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

"Sir, are you a modern-day swordmaster? If it were any other time, I'd be happy to duel you, but not now," Cu Chulainn said earnestly.

He hadn't noticed it before, but when the man gripped his sword with both hands, Cu Chulainn could sense his aura. It was hard to describe, but his intuition told him one thing: this man was no slouch in close combat.

"Sir, I'll give it my all."

Cu Chulainn didn't know when Assassin would catch up. He needed to end this quickly.

Blades clashed, and in an instant, the spear and katana had exchanged multiple blows.

Strength, skill, speed.

The man was no weaker than him.

If this dragged on, he didn't know how long it would last. And then Assassin would strike.

An assassin in the open wasn't scary. What was scary was an assassin hiding in the shadows.

Easier to dodge a spear in the light than an arrow in the dark.

With the resolve to end this quickly, Cu Chulainn made his decision.

"In that case, I'll take your heart."

He briefly stepped back and began chanting. Mana gathered around his crimson spear.

This was the prerequisite for activating his Noble Phantasm. Li Mo clearly sensed it.

But he made no move. Instead, he gripped the *Tenshin Musou* tightly and stepped forward. His eyes were cold and indifferent, as if the impending danger meant nothing to him.

Something's off—!

But Cu Chulainn didn't dwell on it.

"**Gáe Bolg**."

The name of the spear left the lips of Ireland's Child of Light.

The crimson spear locked onto its target.

At this moment, time seemed to stand still. Causality was thrown into chaos as Cu Chulainn's spear directly targeted the man's heart.

At this point, even if the man tried to escape, it would be futile. His heart had already been pierced.

Even though the crimson spear was still in Cu Chulainn's hand.

Even though he hadn't thrown it yet.

But the result was already determined: the crimson spear would pierce the man's heart.

**Gáe Bolg**.

Cu Chulainn's ultimate killing move.

Causality was reversed. The "result"—the heart being pierced—occurred first. A moment later, the crimson spear left his hand, and the torrent of mana condensed into an attack.

The spear was now "unavoidable."

Because the "result" had already been achieved, the "cause" that had just begun would inevitably follow.

Li Mo's world changed. Almost the moment Cu Chulainn activated his Noble Phantasm, he felt time freeze. His eyes saw the undeniable truth.

It was like when he used *Secret Sword: Swallow Reversal*.

Back in Inazuma, facing the Abyss Mage, he had been weak then, needing to give it his all. He had used the *Breath of the Sun* to fight with everything he had.

It was also in that world that Li Mo gradually transitioned from a "warrior" to a "mage."

Onmyodo, modern magecraft, and divine-era magecraft combined to form the foundation of the "mystery" within him.

He began analyzing his current situation, feeling the residual effects of the reversed causality as Cu Chulainn's Noble Phantasm completed.

This scene was etched into Li Mo's heart. The next second, he would face the spear thrown by Cu Chulainn.

His heart was locked onto.

One moment, his heart was still beating vigorously.

The next, it had been pierced.

The torrent of mana extending from the crimson spear pierced his heart.

In movies, a fatal wound like this would have the victim clutching their chest and stumbling backward, right?

But this was reality.

"Now," Li Mo said.

He stepped forward, even as the spear of mana remained lodged in his heart.

He must have looked terrifying, with his heart pierced but no blood flowing, the organ still beating.

A stray thought crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

First, he severed the beam of mana gathered by the spear. This was the effect of the opponent's Noble Phantasm. The moment his heart was pierced, the Noble Phantasm's effect ended. But the residual mana from the spear could still affect him.

The abstract causality couldn't be severed, but the tangible mana right in front of him could.

Magecraft enhanced his katana, allowing him to cut through the torrent of mana.

Li Mo saw the shock in Cu Chulainn's eyes, as if he had just been outplayed by Hassan, who had ripped out his heart before he could react.

The next moment, Li Mo entered a state of clarity.

His katana swung.

At the same time, Cu Chulainn snapped out of his shock. He heard the man's words.

"Now"—?

Who was acting now?

The answer soon became clear.

From the shadows of the forest, Koyanskaya appeared from an unknown direction, holding a pistol-like weapon. Bullets sprayed from the barrel, forming a beam of light resembling a sword.

*Protection from Arrows* couldn't activate because the attack was too close to be considered a long-range assault.

Cu Chulainn couldn't move. All escape routes were blocked. The Master's sword light sealed off every possible path. If he tried to flee, he would be cut down by the katana.

Faced with the choice between the katana and the bullets, Cu Chulainn chose to take the bullets.

With *Battle Continuation*, he wasn't overly concerned about taking some damage. In prolonged battles, he was second to none.

At the same time, the katana was coming for him. Even though he could see the blade, he felt as if he would be struck from both sides. The man's skill was extraordinary.

But he also noticed…

Was it really this simple?

Why was Assassin's attack so lackluster?

Why was the Master's sword only meant to block his escape?

As Cu Chulainn slowly pulled his spear from the Master's body, doubts began to surface.

Soon, his doubts were answered.

A woman in a black cloak, her features obscured, suddenly appeared among the trees. In an instant, Cu Chulainn couldn't make out much about her.

But he knew.

This was another Servant!

And, unsurprisingly, it was the long-missing Caster!

"**Rule Breaker**!"

The voice rang out.

Caster held a dagger in her hand.

"So this is your finishing move?!!"

Cu Chulainn was pinned down by the two. Almost instantly, the Master, with astonishing willpower, stood before him, using his katana to block any escape. Despite having his heart pierced, the man acted as if nothing had happened.

Then there was Assassin. Even with his back turned, Cu Chulainn could feel her gun trained on him. One gun? Two? Or even more?

The difference wasn't that great, was it?

Caster's dagger struck him.

And then, Cu Chulainn felt the connection between him and his Master sever.

The contract was broken.

Immediately, Caster took control of the contract.

The entire process was under their control. He had no room to resist.

So… was he about to change Masters for the second time?

Who could have predicted this?

Cu Chulainn shook his head and reluctantly accepted his fate.

In the forest, the tense life-and-death struggle suddenly seemed to calm down.

On the other side of the Mion River, in the church southwest of Shinto.

Kirei Kotomine paused.

"Lancer's contract has disappeared?"

"How interesting."

In the church, only his silhouette and voice remained.