The mage approached the cave where still miasma overflowed

　　sure that he was walking on a long predestined road

　　the cave was full of monsters but they couldn`t slow his pace

　　any that attacked him soon were gone without a trace

　　Despite his newfound strength however, he was not at ease

　　he`d never even dreamed of knowing powers such as these

　　he didn`t recognize the world he fought for anymore

　　powers of this magnitude would shake it to its core

　　But now it was his task, be it by luck, by chance, or fate

　　to stop this evil power and to bare the mission`s weight

　　so many times he`d run into a battle with a smile

　　but now he was disgusted that his foe could be so vile

　　the cavern that he walked along grew wider as he walked

　　it was then he felt the chill of something being stalked

　　the shadows of the cave appeared to look at him and grin

　　but still his only option was to wander further in

　　To further his anxiety, he soon perceived his foe

　　whose dominating presence only caused his fears to grow

　　before he laid his eyes upon the monstrous evil`s face

　　he felt the power of the being, then quickened his pace

　　This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

　　He ran toward a light he saw down in the depths ahead

　　so deep beneath the mountains that the pressure hurt his head

　　but when he did arrive inside a cavern wide and tall

　　he understood the nature of his foe once and for all

　　The creature at the centre of an evil, poison mist

　　a human shaped monstrosity that made his stomach twist

　　it smelled of death and rotten flesh, its arms were mostly bone

　　smiling at the hero from his seat upon a throne

　　"Welcome to the end of days, it`s good to see you here

　　how rare for such a kindred spirit like you to appear

　　I`ve long admired your infinite capacity for war

　　watching from a distance, though you left me wanting more

　　The endless grudges of the dead you left behind for me

　　will be the finest army any king will ever see

　　I thank you, for a lich`s strength is nothing without death

　　you`ll serve me well long after you have drawn your final breath"

　　The mage was shaken by the thought that everything he`d killed

　　could be an evil monster as the lich before him willed

　　even if a hero could slay dragons every day

　　he couldn`t face so many armies fighting far away

　　His worries overflowed while he imagined what could be

　　of all the dead who held a grudge against his family

　　he thought of every ghost of every army he had slain

　　the angry cries of long dead enemies who died in pain

　　Despite his icy magic, he began to feel a chill

　　looking at the creature he was long fated to kill

　　but on the lich`s face there was no anger, pain, or fear

　　he looked upon the hero like somebody he held dear

　　"I have so much to thank you for my strange and twisted friend

　　I`m glad you chose to join me as the world begins to end

　　that noisy cult I raised for centuries, which you wiped out

　　only would have slowed us down, of that I have no doubt

　　Although I was too weak at first to give you my support

　　thanks to you, the time it took to harvest death was short

　　watching from the shadows, I was always there with you

　　like an angel, watching over everything you do

　　It`s so good to see you here now that your life is done

　　thank you for the many years of chaos, death, and fun

　　I haven`t felt as ready in a thousand years or so

　　now take your rightful place beside me son, it`s time to go"

　　~