"The new video's called Final Singularity - Grand Temple of Time? It's about the defeat of King Solomon?" Rin Tohsaka asked curiously.
In Alaya's latest video announcement, the actual title hadn't been revealed—only a short teaser.
But from that teaser alone, everyone could tell this would be the final, decisive chapter in humanity's defense.
The one pulling all the strings—the ultimate boss behind every Singularity—would finally appear.
That terrifying Grand Caster, King Solomon himself, had planned to burn all of human history to ash—using every human soul as a torch—to fuel his return to 46 billion years ago, to the very moment the Earth was born.
There, he sought to become the true ruler of the planet—Gaia itself.
Once this revelation dropped, the entire world fell into an uproar.
Every viewer, from ordinary fans to seasoned magi, was furious—wishing they could personally tear Solomon apart.
It was simply unforgivable.
Every other Grand-class Heroic Spirit had fought to protect humanity—sacrificing their Saint Graphs without hesitation.
But this one?
He did the opposite.
He betrayed humanity.
A man born as human, yet willing to become a demon god who would destroy the very world that birthed him.
Even Rin herself couldn't understand it.
She had always pursued strength—to protect her friends and loved ones.
So why would the greatest mage in human history use his strength to bring about ruin?
Gilgamesh's golden eyes flicked toward the nearby doctor, who looked increasingly uneasy.
At that moment, Romani Archaman's smile froze.
He knew.
He was done for.
Once the video aired, his true identity would be completely exposed.
It wouldn't just be "black history"—it'd be a global public execution.
After all, Gilgamesh's own past misdeeds had caused casualties only within Fuyuki City.
But Solomon?
He'd nearly destroyed the entire world.
There was no comparison.
Gilgamesh folded his arms.
"Yes, this video will reveal everything about the King of Mages. And perhaps… we'll find a clue on how to defeat that alien monster."
The one sleeping beneath the South American jungles—the terrifying entity from Mercury—was said to have answered Gaia's call.
Perhaps Solomon's battle against Gaia itself held the key to victory.
Everything would be revealed once the video dropped.
Once the video aired, humanity would know whether they had any hope of fighting back.
After leaving Chaldea, Gilgamesh returned to his hotel and made a phone call.
"Shikotei—care to visit Chaldea with me after the premiere?"
"I am quite interested," Shikotei replied with a knowing smile.
As a being of true Grand-class caliber, he too could sense the same level of power radiating from that "ordinary" doctor in Chaldea.
A Grand-class being living as a mere human? Intriguing indeed.
And now, a video exposing that person's dark past?
How could he not be curious?
"Excellent," Gilgamesh said, a grin spreading across his face. "Let's enjoy the show together."
After all—even the wisest kings need entertainment.
A fine drink and a bit of schadenfreude—watching a fellow Grand's humiliation—was the perfect combination.
"As you wish," Shikotei said, his smile widening.
Two Grand-class kings attending the premiere together—surely even the so-called "doctor" would be honored.
====
Meanwhile, in Academy City—within the Director's Office.
Merry lazily waved her hand. Blossoms filled the air, blooming into a massive illusory screen.
[Clairvoyance]
Even if hers was considered the weakest version, it still far surpassed any human detection method—capable of surveying the entire planet.
On the screen appeared the lush expanse of the Amazon rainforest in South America.
Deep underground, massive serpentine tunnels—dozens of meters wide—stretched endlessly.
And within one such cavern, the earth cracked open, revealing a crystalline magical barrier of breathtaking beauty.
Through it, one could glimpse the shadow of a colossal creature—spider-like, forty meters long—its many eyes slowly opening.
"This is a Reality Marble… similar to Unlimited Blade Works," Merry said, astonished. "That being—the one that slept for five thousand years—has truly awakened!"
As a dreamborn being who'd lived for over two millennia, she'd spent countless years watching the world's stories unfold.
Empires rose and fell, kings came and went.
And yet—never had she seen something like this.
"This Reality Marble…" Tamamo-no-Mae murmured, brows furrowed. "It's stronger than Nameless's Unlimited Blade Works at full release."
She spoke with authority—after all, she'd personally witnessed Nameless's greatest form during the Lostbelt.
But this thing—this alien arachnid known as ORT, the "Ultimate One" from Mercury—was beyond anything.
It was not just stronger than any "Evil of Humanity"… it was beyond life itself.
Merry nodded grimly. "Yes. Even asleep, it reshapes the environment to suit itself—rewriting the very laws of physics."
Its mere existence was original sin.
Even if it never moved again, its passive influence alone would terraform Earth—turning it into a lifeless, Mercury-like wasteland.
At that moment—
A bright, cheerful voice echoed through the screen.
A beautiful woman appeared, dressed in traditional feathers and gold ornaments, radiating divine energy.
It was none other than Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent Goddess.
She looked directly through the screen and said lightly: "You're watching me, aren't you, Merry?"
Merry froze. "Ahhh… she's awake too?"
She subconsciously reached for her crotch—only to remember something crucial was missing.
Of course—it had been transformed by Nameless.
Tamamo gave her a deadpan look.
"Your old friend seems… eager to see you again."
Back during Babylonia, Quetzalcoatl's "friendly greeting" had been a flying kick so strong it turned Merry into a literal shooting star.
Every male viewer had winced in unison.
But she'd deserved it.
As one of the Three Goddess Alliance, Quetzalcoatl had been forbidden from harming her fellow goddesses—yet Merry had tricked her into attacking with the Axe of Marduk, drawing the wrath of divine retribution upon herself.
Lightning backlash had nearly obliterated her divine core.
Otherwise, how could the supreme god of Mesoamerica have been so weak in that battle?
It was all that damn dream demon's fault!
Merry forced a weak smile.
"It was a mistake! I swear on my… er… conscience!"
Tamamo blinked in disbelief. "You have a conscience?"
She was more shocked by that claim than by the awakening of the apocalyptic spider.
If Merry truly had a conscience, then pigs could fly.
At that moment—
The screen flickered once more—
And the true nightmare began to stir.
On the virtual screen, a petite and adorable blonde girl suddenly appeared.
A keyhole-shaped mark gleamed on her forehead, drawing all eyes.
Behind her, a door to the void slowly opened—pouring out endless knowledge and mysteries.
Merry instantly clutched her eyes and rolled on the floor. "Aaahhh! My eyes! My eyes!!"
The illusionary screen shattered instantly.
Just that one glance had shown her a glimpse of an Outer God beyond comprehension, making her soul tremble and wail in pure agony.
Mortals cannot gaze upon the divine.
Even as a Grand Caster candidate, she could not look directly upon such a transcendent existence.
That being's presence alone could infect even gods—corrupting them into chaotic Outer Deities.
How could a mere magus withstand that?
And with her Clairvoyance, she had seen it even more clearly than any mortal could—thus suffering a backlash that nearly tore her apart.
She convulsed on the floor, her eyes rolling back, her body drenched in sweat that soaked her clothes completely.
Tamamo-no-Mae watched the scene, still shaken.
That girl—the Outer God's chosen emissary—stood backed by a being that surpassed even the Evils of Humanity.
A generous, ever-responding being whose "blessings" no one could truly endure.
So… if the emissary was there, then surely Nameless must've gone as well?
In South America—
A great door opened, and Abigail calmly stepped out.
The Feathered Serpent Goddess watched her with curiosity. "Interesting… you've been blessed by that being, haven't you?"
As a mighty goddess, she could easily see through others' essence.
And in her divine eyes—
The little girl before her wasn't merely blessed. Power from the Outer God Yog-Sothoth surged within her.
A single word from her could summon that god itself!
This wasn't a simple "blessing." She was being pampered like a beloved daughter.
Then, another figure stepped out of the gate.
The Feathered Serpent immediately lunged forward, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Waaah! My cute little Master, it's been forever! Big sister missed you so much!"
"Uh…"
Sanjiro felt awkward at her boundless enthusiasm.
This cheerful goddess had taken an inexplicable liking to him ever since their first meeting in the Absolute Demonic Front singularity.
She even confessed publicly, wanting him to marry her!
A member of the once-feared Three Goddess Alliance had turned into a big sister-type who loved teasing little boys.
Later, after he cleared her trial and "won her over," she'd become a staunch ally.
Sanjiro coughed lightly. "It's been a while, beautiful big sister. Looks like we'll be fighting side by side again."
Against a cosmic-level threat like this, they'd need the local deities' help—and her powers were among the few that could actually affect such an enemy.
"No problem, no problem. But before we start… want to make big sis happy first?" the goddess said playfully, her golden eyes full of teasing mischief.
Interest from a god was no small thing.
After all, finding a mortal that piqued her fancy was incredibly rare. And now that she had one, she wasn't planning to let him slip away so easily.
Sanjiro's face twitched. "Ahem, I'm here to save the world, not flirt."
"Hehe, but your body says otherwise, little Master~" she teased, gently pinching his cheek.
But before she could continue, she felt a cold, dangerous gaze from beside her—the Outer God's emissary was watching her intently.
Quetzalcoatl laughed awkwardly. "Alright, alright, no more teasing. Let's talk strategy."
"Yeah," Sanjiro quickly agreed, pulling free from her smothering embrace.
Her enthusiasm was overwhelming.
Now wasn't the time for that anyway—humanity's survival was at stake.
The enemy they faced—the ORT—possessed a planetary-scale Saint Graph, a being so strong it could literally destroy a planet.
It might even just be a small fragment of its true self!
Just like he himself—a seemingly ordinary high schooler—was actually the Nameless Heroic Spirit, guardian of human order.
If so, then the real identity of their opponent might be on par with Chaos, the Primordial Father himself!
Against such an incomprehensible existence, even he had no confidence in victory.
Once it fully awakened—
Even if it was a "lazy spider" that just wanted to sleep—humanity had to prepare for the worst.
"I can call upon my Father's power," said Abigail softly, "and drive it back to Mercury."
"And the cost?" Sanjiro asked quietly.
Everything in the world demanded equal exchange.
Even as Yog's most cherished child, she couldn't call upon such might without consequence.
Abigail sighed faintly.
"The price would be this entire continent… devoured by my Father's power. Everyone here would fall into eternal slumber."
"…Then let's not."
Sanjiro rubbed his temples.
That was too steep a price.
There were hundreds of millions of people living in South America—how could he just sacrifice them?
"When the stars align and chaos rises from beneath the earth," Abigail whispered, "the Primordial One shall awaken, and all things shall face extinction."
That was the ancient prophecy of the Outer Gods—harbingers of chaos and destruction, unable to coexist with humanity.
So one possible solution was gone.
Sanjiro frowned deeply. "I guess we'll have to wait for the next video—to see what that brat decides."
The great spider of Mercury—ORT—had yet to reveal its true intentions.
After all, it had been summoned to fight.
Everything depended on the will of that "brat."
If it chose destruction, the spider would erase humanity without hesitation.
If it chose coexistence, perhaps it would just go back to sleep—or even return to its home on Mercury, maybe become Ultraman's neighbor in the Orion Nebula.
Until then, they had to prepare for the ultimate battle.
Sanjiro felt his spirit ache.
It looked like he'd have to burn everything again—his life, his soul—for one more desperate fight.
Would humanity survive this time?
After this battle… maybe he could finally rest.
====
Time ticked by under the world's anxious anticipation.
And at last, noon on January 19 arrived.
The fated moment.
Ding dong—
The doorbell rang.
Sanjiro opened the door to find two familiar little girls waiting outside.
"Welcome!" he smiled.
"We came to watch the new video with you and Kirina!" Illya said cheerfully.
Miyu looked up and greeted softly, "Good afternoon, onii-chan."
"Come in! I've got popcorn and fruit ready. Let's watch together," Sanjiro said.
For everyone but those directly involved, Alaya's videos were the pinnacle of cinematic perfection.
Each upload was a visual feast—a celebration of storytelling that drew the whole world's eyes. After all, Alaya wasn't some small-time editor—it was the greatest "director" of them all.
Its editing, composition, and effects surpassed all human craftsmanship, recreating his experiences perfectly.
For Sanjiro, that was only natural.
He had worked for Alaya for years—sacrificing his youth, fighting endlessly to protect humanity.
Surely he deserved at least this much.
If not, that'd make Alaya the most exploitative company in existence!
Even facing doomsday, he wouldn't miss the premiere.
He took his seat calmly, ready to watch like any ordinary movie.
Kirina, sitting on the sofa, waved. "You're here? Hurry, it's starting in a few minutes—you're almost late!"
"Right on time," Illya smiled, taking a seat beside her.
Miyu clenched her small fists, eyes fixed on the TV.
"I've waited so long for this! I just want to see that damned Demon King get wrecked by Nameless!"
If not for that villain's grand plan of destruction, her brother wouldn't have had to suffer so much.
It was all the Demon King's fault!
"Hehe, he's about to get his face smashed in. I can't wait!" Kirina giggled, her eyes sparkling.
She could hardly contain her excitement.
That guy was the ultimate culprit—the one who nearly wiped out humanity!
He deserved to be executed a hundred times over!
Sanjiro's expression turned a little odd.
…Wait.
Could this too be part of [Alaya]'s plan?
The brat better still be laughing after this!
As everyone watched in anticipation, the clock finally struck twelve.
The long-awaited video began broadcasting.
…
The video finally began.
But strangely, instead of Chaldea, what appeared on screen was a burning city—
A ruined wasteland, scarred by a fierce battle.
Text flashed across the screen:
[Prologue sequence begins.]
This was the beginning of it all.
Amidst the endless ruins stood a man, smiling as he spoke:
"Well done, King Solomon. You've finally dealt with the other six Masters."
Above his head, a name appeared—
Marisbury Animusphere.
A completely unfamiliar name, yet clearly one of immense significance.
Standing before him was none other than King Solomon himself.
Contrary to what the viewers expected, Solomon still looked like an ordinary servant—no trace of the terrifying evil that would one day destroy Human History.
He stood silently, showing no emotion or joy—like a puppet.
"The Holy Grail War has ended in our victory. Now, all that remains is for you to use a Command Seal to end your own life, and the ritual will be complete."
Marisbury continued, smiling faintly.
"With the souls of seven Servants, the Greater Grail will be filled. Then we can complete the Third Magic, reach the Root, and obtain the power to make miracles real. King Solomon, this is a necessary sacrifice. You understand that, don't you?"
For a moment, everyone watching was completely stunned.
The betrayal of one's allies after victory—history had seen it countless times.
How many generals, warriors, and heroes had fought to secure an empire, only to be executed once the throne was secure?
But this was King Solomon we were talking about!
How could he possibly agree to that?
And yet—
Something completely unexpected happened.
"Of course. Though the salvation and growth of humanity are not part of the role I was given, if mankind seeks to advance, I see no reason to stop them."
Solomon's tone was calm, emotionless.
"I simply do what I must—just as I did in life. If my Master commands me to end myself, then so be it."
From beginning to end, there was no trace of resistance.
He truly was—
A doll.
Doing only what others told him, with no will of his own.
Illya stared blankly.
"That's really King Solomon?"
As a gifted magus, she knew better than anyone—magic was the pursuit of truth.
The stronger the magus, the further they walked that path, and the deeper their wisdom became. And at the absolute peak of all magi, towering above every other practitioner, stood—
The King of Magic.
The Mage King Solomon.
He possessed omniscience and omnipotence, with the clairvoyance to see past and future alike—greater than the King of Heroes or the Flower Magus.
How could such a being be anyone's puppet?
"Unbelievable. Did he lose his mind?" Kirina muttered, confused.
She couldn't make sense of it.
If you had that much power, what was the point of living like a tool?
Without free will, even power was meaningless.
If she were Solomon, she'd use that strength to make all her dreams come true—even if it meant defying the entire world.
Power defines worth!
In that sense, she thought, maybe she wasn't so different from the fallen Solomon.
They both longed for power and for their ideals.
The only difference was—he'd actually gone astray, while she had no power to begin with.
Sanjiro, however, didn't look surprised.
He'd known that man for far too long—long enough to understand him completely.
"What a foolish, lovable idiot."
The video continued.
Marisbury burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I was just joking, of course. There's no way I'd sacrifice my greatest asset to the Grail. And besides—Command Seals wouldn't even work on you."
Indeed—before the King of Magic, even the mightiest Command Seals were meaningless.
Because—
He was the King of Magic.
Every spell, every contract, lay bare before his eyes.
Even the Third Magic—the Heaven's Feel: Cup of Heaven that birthed the Holy Grail War—couldn't bind him.
If he wanted, he could master it instantly.
But he had no interest in it.
Marisbury smiled.
"I don't believe in the miracles those Einzbern lunatics talk about. The materialization of souls, human evolution—nonsense! I'll reach the Root my own way!"
"Then what do you want?" Solomon asked calmly.
As he spoke, a line of text appeared onscreen:
[Solomon: He didn't know this would be the last joke he'd ever make.]
Marisbury replied with a grin:
"You'll laugh, but even in front of a Grail that can grant any wish… what I want is money. Enough wealth to build Chaldeas—a fortune equal to a nation's."
"That's not funny," Solomon replied. "Your life's almost over, isn't it?"
With his clairvoyance, he could see it—Marisbury's life was nearing its end.
The Grail War had been his final gamble—to activate Chaldeas before death took him.
Everything he did was to build a system that could protect human order.
"Haha, I guess I can't fool you. We'll just claim that Saber and Emiya won this war—let that be our cover. To protect humanity, I'm willing to sacrifice everything. I will activate Chaldea—no matter the cost! I'll uncover the truth of mankind's end!"
The audience erupted in astonishment.
TooHotToPeg-[Wait, so Chaldea was founded because of this guy's Holy Grail War?!]
GlazingAtItsFinest-[Bro, the first Director is insane. He summoned King Solomon, won the Grail War, and used the wish to found Chaldea?! Absolute legend!]
4thWarPTSD-[Hold up—what Holy Grail War is this supposed to be? Did Nameless take part in it too?!]
SuckDickGoldie-[So the first Director had no idea his Servant would one day almost destroy human history?]
GoatedBalls-[Obviously not. But Solomon knew. That guy's been the ultimate traitor from the start!]
As Alaya's exposé continued, everything came together.
Chaldea—once a hidden organization mediating Heroic Spirit disputes—was now known to all as humanity's final safeguard.
The very place where Nameless became a Master.
The beginning of everything.
But no one had expected that the final boss King Solomon had helped create it.
Kirina looked baffled.
"Wait, wait—so Solomon helped build Chaldea… then went undercover as a mole years later?"
"That… actually sounds possible," Illya replied, stunned.
Unbelievable.
Just the prologue alone had given everyone a massive shock.
The organization that fought Solomon… was built by Solomon himself!
Who could've believed that before today?
Sanjiro just smiled.
"Oh, trust me. This is only the beginning. What comes next will blow your mind."
The three little girls' eyes sparkled with growing excitement.
Illya frowned slightly.
"So… which Holy Grail War is this supposed to be?"
The dialogue had mentioned Saber and Emiya—she herself had fought in that Holy Grail War, yet remembered nothing of this version.
Had she been… killed early on?
The thought made her chest ache—literally.
After all, in that war, the edgy Gilgamesh had wanted to rip out her heart to use as the core for the Greater Grail.
Even her strongest Servant, Heracles, couldn't stop him—completely restrained by Enkidu.
If Shirou hadn't intervened, she'd be long gone.
So in another timeline… had he succeeded?
"Could it be," Miyu guessed softly, "that she replaced Caster Medea in another parallel version of the Holy Grail War?"
Time, after all, was a river—with countless branching streams.
Each branch represented an entirely different parallel world.
So it wasn't all that strange if this version of him had taken part in the Fifth Holy Grail War.
Or perhaps, in this timeline, there had only ever been one Grail War to begin with.
The video continued.
"It's finally going to be realized. Professor Lev's project—SHEBA—will allow us to see the future, and even access the past."
Marisbury gazed up at the darkened sky.
"So then—what is it that you wish for?"
"A wish? No… wait, yes. I do have one."
For once, the ever-calm King Solomon showed a flicker of anticipation.
"Can it really be granted?"
Marisbury smiled.
"Of course—so long as it doesn't cost me my life. If it's your wish, it must surely be a just one. Speak it boldly."
Solomon slowly began to speak—
"Then… my wish is—▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇"
The screen abruptly froze.
The ruins of Fuyuki City vanished, and so did the two figures.
Lines of text began to appear—
This time, however, the narration wasn't the gentle voice of Mash, but that of Dr. Romani Archaman—
[After repairing all the Singularities, this is the final one.]
[The greatest challenge humanity will ever face—to protect the future itself.]
[The last Master of mankind, together with all Heroic Spirits, will confront the ultimate evil.]
[The final battle to reclaim humanity's lost future is about to begin!]
[Welcome to the Grand Order: Final Singularity-The Grand Temple of Time, Solomon!]