"Wait, what bug?" Tohsaka asked.
"No, it's nothing," Sakura replied.
"Crest Worms: An inferior Dark Magic that uses bugs as a medium. After implanting bugs into the host's body, you can control them by affecting their thoughts, emotions and memories. You can also pass on knowledge through it. This is how Matou Family has continued its bloodline for so many years," Ian explained. "However, what most people don't know is that Zouken has been using this thing Absorbing Man's life energy to maintain his lifespan."
"Is there such a thing inside her?" Tohsaka asked, her eyes turning red again with murderous intent.
"Unfortunately, yes."
'Take a deep breath, Rin,' Tohsaka said to herself in her mind, trying to calm herself down. After a few seconds, she looked at Ian: "Can you get it out?"
"No problem."
"What about that bastard Zouken? Will he find out and run away?"
"It's possible, but I can track him to the ends of the earth. Besides, if we hurry up, we can catch him before he escapes."
"Very good. Let's go."
"No, no, you can't go," Sakura pleaded. "No; you absolutely can't go."
Tohsaka frowned, and anger rushed into her heart again; she couldn't imagine how much psychological trauma her sister had suffered to be so afraid of that bastard Zouken. To make matters worse, she would have to suffer torture at the hands of Shinji.
"Do you know who he is?" Tohsaka pointed at Ian and asked, but Sakura did not respond. She just lowered her head and looked at the floor, her body shaking from time to time.
"He is the legendary Arcane Emperor. I'm sure you've heard of it."
Sakura slowly raised her head, "You... are you telling the truth?" Which magician has not heard of the name Arcane Emperor? Who among them has not dreamed of living in an era that was regarded as the pinnacle of the development of magic?
"Why should I lie?" Sakura slowly looked at Ian, who showed the brightest smile. However, he turned over Byakugan in his heart. He didn't understand why Akasha arranged such a powerful legend or background story for him.
"Are you really him?"
"If it's fake, it will be replaced," Ian replied.
"I imagined you to be much more handsome."
Ian's mouth twitched, "I don't think I'm famous for my beauty."
"Indeed, but some records say that you were a libertine and had many queens," Sakura said softly.
"My charm comes more from my personality and my profound knowledge in many subjects."
"So, you are indeed a wanderer."
"I refuse to comment." Upon hearing this, Sakura laughed softly.
"Let's get started, you don't have to worry as long as I'm here," Ian comforted, and Sakura finally agreed to cooperate. Ian pointed the staff at her forehead and released a beam of green light. After a few seconds, a bug was forced out of her brain, and a surge of energy surged through Sakura's body, almost making her moan.
"This feeling!" she murmured.
"You have lost a lot of life energy. So, I reversed the effect of the bug and stole the life energy from Zouken to replenish the part you lost, or even more. Unless something major or unexpected happens, you are guaranteed to live to be 110 years old."
"I don't know what to make of this news," Sakura declared. It's good to know that you have a long time to live, but it's also scary to know the exact year of your death.
"We're wasting time. That bastard could escape at any moment," Tohsaka said.
"Okay, Miss. I will teleport us to him." Ian knocked on the floor with his staff, and a magic circle enveloped him and the two sisters.
"Wait, can I go?" Shirou, who had just woken up, asked.
"No," Ian refused directly.
"Sakura is my friend and I feel sad that I never knew about her terrible home life before. Now that I know, I want to be there for her and support her and help in any way I can."
"Shirou-senpai," Sakura murmured, with a look of admiration in her eyes. "Please, let him go with us."
Looking at her pitiful eyes, Ian groaned. "Considering what he did to you, you shouldn't actually go; it might irritate you."
"No, I have to face him; I have to see it with my own eyes," Sakura replied firmly, and Ian decided to change tactics.
"Okay, but we need someone to keep an eye on Shinji; Shirou is the perfect candidate."
"But he is still in a coma. I don't think he will wake up for a while."
"No, it's not that simple," Ian retorted. "If I remember correctly, it was Sakura who summoned Rider and handed control over to Shinji. Rider didn't come to save him just now because he ordered her to cooperate with Caster. Once she senses something is wrong, she will come to save him."
"Is this true?" Tohsaka asked.
"Check his hands; you'll see Command Spells." She examined him and saw makeup covering the Command Spells.
"Shirou, keep an eye on Shinji. Let's go."
"Spatial Manipulation," Tohsaka murmured with shining eyes; she wanted to learn this spell right away, but now was not the time. She looked around and saw an extremely skinny old man trying to go down a secret tunnel. The latter's nose was bleeding, and shock was written on his face when he saw them suddenly appearing.
"You must be Zouken," Tohsaka said through gritted teeth.
"Rin Tohsaka? Sakura?" Zouken said. "Why are you here?"
"You know why we are here."
Zouken said nothing and instantly exploded into thousands of bugs, escaping in all directions.
"It's all in vain," Ian said. "I have sealed off this area. You just need to kill all the bugs until there is only one left."
Tohsaka didn't wait for him to say it a second time. She immediately activated Jewel Magecraft and launched attacks in all directions. Sakura was hesitant at first, but after a few seconds, she also joined the battle, Carnage the bugs that had been her childhood nightmare. The whole process was extremely frustrating. After nearly thirty minutes, only one bug remained, and it transformed back into Zouken.
"You can't do this," he said in a weak voice. "Sakura, I raised you like my own daughter. You can't do this to me."
"Daughter? You treat me as a pawn to realize your damn ambition of immortality," Sakura cursed. "How dare you say that you treat me like a daughter."
"But, but I raised you. Doesn't that count?" Zouken persuaded. "I just ask you to give me another chance. Let me go; I promise not to do it again. I will spend the rest of my life in loneliness. I beg you."
Sakura looked at the man who had caused her nightmares for more than ten years. Looking at his pitiful pleas, she realized how ridiculous it was to be afraid of such a man without any honor or dignity. At the same time, she also felt sad for his situation.
"He's lying," Ian said suddenly. "He hid a few bugs around the world and hoped to survive this disaster. He was just acting."
"You!" Zouken pointed at him with a bony finger, trembling with anger.
"Damn bastard," Tohsaka roared, preparing to end his miserable life.
"Don't do it," Ian said. "She has the right to decide his fate." Tohsaka stopped and looked at her sister. Without hesitation, Sakura used a projection spell and directly blew Zouken's head off. Then, she collapsed on the ground and began to sob uncontrollably. She didn't know why, she just felt tears flowing uncontrollably. Tohsaka walked forward and hugged her.
Ian watched this scene calmly. He did all this because of regret. As early as Primordial Earth, he had watched many dramas and had regrets for many characters.
Among them, the three that made him feel the strongest were Nina·Tucker, Sakura and Neji. Now that he had avenged her, he had a strange feeling, as if some of his regrets had been made up for.