This Is My Holy Grail War [135]

“Argh!”

Achilles’ anguished cry echoed through the castle hall as Saber’s blade tore into his heel.

The legendary Achilles’ heel—his most vulnerable and fatal flaw—was now exposed. Without this knowledge, facing Rider of Red would have been an insurmountable challenge for Saber.

But once his true name was revealed, Achilles became far less formidable. His greatest weakness lay bare, waiting to be exploited by any who dared to strike.

Sorry, Achilles, but your teacher already told me everything about you. A faint smile graced Saber’s lips as she relished her connection to Chiron, the mentor who had handed her the key to victory.

Blood spilled across the hall, but a single strike wasn’t enough to defeat the battle-hardened Rider. A Servant’s life core—the spiritual heart—resided within their chest, and Saber had only managed to pierce his vulnerable heel.

“Tch. Durable bastard,” Saber muttered, flicking the blood from [Durandal]’s blade as she considered whether to shift into Heracles form.

Despite landing a clean hit, the injury hadn’t been as catastrophic as she hoped. Achilles looked battered but far from critically wounded.

So it only bypasses his defense? Saber wondered, her eyes narrowing.

Achilles staggered to his feet, teeth clenched. Though visibly in pain, his fighting spirit and strength remained unbroken.

Realizing this would be a prolonged battle, Saber made her decision without hesitation.

“[Strength of the Dragon],” Saber incanted. With her mastery of [High-Speed Divine Words], she required no elaborate rituals; the spell activated at her command.

Servants, being spiritual entities, had no physical limitations. Even with her beginner-level magic training, Saber had quickly grasped the intricacies of spellcraft.

She felt a surge of power coursing through her, muscles brimming with newfound strength. But this was only the beginning. Keeping her gaze locked on Achilles, Saber braced herself for any sudden moves.

Her instincts warned her to stay vigilant, but Achilles surprisingly refrained from interrupting her casting.

“[Grace of the Cat], [Valor of the Hawk],” she continued, enhancing her agility, strength, and luck. Her voice carried on without pause: “[Barrier of Life], [Vital Renewal], [Holy Armor], [Blessing of the Earth], [Resolute Heart], [Magic Shield].”

One by one, defensive spells enveloped her, fortifying her body and spirit. Finally, she raised Durandal. Though unbreakable, the holy sword lacked the raw destructive power necessary to decisively end a fight.

“[Blade of Light], [Swordsmanship of the Saints], [Curse of Calamity], [Mana Ignition].”

The silvery blade of [Durandal] gleamed as golden energy cloaked its edge, radiating an ominous black aura.

Whether this enhanced blade would pierce Achilles’ defenses remained uncertain. But if it struck his heel again, the result would be far more devastating than mere bloodshed.

Saber’s repertoire of spells extended far beyond these, but time wasn’t on her side. Achilles wouldn’t stand idly by forever, and she had to make herself as lethal as possible in the limited moments she had.

More than her own skill, Saber owed her progress to Chiron’s unparalleled teaching.

As Achilles approached, Saber furrowed her brow. Something felt off.

“You know I’m casting spells. Why aren’t you charging in?” she questioned, noticing his slower pace. Compared to his earlier blinding speed, he now moved at a crawl.

“Wait… that strike wasn’t for nothing,” Saber murmured, a subtle smirk forming. “Your speed has dropped.”

“What a miserable match-up,” Achilles admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. For the first time, he displayed a hint of vulnerability—not out of fear but from the embarrassment of misjudging his opponent. “I underestimated you, Saber of Black. You live up to your title.”

“It’s just that I happened to know your weakness,” Saber replied honestly. “Without your heel, I couldn’t even scratch you.”

Achilles raised his shield, gripping his spear tightly in the stance of a disciplined hoplite. Saber understood that even with his speed reduced, defeating him outright would be a monumental task.

Landing another blow on his heel would be nearly impossible now that Achilles was guarding it.

“To think I’d end up like this… like some common foot soldier,” Achilles muttered bitterly, his dissatisfaction with himself evident. “I’m a disgrace to my teacher’s teachings.”

He doesn’t know about Chiron’s involvement yet, Saber thought. Without him, I wouldn’t stand a chance against Rider of Red.

“Are you a woman?” Achilles suddenly asked, catching Saber off guard.

Before she could respond, he drove his spear into the ground.

“Never mind. I’ll find out for myself!”

“Go Forth!”
“My Lance! My Conviction!”
“[Diatrekhōn Astēr Lonkhē]!”

The world shifted.

The spear glowed, casting its radiance across the darkened hall. Slowly, the surroundings grew brighter, until the entire battlefield seemed to exist in a separate dimension.

Is this a Reality Marble? Saber wondered, though the mechanics eluded her. She immediately sensed her Noble Phantasms had been sealed.

While she still held [Durandal], its true name could no longer be invoked. For Saber, this wasn’t a major disadvantage—[Durandal]’s greatest strength was its indestructibility, unaffected by such seals.

But the suppression of her [Mana Burst] and the dulled effect of her [Instincts] posed a significant challenge. Her [Mind’s Eye (Fake)] remained functional, but the situation had grown far more perilous.

“This domain… it’s designed for single combat,” Saber observed. Her magical enhancements were stripped away, leaving her reliant on pure skill.

“You… this is your true form, isn’t it?” Achilles said, astonished.

“Yes,” Saber replied, her voice raspy and heavy. Her transformed state loomed in the hall’s strange light—a figure cloaked in shadows, wielding [Durandal] in one hand and [Avalon] in the other.

—

T/N: lmaoo all those enhancements and they get removed right away

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!