Akalabeth - World of Doom is the title of what is most often referred to as Ultima 0. It went before Ultima I - First Age of Darkness and took place in the world called Akalabeth.
The word Akalabeth Richard Garriott probably lend from J.R.R Tolkien in whose universe it is spelt Akallabeth with a double l. According to Tolkien it meant: "That which Fell" in the Númenórean tongue. It was also the name of the tale of Númenor’s Fall.
So the series of Ultima began with a fall. This makes the title of the last Ultima: Ultima IX - Ascension interesting in a profound way. It too is interesting to notice that in u9 the Avatar has a collection of J.R.R Tolkien’s works in his bedroom on earth. This is hardly a coincidence I deem.
With this in mind the plot line of Ultima IX proves to fit even better, as the true ending and last chapter of the Ultima saga.