It is darkness, it is sin, it is filth, it is shadow, it is evil, it is ugliness… it is everything wicked under the sun.

Time spun back mere moments before Lin Luo and Saber were swallowed by the black sludge. Mikoto, powerless to intervene, felt a crushing impotence. In that instant, she seemed to fall into an endless abyss, overwhelmed by a power so immense it choked the breath from her lungs.

Just as she thought she would perish there, a voice echoed from the deepest recesses of her heart, asking, "What is this world?"

Ah, what is the world? How could she answer that? Mikoto was instantly stumped.

But the voice did not cease; it pressed on, "What is this world?"

That same question again? I told you I don't know how to answer! The world is the world; who could possibly know such a thing? Mikoto replied dismissively.

"What is this world?" Apparently unsatisfied, the voice persisted.

Ah, I said I don't know! Stop asking! Mikoto suddenly felt a terrible throbbing pain in her head, as if something were about to burst forth.

"What is this world?"

I don't know.

"What is this world?"

I already told you…

"What is this world?"

Didn't I just say… Ugh, what did I say a moment ago?

"You said this world is darkness, it is sin, it is filth, it is shadow, it is evil, it is ugliness… it is everything wicked under the sun."

Did… did I really say that? Mikoto could scarcely believe it, but…

"Yes, that is precisely what you said," the voice asserted.

I see. This is a world of evil. Mikoto seemed to grasp it, replying as such.

"Yes, this is a world of evil, and therefore, you must eradicate it."

Why?

"Because you are the incarnation of goodness. This is your duty; this is your destiny."

Is that so? Then what must I do?

"It is simple. Surrender yourself, become one with me, and then you will gain the power to destroy all evil in this world."

Right, it is simple enough. But who exactly are you? Mikoto asked, her gaze distant.

"I am your heart."

My heart… Hmm, that seems right. Then it must be true. Mikoto didn't fully comprehend, but if it was her own heart speaking, it couldn't be wrong.

"Of course. This is what we exist for: to annihilate all evil in the world."

I understand. Then let us do it—annihilate all evil in the world…

At that moment, the transformation of Misaka Mikoto began. But whether this metamorphosis was for good or ill, no one knew.

…

Time snapped back into its proper course. When they saw the master who unleashed that blast of destructive black light, Lin Luo and the King of Heroes froze, for the figure was none other than the Knight King, Artoria, who had moments before been consumed by the black mud.

Yet, she was subtly different from her former self. Her bright blue and white armor had turned pitch black, and even her dazzling golden holy sword was now dark, with only a few faint red glimmers pulsing at its core. The maiden’s once spirited countenance was now cold and merciless; her eyes, shifted from emerald green to amber, held a chilling, icy glare.

"Black Saber…" Lin Luo managed to choke out the words. Undeniably, the Knight King had been corrupted by the Curse of All the World’s Evil.

"Hahaha! How magnificent! Saber, you are truly spectacular!" In contrast, the King of Heroes burst into a manic, high-pitched laugh after a brief pause, appearing utterly delighted.

Pointing at the black Knight King, she exclaimed excitedly, "Saber, I knew it! You are the greatest clown in this world! Hahaha, are you putting on such an entertaining spectacle to please this King? Come, come! This King will not refuse!"

Black Saber had truly arrived.

Hearing the words of the shimmering loli, Black Saber glanced at her with an expressionless face. Then, with a sudden sweep of her black holy sword, she unleashed another wave of limitless destructive light toward the golden Heroic Spirit.

The power of this black light rivaled the Calibur's Oath Cannon, yet Black Saber produced it almost casually, seemingly without any charge time. From this alone, her strength had clearly advanced by more than a full tier.

At this juncture, the shimmering loli seemed to have completely forgotten Lin Luo; her focus was entirely fixed on Black Saber. Facing the destructive black light, she showed no fear, thrusting the Ea forward and instantly neutralizing Black Saber’s attack.

"Not bad, not bad. You are far more charming now than before, hahaha! Truly a wonderful curse, wouldn't you agree, Saber? See? Not only has your power increased, but your temperament has improved too."

Hey, hey… Is firing a black Oath Cannon without a word considered an improved personality?

Lin Luo was thoroughly exasperated by the shimmering loli’s words. If he hadn't reacted quickly moments ago, both he and the other would have been instantly vaporized by Black Saber. And that is charming?

Ah, forget it, forget it. Since both of them have fixed their attention on each other, he should use this chance to destroy the core of All the World’s Evil first. He hoped the scabbard's ability could hold out a little longer… Wait, what is Mikoto doing?

As he thought this, Lin Luo suddenly saw Mikoto standing motionless nearby. Although her lightning attacks against the black mud hadn't ceased, her gaze was vacant and distant, appearing utterly lost.

Strange. Nothing should be wrong… Lin Luo felt a prickle of unease, but seeing her attacks remain ferociously potent, completely warding off the black mud, he didn't worry too much. After all, people sometimes zone out. Furthermore, eliminating All the World’s Evil was the more pressing matter right now.

With this thought, Lin Luo calmed himself and allowed the Rule Force to seep out again. However, this time was different… because the power of All the World’s Evil had grown to a level he could not resist. Therefore, before it reached its complete form, there was only one way to destroy it.

It was to suppress it with an even greater Mystery—to delve into the world and touch the Root.

"Whatever cataclysmic consequences follow… don't blame me!" Lin Luo roared, slamming his right hand forward. Countless white mists surged forward like an incoming tide, sweeping away the entire pool of black sludge.

Delving into the world, touching the Root, reaching the Counter Force—this carried the risk of alerting entities he could not stand against, with consequences no one could foresee. But at this moment, Lin Luo could afford no hesitation. The Rule Force he could currently wield, even staking his life, only amounted to fifty percent. If he didn't take this drastic step, he stood no chance against All the World’s Evil.

"Come now, taste my full strength!"

The power of delving into the world, the power of touching the Root. Lin Luo drew greater truth from this world and instantly converted it into the most direct destructive force… The method was to "create" all the white mist into entities capable of delivering a fatal blow to the black mud.

What kind of entities they were, Lin Luo didn't need to concern himself with; he only needed to execute the action. Under this assault, vast swathes of the black mud vanished.

"Excellent. Now I just need to find the core…"

Seeing this, Lin Luo let out a breath of relief, only to suddenly feel an intense chill engulf his body; he was locked down by two massive forces.

"Damn it!" Lin Luo was so furious he nearly spat blood. Without needing to think, he knew exactly who these two parties capable of threatening him were. The realization made his anger surge dangerously.

"You two bastards! Since you’re so fond of each other… stay quietly to the side this time—yuri drama—and don't interrupt me!" In his great fury, Lin Luo could no longer hold back. He cared not for the shimmering loli nor for his King; anyone daring to oppose him at this final crucial juncture deserved…

"Thirty percent Rule Force!"

Lin Luo spun around, sweeping his hand upward. Immediately, a tidal wave of white mist rose from the ground, instantly engulfing the incoming black light and the beam of magical energy.

"Dammit, not enough?"

Lin Luo could feel these three forces locked in a stalemate, with his own power being the weakest and on the verge of being overwhelmed.

"Then add a little more. Forty percent Rule Force!"

The next instant, Lin Luo slammed his other hand downward. Instantly, the sky was filled with an obscuring white mist, crashing down like a colossal waterfall. The two flows of Rule Force merged, shattering the black light and the magical beam in a single moment.

"Ugh!" Seeing her attack completely dispersed, the haughty loli with golden hair and crimson eyes could no longer contain her shock and rage. She raised Ea, "Insolent mongrel, take this!"

However, her attack was thwarted, because just then, a beam of black light rushed toward her like the surging Yellow River—Black Saber had unleashed an Oath Cannon upon her.

"Damn it!" She was forced to retreat hastily. The Knight King at this stage was not to be taken lightly.

"Hmm…" Lin Luo sensed that the King of Heroes' Ea—the Enuma Elish—was noticeably weaker than before. This was unsurprising; after all, she had lost her Master. Even though she had absorbed some black mud, having previously fought Nero and then deploying such a massive ultimate move consecutively, even the King of Heroes’ mana reserves must be nearly depleted.

"Good. If that's the case, I'll seize this chance to kick you out of the game first." Lin Luo waved his hand, and white mist formed again. "Don't cry now, shimmering loli!"

But Lin Luo’s attack failed to launch, because Black Saber had also directed an Oath Cannon strike right at him.

"Your sister…" Lin Luo was so annoyed he nearly face-planted. He desperately wanted to ask, what the hell are you even here for?

"You're the one who should cry, Ea…" Seeing Lin Luo pause his attack, the shimmering loli raised her sword, but—

"Damn it, Saber, you wretched mongrel…" As she began to curse, she saw Black Saber raising the black holy sword and aiming it directly at her. The loli abruptly cut off her tirade, for immediately following that, a black light and a white mist simultaneously assaulted her.

"Rule Force percentage—damn it, Saber, messing with me again!" Lin Luo was about to press his advantage when Black Saber launched another Oath Cannon strike right at him.

Simultaneously, the King of Heroes unfurled the Gate of Babylon, launching countless Noble Phantasms toward him.

…Right. The battle scene was utter chaos. V