Astolfo encountered an unprecedented crisis.
More than a dozen black, hard stakes emerged from the ground, each aiming at the major arteries in his body. If even one pierced him, Astolfo would be seriously injured. If several hit him... the Black Faction's Rider would likely be forced to withdraw.
These black, hard stakes were naturally the Noble Phantasm "Kazikli Bey" of the Black Berserker, Vlad III. The reason was that Astolfo had angered this leader of the Black Faction.
After ensuring Sieg's safety, Astolfo rode his swift eagle back to Millennia Castle.
Thanks to his swift eagle, Astolfo was much faster than other Servants. By the time Siegfried and the others, including Chiron, who went to provide support, had not yet returned, Astolfo was already back at the castle.
One must admit, that the existence of Rationality Evaporation makes his thought process unique. Seeing that the patrolling homunculus guards did not come to arrest him, he assumed everything was fine and boldly returned to his room to sleep.
Unexpectedly, his Master, Celenike, was waiting in his room and caught him red-handed.
Celenike, with anger that had no outlet, ignored Astolfo's explanations and used all kinds of methods—bindings, curses, and various torture devices. She used everything she could, forgetting that Astolfo had A-rank Magic Resistance, rendering these methods almost entirely ineffective.
After some turmoil, Astolfo ended up tied in a strange position, and at this point, the Servants who had gone out also returned to the castle.
Learning that Astolfo had returned, Darnic immediately convened everyone for a meeting. Naturally, the topic was Astolfo's elopement with the homunculus.
At first, neither Darnic nor Vlad III acted as impulsively as Celenike. They gave Astolfo a chance to explain and defend himself.
Astolfo did not hide anything and recounted the entire process, including how he found the person in the corridor and how he helped him escape. Of course, he omitted the assistance provided by Chiron and Shinji. Even without rationality, his emotions did not allow him to betray his friends. This omission made the two accomplices secretly relieved and somewhat touched.
Given their importance in the Black Faction, even if they were exposed, it wouldn't have led to severe consequences. However, they would have undoubtedly faced a scolding, possibly affecting their image in their Master's eyes—something two Servants eager to maintain good relations with their Master could not tolerate.
After understanding the events, the next question was where Astolfo had taken the person. Before asking, Darnic kindly explained Avicebron's Noble Phantasm "Golem Keter Malkuth" and the concept of the "Heart of the Furnace," hoping Astolfo would confess honestly and bring the person back, so the issue could be resolved with minimal punishment—a political maneuver Darnic was quite skilled at.
However, Astolfo ignored Darnic's goodwill and claimed he didn't know, which infuriated Celenike.
If you don't appreciate kindness, then you don't deserve it.
In her fury, Celenike stomped on Astolfo's face with her boots. When that didn't provoke a reaction, she revealed her Command Spells, ready to issue a forced order.
Unexpectedly, Astolfo remained unafraid, smiling and saying, "I knew you'd do that, so I just sent him out of the territory, not to a specific place. This way, I don't know where he went. Even with a Command Spell, you won't get an answer—Ah, doesn't that feel great? Am I not clever?"
This unrepentant and boastful attitude made everyone feel like he deserved a beating. Celenike was on the verge of exploding with rage, but before she could vent her anger, a surge of magic darker than the night swept through the room, bringing with it black stakes.
"Kazikli Bey!!!"
Vlad III had made his move. Astolfo's attitude had utterly infuriated the tyrant.
To Vlad III, Astolfo's act of releasing the "Heart of the Furnace" was a betrayal, a betrayal he could not tolerate in life or death. If not for Darnic's persuasion, he would have impaled Astolfo the moment he saw him.
At first, Astolfo's cooperative attitude slightly alleviated Vlad III's anger, and he was even considering giving him a chance. However, a sudden twist completely ignited Vlad III's wrath.
When a tyrant is enraged, blood is inevitable.
Vlad III unleashed his Noble Phantasm, intending to establish an iron rule with the blood of a traitor and to quell his fury.
As the magical energy swept through, Astolfo sensed the lethal danger. If his hands and feet weren't bound, he might have had a chance to evade. Although the bindings weren't much of an obstacle and could be broken at any time, even that would take a moment—time enough for the stakes to pierce his body.
It's over. I'm going to die. My friend, you must live happily, though I won't be able to see it.
Foreseeing his end, Astolfo closed his eyes, awaiting the arrival of death. In his final moments, his heart was free of regret, filled only with wishes and slight sadness.
He was such a pure person, naive and carefree, but never changing.
The expected pain did not come. Just as the stakes were about to hit, another burst of magical energy intervened, propelling Astolfo out of harm's way. This magic, in stark contrast to Vlad III's chaos and darkness, exuded freshness and vitality, like being in a lush, verdant forest.
This characteristic belonged to only one Servant: the Black Archer, the Great Sage Chiron.
As soon as Astolfo began boasting, Chiron sensed trouble. With the "Wisdom of the Divine Gift," he promptly prepared "Mana Burst," saving Astolfo just in time.
"Please, Grand Duke, quell your thunderous rage."
Almost simultaneously with his rescue, Chiron stepped forward, respectfully bowing to Vlad III while keeping an eye on Astolfo.
Chiron's respectful counsel aimed to dispel Vlad III's anger, while his watchful eye ensured the Grand Duke wouldn't lose control—wisdom accumulated from long years of life.
Chiron's actions were undoubtedly correct, but he hadn't accounted for the disparity in their powers.
A strange tint of blood appeared on Vlad III's pale face, and a more terrifying magical energy enveloped the throne room.
In the next second, more stakes burst from beneath the carpet, roughly fifty in total.
Most targeted Chiron, with a few aimed at Astolfo!