Servant Berserker is Summoned

Type-Moon Earth.

Fuyuki City, Japan.

The pitch-black night shrouded the earth, the moonlight obscured by thick, heavy clouds.

Inside a gloomy and terrifying European-style mansion, dim light filtered through the windows, casting mottled shadows.

A short, horrifying-looking old man leaned on a cane, walking with a stumbling gait in the lead.

Behind him, a pale-faced girl followed closely, her eyes filled with terror.

"Gr... Grandfather, where are you taking me?" The girl's voice trembled uncontrollably, barely audible.

"Oh, it is merely the place where you shall train in the future. Look, we have arrived." The old man chuckled, pointing his cane toward the warehouse ahead.

"Is it here? There is nothing inside."

The girl followed the direction of the old man's finger. The exterior of the warehouse was eerie and terrifying, but she felt a slight sense of relief in her heart; at least it did not look as frightening as she had imagined.

The old man nodded and said, "Go in."

She obeyed the old man's instructions and slowly walked into the center of the warehouse. Her heart hammered like a drum, her palms were slick with sweat, and the surrounding darkness seemed ready to swallow her whole.

"Are you not here now?" The old man's voice echoed through the warehouse, carrying a chilling frost.

Suddenly, countless insects crawled out from the corners of the warehouse, swarming toward the girl in a dense, suffocating mass.

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

The girl let out a heart-wrenching scream, the sound echoing through the warehouse, appearing all the more shrill and miserable.

"Do not be agitated; there is still plenty of time. After all, we must alter your affinity to the water element that the Matou House excels in."

The old man spoke coldly, watching the scene unfold without a shred of mercy.

The girl retreated in despair, her legs refusing to obey her, and fear rendered her unable to make another sound.

What is this? Why am I encountering something like this?

Father, Mother, save me! Sister, please save me!!

Anyone, I beg you, please save me!!

The insects closed in step by step, and the girl's heart gradually sank into despair.

She thought helplessly, why was she sent to the Matou House? Why must she endure these nightmarish events?

She prayed in her heart for someone to save her, but only the endless darkness and fear responded.

Just as she fell into total despair, a red Command Spell suddenly appeared on her hand. The Command Spell glowed faintly, automatically initiating the ritual to summon a Servant.

As a flash of light swept through, a young man appeared before the girl.

"Servant Berserker has answered the call. Are you my Master?"

In the pitch-black warehouse, the young man radiated light, reaching out his hand toward her.

Black hair, a red coat, a handsome face, a forehead protector, and eyes emitting a scarlet glow that made her feel at ease.

In that instant, this image was deeply branded into her heart, never to be forgotten.

"Yes, please save me." The girl shouted with all her might, tears shimmering in her eyes as she gripped the young man's hand tightly.

"I shall fight for you, my lady." Uchiha Iori picked up the girl, and skeletal arms manifested around him.

The arms swung, a circular slash erupting, and the surrounding insects were instantly crushed into nothingness.

"A Servant, of all things? To think that you, Sakura, could become a Master. Very well, return, Sakura, and secure the Holy Grail for the Matou House." The old man spoke unhurriedly.

"No, I don't want to! I don't want to stay here!" Matou Sakura spoke with intensity; she had only been adopted into the Matou House this morning.

Having encountered such a thing, all she wanted was to return to her family.

"Heh heh, then I shall come to find you after the war has ended." The old man sneered, preparing to split his form into a swarm of insects to escape.

"No, everything is already over, Matou Zouken." Uchiha Iori said calmly. At some point, his eyes had shifted into the shape of a six-pointed star.

"What!" Matou Zouken snapped back to reality, only to find himself standing in the same spot, with nothing having happened.

"How do you know my name? Did we know each other in the past? No, that is not right. That was not my name in the past."

"Wait, what was my name before?" Matou Zouken's emotions began to spiral out of control as the power of the Sharingan relentlessly excavated his inner mind.

"Makiri Zolgen. Die while embracing the ideals that have already rotted away." Uchiha Iori watched him calmly, the six-pointed star spinning frantically, pushing the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan to its absolute limit.

"Recall your past ideals, and then, die."

"So that is how it is. Is this the truth?" Under the interrogation of the Sharingan, Matou Zouken remembered everything from the past.

A complex expression surfaced on his face, appearing as if he were struggling, yet also as if he were finding release.

To realize his ideal of purging all the world's sins, he had pursued immortality, hoping to complete his grand wish with infinite time.

However, time was like a ruthless blade, eroding his memories and his sanity. He had gradually forgotten his original ideals, leaving behind only the obsession of a lingering, wretched existence.

"Time is truly terrifying. So many heroes and great men eventually reveal their ugliness under the erosion of time—partners of justice, capable ministers, heroic generals, wise emperors—all are the same."

Uchiha Iori sighed, looking at the past of Matou Zouken, his once-noble aspirations, and his current, hideous form.

Iori also reminded himself not to forget his original intention and not to become so ugly.

He turned his head to look at Sakura, his eyes softening, his tone gentle: "Master, what shall we do next?"

Sakura said timidly: "I want to go home, back to my mother." She clutched Iori's clothes tightly, tears shimmering on her cheeks, yet they did not fall.

Iori gently wiped away her tear tracks and said softly: "Where is your mother? I will take you to her."

Although he understood the outcome of going there, Iori did not want to be the one to shatter the child's fantasy; this, too, was his kindness.

Holding Sakura close, Iori followed the address she provided and searched all the way there.

Leaving Fuyuki City, they arrived at the Zenjo Residence in another region.

Iori set Sakura down on the ground, crouched, and said to her: "Go on then, Master. I will protect you from the outside."

Sakura did not move, instead tugging at the corner of his clothes, saying with a tearful voice: "Can't you come with me?"

Iori answered gently: "It is better if I do not appear. You only need to say that the Matou House was attacked by an unknown magus, the family head died in battle, the path of magecraft was severed, and that he did not lay a hand on you."

Giving her a slight nudge, Sakura walked away, looking back with every step. Iori simply stood there, watching her with a smile.

Once Matou Sakura could no longer see Iori, she gathered her courage and knocked on the gate of the Zenjo Residence.

"Mother, I'm home," Matou Sakura shouted.

"Sakura? Why are you here?" Tohsaka Aoi was somewhat surprised; she hurried over to open the gate.

"Sakura!" Tohsaka Rin rushed over and hugged Sakura. Although the sisters had only just been separated, she had thought she would never see Sakura again.

"Sister." Matou Sakura hugged Tohsaka Rin and burst into tears. The experiences of this period were simply too terrifying for a child.

"Sakura, why did you come here?" Tohsaka Aoi asked softly. According to their agreement, they were not supposed to have any further contact.

Matou Sakura repeated the words Iori had taught her. Tohsaka Aoi showed no suspicion, only telling her to go rest in the guest room first.

She then immediately contacted Tohsaka Tokiomi to inform him of everything.

"Is that so? I will investigate it. Let Sakura stay with you for now," Tohsaka Tokiomi replied.

Closing the communication device, Tohsaka Tokiomi rubbed his forehead. "At such a critical juncture, Elder Matou was actually killed? Was it the work of a Servant?"

"Tokiomi, what have you encountered? Tell Me; this King happens to be interested." The speaker was a man wearing golden armor, sitting on the sofa, swirling red wine as he sipped it slowly.