Aegis, a down-on-his-luck mage and former underground fighter, never wanted power—he only wanted peace. But when an ancient ritual goes horribly wrong, Aegis awakens as a lich in the ruins of the Aether Pinnacle, a hidden valley bursting with magic and danger. With his flesh gone and his heart replaced by a burning blue flame, he is thrust into a fight he never asked for. His first challenge? A band of imps that have invaded the valley. But defeating them brings a grim revelation—his wife, his only tether to his humanity, has been taken by demons. Now, armed with unsettling new powers that blur the line between hero and monster, Aegis must journey into the depths of a world where demons, magic, and hidden truths collide. As he battles his own doubts about the dark magic that sustains him, Aegis discovers the Pinnacle’s true purpose—a source of ancient, boundless Aether, coveted by beings far more dangerous than imps. To save his wife, protect the valley, and uncover the truth of his transformation, Aegis will need to master his lich abilities and walk the thin line between salvation and destruction. Can a man cursed to be a monster become a hero? Or will the growing darkness inside him consume everything he holds dear?