Fuyuki – The Ruined Harbor.
Smoke and flames smoldered quietly. Molten shards of glowing red metal streamed across the broken ground. The air was thick—choked with killing intent and chaotic energy.
Zoth strolled casually, Caladbolg lazily swinging at his side, his expression calm—like someone enjoying a walk through the park. With a flick of his wrist, the tip of the blade pointed directly at Gilgamesh.
"Go."
[—A thunderous roar.]
The Golden Steel Golems (King of Solomon) — the ultimate weapons summoned from the [Gods Sword Crown] — responded immediately.
They charged forward.
Massive feet crushed the earth beneath them, bombarding Gilgamesh's position without hesitation, grinding his foothold into scattered ashes.
Gilgamesh quickly activated a shield, summoning layers of high-tier barriers from the Gate of Babylon to repel the thunderous slashes.
He leapt into the air, landing atop Vimana, then glared down at Zoth from above.
"You... mongrel... You've truly earned my wrath. Now atone—with your death!!"
[BOOM—!!!]
Hundreds of golden portals burst open behind him, arranged like the divine arsenal of a war god.
An endless barrage of Noble Phantasms fired out—falling like meteors, as if the cosmos itself had gone mad—bombarding the entire harbor in a storm of destruction.
Zoth looked up, smirking with contempt.
[OMNIMUS LOADING...]
[SOLOMON STLASH!!]
He closed the Omni Force, swiftly flipped the chapter, and double-tapped his Driver.
A completely new skill—
A bloodstained chapter of legend—
Was unleashed.
Deep orange energy erupted around Zoth, spiraling like a storm of plasma.
His eyes lit up crimson—like the sentence of divine retribution being read aloud by fate itself.
[—Shing! Shing!]
Two red energy slashes formed an X, tearing through the entire barrage of incoming Noble Phantasms.
Every last one—disintegrated.
Into soulless golden dust.
"Hm? That's it? Honestly~ I'm getting bored now... So then—"
Zoth retracted Caladbolg, raising a single hand and pointing at Gilgamesh.
"Command Spell Order: Archer—commit suicide."
[—FWOOM.]
One of the twelve Command Sigils on his forearm vanished in a flash of crimson light.
Gilgamesh's entire body convulsed. He trembled, eyes wide—staggered by the impossible truth…
"A mere… mongrel dares…"
He unsheathed Enki, but his hand shook—
And the tip of the blade… slowly turned toward his own heart.
—But then he stopped.
Gilgamesh's eyes shifted—from dazed obedience to a screaming fury.
"MONGREL!! YOU DARE VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF A KING!? I SHALL GRIND YOU INTO DUST!!"
He howled and dove straight down.
Gate of Babylon burst open in a frenzy—an onslaught of Noble Phantasms deployed from every direction, weaving a net of divine weaponry to trap Zoth.
Zoth kept smirking, eyes full of disdain.
"So… it was Tokiomi. Burned a Command Spell to cancel out mine."
He lifted his face, locking eyes with Gilgamesh—his voice now darker than a pit of the underworld:
"Bastard king… Tonight, you're the only one who dies."
He slammed his hand down on the Driver.
[DEMIGOD ZONE!! Fuhahahaha…]
[BOOM—!!]
The entire Fuyuki harbor exploded into a spiral of light, the space around them warping like melting glass.
Above, a giant book flipped its pages across the sky—
And in the blink of an eye...
Everyone — Zoth, the Masters, the Servants — vanished.
—Teleportation complete.
The new battlefield slowly came into view:
The ruined streets of Shinjuku, neon lights flickering in the endless dark.
This… was their next arena.
But Zoth wasn't finished.
Orange energy spiraled wildly around him as he raised Caladbolg toward the sky.
A beam of burning red light surged upward, linking to one of the floating books—like divine scriptures suspended in orbit.
[—SHRIP!]
The book opened—
And a spherical energy field expanded downward.
Anything it touched—was erased.
Melted.
Vaporized.
Gone.
Gilgamesh froze.
His eyes widened in horror.
"That's… an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm… Hmph, it seems your mongrel hands wield some strong toys, huh…?"
It was something else.
A different authority.
Not Babylonian—but equal in power.
He hadn't even fully drawn Ea—
When the red sphere touched him.
Forced De-summoning.
Gilgamesh vanished—swallowed whole by the crimson light.
Zoth watched as the so-called Heroic King was once again forcibly displaced. He clicked his tongue, brow furrowing in mild irritation — but quickly composed himself. His eyes swept across the battlefield—
His Berserker… was locked in a two-on-one?
That's right. Lancer wasn't dead.
Zoth had only smashed a kick into his gut earlier. Kayneth had burned a Command Spell to fully heal him—then immediately gave a new order:
"Join Rider. Eliminate Berserker."
Zoth smirked.
"Berserk. Return."
Lancelot, still in his maddened frenzy, had been fiercely clashing with both cavalry-class Servants. Upon hearing the command, he moved like lightning—snatched [Gáe Dearg] mid-spin, drove a side kick into Lancer's ribs, narrowly avoided Iskandar's sword, and in a flash—
He was back at Zoth's side.
"Huh? What now, King of Conquerors? Still mad?" Zoth asked with teasing nonchalance.
Iskandar narrowed his eyes.
He had just witnessed Zoth manhandle Archer like a child's toy — utterly unfazed by Gilgamesh. The sight made the great Rider all the more cautious.
"Boy, your strength is undeniable… I recognize your might," Iskandar said, voice low and grave, imperial aura radiating from his every word.
"But you've defied a king's decree. That cannot be forgiven."
Zoth chuckled.
"Listen, Rider. You're not my boss. Why the hell would I take orders from you?"
He jabbed a thumb toward the battlefield.
"And besides — this is war. Not some royal tea party. You lot treating the Holy Grail War like a stage play? Some kind of sacred gathering of saints?"
His tone grew bitter, edged with frustration.
He hadn't come here for historical philosophy lessons from a group of dead kings.
Iskandar stiffened slightly, then nodded.
"You're not wrong… But the Grail War is also a chance. A rare battlefield for heroes of all ages to meet — through combat, we—"
Zoth cut him off.
"What, sit down with your enemies for tea and biscuits? Put the swords away and talk about your feelings?"
He exhaled sharply, deactivating [Omni Force], stepping away from the Driver.
"Look. If they don't respect you? Beat them until they do."
Iskandar froze for a second—
Then burst into booming laughter.
"Well said! You've got a point, lad! Say, how about it? Join me. You, Lancer, Saber — fight by my side! Together, we'll seize the Grail and conquer the world!"
Zoth waved him off:
"Conquer the world? Nah, no thanks. I'd rather stay home, play games, watch anime. Way more fun."
Diarmuid spoke next, calm but firm:
"I'll pass as well. I fight only for the Master I acknowledge — and that isn't you, Rider."
Artoria stepped forward too:
"I have no interest in conquest. I am the King of Britain. I will not kneel to another."
Iskandar's eyes widened.
"You... You're the King of Britain?"
Zoth grinned, chiming in:
"Yep. That's King Arthur, right there. Surprise — she's a girl."
"WHAT!? The King of Knights is... a young maiden!?" Iskandar looked absolutely shaken.
Zoth just laughed:
"Why so shocked? I also know that Nero — yep, Emperor Nero — also a girl."
Iskandar blinked.
"Hoh? So you're well-informed…" he chuckled, stroking his beard.
"History's full of female heroes rewritten as men. Happens all the time," Zoth shrugged.
Then he stretched, glancing up at the sky.
"Anyway... fun brawl today. Almost dawn already."
He turned to the rest of the Servants and Masters still standing:
"Let's call it. Go home. Eat. Shower. Chill."
Zoth turned to the Masters, speaking in a tone as casual as someone wrapping up a class reunion.
Then, as if remembering something, he flicked his wrist — [Kaenken Rekka], the blazing fire sword, flew from his hand — shooting toward a seemingly empty corner of the battlefield.
"Wha—!?"
A startled cry erupted.
Assassin, who had been hiding this whole time, went unnoticed by everyone — yet was suddenly outed and attacked by this damned Ruler!
No time to dodge.
The fire sword incinerated him on the spot.
"Was... that Assassin?" Waver asked, blinking.
"Yep. Hassan of the Hundred Faces. His Noble Phantasm lets him split into multiple bodies sharing one will," Zoth nodded, answering offhandedly like a battlefield commentator.
Then — his eyes shifted.
They locked onto Artoria and Irisviel.
His face… suddenly serious. Uncharacteristically so.
He raised a hand — and pointed directly at Irisviel.
"You're the Grail Vessel."
"Enjoy your last days while you can. Your death… might just save millions of lives."
With those chilling words, he turned, slinging Caladbolg over his shoulder.
"Berserk. Withdraw."
His body dissolved into swirling black mist — vanishing from the battlefield, with Berserker following behind like a silent shadow.
Above, the hovering [Omni Book] faded from the sky.
The illusion of Shinjuku crumbled, dissipating into ether — and all Masters and Servants were instantly returned to the ruins of the Fuyuki harbor.
Everyone dispersed, retreating to their respective bases.
Only Kayneth lingered, jaw tight, glaring daggers at Lancer before finally storming off in silence.
Left behind, at the scene of the chaotic battle…
Only Saber and Irisviel remained.
The two stood still, saying nothing—
Just looking at each other.
In silence.