Kariya Matou / Spirit Origin Ascension...

"..." Diarmuid said nothing. As a Servant, he would never utter the words "ordinary person." Sometimes, he too imagined what his life might have been like if he had become an ordinary person.

But now, he was a Servant. He had to cast aside such distracting thoughts, grip the weapon in his hand, protect his master, and bring him glory and victory!

"What's so good about that?" Rin Tohsaka could not understand Mikaela's way of thinking. In her eyes, she would become a mage respected by everyone, just like her father.

If she became an ordinary person, wouldn't that mean she could no longer use magecraft?! Rin Tohsaka did not like that kind of life.

Mikaela merely smiled at Rin Tohsaka's words and said nothing more. People simply held different ideals.

Mikaela hoped she could return to her own world and live a happy, peaceful life with her parents. For that, she could kill anyone without hesitation, and she could borrow the strength and wisdom of "others" without guilt.

"Hm? It seems his activities tonight have already ended."

At that moment, Diarmuid spoke. Mikaela and Rin Tohsaka turned their eyes toward Ryunosuke. Instead of continuing toward the residential houses, he turned around and headed in the opposite direction.

"Looks like he's going back." Seeing Ryunosuke head the other way, Mikaela knew his activities for the night were probably over. Or rather... perhaps the magecraft tool in his hand was not enough to control too many people, so after controlling six children, he had decided to return.

Of course, that was only a guess. No matter what, it was a magecraft tool made by Caster. If it could only control six children before becoming useless, that would be far too low-grade.

"Looks like tonight's operation is about to end." Diarmuid smiled. It would be best if the man returned. Once he went back to his residence, Diarmuid could strike decisively! Kill him, then rescue the children he had kidnapped.

"Indeed, it's almost over."

A strange glint appeared in Mikaela's eyes. She had not forgotten why she had come out tonight. Diarmuid's arrival was an unexpected delight. When the time came, she could use him to make him fight Caster to the death.

As for which of them would die, Mikaela did not care. Her objective was clear: gather information on the Servants in this Holy Grail War and avoid another accident like the one with Kayneth.

This time, she could only win the Holy Grail War! Even if she lost, she had to be the last one to lose.

PS: "I owe 22 chapters."

Matou Kariya

Time slowly passed. Ryunosuke had captured many meaningful "materials" tonight, and he was in an exceptionally good mood. He even wanted to burst into song.

But not now. The old man had said that some church or other was preparing to stop him from reviving Jeanne d'Arc, so he had to obtain more and more "materials" to make weapons, defeat all those Servants, then embrace the Holy Grail and bring Jeanne d'Arc back to this world.

As long as Jeanne d'Arc was revived, he himself would have no wishes left.

But Ryunosuke did not care whether Jeanne d'Arc was revived or not. What he cared about more was what the old man called Bluebeard could teach him. What the man had shown him had utterly fascinated Ryunosuke, a murderer.

Whether it was his definition of fear, his explanation of the feeling of killing, or even his recognition of Ryunosuke's art—

All of it made Ryunosuke feel deep respect for the old man who called himself Bluebeard. He had thought no one in this world could understand him. Who would have thought that a so-called Holy Grail War would let him find a kindred spirit and a friend?

"Counting these ones, there are probably around twenty people now. Ah, 'materials' have really become hard to find lately." Ryunosuke looked at the children behind him and sighed. "Seriously, those people are such cowards. A murderer? How could I possibly be a murderer? I'm just an artist."

"..." Diarmuid's gaze sharpened. If circumstances allowed, he wanted to rush out right now and put a spear through this so-called "artist," making him understand the value of life!

But he could not kill him yet. The man had not reached the place where the children were being held. He had to endure a little longer.

After walking for around ten minutes, Diarmuid's expression became somewhat solemn. A strange look flashed through Mikaela's eyes, but she showed no outward sign of it.

Rin Tohsaka also felt that something was wrong with their surroundings, but she did not retreat. If she left, who would save Kotone?

Holding a child's hand, Ryunosuke slowly entered a basement. It seemed this was his destination.

"You two stay here."

Suddenly, Diarmuid spoke. Looking seriously at Rin Tohsaka and "Abigail," he said, "I'll go rescue your friend. There's danger here as well. Once I've rescued your friend, you must leave immediately."

The air around them had begun to smell strange. Rin Tohsaka had not noticed yet, but Mikaela and Diarmuid could clearly sense filthy things wandering nearby.

A faint scent of blood permeated the air, while a trace of sinister energy began spreading through the surroundings.

If not for the two beside him, Diarmuid would likely have already taken out his spears, entered the basement, and killed Caster's master.

"No..." Rin Tohsaka seemed about to say something, but her eyes suddenly rolled back, and she collapsed unconscious.

Mikaela slowly withdrew her hand and calmly looked at Diarmuid. "I'll leave my friend to you, hero from the past."

"...As expected, you're no ordinary person." Diarmuid was not surprised. Seeing Rin Tohsaka lose consciousness, he took out both his weapons and gave "Abigail" a deep look. "I knew you were no simple figure, but I didn't expect you knew about the Holy Grail War as well."

"She knows too. She's already guessed some things, but she thinks 'heroes' are all good people, which is why she's been so fearless." Mikaela did not think Rin Tohsaka had failed to notice anything.

She had probably already guessed some things but chose not to say them, because Diarmuid had revealed far too many flaws.

"Then I'll leave her to you. I'll do my best to rescue those children as well." With that said, Diarmuid stopped wasting words. Grabbing his two spears, he immediately turned into spirit form and charged into the basement Ryunosuke had entered earlier.

"..."

Mikaela picked up Rin Tohsaka and slowly ran toward the rear. In truth, she had already sensed that someone was following her from behind.

That person did not approach, merely watched them from afar. It did not feel like Assassin's gaze, but rather the eyes of an ordinary human.

Diarmuid had clearly noticed it as well, but he had not paid much attention. The main reason was that the person carried neither hostility nor killing intent. More importantly, his current target was Ryunosuke, Caster's master.

After jogging some distance, Mikaela distinctly heard a scream from behind her. It was not Ryunosuke's scream, but the shriek of some monster.

It seemed Diarmuid had already begun acting. Rather than killing Ryunosuke first, he had started by clearing out some of the "monsters" around them.

"Come out."

After running for a while, Mikaela held Rin Tohsaka and sensed "someone's" stare. She raised her voice and called out, "Matou Kariya, I know it's you."

"..."

A man who walked with a limp slowly emerged from the shadows. Standing in the darkness, he asked in a low voice, "You know me?"

Phew. Mikaela quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that it was Matou Kariya. If the person who had appeared had been Gilgamesh, she would have had to crush the card in her hand and slash at him.

"Tohno Shiro has already learned about the Matou family. He should be investigating it now. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll come calling tomorrow or the day after."

Mikaela knew very well that Matou Kariya's mental state was somewhat unstable. He had been tortured by Crest Worms for an entire year!!!! Other than his obsession with saving Matou Sakura, all he had left in his heart was hatred for Tohno Shiro.

To prevent him from ruining her plans, Mikaela decided to tell him some information.

"What did you say?!"

Sure enough, the moment he heard the name "Tohno Shiro," Matou Kariya's expression twisted horribly. He stared at Mikaela with a terrifying gaze. "Are you one of Shiro's lackeys too?!"

"So he's really been tortured to the point where hearing Tohno Shiro's name drives him mad." Looking at Matou Kariya's expression, Mikaela felt that something was wrong. She decided to wake Rin Tohsaka and use her to force Matou Kariya to calm down.

"Snatch Rin away! Berserker!!!!!"

The instant Matou Kariya shouted those words, Mikaela's pupils contracted slightly. She looked behind her and rapidly retreated.

Whoosh—!!

In an instant—truly, in an instant—Berserker, shrouded in a dark aura, snatched Rin Tohsaka from Mikaela's hands.

"Is it still too difficult in my normal state?" Mikaela looked at Berserker holding Rin Tohsaka, and her gaze turned dangerous. She probably should not have tried to talk with a "madman" tortured for an entire year.

PS: "Ah, my mom dragged me into cleaning the room today. I'm exhausted, and I have things to do tomorrow, so I'll sleep for now. I'll work harder tomorrow."

PS: "I owe 21 updates."

Spiritual Foundation Ascension

Matou Kariya was a good person. Or rather... one year ago, before he entered the Matou family because of Matou Sakura and made a deal with Matou Zouken, he had been an exceptionally kind man.

Even Tohno Shiro, though he felt it was a pity that Matou Kariya had abandoned the Matou family's magecraft, considered him an excellent friend and was willing to let him get close to his wife and daughter.

Tohsaka Aoi trusted Matou Kariya deeply as well. Even after becoming another man's wife, she still believed her childhood friend Matou Kariya was completely trustworthy. He was her good friend, her close confidant.

However, good people did not necessarily receive good endings. Now, that good man had gone mad and become twisted for Matou Sakura's future. He hated Tohno Shiro. He hated everyone connected to Tohno Shiro.

Other than Tohsaka Aoi, Rin Tohsaka, and Tohsaka Sakura! No one could make him fully regain his senses. What he did was bear all pain and torment as he sought revenge against Tohno Shiro.

That was right! Revenge! He wanted to kill Tohno Shiro! That man did not deserve such a happy family. He did not deserve such a perfect life at all.

"Kill her! Berserker!"

Now, after hearing Tohno Shiro's name from Mikaela, Matou Kariya went mad. After snatching Rin Tohsaka back, he wanted to kill that blonde little girl!

Her eyes were filled with calmness, and that reminded him of Tohno Shiro. That man always wore an elegant expression, as if everything were under his control. That calmness! That composure! It filled Matou Kariya with profound disgust.

He would destroy this little girl. He would use her death to deliver a declaration of war to Tohno Shiro.

"GRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH...!!!!"

Berserker howled wildly and casually grabbed a stone from the wall. The moment it fell into his hand, the ordinary stone transformed into a temporary Noble Phantasm and shot toward Mikaela.

Knight of Owner

This was one of Berserker's special techniques. As long as he recognized something as a "weapon," the instant he picked it up, that "weapon" would become a D-rank Noble Phantasm. Even a stone meaningless against a Servant could become a lethal weapon.

Naturally, Mikaela knew Berserker's true name. He was Lancelot, one of King Arthur's twelve Knights of the Round Table, known as the "Knight of the Lake."

His martial skill was extremely formidable. He could be said to be the most skilled combatant in this Holy Grail War! Even after going mad and fighting through animal instinct alone, he could still easily threaten Mikaela when she was not transformed.

If Mikaela used Oath of Judas, she could temporarily hold Diarmuid back.

But if Mikaela used Oath of Judas against Lancelot! There was an eighty to ninety percent chance that Lancelot would beat her to death with his bare hands!

That was right, beat her to death. It sounded a little exaggerated, but it was no exaggeration at all. Lancelot possessed that kind of strength and confidence.

Whoosh—!!!

As the stone flew toward her, Mikaela sighed softly and slowly opened her eyes. A terrifying surge of magical energy erupted from her body.

"Why do you insist on making me fight? Can't we just talk properly?"

When Mikaela opened her eyes once more, the once "innocent and lively" Abigail had become cold and ruthless.

Spiritual Foundation Ascension—or rather... the Quasi-Servant state.

At this moment, "Abigail" wore a witch's hat. Behind her was a circular wheel formed from keys, while she held two long black stone keys with an ancient aura. She wore an outfit that looked exceptionally alluring, exposing large portions of her pale skin and making anyone who glanced at her want to cherish her.

"Hey, I have a question." Looking at Lancelot, Mikaela calmly asked, "How many seconds do you think your master can last without your protection before becoming a pile of meat paste?"

Whoosh—!!!!

Several tentacles emerged from the void. One blocked the Noble Phantasm stone flying toward Mikaela, while several others stood in front of Lancelot. More tentacles launched attacks directly at Matou Kariya himself.

That was right! She attacked the master directly.

Mikaela had no chivalric spirit. Fighting Lancelot head-on would cost an unknown amount of energy and magical power.

Besides... Mikaela did not know how long Emiya Kiritsugu's magical energy could sustain her, so she might as well make use of the "chivalric spirit" deep within Lancelot's bones and force him to protect his master.

"GRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Sure enough, upon discovering that his master was under attack, Lancelot decisively returned to Matou Kariya's side and ignored Mikaela. A longsword shrouded in black mist appeared in his hand.

Clearly, the tentacles summoned by "Abigail" had placed immense pressure on Lancelot. Ordinary weapons could not destroy those tentacles and would instead allow his master to die.

Although Lancelot had gone mad, he still understood one thing clearly: he had to protect his master. The instant he drew the longsword shrouded in black mist, Matou Kariya's pupils shrank. Clutching his chest with one hand, he crouched down as though a vast amount of magical energy had been drained from him.

"Hisss—hisss!!!"

The Noble Phantasm in Lancelot's hand emitted devouring black light. Red glimmers flickered in his eyes as meaningless roars escaped his mouth.

Whoosh—!!

With one swing, the tentacles surrounding them were severed in an instant. At the same time, "Abigail" vanished from where she stood, as though she had already prepared to flee when launching her attack.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Holding Rin Tohsaka with one hand, Matou Kariya gasped heavily. In that instant just now! Lancelot had actually activated his Noble Phantasm, Invincible Lake Light!

Though it had lasted only an instant, Matou Kariya had felt the agony of enormous amounts of magical energy being rapidly drained away. He hurriedly placed the unconscious Rin Tohsaka on the ground, then began vomiting into a trash can.

What he vomited was not undigested food, but writhing worms and... blood.

"Tohno Shiro! Tohno Shiro!!!!!" Matou Kariya's eyes were filled with hatred. He wiped his mouth and looked at the unconscious Rin Tohsaka, his eyes full of gentleness.

He could not fall yet. He had to save Sakura, and he had to win this Holy Grail War.

The Crest Worms inside his body continued producing magical energy. Matou Kariya could keep moving now. He gently picked up Rin Tohsaka, then took the phone from his pocket.

He called the person he loved most.

PS: "Write, write. Everyone, please give me more recommendation votes."

King of Conquerors

"Looks like there's no problem on Matou Kariya's side."

After escaping Lancelot, Mikaela made a note in the little notebook in her mind. Just like in the original work, Matou Kariya had not changed much.