Berserker's hollow, glowing eyes flared crimson as they locked onto Saber. A distorted, guttural growl echoed from deep within his armored form, vibrating through the battlefield like the roar of a beast breaking its chains. The madness within him clawed to the surface, a grudge stirring as he recognized the King of Knights.
"Irisviel, get back." Saber warns her master's wife. As she notices his aggressive stance towards her.
Without a single moment of hesitation, Berserker lunged forward, a monstrous force of rage incarnate. His blackened gauntlet shot out, seizing a jagged steel beam from the debris-strewn docks. The moment his clawed fingers grasped it, the metal twisted and cracked, black flames licking across its surface as it transformed into a Noble Phantasm. Energy rippled through the beam, its deadly edge now honed by Berserker's unique ability to turn anything he touched into a weapon.
"So that's it. Whatever he grabs becomes his Noble Phantasm." Rider notices.
Saber's grip on her invisible sword tightened. Her stance solidified, feet bracing against the ground as she raised her blade, the weight of the black knights blow pressing heavily on her shoulders. The hatred she felt radiating from Berserker was unmistakable towards her.
— — —
"Maiya. Do you have a visual on Berserker's Master?" Kiritsugu asked, his tone clipped as he noticed his Servant struggle to defend herself against Berserker's onslaught.His sniper rifle tracked through the shadows, searching for any hint of Berserker's hidden master.
"No, I don't." Maiya replied curtly, her own sniper scope sweeping the rooftops, frustration lacing her words.
Berserker's makeshift weapon cleaved through the air with devastating force. But before it could connect another blow, a flash of red steel intercepted it.
Lancer appeared in a blur, his twin spears crossed mid-air, catching the corrupted Noble Phantasm with a bone-jarring clang. Sparks flew as the weapons ground against each other.
"What are you?" Saber asks in disbelief, stunned that her former opponent had come to her aid..
"That's enough messing around, Berserker! Saber has a prior engagement with me. If you insist on interfering, you'll have to face me!" Lancer snarled, his golden eyes fierce as he held his ground against the mad Servant.
The two Servants clashed once more as Berserker tries to move the distraction from his prey, raw strength against speed and precision. Berserker's warped blade hammered down again and again, each blow strong enough to tear through steel, but Lancer met every strike, his twin spears in a defensive precision.
From a distant rooftop, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald observed the scene through a shimmering magical screen. His lips curled into a cold sneer. "What are you doing, Lancer? This is your chance to defeat Saber." He growled, his voice projected across the battlefield.
"I, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, will defeat Saber. I swear it on my honor! If you insist I kill her here, then I will first defeat that mad dog. Please, my Master!" Lancer's voice was laced with desperation, but his plea was met with cold defiance.
"With my Command Seal, I order you." Kayneth declared, raising his hand as the crimson glow of a Command Seal illuminated his palm.
"My lord!" Lancer begged him to reconsider, but it was too late.
"Help Berserker kill Saber." The Command Seal flared with power. Lancer's body jerked violently against his will, his face contorted with frustration as he was forced to turn his spears toward Saber.
"Perfect," he muttered. The sight of Lancer and Berserker cornering Saber was too good an opportunity to waste.
"Damn it!" Lancer hissed, though he could do nothing against the Command Seal's binding force.
Saber's emerald eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening as she faced two enemies. "I'm sorry Irisviel, I shall hold them here. While I do, you must run As far away as you can get. Irisviel, please!" She urged, determination hardening her features, noticing the hopeless situation.
"It's all right, Saber. Believe in your Master!" Irisviel says with full confidence that her husband could turn the situation around. 'Kiritsugu, I know that you can still turn this to victory.'
'Kiritsugu is here?' Saber thought, momentarily distracted as she tried to locate him.
— — —
Seeing that Saber could not take on two Servants at once, not to mention one of her arms being injured. Kiritsugu decided to defeat one of her opponents, lessening Saber's load. "I can kill Lancer's Master now. It's the only way out of this. Maiya, attack Assassin on my mark."
"Acknowledged." Maiya talked to Kiritsugu, having her sniper aim at Assassin's direction.
— — —
Issei Hyoudou clenched his fists as frustration boiled within him as he noticed Lancer's reluctance. "Why is he doing this? It's obvious he doesn't want to team up against Saber."
"That would be due to the Command Seals that you also have, husband." Tamamo explained, making Issei look at his own hand. "With it you can command me to do anything, even against my will. And just like me, Lancer has to obey his master's orders.
"That's!" Issei says with disgust, recalling Sherri's explanation. He didn't give it much thought but seeing how it's making Lancer do something against his wishes. He made a firm decision—he would never use it. "Tamamo, Can you please help her out!"
"My, my. A dutiful wife can not ignore her husband's plea for help." Tamamo's three golden tails flicked with excitement. "I wish it wasn't to help another woman but I was getting bored." With a swirl of pink magic, she leaped into action, her divine curses glowing with power.
Rider let out a boisterous laugh as he heard the brown haired boy. "You've got guts, boy! I like it!"
Just as the snipers were about to fire their shot. The thunder of hooves cracked through the night as Rider's chariot crashed into the fray, golden wheels cutting deep grooves into the pavement. His sword leveled, he barreled straight toward Lancer.
Rider is chariot colliding with Lancer's body just before he could strike Saber. The sheer force sent Lancer sliding backward, boots skidding across the ground.
Meanwhile, Tamamo's hands danced through the air, pink sigils forming in spiraling patterns. "Cursed Binding—Heavenly Tether!"
Glowing chains erupted from the ground, latching onto Berserker's limbs and halting his next swing. The mad Servant roared in fury, straining against the binds as black energy pulsed around him.
From his distant perch, Kayneth cursed. "Damn them. They're interfering."
"Master of Lancer. I know not from whence you're watching, but do not sully a battle between knights with your petty tricks. Have Lancer withdraw." Rider, like the king he is, commanded, his voice booming. "If you insist on humiliating him further, then we shall join Saber. Together, the four of us will annihilate your Servant. What will it be?"
Realizing the battle had turned against him, Kayneth grit his teeth. "Withdraw, Lancer. That's enough for tonight." He withdrew his control, ordering Lancer to disengage.
"My thanks, King of Conquerors and to you two as well." Lancer said, gratitude in his voice.
"It was nothing. I enjoy watching the flowers of a battlefield in bloom." Rider responded.
"Yeah plus your master was making a dick move." Issei added bluntly, while Tamamo simply didn't care and was simply doing what her husband wanted.
The celtic knight shot a glare toward Berserker before leaping away, vanishing into the night.
Kariya Matou, hidden within the shadows, grimaced as he tugged on Berserker's bond. "Back, Berserker. We're not ready for this yet."
With a furious growl, Berserker finally retreated, his monstrous form dissolving into the darkness.
Just as he was leaving pain shot through his body forcing him to collapse.
The battlefield fell silent.
"Why did you help me? What is all of your intent, King of Conquerors. And to you Caster." Saber demanded, wary of their motives.
"Hmp. I simply was doing my husband's bidding. I could care less about you." Tamamo rudely replied, flicking her tail dismissively.
"I just felt like helping you. That is all." Rider responded with a laugh.
Rider turned his attention to Issei, an enormous grin plastered across his face. "Hyoudou! You have the heart of a warrior and the soul of a dragon. I like that. Join me! Together, we'll conquer this world and beyond! There's always room in my army for a man like you!"
Issei blinked, caught off guard by the sudden proposal. "Uh… yeah, no. Not into the whole world-conquering thing."
Rider blinked, his booming laughter echoed through the docks. "Not into it? Every great man dreams of conquest!"
Issei with full seriousness and determination stared at the man. That look made Tamamo very hot and bothered. "I am the man who will be Harem King!" He shouts to the heavens.
Shocking the women around him at the audacity of the boy in front of them. His shout even shocked the masters watching from the shadows.
Tamamo snorted with laughter. "That's so darling!"
"Then join me and you can have all the women you want." Rider offered, dead serious.
"I refuse. For I will do it by myself with my own efforts." Issei spoke back.
Rider slapped Issei's back with enough force to nearly knock him over. "You're a strange one, Hyoudou! But I respect that! Should we meet as enemies, I expect nothing less than your all!"
Issei grinned. "You'll get it. Promise."
"Goodbye for now! I hope to enjoy our next meeting." Rider then looks at his master that was forgotten in all that chaos. "Boy, you got anything nice to say to the ladies?" Unfortunately the boy was knocked out in all the chaos. Issei looked at Waver and felt sorry for him.
"I do wish he'd man up a little. Farewell!" With a hearty laugh, Rider steered his chariot vanishing into the darkness.
Tamamo twirled a charm between her fingers. "You could've had that harem you always wanted, you know."
Issei deadpanned. "Absolutely not. I shall do it with my own hands. Plus I don't want to conquer the world. Pass."
Sherri's voice echoed dryly in his mind. 'Strategically, you missed an excellent alliance opportunity.'
"Yeah, yeah," Issei muttered, though a small smile tugged at his lips. He soon turns to face the two women.
Saber tenses wondering if he was about to order an attack.
"Tell your husband to stop pointing his gun at me." Issei says with seriousness. It was true the man had the scope focused solely on Issei's head, just in case he did anything to Iri.
Issei revealing Kiritsugu's location greatly shocked the man, ruining his element of surprise.
"Yeah and that other woman helping him or else I won't be so kind and kill them both." Tamamo threatens looking in two different directions, while keeping oblivious of knowing where Assassin was.
With that Caster used her Illusions to make them untraceable to even Assassin's eyes.
————
"Guess we should go home! We finally had a good look at our enemies." Tamamo remarked as they walked through the quiet streets, still cloaked in her illusion.
Issei wanted to agree but as he was in deep thought. "Sherri." He called attention to his AI, stopping them from walking further.
"Yes master."
(Partner, what are you thinking?) Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind.
"You said Berserker's master was sick."
"It's more complicated than that but yes."
"Do you know where he is?"
"I do."
Issei remembered how Gilgamesh was about to continue to attack them only for Berserker to step in and help him. He knows he didn't do it on purpose but in the end, he did help. "Can you tell us where?"
Tamamo sighs, knowing what this was about. "Husband, you are too kind."
Soon the couple went in a different direction, following Sherri's guidance. As they neared the area where Berserker's master was. They noticed a sickly pale white haired man coughing and wheezing blood. Honestly it was depressing to Issei. Just as the man was about to pass out. Issei reacted and caught the man just as he was about to hit the ground.
Tamamo's nose wrinkled as she soon noticed the worms that came out of the man when he coughed. With a flick of her fingers, she sent a simple curse to burn the insects. "Disgusting," she muttered.
Unfortunately as they were about to help him. The dark knight came out phasing into existence. Tamamo tensed, bringing her mirror to defend her husband. The knight screamed and was about to rush the two and attack them.
"Stop!" Issei shouted holding the sick man. "He's hurt. Don't you care!"
Somehow, someway. For a brief moment, those words did reach the knight of madness as before he became this. The madness in his hollow eyes flickered, he remembered that he was once a man of chivalry and honor, he was Lancelot. He stopped for a moment but unfortunately the madness consumed him and he was about to begin his charge.
But that moment was all Tamamo needed to use her illusions and curses. Curse of Tranquility.
The fox gave the knight an illusion of happier times. Berserker's furious form stilled, trapped in a vision with a certain lady. Soon the knight faded away.
"Please." Kariya stirred weakly, his voice barely a whisper. Surprising the duo wondering if he woke up. "I need to save her." This was only him speaking out of deliriousness.
"Where should we take him, husband? I doubt it would be a good idea to take them to the home of the Hanas."
"That's true." Issei reminded himself that no one should ever find out about them. It would be safe to stay as far away as possible until it was time to leave.
"If the master desires, we can simply use this man's apartment for now."
"That's as good a place as any." They quickly left following Sherri's direction again, carrying the man safely to his home.
The moment they arrived Tamamo was quick to place numerous Boundary Fields around them.
Issei soon sits down next to him. Making sure he was alright. Watching the man, Issei quickly notices his skin moving unnaturally as if worms were inside him.
"Sherri. What's wrong with him?" Issei asks, Tamamo also got closer interested.
"His name is Kariya Matou, master of Berserker. Of the Matou magus family, originally called the Makiri family. Due to Kariya rejecting and running away from the family, he did not receive the formal training as a Magus. As he chose to become a participant in the Holy Grail War, he could not become a formal master. The solution at the advice of his grandfather was to implant numerous Crest Worms into his body.
Crest Worms are a unique kind of Magic Crest of the Matou family and the personal familiars of his grandfather Zouken Matou. Crest Worms are magical energy-eating worms that can channel magical energy. However, the worms are eating away at their host, causing Kariya's health to progressively fail, in return for significantly expanding his magic circuits and magical potential.
You can see them squirming under the surface of his skin, resulting in him being blind in one eye with half of his limbs having become dysfunctional and distorted, resulting in a limp."
Issei's jaw clenched. "That's… awful."
Tamamo scoffed. "Humans and their twisted ideas of power."
Issei looked at Kariya's pain-stricken face. "We need to help him… somehow. Tamamo, please can you?"
"There's nothing I can do at the moment about the worms inside his body. I can remove them easily if I use some of my power, but that will create a beacon for the rest to know where we are. But if you want, I can use my Noble Phantasm to heal the damage the worms have already done. It would be a temporary solution as the moment I've healed him, the worms will continue to eat him alive."
"Please do it. After he wakes up, we'll think of another way."
"Understood." With thought, Tamamo brings her mirror in front of the man. She then uses just a fraction of the Eightfold Blessing of Amaterasu as releasing more will cause the rest of the Servants to know their location. This allows her to use her curses to heal.
It was quite a beautiful sight for Issei to see her use the mirror.
Within moments the man's complexion returned. Suddenly all the man's pain went away causing Kariya to wake up and tried to stand up.
"Woah there. Don't get up too fast. You were quite unwell before." Issei says holding the man in place.
"You!" Kariya shouted in surprise. "You're the boy who was the master of Caster." Honestly, he was surprised he remembered him after all the pain he felt using Berserker.
"Yup and she's right over there." Issei pointed to the most beautiful woman Kariya ever saw. The woman didn't even acknowledge him and considers him lesser to her eyes.
"What do you want? Where's berserker?" Kariya panicked trying to stand up to protect himself.
"Hey stop that before you summon the big guy." Issei tries to calm him down. Before Berserker tries to destroy the room.
As Kariya stood up he noticed his legs were working again and know that he was paying attention he could see out of both eyes.
"WH-what happened to me? I haven't felt this great since the worms were placed in my body." But they were not removed; he could still feel them squirming inside him.
As Kariya stood, he noticed his legs were working again, and now that he was paying attention, he could see out of both eyes.
"Wh-What happened to me? I haven't felt this great since before the worms were placed in my body." But they weren't gone; he could still feel them squirming inside him.
"Caster healed you."
"Why?" Kariya said, confused.
"Don't you remember at the time if you hadn't summoned Berserker to attack Archer. I would have to seriously fight that golden prick. So as a thanks I decided to help you."
"I didn't do that to help you?"
"Oh I know. But in the end you did help me." Issei says with a smile Before remembering the worms. "Unfortunately she couldn't take the worms out. But don't worry we're going to find a permanent solution," Issei declared firmly, his determination shining through. "We'll get those things out of you for good."
"No."
The sharp rejection took Issei off guard. "What? But… if we don't, you'll die!"
"I know," Kariya rasped, his hands clenching into fists. "But these worms… they're the only way I can stay as Berserker's Master. Without them, I lose everything."
Issei stared at him, stunned. "Why would you sacrifice your life just to stay in this war? Why is winning the Holy Grail so important that you're willing to let these things kill you?"
For a moment, Kariya's composure cracked. His breathing quickened as raw emotion surged to the surface. "Because… it's the only way I can save her!"
"Her?" Issei said, confused.
"A little girl. Her name's Sakura," Kariya choked out, his voice laced with desperation as he recalls the girl in the pit of worms. "She's trapped… trapped with my father. The things he's doing to her… I—I can't let it happen anymore. The Grail's my only chance to free her. It's the only way!"
Issei's heart twisted at the desperation in Kariya's voice. He could see the torment in the man's eyes—the pain, the guilt, and the unwavering determination to save this girl.
"Then we'll save her together," Issei vowed without hesitation.
But Kariya shook his head. "You don't understand. If I lose my connection to Berserker, I have nothing. No power. No chance."
Issei gritted his teeth, anger flaring—not at Kariya, but at the cruelty of the situation. "There has to be another way. We'll figure it out."
"Even if it kills me, I'll see Sakura free," Kariya whispered, a haunted look in his eyes.
Tamamo scoffed quietly but didn't comment, though the faintest flicker of respect crossed her face.
Issei clenched his fists, determination hardening within him. "Then tell me where she is and we'll rescue her and defeat him."
"That man can't even be called human. There's no way we can ever defeat him. We'll only be slaughtered." Kariya denied the thought outright, not even considering the possibility. "I'm sorry, please leave. The next time we meet, we will be enemies, and I don't want to hesitate when we fight."
"But—"
"Husband, that's enough. Clearly, the man doesn't want us to meddle in his business."
Issei turned to her to argue, but the moment he saw the look she gave him, he instantly understood and backed down.
"Alright."
"Thank you. I know this is no way for me to show my gratitude to the two of you. But please understand, I do this to save her." Kariya quickly closed the door on them.
The two continued walking away from the apartment. Once they were far enough, Issei turned to Tamamo. "So, do you have an idea of how to help?"
"Maooo. Husband, you're too kind to others. Even to your enemies. Honestly, I'm worried one day someone will use your kind heart and hurt you." Tamamo pouted, her ears flicking in irritation.
"Sorry." Issei apologized sheepishly. "But I know I'll have you to help me when that happens."
"Sheesh. You're lucky your wife is so capable of handling the desires of such a selfish man. But this is why I love and adore you. I know you want to give him hope, but clearly, that man's father has him traumatized. So here's what we'll do. We'll simply save the girl without his consent. Then that man will look ridiculous for regretting your kind offer."
"But we don't even know where she is?" Issei asked, genuinely puzzled.
The moment he spoke, Tamamo simply looked at him as if he were the biggest fool in the world.
"Husband. Did you forget we have Sherri?"
Issei scratched his head awkwardly, realizing his mistake. "Oh. Right."
Tamamo let out an exaggerated sigh. "Such a foolish man I married," she said, shaking her head.
"Hehehe. Where is she, Sherri? And what can you tell me about her?" Issei asked, turning his attention to his Dimensional Watch.
"Honestly master, how can you forget about my existence?"
"Sorry."
"Follow here." The two followed Sherri's directions listening to her tell them about the girl.
"Born as Sakura Tohsaka, one of the two daughters of Tokiomi Tohsaka." Shocking Issei as that was the name of Archer's master. "Like most magi, her father chose only one of his daughters to carry on his family's tradition. Zouken Matou, offered to adopt Sakura with the intention of training her as the successor of the Matous' magecraft. As a result of her natural abilities, she's been subjected to endure the harshest and cruelest training under Zouken by making her take daily dips into the worm infested pit as to make her the perfect vessel."
"A vessel. A vessel for what?" She will never get an answer, instead, she notices the inferno of power now radiating from Issei. Tamamo quickly reacted, using her curses to mask the power before anyone could notice. Though not overwhelming, it was still more than what a normal human should be capable of.
They soon arrived at an old European mansion.
"Sherri, where exactly is she right now?" Issei asked, his voice cold.
"Underground."
"Good. Tamamo, burn this place to the ground," Issei ordered, his tone sharp with fury as he granted her more of his power.
"Hai," Tamamo responded, her voice devoid of its usual playfulness. She didn't argue.
All around the city, Masters and Servants alike felt the mass of energy being released. Even Tokiomi Tohsaka in his mansion paused, his wine glass trembling in his hand.
"So that's where you are, clown," Gilgamesh sneered, his crimson eyes glinting with predatory interest. "When daybreak comes, I will begin my hunt."