The moment Arthur spoke, Zouken Matou's expression twisted. Though Arthur's magic power was undoubtedly vast, Zouken had lived for centuries and had seen countless young magi rise and fall. To him, Arthur was nothing more than an upstart.
In the world of magi, power was deeply tied to lineage, and as the patriarch of one of the three great families, Zouken Matou held centuries of experience. Why should he fear a single boy of unknown origin?
"Since you insist on making trouble, then pay for it with your life," Zouken hissed, his ancient, rasping voice filled with malice.
From the corner of his eye, Arthur noticed Tohsaka Tokiomi observing the confrontation, yet he made no move to intervene. Is he testing me? Or does he simply want to see the Matou family's strength firsthand? Arthur smirked.
Then again, how could Tokiomi seriously expect an old piece of trash like this to train his daughter?
Just as Arthur was about to move, a chime echoed in his mind.
Ding Dong! New Mission Triggered.
1. Save Sakura from her Fate.
Reward: One attribute enhancement.
Condition: Defeat Zouken Matou.
2. Fulfill Rin's Dream.
Reward: A random ability.
Condition: Prevent Sakura from leaving and change Tohsaka Tokiomi's decision.
Arthur's smirk widened. "Oh? Two missions at once? Looks like even the world itself wants you to fail, old bug."
Zouken's eyes gleamed with eerie light. "Enough talk. Die."
At his command, the swarm of writhing insects Arthur had just knocked away surged forward again, their grotesque, twitching forms eager to consume his magic.
Arthur didn't even flinch. Instead, he burst into laughter.
"Hah! I thought a decrepit relic like you would've learned something over the centuries, but I guess even immortality doesn't cure stupidity."
Zouken's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Arthur ignored the question, watching as the grotesque swarm attempted to pierce the protective winds swirling around him.
"In fact, if you had just scurried away like a cockroach earlier, I wouldn't have bothered with you," Arthur mused, his voice laced with mockery. "But you disgust me, so I've changed my mind."
His stance shifted. The air pressure around him grew heavier. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor beneath his feet.
"I know you can keep reviving as long as your disgusting little bugs remain, but that just means I'll have to squash a few more of them."
In an instant, Arthur vanished. A powerful gust of wind scattered the crawling insects like dust. Before Zouken could react, Arthur was already in front of him, his fingers pressing lightly against the old man's forehead.
"Goodbye."
Zouken did not flinch. Even as his body stood on the brink of destruction, he smirked. "Who… are you?"
Arthur chuckled. "You don't need to know. Just remember this—if you ever lay your hands on Sakura again, I'll kill you. And this time, I won't stop at one body."
Zouken's eerie laughter echoed. "Heh… In that case, I admit defeat."
Arthur's eyes narrowed. Then—
BOOM!
A fierce gust of wind erupted from Arthur's position, launching Zouken's body like a cannonball. He smashed into the pavement with a sickening crunch, his frail body embedding itself into the road like discarded trash.
Silence.
Arthur clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Consider that interest. I'll collect the full payment later."
He turned away, his focus shifting elsewhere.
After all, Zouken Matou was just an old parasite.
And Sakura was much more important than some rotting bug.