"Are you really going to fight for that old worm?" Kaguya asked, looking at Kariya, the tragic figure from the original story.
"No," Kariya replied gravely, "I'm not doing this for him. I'm doing it for Sakura. So, I'm sorry, but you must die."
Berserker's body emitted thick black smoke as he prepared for battle. His glowing red eyes gleamed with fierce intent, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
"Wait," Kaguya quickly called out, stopping him. "How do you even know Sakura is still alive? Are you sure that old worm hasn't already thrown her into the worm pit and is just saying this to manipulate you?"
Kariya's body stiffened, the realization hitting him. He abruptly turned to Zouken Matou, suspicion in his eyes.
"Do you really think such cheap tricks will work on me?" Zouken scoffed, tapping his cane on the ground. "Kariya, don't listen to her lies. Kill her, and I'll give Sakura back to you, safe and sound."
Kariya didn't immediately obey. Instead, he spoke calmly, "If you really haven't harmed Sakura, then let me see her, to ensure she's safe."
"Foolish brat!" Zouken snarled, slamming his cane against the floor. His expression turned cold. "You don't have a choice. Either kill her now, or you can collect what's left of Sakura's body. I trust you can make the right decision."
Fury burned on Kariya's face, but he clenched his teeth, turned away, and said bitterly, "You better keep your word. Otherwise, I won't let you off."
"Rest assured," Zouken sneered, his eyes flashing with a cruel glint. "Kill her, and you'll see Sakura soon enough."
"Sorry," Kariya muttered through gritted teeth.
With a roar, Berserker brandished a black sword—his Noble Phantasm, For Someone's Glory—and launched himself toward Kaguya like a black bolt of lightning. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he shot forward, sword raised high to strike.
Kaguya remained calm in the face of Berserker's onslaught. With a graceful step back, she dodged his sword's edge and softly muttered, "Projection—Excalibur."
A bright light flashed, and a sword appeared in her hand. She gripped the hilt tightly and countered with a swift slash.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the two swords collided, and Berserker's blade was knocked aside. But undeterred, he roared again, raising his sword to strike with even greater fury.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Berserker lived up to his title, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks, each one more ferocious than the last. Sparks flew with every clash of their blades. Despite his maddened state, his body had not forgotten the sword techniques honed through countless battles. His attacks were wild yet refined, a terrifying combination that would overwhelm any ordinary opponent.
Unfortunately for him, Kaguya was far from ordinary.
With another resounding clang, Kaguya deflected Berserker's sword once more. Before he could recover, she raised her hand.
"Shinra Tensei."
Boom!
Berserker was blasted away like a cannonball, slamming into the nearby wall. The impact shattered the wall, sending cracks spreading outward like a spider's web.
"What?!" Both Zouken and Kariya gasped in shock. They hadn't expected Berserker, even in his enhanced state, to be thrown back so easily.
"Are you still going to trust that old worm's lies?" Kaguya turned toward Kariya, frowning. "Do you really think he'll keep his promise?"
Kariya trembled but didn't respond. Instead, he raised his hand and summoned a swarm of insects—his Winged Blade Worms, creatures that could strip a person down to the bone in seconds—sending them swarming toward Kaguya.
Kaguya's eyes narrowed. With a mere glance, the insects were engulfed in black flames, incinerated before they could even get close. The air filled with the stench of burning flesh. It was the work of Amaterasu.
Zouken's face twisted in fear. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as memories of the last time he encountered those black flames resurfaced. He took an instinctive step back.
Suddenly, Berserker let out another crazed roar. A massive sword beam shot toward Kaguya, slicing through the air with devastating force.
Boom!
The beam tore through the ground, leaving a deep trench in its wake. Rocks shattered, and dust billowed up, filling the air and obscuring vision. The sheer power of the attack was reminiscent of the sword techniques Berserker had mastered in life.
Zouken cackled, confident that Kaguya had either been killed or severely wounded.
But then a voice rang out from behind him.
"Old worm, what's so funny? Care to share the joke with me?"
Though the words were light, the voice carried a chilling undertone that sent a shiver down Zouken's spine.
"Oh no," Zouken thought, his heart pounding in fear. He tried to flee, but it was too late.
Suddenly, he felt a tightness around his neck. His entire body was paralyzed, as if an invisible force was holding him in place, making it impossible for him to move even a finger.
During the chaos, Kaguya had silently appeared behind him, her hand now gripping his throat.
"Now, are you ready to tell me where Sakura is?" Kaguya smiled, though the threat in her voice was unmistakable. "If you don't, I'll just snap your neck. Oh, still not talking? You've got quite the backbone, huh? Well then, I suppose I'll have to break it."
Zouken's eyes bulged, but he was unable to speak, his throat constricted by Kaguya's grip.
"Raaaah!"
At that moment, Berserker came charging in again, roaring with fury. His sword glowed brightly as he lunged, aiming straight for Kaguya's heart.