Blade of the Beloved Consort: Potemkin, My One and Only
Rank: A-
Type: Anti-Army
Range: 1~100
-Originally born during the first encounter between Grigory Potemkin and Saber, this Noble Phantasm is the sublimation of Catherine the Great’s love for Potemkin and the bond they shared. When Saber speaks this blade’s true name, she undos the knot, causing the coating of ice to shatter and unleash its true potential. If Saber chooses to use the blade herself, then it acts as a weapon that “chills to the bone,” allowing Saber to crystallize the air and water around herself, forging projectiles or altering the terrain to suit her needs.
However, there is another way Saber may utilize this Noble Phantasm.
If she wishes, Saber may bequeath the weapon to her Master as a tool to cut their way to victory. Should the Master accept, the blade becomes theirs for as long as Saber wills it. In this essence, the Master takes on the qualities of a pseudo-Saber, far surpassing their humanity and sharing most of Saber’s abilities as well as those of Grigory Potemkin, able to fight on-par with enemy Servants. But for every blessing, there must also come a curse. Upon accepting Saber’s weapon, the Master is automatically afflicted with “Affection of the Great Tsarina.” While in this state, the Master is slowly but surely reshaped and sculpted into Saber’s ideal lover, eventually becoming nothing more than a facsimile of Potemkin in all but name. If this Noble Phantasm is properly returned in time, then all is well. However, should the curse advance far enough, the Master’s identity is effectively destroyed, leaving only Saber’s beloved.
“Haa… I knew you’d one day return..~ Now come, fall into my arms once more, Grigory. I swear unto you that I will never let you go again…~”
The Autocratic Tsarina: To Hold and Never Let Go
Rank: C
Type: Anti-Unit/Self
Range: 1
-A most bizarre Noble Phantasm for one of the Saber class, this Phantasm can be said to be representative of Saber’s later years, having become more bitter and harsh. Such as the case with this ability. This Noble Phantasm is automatically activated only if the Master accepts the secondary effect of “Blade of the Beloved Consort”. If one was expecting Saber to be weak without her blade, they would be in for a horribly painful lesson. Gone is the elegance from before and replaced only with the brutality and confidence of “an enlightened despot”. Her hands, her feet, her body itself becomes a weapon. Gone is the Tsarina’s cooing sweet nothings, replaced only by the sound of breaking bones.
In such a state, Saber becomes focused on hand to hand combat, particularly on grappling her enemy. In that sense, one could be forgiven for thinking Saber had forcibly altered her own Saint Graph to that of a Berserker. But no, Saber is very much still the same woman with her sanity intact. Rather, this is simply the other side of her coin. The once idealistic, romantic woman with bright plans crushed by the burden of reality, forced to make hard sacrifices to keep the peace. The only affection left for the world can only be found with her darling “Potemkin”, her husband.
“A blade? Nonsense. My fists and feet will be more than enough to grind you into dust.”