Assassin.
The lowest of the seven Classes in the Holy Grail War.
In terms of direct combat power, most of them could hardly stand against heroes of other Classes.
All the more so in this fourteen-Master free-for-all, with top Servants like Gilgamesh and Ramesses II among the combatants. Against such radiant figures, an Assassin would seem insignificant, lacking presence.
Even so, does insignificance mean they cannot win the Grail?
Not all Assassins are King Hassan. The reason they are Assassins lies in their method—assassination.
Even the mightiest Servants require a constant mana supply from their Masters to remain in this world. Thus, striking down the Master in secret to cut off their mana flow is a valid way to eliminate a powerful foe.
This concept exists in the world of Duel Monsters as well.
Can't beat the Six-Material Gun King? Then take out the Duelist! Same logic.¹
"Stay away from that child!!!"
At that shout from nowhere, Irisviel jolted, clarity snapping back into her mind.
How could this girl possibly be ordinary? To cross a battlefield steeped in mana without detection—only an Assassin with Presence Concealment could manage it.
'I must get away—!'
"Lan…"
But it was too late.
Her cry for aid never left her lips.
Because of the mist—In an instant, thick fog surged from all directions, enveloping her.
This was no ordinary mist.
It smothered sound and blocked the flow of mana, sealing Irisviel inside, cutting her off from Artoria.
Within the haze, only the girl's crimson eyes gleamed coldly.
The form was unlike what she imagined, but as their eyes met, Irisviel recalled the name of a killer as infamous as an urban legend—
Jack the Ripper.
The legendary murderer who had terrorized London with crimes unsolved to this day. It was said Jack's killings required three conditions: [Nighttime], [Female victim], [Fog].
And now, those conditions were met.
'!!!'
Before she could even scream, a cold knife flashed, plunging toward her chest.
"Maria the Ripper!"
It all happened in an instant.
The mist dissipated as suddenly as it came.
A figure plummeted to the ground like a cut kite, tumbling in a heap.
"What… just happened?"
Irisviel could hardly believe it.
To be so close to Assassin, with Jack's special trait against women—she had been certain she was done for.
Yet the one rolling away in humiliation was not herself, but the little girl who had just unleashed her Noble Phantasm.
'How…'
"Are you alright?"
"Huh?"
Shaking her head dazedly, Irisviel noticed a man standing before her.
Wait—he wasn't a stranger.
"Eh? Aren't you that driver from before, how—"
She cut herself off, covering her mouth.
Irisviel might be naïve, yet she wasn't a fool. Even unspoken, the truth was clear.
First, Auram was definitely no mere driver.
Second, it was he who had just saved her from an Assassin.
'Still, how…'
They weren't the only ones to witness it. From the other side of the battlefield—
"Rider, did you see that?!"
During a lull in the Riders' clash, Waver clutched Iskandar's cloak, shouting.
"Lancer's Master was attacked just now!"
"Yes, I saw."
Stroking his chin, Iskandar's eyes gleamed.
"That man must be the Saber who hasn't yet revealed himself. To think he caught an Assassin's Noble Phantasm barehanded."
"What?! What did you say?!"
Waver was stunned.
He had only seen Jack prepare her strike and then end up blasted away, the in-between too fast to catch. However, the notion that the blond man had intercepted a Noble Phantasm with his bare hands—unbelievable!
That was a Servant's trump card, their ultimate weapon… and this man stopped it with his bare hands? Who was he?!
"An impressive fellow indeed, hahaha!"
Sensing Waver's thoughts, Iskandar roared with laughter.
Unlike Waver, Iskandar had seen it clearly.
At the critical moment, Auram had descended from above, catching Jack's wrist in a precise grapple to stop her attack on Irisviel. When she twisted free and slashed at him, Auram sidestepped and drove a punch into her stomach, sending her flying.
All in an instant.
To defeat an Assassin was not difficult; Iskandar himself could have done so. But to rescue, protect, and repel in one seamless motion—without even drawing a weapon—that was something even the Conqueror King had to admire.
His gaze toward Auram brimmed with respect.
"A splendid save, Saber!"
Iskandar's booming voice made all around pause, turning their eyes on Auram.
Not that they hadn't noticed already.
"Hmph. Finally, a worthy opponent."
Even Gilgamesh, glancing sidelong, gave rare acknowledgment.
"Oh? This feeling…"
Ramesses II's look was more curious.
Unlike the rest, he sensed from Auram something ancient, something only a Pharaoh would recognize.
"The blessing of a Card Spirit…?"
…
PS: A little teaser. Since this is half a Yu-Gi-Oh! crossover, any Pharaoh character here won't be simple. If Ramesses II ends up with some odd setting later, don't blame me, haha.
…
¹ likely referring to Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad (Banned in all formats - TCG, OCG, MD)
...
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