Fate: But This Is Not Solomon I Know!

Fuyuki – Somewhere inside an unknown space.

A dim orange glow, like the light of dusk, enveloped everything. There was no sky here, no ground—only fog and drifting light suspended in a void without direction.

Zoth let out a soft groan, frowning as his eyes squinted against the brightness.

Groggily, he shifted, about to go back to sleep—until he suddenly remembered:

He was still inside the Omni Force's domain.

With a long yawn, he reluctantly pushed himself up amid the hazy mist, like a dream drifting between reality and illusion.

And in front of him—stood himself.

Another version of him loomed in the fog, surrounded by swirling fragments of memory. The eyes of this other self were hollow, as if staring into the soul's abyss. His gaze was cold as steel—a Zoth stripped of emotion, left with nothing but purpose.

Zoth sighed, rubbed his temple, then let out a dry chuckle.

"You bastard… you really went all out, huh? Ready to smash the entire world for a village girl? Damn! Respect. I gotta admit—you're the strongest simp I've ever seen in history!"

'Zoth' frowned. A small twitch at the corner of his eye, but his voice remained calm and emotionless:

"Now you understand everything, don't you?"

Zoth shrugged, stepped forward with his hands in his pockets, staring directly into his other self.

"Yeah, I get it now. But I've got a few questions."

'Zoth' tilted his head slightly, voice low and steady:

"Ask. I'll answer whatever I can."

Zoth's expression turned serious, hand to his chin in thought.

"After inheriting your memories… here's the thing I'm wondering: Will I become like you when I use the Omni Force? I mean—getting eroded by True Ether?"

'Zoth' laughed—a light, almost hollow sound that rang straight through the mind.

"No. You won't. You've been reborn… your body has been 'baptized' within the Akasha."

"Also, your Mystic Code Overcharge has a built-in Ether balancing function—it'll prevent you from ending up like me."

Zoth nodded, then frowned, his tone skeptical:

"Then what about you? What exactly are you now?"

'Zoth' gave a wry smile, his gaze softening a bit.

"I'm nothing but a remnant of consciousness left inside the Omni Force. From now on… you are me—just as you are now the Holy Sovereign Solomon."

Zoth took a step back upon hearing that, face twisting like he'd just been hit with something indecent.

"Ew~! No way! I'm not doing the whole 'world leader' gig! Sitting at home, gaming, reading novels, watching anime—that's the good life! Who's got time to smash the world? What if there's a power outage?!"

'Zoth' looked half amused, half exasperated. He rubbed his forehead, shaking his head.

"…Now I finally understand how the others felt when I used to mock them."

He sighed, his gaze turning cold again:

"Still… you are me. Whether you accept it or not, destiny will keep chasing you. Those Servants will figure it out sooner or later."

Zoth broke out in a cold sweat at that, his face twisting.

"…What Servants are we talking about here… Wait—you mean the Grand Servants!?"

'Zoth' nodded silently. He didn't say anything more—only smiled faintly, and then began to dissolve into golden particles of mana, like radiant ashes drifting into the void.

As he vanished, he left behind one final message—soft as the wind, sharp as a needle:

"If you ever meet Jeannette again… tell her—it was all my fault. She doesn't need to blame herself anymore."

Zoth stood silent for a moment, eyes fixed on the last glimmers of gold disappearing into the mist. Then he nodded lightly and smiled:

"Yeah… you are me, after all. If I ever get to see her again… then I'll be the one to repay what you still owe her."

'Zoth' closed his eyes and smiled—peacefully—before fading completely into nothingness, like a page of history quietly turned.

---

Awakening from the dream.

Zoth slowly opened his eyes.

Soft morning light streamed in through the old wooden window frame, slipping past thin curtains and filling the room with a gentle, warm haze. Dust motes drifted lazily in the light — like fragments of memories floating between dream and reality.

He shot up with a gasp, breath heavy and uneven. His body was soaked in cold sweat, shirt clinging to his back, heart pounding like he'd just been pulled out of some abyss.

Zoth rubbed the space between his brows, eyes shut, sighing deeply:

"…Still alive. Still here."

He pushed himself up, adjusted the wrinkled hem of his coat, then stretched with a long yawn — as if trying to drive out the lingering images in his head.

One step, two steps… He opened the door.

"Good morning, Sakura. Good morning, Shinji~."

"Good morning, big bro." ×2

Zoth smiled faintly, slowly pulled out a chair, and sat down at the dining table. The aroma of hot porridge mixed with the crisp scent of toasted bread filled the small kitchen.

But his eyes subtly shifted toward someone else — Kariya, busy at the stove. The man looked exhausted, his face weighed down by constant worry, as if he hadn't had a proper night's sleep in weeks.

Zoth said nothing. He simply picked up the bowl of porridge and downed it in one go, like a man desperate to return to reality. With his other hand, he grabbed a slice of toast, spread it with strawberry jam, and began eating as he turned on the TV.

The morning news came on screen:

"…Early this morning, a series of small explosions occurred near Fuyuki's southern port area, possibly due to a gas leak. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported—"

Zoth smirked slightly, eyes fixed on the screen as he muttered inwardly:

"Ah yes… Fuyuki's specialty — 'gas leaks'."

Right then, Kariya's voice called out from the kitchen:

"Oh! Ruler, can you help keep an eye on Sakura and Shinji today? I've got something urgent."

Zoth immediately paused mid-chew, eyes drifting sideways in obvious annoyance:

"Why? Give me one good reason."

Kariya brought out a pot of soup and thudded it down on the table, his voice more serious now:

"Because both I and Big Bro Byakuya are busy today. I need to swing by my editor's to pick up the new chapter for my manuscript, and the old man's rushing a project deadline. He probably won't be back until late tonight." "So — we're counting on you, Ruler!"

Zoth snorted, waved a hand lazily, then stood up. He went upstairs, grabbed his coat, flopped onto the sofa, and turned on the console — launching Mario like none of this mattered.

"Yeah, yeah… just leave Sakura and Shinji to me. I'll take them to the park later or something."

Kariya let out a breath of relief, rushed upstairs to change, gathered his stack of papers, and disappeared out the door like the wind.

Moments later, Sakura — having finished her meal — turned to Zoth with wide, innocent eyes:

"Ruler-nii, are we going to the park soon?"

Zoth glanced over and nodded with a slightly bitter expression, scratching his ear like someone who had just swallowed something unpleasant:

"Yeah… but finish eating first, alright? I'll take you two out afterward. I could use a little break myself after getting smacked in the head with a mountain of memories…"

---

Fuyuki — A small park in Miyama Town.

A gentle breeze stirred the trees, rustling the leaves with a whisper like summer's lullaby. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, scattering golden patterns across the ground — shimmering shadows like traces of distant memories.

Children's laughter echoed brightly across the park.

Sakura and Shinji were crouched in the sandbox, plastic shovels in hand, digging away with a few other kids. Their faces were smeared with dirt but glowing in the sun, their carefree smiles enough to melt away any worry in the world.

Nearby, a few parents sat chatting quietly, some occasionally glancing toward the Matou siblings with fond expressions.

Except for one guy — sitting alone on the farthest bench in the park.

Zoth.

The lazy Ruler was sprawled out on the bench, sunbathing like a lizard. One leg propped up over his knee, an arm draped over his forehead, eyes squinting at the too-blue sky above. It was blindingly clear — annoyingly beautiful.

He furrowed his brow and groaned softly:

"Haah… Berserk… I'm so bored~. I should be home rotting in peace, not out here soaking up vitamin damn D."

A faint magical ripple brushed past him — accompanied by a low, restrained growl like a beast grinding its teeth:

"Augghh–…"

Lancelot. Still in spirit form. And clearly just as unenthusiastic about this glorified babysitting duty.

Zoth snorted, smirking faintly, then shut his eyes — surrendering to fate.

What followed, for Zoth, was a bitter parade of first-time parenting nightmares:

— He had to bend down and drag Shinji out of the koi pond when the kid tried tossing in a spider "to teach it how to swim."

— He had to clean Sakura's hands after she smeared vanilla ice cream into her hair, only to be pouted at because "you wiped too hard, it hurts~!"

— He had to play tag… with three other kids Sakura had pulled into her orbit, while trying to keep his coat from being torn apart by the little gremlins.

— And finally… he got bitten on the arm by some random kid who didn't appreciate him "taking the swing."

All this — to Zoth, wielder of Omni Force, bearer of sacred blades, Holy Sovereign of the Logos Sword Council — felt like divine punishment.

After finally wrangling the whole gang back to the bench, he slumped down with a thousand-yard stare. Sweat clung to his forehead, his coat was a wrinkled mess, and his face looked like someone who'd just been mugged by life.

"…Berserk, if I survive this day… I swear I'll never complain about those broken-ass memories ever again."

A faint rumble came from the air around him — like someone trying very hard not to laugh.

---

Morning sunlight bathed the city of Fuyuki in a gentle summer glow.

Along a quiet street in a sleepy neighborhood, Zoth walked with calm steps, holding the hands of two small children—Shinji and Sakura—each in one hand. His expression was that of a man returning from war… or more accurately, a warzone-level kindergarten.

The moment he saw Kariya waiting at the gate, Zoth didn't say a word. He simply handed over the two "ticking time bombs" like expired goods being returned.

Then, he stretched his arms with a loud series of crack—crack—crack, the sound like a spine breaking under the weight of a day-long siege.

Zoth let out a dry smile, eyes narrowing as he looked up at the soft amber sky — a peace far too artificial.

Then his gaze shifted. Deeper. Colder.

"Berserk… let's move. Tonight, we hunt."

His voice was slow, but each word hit like it had been carved into the fabric of the world.

"Target: Irisviel von Einzbern."

"Reason…"

A golden Driver appeared at his waist, bathed in light. A massive golden broadsword materialized, resting across his shoulder. The blade gleamed with the glow of a sun bleeding out.

Zoth smirked, his lips curling into a cold, resolute grin.

"…Eliminate her. To prevent the Holy Grail from ever manifesting — before Fuyuki drowns in fire."

"Urrrggghhh—!!"

A guttural growl rumbled through the air.

Lancelot revealed himself, clad in blackened armor, his body cloaked in hellish smoke seeping from every joint. He lowered himself behind Zoth, a loyal war-beast ready to strike.

From under his coat, Zoth pulled out the Omni Force Wonder Ride Book and cracked it open.

A mechanical voice echoed, like a divine machine chanting the words of an ancient epic:

[Omni Force~!]

[The combined power of 10 Sacred Blades and 19 Wonder Ride Books! Behold—the Chronicle of the Neo Demon God!]

He snapped the book shut and slammed it into the Driver on his hip.

With every step he took, golden dust lifted into the air. Particles of pure mana sparkled like shattered crystal, spreading through the streets. Black mist rolled in like a curtain — cloaking the world from the crime about to unfold.

"Hen… Shin!"

Zoth raised his hand — and slammed it down onto the Driver.

[Open The Omnimus!]

[Force… Of The God!]

[Kamen Rider… Solomon!]

[Fear Is Coming… Soon!]

The gold dust and black mist exploded outward—revealing him.

Kamen Rider Solomon.

Silver-gold armor gleamed like blades of light. A tattered crimson cloak billowed behind him like the aftermath of a thousand wars. Blood-red lines traced across his armor like the veins of a demon god. His helmet, sharp and angular, bore a single upward horn like a divine sword piercing the heavens. Twin crimson compound eyes burned with the gaze of an unforgiving god.

Zoth rolled his neck with a crack, then tilted his head toward the sky, his voice hoarse and heavy like a death sentence:

"Now~, thy Judgment has come~."

BOOM—!!

The sky split open.

Crimson lightning roared down like wrathful dragons. Storm clouds gathered above Fuyuki, cloaking the city in a dire omen—

The End had begun.

Zoth flicked his wrist.

From within his helmet, a low, twisted laugh echoed across the streets — so chilling, even the birds scattered in panic.

"Berserk, let's go."

"For the thousands of lives in Fuyuki… I will eliminate the Holy Grail's Vessel — and snuff out this false 'hope' that the Einzbern dared to create."