[Ding! gratutions to the host for obtaining an "Unknown Css Card"!]
As Chihiro opened one of the treasure chests, it disied into a shimmer of light, leaving behind a bnk card in his hand.
"A Css Card?" Chihiro raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Css Cards were uo the magical world and allowed the user to embody the power of Heroic Spirits from the Throne of Heroes, using their own body as a vessel to mahe spirit's abilities. However, this particur card was entirely white; both the css and the identity fields were left bnk.
In other words, Chihiro could use this card to gain the abilities of any Heroic Spirit, provided they seo the summoning.
"But this won't help me right now," he muttered. "Where am I supposed to find a Heroic Spirit willing to cooperate at a time like this?"
The current situation didn't favor using the card. The partits in the group chat werely on familiar terms, so he doubted anyone would voluo help him out.
Chihiro turo his sed treasure chest, hoping for a better oute.
---
[Ding! gratutions to the host for obtaining the "Noble Phantasm - Endless Pouch"!]
The item he had obtained was a magical pouch that could produy form of currency, gold s, paper bills, and more—of any try.
It was essentially a mystical bag that could endlessly gee money.
"Sure, it means I won't ever have to worry about money, but what good is this when fag an enemy like Matou Zouken?"
With a resigned sigh, he thought, "Well, at least I'm wealthier than Gilgamesh now. Not that it matters…"
Shaking off the thought, Chihiro reminded himself that throwing money wouldn't solve this problem. He o rely on his own abilities.
---
At that moment, a car slowly pulled up to the front gate of the Matou estate.
The driver exited and opehe rear door, allowing a gaunt, skeletal old man to emerge Matou Zouken himself, the infamous a magus.
Trailing behind him was a small girl with purple hair, trembling as she hesitantly stepped out of the car.
It was unmistakably Sakura, the one known as "Tragic Sakura" in the chat. After seeing her fate unfold through the Q&A, her fear had only intensified. She kept gng around anxiously, hoping that Tohsaka Tokiomi or Matou Kariya would e to rescue her. But as she stood at the gate, there was still no sign of anyone ing to her aid.
"I 't go in there," she thought, panic rising in her chest. "If I do…"
Suddenly, in a moment of sheer terror, Sakura broke into a run.
---
"Stop her!"
Zouken's voice was as cold and venomous as his appearance, his bony finger pointing toward the fleeing child.
The old magus had sensed something off during the ride. The little girl had seemed unusually frightened of him. "Did she figure something out?"
The driver immediately gave chase, closing the distance rapidly. In her frantic state, Sakura stumbled and fell, scraping her knees and stirring up a cloud of dust.
"Please… someone… help me…" Her voice quivered as she watched the driver extend his hand toward her, despair filling her small, terrified eyes.
---
"A grown man chasing down a little girl? How disgraceful."
A calm voice cut through the tension, drawing both Sakura and the driver's attention.
Sakura looked up to see a young man standing in front of her, blog the driver's path.
"Who the hell are you? Get lost, kid!" The driver's arrogance alpable as he swung a fist at Chihiro.
Chihiro merely smirked, parrying the blow with a fluid motion that deflected the punch harmlessly aside. Grabbing the driver's arm, he pulled the man off bance, sending him stumbling forward.
Taking advantage of the driver's momentum, Chihirht his elbow crashing into the man's nose.
"Ugh!" The driver's world spun as pain shot through his face, blood spurting from his nostrils. Before he could recover, Chihiro delivered a quick strike to the temple, knog him unscious.
---
"That was… Aikido?"
Matou Zouken's eyes narrowed as he observed Chihiro's movements. His years of experience allowed him the martial art instantly.
Indeed, Chihiro had used Aikido, a skill he had honed during his training in the mystical arts. It was sed nature to him.
"Young man, I suggest you mind your own business," Zouken's voice oozed with menace, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "Otherwise, you might find yourself in serious trouble."
A lesser person might have faltered uhat gaze, but Chihiro, who kly what Zouken was, remained unfazed.
"Sorry, but I don't take kindly to those who prey on children," Chihiro replied, his tone unwavering as he helped Sakura to her feet and dusted her off. "You should get to safety," he whispered to hide somewhere nearby."
Sakura nodded gratefully. "Thank you, big brother," she said in a small voice before darting off to find cover.
---
"You'll regret interfering," Zouken hissed.
The old magus raised one hand, and a dark swarm of is poured out from his sleeve. Though the rules of the Mage's Association mandated keeping magic secret, there were no bystanders he Matou estate. Zouken had no qualms about using his familiars here.
"Go!"
The swarm surged toward Chihiro, but he was already reag into his robes for a paper ofuda.
"By the sacred rites, I summon the kami of fire. Let your divine fmes purify all evil. se this ppurity!"
"Kagutsuchi's Fme!"
The ofuda burst into fme upon activation, f a fiery barrier that ed the approag is in an instant.
Sakura, taking advantage of the distra, quickly hid at a nearby street er, peeking out to watch the unfolding frontation.
---
"Onmyodo… So, you're an onmyōji," Zouken remarked, his voice a mix of curiosity and s. "I've heard stories about your kind, but this is my first time seeing one in a."
"Call it what you want," Chihiro shot back, his gaze locked onto the old magus. He remained on high alert; against an oppo like Zouken, there was no room for pcy.
Suddenly, Chihiro's eyes darted to the ground, where he sensed a disturbance. Without hesitation, he leaped backward, throwing another ofuda to the earth.
---
"By the divine power of the three great deities: Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo, banish all foulness from this nd. Reveal the hidden and expel all abominations. Obey my and!"
"Earth-sing Barrier!"
The ground quivered and cracked, f a mass ling is out from beh the soil.
As expected, dealing with an a parasite like Zouken required stant vigince.
