Hidden Cult and the Crown of Horns

At last, the black smoke gathered together, forming a skeleton clad in a robe made from that very smoke within the binding array.

The lich within the Grimoire Golem had finally awakened! The moment this lich in shadowy robes appeared, dense negative energy began continuously spreading outward. The previously stable binding array actually started flickering under the erosion of that negative energy. Fortunately, with the mage tower supporting it, the negative energy could only strut briefly before it was helplessly confined within the array.

"Finally... finally, I have awakened again. Who am I? Why am I here?"

Perhaps he had been sealed away for too long. After reviving from his phylactery, the lich could not make sense of the situation for a moment. After muttering to himself, he noticed something wrong with his body. He raised his hand, looked at his skeletal fingers, then touched his skull. Finally, he gave a bitter laugh.

"Heh heh, how muddleheaded of me. I even forgot who I am. I am the Deathbringer—Winchester! Heh heh heh, hahahahaha! I never thought I was still alive! Hahaha! That old man actually didn't kill me. Why? Hahaha, hahahahaha!"

As though he had been locked away for too long, the lich began babbling nonsense the moment he emerged. At first, he was laughing, but soon his laughter took on a strong sobbing tone. That laughter mixed with tears allowed even Osvid to feel the confusion and sorrow emanating from him.

After nearly ten minutes, the lich who called himself the Deathbringer—Winchester—finally noticed that there were other people in the room.

"Mage, who are you? Did you release me?" Winchester seemed to have completely calmed down by then. As he looked at Osvid, he also surveyed the entire room. "This place feels familiar. Where is this? Damn it, that's