This Is My Holy Grail War

Assassin had already observed Saber. With that, his sole Noble Phantasm, Not for One's Own Glory, was ready to activate. He understood its full potential—not merely a disguise but a means to replicate a Servant's martial prowess.

Before Saber's eyes and the gaze of unseen observers, the black mist surrounding Assassin began to shift. Slowly, it coalesced, forming a new body piece by piece.

Until now, Assassin had been without a physical form, existing only as a spirit.

But now, through the power of the Noble Phantasm, his form transformed into an exact replica of Saber. Though the new body was constructed from magical energy, it was indistinguishable from a living, breathing one.

In appearance, Assassin was now identical to Saber. Not only did he inherit her physical features, but he also gained Saber's martial skills and a portion of her personal abilities.

[Acquired A-rank skill: Instinct. ]

[Acquired A-rank skill: Mana Burst.]

[Not For One's Own Glory] allowed Assassin to replicate the skills of his target. However, it could not copy their Noble Phantasms or attributes. Still, it could deceive Masters into believing Assassin's stats had changed to match the replicated Servant.

In reality, this illusion of increased attributes was only perceptual; Assassin's actual stats remained unchanged.

Although it seemed only Saber and Assassin were present in the clearing, countless familiars hidden in the surrounding forest revealed the scene to other Masters. Nearly every participant in the Holy Grail War was now watching.

While Assassin's Noble Phantasm had been exposed, its exact capabilities were unclear. Only two Masters had directly witnessed it: Kiritsugu Emiya, hidden in the forest, and Kirei Kotomine, observing through his contract with Assassin.

[Not For One's Own Glory] fooled both. Even Kirei, who should have known better, saw Assassin's perceived stats transform into those of Saber—a seemingly flawless match.

Saber's eyes widened in realization.

"A mimic…" she muttered. "I see. If Servants never revealed themselves, your Noble Phantasm would be useless, wouldn't it?"

Her gaze hardened. "So this is your trump card—the reason an Assassin dares to show themselves so openly."

Saber brandished her sword in a sweeping arc, anger evident in her movements. No one liked being used, let alone seeing their very form duplicated so perfectly.

"You may mimic my appearance," she declared, "but can you mimic my sword?"

Saber's statement was sharp and true—Noble Phantasms could not be replicated. The weapon in Assassin's hand was still an ordinary knight's sword.

Her words reminded Assassin of this stark limitation. Saber's blade, after all, was the most legendary of holy swords. Any direct clash would shatter his mundane weapon in an instant.

Assassin examined the cool steel of the knight's sword in his hand, its reflection catching his now-Saber-like features.

Though [Not For One's Own Glory] had replicated Saber's form perfectly, there was a subtle difference. This version of Saber lacked the commanding edge of a king; instead, her face bore a youthful innocence, almost untainted by battle.

For the first time, Assassin felt the solidity of the ground beneath his feet. His hand pressed hesitantly against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of a beating heart. The warmth of a body—his body—was something he hadn't experienced in so long.

Thank you. Whoever you are, whatever your purpose… At least for now, I am alive.

A smile spread across Assassin's face. The youthful expression, soft and pure, was reminiscent of Saber's early days, before she had drawn the Sword of Selection and taken up the mantle of king.

Saber's thoughts briefly wandered to the moment she had drawn the sacred blade, to the hopes of her people and the burden she had chosen to carry. Her resolve solidified.

With a decisive stomp, Saber launched herself forward, sending a cloud of dust into the air. Her invisible sword carved a deadly crescent arc through the darkness, slicing cleanly through the air toward Assassin.

The unseen blade of shrouded with [Invisible Air] was a weapon of absolute lethality. Though its form was hidden, its danger was undeniable.

But Assassin's [Mind's Eye (Fake)] granted a clear vision of the incoming attack—the sword's shape, length, size, and trajectory all appeared vividly in his mind.

He instinctively raised his knight's sword to block, but Saber's Instinct surged in his thoughts, warning him of the consequences. If his blade clashed with Saber's holy sword, it would shatter instantly, and he would be struck down by the overwhelming force of her blow.

It was as if his mind played a vivid simulation of the future, showing multiple disastrous outcomes.

Faced with this grim reality for the first time, Assassin's body moved on its own, reacting faster than his thoughts could keep up.

His borrowed combat instincts—deeply engraved into the body created by [Not For One's Own Glory]—allowed him to evade the strike with a precision born of countless battles.

Saber's blade whooshed past Assassin's face, missing by mere inches. The wind pressure alone cut into the air with a piercing whistle, carrying a chilling intensity that brushed against his skin.

Seizing the opportunity, Assassin swung his knight's sword upward in a quick, calculated motion. While the simple weapon couldn't penetrate Saber's magically reinforced armor, it was aimed at her unprotected face, forcing her to withdraw.

Assassin's Agility, his sole superior attribute, made the attack lightning-fast. Even Saber's vaunted instincts only narrowly allowed her to evade the blow by leaning back and leaping away.

For the first time in their confrontation, Assassin had successfully turned aside Saber's charge.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest, adrenaline coursing through him. The thrill of combat ignited a fire within, making his hands tremble slightly as he steadied himself.

The clouds thickened, obscuring the moonlight. Darkness fell over the forest as Saber realigned her stance.

"Impressive technique," she admitted, though her gaze remained sharp. "But tell me—how are you able to discern the length of my sword?"

"I see it as it swings toward me," Assassin replied.

Their voices were eerily similar, though Saber's carried the regal confidence of a king, while Assassin's tone was that of a sweet, inexperienced girl.

Assassin decided to test his limited magic. Channeling the scant D-rank mana available to him, he poured it into the knight's sword. The dull blade took on a faint, pale blue glow, an almost imperceptible aura of energy enveloping its surface.

The sensation was new to Assassin. As he ran his fingers along the blade, he marveled at its texture, as though the weapon were coated in a fragile layer of frost.

To Saber, however, the scene was infuriating.

"Stop playing with my face like this!" she barked, her voice rising in anger.

She wasn't only irritated by Assassin's childish curiosity. She saw herself reflected in this naive mimic, a mirror of her own younger self—innocent and untouched by the bloody reality of war.

But this was no place for sentimentality.

The Holy Grail War was a battleground where mercy, kindness, and sympathy had no place. Here, only bloodshed reigned supreme.

To the victor went the Holy Grail, along with their deepest wish fulfilled.

For the defeated, there was nothing but oblivion.

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T/N: WAIT WAIT WAIT BEFORE YOU CRUCIFY ME, IMAGINE [Not For One's Own Glory] TO HAVE BEEN REFITTED TO FIT THE ASSASSIN CLASS OR HIM AS A SERVANT