Philosophical Warriors

Due to the flapping of Kurumi's butterfly wings, Tohsaka Tokiomi, who should have been dead by now, was still hanging on.

However, thanks to the machinations of the pleasure-seeking duo Kirei Kotomine and Gilgamesh, both Tokiomi and Kariya Matou received a "challenge" from the other!

Interestingly, Tokiomi's wife, Aoi Tohsaka, had also received a letter.

The childhood friend was about to duel her husband in a church—no small matter!

Being from a family of magi, Aoi knew the destructive power of magic. If those two started fighting...

One of them would surely die!

This distressed Aoi greatly. After arranging care for Rin, she drove hurriedly to the church in Fuyuki.

Inside the church, the two men had already exchanged verbal blows.

While it was mostly Kariya berating Tokiomi, Tokiomi's calm demeanor was even more hurtful.

Soon, the two who despised each other began to fight! Having suffered a significant loss before, Kariya Matou was not as reckless this time.

Although furious, he retained his sanity.

The Crest Worms writhing inside him provided ample magical energy, leaving only a thin layer of flesh under his clothes.

Clearly, the Crest Worms had devoured most of his flesh, leaving him with little time to live.

The last time he saw Sakura, she seemed unharmed under the care of the "goddess," slightly easing Kariya's hatred toward Kurumi.

But Tokiomi! This man was unforgivable! Kariya despised someone who spoke of family and love while throwing his daughter into the abyss!

Time passed, and Kariya strained the Crest Worms within him. Despite his anger, his poor magical aptitude put him at a disadvantage against the more skilled Tokiomi.

As the heir to the Tohsaka family's magecraft, Tokiomi's magical prowess was exceptional. His ancestors had pursued the 'Root' for generations, which was why he participated in the Holy Grail War.

The Holy Grail could fulfill any wish, but more importantly, it could reach the 'Root'!

That was the ultimate pursuit of magi, and the Tohsaka family had strived for generations.

Tokiomi believed he was the closest to the 'Root' of any generation before him.

If only that "goddess" didn't meddle, Tokiomi was confident in winning the Holy Grail War!

Today's visit to the church was merely to eliminate a minor nuisance.

If he could kill Kariya, Berserker would be unable to find a new Master and return to the Throne of Heroes.

This would remove one more competitor.

With the alliance with Einzbern, things were looking favorable for him. He would glimpse the Root!

Lost in thought, Tokiomi fought mercilessly. Despite Kariya's changed tactics, their inherent disparity was evident!

"Boom!~"

A fireball incinerated a swarm of insects. Kariya's face twisted in agony as Crest Worms within him died from magical exhaustion, leaving the surviving ones restless.

The remaining Crest Worms accelerated their consumption of his flesh to gather magical energy for Kariya's use.

"Damn you, Tohsaka Tokiomi!"

One of Kariya's eyes had turned gray, reduced to a mere decoration after being devoured by the Crest Worms.

He coughed up blood, uncertain if it was his or from the Crest Worms within him.

He wanted to make this man suffer! At least make him apologize for everything he had done!

He deserved to die! It was all his fault!

If not for Tokiomi sending Sakura to the Matou family, none of this would have happened!

Kariya wouldn't have been dragged into this mess!

If only he... if Tokiomi died in the Holy Grail War!

Kariya fixed his one remaining eye on the man before him.

The dark red suit perfectly showcased Tokiomi's upright figure, his meticulous expression, and the small mustache adding to his mature, composed demeanor.

The strong magical energy radiating from him... he...

Kariya had lived in Tokiomi's shadow since childhood.

Among the three founding families of the Holy Grail, the Tohsaka had always been in Fuyuki, their ancestral land.

The Matou... they had migrated and changed their surname to adapt to the local customs.

The Holy Grail War occurred once every sixty years. During peacetime, the two families coexisted peacefully, adhering to the mage's code of elegance.

Until Tokiomi and Kariya's generation... one a genius, the other a failure.

When the girl he had secretly loved married Tokiomi, Kariya didn't know how he survived.

At least Tokiomi treated her well, and their two daughters were beautiful, which was a comfort to Kariya.

He treated the girls as his own, finding solace in them.

'If Aoi had been with me, we might not have lived well,' he consoled himself.

But that day it changed everything!

Countless filthy worms violated the small body!

Those big eyes are devoid of any light!

And later abducted by an unknown woman!

It was all Tokiomi's fault! All because of this man!

"Ahhhh!"

Kariya stopped using magic to control the dwindling swarm, taking quick steps to throw a punch at Tokiomi!

But as a mage, Tokiomi wouldn't take such a blow.

With a magically infused cane, Tokiomi struck the ground, lowering his gaze.

"Kariya, don't you understa—"

"Bang!—"

The sound of fist meeting flesh echoed. Kariya was incredulous, staring at his fist.

Tokiomi had been forcibly knocked back several steps by his punch!

'How could this be?'

Both men wondered simultaneously. Tokiomi wiped the blood from his mouth, finding his magical energy intact, his expression darkening.

For a long-established mage, this was far from elegant!

Magic surged within him as Tokiomi prepared to strike first!

Kariya gritted his teeth, dragging his crippled body, and swiftly moved to punch again!

"Bang!—"

Another blow landed, leaving Tokiomi stunned!

A dark purple bruise formed on his face. His magic hadn't worked at all?!

'Could it be a strange magical artifact?'

Tokiomi barely had time to think before Kariya's iron fist closed in again!

Instinctively channeling his magic, Tokiomi found it useless.

Throwing aside his cane, Tokiomi swung his fists; though it lacked elegance, he couldn't just take a beating!