This Is My Holy Grail War [16]

“Assassin… do you know this dark, hulking brute?” Rider asked.

But Berserker gave Assassin no time to respond. The crazed Servant surged toward her, hoisting the pillar in his hands before leaping high into the air.

A vicious wind howled in the wake of Berserker’s overwhelming strength as the grotesque, crimson-veined weapon came crashing down toward Assassin’s slender frame.

With a deafening boom, the pillar slammed into the ground, shattering it on impact. Dust and debris erupted skyward, veiling the battlefield in a storm of rubble.

From the moment Berserker appeared, Assassin knew escape was impossible.

Her agility was extraordinary, ranking at A+, making her one of the swiftest Servants in the Holy Grail War. But Berserker’s speed was equally unmatched.

Worse still, Berserker had superior endurance and magical energy reserves. Even if she managed to outrun him temporarily, she would eventually succumb to exhaustion, unable to maintain the chase.

I can’t run—I have to fight!

As Berserker’s massive pillar descended, Assassin pivoted left, narrowly dodging the crushing blow. Taking advantage of the swirling dust for cover, she slid toward Berserker and thrust her sword at his side.

Berserker, a raging beast stripped of reason, made a rookie mistake—an overhead slam left him vulnerable, locked into his attack with no way to evade.

Though Assassin lacked battlefield experience, her Instinct guided her perfectly, showing her the path to victory.

But just like against Saber, her blade failed to pierce Berserker’s armor.

As the dust settled under the moonlight, Assassin caught her first clear view of Berserker’s form.

A slight smirk played on her lips. She prepared to activate her Noble Phantasm, [Not For One’s Own Glory], intending to mimic Berserker’s appearance. The skill, granting her access to his infinite martial expertise, seemed like the perfect counter.

Yet her anticipation turned to alarm—her Noble Phantasm failed to activate.

Panic surged through her. This can’t happen! My Noble Phantasm is my lifeline—it’s my only hope for survival!

Berserker, too, had used a Noble Phantasm to disguise himself. Since she couldn’t see his true form, Assassin was unable to mimic Lancelot.

In that split second of hesitation, Berserker charged forward, slamming his armored body into her with tremendous force.

The sheer impact, bolstered by Berserker’s A-ranked Strength and Endurance, hit like a runaway train.

Bam!

Assassin was sent flying backward, tumbling through the air before crashing into the ground.

Sweet, metallic blood welled up in her throat, spilling out as she struggled to rise. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she wiped the blood from her lips.

Her body screamed in protest. Every bone felt shattered.

The difference in their stats was insurmountable. It was as if a gnat were trying to topple a towering tree.

Through the haze of agony, Assassin heard the cracks of her own fractured bones. But amidst the torment, a spark ignited—unyielding determination glimmered in her gaze.

The once-gentle features of the youthful girl now carried a resolute fierceness, a shift reminiscent of Artoria herself.

Raising her head, Assassin met Berserker’s blood-red eyes. Instead of cowering, she glared defiantly.

Yes, in their brief exchange, she had grasped the truth—Berserker was an overwhelming opponent.

But that didn’t mean she was doomed.

If I can hold out long enough, I can win!

Though she disliked her Master, Kirei Kotomine, she couldn’t deny his prowess as a magus. Compared to the frail and deteriorating Kariya Matou, Kirei’s mana reserves were far more stable and enduring.

Berserker’s mana consumption vastly outstripped her own. While Kariya had gained immense magical energy by sacrificing his life force, it was a finite resource. If she could prolong the fight, Kariya would deplete his mana, leaving Berserker helpless.

Hang in there—I can win!

Fueled by adrenaline and pain, Assassin felt her blood boiling.

This is madness!

Yet she surged forward, recklessly launching a countercharge toward Berserker.

The young girl clenched her teeth as she dashed straight into his guttural roars. At the last moment, she shifted her posture, using a sudden stop to dodge Berserker’s wild swing.

Exploiting his momentum, she widened the gap between them.

Again and again, Assassin weaved in and out, baiting Berserker’s attacks and slipping away just before they could land. She didn’t aim to land hits—each of her movements was a feint, designed to exhaust his energy.

Her lithe form danced around Berserker like a shadow, constantly moving, constantly evading.

She understood the key to survival: conserving her own stamina while forcing Berserker to expend his.

As long as Kirei continued supplying her with mana faster than she could burn through it, she wouldn’t falter.

Unlike Berserker, Assassin’s spiritual body required a steady flow of magical energy to maintain its strength. As long as that flow remained uninterrupted, she wouldn’t tire.

Meanwhile, Berserker’s frenzied attacks consumed vast amounts of mana. His strength was monstrous, each strike capable of lethal damage.

But madness came at a cost. His mindless rage stripped away strategy, leaving him unable to conserve energy.

This is my chance to win!

Praise Kirei Kotomine!

Assassin danced on the knife’s edge, evading Berserker’s relentless storm of attacks while chipping away at his Master’s dwindling reserves.

Despite his lack of rational thought, Berserker’s body instinctively responded to her feints, expending precious energy to defend against blows that never came.

The battlefield became a stage, with the nimble Assassin gliding through the chaos and the black-armored Berserker crashing through like a maddened beast.

But this deadly dance held no sparks. Assassin dared not let her blade connect—Berserker’s monstrous power was too deadly to risk a direct clash. Instead, she moved like a shadow, leading him into an unwinnable war of attrition.

—

T/N: thats… the first time I saw someone praising the sleezy priest

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!