"Just when I was at my most desperate moment, that person appeared like a ray of light, illuminating my world..."
Sakura's expression shifted slightly — a look filled with reverence and longing, almost like a girl in love, yet tinged with a hint of fanaticism.
Rin Tohsaka's heart was shaken. Once, before Sakura had been adopted by the Matou family, she would occasionally show her that same expression.
However, in the past ten years, every time they met, Sakura had never again revealed that kind of expression to her.
"Who is this person you're talking about?"
Rin asked, her voice unconsciously tinged with jealousy, a feeling she hadn't yet realized.
"That person is, of course, that person. Senpai doesn't need to know!" Matou Sakura firmly replied.
Before Rin could respond, Sakura's expression turned cold and indifferent once again.
"There's something I've kept in my heart for ten years. Today is the perfect opportunity — Senpai, I hate you the most!"
Rin Tohsaka, hearing her biological sister express such hatred without restraint, felt her heart sink into chaos.
"Sakura, I know I was wrong before. Can you give me a chance to make up for it, please?"
The usually strong and forceful Rin, for the first time, spoke softly and humbly, even pleading.
But Sakura's eyes were filled with cold indifference.
"Everything is far too late, Senpai."
Ten years had been more than enough to completely change a person.
Sakura's words pierced Rin's heart like an arrow, making her once-bright eyes dim.
"Rider, kill Senpai's Servant!"
"As you wish, Master."
Salter immediately channeled magical energy into every fiber of her being and shot toward Archer like a cannonball.
Meanwhile, Sakura, as if playing, waved her hand, and the shadow beneath her feet turned into a pitch-black whip, striking toward Rin Tohsaka.
The past was no longer worth recalling.
Rin could only wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes as she braced herself to face her sister's attack.
...
Ten minutes later.
Archer was kneeling on one knee, with a huge sword wound on his chest that almost split him in two. His spiritual core had been pierced, and his body was slowly dissipating into countless particles.
Rin Tohsaka had lost consciousness, lying on the ground. The Command Seals on the back of her hand had faded to the point of almost disappearing.
Even though Archer had revealed his hidden trump card, the Reality Marble — Unlimited Blade Works, and Rin had used all of her Command Seals, they were still no match for the combination of Sakura and Salter.
The reason lay in the radiant sphere floating in front of Salter.
Avalon — the Everdistant Utopia.
When Avalon is released by its true name, it disassembles into tiny parts and unfolds in the air, protecting its wielder from all interference.
It was an absolute defense that even the Five Great Magics couldn't penetrate. No one could harm King Arthur, who rested peacefully within Avalon's domain.
This Noble Phantasm represented the highest level of defense in the Nasuverse.
If there was one weakness to Avalon, which wasn't truly a weakness, it would probably be its high magical energy consumption.
But at the same time, Archer's Unlimited Blade Works consumed even more magical energy.
Even with Rin constantly replenishing him with Command Seals, they still couldn't outlast the combination of Salter and Sakura.
And so, Archer, this hidden powerhouse, was defeated.
At this moment, Archer, who had been silent all along, suddenly looked at Sakura with a gaze so complex that no one could decipher it.
"Sakura, Rin is your only family left in this world."
Leaving these words behind, Archer disappeared into the air, his face showing a trace of regret and helplessness.
Hearing his words, Sakura's body trembled violently, but she remained silent.
"What a powerful warrior, but why is it that history has never recorded his name or deeds?"
The cold and aloof Salter marveled as she gazed in the direction where Archer had disappeared.
If it weren't for the [Avalon] in her hand — this almost cheat-like artifact — she might have genuinely lost to Archer.
Sakura, however, did not respond to Salter.
She silently walked over to the unconscious Rin Tohsaka lying on the ground. In her hand appeared a long sword made of ice crystals.
Sakura raised the icy sword slowly, aiming it at the unaware Rin.
The sharp tip of the sword glinted coldly under the moonlight.
With this one thrust, Sakura would sever all ties to her past.
By killing her biological sister with her own hands, she would also be killing her former self.
Salter's gaze grew more intrigued. She was truly curious as to what her Master would choose.
Swish!
Sakura's sword plunged fiercely.
Then, without looking back, she turned and walked away.
A rare smile appeared on Salter's face.
The razor-sharp ice sword was now embedded in the ground, less than a hair's breadth away from Rin Tohsaka's delicate neck.
In the end, Sakura couldn't bring herself to strike the killing blow.
Under the moonlight, two beautiful figures walked down the empty street.
"Rider, do you despise me?"
Sakura suddenly spoke.
"No. Even the most wicked person harbors a small softness in their heart. If we abandon that softness, then we can no longer be called human."
Sakura looked at her, surprised.
"Rider, you…"
"Surprised? After all, I'm someone who chose to fall into the abyss for the power of revenge. Even now, I put revenge first. But in my heart, my homeland still holds an irreplaceable place. That's why I not only want to kill that man, but I also want to take the Holy Grail and fulfill my wish."
"How greedy."
Sakura's lips curled into a slight smile, and she chuckled softly.
"Being a little greedy isn't a bad thing. Desire gives us motivation, doesn't it?"
"You make a good point. Maybe I'll be a little greedy too. After we kill that man, Artoria, will you stay with me?"
Sakura's eyes stared unblinkingly into Salter's, focused and serious.
After ten years of living together day and night, it was impossible for there to be no feelings between them.
What's more, they occasionally engaged in unspeakable acts under the pretense of magical energy replenishment.
It should be noted that Salter had gained a physical body when she obtained the power of the Abyss ten years ago. And, since she had the heart of a Red Dragon, she didn't need magical circuits. As long as her blood circulated and she took a breath, she could generate magical energy.
Replenishing magical energy was, of course, just an excuse.
The two had long been inseparable.
If Sakura felt reverence and admiration for that person, then her feelings for Artoria were dependency.
Looking at Sakura, who was suddenly acting like a bashful young girl, Salter placed a hand on her chest.
"It would be my honor."
The two exchanged smiles, all words left unspoken.
...
On the other side, Ryuudou Temple welcomed an unexpected guest.
Sensing the sharp, blade-like aura in front of the mountain gate, Ryou's eyes flickered with an unreadable expression.
"Medea-chan, let's go. It's time to greet our guest."
Arriving at the square in front of the main hall, sure enough, a vibrant and striking figure was already waiting there.
"Hey, you bastard, I'm here to settle the score with you."
Seeing him emerge, Musashi Miyamoto's face immediately showed flashes of anger.
If she had been killed outright in a proper duel, with her bold and chivalrous nature, Musashi wouldn't have minded. She might have even respected him for it. But Ryou had used underhanded methods, especially since he wasn't weak himself.
To Musashi, that duel had been a complete insult to the way of the sword, and only his blood could wash away that disgrace.
What infuriated Musashi even more was the warm smile on Ryou's face, as if nothing had happened.
"Isn't this Miss Musashi Miyamoto?"
Ryou greeted her with a full smile.
"Hmph!"
Musashi responded with an angry snort.
But Ryou, pretending not to notice, continued eagerly.
"Isn't it a joy to have friends come from afar? We were just having a meal. I wonder if Miss Musashi has eaten yet."
If Ryou had stopped there, it might have been fine. However, as soon as he finished speaking, several veins immediately throbbed on Musashi's forehead.
"Enough nonsense! I'm here today to settle the score with you, once and for all. Draw your sword!"
With those words, a sharp aura erupted from Musashi's small frame. As she slowly drew her long and short katana from her waist, her aura reached its peak. Even standing ten meters away, Ryou felt a stinging pain on his face from her pressure.
His expression turned serious.
It seemed that he had angered her with what happened last time. This bold, big-hearted swordswoman was now dead set on going all out.
"It looks like a fight between us is unavoidable," Ryou said solemnly.
"Cut the chatter."
Instead of immediately taking a stance, he pulled out a crystal-clear bottle from his storage space, filled with a multicolored liquid.
This was fruit wine brewed by the God of Wine, something he had exchanged for a million energy points in the system.
Uncorking the bottle, Ryou took a big gulp, then sealed it and tossed it ten meters over to Musashi Miyamoto.
"At least we've crossed paths. Consider it fate. Please, have some."
Ryou made a gesture of offering.
Musashi sheathed her swords and caught the bottle, but hesitation flashed across her face.
The last time she was tricked was still fresh in her memory.
Logically, with her carefree and slightly airheaded personality, she should have forgotten about that incident after ten years. Yet, for some reason, that memory seemed to have been branded into the depths of her soul.
It was truly a shameful piece of black history.
So, when he threw her the bottle today, Musashi instinctively felt wary.
Seeing this, Ryou's face immediately showed a challenging expression.
"If you don't drink it, just give it back."
"Hmph! Drink it I will! What's there to fear?!"
Triggered by the fact that he had just drunk from it, and further provoked by his taunt, Musashi's eyebrows shot up. She uncorked the bottle and took a bold swig of the wine.
"Huh? This wine…"
Musashi was known for her love of alcohol, second only to her dedication to swordsmanship. But she had never tasted wine like this.
Upon entering her mouth, it was like a sip of pristine, ice-cold spring water from the peak of a glacier—pure, refreshing, and cold.
Then, as the chill melted away, the fragrance of various fruits followed in waves, rich but not overwhelming, like a grand fruit festival.
As the festival reached its climax, the deep, aged aroma of the wine exploded with a burst, lifting her spirits as if she were soaring through the clouds, lost in the bliss of floating on soft, fluffy clouds, with no sense of time or place.
For a wine connoisseur like Musashi, alcohol was her greatest weakness.
After the first sip, Miss Musashi had no intention of returning the bottle. Without hesitation, she took one gulp after another, all while muttering phrases like "good wine" and "delicious" under her breath.
Completely immersed in the wine, Musashi failed to notice Ryou watching her with great amusement.
Meanwhile, Medea, standing behind him, looked at Musashi with a gaze filled with pity.
When Musashi finally finished the last sip, the crystal bottle slipped from her grasp and clattered to the ground, rolling far away.
At that moment, Musashi felt the entire world start to sway. Forget about picking up her swords, she could barely stand.
"You... you poisoned me?!"
Musashi pointed at Ryou, her face full of disbelief.
"No," Ryou flatly denied.
"Despicable…"
Musashi plopped down onto the ground. She no longer had the strength to stand, and her eyelids began to droop uncontrollably.
Ryou sighed softly.
"I told you before, with how careless you are, it's only a matter of time before someone picks up your corpse. Looks like I wasn't wrong."
Musashi shot him one final indignant glare before her consciousness faded into darkness... and then she began snoring.
Ryou hadn't poisoned her.
It's just that the two of them had drunk the finest divine wine. Even real gods would get drunk after three sips, and Musashi had downed an entire bottle...
Moreover, Ryou hadn't forced her. He had simply lured her into the trap, and she had fallen right in.
It was truly a tragic story.
After sending Musashi back to the Throne of Heroes...
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, for receiving a special gacha.]
Since there hadn't been a real battle, he didn't expect to get anything too valuable. Besides, with the [Root Gem] in hand, he was already the biggest winner of this Holy Grail War.
Casually, he opened the gacha.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, for receiving a specially designated summoning card: Musashi Miyamoto (Alter).]
...
So, you're just going to stick with me, aren't you?
This situation was akin to pulling a rare, limited, five-star servant.
It was undeniably a VIP-level reward.
The problem was that this particular Servant had a deep grudge against him.
Moreover, a five-star Saber-class Musashi was already incredibly strong, and following the five times stronger when darkened rule, an Avenger-class Musashi would be even stronger—absurdly so.
On top of that, he was currently short on manpower to help purify the anomalies in various dimensional worlds.
Musashi would undoubtedly be a huge asset.
But Ryou could already be 100% sure that the first thing Musashi would do upon being summoned was to chop him down with her sword.
It was too frustrating.
All he could do was stash the summoning card away for now. He would figure out how to summon her only after returning to Chaldea, where there would be other contracted Servants to protect him.
It seemed that his fate with Musashi was a tangled one that would be difficult to unravel.