Chapter 215: Deep Sisterly Bonds
The battle between Rider and Saber Alter was intense and thrilling, but the confrontation between Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou as sisters was just as fierce.
The boundless sky above the vast cavern, the black sun, and the immense space below gave Rin and the audience the illusion that this was not a cavern but a desolate land.
Eventually, Rin arrived at the end of the cavern—a rock formation resembling a wall.
This rock was the altar inscribed with the massive magic circle of the Greater Holy Grail.
It was the starting point of the Fuyuki City Holy Grail War and the tragic conclusion of a 200-year-long ordeal.
However, what surprised Rin was that the person she had been guarding against—Zouken Matou—was nowhere to be seen. Waiting for her at the altar was only her younger sister, Sakura Matou.
In Rin's mind, the lost and corrupted Sakura was not a real threat; the one she truly needed to be wary of was Zouken Matou, who lurked in the shadows, orchestrating schemes, as well as Assassin.
Yet—
"Grandfather is no more. He was too much of an eyesore, so I got rid of him along with Assassin~ Hee hee."
The black-clad girl smiled elegantly, speaking words that only a demon would utter.
"..."
From the moment the sisters' confrontation began, the audience's reactions mirrored Rin Tohsaka's almost perfectly.
At first, they marveled at the grandeur of the underground altar, then grew tense, anticipating a sudden ambush 'a jump scare'.
But when Sakura appeared alone, there was a slight discrepancy between the audience's and Rin's expressions—because the viewers already knew that she was the only one present here.
At least, on the surface.
However, the moment Sakura declared that she had indeed killed Zouken Matou, everyone—both inside and outside the screen—shared the same stunned expression.
Well then, since Sakura had said it, that meant the old man, who had managed to survive for 500 years, was truly dead.
A villain who had committed countless atrocities, ultimately slain by the very "dog" he had raised.
Such an ironic demise was indeed a fitting end for that monstrous old man. However—
"It still feels too abrupt, doesn't it?"
Fujita grinned.
If one judged only by his expression, an outsider might have mistaken him for a relative of Sakura Matou.
Of course, he wasn't mocking Sakura, but rather his companion.
'That 'you're totally doomed to the basement' look is so damn annoying! Do you really think you've got me cornered?'
Shibamatsu clenched his teeth and fists tightly, wearing a look of silent frustration.
He knew he couldn't speak up right now—otherwise, Alice, the most fearsome member of their club when it came to interrupting her viewing experience, would teach him a harsh lesson.
'Don't rush, Shibamatsu. Don't be hasty.'
'The story isn't over yet. Zouken Matou might just crawl out at the last second. All you have to do is wait for the twist.'
'Yes, just wait. Do nothing—just be patient.'
Shibamatsu kept cheering himself on while forcing a faint smile.
'I finally escaped the basement—why the hell would I go back in?!'
'If you think I'll admit defeat and go back, dream on!'
On the screen, Rin Tohsaka quickly regained her composure after the brief shock.
"I see, so you're completely free now. For better or worse, Zouken Matou was always the one controlling you. Now that you've personally ended him, you don't have to be afraid anymore, right?"
But Sakura's response was a denial.
"No, it's not over yet, Sister."
Sakura Matou caressed her own body, her face flushed with an unnatural shade of red.
"Just killing Grandfather isn't enough. Even though I've become this strong, I still can't erase the image of my sister deep within me. So—"
The girl's voice was both gentle and heavy.
"As long as you're still here, Sister, I will never be free."
Such contradictory thoughts were undeniable proof that Sakura had already lost her sanity.
At this moment, what enveloped the girl's entire being wasn't bloodlust, but a delusion mixed with both admiration and fear toward her sister.
"You're just like a child throwing a tantrum right now. And not just any child, but one holding a weapon, one who doesn't care about killing—a most dangerous, out-of-control brat."
Rin understood perfectly well that her sister had completely gone mad. No one could stop Sakura Matou now.
No one—except for one person.
"What about Shirou Emiya?" Rin asked coldly. "Even now, he still firmly believes he can save you. Can you really strike him down without hesitation?"
Sakura's expression stiffened.
Her sister's question was the final barrier within her heart—the last vestige of warmth deep inside her.
Because of that boy, the storm raging within the girl's heart finally calmed.
Then, she showed a composed smile.
"Yes. Even Senpai is no exception."
"No, in fact, the person I want to kill the most is him."
"Sister! I—"
Covering her face, Sakura Matou's smile twisted into something deranged.
"I can't wait to devour Senpai."
She had reached a point beyond salvation—this girl named Sakura Matou.
Realizing this, Rin Tohsaka sprang into action immediately.
The moment she moved, Sakura instantly unleashed her shadowy tendrils for defense.
Boom!
A gemstone shattered in Rin's hand, and in the next instant, a flurry of cherry blossom petals filled Sakura's vision.
The sight of countless petals swirling in the air—an illusion that only occurred during spring's bloom—not only obstructed Sakura's sight but also momentarily seized her attention.
By the time she realized what was happening, Rin Tohsaka was already in front of her.
In an instant—
Sakura Matou, just like the fluttering petals around her, was sent gracefully falling.
This breathtaking scene of dancing amidst the flowers seemed to grant her a brief moment to reflect on all the events of her life...
But this "five-centimeter-per-second fantasy" was, in truth—
A subsonic-speed over-the-shoulder throw that left no room for resistance!!
Boom!!
A dull, thunderous impact echoed through the cavern as Sakura was slammed forcefully into the ground. The sheer force of the throw caused cracks to spiderweb across the floor.
"Hmph, enjoying yourself?"
Flicking her hair back, Rin declared proudly,
"A spectacle as grand as cherry blossoms in full bloom—this is the ultimate fusion of magecraft and martial arts."
"Ultimate fusion? More like a mere illusion spell to distract me."
Clutching her nose, Sakura pulled herself up from the ground, clearly unimpressed. She wiped away the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth with a flick of her finger.
The black shroud of shadow covering her body wriggled incessantly, and in moments, the injuries from the throw had completely healed.
"As expected, just punching you won't be enough, huh?"
Rin wasn't surprised by this outcome. She pulled out her Jeweled Sword, gauging the distance between herself and her sister.
"I knew you were a fool, but I didn't think you'd be foolish enough to let yourself be completely consumed. You're not even human anymore."
That brief exchange had made it painfully clear—her own little sister was now nothing but a full-fledged monster.
And so—
"In the name of this land's overseer, Sakura, I—Rin Tohsaka—will put you down!"
This time, it was Rin whose aura brimmed with murderous intent.
"Hah. Still acting tough, huh? Just admit it, Sister."
Sakura remained utterly unfazed. Brushing back her hair, she continued,
"Seeing this overwhelming power—you're envious, aren't you? Jealous, even? It's no surprise. After all, this is the Holy Grail your Tohsaka family has always longed for!"
She sneered, a mocking grin spreading across her face.
"So that's why, even though you know you're no match for me, you still came here to kill me."
"You want to take this child from me, to fulfill that so-called Tohsaka family wish, don't you?"
"Don't even think about it!"
At Sakura Matou's command, the surrounding shadows began to shift.
"I won't hand this child over to you. This is mine!"
Four massive black figures rose from the depths.
"The only things I can give you, Sister, are regret and despair. And soon, you'll experience them—bit by bit."
The four shadow-born giants, as if acting as guardians of the girl, reached out their colossal hands toward the lone, insignificant human below.
"Now, let me show you the difference in power, Sister."
Sakura spoke with madness in her voice.
"This time, no one will come to save you. Drown in the Holy Grail's abyss! Just like how little Tohsaka Sakura once fell into the pit of worms!"
At her command, the shadow giants advanced.
A force so overwhelming that it could neither be defended against nor evaded surged toward Rin Tohsaka in an instant.
Once again, a battle between a girl and black tendrils unfolded in the city of Fuyuki.
<+>
"Tsk, tsk."
Outside the screen, watching this sisterly battle—one that could only be described as brutal—Luviagelita Edelfelt couldn't help but click her tongue.
"This scene is truly fascinating, don't you think, Tohsaka~?"
Rin, clearly irritated, shot back, "You didn't say it outright, but I can tell whatever you find 'fascinating' is definitely not the same thing I'm seeing."
"But it is fascinating!"
Luvia blinked mischievously.
"Isn't this just a boy's harem gathering? This grand battle in a cavern can be summed up as 'four women fighting over one man'—a battle between the ex and the current lover!"
"..."
Seeing Luvia give a thumbs-up, Rin felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Uh... every version of Fate/stay night is a different parallel world."
Instinctively sensing danger, Rin weakly pointed that out.
But Luvia waved it off dismissively.
"Isn't that even better? It means we, in the real world, can enjoy the true fun of it all."
'What kind of fun is that supposed to be!?'
Rin screams internally.
Unfortunately, Luvia, who had no sense of when to stop, continued taunting her.
"A sister fighting her own sibling over a man—because of a past life romance? Ahhh, what an amazing title!"
"There's nothing amazing about that! You just want to make fun of me, don't you?! Go to hell, you damn woman!"
With her last thread of sanity snapping, Rin couldn't hold back any longer and lunged at Luvia.
"Hmph, such a crude, uncultured wild woman. Are you lashing out in embarrassment?"
"Embarrassment my ass! Aren't you about to be one of the women fighting over the same man?! And you have the audacity to mock me?!"
"Are you insane? You're the one confusing reality with fiction!"
"You're the crazy one! You were the first one to bring it up in the first place!"
Watching the two of them brawl, the others simply sighed.
"They just wanted an excuse to fight, didn't they?"
"Well, at least it's because they're itching for a fight and not because of a man. Right, 'Mangy Dog' Emiya?"
"Hmm… this writing is pretty good."
Shirou, completely ignoring Archer's sarcasm, remained focused on the book in his hands, calmly flipping through the pages.
Though, in this pitch-dark theater, it was questionable how much he could actually read from a paperback novel.
"Oh, oh, oh! They're fighting! They're really fighting!"
Astolfo cheered excitedly.
"So this is what they call bonus behind-the-scenes drama, huh? You actors are really dedicated."
"That's not it at all, you big idiot!!" ×N
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