C16

The iron gates of the Matou family swung shut with a loud bang, but Shirou didn't immediately take action. He waited for a moment before moving.

As a Demi-Servant, Shirou's senses had been heightened by merging with the Saint Graph, allowing him to detect the presence of other Servants. Fortunately, he sensed none within the Matou family.

However, he couldn't be certain if the Servant had been summoned elsewhere or if there was another reason for their absence. Regardless, Shirou knew it was best to be cautious.

Thanks to the information he obtained from Kariya using "Suggestion," Shirou knew that the walls of the Matou family's property only enclosed half of their land. The rest was protected by various magical defenses. The small grove of trees connected to the Matou family's back garden was not enclosed by walls but rather guarded by various magical defenses.

The grove was challenging for an ordinary magus to pass through, but Shirou had an advantage. Thanks to the information he obtained from Kariya and his enhanced physical abilities as a Demi-Servant from merging with the Saint Graph, he had learned the mansion's layout and could navigate through the grove with ease.

"Fizz!"

"Damn! It looks like it won't be so easy to sneak in anymore, some of the layout have been changed," Shirou thought with a hint of resignation as he looked at the tree leaves that brushed against his forehead.

As the sorcery ignited, a winged insect flew up and attacked Shirou the next moment.

"Trace On--"

Shirou's 27 magical circuits rapidly activated, supporting the power brought by the spiritual foundation. He waved his hand and used "Projection," instantly projecting a sword that pierced the brain of the winged insect with a sharp "shoosh."

But--

"Whish-whish-whish."

The rustling of the leaves sounded like a deafening gale tearing through the trees, whipping the branches into a frenzy. In the next moment, a swarm of insects emerged from the underbrush, their wings whirring as they rose up like a black curtain, blotting out the sun. The air buzzed with their frenetic energy, and the ground seemed to vibrate beneath their tiny feet.

"Buzz-buzz-buzz!"

Shirou had been exposed, and he knew he had to act fast. With a determined expression, he gritted his teeth and projected two long swords. He swung them wildly in front of him, using the E-rank physical strength of a Servant to form a sword net that seemed impenetrable, slaying the incoming insects.

With the same fierce determination, he charged ahead like a bull and broke into the Matou residence.

"Heh-heh-heh, which foolish soul has dared to disregard the magical rules and enter this old man's residence in broad daylight?" Matou Zouken cackled, leaning on his cane as he walked out.

As Shirou looked at the old man up close, he realized that Matou Zouken was an unusual and strange-looking person.

Zouken was bald, with limbs as thin as a mummy's, deep-set eyes shining with a fierce light. He was hunched over and short, dressed in a dark blue and deep grey yukata and holding a wooden cane. From a distance of about ten meters, Shirou could clearly smell the foul stench of corruption emanating from him.

"Tell me, who are you?" Matou Zouken asked with a sinister smile, and behind him was a sea of insects resembling a black tide.

It appeared that Matou Zouken hadn't noticed Shirou's Servant aura due to him being a demi-servant with a physical body. However, Shirou paid no attention to Matou Zouken's question.

Despite his frail appearance, Zouken was a genuine great magus, and in his prime, he was said to be a match for a Servant. Shirou, as an inexperienced person, knew better than to underestimate this old man who had lived for centuries.

In response to the old man's question, Shirou saw it as the perfect opportunity to launch a sneak attack. After all, an opportunity arises from the carelessness of one's enemies!

With a swift wave of his hand, he summoned three long swords through "Projection" and launched them towards Zouken with a swift shoosh.

"Heh-heh-heh... Projection! Such a basic magecraft is useless against this old man," Matou Zouken chuckled, remaining still as the sea of insects surrounding him engulfed Shirou's swords like a tidal wave.

Despite this, Shirou appeared unfazed and continued to project swords to attack his opponent, seemingly oblivious to the ineffectiveness of his attempts.

"Futile effort." Matou Zouken chuckled, but his voice sounded very strange.

"Buzz-buzz-buzz--"

The swarm of insects around Matou Zouken acted like an army with a will of its own, effortlessly engulfing and consuming every sword that Shirou launched towards him.

"Relying on such meager means to invade my mansion? You're a fool to even try," Zouken declared, his eyes flashing with killing intent. The sea of insects around him acted as his left and right arms, surging and rolling towards Shirou with deadly force.

Ignoring Matou Zouken's provocation, Shirou instead saw it as an opportunity to exploit his enemy's weaknesses.

As a Servant with the weakest level of power and no combat experience, and hailing from a civilized society governed by laws, Shirou knew that winning against a powerful opponent like Matou Zouken required a calm and calculated mind, rather than succumbing to anger and provocation. He understood that his best chance of success lay in seizing upon any openings in his enemy's defense and exploiting them to his advantage.

Shirou couldn't understand why Matou Zouken would make the mistake of using provocation during a fight with his enemy. Perhaps age had made him more talkative, or maybe provocation was a part of his combat strategy, along with his magical research and family background.

However, Shirou knew better than to make such a low-level mistake himself. He was not qualified to indulge in such luxuries.

With his full attention devoted to the battle, Shirou remained intently focused on the task at hand. He understood that this was a necessary precondition for victory, especially as a novice with limited combat experience.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."

A swarm of insects swirled like a raging sea, trying to engulf Shirou.

And at that moment, Shirou's eyes shone.

Despite merging with the Saint Graph and inheriting all the abilities of the Heroic Spirit, Shirou's young body was unable to handle the sheer amount of knowledge he had acquired. The existence of legendary blades, in particular, proved to be overwhelming for him.

Shirou knew that if he were to forcibly use projection, it would only result in his magic circuits reaching their limit, causing him to lose his combat power prematurely. He had to be strategic and selective in the blades he chose to project, making every strike count.

As an inexperienced bird with no understanding of combat and the weakest attribute, Shirou could only project ordinary swords. Facing a great magus who had lived for centuries, victory seemed impossible.

However, a mature mind and prior preparation can create a door to victory.

Now, the key to unlocking that door was firmly in Shirou's grasp.

Its name is--