My Fates Codex of Type-Moon

"Is that so? Rider has arrived as well." In the dimly lit underground workshop, an elegantly dressed man frowned, his eyes cast low.

Currently, the known Servants present were Saber, Lancer, Rider, Assassin, and… his troublesome familiar, Archer.

What will happen from here on out… Tokiomi Tohsaka, knowing Archer's personality, gave a wry smile, feeling no excitement at the gathering of heroes.

What if someone managed to provoke that King.

Thinking this, Tokiomi Tohsaka couldn't help but raise his hand.

Three blood-red Command Spells flickered.

"Both of you, stand down! You are currently in the presence of the King!"

The giant spoke loudly, his voice unhurried, comparable to the thunderous roar of a chariot appearing in the sky. His eyes shone with spirit, and his mere presence seemed enough to repel the sword and spear currently facing each other.

After suppressing the auras of the two Servants, Iskandar, who had arrived by chariot, coughed lightly and continued as if to announce something momentous:

"My name is 'King of Conquerors' Iskandar, and I have appeared in this Holy Grail War to claim the Rider seat!"

He said it!

He actually revealed his True Name!

Everyone present was stunned. In the battlefield of the Holy Grail War, the True Name was the key to victory; it was unthinkable for a Servant to self-destruct their True Name.

This was akin to Siegfried revealing his back, or Achilles exposing his heel – a sure path to death!

The most surprised of all was Waver, who was squatting in the driver's seat.

"You, what on earth are you thinking? You idiot!"

"A King of Conquerors should be this magnificent and upright."

A cheerful laugh approached from afar as a youth on a cool motorcycle burst into this gathering of heroes, saving Waver from the crisis of being flicked on the head and killed.

"Besides, Rider's Noble Phantasm is too obvious. Rather than being easily recognized, it's better to be straightforward and announce my arrival directly."

"Isn't that also a provocation? Like saying, 'Even if you know my name, you can't do anything to me'…" Irisviel said with a wry smile.

Under everyone's gaze, Sakutsuki removed his helmet, not hiding his face at all, and openly met the eyes of the Heroic Spirits.

"Master Sakutsuki, greetings to all. Don't mind me, I'm just here to watch the show."

"Master?" Lancer asked, raising an eyebrow as he held his twin spears. "Where is your Servant? Coming here alone is very dangerous."

"Lancer, don't underestimate him," Saber said, surprisingly, to her opponent.

"Oh?" The chief of the Knights of Fianna raised his eyes, about to get a closer look at the young man, but was interrupted by Rider's words.

The red-haired strongman clapped his hands loudly, drawing everyone's attention, and then said his purpose in a relaxed and friendly tone:

"I know you are all fighting each other for the Holy Grail. Before we clash, I have something to ask. Would you like to join my army and let me have the Holy Grail? Then I can treat you as friends and share the joy of conquering the world with you."

This was an utterly absurd proposal. Saber was stunned speechless, not even angered, and Lancer opposite her didn't know what to say, frozen in place.

It was only then that they broke through the barrier of time and truly realized who stood before them – the renowned "King of Clubs."

Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, was an unparalleled Heroic Spirit even in the entirety of world history. The land he conquered ranked second among all kings, past and present, surpassed only by Genghis Khan Temujin, and above the "Scourge of God" Attila. He possessed a peerless legend of conquering the largest territory in the shortest amount of time.

His short life of thirty-three years left behind endless legends of conquest. In human history, no one yearned to achieve world conquest as desperately as he did.

And now, this king, who had spent his life conquering, had reined in his horse and extended an olive branch to them.

Perhaps this king's gaze had already turned towards this vast world, and this Holy Grail War was merely a small corner that would inevitably be trampled under his iron hooves. That was why he disregarded the rules of the Holy Grail War and casually invited the Heroic Spirits to conquer the world with him.

If it were anyone else, they would surely be swayed by Iskandar's grand ambition.

However, among the Heroic Spirits present, which one had not been tempered by blood and fire, and was not a warrior with an unyielding will of steel?

This proposal was too fantastical. Saber was so angry she didn't know what to say. Lancer, standing opposite, also seemed bewildered and unsure how to react.

King of Conquerors Iskandar was indeed an extraordinary Heroic Spirit. In human history, no one had come closer to realizing the dream and ambition of conquering the world than he.

But no matter how great he was, such an arrogant proposal was another matter entirely. Suddenly appearing, loudly announcing his name, and then demanding submission without even fighting. This unprecedented behavior utterly disregarded the norms of the Holy Grail War, making it difficult to judge whether it was a wise decision or a foolish one.

"Your courage in revealing your name impresses me, but I regret that I cannot accept your proposal."

Lancer shook his head with a wry smile, but there was no smile in his eyes. His gaze, sharp as a blade, met the King of Conquerors' condescending stare, sparks flying.

"I will only offer the Holy Grail to the new monarch with whom I have exchanged vows in this life, and that person will absolutely not be you, Rider."

"Did you just interfere with my duel with Lancer just to utter such absurd nonsense?"

Saber spoke after Lancer. Unlike the handsome Lancer, there wasn't even a hint of a smile on her face. For the serious and earnest Saber, Rider's proposal itself was highly displeasing.

"Your joke has gone too far, King of Conquerors. As a knight, such humiliation is unbearable."

Facing the intensely hostile gazes of both Saber and Lancer, Rider grumbled as if somewhat embarrassed, rubbing his knuckles against his temples. While the action looked amusing, it did nothing to diminish his imposing presence.

"…Can the terms be negotiated?"

"Shut up!"

Saber and Lancer refused in unison. Saber added even more displeasedly, "I am, after all, the ruler of a nation, bearing the responsibility for all of Britannia. No matter how great you are, Emperor, I will not pledge myself to you."

"Oh? You say you are the King of Britannia?"

Rider seemed very interested in Saber's statement, raising his eyebrows exaggeratedly.

"I'm truly surprised. I never expected the renowned King of Knights to be such a young girl."

"How about tasting this young girl's sword, King of Conquerors?"

As if his pride had been wounded, Saber gripped his sword with both hands, the battle aura emanating from it even more intense than when facing Lancer. Rider frowned and sighed deeply.

"Negotiations have broken down. What a shame, truly regrettable."

Not only Saber and Lancer found the King of Conquerors' actions absurd, but even the hidden observers couldn't help but sigh softly.

"The world was almost conquered by an idiot like that?" Kiritsugu Emiya muttered, his sniper scope moving away from Iskandar and Waver as if he couldn't bear to watch.

Meanwhile, another Master finally recovered from his Servant's reckless behavior.

"Rider!"

Under the hostile gazes of the two Servants, Waver's panicked voice changed pitch:

"Look at you now. Talking about conquest and whatnot, and you've ended up with everyone against you... Do you really think you can take Saber and Lancer as your subordinates?"

The giant Servant burst into laughter, dismissing his Master's question with a smile, showing no hint of remorse.

"Well, didn't someone say, 'You should always dare to try'?"

"Because 'you should always dare to try,' you revealed your true name!?"

Furious, Waver, with tears welling up in his eyes, pounded his fists, which held no strength, against the proudly standing Rider. Watching this scene, which left one unsure how to react, Irisviel felt an indescribable sense of awkwardness.

As for Sakutsuki...

Well, he was holding a camcorder, chuckling mischievously.

This inexplicable atmosphere of relief—

"So, it was you..."

The situation froze once more due to a voice filled with hatred, as if from the depths of hell.

"I was wondering what kind of guts you had to steal my catalyst... I didn't expect you were planning to participate in the Holy Grail War yourself. Mr. Waver Velvet."

Yes.

Waver thought.

He should have realized it sooner.

That person's status as a lecturer at the Clock Tower meant that even if Iskandar's cloak was stolen, he could obtain catalysts from other Heroic Spirits. This meant that man would naturally become Waver's enemy and appear before him in Fuyuki City.

One of the twelve Lords of the Mage's Association's Clock Tower, the Lord of Mineralogy (Kishua), Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.

The current Master of Lancer.

That stern and pale face, characteristic of a true magus, and those eyes filled with slander and pity—recalling that arrogant lecturer, a mix of resentment and fear enveloped Waver.

"It's a pity, truly a pity. I wish my beloved student could live happily. Waver, a mediocre talent like you could have lived an ordinary and peaceful life as a mediocre person."

The voice, distorted by illusions, seemed to come from everywhere, but Waver already recalled the nauseating feeling he had experienced several times before, as if he were still standing in the classroom, enduring the scorn and ridicule of his classmates, teachers, and everyone else.

Waver wanted to retort with a witty comeback. He had already taken the initiative and successfully made the Heroic Spirit Iskandar his Servant. Wasn't this a satisfying revenge for the humiliation he had endured at the Clock Tower for so long?

That's right. They were no longer in a mentor-student relationship; that guy was now a true, undeniable enemy. Waver could hate him as much as he wanted, and he could even openly take his life.

However—it was the same for the other party.

"I can't help it, Mr. Waver. I'll give you a special extracurricular lesson. I will thoroughly teach you the true meaning of magi killing each other—the terror and pain. You should feel honored."

The cold, deliberate tone of gentleness, carrying the true killing intent of a magus, made the ignorant fledgling tremble in fear.

The true meaning of a magus was to see through death... Waver had only known this grand principle in theory until now; now he finally experienced it firsthand. The gaze that man projected from who knows where was terrifying and fierce. Waver had never known that the killing intent in a magus's heart could be such a resolute "declaration of death."

If this continued, this newborn calf would surely be crushed by the resolute killing intent.

However, a strong, warm presence embraced the boy's trembling, slender shoulders.

"Hey, magus, it seems you intend to replace this boy and become my Master."

Rider addressed Lancer's Master, who was hidden somewhere, his smile sly and pitying.

"If that's the case, it's utterly laughable. The one who can become my Master must be a warrior who can ride alongside me on the battlefield. A coward like you, who doesn't even dare to show himself, is not qualified!"

After a moment of silent tension, an invisible anger spread through the night air. Rider roared with laughter, facing the empty night sky, and shouted at the top of his voice, "Hey! There are others hiding in the darkness, watching!

"The Heroic Spirits drawn by the clear sounds of swords and spears must not be just me!"

The red-haired giant heavily struck his chest, producing a deafening roar like a war drum, and his voice was even more impassioned:

"Now! All Heroic Spirits summoned by the Holy Grail, gather here. If any coward dares not to show himself, he will face the contempt of King of Conquerors Iskandar!"

Tonight, this night, this time, this place.

Regardless of good or evil, conspiracy or calculation, even the initial reasons and order were cast aside.

The king who once conquered the four corners of the world called out, questioning the Heroic Spirits who had descended with him:

Do you still possess the heart and spirit of a hero!

Do you have the courage to accept King of Conquerors Iskandar's invitation and stand before my iron hooves!

The golden-haired, blue-eyed King of Knights held his sword, his appearance peerless.

The Knight of Fianna, with a beauty mark like a tear under his eye, held his spear, his smile intoxicating.

The youth who inherited the guardian's power looked up, flames burning in his eyes.

They were already standing before the King of Conquerors.

The Assassin in the shadows let out a cold laugh, unaware of the knight in black armor standing behind him.

The divine child, as pure as the moon, stood high in the sky, his gaze cool and calm.

Not all Heroic Spirits flowed with the blood of battle; just as human civilization progressed, besides charging forward, there were also plans and sacrifices hidden beneath the light.

But aside from them, there was indeed one Heroic Spirit who would not refuse such a provocation.

A golden light gradually ignited, announcing his presence to everyone.

That light finally descended onto the top of a streetlamp more than ten meters above the ground, transforming into a tall figure clad in shining armor. Seeing the person's brilliant and dazzling appearance, the Masters couldn't help but gasp, while Kiritsugu Emiya directly aimed his gun at him, his wariness unconcealed.

"Who is that person..."

Although he had only seen him for a brief moment before, that person's presence was so strong that it was impossible to mistake him.

The person standing leisurely atop the elevated streetlamp was the mysterious Servant who had displayed overwhelming destructive power last night, crushing the Assassin who invaded the Tohsaka Estate to death.

Under the Masters' abilities, Waver and the others quickly confirmed his identity—Archer.

"I didn't expect two shameless individuals to appear in one night, disregarding this King's existence and calling themselves king."

The golden Heroic Spirit's first words were a cold, displeased sneer as he disdainfully looked down at the three Servants confronting each other below. His arrogant attitude and tone were similar to the King of Conquerors, yet even more cold and ruthless.

Rider also seemed surprised to encounter an opponent more aggressive than himself, scratching his chin in confusion.