Multiverse: Why does the world show a health bar? !

From the beginning to now, the process had never slipped out of Li Mo's control. He had always adhered to the principle of "making as many friends as possible and minimizing enemies." 

Thus, this Holy Grail War became the least bloody in history. So far, only one Servant had been defeated, and even that was a leftover from the previous Holy Grail War. Was such harmony really okay? 

"Artoria, now that you see the Holy Grail, what are your thoughts?" 

Artoria Pendragon. 

A fool walking her own path. Li Mo respected such people. 

But respect aside, Li Mo remained slightly wary of her. During the Fourth Holy Grail War, she had been somewhat obsessed with the Holy Grail. Li Mo couldn't be sure of her current mindset. 

Artoria lowered her head and said, "I've already seen it. That ominous thing cannot fulfill my wish. This is something you've already told us." 

"Consider it my paranoia acting up." Leaving Artoria's side, Li Mo turned to Ilya and said, "It seems you won't be able to see Avenger." 

"She's not coming out, is she?" 

"No... So, I'll proceed with my plan." 

"That risky plan of yours? Are you really going to go inside that thing?" 

The black mud. 

It was "evil." 

Ilya didn't fully understand the nature of the black mud, but from Li Mo's explanation, she knew it could **consume** Servants. That alone made it clear it wasn't something good. 

Moreover, just by its appearance, anyone would feel uneasy. 

Li Mo's plan was to enter the black mud and lure out Avenger. Everything he had done so far was to dismantle the **Greater Grail**, and he was worried that Avenger would interfere with this process. 

The black mud itself wasn't **terrifying**, as it lacked a **consciousness**—it was a lifeless thing, sitting there waiting to be dealt with. But Avenger was different. She had her own **personality** and had already proven she could influence the outside world. 

More importantly, Li Mo remembered that after the events of the *Fate/stay night* game, there was another game set six months after the Fifth Holy Grail War. In it, Avenger, after forming a contract with Bazett, created a four-day time loop in Fuyuki City. 

The details were something like that. From this, it was clear that if Avenger were given time to accumulate power, she could **interfere** with the outside world. And Medea needed time to dismantle the **Greater Grail**. 

Li Mo said, "This is what I should do. It's fine. The black mud has a **special attack** against spiritual bodies, but its effect on normal humans isn't as severe. At worst, it'll be like Kiritsugu." 

Actually, Li Mo wanted to mention Kirei Kotomine, the priest who had once submerged himself in the black mud and emerged unscathed. 

Kiritsugu's early death likely had little to do with the black mud. 

"Koyanskaya." 

"Understood, Master. NFF is always at your service." 

Koyanskaya and Medea would wait outside. Once Li Mo gave the signal, they would assist him immediately. 

He had a vague **premonition** that he wouldn't be alone when entering the black mud. The one accompanying him would likely be Koyanskaya. 

The black mud's **special attack** against spiritual bodies probably wouldn't affect Koyanskaya. If Gilgamesh could withstand the black mud's **corrosion** and achieve his "incarnation," then Koyanskaya, who was a **Beast**, wouldn't be affected, right? 

Li Mo didn't know for sure, and he didn't dwell on it. 

Action was better than hesitation. The earlier **panic** vanished the moment he took that first step. Li Mo walked on the black mud, using magecraft to tread upon it as if he were Artoria blessed by the fairies, moving as if on solid ground. 

The black mud had replaced the lake's water. What was once a clear lake had become a pool of black mud, with bubbles occasionally rising to the surface. 

It was like a swamp. 

And he was walking on it as if nothing was happening? 

As he approached the **Lesser Grail**, Li Mo thought of a problem: what if Avenger didn't appear before him? Should he just start absorbing the black mud? 

Li Mo lowered his gaze, focusing on the black mud. He felt a distinct **unease**. This black mud was the **malice** of humanity. Walking on it felt like being targeted by others. 

It was like the **loneliness** he felt when he was alone at school. 

It was like the **irritation** when others teased him with nicknames that weren't fit for polite conversation. 

It was like the **embarrassment** and **discomfort** when things went wrong, and he had to face others in embarrassment. 

The black mud's effect was like this. Just walking on it made him feel this level of **malice**. If he were to truly sink into it... 

Li Mo thought of the demons—those beings transformed from humans, who fed on humans and were filled with **malice**. When those monsters faced humans, their drool and **appetite** were the greatest **malice**. 

Back then, whenever he arrived a step too late and saw the mutilated bodies, he felt his blood pressure spike. 

Later, after seeing it so many times, he grew **cold-hearted**. But the hatred remained, like a dormant volcano. All those emotions would become the energy for the next eruption. 

It was because of his experiences in that world that he began pursuing strength. Only by becoming stronger could he avoid leaving regrets in the future. Like that time at the foot of Mount Yougou—if he had been stronger, could he have provided Lady Hanachirusato with the foundation for her existence? 

His thoughts were **chaotic**, and his emotions were stirred. 

But then, **reason** took over. Li Mo realized why he had suddenly started recalling the past. Walking on the black mud, he should have been more cautious. 

Recalling things in the middle of a battle? This wasn't a *Naruto* filler arc. 

The next moment, he roughly understood what was happening. 

The surroundings had changed. Originally, he had been at the lake on Mount Enzō, with plants and trees around him. Now, he could still see plants and trees, but they weren't the same ones. 

Even the time of day had changed. It had been night, but now it was broad daylight. Previously, he had been in the mountains, but now he could hear the sound of waves. 

Looking around, Li Mo realized he was at the place where he had fought Cú Chulainn while fishing. 

Clearly, this wasn't a **spatial teleportation** that had sent him to that place. The timing didn't match. 

And then, he saw her. 

A woman in dark **court attire**, with snow-white hair and pale skin. 

And a face almost identical to Ilya's.