This Is My Holy Grail War

Amidst the dense forest, the clash of blades continued relentlessly. Each exchange was initiated by Saber, her attacks fierce and unyielding. Assassin, however, seemed content to evade, retaliating only with sporadic counterattacks.

On the surface, Saber appeared to hold the upper hand, commanding the flow of the battle with overwhelming force. But the reality was far more complex.

The forest's dense canopy and rugged terrain constrained Saber's movements. Her powerful swings were often obstructed by thick tree trunks, while precise thrusts failed to find their mark.

Assassin, on the other hand, thrived in this environment. Her exceptional agility allowed her to move with the ease of a fish in water.

"Well played," Saber acknowledged, stepping back to reset her stance. "Luring me into this terrain to limit the reach of a knight's sword... clever strategy."

Assassin remained silent. In truth, this was all Kirei Kotomine's plan.

At first, she had thought Kirei's intention was merely to avoid exposing magic to ordinary people. But now, she realized there was a deeper purpose.

While Assassin remained in Saber's direct line of sight, Saber's peripheral vision scanned the surroundings. Under the faint moonlight, the forest appeared a labyrinth of interwoven trees and shrubs, their shadows stretching endlessly.

If she can use these trees as cover, then I'll simply destroy them.

When Assassin dodged her next swing, Saber didn't retract her blade. Instead, she increased her strength, slicing cleanly through a tree.

The massive trunk toppled with a deafening crash, leaving behind a smooth stump as evidence of the holy sword's power.

Saber continued her rampage, hacking away at the forest like an unstoppable machine. Though her title was that of a knight, her current demeanor resembled that of a berserker.

Despite the chaos, Assassin made no attempt to stop Saber or retreat to more favorable terrain.

Assassin's movements were entirely guided by instinct. Though her actions appeared calculated, they masked an inner confusion and inexperience.

She dodged Saber's sword with increasing confidence. Though she lacked the courage to parry Saber's strikes directly, her evasions were flawless. Even at close range, Saber's attacks failed to land.

For the first time, Assassin decided to go on the offensive.

She charged forward, using her momentum to duck low. Sliding beneath Saber's swing, she watched the invisible blade sweep just inches above her, catching a fleeting glimpse of the moon through its translucent aura.

The blade came so close that a strand of her golden hair was severed, drifting to the ground. Using the momentum of her slide, Assassin retaliated with a wide, arcing swing aimed at Saber's waist.

Assassin's grip on the hilt was untrained, her strike driven purely by brute force rather than technique.

Screech! 

Sparks flew as her sword scraped against Saber's armor. The impact was dramatic, but ultimately futile—the blade failed to pierce through.

Saber's armor, fortified by the magic of the Red Dragon's heart, could easily deflect ordinary weapons.

But Saber had planned for this. She had deliberately baited Assassin into attacking, waiting for the perfect moment to counter.

Now!

Assassin's slide left her unable to recover her balance quickly. Saber capitalized on the opening, unleashing a decisive strike.

The [Barrier of the Wind King] dissipated, revealing the radiant blade of [Excalibur]. With a single, fatal blow, Saber aimed to cut Assassin in two.

Yet before the swing could connect, Assassin's [Instinct] painted the scene vividly in her mind—gushing blood, a body severed in two.

She could see it all.

But rather than panic, she reacted instantly.

Over the course of the battle, she had seen this vision of her demise countless times. She had learned to adapt.

Twisting her body mid-slide, Assassin planted her hand on a fallen tree stump. Using it as leverage, she performed a backflip, narrowly avoiding Saber's killing blow.

The clash left both combatants momentarily separated. As they reset, Saber noticed something peculiar: Assassin's grip on her sword.

"You don't know how to use a sword, do you?" Saber asked, creating some distance between them. "Even your grip is wrong."

Wrong was an understatement. Assassin's handling of the weapon was clumsy, as if she were holding a sword for the first time.

Saber couldn't reconcile this contradiction. On the one hand, Assassin's lack of technique was obvious. Yet her movements were so refined, her reactions so precise, that Saber couldn't find an opening to exploit.

"It's true. I don't know how to use a sword," Assassin admitted. Only recently had she gained a body of her own, thrust into the chaos of the Holy Grail War. Swordsmanship was a foreign concept to her.

"Then why do you wield one?" Saber pressed. A knight would never allow their sword to leave their side, and surely a Heroic Spirit would carry a weapon suited to their legend.

"This is all I have," Assassin replied simply. Perhaps because Saber appeared as a kindred spirit—an earnest and youthful face—Assassin felt no animosity toward her, despite their enmity.

Saber nodded thoughtfully, piecing together the implication.

Perhaps her class has restricted her access to better weapons… That would explain it.

Though Assassin's armor appeared identical to Saber's and even radiated magical energy, it was no more than an imitation.

What can she possibly achieve with such low Mana?

Her enchanted blade barely held up against the holy sword's [Barrier of the Wind King]. There was no way she could sustain additional reinforcement for her armor.

Assassin glanced down at her chest plate. Though it mimicked the appearance of durable armor, she knew it provided no real protection. In a fight against Saber, it was effectively useless.

With a sigh, she let the magical construct disintegrate into shimmering particles, revealing a simple azure dress beneath.

Why would she abandon her armor? Saber's brows furrowed in confusion. She had never struck Assassin's armor, so she had no way of knowing its limitations.

Does she think I'm incapable of hurting her?

Saber's thoughts turned inward. Each encounter with a Heroic Spirit deepened her conviction.

No matter the odds, every Heroic Spirit summoned by the Holy Grail deserves respect. That's why… the Holy Grail is worth fighting for.

Saber's resolve intensified, her gaze briefly flickering with a fervent light.

"Your movements far surpass mine," Saber admitted with sincerity. "If we continue, I don't believe I can defeat you. Surely, you must be a hero of great renown."

"I'm just an ordinary person," Assassin replied quietly.

"You are far too modest," Saber countered. "With your skill, victory is beyond my grasp."

Despite Saber's overwhelming defensive capabilities, Assassin's relentless precision kept her constantly on edge. Each of Assassin's strikes targeted Saber's most vulnerable areas—her neck, her joints.

Though Saber's armor protected her vitals, the sheer pressure of Assassin's attacks left her nerves frayed. It was like walking a razor's edge, where any misstep could spell disaster.

Saber retreated a few paces, her sword glowing with a pale blue light. [Invisible Air] roared to life, gathering energy as the surrounding winds coiled tightly around her blade.