Theory: How "Sage Subaru" could actually beat Reinhard (The Ultimate Lore Loophole) [discussion]

We all know the famous rule from Tappei Nagatsuki: Reinhard van Astrea is an absolute cheat code, a physical god, and completely unbeatable in a direct fight. Even if Subaru loops a million times, Reinhard's base physical stats and his infinite Divine Protections make him a brick wall. But if we look closely at the deepest mysteries of the Re:Zero lore—especially connecting the recent Arc 9 revelations back to Arc 1—there is a mind-blowing theory that gives Subaru a 100% flawless victory condition. Here is how Subaru could use ultimate Sage knowledge to rewrite the rules of the universe and defeat the Sword Saint. 1. The Setup: The Dragon Sword Reid Already Knows For years, fans thought Reinhard’s first meeting with Subaru in that alleyway in Arc 1 was just a wholesome coincidence. But recent Arc 9 context dropped a massive revelation: The Dragon Sword Reid actually reacted to Subaru the very first moment they met. Reinhard explicitly knew right then that the sword considered Subaru a "worthy" opponent, which is why he secretly kept his hand on his hilt, deeply suspicious of a random guy in a tracksuit. The sword doesn't care about raw physical power (it refused to draw against Regulus Corneas). It reacts to Subaru because it recognizes either the reality-bending threat of Return by Death, the Witch's Miasma, or—most importantly—Subaru's connection to the legendary Sage Flugel from 400 years ago. 2. The Galaxy-Brain Twist: The Sage Invented Divine Protections Think about how weirdly specific some Divine Protections are (like knowing the difference between salt and sugar, or knowing what clothes suit someone). They don't sound like natural elemental magic born from the earth; they look like hyper-specific, artificial "mods" or "cheat codes" written into the world's operating system, Od Laguna. If the original Sage came from a modern world (just like Subaru) and gained access to the core of Od Laguna 400 years ago, it is highly possible he programmed the Divine Protection system himself to act as a global defense mechanism against rule-breaking Witch Factors. If Subaru unlocks 100% of the Sage’s knowledge, he literally holds the admin password to the universe. 3. The Strategy: Overriding the "Favorite Child" Status If Subaru has the creator's admin rights, he doesn't just shut down Reinhard's powers—he completely flips the system. Normally, if someone bypasses Reinhard's defenses, Od Laguna instantly creates a new Divine Protection on the spot to save him. But if Sage Subaru hacks the system, he can transfer that "Favorite Child" status to himself. When the fight begins, here is how Subaru executes the perfect checkmate: Step 1 (The Sabotage Field): Subaru uses his Sage authority to lock down the local atmosphere, completely blinding Od Laguna and severing Reinhard's connection to his blessings. No auto-dodge, no passive healing, and the Dragon Sword Reid completely refuses to leave its scabbard because Reinhard is no longer the "chosen hero" of this duel. **Step 2 (The Divine Protection Steal):**Reinhard still has terrifying, monstrous physical traits and muscle power. But because Subaru has rewritten the world's code, Od Laguna now views *Subaru* as its master. The moment Reinhard launches a supersonic punch, the world starts spamming new Divine Protections directly onto Subaru to counter Reinhard's physics. Step 3 (The Immortality Gap): Reinhard is forced to fight as a mortal without any safety nets. Even if Reinhard manages to land a lethal blow through pure muscle power, Subaru now holds the Divine Protection of the Phoenix and instantly resurrects. Meanwhile, Reinhard can no longer revive. The Verdict By using Sage knowledge to strip Reinhard of his cosmic backing and taking the world's favor for himself, Subaru turns the ultimate cheat-code character into a tragic, mortal warrior. Subaru wouldn't even need to use Return by Death—he would simply out-admin the universe. What do you guys think? Did Flugel build the system, and is this why the Dragon Sword recognized Subaru on day one?