Fate: Holy Grail

[3rd POV]

Assassin had already seen Saber's appearance, and his only Noble Phantasm, "For Someone's Glory," was now ready to activate. 

He knew well that this Noble Phantasm was not just for disguise but also allowed him to absorb the martial prowess of these Servants.

The black mist began to shift, and before Saber and all those observing, the mist surrounding Assassin started to take shape, transforming into new limbs and slowly forming into a delicate body with numerous organs.

Originally, Assassin had no physical form, only a soul.

However, Assassin's body had now been changed into a copy of Saber's. 

He had physiologically changed into a woman despite being created by the Noble Phantasm and shaped by magical energy.

He now shared Saber's exact face and had also gained Saber's combat abilities, and most of her retained skills.

[You obtained A-rank skill: Instinct]

[You obtained A-rank skill: Mana Burst]

For Someone's Glory can replicate the skills of the one being imitated, but it cannot copy their Noble Phantasm or attribute. 

However, it can deceive the Master's perception.

It made others believe that Assassin's attributes had changed, even becoming identical to Saber's. 

However, this was only a deception of perception and Assassin's actual attributes had not changed in the slightest.

It looked like only Assassin and Sabre were present, but there were many familiars, and almost all of the Masters fighting in the Holy Grail War had already observed the scene…

Assassin's Noble Phantasm had been exposed, but the specifics remained unclear. 

The only Masters who had truly seen Assassin with their own eyes were two.

One was Kiritsugu Emiya, lurking in the forest, and the other was Kirei Kotomine, who was using Assassin's contract eyes to spy on the battlefield.

For Someone's Glory had not only deceived Kiritsugu but also confused Kirei, who could not see Assassin's true attributes. 

They had clearly seen Assassin's attributes change, from those of a weak Servant to the exact same attributes as Saber…

"Mimic…" 

Saber said, realizing something, "I see. If you remain hidden and don't reveal yourself, your Noble Phantasm loses its effect, right?"

She continued, "So this is your trump card as an Assassin, daring to expose yourself?" 

Saber swung her sword around and glared angrily at Assassin.

No one liked being used, not to mention when Assassin had fully replicated Saber's appearance.

"You can mimic my form, but... can you mimic the sword in my hand?!" 

Assassin cannot replicate Noble Phantasms as Saber could still see him holding the same ordinary knight's sword.

Saber's words reminded Assassin that Noble Phantasms could not be copied, and Saber's sword was one of the most powerful Holy Swords. 

If the two swords clashed, there was no doubt that Assassin's sword would be shattered into pieces by the Holy Sword.

Assassin curiously examined her sword, which reflected his own face in its blade, almost like a mirror.

For Someone's Glory had perfectly replicated Saber's appearance, but Assassin lacked Saber's sharpness and instead exuded purity.

For the first time, Assassin felt alive, his confused, restless chest calming as he placed his hand over it. He once again felt the warmth of his body and the beating of his heart.

"Thank you, no matter who you are or what your purpose is… at least I am alive now." 

Assassin smiled with his youthful face, reminiscent of Saber's past—before she drew the sword from the stone before becoming a knight.

Saber couldn't help but recall the expectations of the Britons when she drew the Sword of the Chosen King, which made her desire even stronger.

She made a declaration to her past that she would change, and she would show no mercy!

Saber's foot slammed into the earth, sending dust flying as her invisible sword traced a crescent arc through the air. 

The blade sliced the very air itself, and the fierce sword energy rushed straight toward Assassin.

Saber's strike came… an invisible blade, unseen but undeniably lethal. 

However, Assassin's senses had already told him everything about the sword—the length, the size, the shape.

Assassin instinctively prepared to block with the knight's sword in his hand but was immediately warned by his intuition. 

It was as if the future was playing out in his mind, showing him multiple possible outcomes.

For the first time, Assassin faced the brutal reality of battle, born in an era of peace, he had never experienced the harshness of war. 

He was so overwhelmed by fear that his thoughts seemed to freeze, and Saber's long sword was already coming for him. 

The terror of death made Assassin's limbs feel numb, and his delicate face turned pale and blank.

Suddenly, Assassin's body reacted before his thoughts and the martial skills deeply ingrained in his body took over, allowing him to effortlessly evade the attack.

He could see the sword's trajectory, speed, length, width, and even the force behind the strike as if time had slowed, and he understood every detail with perfect clarity.

With a slight tilt of his body, Assassin moved as if honed by countless battles. 

Saber's sword grazed past his cheek, the sharp whistle of the air as the blade sliced through it ringing in his ears.

Even through the pressure from the Invisible Air, Assassin could feel the icy chill of Saber's holy sword.

He raised his sword and struck upward, but his plain sword posed no threat to Saber's body and could not even penetrate the armor that Saber had condensed with her magic power.

However, the sword still forced her away, as it was aimed at her defenseless cheek!

Agility was the one attribute Assassin had that surpassed Saber, and as he swung his sword, it was like a snake darting from its hole so fast that she didn't even have time to react.

However, Saber's instincts had already anticipated Assassin's attack. She tilted her head back and leaped, effortlessly dodging the upward strike.

Assassin easily countered Saber's charge...

This counterattack left Assassin's heart racing and he felt a surge of hot blood stirring in his chest!

The thick clouds obscured the moon, and Saber again adjusted her stance beneath the dark sky.

"That's a good martial art."

Saber nodded thoughtfully, "However, how can you truly see the length of my sword?"

"I saw it the moment it was swung," 

Assassin replied, her voice soft and almost ethereal.

The two voices were almost identical, but Saber's tone carried the pride of a king, while Assassin's was filled with sweetness and youthful tone.

Assassin then focused her D-rank magic, gathering it into his sword. 

The plain and pale blade seemed to shimmer faintly with a soft, ethereal blue glow. 

The sensation was unfamiliar yet mesmerizing, making the Assassin instinctively run his fingers along the sword as if it were a connection to something far greater.

Saber's expression twisted in frustration as she curiously caressed the sword but also saw herself who once touched the sword for the first time.

 "Stop doing such childish things in front of me!" 

However... this is the battlefield, the battlefield of the Holy Grail War. 

This is a place of bloody slaughter, where there is no mercy, no compassion, and no sympathy! 

There is only the blood splattered when the sword clashes!

The victor grasps the Holy Grail to fulfill any wish while the losers can only turn into dust and return to Throne of Heroes!

To be continued...