Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

[006: Zouken Matou]

[Character Info: Formerly known as Makiri Zolgen, he was one of the founders of the Holy Grail War, participating in the construction of the Greater Grail two hundred years ago. Reluctant to die before achieving his wish, he remained the head of the Matou family. Over time, his soul deteriorated, and his intentions and memories either faded or became twisted, leading him to prioritize the pursuit of immortality over his original goals.]

[Hidden Information: Locked.]

[Record Conditions (0/2)]:

[•Rescue Sakura Matou from Zouken Matou's clutches. (Incomplete)]

[•Completely kill Matou Zouken. (Incomplete)]

Makiri Zolgen.

When this ancient name was mentioned, the shadow that had shrouded the Matou family for centuries seemed to be completely enraged. Swarms of insects surged out from the basement, extinguishing the flames and sketching a deep black silhouette.

A withered old man emerged from the insect swarm, his twisted smile devoid of any human emotion.

"How do you know that name?"

In response, a flamethrower spewed out its fiery tongue.

But this time, Matou Zouken, provoked to his core, decided not to hold back, revealing a sinister grin.

"Even though the mysteries are fading in this era, thinking you can defeat me with such a weapon is naive, kid!"

With a slight movement of his bony fingers, a swarm of insects, enhanced by magecraft and glimmering with a ghostly blue hue, flew out, ignoring the flames' heat and swiftly absorbing the blazing fire. Unsatisfied, they swarmed towards Sakatsuki and Kariya Matou.

"What do we do now? Even fire can't handle these bugs!"

Kariya, already traumatized by Zouken's insects, panicked.

"Why panic? You think I only play with technology?"

Sakatsuki nonchalantly tossed the flamethrower aside, raising his right hand.

"These bugs can't harm me!"

The insect swarm, infused with dark light, rushed forward. Behind them, the old man chuckled ominously.

"So, Einzbern has become so foolish—this is my magecraft workshop!"

A magecraft workshop is an alternate realm created by magi to hone their craft. Even the most powerful magus are heavily limited when in someone else's workshop, whereas the workshop's master gains immense power.

If magic circuits are internal organs, then a workshop is an external alternate realm.

For instance, during the battle at Einzbern, Acht used the workshop's power to suppress Sakatsuki's magecraft. If Sakatsuki hadn't severed the leylines, he wouldn't even have been able to use his Reality Marble.

Likewise, the mystery-infused Sakatsuki, capable of wielding the displacement magecraft, essentially carried his workshop with him.

When two workshops collide, the craftsmanship and the degree of mystery are what matter.

However, Diaplcement Magecraft has other uses.

"Rho Aias!"

Seven petals unfolded, blocking the overwhelming swarm of insects. In the clash of magical light and shadows, Zouken Matou's expression grew grim.

"A mystic code? Conceptual weapon? No, this aura is... a Noble Phantasm!?"

As a creator of the Holy Grail system, Zouken Matou, despite forgetting his original intent, could never forget the fearsome power of the summoned Servants!

"Are you a Servant? Have you contracted with my useless grandson? No, impossible! He doesn't have the qualifications!"

Zouken's tone was filled with shock, dismissing his own conjecture, and revealing his inner turmoil.

"The Holy Grail War is still a year away—how can a Servant appear now?"

Sakatsuki merely smiled, turning to Kariya behind him.

"How does it feel to see your home destroyed?"

Kariya, snapping back to reality, looked at the blazing surroundings and the furious Zouken. After a moment, a gleeful smile spread across his face.

"Honestly, I've never felt better!"

"You?"

Zouken, now regaining composure, looked at his descendant with contempt.

"You, a worthless escapee, think you can defeat me and the Matou family's century-old foundation with a random Servant?"

In his workshop, even a second-rate magus would have the confidence to confront a typical Servant, let alone a two-hundred-year-old monster like him!

With a fierce strike of his staff, the full power of the workshop was unleashed, overwhelming defences surging towards Sakatsuki and Kariya. Although Sakatsuki's petal shield remained firm, it wouldn't last long.

Despite the dire situation, Sakatsuki continued conversing with Kariya.

"Do you hate Zouken Matou?"

"Of course!"

"Do you want to protect Sakura, to guard the child of the one you love?"

"Absolutely!"

"Do you want to blow this old bug's head off?"

"More than anything!"

In the face of danger, Kariya, driven by rage, took the handgun Sakatsuki handed him, aiming at the embodiment of his lifelong hatred and contempt.

"It's just a gun."

Despite the gun aimed at his head, Zouken maintained his unsettling smile.

"You've grown bold, daring to point your paws at me. Aren't you afraid I'll kill the Tohsaka child?"

Kariya's hand trembled.

Indeed, his initial goal was to save Sakura. But now, with the Matou mansion nearly levelled, where was she?

"Oh, you're talking about this child."

A voice like heavenly music rang out. Sakatsuki turned around, revealing a black-haired girl peacefully asleep in his arms.

Who else could she be but Sakura?

"No, impossible!"

Faced with this unexpected turn, Zouken lost all composure.

"I locked her in the basement! How did you rescue her and evade my detection?"

"No comment."

Sakatsuki replied smugly, patting Kariya on the shoulder.

"Your turn."

"Haha... hahaha! Old man, your day has come!"

With Sakura saved by Sakatsuki's displacement magecraft, Kariya had no more reservations. Laughing maniacally, he pulled the trigger without hesitation!

The bullet, breaking the sound barrier, struck Zouken's head without obstruction, sending him flying like a ragdoll.

Yet, the old man's eerie voice lingered.

"It's useless, my foolish offspring. I told you, it's just a gun... oh... Oh! Ahhhh! Ughhhhhhh!"

His words turned into a scream, a ghastly sound that reverberated through the Matou household!

"What have you done!"

Zouken, writhing in agony, felt his magic circuits being destroyed and forcibly twisted together, irreparably damaged!

Even Kariya, surprised by the bullet's devastating impact, instinctively pulled the trigger again.

Click, a crisp sound.

"Don't bother; there's only one bullet."

Sakatsuki stopped Kariya, his expression both exasperated and triumphant.

"Though the thirty-eighth shot was a miss, at least the thirty-ninth Origin Bullet finished off a centuries-old monster, doing justice to its name."

The Origin Bullet is Kiritsugu Emiya's most powerful artifact.

Having spent a week at Einzbern, how could Sakatsuki not acquire such a treasure from Kiritsugu?

Amid the blazing inferno, Sakatsuki gazed at the fallen old man, a glint of pity in his cold stare.

Under the Origin Bullet, the stronger the magus, the quicker they die.

This time, Zouken Matou's life finally reached its end.

"Two hundred years have passed. Tohsaka Nagato is dead, Einzbern stagnates, and the Winter Saint has vanished. Why, then, do you cling to life, becoming a monster, betraying your original wish?"

Sakatsuki gazed at him as if mourning a lost glory.

"Answer me, Makiri Zolgen."