"Ugh...!"
The instant Darnic was killed by Jack the Ripper, Vlad III, standing amid countless Iron Stakes on the battlefield, dropped to one knee.
"Clink..."
Vlad III's outline began to glow, and his body gradually turned into particles as though he were about to vanish into thin air.
"This is..."
Vlad III clutched his chest, his expression changing slightly.
"Has that man Darnic been killed?"
His Master's death had caused Vlad III's contract to disappear, making his very existence impossible to sustain.
Even if the Black Faction's magical energy was supplied by Homunculi, the contract with a Master was still the medium that maintained a Servant in this world. Even if a Black Faction Master delegated the magical energy supply to Homunculi, they still bore the responsibility of maintaining their Servant's manifestation.
Now that his Master was dead, the medium keeping him in this world had vanished. Unless a Servant possessed the Independent Action skill, disappearance was their only fate.
Vlad III was no exception.
Besides, the advantage of having Homunculi supply magical energy had vanished along with Mirenia Castle's destruction.
"No choice..."
Vlad III made his decision at once.
"I can only form a contract with Saber's Master."
Though Gord's Servant had died, his Command Spells remained, and he had not lost his qualifications as a Master. He could still form a contract with another Servant.
Although Vlad III's assessment of Gord was far below his assessment of Darnic, there was no other choice under the circumstances.
Just as Vlad III was thinking this, an unruly voice suddenly rang out.
"So you're about to croak? What a letdown!"
With that thoroughly displeased tone, a figure slowly emerged from the other side of the mountain formed by the Iron Stakes.
"Who...!?"
Vlad III sharply turned his head and looked over.