This Is My Holy Grail War

Beneath a heavy, oppressive sky lay a desolate forest. At the end of a narrow, cobbled path stood a decrepit wooden shack, its structure on the verge of collapse.

The interior was dark, devoid of any warmth. Only the pale, cold moonlight filtered through rusted iron-framed windows, casting faint patterns on the floor.

A biting wind whispered through the cracks, carrying with it the chill of death. The dilapidated shack provided no resistance against the elements, yet the young man standing inside remained perfectly composed, his posture upright and steady.

The room was empty save for him, and the darkness bore down with an almost tangible loneliness. Yet he stood unmoved, undeterred by the solitude.

He wore no ornaments, only a plain black priest's robe, with a simple gold cross hanging from his neck. His short hair was neatly trimmed, his sharp gaze exuding a quiet intensity. Yet, deep within those eyes, there lingered a trace of something inscrutable—a hint of confusion or doubt buried beneath his resolute exterior.

The cold wind. The pale moon. The rusted window. All of it mingled with the faint sound of running water from the forest beyond.

In this stillness, the man—Kirei Kotomine—spoke.

"I declare…"

The cross at his chest and the simplicity of his black robe marked him unmistakably as a servant of God. Yet, in this moment, the priest was reciting a heretical incantation.

The chant was long—interminably so.

Each word was spoken with precision, his tone steady, his focus unyielding. As the incantation continued, Kirei could feel the vitality draining from his body.

To perform magic, one needed mana. And magi converted their own life force into mana through the use of magical circuits.

"Entwine the three great words of power over the seven heavens."

Before Kirei was a summoning circle, a magic array meticulously drawn with lines of crimson that pulsed with a faint glow of mana. As he chanted, the array began to shimmer, radiating waves of light.

The strain of the ritual caused his body to operate at its limits, his life force being continuously siphoned to fuel the summoning. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat as rapid as a racing clock.

"…From the Wheel of Restraint, manifest upon this plane, O Guardian of the Scales!"

Beads of sweat trickled down his back, soaking through his robes. The final incantation left him utterly spent, as though his very essence had been wrung dry. The sharpness in his eyes dulled, replaced by a weary fatigue.

A faint blue mist began to rise from the summoning circle. Suddenly, an intense, bone-chilling cold erupted from within, sending a shiver through Kirei's body.

In that instant, he sensed the contract's completion. The Command Spells etched on the back of his hand flared with power, signifying the successful summoning of a Heroic Spirit.

The cold seemed to swallow the sparse moonlight. From the center of the magic array, a black void appeared—a small vortex that expanded outward, spreading like a thin mist before condensing into a humanoid form.

The figure that emerged was strange—an ethereal entity cloaked in black mist. Floating mid-air, it resembled a ghost. The vague outline of a human form was visible, yet its lower body was entirely absent.

Kirei Kotomine had become the first Master of this Holy Grail War, the first to summon a Servant. Under Tokiomi Tohsaka's instructions, he had modified the incantation to specifically call forth Hassan—the only Assassin that could theoretically be summoned in Fuyuki City.

The room fell into silence.

Through the rusted iron window, the faint moonlight cast a spectral glow. Kirei could feel the Servant's gaze upon him, scrutinizing him.

But the figure said nothing. It made no inquiries about Kirei's intentions and spoke no words of acknowledgment. It merely stood there, watching him with an unsettling stillness.

Despite the lack of visible eyes, Kirei could sense the weight of its gaze. It was sharp, piercing—an almost palpable presence.

For years, Kirei Kotomine had served as an agent of the Church, a perfect enforcer of divine will. Even when delving into heretical arts, he pursued excellence with unwavering resolve.

This was his first time standing before a legendary hero, and though his heart pounded with unspoken tension, he forced himself to remain composed.

Servants were no mere familiars. They possessed their own wills and were beings of extraordinary power, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary magi. To ensure a smooth collaboration, Kirei resolved to make a favorable first impression.

The room's air grew even colder, as though death itself had arrived. Kirei felt as though he was standing before a specter from the depths of Hell.

In truth, as an Executor of the Church, he had faced many vengeful spirits and rogue magi. But this was the first time he had felt such primal fear—a fear that seemed to emanate from the Servant itself, as though it truly had walked through the Underworld.

Assassin remained silent, as if testing Kirei's worthiness as a Master.

But the Holy Grail War was already beginning, and there was little time to waste. Kirei knew he had to contact Tokiomi soon and could not afford to linger here unnecessarily.

"Welcome to this world, Assassin," Kirei said, his voice calm but urgent. "As a Servant responding to my summons, shouldn't you now reveal your name to your Master?"

"My name?" The voice that emerged from the black mist was cold and gravelly, carrying a chill that made Kirei involuntarily shiver.

Assassin hesitated briefly before speaking again.

"I ask you: Are you truly my Master?"

"Yes." Kirei raised his hand, displaying the Command Spells etched on his skin. "As your Master, I need to know your name," he explained. "Only with mutual trust can we triumph in the Holy Grail War."

"An assassin needs no name," the Servant replied, its tone matter-of-fact. "Any assassin whose name is known is an unworthy one."

Kirei didn't perceive this as evasion but instead took the words to heart.

Of course. If an assassin's name became widely known, they would hardly live up to their title.

So, this must be a true assassin, Kirei thought with a flicker of satisfaction.

"I see," he said, nodding in acknowledgment. "An assassin, as expected, wouldn't easily reveal their identity."

"Servants are spirits born of legend," Kirei continued, pressing for information. "Surely you must have a story, a myth, or at least a fragment of history to your name?"

"I have no legend, nor a name," Assassin replied. "I am but an assassin—nameless from the beginning. If necessary, address me simply by my class: Assassin."

The coarse voice carried a faint hint of resignation. Kirei recognized this tone, one he had heard many times before from devout followers who had sacrificed everything for their faith, only to remain unacknowledged in death.

"I understand, Assassin," Kirei said solemnly.

The subject was closed, but Kirei's attention shifted to the Servant's stats.

Strength: D

Endurance: E

Agility: A+

Mana: D

Luck: D

Such abysmal stats—save for Agility—left no impression of combat prowess.

"Let's set names aside for now. Tell me about your Noble Phantasm."

Assassin paused before responding.

"I can disguise myself as any Servant I've seen. No one can discern the difference from appearance alone."

While this Noble Phantasm synergized perfectly with the Assassin class, its utility in the Holy Grail War was limited. It couldn't imitate the bond of Command Spells, making it ineffective against most Masters.

So, this Assassin will be better suited for reconnaissance… or ambushing other Masters, Kirei thought in silence.

He turned his gaze toward the darkened woods outside.

"I'll introduce you to my mentor soon," Kirei said. "He is a magus of great renown from the Clock Tower, elegant and noble. Perhaps he will also participate in this Holy Grail War…"

Kirei hinted at his teacher's potential involvement, all while maintaining an air of deception.

Under Tokiomi's orders, even Assassin would be tested for loyalty before being entrusted with the full plan.

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T/N: oooh Kirei huh? I hope gil is... written correctly