Abyss

Biodata

Background / History

The Abyss has been isolated from the wider universe for tens of millions of years. Its Demon Lords once breached its spatial-temporal barriers to lead invasions of Sunlight Planes, but the last known invasion occurred so long ago that the Abyss, its demons, and even its name were forgotten across the myriad planes 1.

Its inhabitants remain unable to leave by ordinary means. Only beings powerful enough to break the plane’s crystal-like barriers—such as Demon Lords—can force a passage to other worlds 6. The System later identifies a spatial tunnel capable of bypassing this blockade, though it cannot be used without planar coordinates 38.

Accounts of the Abyss’s ancient rise describe a once-barren, unremarkable Dark Plane that expanded with extraordinary speed near the end of the Mythic Age. It conquered countless planes and dominated the Ancient Dark Age until the emergence of the Divine Realm brought a rival power and a prolonged struggle between darkness and light 721. Much later, the Destruction Devil Master attempted to forge a Fourteenth Abyss Layer. The undertaking failed, leaving the Shattered Starry Sky and the surviving core that became the microcosm where Baal was born 704.

The Abyss’s confinement is tied to unresolved events surrounding the vanished Destruction Devil Master and a seal imposed by the Universe 675. The later rise of new Demon Gods and the disruption of the Abyss’s sealed portals precede the Dark Will’s emergence. Under her command, all thirteen Abyssal layers break through the seal and move across the Universe toward the Death Nebula, consuming stars and cosmic energy along the way 721 726 833.

Environment

The Abyss lacks sunlight, moonlight, starlight, civilization, reliable food, and stable order. Its dim skies are covered by black vaporous clouds, colored lightning, rain, mist, and continual thunder 1.

• Soil, rocks, plants, and demons may emit their own light; Abyssal creatures also possess vision suited to the haze 1.
• Vegetation survives by absorbing ubiquitous Abyssal Aura rather than sunlight. Living Abyss Trees have bark strong enough that even First- or Second-Tier demons may struggle to pierce it 1.
• The usual weather cycle is described as three years of drought followed by a week-long rainy season, with occasional prolonged cold periods 4.
• The realm is so vast that even enormous populations of Abyssal Species may be separated by more than a thousand li 11.
• The Land of Death resurfaces roughly every five hundred years, releasing lava, fire, and destructive waves that uproot nearby settlements while exposing metals, gemstones, and naturally formed rune stones 49.

Layers and Secluded Realms

A later revelation distinguishes the True Abyss, seen as shattered continents and a vast nebula populated by demons, from Baal’s familiar forested world. The latter is a secluded pocket realm merely tainted by Abyssal influence and possesses a comparatively weak will. Powerful demons can carve out such realms to avoid the Abyssal Will’s scrutiny 193.

• The First Layer, or Elemental Prison, contains nine ancient great prisons—Central, Darkness, Thunder, Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Wood, and Metal—and numerous smaller prisons. Some regions have their own wills; the Light Prison excludes Abyssal Aura, while the Soul Prison can turn intruders into puppets 306 620.
• The Second Layer is a land world, while the Third Layer is an ocean world centered on the continent called the Heart of the Ocean 643.
• The Fifth Layer, called the Abyssal Realm, contains exceptionally dense Dark Aura. Even a weak demon living there for years can naturally reach the Third Level 649 650.
• The Sixth Layer, the Endless Abyss, lies beyond a barrier guarded by the Demon of Binding, a being formed from Abyssal Aura and rules 650.
• Bloodstar is an Abyssal river linking thirteen layers. Passage without accurate coordinates is perilous, even for powerful demons 274.
• Abyssal Gates between layers lie deep in the void and open infrequently. Space-Time Arrays offer another means of travel, while sufficiently powerful demons can force their way through a gate 642.

Abyssal Will and Cosmic Order

The Abyssal Will is the plane will associated with the Abyss and is subordinate to the broader Great Cosmic Will, which encompasses the wills of countless planes 6. It is initially described as an emotionless collection of rules rather than a conscious being, but later events challenge that account: its manifestations show anger, excitement, apparent fear, and deliberate intervention. Its complete nature remains uncertain 6 208 718 721.

• Abyssal Aura carries corruptive impulses such as slaughter, brutality, fear, and bloodlust. Creatures from other planes can be corrupted into Abyssal creatures and rejected by their original worlds 10.
• The Abyssal Will is connected to a demon’s advancement and Abyss Star, but the Great Cosmic Will shapes a newly advanced Level One demon’s unique essence core and innate talent according to its soul, memories, and energy 6.
• A fragment of the Abyssal Heavenly Dao attempted to enter Baal’s Sea of Consciousness during his breakthrough. The Abyss System trapped the fragment, and Baal ultimately devoured it, forming an independent Abyss Star not bound by the Heavenly Dao 19 20 22.
• The Abyss Star can contain complex laws and support a demon’s evolution. Destroying a demon’s heart and Abyss Star can halt even extreme regeneration 22 44.
• Sacrifices of souls, blood, and flesh can bring rewards from the Abyss. Its Aura can also taint another plane and draw part of that plane’s Heavenly Dao into subordination to the Abyssal Will 229 233 240 498.
• The wills of the Nine Great Hells and smaller prisons are described as children of the Abyssal Will, as is Purgatory, which was born in the Abyss 620.
• A powerful manifestation within the Shattered Starry Sky’s nebula can threaten the surrounding realm. Its connection to the Abyssal Will is evident, though observers remain unsure whether it is the Will’s entirety 718 719 721.
• A pale, womanlike arm emerges through a scarlet portal during a confrontation with Abaddon. A later woman associated with the Abyssal Will is linked to a four-fingered hand and a missing fragment, but the precise relationship between these manifestations and the Will remains a subject of revelation and dispute 628 722 805.
• Lucifer identifies a Dark Land concealed within the Abyss as the source of the Abyssal Will. He calls the woman released from it the Dark Will and says that her purpose is to destroy the Abyss 833.

Power Progression

Inhabitants and Hierarchy

Abyssal creatures are exceptionally long-lived. In the absence of external death, living for several thousand years is considered normal, and old age is effectively unknown within the Abyss 4.

Bloodline strongly affects a demon’s prospects, especially among First- and Second-Level demons, though it is not absolute. Legends such as Lilith Selvia, an ordinary Succubus who rose to become the Lord of Temptation, are cited as exceptions 35. Lilith’s later-known status as a Devil Master made her rise an inspiration to other ordinary demons 724.

Evolution and Advancement

Abyssal Species commonly evolve through slaughter, battle, absorption of Abyssal Aura, and consumption of other creatures’ essences. This process can produce innate abilities based on the uniqueness of the evolving soul 5 6.

• Every Abyssal Species possesses an essence, an energy store connected to advancement and the engraving of its true name 6.
• At Level One, a demon may gain a unique essence core and innate ability shaped by its soul and memories 6.
• Demon evolution can proceed through Physical, Elemental, or Spiritual Evolution; dual-path evolution is considered rare 17 42.
• Spirit Runes gradually cover a demon’s scales as it advances. The System estimates that ordinary training would take 129 years for Baal to complete this process toward the Second Level 49.
• Abyss Stars may grant abilities such as regeneration, transformation, or other evolved powers 14 44.
• Abyss Stars can multiply during advancement. The fusion of six stars into one marked Mephisto’s approach to the Third Level; completing their transformation into a law Rune would make him a true Third-Level Demon 240 271.
• Newly advanced Legendary-level demons may enter a dangerous feeding phase, instinctively consuming nearby energy and laws. Baal’s bodily breakthrough drove back surrounding rules and temporarily prompted the Abyssal Will to withdraw, though his soul and internal domain were not yet complete 641.

Society and Territory

Strength governs Abyssal society. Weak creatures often surrender their true names to stronger demons in exchange for protection, accepting servitude as preferable to likely death 36.

• A demon’s true name is deeply connected to its essence and carries immense power; revealing it is dangerous 6 18.
• Demons mark territories with their aura. Trespassing on another demon’s territory can result in a fight to the death 27.
• Powerful social races, including Succubi and Abyssal Fairies, maintain communities protected by their own demons or by stronger patrons 12.
• Small tribes risk annexation by stronger groups; annexed Abyssal Species may become slaves or hunting fodder 48.
• Metal functions as a particularly valuable form of hard currency due to its scarcity 31.
• Major factions include the Dark Council, Demon Valley, Bloodied Nest, and the forces of Destruction, Ruin, and Time and Space 621.
• Abyss Coins later circulate outside the Magic Network and can be exchanged for its Contribution Points, allowing even unaffiliated demons to purchase access to knowledge at designated locations 662.

Trading Markets

Abyssal trading districts are jointly maintained by powerful demons and major races. They provide relatively safe barter zones despite the broader realm’s brutality 36.

• Common trade goods include food, water, hides, ores, plants, weapons, magical items, essences, and living creatures 36 41.
• Markets forbid random slaughter, though fraud, disguises, counterfeit goods, and predatory schemes remain common 40 41.
• The northern forest market is defended by thorny Abyssal Vines collectively controlled by Abyssal Fairies 40.
• Rune stones are valued for their potential power; rare Natural Rune Stones are said to possess world-shaking might 42.

Relations to Other Planes

• Sunlight Planes — Every demon possesses an instinctive longing for sunlight and beautiful things associated with these worlds. Demon Lords historically invaded them to obtain what the Abyss lacks 1 41.
• Great Cosmic Will — The greater cosmic order that grants unique essence cores and evolutionary talents to Level One Abyssal Species. The Dark Will later moves the entire Abyss through the Universe’s barriers despite the Great Cosmic Will’s opposition 6 833.
• Other plane-born creatures — Exposure to Abyssal Aura can corrupt outsiders and transform them into Abyssal creatures, severing their acceptance by their home planes 10.
• Divine Realm — A rival great realm whose emergence ended the Abyss’s unchecked ancient expansion and established a struggle between light and darkness 721.
• Light Abyss — Tyrael states that it holds an Abyssal Will of light once joined with the dark Abyss’s Will. He describes angels and demons as related beings born of these different powers 787.
• Purgatory — Born in the Abyss and regarded as a child of its Will, Purgatory grows through the Magic Network’s absorption of worlds, beings, and laws toward becoming a world comparable in scale to the Abyss 620 827.

---