[In the video—
Upon opening his eyes, he was greeted by a large, dark, and damp basement that exuded a palpable stench of decay just from looking at it.
He had been saved. He, who should have died at the hands of Tokiomi Tohsaka, had been saved. That figure he saw before losing consciousness... was it Kirei Kotomine? Why had that man saved him?
As he climbed up from the floor, people could now see that this unfamiliar figure was Kariya Matou. His hands and feet were shackled with chains, pinning him to the ground.
As for his location, this was the Matou family's underground worm pit.
However, there were currently no worms in the pit. Kariya's burns had already healed, but they left behind scars of varying sizes that contrasted starkly with his former skin.
Moreover, because Kariya Matou was already a 'gravely ill patient' to begin with, even with his wounds healed, he looked terrifying. He still gave off the feeling that he could drop dead at any moment.
At the same time, small worms seemed to be wriggling in some of the burned areas, as if they were the ones treating him.
It was a shocking sight. In just three or four days, the contortion of Kariya Matou's face had become even more horrifying. There wasn't a single trace of the healthy color a human face should have.
This made the scalps of the audience outside the screen tingle. Even though they knew the man before them had become this way for Sakura's sake, that he was a good person, they couldn't help but feel an instinctual fear at his current appearance.
As for why he had become like this, was there any need to ask? It was naturally the handiwork of that old worm again. After all, after Kirei Kotomine had saved his life, he had sent him back to the Matou household.
That place was no different from hell. Kirei's attempt to do a good deed had backfired, sending Kariya right back into the tiger's den.
However, with Sakura still in the old worm's hands, Kariya Matou would have returned to this place eventually. For Sakura's sake, he had long ago cast aside any concern for his own life and death.
But even though he had survived with emergency treatment, he could still feel the life draining from his body. Forget fighting as a Master; at this rate, it wouldn't be long before he died.
Looking around in a daze, Kariya mumbled weakly, "The treatment is useless. I'm going to die soon anyway..."
His voice was low and lifeless, clearly having fallen into complete despair.
The battle with Tokiomi Tohsaka had broken this man. He couldn't do anything. He couldn't save Sakura, and he couldn't defeat Tokiomi, the man who had caused her such harm. It was all Tokiomi Tohsaka's fault. He had made Kariya Matou, this long-suffering man, completely lose his will to fight.
However, was he content to die just like that? Aoi, Sakura, Rin, Tokiomi Tohsaka, and Matou Zouken—these figures flashed through his mind one by one, a sign that Kariya still did not want to die such a worthless death.
The man's body then began to tremble slightly. He cursed under his breath, clearly still filled with unwillingness. But the vast disparity in power and the cruelty of reality caused him immense pain.
The audience outside the screen found this scene very difficult to watch. They couldn't accept that a good man like Kariya Matou would meet such an end.
But just then, a harsh laugh rang out.
Kariya Matou snapped his head up, and the figure revealed himself from the shadows.
To no one's surprise, it was Matou Zouken.
Instantly, the blood pressure of countless people outside the screen began to skyrocket. The mere sight of this old worm was enough to incite extreme disgust.
At the same time, many people felt that something terrible was about to happen. After all, Matou Zouken was the scum of the earth, an indescribable piece of trash, and nothing good ever came from his dealings with Kariya Matou.
---o---
Leaning on his cane, Matou Zouken slowly approached. His small, frail body looked completely non-threatening, yet it filled Kariya Matou with a fear that came from the depths of his soul.
Looking at the awakened Kariya, Zouken tilted his head and revealed a keenly interested smile. "You look quite pathetic, don't you, Kariya."
"..." Kariya Matou remained silent, merely staring at Matou Zouken with a cold gaze.
Nothing good ever came from this old man's appearance. It wasn't just the viewers who thought this; Kariya Matou in the video felt the same.
The old worm used his cane to lift Kariya's chin, forcing him to look up. Kariya no longer had the strength to curse him, but he continued to glare at Zouken with hatred and killing intent in his one remaining good eye. The mere act of glaring at his opponent was exhausting him.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not blaming you at all. To have survived such grievous injuries and made it back here—Kariya, I don't know who saved you, but it seems your luck was quite good in this battle."
Zouken, cooing to his 'child' as if stroking a cat, was in a particularly good mood today—and so, his smiling face was etched with pure evil. Then, that grating voice rang out once more. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to last this long. Therefore, I shall give you the 'good thing' I've been saving for a critical moment."
Then, Matou Zouken suddenly jabbed Kariya's neck with his cane, causing Kariya to gasp open his mouth in a pained expression from the sudden blow.
In that instant, a disgusting black worm shot out and drilled directly into Kariya Matou's open mouth.
Kariya immediately let out a pained, muffled groan, clearly not expecting Zouken to pull such a move.
This scene also made the viewers outside the screen feel nauseous and disgusted. However, compared to the disgusting things Matou Zouken had done in the past and the other horrors that had occurred during the Holy Grail War, this almost seemed trivial.
It could be said that many people's psychological tolerance had been strengthened.
Then, as if some new element had been injected into him, the veins on Kariya Matou's hands and feet began to bulge and spread inward, soon covering his entire body.
Throughout the entire process, Kariya endured extreme agony, letting out beast-like growls and struggling constantly, trying to break free from the chains, but to no avail.
Witnessing this, Matou Zouken let out a laugh of pleasure so chilling it made one's skin crawl, a laugh that made one want to slap him across the face.
Then, this disgusting old worm said something that made Kariya Matou and countless people outside the screen nearly go berserk.
"Look, the effect is instantaneous! Hahaha~~"
"Also, Kariya, I forgot to tell you. The thing I just had you swallow was the very first Crest Worm that took Sakura's purity."
As the old worm's words fell, Kariya's pained screams instantly ceased.
It was as if time had stopped for his body. He went completely rigid, unable to move. Even the immense physical pain could no longer make his body flinch.
His one remaining, functional eye trembled violently and constricted, finally transforming into a look of boundless madness and fury.
What followed... was a frantic struggle, a crazed roar, trying to break the chains, trying to utterly kill Matou Zouken.
Kariya Matou had completely descended into endless madness and rage. But Matou Zouken felt it wasn't enough, or rather, he found this scene immensely pleasurable.
So, Matou Zouken revealed a delighted smile and chuckled. "Your spirits have recovered nicely! It seems this Crest Worm, which has been accumulating magical energy in Sakura's body for a year, is quite effective."
Kariya Matou's rage burned even hotter. He fell into hysterical madness, wanting only to risk everything to charge forward and tear Matou Zouken to shreds.]
---o---
[Video Danmaku]
Disgusting. A disgust that could not be described with words. Matou Zouken—this old worm broke the audience's moral bottom line time and time again.
Compared to him, did Ryuunosuke Uryuu and Bluebeard suddenly seem a bit more pleasant to the eye?
Light Yagami: "The lowest of the low, a piece of scum. If I get the chance, I will make him experience true pain."
Tendou Souji: "Children are the world's treasures. To commit such an unforgivable act against them, this worm has thoroughly incurred my wrath."
Daigo: "Even knowing that the Sakura in our reality didn't go through these things... it's still... it's still so hard to accept. This feeling of witnessing a tragedy but being unable to change it."
Tokiomi Tohsaka: "MATOU ZOUKEN!!!"
At the Tohsaka Residence—Tokiomi Tohsaka, his fists clenched tightly, had reached the pinnacle of his rage. Even though the old worm in his reality had already been killed by the King of Heroes, Tokiomi was still consumed by a deep fury.
This intense rage was so powerful that he didn't even notice the arrival of the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.
"It seems this king let him die too easily—" From his crimson pupils, Gilgamesh unleashed his killing intent without restraint.
Pleasure? What a joke. How could something so low-class be called pleasure? He knows nothing of pleasure—
In a parallel Fuyuki City—
Shirou Emiya slowly lowered his trembling hands and took a deep breath. Sakura... went through that kind of pain in the past?
No wonder. No wonder she never wanted to return to the Matou household. So this was why? So Sakura had been enduring this kind of suffering all along?
A hero of justice? No... that once-naive hero of justice is gone. I'm sorry, Kiritsugu. I'm going to become a "hero of justice" for Sakura, and Sakura alone.
---o---
[In the video—
At the stronghold of Team Saber, after exchanging information with Elysia, Kiritsugu Emiya was about to begin dealing with Caster.
Targeting Solomon directly was unrealistic. But no matter how strong a Servant was, without a Master, they couldn't continue to exist. Solomon shouldn't possess an elixir to replenish his own magical energy like Archer did.
In truth, even if he did, it wouldn't matter. Eliminating Marisbury was the best method Kiritsugu could think of. The only other option was to wait for Archer and Solomon to fight it out, then have Saber reap the rewards.
But that was unrealistic. Currently, besides their group, no other team knew about the true Caster's identity.
Could he just ignore Caster and go after the other Servants...
Right, why hadn't he thought of that? The Holy Grail could only absorb so much magical energy. There was no need to kill all the Servants. Most importantly, the Holy Grail's vessel was currently in their hands.
Kiritsugu suddenly understood. He still had an advantage. He hadn't reached a dead end yet.
Gazing at the afternoon sun, Kiritsugu sought out Irisviel. "Iri, how is your condition now?"
Irisviel hesitated for a moment, then said, "Kiritsugu, I... I don't feel any discomfort..."
Kiritsugu paused, pondering. "Is the scabbard's effect that good? Two Servants have already been eliminated..."
Saber and Elysia, who were nearby, looked over, as the topic had shifted to the scabbard, which was clearly Saber's.
Irisviel shook her head. "No, Kiritsugu, I haven't felt any magical energy entering my body..."
Kiritsugu frowned. "Does that mean Pseudo-Caster and Assassin haven't been eliminated? Or is it that Pseudo-Caster's magical energy isn't absorbed by the Grail?"
Irisviel shook her head again. "No, Kiritsugu. Assassin and Pseudo-Caster have definitely been eliminated, there's no mistake. But I have no idea where their magical energy went."
Kiritsugu's eyes widened slightly as he fell into silence.
Elysia, who was standing nearby, was completely lost, but she grasped the most critical question and asked, "Irisviel, why is it that when a Servant is eliminated, their magical energy is absorbed by you?"
Saber and Lancer also leaned in, hoping to hear Irisviel's answer. Upon hearing the question, Irisviel instinctively looked at Kiritsugu, who remained silent as usual.
And so, perhaps because Irisviel's function as the Grail vessel was failing, Kiritsugu did not stop her from explaining.
As it turned out, the Three Founding Families of the Holy Grail War—the Einzbern family provided the Grail and the Heroic Spirit summoning technique, the Matou family provided the Command Spell system, and the Tohsaka family provided the land and leylines, thus forming the complete Holy Grail War system.
And in every Holy Grail War, the Einzbern family, as one of the Three Founders, also had to provide a vessel for the Holy Grail. When a Servant was defeated, their soul and magical energy would be absorbed by this vessel.
When the accumulated amount of souls and magical energy reached its limit, that vessel would transform into the Holy Grail, the ultimate prize of the war!
Hearing this, Elysia glanced silently at Irisviel and said, "In other words, you are the vessel, Irisviel!"
Then, she asked again, "Kiritsugu Emiya, did you know about Irisviel's identity as the Holy Grail's vessel?"
Before Kiritsugu could say anything, Irisviel nodded first. "Yes, Kiritsugu knew."
After that, Elysia said nothing more. She had probably guessed the rest.
But Lancer, who had always been at odds with Kiritsugu, couldn't hide the anger on his face. "So he knew about this, yet he still chose to participate in the Holy Grail War? To obtain the Grail, he would even sacrifice his own wife? He truly is an unforgivable man."
Irisviel shook her head. "No. Kiritsugu did know, but he once chose to try and take me away, to escape the family's mission, to escape the Holy Grail War. I was the one who refused."
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
Irisviel revealed a gentle smile. "Because... I didn't want Kiritsugu to live on like a walking corpse. If he had truly abandoned his ideals and chosen to run away with me and Illya, he would have spent the rest of his life as a hollow shell that had lost its sense of self."
"I didn't want him to become like that. So, I chose to support him. I chose to help him achieve his ideal."]