Fate: But This Is Not Solomon I Know!

Bayeux – Sword of Logos Headquarters

Above the skies of Calvados, the peaceful plains of Normandy were now torn apart by an overwhelming, suffocating magical pressure.

At its heart rose a colossal red-and-white castle, erupting from dense layers of ether thick as molten resin—like a rupture in reality itself.

Viscous mana clung to the fortress like a swamp of black tar, pulsing with such intensity… one could mistake it for the return of the Age of Gods.

Inside the castle, all traces of noble grandeur had been stripped away.

In their place: thousands of books—ancient poems, fairy tales, magical treatises, and forbidden grimoires from long-lost civilizations.

This was no fortress, nor a knightly stronghold.

It was a chaotic, living library.

Deeper within, in maze-like corridors that twisted and turned, the heavy footsteps and guttural growls of misshapen beings echoed—

The Megid.

Creatures with twisted horns, spiked limbs, glowing crimson eyes, and half-bestial forms wandered the halls like nightmares made flesh.

They guarded each path silently, without language, their presence defined solely by breath and battle instinct.

At the castle's core, in the pitch-black war chamber adorned with blood-stained pillars—

Dozens of Megids stood in solemn formation, their heads bowed toward a crimson-and-black throne.

Seated there—

Was Zoth.

His brown-black eyes swept across the assembly below—colder than steel, as if he'd already seen every end they could meet.

One hand rested lazily on the armrest, the other propping up his chin. His posture was half-languid, half-contemptuous.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Are they all here yet?" Zoth spoke, his voice rumbling through the stone like thunder inside a mountain.

One Megid stepped forward, kneeling on one knee. Its voice echoed like a beast's growl:

"My Lord… All Megid born of your will are assembled."

This one towered like a Phantom Beast, clad in black armor with red edges, wielding a twin-bladed sword known as Bolhessed.

A crimson sash fluttered over his shoulder, moving with each breath—he was the embodiment of brute power and disciplined pride.

His name—was Legeiel.

Not an ordinary Megid.

He was crafted by Zoth from the corpse of a noble, infused with two forbidden relics:

[Alter Ride Book: Phantom Beast]

A shard of the [Almighty Book]

The result: a hybrid being of unstable awareness and absolute loyalty.

Zoth had named him Legeiel, for his appearance mirrored the long-fallen Legeiel Forbidden, a warrior Megid from the age of Kamen Rider Saber.

"Oh? Is that so… Legeiel, tell them,"

Zoth waved a hand with weary disinterest, yet his voice sliced through the air like an arctic wind.

Legeiel rose instantly. His form upright like a primeval beast, he stepped forward and bellowed:

"Hear me!"

His voice reverberated through the stone halls, and all Megid raised their heads.

"Our Holy Master has conceived a grand design.

And we—his chosen—carry a duty that cannot be denied:

To rewrite the history of this world."

Legeiel took another step, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sharp enough to burn away any dissent.

"To accomplish this… every obstacle must be eliminated.

Any force that stands in our path—be it Heaven or Earth—shall be erased from existence."

He turned, stepping onto the stone dais, his voice rising like the roar of judgment:

"By order of the Holy Master—

All Megid under Sword of Logos… advance!

First target: Destroy Atlas and the Wandering Sea!"

"ROOOOOAR——!!"

The Megid army howled like thunderous demons, their bloodlust igniting the very air.

The war chamber quaked with their march as they flooded out of the fortress—like a tide of death set to consume the world.

Once most of the Megid had departed, Legeiel suddenly turned, placing a hand on his chest as he bowed deeply:

"My Lord… I have one urgent matter to report."

Upon the throne, Zoth leaned his head against the armrest, eyes narrowing. His tone was lazy, but carried the sting of a veiled threat:

"What now, Legeiel."

Maintaining his bow, Legeiel's voice dropped, heavy with tension:

"In the Eure province, a human has appeared… one that does not resemble ordinary mankind.

He has crafted his own weapons and attacked several of our outposts."

Zoth raised an eyebrow, a faint smile cutting across his face like a blade drawing blood.

"Ohh~ Is that so? And what does this man look like, Legeiel?"

Legeiel responded instantly, no hesitation in his tone:

"According to Shimi-class Megid reports—

He has silver-white hair, a muscular build, and wears black leather armor.

Dark-skinned, eyes sharp like tempered steel.

He can summon countless blades from thin air… and obliterates locations with a single strike."

Zoth chuckled.

A low, echoing laugh that rolled across the chamber—filled with amusement bordering on madness.

"Huhahaha... 'Hero of Justice'—Emiya, isn't it?

So… even Alaya has decided to take the stage."

With a sudden motion, Zoth stood.

His red coat flared behind him as he strode out of the chamber, overwhelming magical pressure flooding the halls like a black tide.

Panicked, Legeiel rushed forward, bowing low in a desperate plea:

"My Lord! Are you going to confront him directly? Please, allow me to handle this intruder in your stead—!"

Zoth didn't even look back. He flicked his hand as though brushing away an insect:

"Remain here. Guard Sword of Logos.

I will face him myself… and bring him to our side."

As the last word left his lips, a wave of dark mist surged from beneath his feet, swallowing his figure like the maw of hell—

and vanished into the void.

Silence returned to the chamber.

Legeiel stood alone, fists clenched at his sides, a flicker of doubt flashing through his burning eyes:

"Bring him over… or destroy him…?"

---

Eure Province – Megid-Occupied Territory

Ash and chaos blanketed the land.

Streets cracked and fractured; alleyways collapsed into deep crimson pits.

Roaring flames licked the sky, howling like beasts.

The corpses of Megids lay strewn everywhere, torn apart like scraps of paper — the remnants of a merciless ambush.

At the heart of the ruins stood a lone figure clad in obsidian-black armor, his hair pale as ashes.

He gripped a pair of twin blades — Kanshou and Bakuya — his icy gaze sweeping over the rubble like a predator hunting for survivors.

[CRACK—BOOM!!]

The sky suddenly split with a blood-red thunderclap.

A bolt of magical lightning crashed down directly where he stood.

Emiya's eyes narrowed — he leapt backward just in time.

[KA-BOOM——!!]

The earth exploded, leaving behind a smoldering crater, red lightning crackling like veins of a demon god.

From the haze of crimson mist, a hoarse, languid voice echoed:

"Oh my~ You dodged that? Not bad… you must have a bit of a reputation, huh?"

A figure emerged from the bloody dust — cloaked in a dark crimson coat, each step ringing like a coffin nail.

Zoth.

"You… You're the one trying to unravel human history, aren't you?"

Emiya immediately dropped into a combat stance, blades crossed before him, eyes as sharp as steel trained on the approaching enemy.

"Ah… that's right. That's me."

Zoth smirked, bowing ever so slightly like a dancer before lifting his gaze, black eyes locking onto Emiya.

"Name's Zoth Vari-El. Just a bored guy… tying up a few loose ends."

He stood tall, his lips curling like a blade:

"But enough pleasantries, don't you think?"

"Come now, Hero of Justice — Emiya."

No words were wasted.

Emiya hurled the twin blades at Zoth with force. Mid-air, he activated [Broken Phantasm], detonating both blades just before impact.

[BOOM——!!]

A violent explosion — dust, flames, and blood-red lightning erupted in a devastating shockwave.

Smoke veiled everything.

Eyes locked on the blast's center, Emiya already summoned another pair of swords, body tense like a drawn bowstring, ready to counterattack.

But then—

From the swirling haze, that same lazy voice returned:

"Heh~ So this is Projection Magecraft? I gotta say… kinda entertaining."

Zoth stepped out of the smoke, completely unscathed.

With a casual flick of his sleeve, he dispersed the lingering dust like it was mere air.

"Now I'm curious… What would happen if you tried copying my Caladbolg?"

Emiya's grip tightened around the new blades, his voice cold as ice:

"You're… not like any Servant I've faced before."

"Oh~?"

Zoth tilted his head, grinning as if he'd heard a delightful tune.

"Then let me teach you… what despair truly looks like."

From within his blood-red coat, Zoth pulled out a glowing artifact — [Omni Force].

He opened it. A mechanical voice snarled with sinister power:

[Omni Force!]

He snapped it shut, slamming it into the Driver at his waist.

With one press—

"Henshin."

[Kamen Rider… Solomon!]

[Fear Is Coming Soon…]

A blast of radiant white-gold light erupted.

The Solomon armor materialized — a divine mix of shining white with golden circuit patterns, each segment of armor shimmering like a fallen god's gaze.

Zoth raised Caladbolg and pointed its golden tip at Emiya, a twisted grin stretching across his face.

"Come then, Emiya.

Show me —

What have you got that can actually stop me?"

[Whoosh!]

Emiya shot forward like an arrow, twin blades slashing through the air in a dazzling storm of strikes.

Zoth didn't move.

With effortless grace, he raised Caladbolg, parrying each blow with mechanical precision.

[Clang! Clang! Clang!]

The sound of steel echoed across the ruins.

Suddenly—

Zoth caught one of the blades mid-swing and crushed it.

Crack–!!

Bakuya shattered like brittle glass.

Without pause, Zoth spun and delivered a crushing roundhouse kick to Emiya's ribs — the force bent the very air.

[THUD–!!]

Emiya was launched backward, slamming into the cracked ground, skidding like a meteor.

Zoth spun Caladbolg in his grip.

From its blade surged a pulsing, red-black energy — alive, like boiling demon's blood.

"Tch. I expected you to last longer."

He swung the blade — a massive wave of force erupted, tearing apart the pavement, erasing the street in an instant.

"No counterattack? Be careful… I might just send you back to the Throne of Heroes."

Zoth chuckled, gently stroking the edge of his blade, eyes glinting with cruel amusement.

Silence.

From the crimson fog—

A rain of magical arrows screamed toward him.

Zoth sighed and spun Caladbolg like a shining fan, swatting them aside effortlessly.

But then—

A whisper, cold as death, echoed:

"I am the bone of my sword…"

"Caladbolg II."

[FWOOOSH—!!]

A spiraling arrow of pure light tore through the air, aimed directly at Zoth's heart.

Zoth remained calm.

He slowly closed the Omni Force and pressed his Driver twice.

[Omnimus Loading…]

[Solomon Stlash!!]

Behind him, a colossal Omni Force book materialized — opening wide like a demonic gospel.

From it surged a titanic version of Caladbolg — golden, divine, roaring with heavenly thunder.

It crashed down toward Emiya.

"Let me escort you off the board, Archer."

"Damn it—!!"

Emiya panicked, throwing up a desperate defense.

"I am the bone of my sword… Rho Aias!"

A seven-petaled, cherry blossom-shaped barrier bloomed before him.

[CLANG—!!!]

Too slow.

Caladbolg's strike shattered Rho Aias completely, sending Emiya flying like dry leaves in a storm.

The ground split in a burning red trench, the energy from the strike still flickering like aftershocks.

Emiya staggered to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

He summoned Kanshou and Bakuya once more, trying to stand—

[CLANG!]

A golden sword embedded itself in the ground beside his foot, cracking the earth.

He looked up—

Zoth, still in Solomon armor, stood there.

Eyes cold.

Smile… almost bored.

"Wow. That's all it took? How disappointing."

Emiya chuckled bitterly, kneeling:

"Finish it."

Zoth disengaged his transformation, the armor dissipating into motes of light.

He shrugged, flipping the Omni Force in his hand, smirking:

"Kill you? What for?

I want you to… work for me."

Emiya narrowed his eyes, voice cold:

"I don't serve lunatics."

Zoth crouched before him, resting his chin on one hand like a salesman offering a dream:

"I can sever your contract with Alaya.

Rewrite your fate."

Emiya froze.

But still shook his head.

"No. I won't."

Zoth tilted his head, smile widening:

"Then what if I told you…

I can open the path to Avalon?"

Silence.

Emiya's expression shifted instantly — his eyes widened in disbelief:

"How… how do you know that—?"

Zoth laughed, folding his arms:

"Ah~, that's a trade secret.

But trust me — if I say I can, I will."

Emiya lowered his head, silent.

Zoth's words echoed in his mind like whispers from the abyss:

"Don't you want to change your ending?"

"Don't you want to escape that cheap title — Hero of Justice?"

"Have you forgotten… someone is still waiting for you in Avalon."

Emiya's heart trembled.

He lifted his head — his eyes dark as the void, but behind them… a decision had been made.

"If you truly can…

Then I'll follow you."

Zoth smiled, extending a hand:

"Very good, Emiya-kun."

Emiya grasped it firmly.

In that moment, a new bond was forged.

No longer Hero of Justice – Emiya...

But a swordsman under the banner of Zoth Vari-El.

"One broken piece removed.

A new card enters the game."