FGA Chapter 6

Zouken Matou is a powerful Magus

Pft. I'm sorry. That was a joke

In terms of Magecraft, he's nowhere near proficient as Justeaze, or as badass as Nagato. The only troublesome thing he'd had going on is his worms

Worms that grant infinite regeneration and immortality of the body and soul. Worms that are almost impossible to kill without the right amount of preparations from my part

The shadow of the house loomed over me as I pushed open the door, greeted by the darkness inside. A darkness that has lingered in this estate since the founding of its family

"Grandpa, I'm home"

"..."

"...Where is Sakura?"

I smiled. It was a Yorokube-worthy smile, something that caused his eyes to narrow 

"She's currently being nursed at school. They said it's an injury from falllling down the stairs. Sprained ankle and all that shit"

"And you, her brother, did not think to carry that girl home to continue her treatment? She will be safer here with me, her grandfather"

"Tch. Why does it have to be me to do all the work around here"

"Boy..."

"Alright, alright, old man. I'll be going back. You don't mind "

I waved at him. Holding out my bagpack, I let it slip down the door near him. With a nudge, I made sure the bag is placed near Zouken's proximity

He has a habit of staying in one place, that is the living room. From approximately four to seven in the evening, that is his sanctuary, the place that he, or rather, his "main body", rest in 

I took out the detonator and pressed the button

The next moment, the Matou estate as we know it ceased to exist in the cloud of blinding white that followed

________________

Five days ago, I began formulating a plan to kill my own grandfather

To do so, I will need two things. Someone capable with exorcism, and an array of AOE weaponry. One to exorcise his soul, and the other to exorcise his body

"So you're really going to do it?"

Walking home, my blonde friend asked me

"I don't have a choice" I ignored Gil "It's either him or my sister. Worst case scenario, even I would die, so why not take the initiative to do so?"

"But Shinji, it's really hard to find another friend like you"

"Nice fucking joke, dude"

"I'm serious though. It's not easy to find someone who is neither a follower nor a lord" He looked toward the sunset while sucking on a piece of melting ice cream

"One follow me with blinding devotion. The other look at me with mortal fear. Finding someone who is an equilibrium is like finding diamond in a desert"

Aren't you the same guy who declare Enkidu as your best and only friend?

Oh wait, this is a different version of him. Even if they are the same person, the individual experience can't be the same

My face twisted

"I'm just a trashy guy doing trashy stuff to preserve his trashy life. Any guy who look at me and call me a hero deserves a punch to the face. I'm just a coward"

"Just because you're not brave, doesn't mean you're a coward"

"Oh, fuck off"

"Hahaha!"

I put what he said next out of my ears and began rifling through my bagpack

The items I've prepared are here. Most of them were purchased through the system. Most handguns can be purchased for the prize ranging from 10 to 20 points

HIgh-caliber rifle require at least 40 points, and each box of ammo costs 5 points. Speaking realistically, the price is the same as in the US

And that is a bad thing because with the Russia import ban, US ammo now become expensive as hell. 

That's why I'm not using guns to defeat Zouken. Compared to those money-eating little shits, a single timed bomb is infinitely cheaper

_______________

Three days ago, I got most of the preparatory items down. The acquisition is not as excruciating as gathering enough points to buy them in the System

Once that was done, I walked to Kid Gil to ask for his assistance

"You need my help? Does Shinji really want me to help that much?"

The child's crimson eyes is shining with excitement, as if me asking for assistance something he found to be joyful. I take a step back as he shot upfrom his seating position

"Is that okay with you?"

"Of course, as a generous king, I'll give you anything you want, long as you ask for it"

He stood there proudly, spreading his arms, as though basking in the glory of sovereignity he once lost. The image painted was funny considering both of us still look like children

"What do you want, my friend? Treasure? Jewel? Exotic food and wine? Noble Phantasm? You can take any you want, but I'll have you know the Divine Construct and Ea is off-limit---"

"I don't want ÿour Noble Phantasms"

"May I recommend Merodach, a favorite of mine, or the legendary Honjō Masamune lost to history, or Durandal which is said to bring forth miracles upon use

"I don't want your Noble Phantasms"

"o-or Harpe, the Immortal slaying scythe famed for killing Medusa. Dainslef is also a choice. I think you would find my collection of demonic weapon not lacking compared to the faker's-"

"Gil, listen to me. I don't want your Noble Phantasms!"

"!..."

"..."

"Oh"

The kid's arm dropped down to either side as he now have a dead look in his eyes. 

"You forgot that I don't have the Mana to activate, like, 90% of them" I crossed my arms "And even if they don't, it's still hard for me to wield them in combat"

"So you really don't like my Gate of Babylon"

He kicked a peppble into the lake, watching it bounced off into the other side

Why do I suddenly feel so guilty over this ordeal?

"Don't get me wrong, your gates are awesome, but calling you over to borrow some treasure isn't my intention"

"What do you want, then?"

"Can you introduce me to Kotomine Kirei, the priest from the Church you're living in?"

Gil now looks like he is on the verge of crying

"Shinji, you're the worst!"

What the fuck did I do?!

_______________

In the end, I have to personally calm the crying kid Gil down

To compensate, I was forced to take away some of his treasure as proof of our friendship. 

Sounds weird, I know. Gil insist on my taking away some of the higher-tier stuff he owns, like a couple of gold bars. Some items like amulets, caps, and accessories that grant magical effect

I was buffed just by wearing some of them

Status: [Higher Arrow Protection] has been granted

Nullify damage from non-magical projectile. Grants resistance against magical projectile 

Status: [Fleet of Wind] has been granted

Increased invasion speed when in combat. Movement speed +20%

Status: [Divine Providence] has been granted

To creatures with negative karma, all incoming damage is reduced by 15%

There's also several tons of gold now lying in my inventory without anything to do

Gil just keep piling up these useless stuff on me before I ask him to stop

"One more thing. I think these would be useful for you, regardless of your Mana reserve"

He handed me two spears. One is of the golden shade, and the other sports a crimson red. Looking at the, it's not hard to guess the identity even with the different shape

"The prototype of Gae Buidhe and Gae Dearg?" I put them in my inventory and turned to face him

"Their effects are activated upon touch, as per the curse on the spear. You don't have to worry about the effect as long as you stay away from the tip"

One incur anti-regeneretive wound, while the other severe the ties between magical connection. I look at Gil who's looking at me, and blink

"Well, this just make the job easier"

"I know, let's go and meet Kirei now"

_____________

"Yorokube, Shoune-- Is that Mapo Tofu I smell?"

"Hello" I raised my hand, the other raising the bag of spicy meal in my hand "I brought you food for lunch. Let's sit down and discuss how you can kill my grandfather"

The elderly priest look at the child behind me

"He's my friend" Gil explained lamely. Kirei looks like he wanted to say something about it, before closing his mouth and sigh

"Come on in"

A ringing bell greeted us as we walked in. The clock had struck twelve in the afternoon. Mass is just over, and it just so happens that Kirei is hungry that day

I still don't get why a man with no heart still feel the need to eat, but....magic bullshit, I guess

"So what do I heard about killling yout grandfather, young Matou?" The priest spoke in a deep voice as he took a spoonful of spicy food into his mouth. 

I tried imitating him, but found the Mapo's spiciness to be unbearable, so I push the meal to him while Gil handed me a glass of milk. 

"It's exactly as it sounds, Father. I'm afraid my grandfather has become a heretic, and wish him punished most severely for his transanction against the Lord"

"There is a difference between punishment and a simple execution. What say your grandfather shouldn't be given a second chance like the so called heretics before him"

"Well, in this case, the sins accumulated without repentence are too much, so it is ground for liberation" I look at him with a smile

"You say Jesus has a kingdom for every man in his heart, that the heaven exist. In this case,I simply think it is better for him to be in heaven for being the good man he is"

"A good man, you say. Indeed, I agree. Zouken matou deserves to be with God"

He chuckled

"But why would you want to do this, and for whatever reason that is, expect me to follow this farce of a plan you have? Are you not afraid of me contacting the local police?"

"Oh please, the only company you'll call after this is a gas leak emergency service"

I stood up from my spot. Looking down at him, it seems as though the evil Kotomine Kire is awaiting my answer. 

No, it's not like my answer will decide much. He had already drawn a conclusion. A conclusion that we can both benefit from. That is, the death of Zouken

"Because the one who understands filth are always another disgusting filth"

_____________

An hour before arriving home, I contacted Sakura at school. After school, she was to meet me at the backyard

"Nii-san. What did you call me out for?"

The clueless girl's eyes wandered around the empty courtyard. Looking at her, I couldn't help the flash of guilt surging through my heart

Sorry, Sakura. This is for the best

SQUISH

The next moment, the crimson lance sprouted through her chest like a barbed thorn. Her eye widening, Sakua stepped back with the gaping wound

A wound that is a see through hole of her inner ribcage, from which the heart has been completely crushed

And along with it is the withering worm that Zouken had implanted in her, taken out too fast to react in time

I caught Sakura just as she fell down. The next moment, a blonde boy walked out from the shruberry behind us. Summoning an item in his hand, he spray it at the unconscious Mato girl

"Potion of regeneration. With this, her heart will be restored within a few minutes" Gil throw away the glass bottle as though it was nothing more than trash

"Then I leave my sister to you. Bye"

"You owe me a box of ice cream for this, Shinji. That and a trip to the amusement park this Sunday!"

I had already ran before he finished his sentence

_________________

Ash drift through the air, painting the air in the blazing ember as the estate burn down in front of me, along with the creature inside it

Standing in front of the burning manor, only thought crossed my mind

"This place stink like hell"

Decades of foul Magecraft practice gone in an instant, bringing with it an unbearable odor. Whoever trapped inside would have been blown to kingdom come without adequate defense

Of course, I knew just this much wouldn't be enough to take him down

"ShINJi!!!!"

A roar shook the pavement I'm standing on. I unconsciously took a step back at the sound. The wall reverbeated as something seemingly crawled through them, leaving slithering cracks to appear on the surface

Numerous worm-like creatures emerged through the openings on the wall. Their nauseous appearance resemble a shelled genital at first glance

But on the second glance, they look like flaccid genital with teeth, and the slime they produced oozed on the ground near me, burning off the dirt off of it

Quest: Kill Matou Zouken

Your grandfather has shown his true color after year of living together as a family. Make him suffer for what he did to Sakura. End the worm once and for all

Worms killed: 0/800

I took a step forward

"Open Space"

My inventory windows open all at once. Hundreds of black portals materialized into reality mid air. A flash encompass the entire street as countless knies shot out through them

The pavement exploded as the first wave of familiars was blown apart in a rain of gore and disgusting, smelly  liquid, some of which landed on my face and burn the flesh off of them

Thanks to [Pain Resistance], I manage to endure the acid and open another window

"FoR SO LOnG i HavE lET yoU LiVE! YOU DaMn TRaItOR!"

A collective shudder went through them, before the worms look up and spray a rain of bodily fluids into the sky. They fell toward me in a deadly rain of acid

This is where [Mind's Eyes (Fake)] is activated

I dashed forward to the first batch. As they jumped into the air I slashed at them, severing the soft body in half. 

I jump to dodge the tiny rain drops while reversing my grip on the blad to stab the next one to the wall, pinning it in place, and smashing its head in to ensure its death

I pull another kitchen knife and threw it toward the ones crawling on the ground. My instinct blaring in alarm, I sunk to my knee and let the acid spray passe through my head

It was as though I could predict every movement made by them. Accounting for every individual motion, then finding the best way 

My body guided the blade to kill them. My foot moved to evade them. My brains is like a computer running several programs at once to stimulate the best sense of combat

This is what it feels like to be a Servant?

No, this is only a fraction of their power. I could grow stronger than this.  

Worms killed: 225/800

I grinned as swarm of worms surrounded me. As they slowly approach, I whisper

"Open Space"

The Inventory window open beneath them and swallowed the swarm whole, as if reality had sucked them off the planet, not a single scream nor stream of light escaped

+312 [Crest Worm]

Do you want to delete item [Crest Worm] (x312) ?

"Yes"

Item deleted

+15 points

It was unknown where deleted items go after their termination, but if it counts as a kill and it gives me reward, there is no need to question the method

Worms killed: 536/800

The worms all stopped still, as if they have witnessed something unbelievvable. As the terminal to these insect is the mind of Zouken, they have come to base the knowledge of their prey through his interaction with them

"YoU. Who ARe yOU!?"

Shinji Matou wasn't supposed to be this strong

He shouldn't be capable of wiping out hundreds of their familiars at such a fast pace

Sensing that things haven't gone according to that plan,the worms abandoned their offensive as per the command of the terminal and flee in all direction

Looking at them scurrying away in hope of finding a new body, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh

"What kind of child did you take me for?"

I take out a second detonator from my pocket and pressed it

BOOM

All the bombs that have been set up along the street all blew up, leveling the entire pathway into the air in a rain of dirt, cement, and worm gore. 

In that split second, all that there is a bright light that illuminate the supreme death, encompassing the grasping immortal soul of one Zouken Matou

Soon, the explosion contract in itself and leave nothing behind. Life it has consumed, and none it has returned, like a black hole that greedily consumed the essence of its prey

From the sidewalk to the very creak from which the tree lies, all that remain is the trace of carnage, the smell of burnt flesh, and the ringing in his ears as the smoke dispersed

And the laughing Shinji standing in the midst of it, shaking his head in mockery

"Seriously Grandpa. Of all the Magecraft in this world you could have mastered, you just have to choose the most pathetic one" He slapped his knee and continued chuckling

Longetivity means shit in the face of someone who actually know what they're doing. Once the hidden card is exposed, you could only lie on your belly and wait a horse's death

Worms killed: 799/800

"Oh right, one of them escaped"

I thought about searching the perimeter for it, before a light smile stretch across my face, and I shook my head

"Naw, I'll just leave it to him"

There is still debts to be settled, and grude that remain. Let hatred let loose in this city. After all, only a bigger evil can slay the lesser evil

___________________

The confused worm ran for it's life. In its primal mind exist only the feeling of dread and confusion. 

Or at least, the lingering consciousness of Zouken can only register such thoughts under the familiar's simple neural network, after every other one of his familiar has been killed

But Shinji has not noticed him leaving the scene early. The worm crowed in victory. 

It just need to find anotehr body. A healthy body. Doesn't need to be female or male, child or elder. To consume the flesh and restore it's sanity is the important thing

Something entered it's vision

It is a smiling prist clad in a cassock, the coat billowing in the win as he stood there, seemingly awaiting the arrival of someone

Zouken grinned as he willed the worm forward. Within moments he was within striking distance. Coiling his body, the worm sprung himself through the air with its mouth wide open

At that moment, the priest turned

Kirei Kotomine smiled, and the gleam of Black Keys flashed through the air, only reappearing moments later with the worm's blood dripping down its blade

"Rejoice, Shinji Matou"

There was the sound of flesh spattering against the pavement

"Your wish has been granted"

________________

Worms killed: 800/800

Task

- Kill Matou Zouken (+150 points)/ Claimed (New)

The window closed in front of me as I focus back on the man in front of me

"How is it, doctor?"

"You suffer from acid burn. Thankfully not something severe, should heal without leaving a scar" The man in medical uniform smiled, before his smile turned into a frown

"Your grandfather on the other hand, I'm sorry"

"Please don't. It's not your fault" I shook my head "Grandpa Zouken, he is always smiling. I just didn't know how much pain he had been hiding all these years that he killed himself"

"Regardless of that, you are very lucky to have survived the explosion. Had your sister not been reported to be sick at school and you go home just a little bit earlier, you wouldn't have survived"

I tunned out his droning voice and focus on the news on the TV

A crowd had gathered in the hospital room to watch the evening news being broadcast

On it, shown the debris of what was once my home

"--A gas leak has caused critical damage to one of the urban block on Namuki street this afternoon at 4:38, resulting in the death of one man and a child to be injured"

The reporter droned on, like he is talking the weather

Probably not the first gas leak in this city he'd had to deal with

"Zouken Matou, who has been reported to intentionally damage the pipe prior to his death, allegedly have been experiencing a period of depression in his life. According to local authority, this may be an attempt at suicide"

"As the block is in a fairly remote area, no one was injured aside from his grandson, Shinji Matou. At the time of the gas leak, he was busy tending to his sister who has fallen ill at school--"

Faily obvious what bullshit they'd come up with this to deny the existence of magic. 

Is it Kirei pulling the string behind the scene, or Alaya itself intervening to organize the stability of the world's Magic? I honestly don't know

What I know is that I've successfully killed Zouken Matou, and in the process, liberate Sakura from her Canon fate. 

The bad thing is that I've stepped into unknown territory, but you know what? I don't care about it that much anymore. 

Kid Gil already show me how different this reality is from the one I know

______________

Arc 1: Finished. We boss rushed the hell out of Zouken. Took the bastard out before he could prepare for his sinister plan, amIright?