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

The shocking revelation had little impact on the two individuals currently engaged in combat within the dojo.

Their minds were entirely focused on the fight.

Li Mo hadn't experienced such a thrilling battle in a long time. In *Genshin Impact*, he rarely encountered any challenging opponents. Even the final stage of the "Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual," where he faced the "Tumor," was relatively easy.

In the main world, his sparring sessions with Hanazono Yurine were just that—sparring. He and his opponent weren't on the same level, and Li Mo could sense that his opponent was holding back. It wasn't a satisfying fight.

Thinking back further, the last time he had a truly exhilarating battle was against Akaza.

That demon, who refused to eat women, despised the weak, and respected the strong, had an unexpected charm. Li Mo hated Akaza for being a man-eating demon, but he also admired him.

Every person, every being, is multifaceted.

That's why, in the end, Li Mo killed him in a near-suicidal manner.

*Clang—*

Sparks flew as the single sword clashed against the twin blades. The *Kotetsu Kageuchi* and *Kanshou and Bakuya* collided before separating.

Li Mo, aside from using body-enhancing magecraft and "Xiao Li" to dissipate the impact, didn't employ any other techniques. He didn't use the *Breath of the Sun*, didn't apply Onmyodo enhancements, and didn't use *Tsubame Gaeshi* or the *Authority of the Beast*.

Similarly, Red A wasn't going all out either. Forget Noble Phantasms, his trump cards—he didn't even utilize the advantages of his Archer class.

An Archer fighting in close combat? Seems normal, right?

The two separated, creating distance between them. Beads of sweat formed on Li Mo's forehead. He had gotten a good workout today.

"Hey, Red A, do you still hold on to justice?"

"Who knows about something like that?"

"I see, so you still hold on to it. Thinking about it, if you had abandoned justice, you'd be just like that black version of you."

"Those eyes of yours, they see a lot, don't they? I'm starting to doubt your motives even more. If you know so much, why are you so fixated on the Greater Grail?"

Red A spoke up. The world is full of possibilities, or rather, parallel worlds. As a Guardian contracted with *Alaya*, he was acutely aware of this. The man before him was speaking of a certain possibility of Emiya Shirou.

High-level Clairvoyance.

Red A had already concluded that this unfamiliar magus possessed such an ability. Combined with his exceptional martial skills and robust physique, this man stood at a very high level.

If that was the case, why was he participating in the *Holy Grail War*?

Li Mo wasn't aware of Red A's thoughts, nor did he know that the latter had misunderstood him. As a magus, one would naturally be more proficient in magecraft than in physical combat. Take Lord El-Melloi II, for example. As a magus, his theoretical knowledge of magecraft was terrifying, yet he was physically frail and weak.

Red A believed Li Mo to be a pure magus, albeit one with a sense of morality and humanity. But in reality...

Li Mo had only become a magus a few months ago.

Assuming Li Mo was a magus, Red A was curious about his goals. Shouldn't his objective be the *Root*? Why dismantle the Greater Grail? From a magus's perspective, even if the *Greater Grail* was corrupted, shouldn't the goal be to purify it?

"Dismantling the Greater Grail is indeed my goal. Red A, if you understand the origins of the Holy Grail War, you can probably guess my intentions."

The clash continued. Words were a means of communication, and so was combat. The collision of weapons without killing intent allowed each to understand the other's will and thoughts.

Red A realized, "The Third Magic, is it?"

Then, *Kanshou and Bakuya* were thrown, spinning through the air like boomerangs.

Li Mo used the *Kotetsu Kageuchi* to knock the twin blades aside and said, "Are you finally listening? Has the frustration in your heart been resolved? Archer, are you jealous of the current Emiya Shirou? Seeing him in the best of times, yet wasting it on mistakes, must feel like an unbearable luxury to you, right?"

The sin of envy.

Li Mo only realized this during the fight. Let's put it this way: if the current him, having experienced the harsh realities of life, saw his younger self squandering his potential by playing games all day instead of studying, wouldn't he feel both resentment and envy? If given the chance to start over...

He'd probably make the same choices.

Reason could tell him the most correct path, but Li Mo wasn't a being of pure reason. Wasn't this very conversation proof of his irrationality?

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

"I'm just defusing the bomb early."

"You're worried I'll clash with him."

"If I don't defuse the bomb now, there's a chance you'll end up on the opposite side. You might even fight him."

Though the outcome would be favorable.

Li Mo licked his lips, "That scene would be quite something, wouldn't it? *Unlimited Blade Works* clashing with *Unlimited Blade Works*? If I recall correctly, that's how it goes. I've seen too many versions of you to keep track."

"Is Emiya Shirou that special?" Red A asked.

"I've seen several variations of *Unlimited Blade Works*," Li Mo said.

*Unlimited Blade Works*.

Emiya Shirou's Reality Marble.

Red A stopped. He no longer had a reason to swing his sword. The frustration in his heart had dissipated through the repeated clashes.

Exercise can dispel bad moods. Each swing of the sword, accompanied by the vibration of arm muscles, with his eyes fully focused on the opponent's blade, was enough to cast aside all worries.

He began to consider the advice Li Mo had given earlier. Watching over Emiya Shirou, huh...

"Are you asking me to guide him?"

"Maybe he'll guide you?"

"Huh?"

"Don't scoff. Young people are full of energy. Compared to him, you're the old fossil."

"Anyway, I'll keep an eye on him," Red A said.

Li Mo smiled, "Just make sure you don't die in the battles to come."

"With five Servants already defeated, what could possibly go wrong?"

"Caster is researching the Greater Grail. Don't expect her to fight unless absolutely necessary," Li Mo replied simply. "Important researchers shouldn't waste time on brawls."

Red A understood this line of thinking. Traditional magi didn't engage in fights—it would only hinder their research. If their research needs were met, magi posed little threat.

—Provided their research wasn't dangerous.

"I understand. Let's go. I can sense your Servant approaching."

"You'll need to contribute when we face Berserker. You know your sister better than Emiya Shirou does, right?" Li Mo said.

Red A remained silent, as if lost in memories.