Before he could finish that thought, the whole house trembled as a terrifying bellow shook the walls. But… something was very off-putting about the noise. It wasn't akin to Berserker's maddened roars. No. This didn't sound human, let alone animalistic like that of a mad Servant. Instead, it was more akin to hundreds of creatures groaning and moaning, a choir of screams all at once.

Both men froze with Kariya even releasing Byakuya, letting him fall to the floor on his rear. But instead of rushing towards the source or demanding answers from either Avenger or Berserker through their mental link, the crippled Master stared into space.

The reason for it, he heard something… someone… a familiar voice mixed in with the scream.

'No…' he bit his lip. Sinking guilt and fear of what was to come overwhelmed him as he froze in place. 'No… No. No. no, no, no! Saku—!'

"Oh, Kariya!" Another familiar voice called out to him. Echoing along the halls everywhere, Kariya snarled as soon as it spoke again. "Coming in at the right time, for once. Welcome home, boy."

"What did you do…?" he didn't get an answer, but he felt the walls reverberate as if someone was laughing. "What did you do, ZOUKEN?!"

"Heheh… I wonder… What do you mean to ask me?"

"Don't play dumb! What did you do to Sakura?!"

"Byakuya, escort your brother and his Servant to me, now." As if to ignore him, their 'father' ignored his question and caused his older brother to flinch. "Hurry it up now, brat! Otherwise… it's you in the pit for your failure to procure my meal."

"Answer me, Zouken!" He didn't. Once more, the place was quiet. All that could be heard was the sound of whimpering coming from the man who struggled to his feet. In his panic, it was said to the man that Kariya directed his ire. "Byakuya, you bastard! What did you and Zouken do to Sakura?!"

"You shouldn't have come… Not tonight!" Byakuya's whisper turned hoarse as he struggled. Fear was clear in his constant shaking. "Now… it's too late. This… This is all… your fault. I… I had nothing to—!"

The man's voice trailed off, laying blame and responsibility to others except himself. How far had he fallen when Kariya was gone?

But hearing those words angered Kariya. He could've socked him. He could've lost it then and there, summoned Berserker with a Command Seal and had the black knight murder his brother where he stood, all for pushing things onto him who suffered far enough already.

But Kariya didn't. He didn't because doing so would jeopardize everything. And he couldn't risk it all on some petty anger.

"Get up, you!" Instead, he snatched his brother by the sleeve and dragged his perpetually scared ass up. "Hurry up and lead! Unless you want our dear 'father' breathing down your neck again!"

Byakuya could only glare at him hatefully. But in the face of Kariya's impotent rage, it wilted as soon as they made eye-contact. How a functional alcoholic lost his wits in the face of a one-eyed cripple, Kariya wouldn't know. In the past, he sometimes saw Byakuya as the stronger-willed of them both, choosing to stay in this decrepit home and enduring its horrors. But… maybe he overestimated his brother.

Maybe, just maybe, the time he spent under Zouken's yoke had crushed any and all sense of hope, leaving him without the guts to stand up to anyone anymore.

It was funny to think considering Kariya's own had already been eaten thoroughly.

"Once we're close enough to your father, use your Command Seals immediately." Fading back into spirit form but following him closely, Avenger mumbled quietly enough for only him to hear. "No matter what you see or hear, do not get distracted. He's already aware and ready when you are."

Kariya grit his teeth as a sign of confirmation. Lelouch and she still held a mental link. If Avenger was telling him this, both Lelouch and Berserker should be underneath the basement. Once called, they could enact the plan in earnest. No obstacle could ever stand in his Servant's way.

No one would ever get in his way. Not when he was so close to saving Sakura. No one.

As the trio made their way down the staircase leading to the basement, both Avenger and Kariya caught wind of the atrocious smell in the air. Something reeked of death along the walls, yet there wasn't a single bloodstain or carcass littering the place.

Instead, the walls were decorated with claw marks, gashes, craters and various holes.

"What the hell happened here?" asked their only guide, he needed to growl out his brother's name to get a response. "Byakuya?"

"… It… happened a few nights ago…" the man's shoulder's shuddered as he spoke. "Caster attacked, leading an army of tentacle monsters."

Considering that Caster was already dead, slain by the Servant guarding him this very moment, then it must've happened before then. He got Zouken's order to aim for Caster just the night before that, hence his appearance on the battlefield that night, but it didn't explain why the old worm went quiet soon after.

'… Did this mean…?' Realization struck him. "What happened?"

It didn't take a genius to recognize where Kariya's thoughts honed in on. His brother certainly didn't bother beating around the bush, scared as he was. "Sakura and I were ignored. But that monster… it did something to Zouken. I don't know what, but you'll understand it faster if you see him."

If he was taking him directly to the bastard, that meant Zouken was in the pit. Why there of all places after surviving a Servant attack, Kariya could only hazard a guess. It made things easier too. Less escape routes for the worm to take.

But the fact that Sakura was unaccounted for still had Kariya on edge.

"Where is she?"

"You'll understand when—"

"I said," the interruption was more guttural than before. "Where is she, Byakuya?"

He didn't bother with a reply or glance. Kariya only saw his brother's shoulders hitched. It appears, no matter the answer, his dear sibling already knew it would earn his ire. Hence, he opted to remain silent. Lucky for him, Kariya chose not to act on that silence. Not yet, anyway.

But then, Kariya heard something he never expected of his older brother.

"I'm… sorry." It was only for a short moment. Just a brief whisper that was soon blocked out by the creaking of a door. "We're here."

Before Kariya could ask, Byakuya led them into the cavernous basement. The stench the door kept at bay overwhelmed them all. Even as fresh air seeped into the place from the entrance they walked through, it wasn't enough to clear the reek of death and decay.

So many memories of the place caused Kariya's skin to crawl. Had his insects been awake still, they might've resonated with the skittering he heard within. The ravenous swarm ignited the trauma he so desperately suppressed with the bile welling up in his throat.

"Oh… You're finally here… Kariya…" Zouken chuckled lightly, his voice seemingly coming from all sides. But there was something else apart from the old man's mirth.

"Get back." Avenger's whisper caught him by surprise as well, but not as much as the earlier sensation.

Even before she materialized to stand by him protectively, he felt it. The blood thirst and hunger, the cold chill you get when someone, or something, was staring hungrily your way, permeated the room and was concentrated solely on his person.

It was as if the room that stank of corpses beckoned him to come closer, to join the pile in the dark pit below.

It was in the darkness of that pit that Kariya saw something that had him lose what feeling he had left in his limbs.

"… Uncle… Kariya…?"

There she stood. Or rather, there, in the centre of a mass of worms, a naked child was enveloped by a living cocoon.

A whole swarm of worms, insects, arachnids and more, all of them continued to crawl above, around, and all over Sakura's petite and defenceless form. Even as she stood there, her limbs looked lifeless as she was held aloft by the mass of fleshy creatures continuing to violate her being.

That he knew what she was going through without even asking had the bile in him escaping a little.

"Why…? Ngh!" Vomiting over the edge of the pit, he was then consumed by a rage he only felt once before. "What…?!" His fingernails grated on the cement floor as he continued to stare at the person who suffered despite his attempts to save her. "What the hell… are you doing to her, ZOUKEN?!"

"Oh, whatever do you mean?" again, the elder ignored him as his chuckling voice echoed throughout the hall. "Ho, ho! From what I can see, it seems you've got quite the Servant with you this time around… Hm… I sense a strong aura from her. Good job, my son…"

That he would claim fathership this late in the game was lost to Kariya who felt unbridled rage at the vampire who broke his promise. 'Why…? She wasn't supposed to receive any more treatment until the war was over! Why?!'

"What are you doing, staying up there? Both of you, get down here now. It's rude to keep a father waiting."

He could feel the stare Avenger sent his way, making sure he won't act bluntly and ruin their plan. But he couldn't help baring his teeth ferally at the horrid sight before him.

With some difficulty, he got off his knees and limped towards the steps. Byakuya fearfully trailed after him and Avenger who stayed close by, but Kariya could hardly give a damn about his sibling. Right now, all his eye saw was Sakura, going through something he should've saved her from.

He felt his fingers cut a wound into his palm again, eliciting a small trail of blood dripping to the stone floor.

When one of the many insects came closer to have a taste of the fresh red liquid, Kariya made a point of stamping on that one hard. When it exploded with a pop underfoot, the entire room rumbled with life.

"Oy… What do you think you're doing… Kariya?" He expected anger. Instead, there was amusement in the voice that seemed closer than ever before. So loud and… somewhat inhuman was the intonation that it caused Kariya to scan the area, searching for the source. "Hardly a week since leaving home… with my precious gifts… and not only did you lose respect… but you've forgotten… how to greet your loving parent?"

"What the hell about you is 'loving', you bast—Ngh!" When his eyes found the man, his stomach nearly emptied itself. Whether it was to vomit in disgust or shit his pants in fear, he did not know. In fact, it was because he didn't know what he was looking at that the horrible feeling overwhelmed his anger for a moment. "What… the hell?!"

A mannequin of flesh. What used to be a frail-looking old man now resembled a doll haphazardly made of living, convulsing masses of meat and organs. Or so they would appear from the outside.

SKREEEEE SHAAAAAAH SHIIIIIK

But the millions of insect noises, of worms and bugs and various other creepy crawlies created by Zouken's magic, proved it otherwise. Those were not mere flesh. They were monsters. A hive of horrors feasting, meshing, crawling all over one another in an attempt to replicate a humanoid shape.

"The fuck—?!"

As if hearing him, the mannequin of monstrosities raised its grotesque head. Or what was supposed to be a head but was actually a bulbous blob of slimily thumping meat. It was as if the whole thing was just an unruly mesh of pink arteries attached to the stump of a neck. And that wasn't discounting the ugliest maw of living teeth Kariya had ever seen.

When it opened wide, however, numerous sets of varying eyes peered to him through the dentures as a voice spoke once more.

"Do I scare you, Kariya?"

"HIII—!"

"Hahah… Ahahaha!" The second his anger melted to fear, the monster's shoulders shuddered with laughter. Its grotesque form seemingly unable to keep its voice from resounding along the basement's walls. "What's the matter? Where did all your fire go to, my 'son'?"

He had no response. Not when the inhuman creature turned its full body towards him. He very well damn-near pissed himself when whatever the thing was raised one of its worm-riddled arms his way.

"N-no! G-get away—!"

"Hah! I merely point and this is how you react… That's unsightly of you, Kariya…" the voice droned but echoed with the shrill squee of a thousand bugs every other word. "And here I thought… you'd be ready to call yourself a Matou… after all these years."

'And who the hell would want to be called that, to be associated with a monster like you—!' were the words that remained stuck in his throat. No matter how hard he wished to spit them in Zouken's face, he couldn't. Not when the thing didn't even have a face he could spit on without agitating what was likely a dozen or so of ravenous flesh-eaters.

'Fuck… Fuck!' Fear had overcome him once more, wilting his earlier determination to dust. 'What do I—?!'

"Stand up." Her commanding words came from behind. A quick glance over to Avenger, the not-too-amused Servant steadied a glare forward, towards the beast he cowered from. Her eyes were fire, as were his insides when she spoke again. "Or is this the extent of your resolve?"

No. Of course, it wasn't. He need not be told twice, nor follow the red headed woman's side glance over to the girl trapped in the mulching swarm. Kariya grit his teeth, biting down on his lip and cutting it, in an attempt to focus.

'Stand… Stand, damn you!' He couldn't falter. Not now. Not ever. 'For what reason did I choose to walk this hell anyway? Don't give in! Don't… cower to this bastard!'

"Hoh? Well, colour me surprised…" The thing mumbled in the voice of his bugs. "Kariya, I expected nothing but failure from you… and yet you of all people managed to recover? It must be that new Servant of yours, isn't it? Hehehe…Heheh…"

"What the hell are you on about?" he growled back at the worm who even now continued to mock him.

"Not only were you able to survive for so long… you actually bested someone… and even stole a better Servant for yourself…" The creature's dentures all wriggled like small bone spikes attached to tentacles. Kariya took it as Zouken's attempt at a smirk. "I heard you earlier… You said something… about defeating Archer and Tokiomi… Is this true?"

"Would I even be here if it wasn't?"

"Hehehe…Heheh…" He suddenly felt the walls rumble. A soft grunting resounding everywhere meant he was chuckling again. "Don't lie to me… Someone like you… couldn't even hold a candle to a single one of my worms before…"

Kariya bit his lip. Mockery as it was, he was wasting time. By now, he was close enough that he could smell the stench off of Zouken's walking worm corpse. Calling on Berserker and ending it should've been a done deal. But…

"… Father is… dead?" The faintest twinkle of hope could be seen fading from Sakura's hollowed gaze. As she stood there, being violated by Zouken's magecraft, she could only watch and listen as he brought the bad news. "… No… way… Uncle… Kariya… Did you…?"

Even in the midst of a rescue, it seems all he could offer the child was even more undue stress and grief. The tears streaming down her cheeks were quickly lapped away by one of the abominable insects.

Bleeding from the lip by now, Kariya held it in. He couldn't call on Berserker. Not when Sakura was in Zouken's grasp. While he didn't know what the old worm was capable of in such form, he was at least aware that anything he did out of place would only end up hurting Sakura further.

He didn't need to see Avenger's watchful gaze to know that she would warn him of the same. He shouldn't act immediately. However, that didn't mean he couldn't lure his 'father' into a false sense of security.

"Yes..." He tried his best not to see the girl's expression break down further. "I… killed Tohsaka Tokiomi… with my bare hands…"

A momentary glance at Sakura, and he wished he hadn't. The last of the light in her eyes had long faded into darkness. The remains of her broken expression from earlier was now just a blank stare with her head tilted to the side.

"… … Huh… … Is that so…?"

Kariya waited for something else, anything more to say. But Sakura said nothing. She just continued to stare at him amidst the swarm that now made to suck away the last of her drying tears. Her lifeless pupils didn't move. There was no sound of crying. The little girl seemingly felt nothing as he admitted the murder of her father.

But while Sakura deflated to nihilism, her 'grandfather' was the opposite.

"Haha… Hahahahah… HAHAHA!" All the worms in the basement squirmed and cried. It was as if they were moved with ecstasy as Zouken laughed.

Kariya couldn't help but growl. "What's so funny, you bastard?"

"You, boy!" The flesh doll's mirth was palpable as it was abhorrent. Several of the worms fell off, seemingly unable to maintain his form as he shuddered with stifled chuckles. "KillingTokiomi? On your own? Kariya, do you take me for a fool?"

"Considering someone as capable as you can't tell the truth for yourself, then yeah. Maybe I should take you for a fool, Zouken."

"Hrrrm?" the meat mannequin stopped chortling and stared at him. Many eyes bore into his only working one. "What was that, you brat?"

Kariya couldn't help but smirk at the old man's annoyance.

He knew he was a coward. Zouken knew he knew he was a coward. He never had the confidence to confess to Aoi. He never had the confidence to stand up to Tokiomi. He never had the guts to go against his father, not including the time he chose to run away from the Matou family.

Yes. Matou Kariya was a cowardly worm. One who could do nothing but squirm in fear of his betters. But he wouldn't be denied his one victory. A boy and his Servant, a pair who'd done far more than he could ever ask for in his state, had asserted as much already. No matter what Zouken said, no matter what anyone said, he knew he won at least once.

"Tohsaka Tokiomi is dead. Blown to pieces alongside his student, the priest, and one more in the Church. You at least heard that much, haven't you? Or have all your insects been cowering in fear since being assaulted by Caster?"

Goading the man who made his childhood an unbearable hell, he noted the tell-tale signs of frustration. Although inhuman beyond understanding, teeth grit tightly, gazes on him narrowed. Any and all worms that actively moved Zouken's form squirmed with irritation at Kariya's words, proving to the cripple that his father was indeed just like him. Beaten and afraid. Knockdown a peg by the unexpected. Just as much of a fuck-up as he.

Kariya couldn't help himself. So much so that Zouken took note of it. "What are you smiling about, brat?"

"Hmph. It's nothing," he scoffed with heavy sarcasm. "While you were hiding in your hellhole, I had Berserker best Archer! Now both Tokiomi and his Servant are six feet under. Of course, it came at a cost. But now, here I stand with proof that I'm still very much in this fight. You can think whatever you want, but I'm not done yet! I joined this war because you promised you'd lay your filthy hands off Sakura."

He tried to meet the girl's eyes, but all he got was a blank stare. The shock must've still been taking its toll on her. No matter. Glaring the monstrosity down, Kariya dared take a step forward.

"Well, I'm winning! And now I see you going back on your promise. Mind explaining yourself, Zouken?!"

The worm monster didn't reply immediately. For a brief silence, the thing masquerading as his 'father' simply stared back at him. He was watching, waiting to see if this bravado would break. However, Kariya wasn't weak-willed to falter twice.

"My, my… Who knew that the same larvae that fled the hive would actually mature? You'd run away without so much as a backbone. Now I see you still have a spirit… one that needs breaking. Kariya, my son, you actually managed to do me proud!"

Kariya couldn't believe what he was hearing. And likely Byakuya as well. Their old man was never one for praises. He was just a sadistic and cruel monster. Hearing what sounded like a sincere compliment not only sounded out of character. It was more than a little creepy coming from this… monstrosity.

It wasn't enough to distract him from the fact the elder evaded his questions again though. Yet, it seems Zouken was going to be insistent on avoiding answering him about anything.

"My, oh my… This makes me almost want to see if you can actually win, my son…" The air shifted as the flesh of the biomass monster rippled. Zouken continued as his body started shifting. "But the situation's changed, Kariya."

"What?"

"You're correct… After Caster's attack, I realized that I can't continue with things as they are. That night was the closest I came to death in the last century. I can't risk anything like that again lest I vanish entirely. Fortunately, I've already accelerated the ritual. Heheh…"

"HYA! AAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHH!"

Right as he said it, a scream broke the quiet and echoed throughout the basement walls. All eyes turned to see the girl writhing in pain as more than a dozen bugs began stinging and biting her limbs' bare skin, as well as the parts of her unseen.

"Oy! You promised me you'd free Sakura!" Kariya bellowed at the beast, nearly running up to deck the thing in the denture-ridden face if he hadn't been held back by the collar by an unamused Avenger. "You bastard! What the fuck are you doing to her?! ZOUKEN!"

"Believe me, Kariya. I wish the situation was different. But my hand was forced by that deranged Caster you failed to kill at the start. Because he ate away at a majority of my reserves, I need all the mana I can get to ensure I will survive. Of course, that's not what Sakura is for, so you can relax your mind, brat."

"What the fuck does that mean?!" He didn't care if he was torn to shreds. So long as he stopped whatever the hell he was doing to her, he didn't mind being swarmed. "Let her go, you bastard!"

"Haaah… Always the impatient and inconsiderate." Grumbled the worm monster as its eyes all stared into his pitifully. "No wonder the girl from the Zenjou never liked you."

"Bastard! Leave Aoi out of this!"

"But it's the truth, no? I never said I was hurting the girl purposefully. It wouldn't do me any good to inhabit a damaged vessel."

The mention of it had Kariya's eye sharpening. "You… you lying piece of shit! You said you wouldn't hurt her ever—!"

"Heh… Why so surprised, my son? Of course, I lied… It's as if you don't know your own father…" And yet again, despite the anger and fury of his that returned to the fore, he was mocked with a hearty, echoing chuckle. "Even now, she only suffers because her body has yet to fully accept the special Crest worms I designed just for her… Don't worry. She'll adapt as she did when she took your place in the pit. It may even be far easier on her if we do it this early…"

If it was as he said, Kariya didn't buy the bullshit. His rash treatment had him in the pit days on end, his mind tortured to madness only to get used to them inhabiting his body, much less actually be able to control them. Minutes, hours, entire nights of them going in and out of every orifice. If they were all clogged, the bugs would bore are holes and seal them up themselves, sewing their mushy bodies under his skin with ease.

It broke him as any man would've been broken, reliving their trauma and more over and over and over and over and over…

But the things the parasites were doing to Sakura were far more extreme. Not only were they punching holes in her, instead of just crawling in, but they were also injecting things into her veins while some explored and crawled over her body, trying to find ways to enter her aside from just tearing a hole in her belly. The only reason why she stopped screaming was that one of the damned worms, one far larger than he'd ever had the displeasure of feeding, had all but escaped down her throat already.

"That being said… transferring myself into a body that small… it would take time… That is unless I had an abundant mana source…" The monster then glanced at the Servant holding his son back. Avenger had remained silent all this time, trying not to garner attention. But it seems she was Zouken's target from the start. "Hrrrm… Quite tame compared to Berserker… But it's a shame, your contracting with her dooms her all the same…"

Squelching noises alerted Kariya to the sudden movement behind them all. Fleshy appendages with a nearly two-dozen insect swarm gathered at the exit, slamming the door shut and guarding the only exit out of the place.

Zouken had trapped them with him.

"W—what are you doing, father—GUHO!" THUD

Something slammed against the wall as the meat-insect tendrils returned to their owner's, to Zouken's monster form. The apparent toothy smile of his eye-riddled maw told Kariya enough of what answer he had for Byakuya. "Be silent and behave, Byakuya. Do the only thing you're capable of and obey me!"

"Tch." Hearing her tongue click as Avenger placed a hand on the hilt of her katana had Kariya freezing in place. Sparing her a glance, she returned it with an annoyed one that Kariya couldn't help but sweat buckets over. His older brother aside, Sakura still remained in Zouken's grasp. She couldn't attack him. Not right now.

Thinking fast, he tried to stall. "What are you doing, Zouken?!"

"As I said I need more mana. Sakura is to be my vessel, so of course, I can't end her here. But… even if I consumed your brother, it wouldn't be enough. And there's nothing to say of you, a walking corpse, either. Yet… your new Servant might work." The thing seemed to lick its entire face instead of just its lips as he said it. "I never eaten Servants before, but being raw concentrations of mana given form, it should work."

"You…" The implication that Zouken never meant to see their deal through had Kariya cursing his naivety. But more than that, he saw the act to follow as nothing short of reckless madness coming from a monster desperate for his own survival. "You're insane!"

"Stay still, Kariya. For your hard work, I will grant you a swift death. Think of this as my first and last fatherly act!"

The room shook as a thousand insect-meshed tendrils and teeth riddled tentacles erupted out of the ground. Most climbed up to the ceiling, effectively covering the whole room with walls of flesh. Every ten meters or so, there was a pulsating boil or fleshy bubble that started throbbing with life whilst more of the meat walls sprouted tentacles and insects alike.

As if it was an attempt to imitate Caster's monstrosities, maybe improve upon them, the elder wraith that was once Matou Zouken summoned all he had to trap and pummel a Servant to death, his own sons, be damned.

Kariya should've expected this. He knew his end was what would come about even if he'd been lucky enough to be the victor of an impossible war. But to finally see his old man turn his back away from him in full… Kariya found it easier to harden his heart and swallowed his fear.

Even as he was faced with his lifelong tormenter, surrounded by the monster's horrible creations, he wouldn't falter anymore. Not when Zouken had finally revealed the monster he'd been all this time.

Not his father. Just an abomination pretending to be one. 'Huh… Seems… all I needed… was to see him for what he was…'

"What's the matter, my son? Do I scare you?"

People fear what they don't understand. But with the truth now before him, baring its fangs on full display, he need not fear the man anymore.

And besides, if Matou Zouken thought this reveal would be enough to frighten him into submission like the little boy he'd been before, he was damn wrong.

"I think it's about time. Don't you, little husk?" Just as Kariya turned to face the calm, perhaps even excited, redhead, he was met with the sight of a devilish smile. Katana in hand, Avenger directed her blade towards the apparent head of the basement beast. "Well? I'm waiting for your call, Matou Kariya."

That she said his name in full had him nodding calmly in return. Never had he once been this level-headed in a fight. But in the face of his final foe, he easily raised his weak and deadened arm towards what used to be the head of his family. Pulling back his tattered jersey's sleeves, the dark crimson shine of Command Seals had Zouken's attention.

"Struggling to the very end? Good! Show me how much you've grown, my spawn!"

He didn't bother entertaining his 'father' with a response further. Instead, he whispered to the Servant not his own. "I leave Sakura to you."

"Hmph." The raised katana was doused in hellfire. The woman's attention was directed to the girl. "Then, your father's all yours."

"Getting cocky, are we? Your opponent is over here!"

At the monster's deafening screech, many of the tentacle pustules of his tentacles exploded. Swarms upon swarms of ravenous, bloodthirsty insects escaped their meat hives as they charged their position. But Kariya ignored him to utter a command that consumed one of his seals in a flash.

"With this Command Seal, I order you. Destroy Zouken! Use all you have! Leave nothing of him behind! Come! Berserker!"

When space before him rippled with bloody crimson light, every tentacle on Zouken's being shifted nervously. When the air in front of him was filled in by a black figure, the mannequin monster's eyes all widened with shock and maybe even fear. When the cloud of darkness receded off of the black knight, a gleaming black blade shining in his hand, the monster of insects screeched.

"You… you bastard! You said you lost him!"

"Well… I lied." Levelling his gaze from behind the maddened Berserker, Kariya gave a final smile to his father. "What can I say? 'Like father, like son?'"

Anger was the first he felt from all around when the entire swarm bellowed and shrieked. Bloodlust came after when seven or so tentacles spouting from the walls, stingers at their tips, lunged at him.

But just as they were about to hit.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" BOOM

Two explosions rocked the basement. The first was the booming howl of the black knight. With his demonic blade drawn, a mere swing was all it took to sever and rend the meaty tendrils to ribbons. Kariya didn't even register what cut them from this distance. All he saw was a quick swing, a bluish light, and the death of Zouken's first attack in the hands of Berserker's blade.

But the second explosion was the real kicker. A loud thud followed by the cracking basement floor caused Zouken's form to sink beneath his flesh roots by about a meter or so. "What the—?!"

Distracted, Zouken's swarm was held back. The surprise of losing his footing in the pit had his entire mass of flesh and bug swarms in a confused frenzy. It was a given, considering that the hellhole he'd furnished as his magecraft workshop for centuries had quite suddenly been destroyed from below. Another explosion rocked the earth beneath him, this time causing part of the ceiling to crack and fall atop his insect mass, catching a number of bugs, pustules, and tendrils in the way.

"Why so surprised, father?" Kariya asked, seemingly losing concentration now that Berserker was draining him of mana far faster than the usual rate. "Did you really think I wouldn't ever come back with the intention to bury you and your shitty legacy? Heh. But then you were never much of a parent. Of course, you wouldn't understand… inhuman freak!"

"KARIYAAAAA!"

"KILL HIM, BERSERKER!"

"RYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Maddened howls echoed throughout the Matou residence underground as it all devolved into a scene straight out of a horror flick.

___________

Sakura hated bugs.

She never once did in the past. She thought they were… well, odd. Some more so than others. It was normal for a child her age to care little about their purpose in life and be more affected by how they felt to her senses. Many stink. Others were squirmy. All of them were weird in their own little way. But she never hated them for it.

She did like one though. Butterflies.

Innocent, gentle, fragile yet beautiful. No matter how many times Sakura chased one in the park or garden with her sister, she always thought them the most likeable insect in the world.

Whenever she saw them trapped as another spider's meal, however, she'd remember she hated insects.

Bugs that bit down on her skin. Worms that crawled all over her body. Slugs that violated her very being, inside and out, over and over and over and over.

Sakura hated bugs.

They were a cruel reminder to her that the world had and always will be cruel. No matter how hard she fancied herself as a beautiful and innocent butterfly, one so gentle and fragile that she could never hurt another, the bugs would always ensnare her, torture her, break her.

Body, mind, and soul, the bugs took away everything.

She had nothing left. No innocence, no thoughts of escape, no will to continue resisting. Hence, she just laid there, letting her grandfather's creations have their way with her as they continued to seek out her core. All so they could shatter her and make her hollow. Empty.

Empty as a vessel.

She should've been scared. She should've been angry. She should've panicked. But no. All she felt was emptiness.

In fact, why bother resisting? Why hope for a brighter tomorrow? Every time she tried, she'd always get tossed back into the pit. She was always reminded that she was nothing if not a trapped butterfly.

There was nothing she could do but blankly stare at the fight ensuing before her.

Enraged by Uncle Kariya's deception, her 'grandfather', or rather, the rotting pile of amalgamated meat and bones Uncle Byakuya had been throwing into the basement, continued its onslaught. Lashing tentacles after waves of the endless swarms continued to bear down on the two Servants and her dear uncle.

Uncle Byakuya had been left ignored after being knocked aside, but Uncle Kariya continued to stand tall. Taller than she'd ever seen him before. Sakura didn't understand why.

'Why continue to resist? Why bother disobeying grandfather?' Time and time again, after being subjected to the torturous 'lessons', her fragile hope corroded away. Her dear wish to see her mother and sister again waned, like beach sand being violently eroded by a storm of nightmares and horrors. All because her body and mind learned one thing from those 'lessons'. 'There's no reason to fight on… No one's coming to help… So… why bother… with this…?'

Sakura couldn't understand. Why did her Uncle Kariya fight? For her? That couldn't be true. After all, if he really cared about her, why did she kill her father? Why didn't he sound sad at all?

Why did he smile like a grandfather when he admitted taking away yet another part of her past?

Sakura couldn't understand the man. Especially now when he was faced against overwhelming odds.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Berserker howled for violence, the kind that a gentle girl like Sakura could never come to inflict on other people. Sword swing after sword swings, bluish-white light akin to lake water on a cool summer's day lashed out, eviscerating any and all of Zouken's attacks. Be they boney and thorny fleshy tentacles or ferocious bugs, they were all cut down. But of course, a single blade couldn't hold them back.

"To think you actually summoned a Servant so skilled, you useless little shit—!" Zouken, seemingly recognizing the skill of the black knight, howled with the fervour of his hungry familiars. "DEVOUR THEM!"

At his beck and call, the many boils and bulbous sacks adorning the basement walls now popped and birthed even more. Another wave was ready and even more, were well on their way.

Sakura could feel some of the mana being drained from her being to aid their creation, but Zouken's stores were still vast. Connected as she was to him in her little cocoon, she could somehow tell. Whether by the latent talent in her magus blood or maybe just the child growing used to being violated by magical worms, she could feel it. This was not the full extent of Zouken's power.

'This… is impossible…' Knowing this only served to reinforce her earlier thought. 'Winning against grandfather… is impossible…'

And then, she felt the warmth.

"You damned bitch!" Crimson flames eating through the surrounding flesh roots were reflected in Sakura's deadened eyes, lighting a faux spark of hope within. In the many eyes of her grandfather, however, it ignited the only fury.

"Hey, now. Do you kiss your children with that mouth? Then again, it seems you'd rather eat them with it, yeah?" With a teasing smile on full display, her eyes turned hungry as Avenger swung her katana to the side. A swathe of flames immediately incinerated the cocoon enveloping the girl but left Sakura safe.

The sudden freedom dropped the girl to the stone floor. But instead of the usual icy slime, it somehow just felt warm to the touch.

"Stand up, girl." The woman's boots and voice had Sakura meeting the crimson-eyed gaze. "Why the look of defeat? Don't tell me you've given up all hope while your saviour continues to battle for his life?"

Sakura spared a glance over to her dear uncle. The man who'd shown more love and care for her than her own father ever had in the past few months had been forced to take a knee while blood spurted out of his arms and cheeks. A light squirming and a hand to his belly informed the girl that the worms within him must've been acting up.

But why had they not eaten him through yet? They were Zouken's. Why hadn't grandfather activated them to eat him alive?

Sakura didn't know. And she didn't care. For all the struggle taking place before her, she could hardly see any good to come of this fight. Not for her or her Uncle Kariya.

"It's useless…" the girl mumbled under her breath. "Disobeying grandfather… it's useless…"

"Hoh? And you would call my power useless even now?" As if to demonstrate, the redheaded woman swung an arm. A ring of fire burst into life around them, searing a few tendrils that tried to sneak behind her into ash. The bugs dive-bombing from above were all turned into smoke the moment they got too close. Blood splatters evaporated into steam before they could even stain Avenger's cloak. "From where I stand, your so-called 'grandfather's attempts are the useless ones. Had he the right mind, he wouldn't bother with all the big talk and have just taken you hostage."

"… Maybe… you're right…" But even if she was… what could Sakura do but listen and obey? How could she even dare think fighting against that monster of a man?

Her dazed eyes looked up to watch as Berserker yet again weathered another tentacle-insect swarm. Waves upon waves of the monstrosities were battered and slain by the tempest he was throwing with his sword. But with her Uncle Kariya now coughing blood, even if he continued to level a glare at Zouken, even Sakura could see the writing on the wall.

He would die a futile death. Because, like her, he was weak, a coward, and nothing more than their grandfather's plaything.

Why had Zouken bothered with letting Uncle Kariya take her place after giving up on this war, to begin with? Why had he rushed her uncle's treatment with the worms, knowing full well that it would destroy his son's body in less than a few weeks? Why bother with it all if a broken and weak man was going to be the result?

Because Zouken could do it. Because, to him, they were lesser than his bugs.

Sakura hated bugs. It reminded her of how cruel the world was. If only she could've lived out her fantasy of being an innocent butterfly, dancing along the park with her sister, ignorant of the horrors of the world… she wished she could return to that blissful life…

"Hmph. To think it'd be Lancelot of all knights…" Avenger scoffed, earning Sakura's curious stare. "Really now, your martyr of an uncle is quite the lucky white knight, isn't he?"

'Lucky? A white knight? In what way?'

While it was true that he tried to save her, Sakura's cripple of an uncle wasn't at all inspiring like the fairytales. In fact, once he threw away his own luck when he came back for her, Sakura could only think of him as an idiot for doing so. Even now. Because why bother with a girl as downtrodden and abandoned as her?

'It's not like mother or father… or Rin even bothered to try to bring me back…'

And yet… he was the only one… The only person to smile her way… to offer her hope. To offer her salvation, promising a return to the happy days she'd long believed she'd lost.

Despite the fiery atmosphere created by Avenger's power, Sakura felt something cold trickling down her cheek. The sharp contrast of temperature had her touching on the tears that escaped her.

'Eh?' the girl was surprised. 'Why…?'

Having been broken down by the horrible torment, having experienced living hell since stepping into this house, she'd expected to have lost everything, hope and all.

"It seems you've yet to lose that spark of life in you, child." Avenger's soft words belied her devilish smile. "Hold onto that, lest you wish to fall into hell like me. Like your uncle."

As the tears poured on, the girl continued to watch, to hope against hope, waiting for her uncle to pull through.

'Do… your best…' Sakura bit her lip, for the first time crying out not in pain but in desperation. "Do your best, Uncle Kariya!"