This Is My Holy Grail War [70]

The world was a blur. Assassin’s vision was hazy, her ears filled with a persistent hum that drowned out the sounds around her. A faint crimson hue tinged everything in sight, and a vague figure slowly approached through the haze.

It hurts so much...

The fire of mana burned fiercely within Assassin’s body, scorching her insubstantial flesh. Her once-pristine armor lay in shattered pieces, revealing the formal dress beneath.

Her mana reserves were utterly depleted, leaving an empty void that pressed relentlessly against her consciousness.

Pain surged through her.

For a Servant, mana was life itself—the essence needed to remain in the world. As her existence teetered on the edge of dissolution, the flames of mana licked cruelly at her being, transmitting unrelenting signals of agony.

Caught between exhaustion and torment, Assassin hovered in a semi-conscious state. Even the smallest movement felt impossible. She struggled to open her eyes, and when she did, the figure approaching her became clear.

Caster.

The mage from the Age of Gods approached with a soft smile, drawing a strange, twisted dagger from her robes.

Assassin recognized it immediately—it was the Noble Phantasm [Rule Breaker], capable of severing magical contracts, including those binding Servants to their Masters.

The dagger gleamed as Caster drew closer. Assassin could even catch the faint fragrance emanating from the mage—a scent not harsh but oddly soothing.

"A Servant capable of becoming both Saber and Rider..." Caster murmured softly, her voice lilting with amusement.

Assassin’s hand shot out, weakly grasping at Caster’s sleeve. But her strength failed her; her fingers slipped, and her arm fell limply to her side.

With no resistance left, Caster plunged the dagger into Assassin’s core.

Rin’s desperate cry, "Assassin!" rang in her ears, but the connection between Servant and Master had already been severed.

The dagger pierced not flesh but Assassin’s spiritual core. The once unbreakable bond between her and Rin was torn apart like fragile parchment.

In an instant, her only source of mana was gone. Without its sustaining flow, she felt as though she were drowning in an endless sea, her very existence crumbling under the weight of despair.

Just as she was about to succumb, a new sensation surged through her—a flood of mana, rich and intoxicating.

Caster’s mana.

Without waiting for Assassin’s acceptance, the contract was forcibly rewritten. The power of a mage from the Age of Gods dominated, binding the unclaimed Servant to her will.

While [Rule Breaker] severed the previous contract, it was Caster’s mastery of magic, learned from the goddess Hecate herself, that established the new one.

Mana poured into Assassin’s body, revitalizing her broken form. For Servants, mana was the key to recovery—no matter how grievous the wounds, as long as they weren’t fatal, they could be mended.

The searing pain was replaced by an almost unbearable comfort, lulling her into a haze of drowsiness.

Rest?

Since entering the Holy Grail War, Assassin had endured endless battles. Over the past ten days, she had barely rested, save for a fleeting moment after slaying Lancelot. Even then, her reprieve had been interrupted by Archer.

Now, with Rider defeated and her next chance at survival secured, Assassin’s exhaustion finally overwhelmed her.

Perhaps... a short rest wouldn’t hurt, she thought.

As her body relaxed, the last of her resistance faded. Caster’s magic wove a spell that wrapped around her like a warm blanket, pulling her into an inescapable slumber.

Gradually, her eyes closed. No matter how much she tried to fight it, her heavy eyelids would not stay open.

"You’re such a good child," Caster cooed softly, brushing a strand of hair from Assassin’s face. Her gentle tone belied the cunning smile curling her lips. "Sleep now. When you wake, everything will be better..."

Caster rose to her feet, turning toward Saber and her allies with a smirk.

"What an unexpected treasure," she taunted. "This one belongs to me now. With her, the odds are overwhelmingly in my favor. What do you say, Saber? Would you like to join me as well?"

Kuzuki Souichirou’s sharp eyes caught the subtle shift in Saber’s stance. Though partially petrified, Saber had raised her invisible blade overhead. He immediately issued an order.

"Retreat, Caster."

"As you wish, Souichirou-sama," Caster replied, her playful tone now edged with seriousness. She hadn’t fully grasped her Master’s reasoning, but she obeyed without hesitation.

The [Bloodfort Andromeda] crumbled as the bounded field was undone. Without Rider to sustain it, the massive magical construct fell apart. The ominous red glow faded, and the stifling atmosphere lifted.

At last, the sealed space dissolved, allowing the first light of dawn to bathe the battered school.

Caster wrapped herself, her Master, and the unconscious Assassin in her cloak. Her figure dissolved into a cascade of shimmering butterflies, which fluttered gracefully through the broken windows and into the open air, leaving Homurahara Academy behind.

---

T/N: NTR!!!!!! I have to admit something...I love NTR... ALSO CLIFFHANGERMUAHUAHUAHUA

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!