Image: Tarnished vs Ulcerated Tree Spirit: Rot Beneath Gelmir

This dark fantasy-style illustration captures a harrowing confrontation in Elden Ring’s Mount Gelmir, where the Tarnished faces a grotesque, ulcer-ridden Ulcerated Tree Spirit.

On the left side of the composition, the Tarnished stands in a grounded combat stance, clad in the ominous Black Knife armor. His form is shrouded in a tattered, wind-blown cloak, and his hood casts deep shadows over his partially visible face. The armor is rendered with gritty realism—weathered plates, engraved motifs, and battle-worn textures. In his right hand, he wields a glowing silver sword, its blade emitting a cold, pale light that slices through the fiery haze. His left hand is extended, fingers splayed, bracing for impact.

Opposite him, the Ulcerated Tree Spirit has been reimagined as a crawling, serpentine monstrosity. Its elongated body slithers low across the scorched terrain, supported only by two massive, clawed front limbs. The creature’s form is composed of rotting bark, twisted roots, and bulging, pustulant ulcers that glow with molten corruption. Its gaping maw dominates its head—grotesquely oversized, filled with jagged, glowing orange teeth, and capable of swallowing the Tarnished whole. One fiery eye burns with malevolence, while the other is obscured by knotted wood and fungal growths. The creature’s body pulses with internal heat, oozing molten sap and toxic fumes.

The environment is a volcanic wasteland of jagged peaks, cracked obsidian ground, and rivers of lava. The sky is choked with ash and smoke, painted in deep reds, oranges, and browns. Embers drift through the air, and the terrain is littered with glowing fissures and scorched debris.

The composition is tense and dramatic: the Tarnished and Tree Spirit are diagonally opposed, with the sword and maw forming a visual axis of confrontation. The lighting is stark and atmospheric—cool tones from the sword and armor contrast with the fiery glow of the creature and landscape.

Textures are richly detailed: the ulcerated bark of the Tree Spirit, the molten glow within its wounds, 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 depth, enhancing the sense of chaos and dread.

This illustration pays homage to Elden Ring’s grim aesthetic, blending painterly realism with mythic horror. It evokes themes of decay, corruption, and defiance, capturing a moment of mythic struggle in one of the game’s most hostile regions.

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