SWNOVELXO Chapter 41: Wonder Almighty!
At the heart of Wonder World.
The sky was pitch-black.
Up above the clouds, countless streaks of crimson lightning howled—like the fury of a god unleashed, echoing through the warped realm.
There, amidst the void, stood a figure clad in silver and gold armor. Towering. Unmoving.
He looked down at the group below with eyes filled with both rage—and sorrow.
"Round two… begins now!!"
Zoth drew Bilgamed, diving like a golden thunderbolt from the heavens—bringing with him the wrath of a god.
He swung Caladbolg with brute force, black-and-gold energy spiraling around the blade, threatening to tear reality apart.
Clang–!
Shirou had leapt in front of Ritsuka just in time, raising Haouken to block the monstrous strike.
The ground beneath him cracked and shattered.
Gritting his teeth, Shirou countered with a Rider Kick—
Thud!
Zoth caught his leg mid-air, lifted him like a ragdoll, and smashed him into the ground—then hurled him straight at Noah, who was charging in.
BOOM!!
Noah's eyes widened—but before he could react, the green-armored man collided into him.
Both were sent flying.
"Hahahaha! Trying to sneak up on me? How naive!"
Zoth laughed, spinning to swing Bilgamed behind his back—deflecting a barrage of black spears.
"Damn you!"
Jalter gritted her teeth, brandishing her flag before drawing her black sword and launching a head-on charge.
But with a single punch to the gut—
She collapsed instantly, unconscious.
Zoth's body was no longer being eroded by ether.
He had consumed 1,000 souls via the Alter Ride Books, using them as vessels to endure the backlash.
But… there was one problem—
"Goddamn it! SHUT UP! Stop screaming in my head!!"
Zoth slammed his fist against his helmet, his voice laced with frustration.
Yes—the souls he had absorbed were still screaming inside his mind. Maddening. Endless.
Driving him as insane as the ether ever had.
"Nine Lives – Roma!!"
Romulus seized the moment, launching a black-and-white orb like a divine meteor straight at Zoth.
Zoth smirked.
He triggered the boosters on his leg armor, exploding with gold-black energy, and—
KICKED the meteor right back—
Straight at Shirou and Noah.
Shirou had just begun to rise. Seeing the projectile coming, he raised Haouken, deflecting it off-course with a heavy swing.
"Sheesh… no matter the version, Master is terrifying."
Without missing a beat, Shirou clenched his fist and chanted:
"Trace… on!"
A red-and-white flaming sword materialized in his hand.
With a fierce shout, he slashed—sending a blazing wave of fire screaming toward Zoth.
But Zoth twisted his body, dodging the attack effortlessly.
Then—he raised his right hand.
BOOM!
A flaming punch from Tezcatlipoca—Grand Berserker—
Zoth caught it with one hand.
Tezcatlipoca froze.
"How… how can you—?"
"Sorry. Trade secret."
Zoth chuckled. His hand erupted with red-black energy—
Then he drove it straight into the Berserker's chest.
BOOM!!
Tezcatlipoca was launched like a ragdoll, crashing violently into a nearby floating island.
Furious, Romulus ascended high into the air, summoning spears of radiant light. He roared:
"Perish, Solomon the Holy Sovereign!!"
Zoth didn't move. A cruel grin formed beneath his visor.
Golden-black power erupted from his leg armor—cracking the earth beneath him like a spiderweb.
As Romulus dove in, Zoth twisted—
And landed a devastating Rider Kick straight into the Grand Lancer's face.
Romulus was sent flying—
Like a falling leaf caught in a storm.
"So… who's next—?"
Zoth dusted off his greaves, sneering—
But suddenly—
CLANG!!
A massive sword cleaved straight down from above—it was First Hassan!
Zoth caught the blade bare-handed.
"Surprised, aren't you, Grand Assassin? Never saw that coming, did you?"
First Hassan pressed down with the sword, the pressure so immense the ground crumbled beneath them.
Zoth laughed, swung Mumeiken, and knocked the greatsword away.
Dark-orange flames burst into existence, swirling to form a blazing phoenix behind him.
No words needed.
Zoth slashed—
The phoenix roared and followed the arc of his blade, ready to engulf everything.
BOOM!!
The explosion consumed the Grand Assassin in fire.
But from within the inferno, First Hassan emerged—armor scorched, his eyes burning with fury.
"I… underestimated you, Zoth."
"Then don't do it again~."
Zoth twirled Caladbolg, pointing it directly at First Hassan with a half-smirk full of arrogance.
The two clashed—
Blades howled, sparks scattered like fireworks. Each strike echoed with the sharp clang of steel meeting steel, shaking the very air.
Just as they were locked in a fierce exchange—
Zoth's brow furrowed.
He suddenly twisted and swung Bilgamed behind him—
CLANG!!
A harsh metallic screech—he had blocked a blue blade coming from behind.
It was Shirou.
He had silently approached, aiming for a critical strike—but Zoth had caught it.
Shirou clicked his tongue and retreated swiftly, whispering:
"Trace on!!"
From his hands materialized a cursed blade of violet and gold. Without hesitation, he threw it straight at Zoth.
Zoth had just parried First Hassan's blow—he turned and smacked the incoming sword aside, scoffing:
"Throwing weapons now? You're really turning into that damn Archer."
Shirou smirked coldly.
"Oh, Master... Look closely at that sword.
Don't tell me—you've forgotten?"
Zoth's eyes flicked toward the blade as it hit the ground. His pupils narrowed sharply.
He tried to step back—
Too late.
"Broken Phantasm!!"
BOOOOM!!
A massive blast erupted, shaking the battlefield. When the dust cleared—
Zoth's white-gold armor was now entangled in black chains, writhing like cursed souls, groaning with spectral anguish.
"Hah~ Didn't expect that bastard to let you analyze the structure of the Holy Swords. I'll give you that."
Zoth struggled—he was completely restrained.
Shirou stepped forward, calmly inserting Haouken into his Driver.
"Master... Did you really think you were the only one getting buffs in Wonder World?"
[Haou Hissatsu Dokuha!]
Zoth's expression twisted.
"What are you implying?"
Shirou chuckled softly.
"I mean… I'm a swordsman of Logos too.
And just like you… I get buffs here!"
He pulled the trigger—
A brilliant blue light exploded outward!
[Seiba Battou!]
[Haou Nisatsu Giri! Sa–Sa–Saber!!]
Haouken gleamed like a galaxy in Shirou's hands.
He dashed in—slicing with a flurry of precise, burning cuts—
Then finished with a Rider Kick that smashed Zoth into the distance!
But he wasn't done.
Shirou leapt into the air—
Summoned every Holy Sword in his arsenal, hovering around him like stars.
With a final battle cry, they all plunged down—
Alongside a Rider Kick from above, like the sword of divine judgment crashing from the heavens.
DOOOM–!!
Zoth was sent crashing deep into the earth, debris erupting sky-high.
He staggered to climb from the crater when—
"Holy Sovereign Solomon!
Your little performance ends here!"
From the sky, Romulus spread his arms—
Countless spears of light rained down like meteors.
"Per Aspera Ad Astra!!"
Zoth sneered, unfazed.
He slammed his hand down on the Driver.
[Demigod Stlash!!]
He hurled Caladbolg into the sky—the sword expanded into a colossal golden version of itself.
With a swing from its master, it cleaved horizontally—shattering the incoming rain of spears.
Romulus roared:
"Saber! He's yours!"
Zoth's pupils shrank.
He looked up—Shirou was ready, enveloped in a radiant blue aura, Rider Kick primed and plunging down!
Zoth roared in return, launching a Rider Punch to intercept—
The two attacks collided, producing a sky-splitting shockwave!
And then—BOOM!
A blast of black fire struck Zoth in the side.
CRASH!!
He was sent flying, tumbling across the ground—barely managing to rise when—
"Holy Sovereign Solomon! Take this!!"
"Great Ram, Noah's Ark: Trials of Regenesis!!"
BOOOOM!!
A Great Flood surged forth—engulfing Zoth in a divine torrent of wrath.
He staggered out of the water, drenched and breathless—only to hear Shirou's voice again:
"Master… It's time for you to finally rest."
Shirou gripped Haouken, fingers moving through the sequence fluidly:
[Rekka! Nagare! Ikazuchi!]
[Kidoku!]
[Kurayami! Saikou! Noroshi!]
He returned the blade to its ready stance, then pulled the trigger—
Unleashing a finishing strike:
[Ikazuchi! Noroshi! Xross Giri!!]
Two sacred swords spun around Shirou—
Their radiance crossing into a blinding X of holy power.
He swung downward—delivering judgment like the descent of death itself!
BAAAANG!!
Zoth was blown back again.
As he staggered to his feet—First Hassan was already there.
Lifting his greatsword, dark mist swirling around him—he brought it down with ultimate force:
"Azrael!!"
A strike imbued with the curse of death, carved deep into Zoth's body.
He faltered... collapsed to one knee.
His armor cracked and shattered, wounds covering his form.
But still—he stood.
Grimacing, trembling, madness flickering in his eyes—yet refusing to fall.
"HAHAHA… HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! COME THEN~! ALLOW ME TO RESPOND IN KIND!!"
Zoth howled with feral laughter, slamming his palm onto the Omni Force Driver. He tapped it twice—
From the device, a cold, sinister mechanical voice echoed:
[Omnimus Loading…]
[Solomon Zone! Fuhahahaha…]
Zoth gripped Caladbolg tightly, sweeping it in a crescent arc—three spiraling waves of blazing red-orange energy erupted from the blade, carving through the sky like magical vortexes.
The spirals dragged behind them a downpour of crimson meteors, crashing down like the wrath of a blasphemed god.
Without giving anyone time to react, he clenched the hilt again—
Unleashing two converging energy beams, crossing vertically and horizontally—
Forming a gigantic X-shaped slash that came crashing down from above.
BOOOM!!
A massive shockwave erupted—all the Servants were blown away.
The ground beneath them split apart, stone and dust bursting into the air.
Shirou staggered back, stabbing Haouken into the earth to stay upright. He calmly adjusted his tilted helmet and said with a dry chuckle:
"Kh… Master, can't you just surrender already? I really don't want to kill you."
Zoth stood amidst the flames and smoke, cape billowing wildly.
He let out a raspy laugh, grabbing the hem of his cloak like a dark king stepping out from hell:
"Hahaha… I haven't achieved my final goal yet... How could I possibly give up now?"
His eyes glowed—a sinister, blood-red light, like twin torches burning in the night.
Shirou sighed under his breath behind the helmet, scratching his head:
"Haah… Looks like I'll have to follow my master's orders after all."
He pulled out a red Wonder Ride Book, raised it above his head, and opened it.
[Wonder Almighty!]
At that very moment—Zoth's expression twisted.
He stumbled back a few steps like he had just seen a demon, pointing at the book in horror:
"You… How the hell do you have that?!"
Shirou glanced at the book and shrugged, replying casually:
"This thing? My Master gave it to me back in Chaldea. Along with a message…"
He mimicked his Master's voice mockingly:
"'If even a gank squad can't handle him, use this and smash that simp core of his into dust for me.'"
"You—" Zoth gritted his teeth and immediately slashed, launching a crimson-black blade of energy straight at Shirou—intent on interrupting the transformation.
Shirou couldn't counter in time—he rolled to the side to dodge, but just before the slash could hit—
A black figure descended like the shadow of death.
First Hassan.
BOOM!!
Zoth's attack was deflected cleanly—parried with absolute force.
"Young Saber, activate it quickly. This threat must be ended."
First Hassan's voice was like a death sentence from the gatekeeper of the underworld.
Shirou said nothing—he just nodded.
He returned Haouken to the Driver, closed the [Brave Dragon] Ride Book and removed it.
Then—he inserted [Wonder Almighty] into the slot and drew the sword to transform.
[Seiba! Zen Battou!]
"Henshin…"
[A new Story Born!]
[Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! All! All! All! Almighty~!]
[Wonder! Almighty!]
A radiant blue light engulfed Shirou.
His armor didn't change drastically—but the pressure that radiated from him…
Was as though the entire cosmos had descended to crush the enemy before him.
For a moment, everything fell silent—not out of fear, but because the aura of that armor…
had surpassed the level of any Servant present.
There was no doubt—
The tide of battle had shifted completely to Chaldea's side.