"Yes, you could say that." Amanda nodded in agreement, "It's a pity these spells don't count as any particularly special secret techniques, and as for the equipment, they don't form a set, nor do they leave any distinct marks or features, so we can't tell who is behind him."

Alhazred added, "I am not very confident about breaking the curse ritual on this ring. The opponent is very strong."

Neither of them had any opinions, and in fact, Lance understood that these nobles definitely have transcendents behind them.

"No matter, the rest he will tell us himself."

Lance didn't bother with any tricks, he directly brought his people to the sanatorium. That guy was knocked out back then, but now has long since woken up.

The three of them barged in, making the already small room feel oppressive.

Just upon entering, seeing the man's dazed expression and pale complexion, Alhazred frowned and spoke up.

"This is not a normal person at all, this is a puppet created by that person."

"How could that be? He surrendered himself." Lance couldn't help but doubt, would a puppet have self-awareness?

Hearing this, Amanda realized something too, "The scholar didn't mean a wax figure type, but rather..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

After a pause, Amanda finally mentioned a name, "but rather like Catherine's situation, even more severe, where even the soul is controlled."

Upon hearing this, Lance understood, the bald sorcerer, or properly a sorcerer, had cursed Catherine, able to control her life and death.

If not for the sorcery backlash causing chaos back then, she might not have survived until Lance saved the day.

"So what now?" Lance, unfamiliar with these matters, needed the two consultants for this reason.

"Let me try." Alhazred raised a hand, the Skull Candleholder fell into his hand, the blue candle flame ignited, instantly enveloping everyone in a dark aura.

All this happened very quickly, the three present paid no mind to the man's form and took action directly.

From the surrounding darkness emerged countless shadowy tendrils, surging towards the man, causing him to scream and seemingly activate something.

An unexpected incident occurred!

The whole person suddenly stood up, but made no other movements, instead tilting his head back with his mouth wide open, from which blood-red wax-like substances continuously poured out covering his entire face, faintly showing the wax-dissolved human face on his chest struggling in agony.

Meanwhile, his skin pores secreted similarly, appearing to dissolve entirely.

Even more terrifying was Lance felt increasingly strong spiritual fluctuations!

Unleashing an ultimate move upon appearing? Is that fair?

"Kill him!"

Basically, as soon as Alhazred spoke, the two present reacted.

Amanda raised her hand and threw a flying dagger, but it had no effect on the wax-dissolved material, despite the transcendent ritual on it.

Lance charged up, raising a hand and shooting, not attacking the main body, but rather targeting the wax-like face, scattering it, then activated [Sacrifice].

Judgement successful!

Void Power devoured, even though the wax-like face restored itself, struggled several times but still could not escape the all-consuming might of the Otherworld.

Lance knew that entity was certainly an expert at devouring sacrifices, it wouldn't spare its offering.

But Lance was slightly disappointed, as such a bizarre scene returned only ordinary spiritual essence.

"What just happened?" Lance turned around calmly.

"It's a Lich." Alhazred explained gravely, "A terrifying creature transforming itself into a vile being yet retaining thought, considered a type of Necromancer, and this was merely one of its avatars, perceiving location through it."

Upon hearing this, Lance understood.

"No wonder, it intentionally surrendered, otherwise, how could it be found, likewise that entity must have expected the puppet would be lost, hence cursing the equipment."

Lance felt somewhat numb, not expecting such a problem, he should have sacrificed it back then instead of bringing it back.

This incident was his own greed, wanting everything, previously easily turning Lawrence and Francis forgetting the bizarreness of supernatural power.

But suddenly, he thought of something, calm expression immediately turned serious, turning to the two around him to present a question.

"Michelle said her father is a general at the frontline, sending protection implies the Lich is related to Michelle's family, then what benefit does war bring to that Lich?"

The other two seemed to realize something as well, exchanged looks showing deep concern, one added.

"War is endless death."

"And death is the best nourishment for a Lich."

Lance indeed had a hypothesis, a strange smile couldn't help but appear on his face as he mocked, "No wonder the Empire and the refugees are fighting like this, so this is the loyalty of the Empire's general."

Thinking of this, Lance didn't hesitate anymore, taking out the cursed ring to sacrifice directly.

No matter if it's a storage ring or not, anything with a curse is definitely problematic, let it duel with that one above.

Lance's actions from the other transcendents' perspective naturally violated taboos, who would casually meddle with unchecked transcendent equipment.