Reborn with Steve Stand

"You... have you ever heard of the Axis of the World?" Fang Mo asked with a smile, looking at the fallen Zouken Matou.

"Huh?" Zouken, despite living for hundreds of years, had spent most of his time focused on the Holy Grail War and hadn't heard of such a term. He instinctively asked, "What is that?"

"Wait... the Axis of the World?!" Rin Tohsaka's expression shifted.

Since summoning this European evil spirit, Rin had studied his history in depth, including not only historical records but also many legends and conspiracy theories: things like multiple body doubles, faking his death, secret Antarctic bases, immortal armies, and so on.

The so-called Axis of the World was one of these myths.

According to what Rin had read, the Axis of the World was supposedly hidden deep within a mysterious cave and held infinite power. Mastering it could grant immunity from harm, rewrite reality, and even reverse time.

At first, Rin didn't believe in such wild stories. After all, if this Axis was so powerful, how had Germany been defeated in the war? Wouldn't they have conquered the world by now?

But now, hearing Fang Mo mention the term, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Could he have actually found it?

While Rin was deep in thought, Fang Mo suddenly moved toward Sakura Matou, instantly making Rin's heart race.

"What are you doing?" she asked anxiously.

Fang Mo didn't respond. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Sakura.

"Ugh..." Sakura groaned in pain. The crest worms inside her were causing her immense suffering, and being yanked so abruptly only made it worse.

"W-Wait!" Rin broke out in a cold sweat. She suddenly remembered that she had earlier called Zouken Matou a Jew. What if her Servant was planning to wipe out the entire Matou family?

Afraid that Fang Mo might lock Sakura in a gas chamber or something equally horrifying, Rin quickly shouted, "Don't hurt Sakura! She's actually part of the Tohsaka family—she's my sister!"

"What?!" Shirou Emiya, not far away, looked utterly shocked. "Sakura... Sakura is Tohsaka's sister?"

"Yes." With things having escalated this far, Rin no longer saw the point in hiding the truth. "Sakura is my biological sister. Ten years ago, the Matou family approached my father, claiming they wanted a child with magical potential to be their heir, and Sakura was adopted by them."

"How could they do that?!" Shirou's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's so cruel! How could someone give their own child away like that?"

"The world of magi is cruel," Rin replied, her head lowered. "I used to believe my father hadn't done anything wrong, but seeing this now, I regret it. I'll take my sister back from these monsters..."

Rin's voice grew firm. She raised her hand high, the Command Seal glowing bright red, and her resolute voice echoed in the air for everyone to hear: "Give me back my sister—Tohsaka Sakura!"

At the moment the Command Seal activated...

In a different place, within a dimension of imprisonment...

The real Archer was still wandering aimlessly.

He had been in this dark world for so long that he had almost grown accustomed to its monotonous and bleak scenery.

But at that exact moment, Archer suddenly felt a surge of tremendous magical energy. His body lost control, and he started sprinting wildly.

"Huh?"

Archer was confused. "What... what's going on now?"

Despite his confusion, his legs kept running forward at full speed, leaping over obstacles in his path without hesitation. He had no idea where he was heading, only that he couldn't stop.

"No, I..." Archer struggled to regain control, but it was useless. He could only watch helplessly as his body raced forward. "Stop already!"

Gradually, his voice faded into the darkness.

Meanwhile, back in the Matou family's yard in Fuyuki City...

"Look at me, girl."

Fang Mo, holding the weakened and pained Sakura by the collar, spoke calmly. "Tell me, do you want to leave this hell?"

"...Huh?"

Sakura, disoriented from the crest worms, was barely conscious. But upon hearing Fang Mo's question, she instinctively looked up in confusion.

"You are the sister of our ally, and that means noble blood runs in your veins just like mine," Fang Mo declared, his voice firm yet strangely comforting. "Our noble Germanic blood will never bow to the Jews. No matter the cost, no matter the scorn we face, we will rise again, and they will pay for their cruelty."

With that, Fang Mo released her, and Sakura collapsed onto the ground.

"Sakura!" Rin shouted, panic rising, while Shirou joined in, his voice full of concern: "Sakura! Are you okay?!"

"If you want to escape this place, show me your strength," Fang Mo continued, his gaze intense. "Stand up, and leave everything to me."

Sakura didn't respond, but her face showed a flicker of realization. Yes, she did want to leave. For ten years, she had longed to escape from this place. This was no home; it was hell. But after so much suffering, she had nearly lost all will to resist.

Meanwhile, Zouken Matou was starting to panic.

He had been confident, knowing that his crest worm was bound to Sakura's heart, meaning that he could not truly be killed as long as she lived. If they didn't dare to kill Sakura, there was nothing they could do to him.

But Fang Mo's demeanor and certainty shook him. The way he spoke, as if he already had victory in hand, made Zouken nervous. He knew that if something happened to the crest worm, his life would be in danger.

"Stop it!" Zouken snarled, twisting his head toward Sakura. "You stay down, or do you want me to torture you again?"

That one simple sentence made Sakura tremble uncontrollably.

The fear of the intense, gut-wrenching pain inflicted by the crest worms had been drilled into her over the years. Obeying Zouken's commands had become second nature.

"Sakura!"

But at that moment, a familiar voice pierced through the darkness.

It was like a beam of light cutting through the endless night, bringing with it warmth and hope she hadn't felt in so long.

Looking up instinctively, Sakura saw a figure running toward her.

It was none other than her kind and gentle senior, Shirou Emiya.

"Sakura, stand up!"

Shirou reached out to her, his voice filled with determination. "I may not know what's happening here, but trust me, I won't let them hurt you anymore. Let's leave together."

"S-Senpai..."

Sakura looked at Shirou in disbelief. "I... I'm not worth—"

Before she could finish, another hand grasped hers.

This hand was soft, but it radiated warmth, and a voice full of emotion followed.

"What are you saying?"

Rin Tohsaka looked earnestly at her sister. "You're my most important sister!"

"I..."

With the heartfelt encouragement from both Rin and Shirou, Sakura felt a surge of determination. Though her body had been conditioned to obey orders, at that moment, her desire for happiness and freedom overwhelmed her fear. She struggled to stand.

"Sakura! How dare you defy me!?"

Zouken Matou, seeing this, panicked and immediately activated the crest worms.

Pain exploded through Sakura's body, twisting her figure as if countless demons were trying to claw their way out from within. She collapsed to the ground once more.

"Sakura! Sakura?!"

Both Rin and Shirou called out in worry, but this time Sakura couldn't hear them. The crest worms were now attacking her eardrums.

She screamed in agony, coughing up blood and a few worms in the process. The pain of being devoured from the inside was unbearable, as though countless hands from the abyss were dragging her back into hell.

The crest worms whispered in her mind, mocking her. They taunted her, telling her to give up, that she didn't deserve happiness or freedom.

But just as she was about to lose all hope, a warm hand rested gently on her head.

A radiant white light filled her body, washing away all the pain. Her vision cleared, and she saw the figure standing before her.

He was clad in a dark military uniform, standing tall and imposing.

"Don't be afraid, child."

Fang Mo stood before her like a deity, his presence towering and majestic, as if holding up the heavens themselves. "Even if darkness covers the sky, I will light the way and guide you home."

"Sakura! Don't you dare defy me!!!"

Zouken Matou roared, but the sight of his pitiful state no longer terrified Sakura. Instead, a strange new feeling began to stir within her.

"Come, my child," Fang Mo said softly, his voice compelling. "Stand up, and turn your pain into the flames of hatred. Let them... burn everything!"

It was as if something had ignited within Sakura. For the first time, she felt no fear toward Zouken Matou. Instead, she was filled with a burning rage. As memories of her torment flashed through her mind, a dark aura burst forth from her.

In the next moment, she stood tall.

"Hahahaha!"

Fang Mo laughed with satisfaction, his voice ringing out. "Good! You truly are my child! Now... let me be your new sun!"

With a wave of his hand, Fang Mo summoned several altars in an instant, thanks to his time-stopping ability.

"Come, sit on the altar," Fang Mo said with a smile, pulling out a mysterious book. "Congratulations, you have the honor of experiencing the greatest power the Aryans ever wielded—the Axis of the World!"

"W-What is happening?"

Though clearly confused, Sakura obediently approached the altar.

As soon as she sat down, Fang Mo activated a time-reversal ritual targeting Sakura.

Immediately, Sakura's body began to tremble. It was as if time itself was rewinding. Bruises appeared on her skin, grew larger, and then vanished. Worms crawled out of her body, falling to the ground below.

As the ritual accelerated, Sakura's body regressed, shrinking in age. Her appearance transformed from a young woman to a little girl, and then to a toddler.

"W-What's going on?" Shirou asked in shock.

"The Axis of the World..." Rin said, trying to remain calm but clearly stunned. She never imagined that the legend was true—that it could reverse time. This was beyond magic; it was a miracle.

No matter how surreal it seemed, the ritual continued.

Eventually, Sakura's body reached a critical point. A massive swarm of worms burst out of her, followed by an explosion of her chest, from which the strange crest worm dropped.

In the same instant, her hair reverted from purple to its original dark brown.

"It's done," Fang Mo said, closing the book and ending the ritual. He left a dazed Sakura sitting on the altar. "Now, she's free from the Matou family's curse."

"Wait, does she still remember us?" Rin asked, clearly concerned.

"Don't worry, I erased all the bad stuff, but kept the good memories," Fang Mo replied, proudly. "Go ahead, say thank you to the Führer."

"I..." Rin instinctively raised her hand to her forehead but then offered a sincere, "Thank you."

"That's better," Fang Mo said, chuckling. Then he bent down, picked up the still-squirming crest worm along with Zouken Matou's remains, and smiled wickedly. "You know... my name actually stands for Special, Optimistic, and Happy. So, naturally, I hate evil people the most."

With a stomp of his foot, the ground trembled.

In the distance, a massive red-brick structure began to rise from the rubble. It looked solid and ominous, its towering chimneys casting a shadow over the area, filling everyone with a sense of dread.

"Hey, Sakura," Fang Mo called out, drawing her attention.

"A-Archer!" Sakura responded instinctively, standing up straight.

"Remember this, child," Fang Mo said with a smile, his face bathed in the glow of the furnace as he tossed in the crest worm and Zouken Matou's remains. The fire roared, consuming everything within, while screams echoed from inside the furnace.

"Never show kindness to vermin..." Fang Mo said, his face illuminated by the flames, giving him an almost divine glow. "You must burn them."