Chapter 326: Drilling Through

Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Drilling Through

[Now, carefully sense the thing you are fighting against. Don’t be afraid of it; try to control it.]

The voice guided her, like teaching a child to untie their first knot.

Sakura was lost, but on the brink of despair, any guidance became a lifeline.

She forcibly gathered her rapidly dissipating mind, further concentrating the faint purple light energy, and cautiously probed the wriggling presence inside Tokiomi.

(It... wants to come out... wants to drill through... wants to seek... more life... a warm place...)

A sickening sensory feedback returned.

[Very good.]

The voice in her mind seemed satisfied. [Now, guide it. Don’t stop it from coming out, but... give it a better direction. Down.]

Down?

Sakura was stunned.

[Yes, down. Imagine a Path that... has less resistance and is closer to the surface of the body. Guide that urge to break out, redirecting it there.]

The voice was as patient as an instructor teaching a complex craft class. [You can do it. Concentrate, use your power to gently push it, like guiding a stream to change course.]

Although Sakura didn’t understand why she had to do this, the absolute calm and confidence in the voice infected her.

She once again gathered the increasingly weak purple light. Instead of resisting the upward impulse, she acted like a gentle yet firm hand, pressing against its side, cautiously guiding that breaking-out intention, bit by bit, toward a certain location below her father’s body... leading it away.

At the same time, the voice gave the next instruction, this time guiding her physical actions:

[Now, slowly lay your father down, make him... hmm, lie prone. Yes, face down might not be very graceful; side-lying is fine too. The key is... to make that exit point face those uninvited guests.]

Sakura’s brain had almost stopped independent thought; she merely followed the crystal-clear instructions in her mind mechanically.

While maintaining the guidance over the worm inside, she used her uninjured arm, coordinating with Rin—who was completely unaware of the situation, only seeing Sakura’s eyes suddenly become intensely focused and somewhat confused—and together, they carefully lowered the semi-conscious Tokiomi from his sitting position against the wall, adjusting him to lie on his side on the carpet.

This posture... was a bit subtle.

Tokiomi’s face was turned to one side, unconscious, and his backside... was aimed directly at Kirei Kotomine, who was standing a few steps away, surrounded by Assassins, quietly observing.

A faint trace of doubt finally flickered across Kirei Kotomine’s empty eyes.

He didn’t quite understand the meaning of the two little girls adjusting their father’s posture in his final moments.

Was it to let the dying man rest more comfortably?

Useless sentimentality.

[Alright, now is the time.]

The voice in her mind remained steady. [Count down three times, withdraw all your suppressing power, and give the final ’push’ with all your might. Then, cover your ears.]

Sakura’s heart pounded wildly.

Withdraw the suppression? Wouldn’t the worm immediately... [Three.]

(I...)

[Two.]

(Be... Believe this voice!)

[One. Push!]

Sakura abruptly closed her eyes, and the faint light in her purplish-blue eyes instantly extinguished!

Simultaneously, she directed all the power she could muster, with a fierce shove, toward the "breakout point" that she had guided to a specific direction and was now poised for action!

"Uh... hoh!!! Ah~"

Tokiomi’s body on the floor suddenly arched, letting out a hoarse, guttural sound of extreme pain mixed with relief!

Pffft—!!!

A strange sound, not loud, even somewhat muffled, carrying damp moisture and the noise of some gas being released, came from beneath Tokiomi’s body.

Following that was the subtle sound of tearing fabric.

A translucent, worm-like creature, covered in viscous dark red blood and suspicious yellowish-white matter, emerged from a tear in Tokiomi’s trousers near his backside, in a manner that was less a spray and more a "slide" out!

It traced a short arc through the air. Due to the "launch" angle and initial momentum, its flying speed wasn’t fast, but its trajectory was quite precise—

Plop.

It landed right on the chest of the nearest Assassin, who had been ordered forward to probe, and was currently slightly bent over in a posture of vigilance.

The worm seemed somewhat dazed by the sudden "landing," wiggled twice, and then instinctively sensed the abundant energy and vitality within the body beneath it.

It barely hesitated. Its head quickly extended a sharp proboscis, and with a squelch, it burrowed into the location of the Assassin clone’s Spiritual Core, its entire body rapidly wriggling inside!

The Assassin clone instantly froze in place. The white skull mask showed no expression, but its entire body began to tremble violently and unnaturally. The dagger in its hand clattered to the ground.

The scene fell into a dead silence.

Rin’s mouth hung open. She looked at her father on the floor—his trousers torn, unconscious, yet his chest no longer heaved and his breathing seemed slightly smoother—then looked at the frozen Assassin, completely unable to grasp what had just happened.

Sakura collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion, her shoulder wound aching, her power depleted, her small face pale, yet she stared blankly at her "achievement."

Kirei Kotomine’s empty eyes displayed a rare, noticeable pause and... bewilderment.

He slowly raised an eyebrow.

This development... completely exceeded any of his script presets regarding death, betrayal, or despair.

Even the other Assassin clones surrounding them, with their lifeless white masks, seemed to collectively "look" at their companion who had been burrowed into by the worm, their movements momentarily freezing.

Tohsaka Tokiomi, who had just regained a sliver of consciousness stimulated by the drastic change within his body and a certain indescribable sense of relief, vaguely heard a strange muffled sound, then felt a chilling pain and simultaneous relief in a certain unmentionable area, followed by the strange silence of his daughters and the enemy.

He struggled to lift his eyelids to see what had happened, but ultimately only let out a weak groan before sinking back into semi-consciousness.

Perhaps, not knowing the details for the time being was healthier for his body and mind.

On the Xianzhou Luofu, the Black Herta had just finished a discussion on the "potential topological mapping relationship between Path power and local mysticism foundations," pausing perfectly as if waiting for Welt’s feedback.

Welt nodded thoughtfully. "A very unique perspective, Ms. Herta."

Star, seizing the opportunity, pointed at a roadside stall selling "Qiong Fruit Bird Skewers," her eyes shining. "Uncle Yang! Herta! That looks delicious!"

The Black Herta glanced in the direction Star pointed and nodded slightly, agreeing to take a break.

Just as she turned, the corner of her mouth curved upward into a subtle arc.

(Guiding the worm to come out of that place, and even ensuring accurate delivery... Heh, I really do have a wicked sense of humor.)

She thought, feeling quite pleased.

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