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

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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”

~