My Fates Codex in Type-Moon

"Displacement Magic."

Sakutsuki's first attempt at magic failed; Displacement Magic couldn't reach Imaginary Space. On his second try, Sakutsuki simply displaced himself onto the Fuyuki Bridge.

The moist, even cold, sea breeze brushed against his face. The young man standing at the bridge's apex had golden eyes. He reached his hand into a non-existent concept and retrieved an intact water cup.

The tea in the cup rippled slightly, as if it had never entered that eternally silent space.

Those who possess the Imaginary attribute can freely open Imaginary Space, placing (sealing) items or even living beings within it. Furthermore, only those with the same attribute or who know the method of opening it can access it. Inside Imaginary Space, there is no concept of time or space, making it an ideal place to exile enemies.

Until he encountered a suitable enemy, Imaginary Space was much like a portable storage space for Sakutsuki, with an almost infinite storage capacity. It was far more useful than Displacement Magic.

Unlike Displacement Magic, Imaginary Pocket ignored space-time and could be accessed by Imaginary mages at any time. The principle of Displacement Magic was to "displace" something to a safe location. However, if the mage left this world, or if the displacement location was discovered or accidentally destroyed, those precious stored items would cease to exist.

"Now, for the second ability." Sakutsuki closed his eyes. Even he had to be extremely careful when using this ability.

"Shadow Border."

As Imaginary particles flowed, Sakutsuki's figure was gradually enveloped, sinking into Imaginary Space. To outsiders, Sakutsuki's body flickered as if experiencing a poor signal. When he returned to normal, Sakutsuki bent over, gasping for air with lingering fear.

"Hah, hah, hah... What's the situation in the Imaginary domain? The proof difficulty has greatly increased. Did someone interfere with this space?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

"While I have an interest in watching court jesters entertain, uninvited mongrels only spoil the mood of the evening."

A voice spoke unhurriedly, responding to Sakutsuki's muttering. The tone was more arrogant than King of Conquerors Iskandar's, and more cold and ruthless than a dormant snake's.

When he heard the word "mongrel," Sakutsuki had already anticipated it. As he looked up, golden light met his eyes, and the identity of the newcomer was undeniable—

"Servant Archer, Tokiomi Tohsaka's Servant."

His true identity was the fifth king of Uruk, a city-state in ancient Mesopotamia during the Early Dynastic Period. He was the protagonist of humanity's oldest epic, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest "King of Heroes" in human history, possessing divinity described as "two-thirds god and one-third human."

Of course, Sakutsuki didn't voice these thoughts. He stared intently at the blond man clad in shining armor. The Imaginary particles dispersed, replaced by the Yin-Yang dual swords clutched in his hand.

By normal standards, anyone caught experimenting with magic would naturally adopt a defensive stance. However, the golden Heroic Spirit seemed offended, narrowing his red pupils and emitting naked killing intent.

"Not only did you not kneel and beg for forgiveness, but you also raised a weapon against me? It seems the humans of this era are truly beyond saving!"

After Gilgamesh finished speaking, distortions resembling a mirage spontaneously appeared in the space to his left and right. The next second, a gleaming weapon suddenly materialized in the void.

It was a spear. The decorations on the spear were breathtakingly beautiful, and moreover, they emitted an intense, undeniable magic. It was clearly no ordinary weapon, but a Noble Phantasm.

"Atone with your death." Under the cold declaration, the spear shot forward.

The tip of the weapon was close, yet Sakutsuki was still contemplating other matters.

As described in the original work, Gilgamesh, as Archer, possessed Independent Action comparable to Rank A. Such a high-level skill not only allowed him to maintain his physical form in the present world but also to transform into the enthusiastic citizen Mr. King and wander around Fuyuki City. Therefore, Sakutsuki encountering him tonight was not an accident.

Although Gilgamesh was the most powerful Servant in this Holy Grail War, truthfully, the sense of crisis he brought was not as strong as Iskandar's. The reason was simple: Sakutsuki had clashed with Angelica too many times, and the always-full-power "Shining" was, in some respects, even more dangerous than Gilgamesh.

Thinking this, Sakutsuki casually took a step back, perfectly evading the bombing range of the Noble Phantasm.

Amidst the explosion's flash, the Golden King's expression froze for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by killing intent.

"Very well, then continue to amuse me, mongrel!"

Golden ripples spread around Gilgamesh, and a total of eight Noble Phantasms were revealed, aimed at the white-haired, golden-eyed youth with a menacing aura.

Not just swords and spears, but also axes, war hammers, and lances, and even some strangely shaped weapons whose purpose and origin were unknown.

All the weapons were polished to a mirror shine and contained immense magic. Each weapon represented the embodiment of a mystery, none inferior... They were all true Noble Phantasms, without exception.

If any other Master witnessed this scene, they would undoubtedly be utterly shocked. This was because a Heroic Spirit's Noble Phantasm was the embodiment of their legend, a superweapon comparable to a nation's nuclear arsenal. Even three or four would be the limit.

Yet, this oldest King of Heroes seemed to possess an endless supply of equipment, drawing out Noble Phantasms one after another, discarding them after use, and not a single one was the same.

When this spectacle entered Sakutsuki's eyes, the young man didn't lose his composure in shock. Instead, he sighed helplessly, like a parent watching a child show off their toys.

He was used to it.

To hide his strength, Sakutsuki did not use Projection Magic to block these weapons beforehand. Instead, he turned to a recently acquired ability.

The Yin-Yang dual blades hung down. Sakutsuki lowered his gaze, his white hair ruffled by the sudden surge of magical energy.

"The night is silent, my shadow shall envelop the world."

The youth's shadow twisted and elongated in an instant, transforming into an ominous giant that appeared before Gilgamesh.

Imaginary particles flowed. The young man, with a slightly pale face, looked up at the golden Heroic Spirit, negative emotions rising in his eyes.

"Satz-Mein Blut widersteht invasionen!"

Magic—Imaginary Shadow!

Perhaps it was due to the reward obtained from Sakura, but when Sakutsuki unleashed Imaginary Magic, the incantation was also related to her.

What is Imaginary?

It is something that might exist but cannot be materialized.

In the HF route of Fate/stay night, Sakura was modified by Zouken Matou. Combined with the Holy Grail, she could control shadows made of black mud, even materializing them to the extent of a "Shadow Giant."

And Sakutsuki, although he lacked the power of the Black Grail, could use his formless, intangible deep consciousness, such as negative emotions, as energy for Imaginary Magic.

The endless unwillingness and struggling obsession of Emiya Shirou before his near-death experience still echoed in Sakutsuki's memory.

A massive, formless phantom was generated, flowing like ink splashed on a canvas towards the golden silhouette in the night.

"It's just a clown's trick!" the arrogant king commanded. Sixteen Noble Phantasms at his side rang out in unison, piercing the shadow's body like bullets and exploding on the bridge.

When the light faded, the shadow, like a maggot clinging to bone, followed and reached for Gilgamesh's position.

The Imaginary Shadow, an entity of unknown origin, gave the impression of a mirage rising from the sea onto land. All conventional attacks were useless; one could only wait until the shadow disappeared—it was this petty trick that consumed Gilgamesh in the HF route.

Even though Sakutsuki's Imaginary Shadow lacked the dimensional reduction attack of the Black Grail, it was enough to deal with the onslaught of the King's Treasure.

"Wh—!" The cry of astonishment vanished the moment it was uttered. Gilgamesh rapidly retreated, looking at the steel frame that had been instantly devoured. He abruptly turned his head, his ferocious gaze piercing Sakutsuki like a sharp sword. His handsome features were frozen by a cold, killing intent.

For this king, it was likely unforgivable to lose his composure over a trivial trick or to be forced to retreat before a clown's gambit.

"You want to die that badly, you mongrel!"

Facing an bone-chilling cold that could crush an ordinary person, Sakutsuki instead offered a smile as gentle as a breeze on his face. He placed his left hand on his chest, tipped his toes, and dramatically extended his right hand to the sky, performing a bow with an elegant, yet mocking flourish:

"Then, my performance for tonight concludes here. Please, Your Majesty, enjoy a 'little trick' from a magus."

Space was displaced, and a diamond-shaped gate passed through the young man's form, disappearing together.

On the Fuyuki Bridge, where flames had momentarily surged into the sky before dissipating, the Heroic King's roar echoed for a long time:

"Don't let me find you, magus!"

Confirming anchor point.

Displacement successful.

The diamond-shaped gate unfolded from top to bottom, and the golden-eyed youth's figure emerged from it, remaining still like a sculpture.

After a long while, a drawn-out sigh of relief could be heard. Sakutsuki, as if his spirit and energy had been drained, collapsed directly onto the bed, his chest rising and falling slightly, clearly still shaken.

In the battle against the Heroic King Gilgamesh, it seemed as though he had gained the upper hand, mocking him before making a clean getaway. In reality, however, once the ancient king was truly enraged, Sakutsuki realized the difference between Angelica and Gilgamesh.

One was lifeless, merely a thug from the Ainsworth family, a killing machine, cold and dull.

The other had experienced the glory of the Age of Gods, bound the Bull of Heaven, obtained the elixir of immortality, and was the king of a nation.

The difference between them was like that between heaven and earth.

The reason Sakutsuki turned and left without hesitation was twofold: firstly, all the Imaginary Magic had been experimented with, and he also had to guard against the prying eyes of certain individuals. Secondly, it was actually because Gilgamesh's aura was too powerful, making him somewhat eager for a fight.

And once he got stimulated—

Before he could draw Ea, the golden flash would leave him severely wounded, if not dead.

Considering his dwindling lifespan and his meticulous plans for the future, Sakutsuki chose to abandon the Imaginary Shadow and withdraw.

As for whether the Imaginary Shadow would cause damage to Gilgamesh?

One could only fantasize about such a thing.

From the fact that the golden flash had interfered with Sakutsuki's Shadow Border (Imaginary Submersion), it was clear that he possessed Noble Phantasms that could counter the Imaginary attribute. The fact that the Imaginary Shadow's attack had nearly injured the golden flash was actually more due to the Heroic King's old habit of underestimating his opponents.

"As expected, Gilgamesh is much easier to deal with as an opponent than the Wise King," Sakutsuki sighed softly, rolling over like a dried salted fish. He placed his arm over his forehead, intending to take a short nap.

Since the Imaginary Magic experiments were complete, and the Masters for the Holy Grail War had not yet all arrived, he would enjoy these last few precious moments with Miyu and Sakura for a few days before the war truly began.

"Knock, knock, knock." The door was gently knocked upon, and a girl's cautious voice came from outside.

"Onii-chan, are you asleep?"

With a carp leap, Sakutsuki sprang up from the bed. He took a deep breath, a deep breath, a deep breath... then, pretending to be calm, he opened the door.

The moonlight streamed through the glass window, spilling onto the hallway. Miyu, wearing Sakura Matou's bear pajamas, stood before Sakutsuki, her cheeks slightly flushed, adding to her childlike charm.

She said nothing, but Sakutsuki already understood.

"I thought Miyu preferred staying in the Japanese-style room? Are you not used to the room, so you can't sleep?"

The washitsu is a room unique to traditional Japanese houses. Walking barefoot on the tatami mats made of natural rush felt like wandering in nature.

In the Fate/kaleid liner world line, both Sakutsuki's home and Emiya's home were traditional Japanese buildings. For Miyu, this was her first time experiencing such a grand and bright Chinese-style room.

"Y-yes, the room is too big." As if feeling ashamed that she was still afraid to sleep alone, the girl lowered her head, her legs unconsciously rubbing together. "When the lights are turned off at night... it's a little scary."

At this, Sakutsuki couldn't help but chuckle softly. Before the girl, overwhelmed with embarrassment, could flee, he extended his arms and scooped up the little moon. With a startled cry, the brother carried his sister to the bed:

"Then, sleep with me tonight. I'll protect you."

"...Mm." Miyu's cheek pressed against the young man's chest. After a long moment, a barely audible assent came.

The familiar, reassuring scent once again gently enveloped her.

She had many more things she wanted to say, many more questions she wanted to ask, but in the end, Miyu closed her eyes and drifted into a hazy dream.

Beside her, the youth, once red-haired but now with white hair, leaned slightly against the headboard. His golden eyes were cast down, and his gaze towards the girl was filled with tenderness and doting affection.

As for the fact that Servants could materialize... he had already ignored it.

As Shirou, as Sakutsuki, as a brother.

Sweet dreams.

Two days later, in the morning.

[013: Lancelot (Berserker)]

[Character Information]: Lancelot, in life, was one of King Arthur's twelve Knights of the Round Table, a great knight known as the "Knight of the Lake" and the "Flower of Chivalry." His adulterous affair with Queen Guinevere led to the destruction of Camelot, and he is the symbolic figure of defeat in the legend of King Arthur.

He died consumed by regret while accepting too many honors, especially his love-hate for the King and Queen, which forever imprisoned him in madness. To suppress this torment, he pursued that one encounter, and the dark knight continues his battle.

[Hidden Information]: Conditions not met

[Recording Conditions (3/4)]:

1. Gain Lancelot's acknowledgment 2. Defeat Lancelot 3. Liberate Lancelot from his madness

"Hmm..." Sakutsuki stood side-by-side with Kariya, and the knight in black armor stood silently before them, like an un-wound puppet. Only the tassels behind his armor trembled, proving this knight still possessed instinctual awareness.

"To think that one who wields a Holy Sword meant to be paired with Excalibur, a man raised by the Lady of the Lake and hailed as the Flower of Knights, would fall to such a state."

"You actually know...!" Even though Kariya was accustomed to Sakutsuki's vast knowledge, having the Servant's true name exposed so easily still made him uncomfortable.

"Of course, the cause of the Round Table's schism, Lancelot of the Lake. Anyone who has read the legends of King Arthur would recognize him." As Sakutsuki spoke, he tried to draw the sword at Lancelot's waist, but the latter suddenly grabbed his wrist, preventing him from taking another step.

"Kariya."

"Alright, alright, Berserker, let go." Kariya issued the command with resignation, ordering Berserker, who was more beast than knight, to lower his arm. Sakutsuki then drew the long sword from his waist.

The elven script engraved on the blade glowed faintly, flowing with a radiance like a lake shimmering under the moonlight.