The World of Anima Volume 1: The Defenders of Homeland

Chapter 18: Before the Times of Impeding Doom

Deep within the ominous Mount Souls of Enchantment, a tale of darkness and dread unfolded, centered around the malevolent figure of Kelrathul, the late lich of the undead. Once a mortal consumed by ambition and thirst for forbidden knowledge, Kelrathul delved into the darkest depths of necromancy, sealing his fate as an immortal creature of undeath.

Cloaked in a veil of deceit, Kelrathul assumed the guise of a mysterious mortal, beckoning unwitting adventurers to explore the treacherous slopes of the mountain. With promises of hidden treasures and forgotten relics, he lured brave souls into his web of deception, orchestrating their descent into the abyss of his domain.

As the adventurers of Reign, a neighboring realm, ventured into the mountain's depths, they were met with horrors beyond their wildest nightmares. Shadows danced in the flickering torchlight, and whispers of doom echoed through the cavernous passages. Yet, it was only when Kelrathul revealed his true identity that the true extent of their peril became clear.

Unveiling his ghastly form amidst a tempest of dark magic, Kelrathul emerged as the dreaded lich of the Mountain of Souls Enchantment. His hollow eyes gleamed with malice as he unleashed his unholy power upon the intruders, their futile attempts to resist crushed beneath the weight of his necrotic might.

With the adventurers of Reign fleeing in terror, their ranks decimated and their hopes shattered, Kelrathul reclaimed his dominion over the mountain. Amidst the echoing cries of the fallen, his reign of undeath persisted, a chilling reminder of the dangers that lurked within the shadowed recesses of the Mount Souls of Enchantment. And so, the legend of Kelrathul, the late lich of the undead, endured as a cautionary tale whispered among those who dared to tread upon the cursed soil of his domain.

Amidst the ancient echoes of the Mount Souls of Enchantment, Kelrathul's true quest unfolded, driven not by the desire for dominion over the mountain, but by the relentless pursuit of a dangerous artifact destined to bring about the doom of mankind. Deep within the mountain's caverns, Kelrathul sought a relic of unparalleled malevolence: the Ignis Grimoire, a tome of dark magic passed down through generations of his forefathers.

For centuries, the Ignis Grimoire had lain dormant, its secrets veiled in shadow and mystery. Yet, as time passed, Kelrathul's obsession with unlocking its power grew, fueled by whispers of its untold potential for unleashing unholy forces upon the world. With each passing day, the lich's determination to claim the Grimoire as his own intensified, driving him deeper into the heart of the mountain's labyrinthine depths.

As the adventurers of Reign fled in fear, Kelrathul seized the opportunity to reclaim his birthright, casting aside his mortal guise to embrace his true identity as the master of necromantic arts. With the Ignis Grimoire in his grasp, he unleashed its dark powers upon the world, heedless of the consequences that would follow.

Bound within the pages of the Grimoire lay the secrets of summoning the dead without limit, an unholy power that threatened to tip the balance between life and death itself. With each incantation, Kelrathul raised legions of undead minions to serve his will, their hollow eyes reflecting the soulless void from which they had been drawn.

As the echoes of Kelrathul's dark magic reverberated through the mountain, the fate of mankind hung in the balance. With the Ignis Grimoire as his weapon, the lich stood poised to unleash a tide of death and destruction upon the world, plunging humanity into an age of darkness from which there would be no escape. And thus, the name of Kelrathul would be forever remembered not as a conqueror of mountains, but as the harbinger of mankind's ultimate demise, his quest for power paving the way for the annihilation of all that stood in his path.

As Kelrathul's dark ventures continued, the heroes of the realm, fueled by determination and righteous fury, returned to the accursed slopes of the Mountain of Souls of Enchantment, intent on putting an end to the lich's reign of terror once and for all. However, unbeknownst to them, Kelrathul had woven a web of deceit and betrayal, laying a trap that would ensnare not only their bodies but also their very souls.