Magician in Type-Moon

Page 90

Although it appears crude, this modification allows Kiritsugu to clearly detect the heat source of Matou Pond even amidst the smoke and dust.

The moment the insects overlapped, the convergence of magical energy caused the temperature of Matouchi's magic circuit to rise sharply.

Kiritsugu's infrared thermal imager clearly captured this change, and he pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, and the bullet whistled out, heading straight for the heat source of Matou Pond.

Matouike instinctively sensed a deadly threat and instinctively dodged.

However, this time, Kiritsugu's sniper bullets were specially treated so that even if only a portion of them hit, they would generate tremendous impact.

The bullet struck a portion of the insect swarm in Matou Pond, and the shockwave from the explosion ripped the insects to pieces.

Kiritsugu calmly observed the changes on the thermal imager, then abruptly adjusted his position. After careful consideration, he abandoned the idea of ​​firing another shot.

After all, Matou Ike's insect clones were so deeply ingrained in people's minds that he couldn't be sure if this was his real body. This move made him virtually invincible.

Matou Ike's clone technique made Kiritsugu's attacks extremely difficult to handle. Any misfire could result in a fatal counterattack.

He needs a more effective strategy to deal with this enemy.

Going all in is clearly an unwise choice.

He needs to determine whether Matouchi is using clones...

However, based on the current information, it's difficult to make a precise judgment; there seems to be no difference between the changes in the heat source and the magical energy...

"The insect wielder is really troublesome... Is his insect clone infinite?" Kiritsugu Emiya thought to himself.

No, if that's the case, then he wouldn't have used insects to block the bullets I fired. Does that mean each clone is also quite important to him?

Are we still going to wage a war of attrition? Although I'm reluctant, it seems like this is the only way forward now, and it's very likely that we'll be going down this path to the bitter end.

"Were there prior precautions?"

Matou Ike felt a little regretful that Emiya Kiritsugu hadn't made any rapid progress.

The one in this position is indeed an avatar, while the real body is still searching for Irisviel's whereabouts.

"Looks like I've been using too many clones; none of them dare to go all in on me now."

"Since you won't make a move, then it's my turn!" he shouted, manipulating the swarm of insects to swiftly attack Kiritsugu.

Kiritsugu quickly adjusted his breathing, preparing for the final battle.

Just then, Matou Ike suddenly waved his hand, and the swarm of insects behind him changed form. They were no longer ordinary winged blade insects, but fireball ants residing within his clone.

"This is...?" Kiritsugu's eyes narrowed. He knew all too well how dangerous the Fireball Ants were. These insects not only possessed extremely strong destructive power, but they could also explode upon contact with their target, causing serious damage.

Fireball ants swarmed in like a tide, and Kiritsugu reacted swiftly.

"Time alter—double accel (Time Control, Double Acceleration)." Kiritsugu activated the magic again, accelerating his reaction speed and mobility.

He moved at high speed through the narrow corridor, dodging the swarm of insects.

Matouike's clones relentlessly pursued him, and the swarm of insects surged in like a tide, attempting to corner Kiritsugu.

During flight, the fire ants explode in mid-air, scattering flames and debris everywhere, instantly engulfing the entire room in flames.

The explosion of the fire ants triggered a series of flames and debris in the corridor, filling the air with a pungent smell of smoke and burning.

The walls of the corridor were covered with deep cracks and charred marks, and the marble floor was cratered and pitted. The once magnificent decorations were now dilapidated.

Fragments of oil paintings scorched by flames flew everywhere, and metal ornaments on the walls were deformed by the high temperature.

The chandelier on the ceiling had long since fallen, and shards of glass were scattered all over the floor, reflecting the light of the flames, like a dazzling sea of ​​stars.

The windows on both sides of the corridor shattered, and shards of glass mixed with flames flew everywhere, making the entire corridor seem like hell.

Amidst the sea of ​​fire, Kiritsugu Emiya dodged the fire ants' pursuit while searching for advantageous cover.

The heat from the flames hit him in the face, scorching his skin, and sweat rolled down his forehead.

Almost there, almost there, we're almost there...

Chapter 127 Likes to Make Choices

Kiritsugu's gaze locked onto a huge double wooden door at the end of the corridor, behind which he might be able to temporarily escape the swarm of insects.

He quickened his pace and ran towards the door.

Each step was accompanied by the cracking of the floor and the roar of flames; he had to reach his destination before the fire ants exploded.

His footsteps echoed down the corridor, mingling with the roar of the flames to create a bizarre and desperate scene.

The air was filled with the smell of burning and the smoke and dust from the explosion, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Kiritsugu's vision gradually blurred, and his body was nearing its limit, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered forward.

Finally, he arrived at the door and began to chant softly.

He pushed open the double wooden door and a spacious room appeared before him. The walls and floor were covered with protective barriers that emitted a faint magical glow.

He quickly entered the room, closed the door, and locked it.

The protective barrier's light brightened slightly, temporarily keeping the threat of flames and explosions at bay.

Kiritsugu leaned against the door, panting heavily, the echoes of flames and explosions filling his ears.

"Using something like this to deal with a clone is too wasteful..." Kiritsugu Emiya thought to himself, feeling helpless about the drain on his resources in this battle.

This room contains a magical core transferred from the Einzbern family, although Kiritsugu Emiya's magical skill is insufficient to use it to perform large-scale magical rituals.

However, it still has a simple and crude use: turning it into a bomb.

Magic Furnace Core is already an expensive item, so treating it as a disposable consumable is the epitome of luxury.

However, faced with Matouike's persistent nature, Kiritsugu had no choice but to resort to such extreme measures.

Only a wealthy and powerful magical family like the Einzbern could support someone as reckless as Kiritsugu Emiya.

After all, they possessed the legendary wealth—the Rhine Gold.

Although it carries a terrible curse, the harm of the curse is insignificant compared to the endless wealth it can bring.

Kiritsugu Emiya was still waiting for the explosion outside the door to dissipate, and in the meantime, he was still thinking about how to make use of the magic core.

If it were used as a bomb, not only would Ilsephie not survive, but such an attack would be utterly pointless.

"We can't use it like that; we need a more ingenious method." He thought to himself, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

We need to find a way to bring Matou Ike into our domain. Since we can no longer fight him in the realm of magic, we have to drag him back to the mortal world.

Kiritsugu quickly calculated that he needed a plan to guide Matou Ike into a more favorable fighting environment for himself, which was this room.

Actually, you don't need any plan. You yourself are the best bait, aren't you?

The core of the magic furnace is buried three inches underground in the very center of this room.

The barrier within the room also relies on this magical core to maintain its operation.

"We still need to pretend to put up a last-ditch effort, otherwise, given how cautious that guy is, he probably won't come in easily."

Kiritsugu slowly adjusted his breathing, trying to calm his heartbeat.

He stood in the center of the room, weapon in hand, his gaze cold and stern, as if he had everything under control.

His movements appeared methodical, but in reality, every subtle action he took was an attempt to mask his inner tension and exhaustion.

Of course, he was just pretending.

Although he was indeed a little tired, he wasn't nervous. Emiya Kiritsugu's main task right now was to make Matou Ike think that he was fighting like a cornered beast.

The room was well-stocked with weapons and equipment, like a small armory.

Unless they fight to the very last moment, Matou Ike's true form will never be revealed, so they must make the most of this luxury item, the Magic Furnace Core.

The continuous explosions outside the room finally stopped, and Kiritsugu still stood in the center of the room, like an impregnable fortress.

Meanwhile, Matou Ike appeared at the room door with his swarm of insects, coldly scanning the room, searching for Kiritsugu's whereabouts.

"A barrier? Instead of continuing to use the castle's complex structure to deal with me, you've hidden inside?"

It looked like a trap, but Kiritsugu Emiya was hiding inside. Was he so sure I had to go in?

Overt strategy...

This is Matouike's evaluation of Emiya Kiritsugu.

Kiritsugu Emiya is very good at designing multiple-choice questions, perhaps because he is used to this method when he is making multiple-choice questions himself, and he likes to bring this out and let his opponents experience it as well.

In his past life's memories, Emiya Kiritsugu was such a man, when facing Lancer's Master Kenneth.

He presented Kenneth with a choice: abandon the Holy Grail War or choose to survive...

Now he's presented Matou Ike with a choice: step into the trap, or let him go...?

Although it's a multiple-choice question, the answer is already quite obvious.

Kenneth would never choose to give up his life for an Eastern magic competition.

Matou Ike would not give up the pursuit of Emiya Kiritsugu just because of a fabricated trap.

Another point is... since Kiritsugu Emiya chose to hide in this room, there must be a backup plan he believes he can use to kill me.

What was it? Gunpowder? A bomb? A machine gun?

Regardless, let the bugs scout ahead first...

Matouchi waved his hand, and the terrifying worms that had gathered on the ground, as fat as rats, began to slowly twist their bodies and convulse in pain as if in spasms.

Straight cracks appeared on their backs, and the winged beetles struggled to squeeze out of the cracks, revealing their steel-like black carapaces and wings.

These creatures are not something that can be produced in nature; rather, they are more like steel monsters forged in a machine manufacturing plant.

One after another, the shelled monsters that had molted from disgusting worms spread their wings, which were still covered with some unknown slime, but they were already impatient.

The insect's wings vibrated rapidly, emitting a noisy hissing sound, and its huge, sharp mandibles emitted a high-pitched chirping sound. This was the signal to start a war!

The first step was to break through the barrier surrounding the gate. With the winged blade beetle's bite force capable of easily piercing through hard cow bones, cracks began to appear in the gate's protective barrier.

The winged beetles kept snapping their jaws together with their steel-sharp mandibles, making a chilling sound.

Kiritsugu Emiya stood in the center of the room, calmly observing the movements at the doorway. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, constantly watching the insects' actions.

Although the barrier was gradually being destroyed, this was not unexpected.