This Is My Holy Grail War [56]

A thunderous roar shattered the night, its vibrations shaking the entire Emiya residence.

The furious Berserker, called forth by Illyasviel’s command, materialized from his spirit form. The appearance of the black-armored Servant froze everyone in the room.

In the confined space, Berserker raised his colossal slab-like sword high into the air.

BOOM!

The floor shook violently as the massive sword struck, flipping the table and sending steaming dishes crashing to the ground. The sheer force of his swing created an explosion-like impact.

Run!

That was the only thought in Rin and Shirou’s minds. There was no time to hesitate—the specter of death loomed over them both.

Neither Shirou nor Rin had anticipated such an outcome. That the small, silver-haired girl could erupt into fury and issue a death sentence over mere words was incomprehensible.

“Big Brother, you’re so boring,” Illya said through gritted teeth. “You’re his child, yet you side with outsiders?” Her voice dripped with disdain.

“Someone like you isn’t worth keeping around. Berserker, kill him!”

The target of her ire wasn’t Rin, the one she had been arguing with—it was Shirou, her supposed host.

Berserker turned wordlessly, his colossal frame advancing step by step like death itself.

Still holding a ladle, the bewildered Shirou stood frozen in place. The utensil was slick with oil from the half-cooked food he had been preparing moments earlier.

“Analyze. Reinforce.”

Desperately, Shirou activated the most basic form of reinforcement magic, strengthening the ladle in his hand.

But it was futile.

With a casual swing of Berserker’s stone sword, the reinforced ladle shattered into fragments. The impact sent Shirou hurtling across the room, crashing to the ground.

It wasn’t even a direct hit. The sheer force of Berserker’s strike had been enough to hurl Shirou like a rag doll. His body skidded across the floor, leaving a long trail before coming to a stop.

Barely able to stand, driven purely by survival instinct, Shirou scrambled to his feet and staggered toward the shed outside. His face was pale with fear, his expression a mix of disbelief and desperation.

Berserker wasted no time. With a mighty sweep, he demolished the shed’s wall. But as the rubble settled, the magic circle within the shed activated. Crimson light bathed the area under the moonlit sky, illuminating the battlefield.

And then, a calm, resolute voice broke through the chaos.

“I have answered your call as Saber. Are you my Master?”

A blonde knight clad in silver armor stepped forth from the light, her figure radiant under the moonlight.

“Saber?” Shirou murmured, confused.

But there was no time to process her words. Illya’s voice rang out again, full of venom. “Kill them, Berserker! And destroy that Saber too!”

“It seems my Master is still adjusting,” Saber noted calmly, “but let us deal with this enemy before discussing anything further.” She shifted into a combat stance.

Without even asking for Shirou’s name, Saber was forced to face the black monstrosity that was Berserker, her blade meeting his enormous stone sword in a clash of sparks and power.

“This… this is a monster,” Rin gasped. She could see Berserker’s stats clearly, and the terrifying numbers made her mind momentarily freeze.

Even Saber, hailed as the strongest of the Knight Classes, was being pushed back. Each clash of blades sapped her strength further, and the power disparity became increasingly evident.

Rin realized Saber wasn’t even given a chance to retreat or maneuver. Her Master, Shirou, stood directly behind her, making it impossible to withdraw without abandoning him.

“Rin, you annoying pest. Die along with them!” Illya snapped, her patience wearing thin.

“Why me?!” Rin yelled.

“Because you’re a vile little snake trying to seduce my Big Brother!” Illya retorted, pointing an accusatory finger.

“Do you know that girl, Master?” Saber asked, glancing at Shirou while still fending off Berserker.

“Yeah,” Shirou admitted, his voice shaky. “But please… protect Rin, if you can.”

“Understood.” Saber nodded firmly. “Stay behind me. Even if I don’t know who you are, no civilian should die at the hands of a Servant. I will do my best to protect you—and her.”

But internally, Saber knew her limits. She could feel her mana reserves dwindling with each exchange, and against Berserker’s unrelenting strength, she was nearing her breaking point.

Berserker charged forward once again, his massive sword poised to strike Saber. Her small frame met his overwhelming bulk head-on, sparks flying as their weapons clashed. The battle was fierce, but it was clear to all: Saber was losing.

This can’t go on… We’ll die at this rate.

Rin’s desperation finally boiled over. “Assassin! I’m lifting all restrictions. Kill! Poison him, ambush him, use whatever dirty tricks you’ve got—just take him down!” Her voice trembled with urgency. “Do it quickly!”

“Oh? So you summoned an Assassin after all?” Illya remarked, a smirk crossing her face. “I should’ve known. No wonder I couldn’t sense a Servant earlier—he was hiding. But this is the end of the line for you, Rin.”

“Understood,” Assassin replied, his voice calm despite the tension.

However, the methods Rin demanded—poison, ambush, underhanded tricks—were not within Assassin’s capabilities. He had no toxins, no spells that could counter Berserker’s monstrous might. And against Illya, brimming with mana, the challenge was even greater.

Even so, Assassin was not entirely helpless.

As Saber prepared herself for Berserker’s next devastating blow, a shadow emerged from the darkness. Assassin stepped forward, materializing from the veil of mist.

His presence was subtle yet commanding. Though he knew he couldn’t kill Berserker outright—at best, he could take one of Berserker’s multiple lives—it would be meaningless in the grand scheme of the battle. His focus wasn’t on victory, but on creating an opening.

To Rin’s and Saber’s shock, Assassin’s face bore a striking resemblance to Artoria’s. His form mirrored the King of Knights in a hauntingly perfect way.

“Saber?” Rin muttered, startled.

“No…” Saber’s gaze flicked between Rin and Assassin, her confusion evident.

In that fleeting moment of hesitation, Berserker charged forward, his massive frame barreling toward Saber like an avalanche.

But before the impact could land, Assassin’s blade swept in from the side, intercepting the attack. His sword stood firm, shielding Saber in the same way a knight might protect a comrade.

“Leave this to me,” Assassin said, exhaling deeply. His voice carried a weight of determination. “Take my Master and retreat.”

—

T/N: ah looks like this Saber isn’t the one from HIS previous war

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!