This Is My Holy Grail War [68]

Assassin’s brutal combat style had shaken Matou Shinji, pushing the self-proclaimed magus into making what he thought was a clever decision—but one that was nothing short of disastrous.

Along the vertical walls of the school building, two figures defied gravity, sprinting as if the walls were an open field. One was a graceful, violet-haired beauty; the other, a golden-haired warrior clad in heavy armor.

The concrete wall, with its sparse gaps and widely spaced windows, was an impossible surface for ordinary humans to climb, let alone traverse at such speeds.

Yet, for Assassin and Rider, it had become their battlefield—a stage for a fight no human could even fathom.

In Assassin’s emerald eyes, the seductive silhouette of Rider was reflected clearly.

The violet-haired woman moved with astonishing speed, utilizing her chains to hook onto the edges of the concrete and swing herself in sharp turns. She changed directions effortlessly, like a gazelle darting away from a pursuing cheetah.

Assassin’s speed was superior, but her mobility during sharp turns lagged behind Rider’s. Without tools like Rider’s chains to adjust her trajectory, Assassin was forced to slow down to counteract inertia before resuming the chase.

This was no straight-line sprint; it was a grueling obstacle course.

Killing Rider quickly seemed unlikely, but Assassin wasn’t pressed for time. She knew that if Saber and Caster engaged in a direct clash, Saber would have the upper hand.

All Assassin had to do was keep Rider occupied. Eventually, Saber would emerge victorious, tipping the battle in their favor.

Suddenly, Assassin noticed Rider shifting her movement. Instead of continuing along the side of the wall, she began climbing upward, defying gravity even further.

Strange… why is she changing tactics? Assassin thought, her brow furrowing.

Ascending a wall was difficult for both of them, but if they reached the rooftop, Assassin’s superior agility would give her the upper hand.

Without hesitation, Assassin followed.

She leapt upward, kicking against the concrete wall with explosive force, leaving a crater behind as she launched herself skyward.

Her jump, powered by inhuman strength, sent her soaring like a bird. Midair, she raised her sword, the edge gleaming with killing intent as she aimed for Rider’s back.

The distance was significant, but the surge of mana radiating from her blade tore through the air with a roar, creating a destructive arc of energy aimed at her target.

To Assassin’s surprise, Rider didn’t attempt to evade. Instead, she accelerated, as if willingly embracing the incoming attack.

The blade struck true. Blood sprayed into the air as a deep gash appeared across Rider’s back.

Rider flipped gracefully in midair, her body spinning as she plummeted downward. She let gravity guide her, her descent rapid and controlled.

Blood dripped from her wounds as she passed by Assassin, whose upward momentum made it impossible for her to change direction.

What is she planning?

Assassin watched in confusion as Rider unsealed her [Mystic Eyes]. A chilling pulse rippled through the air, each thrum quickening like the beat of a racing heart.

Assassin’s own heart sank.

She was all too aware that her [Magic Resistance], even augmented by Rin’s mana, was a weak C-rank—insufficient to counteract the petrifying effects of Rider’s [Mystic Eyes].

If the eyes activated, even indirect exposure could spell doom. In an instant, Assassin would be reduced to nothing more than a lifeless stone statue.

Unable to fully counteract her momentum, Assassin collided with the side of the building. The impact shattered her gauntlet and sent cracks spidering across the wall. Blood seeped from her injuries, but Assassin gritted her teeth and refused to falter.

Like a vengeful specter, she pushed herself off the wall, her intent clear: to drag Rider into the abyss if it meant her own demise.

Yet, just as she steeled herself for a final confrontation, Assassin realized Rider wasn’t preparing to attack her.

Rider’s bold maneuver had only been a means to disengage.

What?!

Assassin saw Rider redirect her focus downward, her descent aimed at the base of the building. It was a tactical retreat, not an attempt to finish the fight.

For a brief moment, Assassin was reminded of her encounter with Lancer during the previous war—the fleeting resolve to face death, only for the enemy to retreat instead.

But Rider’s retreat wasn’t her own decision alone. It was influenced by Matou Shinji, who had grossly misjudged Assassin’s true abilities. Shinji had mistaken her falsified stats for reality, believing Assassin’s agility to be merely A, rather than the superior A+.

Rider, misled by her Master’s assessment and her own experiences during the chase, opted to disengage at the cost of injury. She knew all too well how difficult it was to shake off an opponent with such speed.

The problem, however, lay not with Rider but with her Master’s orders.

Rider stopped momentarily at the edge of a window, preparing to unleash her [Mystic Eyes]. The act created a momentary vulnerability—a rare opportunity for Assassin to strike.

This is it, Assassin thought. Now’s my chance.

Rider had been moving too quickly for a decisive blow earlier. But now, with her pause, the window of opportunity opened.

At the same time, Rider focused her [Mystic Eyes] not on Assassin but on Saber, per Shinji’s frantic orders.

Use your  [Mystic Eyes] on the other one! Her [Magic Resistance] is too high for it to work, but it will at least weaken her resolve. That’s all we need! Shinji’s voice rang in Rider’s mind.

Unbeknownst to Shinji, Assassin seized the moment.

Unlike Rider’s [Mystic Eyes], which were a natural part of her existence, Assassin’s eyes were a mimicry—stolen and replicated through her Noble Phantasm. But the cost of this power was immense, rapidly draining Assassin’s mana as the Mystic Eyes activated.

The energy from the replicated [Mystic Eyes] surged violently, turning everything within Assassin’s line of sight to stone.

An eye for an eye.

Rider locked her petrifying gaze on Saber, while Assassin, in turn, directed her stolen [Mystic Eyes] at Rider.

Rider was watching Saber, but Assassin’s gaze never left her.

—

T/N: AND WOULDNT YOU KNOW IT! A MISPLAY FOR THE GREAT SHINJI MATOU!

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!