K’alunda – Herald of Death

’alunda, the Herald of Death.

This illustration was created as the back cover artwork for the short story The Horror of Bali by Marc Barqué Villa.

Deep within the jungle, an ancient idol awakens — a grotesque manifestation of an elder entity worshipped by forgotten cults. Its twisted face and writhing tentacles embody the silent promise of death that follows those who dare approach the forbidden.

Before it stands a ritual warrior, marked by devotion and blood, holding the severed head of the idol — not in victory, but as part of a darker ritual tied to forces older than humanity.

Inspired by cosmic horror traditions and the atmosphere of the Cthulhu Mythos created by H. P. Lovecraft.

Illustration by Nico Balker.