"—Altolia, go to Serenike's workshop and bring Sieg and Astolfo here."
"learn!"
Altria carried out the Master's order without hesitation.
Although he didn't know the details, the disgusting smell of blood on Serenike's body and the ugly face she revealed when she spoke made the upright and noble Knight King feel disgusted.
Serenike was a little slower to react, but she quickly realized what was happening and pointed at Shinji, yelling, "What are you doing?"
"What?" Shinji turned around calmly, narrowing his eyes at the frightened and angry Serenika, "You'll know soon."
The next second, there was a flash of silver light.
"ah-"
Serenikae watched in disbelief as blood spurted out from the broken part of her once slender and beautiful wrist, like a faucet that had been left open.
The right hand is missing.
With just one strike, her right hand was easily severed. The fingers and nails that she had always carefully maintained, as well as the Command Seals on the back of her hand, which were even more important, all disappeared from her right arm.
"Ah, ah, ah! Aaaaaah!!!"
Screaming incoherently, Serenike waved her intact left hand wildly, trying to take back what she had lost.
However, before her left hand could touch her right hand that was held by someone else, she screamed again, and her beautiful body flew backwards like a rag bag and hit the stone wall hard.
"It's really ugly. Compared with the android you tortured to death, this little pain is nothing."
However, Serenike could no longer hear these words. Due to excessive blood loss and being kicked in the abdomen by Shinji, she fainted when her back hit the stone wall.
"Assassin!"
A thin figure appeared behind Shinji, separated by a red lightning.
"You'd better not act rashly, Blackcaster!"
"Red Saber, what do you mean?"
Avisbronn turned his head and looked at Mordred, who was holding a greatsword pointed at him.
Mordred grinned, his face showing undisguised hostility.
"Nothing, I just feel annoyed by your and that black magician's behavior."
"Why?"
"Because I am also a android. Although I don't have any special feelings for the androids here, your actions still make me very angry. Ah. I really want to chop you up."
Mordred actually didn't understand what was happening, but she could hear Serenikae and Avisbronn's attitude towards the androids, and that was enough.
"I see."
Avisbron's voice was calm, but Master Roger, who was not far away from him, was trembling with fear.
"Old, teacher—Fiore, Corless, you just watch."
"Assassin... "
There was still a hint of daze on Fiore's face, as if she had not yet recovered from this series of unexpected events - he was usually smiling and easy to talk to, so how could he suddenly turn hostile and attack her
Shinji, who was called, spread his hands to Mordred and said, "Can you put away your sword first? I still have something to say to Caster."
"Hmm..."
Mordred thought about it and nodded. Although he did not put away the sword but just carried it on his shoulder, this attitude was enough for Shinji.
"Caster, I know you are different from that woman. But I'm sorry, you have your goals, and I have things I need to do. I hope you will give up Sieg and use Serenika as your 'hearth'. I have already chosen the best place for you to activate your Noble Phantasm."
"What if I don't agree?"
"Then we have no choice but to go to war."
Avisbronn looked at Shinji holding the "Snake Hunting Scythe", then at Mordred carrying a greatsword, and moved his fingers slightly.
"I don't seem to have a choice."
"No, you actually have another choice."
Having said that, Shinji looked at Roger meaningfully.
"But to be honest, this choice is worse than Serenika in my eyes. If you dare to make this choice—"
"You're going to kill me?"
"No, no." Shinji shook his head. "You don't care about your own life or death. You only care about your Noble Phantasm. So, I will completely destroy your Noble Phantasm. Believe me, I have the ability to do so now - even if it is fully activated!"
"I understand. I agree to your request. I hope you will keep your word."
"Don't worry, when have I ever failed to fulfill my promise?"
As she spoke, Artoria had already returned to the underground altar with Sieg and Astolfo.
The two men were dressed no differently than they were three days ago, and they certainly did not appear to have suffered any physical injuries, but from their pale faces and lifeless eyes it was not difficult to tell how bad their mental states were.
This scene deeply touched the hearts of all the onlookers, and broke their attitudes of either not caring about it or hesitating about whether to stop Shinji. Chiron was the most relieved among them.
With his wisdom, he could easily guess what fate Astolfo and Sieg would face. He remained silent because he did not want the fragile alliance to split up in the face of a powerful enemy. He was only a sage, not a king. He did not have the courage to suppress internal conflicts and lead a team. He could only avoid exacerbating the conflicts in this way.
Of course, he did not do nothing. Every night, he would sneak into the Serenikai workshop to confirm the safety of Astolfo and Sieg, and at the same time think about whether there is a way to rescue the two without destroying the alliance.
Now that he thought about it, he was still a little too conservative. Although he didn't intend to remain silent now that the Lesser Holy Grail had disappeared and the Holy Grail War had been interrupted, he couldn't be as decisive as Shinji after all.
Perhaps, this is my own limitation.
Chiron sighed secretly, walked up to Astolfo and Sieg, touched the center of their eyebrows with both hands, and released a breath as clear as a spring.
Stimulated by this breath, Astolfo and Sieg's eyes regained a lot of spirit.
"I'm sorry..." Chiron apologized in a low voice.
Astolfo moved his lips, wanting to say something, but because all his energy was focused on resisting the erosion of the Command Spell, he couldn't say anything.
"Hold on a little longer, it will be over soon."
After saying that, Chiron stepped back a few steps and gave his seat to Shinji, who spoke to the two of them with a serious face.
"Sieg, I want to ask you, are you willing to become Astolfo's new Master?"
"I... I..." Sieg obviously didn't expect Shinji to ask this, and hesitantly didn't know how to answer.
"Don't think about why or how it's possible. Just answer yes or no. If you can't say anything, just nod your head."
Putting aside all concerns, the answer already existed in Sieg's mind.
"I do."
"Very well, then Astolfo, are you willing to become Sieg's 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 I shed for everyone. This is the blood of the contract."
This is a secret ritual circulated within the Holy Church. Kotomine Riku used it once when she was transferring the Command Seals to Kenneth. The secret was discovered by Scathach and later passed on to Shinji.
In the solemn chanting, and amidst a burst of intense pain, the Command Seal on Serenike's severed hand was transferred to Sieg's arm. The circuit was forcibly opened, and a causal line was formed between the two.
"Here, the contract is concluded!"
PS: Change the version of the last ceremony -
Shinji: Sieg, let me ask you, are you willing to marry Astolfo
Zig: I do.
Shinji: Astolfo, let me ask you, are you willing to marry Sieg
Astolfo: I do.
Shinji: Lord, we pray for all married couples, that they will continue to give to each other, that they will continue to forgive each other, and that they will experience more and more of your joy every day. Especially for Sieg and Astolfo, as they begin their married life together, may they receive your help, the support of their friends, and live out their lives in good health. May all your blessings be upon (groom's name) and (bride's name), and bless them forever. Amen.