What Holy Grail War? Let's Play Cards!

Golden-red light coiled around his fingertips as he drew a card, sending a fierce gust of wind sweeping across the battlefield.

"I activate the ultimate bluff card—[Bitter Choice]!" Jiang You decisively invoked his skill. [Bitter Choice] was a card he could never seem to draw under normal circumstances, yet it conveniently appeared at the top of his deck whenever fate dictated it. Such a powerful card—of course, he would use it.

"To activate this effect, I must send three cards from my deck to the graveyard. I choose [Dress of Heaven] x2 and [Saint Jeanne d'Arc]! Now then, Matou Zouken, choose your fate!"

Jiang You admitted that showcasing [Saint Jeanne d'Arc] was mostly just for the theatrics. If he could summon her, that would be even better. Otherwise, he would have simply discarded three copies of [Dress of Heaven]—it made no difference in the end.

"Saint Jeanne d'Arc?" Matou Zouken's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Jiang You to have such a Servant in his deck. Considering Jeanne's reputation, there was no way he would allow her to be added to Jiang You's hand. Compared to that, the Einzbern family's Mystic Code seemed far less dangerous. "I choose [Dress of Heaven]. The only Caster linked to Jeanne would be 'Bluebeard,' correct? That doesn't match your appearance or Noble Phantasm at all… Who exactly are you?"

"Jiang You. That's what it says on my Servant status panel." Jiang You shrugged. "As for the class disguise, I'd love to know myself. Anyway, old worm, you're getting in my way! I activate the Quick-Play Spell [Origin Bullet]! Matou Zouken, get off my field!!"

The bullet, imbued with the power to sever and nullify all connections, pierced Matou Zouken's heart. He was unable to activate any destruction-negation effects and was forcibly removed from the field.

"It's useless! I will return to the battlefield next turn!" Matou Zouken sneered. His [Engraved Worm] remained on the field, capable of absorbing two attack instances. No matter what, he would survive—he just needed to see which Servant card Jiang You would give him.

"You really think you'll live to see another turn?" Jiang You smirked. "I activate [Castlee of Snow]'s effect to add [Illyasviel von Einzbern] back to my hand." He retrieved his second Illya base card and smirked. "No need to repeat the effect—let's keep things moving. I Special Summon [Illyasviel von Einzbern]!"

"That was quick. Nice work, Caster." Illya took a moment to scan the battlefield. Everything looked exactly the same as before she had left. "Same plan, right?"

"If I had more cards, I wouldn't always have to rely on you," Jiang You muttered, giving her an exasperated look. He barely had any solid finishers—Jeanne was still in the graveyard. "I Normal Summon [Dress of Heaven]. 2 + 4 = 6. Even a hope still in infancy can shine like a flickering star. And when the time comes for it to spread its wings and soar—come forth, [Illyasviel von Einzbern – Dress of Heaven]!"

[Illyasviel von Einzbern – Dress of Heaven]ATK 2500 → 3000

Jiang You glanced at the Servant cards in his graveyard, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh, I just thought of something interesting. I activate [Illyasviel von Einzbern – Dress of Heaven]'s effect to Special Summon [Makiri Zolgen] from the graveyard! Matou Zouken, how about meeting your past self?"

[Makiri Zolgen]ATK 1800

A pale-skinned man with deep blue, seaweed-like hair appeared in the battle zone. Dressed in a sleek black suit, his posture was tall and imposing, yet his eyes held a melancholic weight.

"What sorcery is this?"

"Good evening, Makiri Zolgen. Welcome to 200 years in the future." Jiang You smirked. "This is Fuyuki City, and right now, we're in the middle of the Fourth Holy Grail War."

"The fourth?" Makiri Zolgen frowned. "So, the Heaven's Feel ritual was never completed after all?" He sighed, shaking his head. In his time, he had still been working with the Einzberns and the Tohsaka family to perfect the Heaven's Feel. Now, he had been abruptly spoiled with a future he was never meant to see.

"That means… this girl must be the descendant of the Winter Saint." Makiri Zolgen turned toward Illya. "How uncanny. You truly resemble her…"

"A duel, then? What an interesting Noble Phantasm. Servant, who is my opponent?"

Jiang You had been waiting for this exact moment. He pointed directly at the old worm across the field. "It's Matou (Matou) Zouken (Zouken), Makiri (Makiri) Zolgen (Zolgen)."

"…So he is the founder of the Matou family?" Illya gasped, glancing between the blue-haired man and the decrepit, worm-ridden husk across from them. She couldn't believe they were the same person.

"Me?" Makiri Zolgen focused on Matou Zouken's magic. It was indeed eerily similar to his own—down to the smallest details. Then he noticed his card's ability. 'This card is treated as "Matou" in name.'

"…I see." His voice grew hoarse. "This putrid, disgusting magic… What happened?"

"You should ask yourself that question," Jiang You said, stepping aside to let the two men confront one another.

"My past self, is it?" Matou Zouken chuckled. "Such a youthful body… It's nostalgic."

"What happened in these 200 years?" Makiri Zolgen's voice wavered. "My lifespan should never have lasted this long. How did you—how did I—achieve this?"

"…What happened? I've long since forgotten. It was nothing important." Zouken smiled. "As for my lifespan? I merely harvested ordinary humans and turned them into breeding grounds for worms. That's all."

"You—" Makiri Zolgen's breath caught. "Do you realize what you've done?"

"Our obsession. Our goal. Have you truly abandoned it?" he demanded.

"I have never abandoned it," Matou Zouken replied simply. "That is why I have continued all this time—for eternal life."

"It was supposed to be to eradicate all the evils of this world!"

Makiri Zolgen's voice roared across the battlefield. Now he understood everything—the grotesque modifications, the twisted magic. Zouken had forsaken his humanity entirely. He was no longer a magus. He was nothing more than a collection of writhing worms, sustained by a wretched desire to exist.

"I once sought to sever humanity from its evils… Yet I never realized that I would become this." His voice trembled. "Servant, I have a request."

"Send Matou Zouken—send me—to hell. I will not allow my soul to fester any longer. Let the mistake end here."

[Makiri Zolgen Affection Reward: [Makiri Zolgen] x1 has been sent via mail. Please claim it promptly.]

"Leave it to me." Jiang You nodded, his resolve to see the story through to the end solidified.

"It's time to finish this!"