This Is My Holy Grail War [111]

The Ruler, the adjudicator of the Holy Grail War, held the true identity of the Maid of Orléans, the savior of France.

But such details were of little consequence. To Saber, what truly mattered was the unique ability granted by this class: [True Name Discernment].

Her curiosity about her forgotten past led Saber to pose a question to Ruler. She wanted to know her name—her identity from the time before everything had been lost.

Reality, however, was as merciless as ever. The True Name shrouded by thick mist remained indecipherable to Saber. Similarly, even Jeanne d'Arc, with her [True Name Discernment], could not see it. The skill to unveil True Names was powerless against a past completely erased. Saber’s hope of reclaiming her name shattered entirely.

"I understand. Thank you for telling me," Saber replied, deeply disappointed, though she refrained from lamentation. Instead, with the composure and grace of a knight, she offered her thanks before turning once more to face the Red Faction's opponent—a golden lancer whose predatory gaze never wavered.

When Saber first laid eyes on the Lancer, an image of Gilgamesh surfaced in her mind. Yet, this Servant’s personality seemed utterly unlike that of the King of Heroes. He was humble, courteous, and even willing to concede advantages—a stark contrast.

The tip of Lancer’s weapon, a golden spear with a rounded head and sharp spikes, gleamed like a blazing sun. Fiery magical energy pulsed along its surface, radiating heat as if it were a piece of the sun itself, burning all it touched.

The air grew noticeably hotter. The cold atmosphere was rapidly displaced by the fiery energy Lancer exuded. Within seconds, Saber realized something was wrong.

Flames erupted—it was magical energy release.

Saber was no stranger to such a technique; she herself often used it. However, Red Lancer’s magic carried a unique quality—intense and scorching flames.

Is he gathering power?

Regardless of what Lancer was preparing, Saber could not allow him the opportunity to act freely. The battle had begun long before, but he refrained from attacking while Saber conversed with Ruler.

Only after she finished her question did Lancer make his move. His conduct made Saber think of him as a true knight.

But now, hesitation was no longer an option. The arrow was nocked, and the bowstring drawn taut!

Saber unleashed her magical energy. Though her aura lacked the intensity of Red Lancer’s, the sheer quantity of energy was equal—they both reached the pinnacle of A-rank. Drawing her holy sword [Durandal], bathed in azure magical energy, she charged toward Lancer.

A deafening boom echoed as if the azure moon collided with the blazing sun. The fierce impact shattered the ground and pulverized stone.

Streetlights, utility poles, and road signs—everything within the blast radius was sent flying by the shockwave, left in disarray.

Their strength matched, their agility equal. Yet, Lancer’s magical energy was slightly superior, leaving Saber at a slight disadvantage in the clash of power. Nevertheless, she stood her ground unflinchingly.

The sparks from their magical energy were only appetizers. The main course began when [Durandal]’s blade tore through the air, sharp as a serpent’s fangs, aiming directly for Lancer’s vital points with lightning speed.

“Hmm?”

Saber’s strike pierced through the fiery barrier surrounding Lancer. The indestructible holy sword remained unscathed by the flames. Its target was none other than the Lancer’s eyes!

Her sudden, precise thrust might have caught many opponents off guard, but Lancer was fully prepared. Despite the cumbersome appearance of his solar spear, it moved with astonishing speed, breaking the sound barrier with ease.

Clang!

The deafening clash of metal reverberated like thunder. A tempest of weapon strikes followed. Golden spear and silver sword crossed paths again and again, shaking the air and trembling the earth with the intensity of their duel.

Saber’s instincts and intuition lent her unmatched confidence, yet Lancer’s spear technique was flawless. In countless exchanges, she found not a single opening.

The steadiness of his technique was unparalleled. It wasn’t necessarily the best or strongest she had ever encountered, but it was unquestionably the most unyielding.

Saber retreated slightly, gathering herself for another charge. She swung her sword with full force, only to see Lancer’s spear poised and ready.

She knew full well that advancing further would result in her body being pierced by his spear. Yet, thanks to [Avalon], she held no fear.

Both combatants aimed their weapons at each other, neither willing to back down.

Sword met spear in midair. With a sharp sound, Red Lancer’s golden spear struck first, piercing through Saber’s body.

The pain was excruciating. The golden spear tore through flesh and bone, leaving Saber grievously wounded. Yet, she felt no regret, for she had already lifted [Durandal] to strike.

“HAAAAAH!” Saber’s cry was a blend of pain and determination as her sword descended.

But the legendary blade, known for its unparalleled sharpness, failed to leave even a scratch on Lancer’s skin—not even the faintest mark.

Lancer possessed a defensive Noble Phantasm, one even stronger than Heracles’ Twelve Labors. Realizing this, Saber understood why he dared to fight her so recklessly.

By then, it was too late. With a powerful swing of his spear, Lancer sent Saber hurtling through the air.

Blood sprayed as her body struck the ground, staining the verdant grass a deep crimson.

“I see. You intended to trade injury for injury.” Despite being struck by the holy sword, Lancer remained unscathed. He even took a moment to incinerate the blood on his spear with magical energy.

Saber’s vision swam in shades of red, as if a veil of crimson silk had been draped over her eyes. Everything she saw carried a faint scarlet hue.

Does it hurt? A little. But it’s nothing compared to being pierced by countless Noble Phantasms. This is nothing more than a scratch.

Her shoulder was shattered, and chunks of flesh had been torn away. Yet the pain paled in comparison to the agony of having her spiritual core shattered. It wasn’t even a tenth as severe—merely a body wound caused by a spear’s thrust.

To Saber, such injuries were insignificant. She had endured far worse countless times before.

The forests of phantasms in the [Gate of Babylon], Sasaki Kojirō’s [Tsubame Gaeshi], and even [Excalibur] itself—all these attacks far surpassed Lancer’s spear.

In the pool of her own blood, Saber rose again. Her left arm hung limp at her side, useless. But [Avalon] worked tirelessly to mend her wounds. Combined with the constant flow of magical energy into her body, she regained her fighting strength in mere moments.

Drip…

Blood ran down Saber’s shoulder, tracing her limp arm before dripping onto the already blood-soaked ground. The earth, painted red, deepened its hue.

Step by step, Saber advanced. Within her, [Avalon] had already healed her injuries. Though the spear’s blow was severe, it hadn’t reached her spiritual core.

In that moment, Saber seemed more like a vengeful demon than a knight, advancing toward Lancer with relentless resolve.

The battle resumed. Saber suppressed all her pain. The petite girl now seemed like a berserker, driven by sheer willpower.

“You resemble both a hero and a demon,” Lancer remarked, lowering his spear. “Saber of Black, what are you fighting for? You despise the battlefield, yet you fight so fiercely. Strange—my knowledge fails to grasp your pursuit.”

“I simply want to live,” Saber answered firmly.

“That is your only wish?” Lancer asked again, as if compelled to continue the conversation. “Your gaze is unlike any hero I’ve encountered, more akin to a specter from the underworld. Yet your eyes remain pure, unlike those of any villain. I believe a hero surpasses a demon, so I hope you are a hero.”

“I am but a dead spirit,” Saber replied resolutely. “Precisely because I am dead, I yearn to live again. No one can stop me.”

“Then you are willing to become a demon for that?” Lancer questioned.

“No. I wish to be a hero.”

“Why?”

“Because a white-haired man once told me that heroes are better than demons,” Saber replied after a brief pause, her tone honest and straightforward. “Heroes are remembered by the world, and I admire that.” Her voice carried a sense of longing.

“A white-haired man…” Lancer murmured, his own short, white hair drifting before his eyes. He seemed momentarily stunned before responding, “If you wish to become a hero, I shall test your worth. Let my spear be the judge.” His words suggested a misunderstanding, but his conviction was clear.

“My name is Karna, son of Surya, the Sun God,” he declared. Though his tone remained cold, the faintest smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “If you are fearless, then come.”

For Saber, the Holy Grail War was an inescapable destiny. She had no choice but to carve a path of hope with her sword. Without hesitation, she charged forward, but to her surprise, Lancer lowered his weapon.

“A true hero kills with their eyes,” he remarked cryptically, leaving Saber momentarily baffled. Kills with their eyes?

Magic eyes, perhaps?

Before she could unravel the meaning, her [Instincts] warned her of an impending danger—a flash of light capable of incinerating the earth itself.

“Brahma, envelop the land!”

Saber knew she had to move. If she didn’t evade, she would be torn to shreds with no chance to recover.

She rolled sharply to her right, narrowly avoiding the searing beam of magic that grazed past her. The intense heat singed the edge of her armor, turning it black. Yet, bolstered by her [Instincts] and [Mind's Eye (Fake)], she managed to dodge Lancer’s lethal attack.

This was undoubtedly one of Karna’s Noble Phantasms, but Saber knew a son of Surya would not rely solely on a low-tier weapon.

“You dodged again? Even in our earlier exchanges, you could see through my strikes,” Karna remarked, the fiery glow in his eyes dimming slightly. “In that case, I require an attack so vast that it leaves you no room to escape—one that guarantees a fatal blow.”

He raised his golden spear and held it like a javelin, pointing it at Saber.

“Brahma, curse my body!” Karna’s shout resonated across the battlefield as he channeled his immense magical energy into his weapon. The golden spear ignited with terrifying power, and the cold, hard ground beneath them melted into a boiling pool of molten rock.

The sight was all too familiar to Saber—enhancing a weapon with magical energy and unleashing devastating attacks. She had performed similar techniques before, but her weapons often limited her full potential.

With [Durandal] in her hand, a sword capable of withstanding A-rank magical energy, Saber prepared to mimic Karna’s method. She poured her magical energy into the unbreakable blade, readying herself for the clash.

However, she quickly noticed that her magical energy lacked the ferocity of Karna’s flames. Was it the nature of their attributes, or had he activated a Noble Phantasm? During their earlier exchanges, Saber had gauged that Karna’s energy output matched her own. This meant his current attack was undoubtedly fueled by a Noble Phantasm.

Assessing the disparity between them, Saber aimed her magic-charged [Durandal] at Karna’s golden spear.

Though Karna’s attack covered a broader area, its destructive force seemed comparable to his previous beam—a difference in scale but not power. It was far less devastating than Artoria’s [Excalibur], let alone the [Sword of Rupture]. Saber concluded that this attack did not warrant the use of her ultimate ace, [Avalon].

[Durandal], infused with azure magical energy, met the fiery red spear. The ensuing explosion of light and flame roared skyward, outshining even the moon and stars.

Magical energy release, at its core, was merely a method of utilizing raw power. Compared to a Noble Phantasm, it was inherently inferior. In the brief clash, Saber was swiftly overwhelmed.

The surging flames engulfed her entirely, their heat mirroring the fury of the sun itself.

Though Saber failed to match Karna’s strike, her efforts managed to diminish the potency of his Noble Phantasm. Its power, while formidable, lacked explosive devastation and was less lethal than it could have been.

The divine flames licked at Saber’s body, consuming her armor and searing her flesh. Yet, even as the fire sought to reduce her to ash, Saber emerged, walking through the inferno with unyielding resolve.

While the fire of heaven burned her body, [Avalon] worked tirelessly within her, repairing the damage. The regeneration countered the destruction, keeping Saber on her feet.

Servants, beings made of magical energy, equated life with their magical reserves. The flames had inflicted some damage to her life force, but it wasn’t enough to stop her. Compared to the suffocating terror of a near-death experience, this pain was far more bearable.

Though Saber’s attacks fell short of Karna’s overwhelming power, her goal had been achieved. Weakening the strike was sufficient. Even with severe injuries, [Avalon] ensured she could recover.

“You are strong,” Karna remarked, his tone steady. “An attack of that magnitude should have killed you, yet it did not.”

He lowered his weapon again, this time with no trace of hostility. “To settle this, I would need an even greater assault. But dawn approaches, and continuing this battle would expose the Holy Grail War to the world.”

Saber caught the implication in his words—this Servant had yet to reveal his most fearsome ability.

“Though I am willing to continue, your Master grows impatient. Since you value secrecy so highly, I shall not press further.”

“Thank you for your understanding. For magi, preserving mystery is more important than life itself.” Saber expressed gratitude outwardly, though inwardly, she wished to keep fighting. Like Karna, she had yet to reveal her final trump card.

“Saber of Black,” Karna addressed her once more. “It has been an honor to cross paths with you in this time and space. I hope you achieve greatness as a hero, though I remain uncertain. Your gaze unsettles me.”

Despite his words, his demeanor remained calm.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Karna dissolved into spirit form, vanishing from the battlefield scarred by flames and magic.

This initial clash had far exceeded Saber’s expectations. She had encountered a top-tier Servant and been forced into a difficult position.

Were it not for [Avalon], she would have become nothing more than fuel for Karna’s flames. The pressure he exerted rivaled that of Gilgamesh himself.

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T/N: GAH I FORGOT!!! SHE DOESNT HAVE A+ AGILITY ANYMORE!!! ITS MERELY A

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!