As the main base of the Matou Family, one of the big three families, it was impossible for this place to be unprepared defensively.
However, the Matou Family's barrier, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, was destroyed by Takatsuki in an instant, completely failing to serve its purpose.
No, it still played a role, because the moment the barrier was destroyed, the people inside already noticed Takatsuki, the intruder.
But this was also as good as nothing, because Takatsuki made no attempt to hide. His actions were no different from kicking down someone's door at their doorstep.
"Unknown Magus, what is your purpose in coming to the Matou Family?"
Instead of rushing into the Matou Residence at the fastest speed, Takatsuki walked towards the main gate of the Matou Residence with his sword, as if strolling leisurely. A short old man was already standing there.
"My purpose… is to kill you."
He raised the sword in his hand. Although he was conversing with Matou Zouken, he had already fully unleashed his Observation Haki and aura perception to pinpoint the locations of all living beings within the mansion.
He genuinely didn't let even a mosquito escape.
There were no rats or other insects in the Matou Residence, because these would all become nourishment for the Crest Worms. At this moment, there were three human and one Servant presences within the Matou Residence.
It seemed that Matou Tsuruno and Matou Tsuruno had gone out to take refuge due to the Holy Grail War.
Although he had no talent, the family business still needed to be managed, so Matou Zouken did not let them stay in the Matou Residence.
"That sword… you're not a Magus!"
Matou Zouken stared at the sword in Takatsuki's hand for a long time before realizing something.
"You're a Servant!? Are you Saber!? To break in on the very first day, what a foolish choice. Doesn't your Master know not to casually intrude upon a Magus's workshop?"
After determining the opponent's identity, Matou Zouken snorted coldly and heavily tapped the ground with his staff.
Although he knew the opponent's actions were against the rules, as he was not a participant in the Holy Grail War, he also had his own thoughts. The opponent was on his territory, and his side had also summoned Berserker. If they could capture this Servant, given the Matou Family's understanding of Command Spells, it wasn't impossible to transfer its ownership and contract to them.
As Matou Zouken tapped his staff, countless insects swarmed out from every corner.
Matou Zouken had to admit, the Servant in front of him had some skill, actually cutting half of the mansion's barrier with one sword. But it didn't matter, the remaining part could still support the consumption of the insects.
Judging by the opponent's appearance, he should be a Servant skilled in close combat, facing a large number of small insects…
Boom!
Takatsuki held the Holy Sword horizontally in front of him, completely ignoring the insects rushing towards him, and gently stroked the blade with his left hand.
"This sword is the embodiment of the sun, capable of burning all defilement to ashes."
In everyone's eyes, violent flames ignited on Takatsuki's Holy Sword.
"Nani!"
Matou Zouken realized something was wrong and tried to recall the insects, but it was too late.
"Excalibur Galatine!"
He swung the flaming sword in his single hand, and the flames instantly surged out.
Matou Zouken could only hastily use magic to protect himself, but the insects were not so lucky and were instantly incinerated by the flames.
However, the magical defense Matou Zouken erected was even weaker than the mansion's own barrier, and it shattered almost instantly in the ten-thousand-degree-high flames.
"Kariya! What are you waiting for! Don't you want to save that little girl!?"
"Tch, Berserker!"
Although he wished Matou Zouken would be killed by this unknown Heroic Spirit, for Sakura's sake, he had to act. He knew how difficult Matou Zouken was to kill. After acquiring Berserker, he had thought about rebelling against Matou Zouken, but even he couldn't do it.
This body was not Matou Zouken's true body. Even if Lancelot instantly killed this body, Matou Zouken would not die, and the Crest Worms on his body and Sakura's body were still being manipulated by the other party.
Therefore, he could only let Berserker go up and help defeat the unknown Servant.
Facing what appeared to be a Noble Phantasm attack, Lancelot directly burst through the door. His ability, Knight of Honor, activated, and black magical energy with red patterns spread across the surface of the door, blocking the raging flames.
But even so, it couldn't fully withstand it.
Matou Kariya, who was initially unable to move due to the Crest Worms in his body beginning to gnaw at him, was fine. Matou Zouken's body, at the very front, was directly melted by the heatwave, transforming into individual insects that tried to escape, but were ignited and then reduced to ashes in the ten-thousand-degree heat.
"Ugh!!!"
Matou Kariya, who was behind, let out a scream. Although he wasn't directly attacked, Berserker's instinctive use of magical energy to resist the heatwave was constantly draining his life.
He, who originally had no talent, could now become a Master entirely by relying on Matou Zouken's Crest Worms inside his body, which acted as a substitute for magic circuits to generate magical energy.
Crest Worms generating magical energy was not as gentle as magic circuits. They were normally in a dormant state, but once magical energy began to be used, they would start gnawing at the host's vitality and flesh, and these were accompanied by immense pain.
Matou Kariya, who was originally still young, now had white hair, a face full of wrinkles, and even one eye was blind, all because too much vitality had been devoured. Even if he didn't die in this Holy Grail War, he wouldn't live past these few days.
"Durandal! Stop him! I'm going after the Old Bug!"
Takatsuki was using a fake Sword of Promised Victory after all, but he had already noticed that the Old Bug had started to flee. As expected of an old man who had lived for hundreds of years, he had immediately assessed his disadvantage and directly abandoned any counterattack.
Durandal held her sword and blocked Lancelot, who was wielding a door panel.
She could even feel the scorching aura emanating from Lancelot. His entire body was enveloped in black armor, and Durandal highly suspected that the body beneath his armor was almost cooked.
However, looking at Lancelot's armor, she felt it looked familiar…
"You… who exactly are you…?"
When Takatsuki stepped into the Matou Residence, Matou Kariya, who was already unable to stand due to Lancelot frantically draining his magical energy to recover and fight, leaned against the shoe cabinet and spoke these words, staring at Takatsuki.
"The one who kills the Old Bug and saves Sakura. If you don't want to die, then control that Berserker guy."
Takatsuki didn't explain much. He felt that many insects seemed to have left the mansion through certain tunnels.
But that didn't stump him.
With a sudden burst of speed from the Rabbit Talisman, Takatsuki instantly arrived in the underground insect lair. The obstructing door on the way was directly cleaved open with a single sword, not delaying him for even a second.
"Trying to escape? You're thinking too much."
Having entered the interior of the Matou Residence, Takatsuki no longer concealed his abilities, and his surging Supreme King Haki directly erupted.
Boom!
The violent Haki impact caused even the sturdy basement to show some cracks.
And the surrounding insects that had escaped through cracks and passages, after being fiercely crushed by the Supreme King Haki, the stronger ones were merely unconscious, while the weaker ones were directly crushed.
Following the Haki were surging flames, completely incinerating these creatures…