At this very moment, the Heroic Spirits and Mages across myriad worlds bore witness to this scene.
To them, the conclusion seemed foregone.
After all, this was the illustrious King Arthur. Under these circumstances, subduing a mere human who lacked even the basic circuits of a Magus should have been a trivial matter.
None of them expected that this recording held a devastating reversal.
.....
Within the interdimensional chat, countless members were embroiled in a heated discussion.
〜Viewer's Chat Room〜
[ Mordred (Saber): As expected of Father! One strike was all it took to effortlessly secure victory in this skirmish! ]
[ Olga Marie Animusphere: Coming back to that… do you all remember the title of this video? I have a nagging feeling things aren't quite that simple. ]
[ Mordred (Saber): Regardless of the circumstances, this is a battle without suspense. That human might possess some modicum of martial arts prowess, but he is merely a mortal. No matter how strong he is, defeating a Heroic Spirit is an impossibility—especially when my Father is a top-tier Heroic Spirit. ]
[ Ryougi Shiki: … ]
[ Kishinami Hakuno: … ]
[ Cu Chulainn (Lancer): It truly is a one-sided affair. Even with martial arts, the disparity in raw power is far too vast. ]
[ .....]
〜In the Worldline of Fate/Extra, inside the Moon Cell〜
Kishinami Hakuno watched the flickering screen.
He couldn't help but shake his head.
Contrary to the consensus in the chat, he held a dissenting opinion.
"I get the feeling these folks are popping the champagne a bit too early…"
As if echoing his words, the imagery on the screen shifted violently in the next heartbeat!
—
『 CRACK!!!
A scene beyond anyone's wildest imagination unfolded.
Even Artoria herself stared at the man before her with a gaze of sheer disbelief.
She never dreamed that her strike—a blow that should have been infallible—would be intercepted by her opponent.
Indeed…
Soichiro Kuzuki had met Artoria's Invisible Air head-on.
Using his elbows and knees in an incredible, crane-like stance, he had pinned the oncoming blade firmly in place!
Simultaneously, Soichiro Kuzuki's voice resonated through the clearing.
"You've underestimated your opponent, Saber." 』
『 .....』
The entire audience stood stunned, mouths agape.
It wasn't just the spectators beyond the screen; even Artoria, the participant herself, found the situation incomprehensible.
This man had parried her assault directly.
Furthermore, despite her immense strength, she found herself unable to break through his defense.
Artoria was utterly bewildered.
.....
〜In the Worldline of ██████ Chaldea〜
Meanwhile, witnessing this, Mash Kyrielight found it difficult to maintain her composure.
She spoke in a voice laced with incredulity.
"This… how can this be?"
The Soichiro Kuzuki on the screen was, without a doubt, an ordinary human.
Yet, such a being had withstood the strike of a Heroic Spirit.
Was this man truly human?
To block a Heroic Spirit's attack with bare hands…?
It felt like a plot point from a work of fiction.
However, standing nearby, Romani Archaman had already deciphered the mystery.
"No, it seems this isn't solely the result of the man's own merit."
At his words, everyone shifted their focus toward Romani.
"At the exact moment the attack landed, a surge of purple light erupted from his body… If I'm not mistaken, that must be Medea's divine protection."
Hearing this, those present nodded in realization.
It was certainly a possibility; Medea was, after all, a Great Witch from the Age of Gods. Casters specialized in bestowing powerful buffs upon others…
But even so, this was absurd. That an ordinary man could stand toe-to-toe with a Heroic Spirit after receiving such protection! Medea's capabilities were bordering on the monstrous.
Sensing their confusion, Leonardo da Vinci shook her head. While the importance of a "Support" often outweighed that of a "Carry"…
For the protection to yield such results, Soichiro Kuzuki's innate strength must have been formidable to begin with. Otherwise, Medea could simply find any random person, grant them her protection, and assemble a human legion capable of rivaling Heroic Spirits.
Such a thing was impossible.
Nevertheless, this served as a testament to the sheer value of a specialized Support. The compatibility between Soichiro Kuzuki and Medea was remarkably high.
—
『 Returning to the screen, Artoria—a king seasoned by countless battlefields—recovered her wits after a brief moment of silence.
With a sharp surge of strength from her arms, the Invisible Air forced Soichiro Kuzuki back.
She immediately sought to put distance between herself and her foe.
Kuzuki, however, had no intention of letting her retreat so easily.
He closed the gap instantly.
In the blink of an eye, he was upon Artoria once more.
Clenching his fists, he unleashed a flurry of strikes that resembled a violent, crashing tide.
THUD—! THUD—!!
Kuzuki's fists lashed out like flexible whips, relentless and unpredictable.
The more Artoria traded blows, the more her internal shock grew.
This man's combat experience…
His punches were incredibly fluid and rapid.
His arms were so supple they seemed to bend at near-right angles!
Even when a strike was swung from the front, it somehow managed to find a way to hit her from an impossible trajectory.
Watching the exchange, Shirou Emiya's brow furrowed.
"Have his fists already been reinforced with magical energy?"
Faced with such an onslaught, the legendary King Arthur was reduced to a desperate, ragged evasion…
Kuzuki's voice continued to echo throughout the recording.
"Impressive that you can dodge those. I see. It isn't your eyesight that guides you, but a transcendent instinct…" 』
『 .....』
Watching Soichiro Kuzuki not only suppress King Arthur but also have the composure to speak, the entire audience fell into a stunned silence.
.....