Everyone had seen Quetzalcoatl's strike perfectly.
It was horrifying—no matter how you looked at it, that blow was devastating.
One-Punch Man World.
"Nice," Saitama said, studying the kick with rare seriousness. "That was strong—and beautiful."
"Beautiful?"
Genos, long used to his master's ways, understood at once: "You mean her will?"
Though the attack looked spectacular and terrifying, Genos sensed Saitama wasn't praising its power.
He was praising the will behind it.
Just like when the unlicensed rider punched the Deep Sea King—futile, yet filled with unbreakable spirit.
Enough to make countless beings who bear the title 'hero' hang their heads in shame.
'Yes.'' Saitama nodded, a little surprised as he looked at Genos; he hadn't expected his disciple to catch on so quickly.
Worthy of being my pupil, he thought.
Type-Moon/Fate World.
Gilgamesh frowned as he stared at the screen. Tiamat was practically unscathed, and even he was lost in thought.
How was 'he' supposed to defeat her? This was no longer a question of raw power.
Even if he went all-out against Quetzalcoatl, victory would hardly come easily; even with the Chains of Heaven, the fight would be grim.
He was confident he could beat Quetzalcoatl, yes—but not without effort, perhaps injury, perhaps mutual destruction.
''What's with that look on your face?''
Tohsaka Rin watched Gilgamesh more closely than anyone; she'd heard her father's name from his lips, so she cut in without thinking.
''Don't tell me the great king is afraid?''
''Hah? This king—afraid?!''
Gilgamesh sneered, reflexively ready to mock Rin. How could he, of all people, feel fear?
He was the oldest Heroic King of mankind—fear was unthinkable.
Then, glancing at Tiamat—who'd just taken a kick from Quetzalcoatl yet remained nearly unharmed—he said calmly,
''This king fears no living creature, not even the mother of creation.''
''Tch.''
Rin clicked her tongue. In other words, he'd said nothing useful.
''How are we supposed to get through this crisis?'' Emiya Shirou felt as if he'd stepped into the video itself; his brows were locked in a frown, clearly at a loss.
''If I use Innate Territory, could it work?''
he muttered. The only plan he could think of was trapping Tiamat inside his Innate Territory to buy time.
But Gilgamesh overheard him.
''Fool. Do you think this king lacks the means to break your Reality Marble?''
He gave Shirou a sidelong glance.
''Your so-called Marble could never hold "Mother." She'd shatter it in under a minute, and you'd accomplish nothing beyond wasting mana.''
Shirou gave a wry smile; of course he knew it was hopeless.
Still, watching Fujimaru Ritsuka's group fight so desperately, he felt compelled to think—if such a being appeared in his own world, how could they stop her? Every movement of hers brought countless deaths.
''Keep watching. When this king makes his entrance, he'll solve the problem with style.''
Gilgamesh cut the chatter and fixed his eyes on the screen, eager for his own grand appearance.
Inside the video—
At Chaldea, Dr. Roman looked on the verge of despair. ''This is bad… at this rate…''
''Doctor! Analyze Tiamat's damage, now!''
Fujimaru shouted hoarsely. 'Maybe we can find a weak spot!'
''On it!'' Roman answered at once.
Fujimaru turned to Ishtar nearby. ''Ishtar, intercept the Lahmu coming from the northwest!''
''Got it!'' Knowing time was short, she streaked away without another word.
''Mash.''
Fujimaru looked to Mash at his side, voice ragged. ''Deploy your Noble Phantasm in front of her—buy us whatever time you can.''
''But Master, your mana…''
Mash knew Fujimaru was at the limit; almost no mana remained.
''It's fine.'' Fujimaru forced a pained, resolute smile, then coughed as though the strength was fading.
''Master, please—stop,'' Mash pleaded, tears brimming.
Yet even so, Fujimaru turned back, voice rough: ''Even so… we can't stop walking.''
In that instant Mash's eyes widened, tears shining. She could feel it—her Master's will, hard as steel, driving her forward.
At that moment people across countless worlds sensed it too: Fujimaru's will.
She could barely stand, yet kept moving. She didn't belong to this era, yet she would give everything for it.
Just an ordinary human, lacking the power of so many others—yet still striving.
''All right… I'll do as you say—''
Before Mash could finish, the ground split and something rose beside them.
Mash gasped.
Serpentine hair writhed across the sky; clouds parted, a shaft of light falling through.
The hair shot out, coiling around Tiamat.
''Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!'' Tiamat let out an indecipherable roar.
She looked ahead; the camera followed her gaze.
First came a pair of pale-gold wings, and at their appearance people in every world felt one word flash across their hearts: angel.
The wings unfolded to reveal the calm face of a mature woman, eyes violet, expression serene.
Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help murmuring at the sight, "Gorgon?!"
......
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