Cú Chulainn's Arrival and Sakura's Crisis

"Acher, go search the campus for anyone suspicious, or any Magic Crests."

"Little Mo, you take a stroll around the campus too."

Rin Tohsaka didn't hesitate to order the spirit-form Emiya beside her, while Yu Feng said the same to Mordred. Though Yu Feng put it that way, he really just meant for Mordred to wander casually—the actual work would fall to Emiya.

Mordred caught the implication easily and agreed on the spot.

Since they still didn't know who had set up the magic, and to avoid alerting the enemy, they decided to attend class first.

After all, they had almost no information about their opponent.

The enemy was hidden while they were exposed; the only option was to lie low and see what happened at night.

During class, Yu Feng kept thinking.

Who had set up the Magic Barrier on the school grounds?

In the original Fifth Holy Grail War, the barrier at the school was Shinji Matou's Other's Seal Temple.

But this time, Shinji had turned over a new leaf—so who else could have set up a barrier on campus?

And the feeling of it disgusted Yu Feng.

No, it disgusted his persona, Pantaleon.

When Yu Feng thought about it, his mind easily drifted to Zouken Matou, but he had no idea why Zouken would set up a Magic Barrier on campus.

Yu Feng had absolutely no information about this barrier.

He could only stay behind at night to check things out.

The sun set, and night fell.

Yu Feng and Rin Tohsaka stood on the roof of the school building, gazing at the pitch-black campus.

"Acher found five spots with traces of magic on campus today, and there are two right here alone," Rin said.

"Most people have left by now. I don't know who set up the barrier yet, but it's clear it hasn't been fully completed," she continued.

"Let's deal with these Magic Crests first," Yu Feng said, looking at the two crests before them.

"Yeah."

"Oh? You're just going to destroy the barrier someone worked so hard to set up? You should at least consider other people's feelings."

Just then, a voice rang out, and Rin instantly went on alert.

Not far from them, a figure stood holding a spear—entirely red, with strange crimson patterns running along it.

He wore blue armor, had crimson pupils, blue hair tied into a small braid.

The man's identity was obvious.

The Great Hero of ancient Ireland, jokingly called Dog Bro—Cú Chulainn!

Also a Servant in this Holy Grail War, summoned under the Lancer class.

"Judging by your outfit, you're a Servant?" Rin said warily, eyeing Cú Chulainn.

"Then I don't need to say much. Looks like you're both participants in this Holy Grail War. Two together—are you allied? Interesting."

Cú Chulainn twirled the crimson spear in his hand, looking at Rin and Yu Feng.

Yu Feng didn't call Mordred out immediately.

Rin sighed in resignation when she saw Yu Feng wasn't planning to have Mordred act.

"Let's go!"

Rin quickly scanned the area—this wasn't a good place for single combat, especially for a class like Archer.

With obstacles everywhere, there was no way for Emiya to show his true strength. But Rin had no idea that Emiya wasn't an archer with a bow, but a swordsman.

After all, archers have always been close-quarters fighters.

Yu Feng wasn't in a hurry to send Mordred in. Against Dog Bro, as long as he didn't use his Noble Phantasm, Emiya could handle it.

Besides, Yu Feng was wearing a persona now—he had to follow its will, didn't he?

As she spoke, Rin activated a spell that lightened her body against gravity, then leaped hard off the roof.

Cú Chulainn spun his spear, his crimson eyes glancing at Yu Feng as if sensing he didn't intend to interfere. Without a word, he followed Rin.

When only Yu Feng remained on the roof, he finally focused on the Magic Crest before him. Just as he was about to destroy it, he suddenly stopped.

He flashed away, reappearing a short distance off.

Where he had stood moments ago, the air seemed to compress, and the ground caved in with a sharp crack.

"Tsk, young people are so impatient. That's no good, hehehe~"

An old, hoarse voice rang out.

Yu Feng turned to see a small figure who had appeared out of nowhere. His skin was a sickly pale, his eyes slightly sunken, his face covered in wrinkles.

Yu Feng snorted coldly. "I knew I sensed a disgusting, loathsome aura when I came in today. Just looking at you makes me sick. You're Zouken Matou, aren't you?"

Zouken didn't get angry at Yu Feng's words. Instead, he laughed—but his smile was far more terrifying than any ordinary laugh.

"Young man, your face and tone remind me of someone I despise."

"If he's someone you despise, then you must not be able to beat him, right? Which means you can't beat me either."

At Yu Feng's words, Zouken Matou was momentarily taken aback, but then he broke into laughter again. "Interesting, very interesting. In that case, you'd better measure whether your own strength is sufficient."

"The barrier here was just something I set up on a whim. If you want to destroy it, go ahead, hehehe~"

As Zouken Matou spoke, his body dissolved into a dense swarm of insects that scattered into the air. Anyone with trypophobia would have been triggered by the sight.

Yu Feng frowned at this. There had to be a reason Zouken Matou showed up here—it couldn't be just a casual barrier set on a whim, nor a mere trip to inspect it. He must have some purpose.

But if it wasn't because of this school, then what else could it be?

Suddenly, a thought struck Yu Feng.

Sakura!

That Old Worm, Zouken Matou, had set up this barrier at the school not for the school itself—it was a feint. His real focus was Sakura. He was stalling for time!

The moment this clicked, Yu Feng understood everything and immediately rushed toward the Matou family estate.