This Is My Holy Grail War [58]

"This can't be real!" Rin Tohsaka exclaimed, her lips trembling as she watched the scene unfold. "I summoned an Assassin, didn’t I…?"

The clash unfolding before her was nothing short of a battle between monsters.

The duel between Assassin and Lancer had already left her in awe, their balance of power far exceeding her expectations. But now, seeing Assassin physically repel Berserker—this defied everything Rin thought she understood about the world.

Through her connection to Assassin, Rin could see Berserker’s furious face, his primal roar shaking the air. Slim hands and massive arms clashed in a desperate struggle for dominance, the space between them charged with crackling energy.

Forward!

To Rin’s astonishment, Assassin wasn’t just holding her ground—she was pushing forward, forcing Berserker to retreat step by step.

A sharp, stabbing pain suddenly shot through Rin’s body. Her circuits flared to life, pushing past their limits. It felt as though someone was draining her blood directly from her veins.

Rin clenched her teeth, fully aware of what this meant: her Servant could not sustain this level of combat for long. She had to retreat as quickly as possible and summon Assassin back before Berserker overwhelmed her.

Yet, even as Rin fled, one detail puzzled her. She glanced at Shirou, who was running beside her. Despite having been struck by Berserker earlier, the red-haired boy showed an almost unnatural resilience. No healing magecraft had been applied, yet here he was, keeping pace with her.

Assassin’s armor began to seep crimson as blood trickled from her body. A single drop hit the ground with a faint plink.

The pain was relentless, her entire body screaming in protest. Every inch of her skin burned, sending waves of agony to her mind. The cracks in her skin wept fresh blood, her body straining against the destructive energy coursing through her.

Despite the immense power granted by her [Mana Burst] and immense strength, Assassin’s low Endurance meant she absorbed the brunt of each shockwave from Berserker’s attacks. Even her armor, reinforced by magical energy, struggled to hold together.

Still, she pushed forward. Each step drove her boots into the ground, carving deep craters in the earth as she braced against Berserker’s immense weight.

“Ahhh!” Assassin roared, locking eyes with Berserker as she used all her strength to deflect his blade.

Blue mana surged around her, mingling with the crimson mist of her blood. The sight of her—a figure wrapped in turbulent energy, more wraith than warrior—was terrifying to behold.

Berserker’s obsidian blade stirred the air, summoning a vortex of debris as it tore through the battlefield. The winds howled, and the earth quaked as his colossal sword once again aimed to cleave Assassin in two.

Through her heightened Instinct, Assassin foresaw the incoming strike. She visualized every trajectory, every possible evasion path. Adjusting her footing slightly, she tilted her sword just enough to deflect the brunt of the attack.

CLANG!

The obsidian blade scraped past Assassin’s sword, its force transferring into the ground. The earth shattered upon impact, splitting into a web of fractures that radiated outward.

The resulting crater would surely make headlines tomorrow as yet another case of “faulty construction causing road collapses.”

Assassin gritted her teeth, her body trembling under the weight of her opponent’s relentless blows. The enhancements she had received in this war—her Master’s extraordinary mana supply and her own enhanced physical abilities—allowed her to hold her ground. Compared to the last Holy Grail War, she was immeasurably stronger.

Yet it was meaningless in the face of Berserker.

The black-armored giant stood before her, radiating an aura of icy killing intent. His soulless eyes stared her down, promising annihilation. Assassin knew that, no matter how strong she had become, she could never defeat him.

Just a little longer...

Assassin’s thoughts turned to Rin. If her Master could escape and use a Command Seal, they might yet survive this nightmare.

She braced herself as Berserker’s brutal attack came once more. Just as she prepared to meet the blow, she noticed something unusual—it was lighter than before.

Looking up, she realized why: Saber was beside her, sharing the burden.

Their matching armor gleamed in the moonlight. The key difference between them lay in Saber’s unyielding sword and Assassin’s bloodstained blade.

In that moment, there was no need for words. Their shared resolve was conveyed through their presence alone.

Assassin released her grip on her sword, using the moment to dart around Berserker’s blade. Though her strike lacked the power to break through Berserker’s defenses, she poured her strength into a devastating blow with the hilt of her sword, driving it into his chest.

The force of her attack caused Berserker to stagger, just long enough for Saber to leap into the air.

With a downward slash, Saber’s blade tore into Berserker’s skull. Blood sprayed across the battlefield as the colossal warrior reeled from the blow.

Yet, even with his head split open, the battle was far from over. Time seemed to reverse around Berserker. His wounds healed before their eyes, his body restored to its unblemished state.

“You can’t kill him like this,” Assassin said, her voice strained. “I’ll hold him here. You deal with his Master.”

Saber hesitated, her eyes meeting Illya’s. Memories of a kindhearted girl in her father’s arms flashed through Saber’s mind—Illya, from the last Holy Grail War.

“Saber, don’t you want to win? Don’t you want to save your country?” Assassin’s words cut through Saber’s hesitation.

The blonde knight glanced back at Assassin, surprised. With a solemn nod, she turned her attention to Illya.

“I understand, Assassin,” she replied quietly. “Thank you.”

Her voice carried a faint trace of guilt, but there was no time to dwell on it. Saber surged forward toward Illya.

Assassin, meanwhile, prepared herself to face Berserker alone.

Having already lost one of his lives, Berserker was enraged. As he caught sight of Saber rushing toward Illya, his fury boiled over. The temperature around him seemed to rise as his rage manifested into a suffocating aura.

“Come, Berserker!” Assassin shouted, standing in his path. She had no intention of letting him pass.

The ground trembled beneath his charge. Each of his steps left craters in the earth, shaking the battlefield like an earthquake. He didn’t even glance at Assassin—his sole focus was Illya’s safety.

Assassin braced herself, mana flooding her body. Her sword rested against her left arm, poised to intercept.

The impact came like a runaway train. Dust and debris erupted into the air, obscuring the battlefield in a choking haze.

Assassin’s feet slid backward, sparks flying as her boots scraped against the ground. It felt as though she were trying to stop an unstoppable force.

“Stop!” Assassin roared, her voice ragged as she poured every ounce of her strength into her blade. Fueled by the violent torrent of mana coursing through her body, she drove Berserker back with a powerful thrust.

Her left arm dangled limply at her side, its bones shattered. Blood dripped steadily from her fingers, staining the ground below. Her entire body was battered, her movements labored, as if she might collapse at any moment.

Yet her efforts were not in vain. Saber was closing in on Illyasviel, her blade poised for a decisive strike. But just as she reached Illya, the petite Master’s body began to glow with a sinister red light.

“Berserker, return to me!” Illya’s voice was unwavering, brimming with the unshakable confidence her Servant’s power gave her.

Berserker instantly reappeared, materializing between Saber and Illya like an impenetrable wall. Without hesitation, he raised his massive sword and brought it down with earth-shaking force, slamming Saber back.

“Trying to sneak up on me is pointless,” Illya said smugly. “Berserker will always protect me—no matter how many times you try.” Her body pulsed with the glow of what appeared to be Command Seals carved into her very flesh. “My Berserker is the most trustworthy and the strongest Servant!”

Assassin had anticipated this outcome. Yet, even she couldn’t help but marvel at Illya’s glowing magic circuits, which resembled Command Seals etched across her entire body. The sight left Saber momentarily speechless.

“Kill them all!” Illya’s voice carried a note of unrestrained fury.

As Berserker charged forward in blind rage, Assassin and Saber moved in perfect harmony. Guided by their [Instinct], the two Servants evaded Berserker’s relentless attacks with a fluid grace that resembled a deadly dance.

Each movement was precise, their coordination seamless. They didn’t hinder one another, nor did they falter under the pressure of Berserker’s monstrous strength. It was as if they had fought side by side for years.

Assassin parried Berserker’s massive sword, creating an opening for Saber. Wasting no time, Saber lunged forward, her holy blade aimed straight for Berserker’s chest.

Clang!

Saber’s sword struck Berserker’s chest but produced a metallic sound, as if it had hit armor. The blow failed to penetrate.

A defensive Noble Phantasm. Saber’s eyes narrowed as realization dawned. In the next instant, she unleashed her ultimate weapon. The wind surrounding [Excalibur] dissipated, revealing the radiant blade beneath. A blinding pillar of golden light erupted from her sword, roaring toward Berserker with unstoppable force.

The blast cleaved through Berserker, cutting his massive frame in two. Blood sprayed into the air as his body collapsed.

That was one life.

Including the first life they had taken earlier, Berserker had now lost two. But ten more remained.

With a shuddering groan, Berserker’s body began to regenerate. Time itself seemed to rewind as his form restored, every wound sealing as if he had never been injured.

Assassin watched in grim silence. She didn’t know exactly where Rin had fled, but she was certain Berserker couldn’t pursue her Master for the time being. That meant it was time to retreat.

Saber’s condition was deteriorating. Her mana supply, already strained, could no longer sustain her fully. Her body flickered faintly, the edges of her form growing hazy.

Assassin noticed immediately. She considered a desperate course of action—killing Saber to eliminate the burden she posed—but dismissed the thought as quickly as it came.

This wasn’t just a moral issue. It was also strategic: Saber’s potential as an ally was invaluable. If she could convince Saber to join forces, victory in this Holy Grail War might become achievable.

But right now, Saber’s slowing movements endangered them both. Unlike Assassin, who could flee using her superior agility, Saber lacked the speed to escape Berserker’s wrath.

Someone had to stay behind to hold him off.

“I’ll stay and hold Berserker,” Assassin said firmly. “Saber, retreat and protect my Master.”

“This battle is unwinnable as it stands,” she added. Through their shared bond, Assassin sent a signal to Rin.

Master, once I’ve created an opening for Saber, use a Command Seal to summon me back.

Saber hesitated, her pride as a knight clashing with the logic of Assassin’s plan. But she saw the truth in it. Reluctantly, she prepared to fall back.

A sudden, bone-chilling wind swept through the battlefield.

Cold?

Servants were immune to the elements. Even the harshest Arctic winds wouldn’t faze them. But this cold was different. It pierced through their defenses, seeping into their very cores.

It was a chill that gnawed at the soul.

Assassin’s sharp gaze turned toward the source. A figure emerged from the shadows of the battlefield—a knight clad in pure white armor.

---

T/N: who...is this

This is a fan translation of 这是我的圣杯之战 by 向希望祈祷. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!