"—Artoria, go to Celenike's workshop and bring Sieg and Astolfo here."
"Understood!"
Artoria executed her Master's command without hesitation.
Though she wasn't privy to the details, the nauseating smell of blood emanating from Celenike and the vile expression on her face repulsed the noble and righteous King of Knights.
Celenike's reaction was slightly delayed, but she quickly pointed at Shinji, shouting angrily, "What do you think you're doing?"
"What do you think?"
Shinji turned around slowly and narrowed his eyes at the furious and frightened Celenike.
"You'll find out soon enough."
In the next second, a flash of silver light.
"Ah—"
Celenike looked in disbelief as blood spurted from the severed end of her once delicate and beautiful wrist, like a faucet left open.
Her right hand was gone.
With just one strike, her right hand was effortlessly severed. The carefully maintained fingers and nails, and more importantly, the Command Spells on the back of her hand, all vanished from her right arm.
"Ah, ah, ah! Ahhhhh!!!"
Screaming hysterically, Celenike flailed her still intact left hand, trying to reclaim what she had lost.
However, before her left hand could even touch the right hand held by another, she screamed again. Her graceful body flew backward like a ragdoll, crashing hard against the stone wall.
"Compared to the suffering of the homunculus you tormented to death, what is this pain?"
But Celenike couldn't hear these words anymore. Due to severe blood loss and a kick from Shinji that struck her abdomen, she had already passed out by the time her back hit the stone wall.
"Assassin!"
A slender figure appeared behind Shinji, only to be blocked by a flash of red lightning.
"You'd better not make any sudden moves, Black Caster!"
"Red Saber, what is the meaning of this?"
Avicebron turned his head, looking at Mordred, who was pointing her large sword at him from a distance.
Mordred grinned, her face showing blatant hostility.
"Nothing much, just can't stand your actions and that of the black magus."
"Why?"
"Because I'm also Homunculus. While I don't have any special feelings for the Homunculus here, your actions still piss me off immensely. I want to cut you both down."
Mordred didn't fully understand what was happening, but she could discern Celenike and Avicebron's attitude towards the Homunculus, and that was enough.
"I see."
Avicebron's voice was emotionless, but his Master, Roche, was trembling with fear nearby.
"Master—Fiore, Caules, are you just going to stand there and watch?"
"Assassin..."
Fiore still had a look of confusion on her face, seemingly unable to process the sudden turn of events—how Shinji, who was usually all smiles and easy to talk to, had suddenly turned hostile and violent.
Shinji, who was called out, shrugged at Mordred.
"Can you put the sword down first? I have something to say to Caster."
"Mmm..."
Mordred thought for a moment and nodded. Although she didn't put the sword away, she rested it on her shoulder, which was enough of a gesture for Shinji.
"Caster, I know you are different from that woman. But sorry, you have your goals, and I have mine. I want you to give up on Sieg and use Celenike as the 'core.' I've already picked out the best location for your Noble Phantasm."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we'll have to fight."
Avicebron looked at Shinji, who was holding the immortal slayer Scythe, and then at Mordred, who had her large sword on her shoulder. His fingers twitched slightly.
"It seems—I have no choice."
"No, actually, you do have one more choice."
At this point, Shinji glanced meaningfully at Roche.
"But to be honest, that choice is even worse than using Celenike as the core. If you dare to make that choice—"
"You'll kill me?"
"No, no."
Shinji shook his head. "You don't care about your own life. What you care about is your Noble Phantasm. So, I will destroy your Noble Phantasm. Believe me, I can do that—even if it's fully activated!"
"I understand. I agree to your terms. I hope you keep your word."
"Don't worry, when have I ever failed to keep a promise?"
As they spoke, Artoria returned to the underground altar with Sieg and Astolfo.
The two looked the same as they had three days ago, showing no signs of physical harm. However, their pale faces and lifeless eyes indicated their dreadful mental state.
This scene deeply moved the onlookers, breaking their previous attitudes of either detachment or hesitation about stopping Shinji. Among them, Chiron felt the most gratified.
With his wisdom, it was easy for him to foresee the fate awaiting Astolfo and Sieg. He had remained silent because a great enemy was at hand, and he didn't want to cause a split in their fragile alliance. He was a sage, not a king, lacking the authority to suppress internal conflicts and lead a faction. Thus, he resorted to this way of avoiding exacerbating tensions.
Of course, he hadn't done anything. Every night, he would secretly sneak into Celenike's workshop to ensure Astolfo and Sieg's safety while pondering a way to save them without disrupting the alliance.
In retrospect, he felt he had been overly cautious. With the Lesser Grail gone and the Holy Grail War interrupted, he no longer intended to stay silent, but he couldn't bring himself to be as decisive as Shinji.
Perhaps, that was his limitation.
Chiron sighed inwardly and approached Astolfo and Sieg. He placed his hands on their foreheads, releasing a cool, refreshing aura.
This aura revitalized Astolfo and Sieg's eyes, bringing back some of their lost vigor.
"I'm sorry..."
Chiron apologized softly.
Astolfo's lips moved, trying to speak, but he couldn't utter a word as all his mental strength was focused on resisting the Command Spells' command.
"Just hold on a bit longer; it will be over soon."
With that, Chiron stepped back, making way for Shinji, who addressed the two with a serious expression.
"I ask you, are you willing to become Astolfo's new Master?"
"I... I..."
Sieg hadn't expected this question from Shinji and stammered, unsure how to respond.
"Don't think about why or how it's possible. Just answer if you're willing or not. If you can't speak, nodding is fine too."
Ignoring all other concerns, the answer was already in Sieg's heart.
"I am willing."
"Good. Astolfo, are you willing to become his Servant?"
Astolfo nodded vigorously without hesitation.
"I knew you would say that—'Drink from the cup, and your sins will be forgiven. This is the blood shed for many, the blood of the covenant.'"
(This feels like a wedding ceremony. lol)
This was a secret ritual passed down within the Holy Church. Kirei Kotomine had used it once to transfer Command Spells to Kayneth, and Scáthach had deciphered its mysteries and taught it to Shinji.
Amid solemn chanting and intense pain, the Command Spells from Celenike's severed hand were transferred to Sieg's arm. The circuits forcibly opened, forming a causal link between the two.
"Hereby, the contract is established!"