The False servant

At night, in my cramped room.

I sat at my study desk, buried in a pile of books I brought home from the school library.

My eyes were starting to feel heavy, but my mind kept forcing me to stay focused.

Graduation exams were just around the corner, and I had no choice but to work hard to ensure I could pass them.

I let out a yawn, rubbing my tired eyes, then turned to the next page of the history book I was reading.

But then, my eyes unconsciously glanced at the watch sitting on the desk.

11:00 PM.

"Eh, it's already so late…" I muttered in surprise. I hadn't realized I'd been studying for that long.

'Time really flies when you're stuck reading things you don't want to read,' I thought.

I placed the history book on the desk, closing it with one lazy motion. My hands felt tired, but maybe it was more due to the sleepiness that was taking over.

"I guess I'll finish this tomorrow," I mumbled, stretching my stiff body after sitting in the same position for too long.

My gaze wandered around my slightly messy room.

Papers were scattered on the desk, books were piled haphazardly on the small shelf, and leftover snacks were still lying on the floor.

Ah, I hadn't even gotten around to cleaning it. But who cares? I was too sleepy to care right now.

"Should I eat first?"

I pondered for a moment but ended up shaking my head.

"No, I'm too sleepy for that."

With a heavy body, I lay down on my bed. It felt so comfortable, even though my eyes were only half-open.

"I hope the exam isn't too hard tomorrow…" I muttered, barely audible, before my vision faded to black.

---

The next day.

A scorching heat on my skin jolted me awake. I winced, squirming as I tried to ignore it.

But it didn't work. The heat kept piercing my skin. Slowly, I sat up from my bed… or at least, what I thought was my bed.

My body felt stiff, as though I'd just slept on a concrete floor. Rubbing my still-shut eyes, I tried to gather my thoughts. When I finally opened them, I was shocked.

Where am I?

Around me were the ruins of destroyed buildings, fires blazing everywhere, and thick black smoke rising to a darkened sky. The cracked road beneath my feet looked like it had just been ravaged by war. I stumbled backward, trying to grasp the situation.

"Wait… What the hell is this?!"

Panic began crawling over me. This was clearly not my room. In fact, this was clearly not the world I knew.

But before I could think any further, a blue light appeared in front of me. I jumped back, staring blankly at the sudden apparition in midair.

---

[Character Profile]

Name: Kurohiko Yuki

Age: 16

Class: ??? (Unknown)

Alignment: Chaotic-Neutral

Parameter:

Str: Not Classified

Agi: Not Classified

End: Not Classified

Mana: Not Classified

Luck: A++

NP: A-

Class Skills:

Not Classified

As a unique Servant, you do not have a clear class. Your class can change based on the Servant you imitate, making your class abilities inconsistent.

Personal Skills:

Not Classified

Similar to Class Skills, your Personal Skills depend on the identity you Imitating.

Noble Phantasm:

The Act of Imitating

Rank: A+

Type: Anti-Unit / Anti-Self

Description:

This Noble Phantasm allows the user to imitate the attributes, abilities, and even the Noble Phantasm of other Servants that have been thoroughly observed by the user. However, the power of these imitations is not equal to the original.

---

I read the holographic text with a confused expression. The text hadn't just appeared—it was about me.

I stared at the text, breathing heavily. I pinched my cheek as hard as I could.

"Ouch!"

The pain was real. I held my reddened cheek, trying to calm myself down. This wasn't a dream.

"No, no… This can't be real! What the hell is happening?!"

This world felt like something out of a nightmare. And that strange text… What on earth had happened to me? I shivered, cold sweat dripping down my body.

I looked around, but there were no answers. Only ruins and flames that continued to rage.

This… is the cruelest joke.

I shut my eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and slowly opened them.

There was still a sliver of hope—however faint—that this was all just a bad dream.

But the scene before me remained unchanged.

The burning ruins, the thick smoke, and the searing heat surrounding me made one thing painfully clear: this was real.

My body trembled, but I forced myself to stay calm.

My mind was still trying to find some logical explanation for all of this, trying to deny the reality in front of me.

Yet, my gaze unconsciously returned to the hologram still floating in the air.

I squinted, focusing on the part that seemed to draw my attention the most—Noble Phantasm. That term sounded so familiar.

It felt like something I'd heard or seen before. I tilted my head, trying to recall.

"Noble Phantasm…" I muttered softly. Suddenly, the memory came rushing back like a bolt of lightning splitting the night sky.

Yes, I had heard this term before. From an anime. It came from Fate/Zero, one of my favorite series.

"That's right! Fate/Zero!" I nearly shouted, slapping my palm against my forehead.

It felt strange to think about this in the midst of chaos, but my mind kept racing. *Fate/Zero*, the story about a war between seven Magi and seven Servants, who fought for the Holy Grail—a legendary chalice said to grant any wish.

I closed my eyes, trying to recall the plot clearly. Even though it had been years since I last watched the anime, there were a few things I still remembered well.

Servants, the heroic spirits of legends summoned to fight. They possessed incredible abilities called Noble Phantasms, unique powers that defined them. Whether it was a legendary sword, a deadly magical spell, or some other extraordinary power.

"But…" I opened my eyes, returning my gaze to the hologram still floating in front of me. Why did I have something like this?

My thoughts spun wildly, trying to connect the dots. Did this mean that I… was a Servant? But that didn't make sense.

I was just an ordinary high school student. A sixteen-year-old kid who should be more worried about graduation exams than an epic battle for a sacred chalice.

I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself.

If I really was a Servant, wouldn't I have a Master? Then, who summoned me? Why didn't I feel any sort of contract? More than that, why was I even in the middle of this destruction?

Confusion and fear swirled together, hitting me like a tidal wave.

But, even in my panic, I tried to focus on one thing. If this really was like Fate/Zero, then I might have a way to survive—through that Noble Phantasm.

I read its description again, trying to absorb every detail.

I closed my eyes once more, contemplating the description. Imitation… So, I could become anyone, as long as I knew enough about them? This ability sounded incredible, but also… puzzling.

If I wanted to survive this place, I needed to understand how this ability worked.

However, my thoughts came to a halt. If I truly was a Servant, didn't that mean I was also trapped in a war? A war that could only end with one winner?

"This is insane…" I muttered softly, barely audible amidst the distant crackle of flames.

My body trembled again, but I knew it wasn't because of the sweltering heat surrounding me.

It was fear, creeping through me, slowly gripping my mind.

I shook my head hard, trying to shake off all the negative thoughts that would only slow me down. No, this wasn't the time to be afraid. I didn't have the luxury to panic right now.

"I need to figure out this ability…" I said more firmly, clenching my fists and trying to strengthen my resolve.

"I have to survive. No matter how crazy this all is."

I took a small step forward, standing straighter despite the faint tremble still in my body.

My eyes returned to the hologram still floating in the air, focusing especially on the description of the Noble Phantasm possessed by… me? It still felt strange to think of myself as a Servant.

But if that was the reality, I had to accept it and make the most of it.

"This ability can mimic other Servants…" I muttered, trying to process the details once again.

But how? Was there a specific procedure I had to follow? Should I recite a chant? Or was there something I needed to move?

My mind drifted through various scenarios until I finally stopped at one idea that… felt a bit silly.

'Henshin…?' I thought to myself, recalling scenes from the tokusatsu shows I used to watch.

It sounded ridiculous, but hey, I didn't have any better options.

If this really was a bizarre world like in anime, maybe something like that could actually work.

But before I tried, I needed to decide who I wanted to mimic.

I couldn't choose randomly because this ability seemed to depend on how well I knew the Servant I wanted to imitate.

I had to think of someone versatile, someone with balanced abilities that could adapt to any situation.

And at that moment, a name came to mind.

Artoria Pendragon or rather called Artoria, a Saber-class Servant, one of the main characters in Fate/Zero and other series. Even though I couldn't remember every detail about the anime, I knew she was a solid choice.

She possessed incredible strength, speed, and an outstanding Noble Phantasm.

Besides that… I smiled a little as one thought crossed my mind: her face.

Artoria wasn't just famous for her abilities but also for her face, which often became a "template" for many other Servants in the Fate series.

I wasn't sure why, but that fact felt amusing to me in the midst of this crazy situation.

Having made my decision, I stood up straight, trying to convince myself that this would work.

My body still felt a bit stiff, but I didn't have time to hesitate anymore.

"Alright…"

I took a deep breath.

"Let's try this."

My hands clenched at my sides, and I adjusted my posture, trying to appear as serious as possible.

Even though my inner voice screamed that this was ridiculous, I still opened my mouth.

"Henshin!" I shouted with determination.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Only the sound of the gentle breeze mixed with the crackling of flames consuming the surrounding buildings.

I stood there, waiting for something to happen.

'Did I do it wrong? Should I add sound effects like BAM! or something?' I thought to myself.

But before I could think of my next move, my body suddenly felt hot. Not the searing heat of flames, but more like an energy flow coursing through me.

A faint golden light began to envelop my body, catching me off guard.

"What…?"

I looked at my hands, which were slowly changing. My wrinkled, worn-out pajamas started to fade, replaced by something far more majestic.

"It… it worked!"

I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I had actually transformed. I had successfully mimicked Artoria Pendragon, complete with her elegant and regal armor. My body felt lighter, as if I had gained a strength I could only dream of. Even the air around me felt different—sharper, clearer, as if all my senses had been heightened.

Slowly, I moved my hands, now encased in sturdy yet lightweight gauntlets.

I clenched my fist, feeling how the armor melded with my body—not as a burden, but as a part of me. It felt… amazing.

As I tried to touch my head, I felt something soft brushing against my hand.

Curiously, I reached out and touched something sticking out from my hair—an ahoge.

"Is this… ahoge?" I muttered, confused yet amused.

Touching it made my head twitch slightly, an odd yet funny sensation that was hard to describe.

I stroked it gently, trying to understand what it felt like to have a strand of hair seemingly alive.

"So this is what it's like to have an ahoge?" I asked myself, though there was no one to answer.

A small smile crept onto my face without me realizing it.

But I quickly snapped out of my distraction and began to move my body slowly, trying to familiarize myself with this new form. The armor I wore reflected the firelight around me, making it look even more magnificent.

My movements felt smooth, almost as if the armor was tailor-made for me. There was no stiffness, no weight—everything felt natural.

However, as I moved, a crucial thought crossed my mind. A question that made me stop in my tracks.

"The sword…" I whispered softly.

My gaze slowly shifted to my right hand. As a Saber, Artoria should have her holy sword, the symbol of her power.

But right now, the sword wasn't in my hand.

"Is my Noble Phantasm unable to replicate Excalibur…?" I murmured, frowning slightly.

It was possible.

My Noble Phantasm might have limitations, and replicating something divine or inherently sacred might be too difficult. However, there was another possibility. Perhaps I needed to summon the weapon separately, though there was a chance it might not be perfect.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Both possibilities made sense.

But I had to try. If I couldn't summon that sword, I'd have to find another weapon to survive.

Carefully, I raised my right hand and extended it forward.

My hand trembled slightly—not from fear, but from nerves. I closed my eyes, imagining Artoria's holy sword—or at least a version of it.

"Come forth…" I whispered softly, my focus entirely on summoning the sword.

I could feel the energy in my body shifting, like a river starting to flow rapidly. The wind around me began to change, becoming heavier, more intense.

Then, suddenly… I felt it. A bright light ignited in front of my hand.

My eyes opened, and I saw it—a sword beginning to take shape.

'There it is!' I thought excitedly.

Golden light gathered, like fragments of stars coming together, forming a blade that closely resembled Excalibur.

But as I grasped it, something felt different.

The sword had the beauty and form of Excalibur, but its aura… wasn't the same. It lacked the divine grandeur that enveloped the original, the holy energy capable of vanquishing evil in a single strike.

This was just a sword with an extraordinary appearance but without the sacred essence that made it a true symbol of a king.

Even so, as I gripped the sword more firmly, I felt something different coursing through my body.

Though this sword lacked divine power, it still radiated incredible strength. It felt as if it drew energy from within me, rather than relying on external divinity.