Fuyuki – The Bustling Commercial District.
Zoth was currently dragging himself through a massive shopping mall, looking half-dead.
Walking silently beside him — in spirit form — was Berserker, a shadow-like guardian keeping pace without a sound.
Zoth glanced around, face twisted like a fish flopping on dry land.
"Where the hell is the electronics section? I'm dying out here…"
He lazily flipped a shiny credit card between his fingers — one he had "borrowed" from Kariya's jacket pocket earlier that morning.
Wait, stolen? Nope!
He called it: S.T.E.A.L. – Strategically Transport Equipment to Alternative Locations!
So technically, not stealing. At most… temporary logistics support.
He stopped in front of the gaming section, eyes lighting up like an excited 8-year-old.
"Haizz… Bassac! What do you think I should get, huh~ This Gameboy here? Or that PlayStation over there?"
He frowned, staring at the two options like he was caught at a life-or-death crossroads.
From above came a low, guttural groan:
"Auuuurrrgg…"
Yeah, asking a berserked Berserker for opinions was… entirely pointless. But Zoth did it anyway.
"Aiz! Kids choose one — I'LL TAKE BOTH!! FUHAHAHAHA!!"
And so, this not-so-righteous Ruler swiped the card with zero hesitation and carried out a full combo: Gameboy plus Console, straight to the cashier.
A few minutes later –
Just as Zoth walked out of the store, his eyes happened to drift toward the food court across the way.
And there —
A figure stopped him in his tracks.
A blonde girl in a black vest, radiating nobility.
Her eyes were sharp — so sharp they looked like they could cut the wind.
"Jeannette…" Zoth murmured.
"…Huh? Wait—what the hell… Why did I call her Jeannette? That's clearly Dumb Ahoge King over there!"
He stood there, frozen like he'd been struck by lightning.
His mouth moved on its own, whispering the name again.
But that name—
It didn't come from thought.
It came from instinct.
Like a reflex long forgotten.
"Could it be… this body… isn't really mine?
No… the face is the same… but why does everything feel so… off?"
Zoth clutched his head, hands trembling slightly.
Something — a broken shard of memory — was knocking at the door.
---
Shopping Mall – 2nd Floor Food Court.
Saber was busy choosing food — an act that clashed hilariously with her otherwise regal demeanor — when suddenly, a chilling aura swept through the area.
The ahoge on her head shot up like it had been hit by static.
Her pale green eyes instantly sharpened, locking onto the mall's exit.
"That presence… such bloodlust… it's like an Asura has awakened."
She narrowed her gaze.
A man was slowly walking away — his back alone radiated a coldness that sent shivers down the spine.
"Hm? Saber, is something wrong?"
Irisviel looked puzzled, seeing her Servant suddenly turn tense.
The cold steel in Artoria's eyes made her instinctively step back.
Saber clenched her fists, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow.
"The man who just left… he's a Servant."
"S-Servant?!" Iris cried out, instinctively hiding behind Saber.
"What's he like?" Her voice trembled slightly.
Saber didn't answer immediately.
She took a slow breath, then turned to Iris with eyes like a sheathed blade:
"Very strong…
And more than that—his bloodlust isn't ordinary.
It's as if battle-lust has soaked into his very bones…"
Iris turned pale.
She had never heard Saber describe anyone with such weight in her voice.
"He's… that strong?"
Saber nodded, her gaze still fixed on the reflection in the glass panels across the corridor.
"That presence… it reminds me of the White Dragon—the one who nearly brought me down in my final war. He… carries a similar aura."
Her hand tightened into a fist, eyes burning with resolve.
"Whoever he is…
I won't let anyone stand in my way.
The Holy Grail will be mine."
---
Fuyuki – Night by the Sea
After dinner and a quiet tour of Fuyuki, Artoria was now walking along the coastline beside Irisviel – the lady of House Einzbern, and one of the key players in this war of fate.
The night sea was silent.
A gentle breeze blew past, carrying with it the familiar scent of salt and distant tides.
Iris looked toward the darkened horizon, then softly asked:
"...Saber, do you like the sea?"
Artoria was quiet for a moment before replying in a low, wistful tone:
"It's hard to say that I do."
"In my time… the sea was where wars began.
Beyond the ocean… always lay the silhouette of the enemy."
She lowered her head, her feet lightly pressing into the damp sand.
"The sea gave me no hope.
Only unease, and the weight of battles yet to come."
Iris listened in silence, then smiled faintly—though it was tinged with sorrow.
"It's ironic, isn't it?
You're a girl… just like me…
Yet destiny forced you to become King Arthur.
So you never had the chance to enjoy things like this…"
Artoria frowned slightly, then shook her head, a faint smile curving on her lips.
"What about you, Irisviel?
Wouldn't you rather be walking by the sea with Kiritsugu… than with me?"
Hearing that, Iris's expression dimmed.
A pause lingered between them.
Then she quietly replied, with a soft chuckle:
"He can't.
If I'm by his side… it would only bring him more pain."
The air grew heavier.
Then—suddenly, as if moved by instinct—Artoria turned sharply, pulling Iris back a step.
—Swish!
"A Servant?" Iris asked, scanning her surroundings.
"Yes." Artoria nodded, her hand already on the invisible hilt of her sword.
"Their presence is faint—almost completely concealed.
But… about a hundred meters away, someone is watching us."
Iris swallowed hard. "Are they… trying to provoke a fight?"
Artoria's lips curled—not in a smile, but in a knight's smirk:
"Seems like it.
And I could use a warm-up myself."
---
Fuyuki – Arcade Center
Zoth was lounging in a gaming chair, lazily munching on a bag of snacks, eyes half-lidded and glued to the screen—
Until, suddenly, he looked up, eyes narrowing toward the distant port.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Heh… So the noble spirits have finally clashed, huh?"
He stood up, waving his hand casually behind him.
"Lancelot. Time to move.
The overture's just begun."
---
~10 Minutes Later – Fuyuki Port
Zoth appeared, standing atop a tall shipping container, arms crossed, eyes fixed below.
Down on the ground—Saber and Lancer were locked in a fierce melee. Sword and spear collided, sending sparks flying with every strike.
Zoth squinted slightly.
"How noble… What is this, the Roman Colosseum?
For god's sake, this is war—not a damn gentleman's duel…"
He raised a hand, lips curling into a dark grin.
"Berserker… Go."
"AAARRRRTHHHHUUURRRR—!!!"
From afar, Berserker let out a bloodcurdling roar, ripped a street lamp clean from the ground, and charged like a rocket, wielding it as a weapon.
---
Meanwhile – In the Heart of Battle
Artoria, freshly healed by Irisviel, was back in combat with Lancer—her expression tense, focused.
"So… your spear can dispel magic…" Saber muttered through clenched teeth.
Lancer smiled, twirling his spear lightly through the air.
"Your armor resists magic, yes.
But my spear breaks magic.
If all you rely on is defense—
You'd do well to surrender, Saber."
Just as Artoria moved to dispel her armor—
[WHISH—!!!]
A massive steel rod the size of a man's arm came flying straight at her!
She barely dodged in time—
Before a crazed shadow descended upon her, swinging the street lamp sideways like a club:
"AAARRRTHHHUURRR!!!"
[BOOOM—!!!]
Artoria was blasted away, skidding across the metal container floor. Her invisible sword nearly slipped from her grasp.
Lancer shouted furiously:
"You madman! This was a fair duel!"
He turned his spear, ready to aid Saber—but—
[THUNK—!]
A golden sword stabbed into the ground inches in front of him.
A cold voice, dripping with murderous intent, echoed across the port:
"Take one more step… and your head's gone, Lancer."
Lancer spun around.
There stood a black-haired teenager in a tracksuit, partially lit by the cold halogen lights of the dock—eyes gleaming like a hungry beast.
Zoth stared him down like he was watching a clown perform.
"Jesus Christ… you really are naïve.
This is a battlefield.
Not a damn daycare."
Lancer growled:
"Who are you?! Why are you—"
"Shut it." Zoth snapped, eyes as sharp as razors.
"This is the Holy Grail War.
Not a place for your theatrical knightly honor crap.
And you… I'm still wondering how two idiots as naïve as you even made it this far."
Zoth raised his hand.
A golden Driver materialized around his waist.
He pulled out a [Wonder Ride Book], flipping it open.
[Omni Force!]
[The combined power of 10 Sacred Blades and 19 Wonder Ride Books!
Behold—the Chronicle of the Neo Demon God!]
A voice like a whisper from the abyss echoed through the air.
Zoth slammed the book shut, locked it into the Driver—his eyes gleaming like drawn blades.
"Pointing guns at people is rude, y'know…
Though you heroes of justice are always full of surprises."
Nearby on a crane –
Kiritsugu, hidden in the shadows, tensed up.
"Maiya! He spotted me. We're pulling out—now!"
Back below, Zoth struck an awkward pose—froze midway—
"Damn it… gotta practice these poses in front of a mirror next time."
"HENSHIN."
[OPEN THE OMNIMUS!]
[FORCE OF THE GOD!]
[KAMEN RIDER SOLOMON!]
[FEAR IS COMING SOON…]
[BOOOOOM—!!!]
A blinding explosion of golden-white light erupted.
And then—he stood revealed.
Kamen Rider Solomon.
Armor glinting in gold and white. Crimson-black runes swirling with ominous power.
A divine demon god made manifest.
A wave of oppressive killing intent blanketed the port.
Zoth turned back to Lancer, his gaze piercing like a blade to the soul:
"Your true name… is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne."
Lancer recoiled.
"H-How… how do you know that…?!"
"Oh?
Shocked, aren't you?"
Zoth tilted his head, his smirk widening.
"My name… is Zoth Vari-El.
Just your average 'normal guy.'"
Lancer's face drained of color.
"Y-You're… the Demon Sword King—Zoth?!"
The entire harbor fell silent.
Killing intent, holy light, malice, justice—
All swirled into one,
Like the night itself was about to swallow Fuyuki whole.
The true war… had only just begun.