This Is My Holy Grail War [85]

Though the clash between Lancer and Assassin seemed to stretch on endlessly for the two Servants, in reality, only a few breaths of time had passed. Before anyone could fully prepare their strategies, the battle had already escalated to the point where Noble Phantasms were being unleashed.

The pulsating magical energy radiating from Lancer’s crimson spear was awe-inspiring—a miracle of a bygone era, the crystallization of a hero’s legend elevated to its ultimate form.

The barbed spear, [Gáe Bolg], was now aimed directly at Assassin’s heart.

"Lancer, what are you doing?!"

Tohsaka Rin’s sharp reprimand cut through the tension, but Lancer didn’t falter. While his voice acknowledged her, his actions continued without hesitation.

“It’s kill or be killed now, little lady,” Lancer replied. “Even if I wanted to stop, I couldn’t at this point!”

“If anything happens to my Servant, you’ll pay me back double!” Rin snapped, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. Her fingernails dug into her palms, drawing blood, as she realized she was powerless to intervene. Lancer wasn’t wrong—she knew all too well how sharp Assassin’s blade was. Worse, she’d heard the ominous sound of Assassin’s abilities improving, stolen from Rider’s parameters.

“I don’t want to meddle unnecessarily,” Lancer continued, a wry grin tugging at his lips, “but she’s shown me respect, and I can’t let her down. Teaching her runes, though? Not a chance.”

For Lancer, respect meant holding nothing back in a fight. Assassin’s killing intent saturated the air, leaving him with no alternative.

“[Gáe Bolg!]”

With a triumphant cry, Lancer unleashed the full power of his Noble Phantasm. But then, something astonishing happened. The crimson spear, originally aimed at Assassin, abruptly veered off course.

It wasn’t a mistake—it was a Command Spell. Lancer’s hand twisted involuntarily, and the spear’s new target became clear:

Caster.

Assassin realized what was happening, but it was too late to warn her.

The world seemed to dim suddenly, as if the moonlight had vanished entirely. In the encroaching darkness, a single bolt of crimson lightning tore through the night, its brilliance piercing through the black.

“Caster!”

Assassin’s cry rang out as Caster, having leapt into the air moments before, raised her staff in an attempt to shield herself. A magical barrier materialized in front of her, but the crimson lightning tore through both her shield and her body, like a hunter’s bullet piercing a bird in flight.

Caster plummeted to the ground, limp and silent.

Yet strangely, there was no blood, no anguished scream.

The next moment, impossibly, Caster stood back up. Her robes were unmarred, her body unscathed. It was as if the fatal blow had never happened.

Inside her sanctified workshop, Caster wielded the power to manipulate the fabric of magic itself. Using a time-reversal spell, she had undone the damage inflicted by Lancer’s Noble Phantasm.

But was that truly the end?

Lancer’s spear did not falter. With a swift motion, he raised it again, the threads of time itself seemingly responding to his will. The crimson lightning, which had dissipated into the sky, reversed course. Magical energy surged back toward the spear, then launched again, this time with undeniable, unyielding precision. The spear’s tip bore down on Caster’s heart once more.

The air crackled as the spear struck true.

“No matter how much you reverse time, you cannot undo causality,” Caster murmured, blood now staining her robes as her chest was torn open. The brilliant red light of her lifeblood spilled forth, soaking into the fabric.

Her spiritual core shattered, and with it, her ability to remain in the physical world. Yet, through sheer willpower, she stayed upright, refusing to fade away immediately.

Caster limped forward, her movements slow and unsteady, as though every step required her remaining strength. Her gaze was fixed on Kuzuki Souichirou. She didn’t look at the moon above or at Assassin nearby. Nothing else mattered.

The hood of her robe, now torn, fell back, revealing her face for the first time. Despite being labeled a witch reviled by the world, her features were unexpectedly delicate and beautiful.

In the faint moonlight, Kuzuki’s stoic, impassive expression was the only thing keeping her from collapsing entirely. Step by step, she approached him, her broken robes trailing behind her.

“Ultimately, battles between Servants are contests of Noble Phantasms,” Kirei Kotomine remarked, his Command Spells glowing faintly on his arm. “Without a means to counter one, even a magus of the Age of Gods cannot survive. Initially, I had concerns about Caster’s Noble Phantasm. But if it’s merely something that severs magical constructs, her death was inevitable.”

“Why didn’t you let me handle this earlier?” Lancer growled, begrudgingly lowering his spear. “I could’ve pierced her heart the first time we met.”

“I wasn’t certain whether Caster’s Noble Phantasm might have a secondary effect, something akin to the [Sword of Promised Victory]. But now that her abilities are fully exposed, there’s nothing left to fear.” Kirei’s knowledge of Servant combat was meticulous and cold.

Caster’s Noble Phantasm, [Rule Breaker], was the ultimate anti-magic weapon capable of severing any magical construct. However, it was powerless against other Noble Phantasms.

“It’s over, Rin. Your Servant has been returned to you,” Kirei said, turning his gaze to Kuzuki. “And as for you, Kuzuki Souichirou—Fuyuki’s serial killer—this is the end.”

Kuzuki remained silent, his expression unreadable.

The battle had ended faster than anyone could have anticipated. No drawn-out conflict, no grandiose finale. It was over in an instant, leaving a lingering sense of unease.

Caster collapsed into Kuzuki’s arms, her trembling fingers brushing against his cheek. A tender smile graced her lips as her strength faded.

“I wanted to build a happy home with you, Souichirou-sama,” she whispered sweetly, her voice barely audible.

Her head rested against his chest, and in the warmth of his embrace, she drifted into eternal sleep. Slowly, her body dissolved into particles of purple light, disappearing forever from the mortal world.

---

T/N: I...did not expect that....

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!