A high-quality 3D portrait rendering of a ghoul standing vigil at the infernal gates, its form ominous and foreboding. The ghoul's head is a burning skull with embers flickering in its deep-set, glowing red eye sockets. Its tall, slender figure is a tapestry of intricate, bone-like details, swathed in tattered rags that cling to its skeletal form. The scene is set against a backdrop of intensely detailed flames, casting an otherworldly glow that paints the scene in dark, cinematic hues. The atmosphere is imbued with a sense of dark fantasy, enhanced by dramatic red lighting that emphasizes the ghoul's shadowy presence. The focus is soft, giving a dreamlike quality to the horror, captured with a f/2.2 depth of field, reminiscent of artstation's high-caliber works. Despite the chaos, the ghoul is remarkably devoid of horns, eyes, nose, hair, or extraneous text, embodying an eternal, fire-kissed guardian that commands both reverence and fear.