Countless bones lay buried beneath Thanatos.
Ever since the Abyssal Lord Orcus had taken control of this plane, Thanatos had been undergoing constant transformation.
It had begun roughly three thousand years ago, before Orcus first died and returned to life. To give this plane negative energy properties, he had resurrected vast numbers of undead and transformed many creatures into undead beings. Orcus had then begun a war against the will of the Abyss itself. Demons were the source of the Abyss's power, and for more than three thousand years, Thanatos, the 113th Layer of the Abyss, had continually transformed souls into demons, only for them to be killed by the undead here. Countless demonic bones piled up underground, while species from other layers also perished here.
Death gave birth to the undead.
Under Orcus's deliberate control, he had reshaped a layer of the Abyss much as a devil would. As vast quantities of bones and death energy accumulated, this layer gradually acquired negative energy properties.
Just like the Spirit Realm.
But!
The true power did not lie here. Orcus had not expended so much effort merely to reshape the plane. He was also seeking the divine power of death.
His power also came from this plane.
Or rather, from somewhere closer to its heart—the [City of the Dead], Nathlatar!
A colossal magic circle stood there, constantly gathering the power of death. Over the long years, Orcus had drawn from it to gain enough strength to contend with the Gods.
From an abyssal worm to the mightiest Demon Lord!
That took more than talent and luck. Orcus had clearly hidden something deep within the City of the Dead.
Out in the wilderness.
An Undead Army numbering over a million had already been destroyed by the Demon Legion under Soran's command. These