Image: Tarnished vs Ulcerated Tree Spirit: Maw of Mount Gelmir

This anime-style fan art captures a climactic moment in Elden Ring’s Mount Gelmir, where the Tarnished confronts a grotesque, reimagined Ulcerated Tree Spirit.

On the left side of the image, the Tarnished stands in a defensive yet resolute stance, clad in the spectral Black Knife armor. His hooded visage is partially obscured, with long, dark hair flowing behind him and a black cape billowing in the volcanic wind. The armor is etched with intricate, ghostly patterns that shimmer faintly against the fiery backdrop. In his right hand, he wields a glowing silver sword, its blade radiating a cool, pale light that contrasts sharply with the surrounding inferno. His left hand is outstretched, fingers splayed, ready to react. His posture—left leg bent, right leg braced—suggests both caution and readiness for a decisive strike.

On the right side, the Ulcerated Tree Spirit has been transformed into a serpentine horror. Its elongated body slithers low across the scorched terrain, composed of twisted, gnarled tendrils that pulse with fiery corruption. The creature’s two massive front limbs claw into the ground, anchoring its bulk as it lunges forward. Its head is grotesquely oversized, dominated by a gaping maw filled with jagged, glowing orange teeth—wide enough to swallow the Tarnished whole. Above the maw, two blazing amber eyes burn with malevolent intensity, casting flickering light across the battlefield.

The environment is a hellscape of jagged volcanic peaks, molten lava flows, and ash-choked skies. Embers drift through the air, and the ground is cracked and blackened, glowing with patches of lava and fire. The sky swirls with smoke and flame, painted in hues of deep red, orange, and brown.

The composition is dynamic and balanced: the Tarnished and Tree Spirit are positioned diagonally opposite, with the sword and the creature’s maw forming a visual axis of tension. The lighting is dramatic—cool tones from the sword and armor contrast with the warm, fiery glow of the creature and landscape.

Textures are richly rendered: the bark-like tendrils of the Tree Spirit, the molten glow within its body, the engraved armor of the Tarnished, and the cracked volcanic terrain all contribute to the image’s realism. The embers and smoke add motion and atmosphere, enhancing the sense of chaos and danger.

This illustration is a tribute to Elden Ring’s dark fantasy aesthetic, blending anime dynamism with high-fidelity detail. It evokes themes of corruption, heroism, and the overwhelming scale of the game’s world, capturing a moment of high tension and mythic confrontation.

The image is related to: Elden Ring: Ulcerated Tree Spirit (Mt Gelmir) Boss Fight