The capital city of the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom, Myriad Hollow, was a paradox of elegance and dread—a sprawling metropolis carved into the colossal underbelly of the Souldrift Shelf.
Unlike cities built toward the heavens, Myriad Hollow was built downward, like a spiral diving into madness. The deeper one went, the older the stone, the stronger the soul pressure and abyssal spirit Qi, and the closer one came to the forbidden heart of the kingdom.
The uppermost tiers were cast in a permanent crimson twilight, illuminated by the refracted light of the Eternal Moons reflecting off the obsidian ceiling. This district bustled with commerce—merchants, contract peddlers, smiths, and travelers from all over the Abyssal Plains.
Streets of glimmering black stone branched through rows of soul-refining towers, mist-veiled plazas, and markets. The scent of iron, ash, and incense lingered in the air, mixed with the faint aroma of corrupted spirit wine.
Phantom bridges arched over chasms where spirit flame waterfalls cascaded downward, feeding into the heart of the lower layers. Ethereal Souls—levitating serpentine transports powered by chained spectral beasts—slithered along invisible rails between levels, connecting the capital’s many rings.
The city’s middle layers were where bloodline arts were refined, and forbidden knowledge was traded. Here, the air grew heavier, not just with abyssal Qi but with intent, as everything within this tier belonged to those seeking power, not just survival.
But it was the lowest and deepest ring, the sanctum below the city, that inspired both awe and fear. The Evernight Noble District, home to the direct members of the Inner Circles of the Evernight Council.
Known simply as the Hollow Ring, this district coiled around a vast central abyssal chasm—a bottomless pit known as the Blackheart Maw—revered as both a cursed zone and a spiritual fountainhead.
Ancient legends claimed the Maw was the final resting place of a slain Abyssal King, whose residual Abyssal spirit Qi nourished the city.
The Hollow Ring was impossibly vast, and yet not a single inch of it was chaotic. It was orderly, geometric, meticulously enforced with layered spiritual arrays and abyssal laws drawn directly from the council’s authority.
Here resided the abyssal clans, direct agents, and individual members of the Inner Circle—each granted their territory as a reward for loyalty, contracts, and conquests in the deeper layers of the Abyss.
Villas of soul-etched obsidian floated around the Blackheart Maw like silent fortresses. Each residence was a domain of its own, guarded by abyssal formations sensitive to even thought intrusion.
No two manors were alike, for each noble designed their abode as a reflection of their essence and Law. Some were shadow palaces veiled in dreamy fog; others were towers made from living bone. One infamous individual had even turned their home into a mirrored labyrinth that devoured the souls of those who entered.
The Hollow Ring had no public transport. Those who lived here traveled via abyssal teleportation portals—methods which required spiritual branding by the Council and personal authorization from the Dread Duchess Varathia of the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom.
Only once per year was the Hollow Ring open to outside observers, during the Soul Conclave, when council emissaries gathered for political exchange, resource management, and the trade of information. It was a time when grudges surfaced beneath courteous smiles, and duels resolved matters too sensitive for words.
Despite its beauty and power, the Hollow Ring radiated a constant sense of pressure, as if the air itself judged those who breathed it.
Among these villas was an imposing, tower-like villa, carved from dark crimson obsidian, which gave the sense of dread and antiquity, and it was named the Evil Villa by its owner. The owner of this infamous villa has recently become famous and a point of envy for everyone.
The owner of this Evil Villa was known as the Evil Diva, who had risen to prominence recently in the Evernight Council. Furthermore, the main reason for Evil Diva’s fame and envy was that she was acknowledged as the direct disciple of the Dread Duchess Varathia!
The Dread Duchess was revered by the entire Obsidian Myriad Kingdom, not to mention the whole Evernight Council, because of her status as the Half Abyssal King, and one of the top leading figures of the Evernight Council and the Abyssal Devil Race’s leaders!
Furthermore, Dread Duchess had never accepted anyone else as her disciple before, which made the Evil Diva the target of everyone’s interest in the inner circle, including the King’s Circle members.
Now the Evil Diva was no different from the Princess of the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom, and no one dared to be disrespectful to her.
The Evil Villa was surrounded by a black, abyssal spirit Qi, giving it an ethereal, evil ambiance, and it was guarded by one of the most powerful formations present in the Hollow Ring, arranged by none other than the Dread Duchess for her beloved disciple.
At this moment, within the underground floor of the Evil Villa, it was spacious to say the least, and it was covered with concealment and protective runes; even Grand Abyssal Lords wouldn’t be able to sneak in or spy in this place.
This was Evil Diva’s personal cultivation chamber and workshop, and the abyssal spirit Qi here was extremely dense.
Sitting in three different positions in the runic circles were voluptuous figures of breathtaking women. They were adorned in sultry gothic dresses and seemed to be immersed in deep meditation.
At this moment, one of these three seductive women opened her eyes, revealing pitch-black eyes with white irises; these kinds of eyes were the signature trait of the Abyssal Devil Race. Her head was full of long, inky black hair and two black devilish horns twisted back from each side of her temple.
Her skin was a pale white, almost seeming to glitter in the light, and it emitted a terrifying, devilish charm reminiscent of the Abyssal Devil Race. She gave a feeling of mischievousness with her peculiar impish demeanor.
She looked towards her other two companions, and a playful smile surfaced on her pale, black lips. "Say, little juniors, when do you think the ’Master’ will be back?"
As her enthralling voice trailed off, the other two opened her eyes, which were the same as the previous woman’s eyes, evident of their racial kinship.
However, unlike the latter, the former two have distinct personalities, not to mention their faces, which are unique and equally mesmerizing.
"How would I know?" The Abyssal Devil, with an oval face and otherworldly beauty, coldly retorted. She exuded a natural sense of elegance and an innate arrogance, as if of noble origin.
The third Abyssal Devil had an icy demeanor, epitome of an ice devil, as her gaze was emotionless.
But when she looked at the playful Abyssal Devil, a hint of exasperation flashed past her eyes as she was aware of what kind of person she was and helplessly asked, "First Senior, what is in your mind this time?"
"Don’t encourage her!" The elegant Abyssal Devil chided the cold Abyssal Devil as she knew that once the ’First Senior’ started, she wouldn’t shut up easily.
"Tsk, tsk, Little Third, do you have to be so cruel to your loving senior?! Only Little Second treats me well! You should feel ashamed of yourself!" The ’First Senior’ pretended to be hurt as she resentfully looked at ’little Third’.
However, Little Third just shook her head as if aware of this First Senior’s antics, and she knew if she retorted, it would only make the latter happier. The ’Little Second’ also appeared to have the same thing in mind as she remained silent and even hoped that the First Senior would pester Little Third, spare her the misery.
When no reply was given, the First Senior seemed to pretend not to notice it as she smiled mysteriously and said, "I don’t believe you both aren’t even a little bit curious about the ’surprise’ that Master hinted at before she left?!"