This Is My Holy Grail War

The library was now a smoldering ruin, steeped in the acrid stench of ash and fire.

Deep breath...

Standing atop a low building, Assassin inhaled the air thick with the remnants of destruction. Even from her perch, she could hear the fierce crackle of flames licking at the ruins below.

From her vantage point, Assassin's sharp eyes immediately caught sight of Rider amidst the wreckage. She knew his true name, the nature of his Noble Phantasms, and even his personality and Master.

The fact that Kiritsugu Emiya had chosen Rider's team as his first target surprised her slightly. But the sheer destructiveness of the bombing confirmed it—this was unmistakably Kiritsugu's handiwork.

In this Fourth Holy Grail War, held in Fuyuki City, who else but Kiritsugu Emiya would resort to such tactics?

Unmoved by Rider's enraged accusations, Assassin remained hidden on the rooftop of the short building.

However, when Rider's voice carried words of admiration, Assassin couldn't help but feel her cheeks flush faintly. A gallant knight? A noble hero? His praise left her somewhat flustered.

Archer's disdain for Rider's taunts, however, came as no surprise.

She was certain, though, that Tokiomi Tohsaka would never permit Archer to use [Ea] against Rider. Without employing such a powerful trump card, however, there would be no way to overwhelm Rider's vast army of Heroic Spirits.

Assassin's keen senses picked up on it—a faint, drifting yellow sand nearby. It was the precursor to Rider's Noble Phantasm, [Ionioi Hetairoi].

Yet instead of predicting a direct clash between Rider and Archer, her instincts alerted her to two gunshots, followed by the mental image of a sniper bullet tearing through the air toward her!

Reacting in an instant, Assassin raised her sword and slashed diagonally. With a sharp clang, she cleaved the bullet into fragments, but the act inadvertently revealed her position.

Perched on the low building, Assassin stood higher than Archer, who was still balanced on the now fragile streetlamp.

To Archer, the very notion of being looked down upon was an unforgivable offense. As the most ancient King of Heroes, such insolence was intolerable.

Archer's arrogant eyes, filled with icy contempt, locked onto Assassin. The intense killing intent radiating from him was palpable, and with an involuntary motion, he crushed the streetlamp underfoot.

"Let your shattered corpse atone for this insult!"

The [Gate of Babylon] shifted its aim upward. Without sparing Assassin a glance, Archer directed his armory toward her.

In the air behind Archer, over twenty golden ripples shimmered, each brimming with destructive potential. Four of these portals adjusted their angle, pointing directly at Assassin. The rest remained aimed at Rider, as if swatting at a bothersome mosquito.

The next moment, the treasures of the King of Heroes burst forth in brilliant golden streaks.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Four gilded spears shot out, each a Noble Phantasm of at least rank C or higher. Despite their forms as melee weapons, the spears roared through the air like artillery shells, tearing toward Assassin.

Assassin's instincts screamed at her—they weren't just weapons; they were missiles. She watched as the projectiles crashed into the dilapidated building below her, their impact triggering a violent explosion that brought the already crumbling structure down in an earth-shaking collapse.

I can't stay here!

With a burst of speed, Assassin dashed forward and leaped high into the air.

As she soared away from the falling debris, she saw the spears narrowly miss her. Time seemed to slow in her heightened state of awareness, her agility allowing her to analyze the weapons in astonishing detail.

Though their exteriors glimmered with gold, the true color of the spears was a cold iron blue.

Boom! 

The moment Assassin landed on the ground, the building behind her succumbed entirely to the flames and rubble.

"Dodging?" Archer turned to her with a smug expression, crossing his arms in mockery. "Let's see how long you can keep running, little insect!"

New portals shimmered into existence behind Archer, exactly eight this time. Without a trace of mercy, he unleashed another barrage of treasures from the [Gate of Babylon].

The first to fly toward Assassin was a spear, its serpentine head coiling menacingly, with a shaft over four meters long.

Assassin sidestepped with precision, allowing the spear to strike the ground where she had just been standing.

Next came a polearm with a curved blade and a hooked tip. As it slammed into the earth, it discharged crackling arcs of lightning in every direction.

Move right!

Pushing off the ground with her foot, Assassin darted to the right. The polearm landed to her left with a deafening crack of thunder.

Following that were a pitchfork and an axe, both aiming for her right side. But retreating left would place her directly in the path of the lightning—no escape there.

Instead, Assassin leaped gracefully into the air. While she avoided the pitchfork's strike, the axe still threatened her mid-flight trajectory. Adjusting mid-air, she angled her iron sword and, guided by her innate sense, deflected the axe with a precise parry.

The impact left her arm trembling with numbness, but there was no time to dwell on it. A silver trident, glowing ominously, was now hurtling toward her.

Even the golden sheen of the [Gate of Babylon] couldn't obscure the brilliance of the trident's silver tip. This was a Noble Phantasm of at least A rank.

The trident will explode on the right. Leap left and use the blast's shockwave to minimize damage.

Making her decision instantly, Assassin launched herself to the left just as the trident detonated. The explosion's force hurled her backward, rattling her insides and leaving her blood roiling.

As she landed, Assassin's sharp eyes caught sight of two swords in the air. They crossed paths mid-flight, their trajectory subtly shifting.

Bend backward to avoid them!

Prepared for this maneuver, Assassin arched her back, executing a graceful bridge pose. The blades streaked past her face, so close they nearly grazed her forehead.

The final weapon was a fiery crimson morning star, its spiked head glowing with heat.

The morning star would scorch the ground upon impact, but its range was limited.

Lightly stepping onto the embedded shaft of the serpent spear, Assassin used it as a springboard to leap upward.

When the fiery weapon struck the ground, a two-meter radius instantly turned into molten lava. Yet Assassin remained untouched, her footing secure atop the spear, which had plunged deep into the earth and resisted the fiery onslaught.

Surrounded by searing flames, Assassin stood poised on the spear's tail. Under the crescent moon's glow, she raised her gaze to meet Archer's, their eyes locking in silent confrontation.

---

T/N: UUUUUUUUUU