The potion was ready, but Tokiomi hesitated. He didn't immediately give it to Aoi.
Following Chihiro's suggestion, if Aoi was freed from Zouken's control too soon, it could alert the old bug to their plans. If that happened, Zouken might escape again, making him even harder to track down.
The group decided it would be best to deal with Zouken first, ensuring he couldn't flee before they released Aoi from his grip.
But the real question was, how were they supposed to find him?
Counting on Kariya was pointless. The man had been emotionally and mentally shattered; he was in no state to be reliable.
"Ah, if only we had some of Zouken's hair or blood," Chihiro muttered, frustrated. "We could use those to track him down with a searching spell."
At those words, Zhang Jiao perked up. "A technique to find someone? If I can get my hands on the blood of Zouken's relatives, I might be able to track him using his bloodline."
Chihiro raised an eyebrow. "You know how to perform tracking spells too?"
"I've dabbled," Zhang Jiao admitted, stroking his beard. "But I haven't had much opportunity to use this technique, so even I've almost forgotten about it."
"Still, finding someone's bloodline connection won't be easy," Chihiro sighed before suddenly smirking. "But I do know who might help."
Without wasting time, Chihiro sent Hassan of the Hundred Faces to the Matou estate.
Before long, Hassan returned, bringing with him some hair and blood samples from Matou Byakuya and Matou Shinji.
The Matou father and son had no involvement in the Holy Grail War this time around. Yet, due to Zouken's interference, they were once again dragged into his schemes. It seemed their misfortune was never-ending.
"Alright, the materials are ready," Chihiro said, handing them over to Zhang Jiao.
Tokiomi gave a slight bow, appreciating Zhang Jiao's willingness to help. "I'll leave this in your hands."
Zhang Jiao immediately began performing the ritual. Using cinnabar mixed with the Matou family blood, he inscribed spells onto yellow talisman paper. Hair from the father and son was then clipped to the paper and folded into paper cranes.
In total, several cranes were created.
Zhang Jiao explained the limitations of this method. "This spell tracks all individuals sharing the same bloodline. It won't distinguish Zouken specifically from others. However…"
Chihiro smirked. "That's where Hassan comes in."
With Hassan's reconnaissance abilities, they could quickly confirm the identities of each target. Considering how small the Matou family was, this was unlikely to cause much confusion.
When the spell was activated, the paper cranes soared into the air, each one flying off in different directions.
Two cranes flew back toward the Matou estate, confirming the locations of Matou Byakuya and Matou Shinji. To be thorough, Chihiro still sent Hassan to double-check.
Hassan soon returned, confirming that only Byakuya and Shinji were present at the Matou residence—Zouken wasn't hiding there.
Another paper crane flew to Matou Kariya, who was slumped on a park bench, staring blankly into the distance. After everything he'd endured, the man seemed completely lost in his thoughts, questioning his purpose in life.
The final crane, however, flew toward the forest outside Fuyuki City.
"Figures," Chihiro muttered, his expression darkening.
Zouken's tendency to surround himself with swarms of insects made the forest an ideal hiding spot. With the dense foliage offering natural cover, it would be a challenge to flush him out.
"I knew it," Hassan reported. "That location reeks of magical insects. There's no doubt Zouken is there, but it's crawling with traps. I didn't want to go further without confirmation."
"That cunning old worm," Chihiro grumbled. "He's holed up in the perfect lair for someone like him."
Wasting no time, Chihiro, Zhang Jiao, and Tokiomi began planning an operation to corner and eliminate Zouken for good. This time, they couldn't afford to leave any openings.
---
That night marked the beginning of the sixth night of the Holy Grail War.
Chihiro led the group, which included Zhang Jiao, Sigurd, and Tokiomi, into the forest outside Fuyuki City. Darius III accompanied them as Tokiomi's Servant.
For Tokiomi, this mission was personal. He couldn't let Zouken endanger his family any longer.
Following the paper crane's guidance, the group made their way deeper into the forest, making no effort to conceal their approach. The time for subtlety had long since passed.
Suddenly, the paper crane stopped mid-flight, signaling that the target was near.
"Come out, Zouken!" Zhang Jiao shouted, casting talismans into the air. The paper talismans ignited, releasing waves of fire that incinerated the surrounding insects.
In response, countless insects swarmed together, coalescing into the gaunt, withered form of Matou Zouken.
"Hmph. I didn't expect you to find me so quickly," Zouken sneered, his hollow eyes glinting with malice.
"Got you," Chihiro whispered under his breath, sending a mental message to Hassan.
Back at the Tohsaka estate, Hassan of the Hundred Faces signaled Rin to begin the second phase of their plan.
Rin, who had been preparing for this moment, brought the potion disguised as a simple drink to Aoi. Convincing her mother to drink it was surprisingly easy.
---
Meanwhile, Zouken faced off against Chihiro's group. His gaze lingered on Tokiomi.
"Tokiomi, you're here too? I suppose you're upset over those… unsavory actions I was shown committing in the video. But surely, as a fellow mage, you understand that such things are simply part of our world. I haven't done anything to you yet. Why the sudden hostility?"
"Do you truly wish to destroy the centuries-long alliance between the Tohsaka and Matou families over something that hasn't even happened?"
Zouken's voice was calm, almost mocking, as if he held all the cards.
Tokiomi, however, was unmoved. "Enough. There's nothing left to discuss between us."
"Hmph." Zouken's expression didn't waver. "You may not realize it, but I still hold the upper hand."
---
At the same time, Aoi began convulsing violently after drinking the potion. Black liquid poured from her mouth, mixed with dirt and a grotesque mosquito.
The potion expelled all foreign entities from her body, including the parasite Zouken had implanted in her heart.
The mosquito attempted to escape, but before it could fly far, Rin instinctively raised her hand to attack it.
Ishtar quickly intervened, destroying the creature with a single shot of light. "Idiot," Ishtar chided. "What if that thing had been poisonous? Use your head next time!"
Rin lowered her hand sheepishly. "It was just a reflex…"
---
Back in the forest, Zouken suddenly froze. He had felt the destruction of his puppet worm.
His gaze shifted to Chihiro, realization dawning on his face. "You… You knew all along! You planned this!"
Without another word, Zouken's body dissolved into a swarm of insects, attempting to flee deeper into the forest.
"Don't even think about running!" Zhang Jiao shouted, casting several talismans that formed a glowing golden barrier around the area.
The barrier, originally designed for defense, now served as a cage, trapping Zouken within its confines.
"Y-you bastards!" Zouken hissed, reassembling into his humanoid form. His withered face twisted with rage as he realized the depth of their strategy.
Zouken's attempt to flee had only been a feint. His true ace was hidden elsewhere, his life-preserving insect. Confident in his contingency plan, he began summoning swarms of locust-like insects to attack.
But Chihiro and Tokiomi were ready.
"Flame Curse!" Chihiro chanted, casting a wave of fire that engulfed the swarming insects.
Tokiomi followed suit, wielding his ruby-tipped staff to create a fiery vortex, shielding the group from the onslaught.
Sigurd and Darius III remained on the perimeter, ready to intercept any stragglers. Though their brute strength wasn't ideal for dealing with swarms, their presence ensured no insect escaped unnoticed.
Zhang Jiao, meanwhile, captured one of the insects, wrapping it in talismans before burning it to ashes. The ashes were then scattered into an oil lamp, whose flame turned green and flickered in a specific direction.
The lamp revealed the location of Zouken's hidden life-preserving insect.
"It's over, Zouken," Zhang Jiao said coldly, slipping out of the barrier to track the insect.
Zouken snarled, realizing the trap too late. Without his life-preserving insect, even he couldn't escape death.
Chihiro smirked, holding his ground as Zhang Jiao dashed away to locate the life-preserving insect.
"You're finished, Zouken," Chihiro said calmly, his tone carrying an air of certainty.
"You fools!" Zouken hissed, his rotting face twisted in rage and desperation. "You think you've won? You don't even understand what true magecraft is! I'll return again and again—your efforts are meaningless!"
"Not this time," Tokiomi growled, stepping forward. His ruby staff pulsed with magical energy, the flames around him growing more intense. "This is the end for you."
Zouken bared his teeth. "We'll see about that."
But as he prepared to summon another wave of insects, a sudden realization struck him. Without his life-preserving insect, any damage to his swarm was fatal.
Zouken's confidence began to crumble, and panic flickered across his hollow eyes.
At that exact moment, a roar echoed through the forest.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"
From above, a large shadow descended like a crashing storm. The forest floor trembled under the weight of Lancelot's arrival.
It was clear that Zouken had made his move. Through some form of coercion, Zouken had called upon Lancelot to rescue him. After all Kariya didn't know Aoi had been saved.
***
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