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

"Kakine Teitoku, you're awake! The surgery was a success—you've become a girl now!" 

"Huh? How could I have become a girl… You're lying to me?!" 

Awakening in an unfamiliar environment. 

Judging by the luxurious decor, this was likely a high-end apartment. Then, he saw the young board member sitting there, dressed like a student, holding a can of cola. 

—From every angle, he didn't look like a board member at all, just a regular student. 

"Bastard!" 

Wings sprouted from Kakine Teitoku's back again, but the next second, he suddenly felt the capillaries in his body burst, as if his powers were clashing with something. 

Kakine Teitoku fell off the sofa, his wings disappearing. 

The reason? The young board member had simply snapped his fingers. 

"Don't be so aggressive, #2. It's just a little joke. See, you're still a guy," Li Mo said calmly. 

"What did you do to me?!" 

Using his powers caused damage to his body. Kakine Teitoku had no idea where this damage was coming from—it wasn't an external injury but more like an illness. 

Li Mo said, "Sit down quietly. An aggressive personality won't get you far, Kakine Teitoku. Do you really think you're at the top of the world?" 

He shook his head and continued, "Even I wouldn't dare say something like that. From what I know, there are at least ten beings who could instantly kill you." 

As an esper, Kakine Teitoku wasn't weak. But this was Academy City, the setting of *A Certain Magical Index*. Not to mention the hidden Magic Gods, even someone like Fiamma of the Right could easily handle Kakine Teitoku. 

"Hmph, once I figure out your little trick, I'll definitely kill you," Kakine Teitoku said angrily. 

Li Mo replied, "Please, it took me a lot of effort to restrain you. I came up with the idea of using the conflict between magic and esper abilities to limit your powers. But your body exists because of your abilities. You're like the Ship of Theseus—all the wood has been replaced, but it's still the Ship of Theseus." 

Kakine Teitoku's situation reminded Li Mo of the Ship of Theseus paradox. 

In Greek mythology, there was a ship called the Ship of Theseus. In the 1st century AD, the famous Greek writer and philosopher Plutarch posed a question: If all the planks of the Ship of Theseus were replaced, was it still the Ship of Theseus? 

The meaning was, when the components of an object are completely replaced, is it still the same object? 

Many of Kakine Teitoku's internal organs weren't his original flesh and blood but were maintained by the new matter created by his abilities. 

**"Dark Matter,"** in a way, was an all-purpose ability. 

"I am who I am. The Ship of Theseus? What does that philosophical nonsense have to do with me?" Kakine Teitoku retorted, though most of his energy was focused on figuring out how to break free from the restrictions in his body. 

Every time he used his powers, it caused internal damage, leading to organ failure. Kakine Teitoku knew that the organs he created with his abilities had some self-healing capabilities, but continuous damage would eventually lead to collapse. 

At that point, he would die. 

But… judging from the signs, the young board member still had a use for him. He wouldn't let him die so easily. The best option was to remove the restrictions on him. 

"Don't waste your energy. Listen to me first before you consider suicide, okay?" 

"You think I'd commit suicide?" 

"Aren't you trying to figure out my intentions? I really won't let you die, Kakine Teitoku… It seems you're not a born villain after all." 

Li Mo held his phone, scrolling through the information on it, and said, "Kouzaku Ringo." 

"I'll kill you!" 

Hearing the name, Kakine Teitoku was triggered. He lunged at Li Mo, but using his powers caused his blood vessels to burst, and blood began to seep from his skin. 

"What a hassle." 

Li Mo grabbed Kakine Teitoku's shoulder and effortlessly threw him back onto the sofa. Healing magic began to take effect. When conditions weren't sufficient, magic could compensate with raw power. 

Kouzaku Ringo was one of the test subjects in the dark "May Project." She had met Kakine Teitoku a month or two ago, but due to various mistakes, she had died. What was more subtle was that this incident had been deliberately orchestrated by higher-ups to provoke Kakine Teitoku. 

—In short, there were idiots involved. 

"I'm sorry about Kouzaku Ringo. I can only promise that such things won't happen again in the future." 

"What does that have to do with you? What does that have to do with me?" 

"Kakine Teitoku, the only reason I'm not killing you is that you're still a student. In the future, I'll have to figure out a way to lock you up properly." 

Li Mo gave up on the idea of recruiting Kakine Teitoku. The #2 and the #1 were similar in nature, but the fundamental difference between Kakine Teitoku and Accelerator was that Accelerator had Last Order as his safety mechanism. The person who could have become Kakine Teitoku's "Last Order"—Kouzaku Ringo—was already dead. Of course, Li Mo remembered that in the original story, Kakine Teitoku's original self died, and his continuation, "Unicorn 07," found his own "Last Order"—Fremea Seivelun. 

But Li Mo couldn't risk putting his dear sister in danger. 

The Kihara family had their idiots, and the higher-ups had theirs. 

Even Aleister was an idiot. 

With a casual wave, Li Mo knocked Kakine Teitoku unconscious again. He carried him to a hospital in District 7, planning to hand him over to Heaven Canceller. He also needed to find a place to imprison Kakine Teitoku. 

—Once Accelerator returns, should I just hand Kakine Teitoku over to him? 

Thinking about the events of *New Testament*, it should be fine to leave Kakine Teitoku to Accelerator… But considering Tsuchimikado Maika's perspective, she wouldn't let Accelerator become a jailer. In that case, it seemed the only option was to create something like "Anti-Magic Powered Armor" for Tsuchimikado. 

Standing on the hospital rooftop, Li Mo paused, recalling Neoka Norito's final warning: "Be careful of Yakumi Hisako." He realized who had released Kakine Teitoku. 

He dialed Kihara Yuiitsu's number. 

"Good afternoon, Board Member Li Mo. It seems you've finished handling your business?" 

"Was it you who released Kakine Teitoku?" 

"Oh my, how could you say that? That wasn't me. Yakumi Hisako arranged for someone to help Kakine Teitoku understand how to use his abilities. I did warn you earlier." 

"Yakumi Hisako wants to become an AIM being so badly? Then she should show some sincerity. A deal should be made openly, right?" 

"I'll relay the time and location to you." 

The call ended, and Li Mo thought for a moment before heading downstairs. 

He still needed to take Kakine Teitoku with him. 

Li Mo didn't think anyone else could suppress Kakine Teitoku besides himself. 

Perhaps… Kihara Gensei could?