Still fatigued from fighting spirits, Guts kills several of the Holy Iron Chain Knights attempting to capture him and fights their vice commander Azan, but ultimately collapses from his wounds. At the knights' camp, their leader, Farnese, interrogates Guts for answers about the demise of the Band of the Hawk, having found the mercenary group's bloodied remains after the solar eclipse. But Guts mocks Farnese about her authority and her faith, provoking her to whip him in rage before Azan stops her and locks Guts in a cage. Guts is freed by Puck at nightfall and takes Farnese as a hostage to escape. Only the knights' herald Serpico gives chase, before finding himself surrounded by pursuing spirits.