{Chapter: 134: Mi Ling World}
Inside a Lavish Hotel Within the City
Within the heart of the sprawling abyssal city, surrounded by spiraling black towers, sulfuric mist, and flickering soul lanterns, a towering building stood out among the rest. Crafted from a combination of obsidian and volcanic crystal, it pulsed faintly with infernal energy. Its entrance was adorned with golden chains and etched runes of warding and excess. This was one of the most luxurious establishments in the district—a hotel that only the truly powerful or dangerously foolish dared to enter.
Dex, now flush with coin and confidence, did not bother searching for a cave, ruin, or abandoned watchtower to rest in like he had done in the past. Those were accommodations for desperate wanderers and low-tier demons barely clinging to existence. He was beyond that now.
He had money. He had strength. He had respect.
And in the Abyss, respect came at a price—paid in either blood or black silver.
This time, Dex chose to lodge himself like a true noble of the underworld.
After a brief conversation with a receptionist wearing a blood-silk veil and adorned in bones, he was escorted by a hunched imp servant through a corridor that shifted and elongated as they walked, a sign of the ever-changing architecture of this dimensional structure. The hotel was enchanted with planar magics that created extra space between walls, allowing for rooms to be far larger than what their outer façade suggested.
His room, upon entrance, radiated wealth and power. A semi-transparent ceiling made of soulglass revealed the swirling, stormy skies of the Abyss above. Massive braziers of pale blue hellfire lined the walls, casting eerie shadows across the black marble floor. The bed alone was the size of a small ship and stuffed with feathers from long-extinct creatures.
Every piece of furniture was carved from rare minerals. The bedposts glistened with onyx and the side tables were veined with golden rock—a rare material Dex had read about just moments ago.
The walls were thick with runes of protection and soundproofing. Even if a battle broke out next door, he wouldn't hear it, nor would his rest be disturbed. It was the perfect refuge.
These hotels weren't just places of rest. They were empires in miniature, run by powerful factions who ensured total privacy, a full range of luxury services, and a strong deterrent against uninvited guests. Everything was permitted—so long as the guest could pay.
Need a hundred souls distilled into vintage wine? Done.
Want to gamble on gladiatorial fights between angels and abominations? Just sign the waiver.
Desire carnal company from succubi, elementals, or something a little more exotic? A menu could be provided within minutes.
Dex, however, wanted none of that tonight. He simply wanted peace. His mind itched with curiosity after purchasing the orb of knowledge from the shopkeeper earlier. He retrieved the glowing sphere and sat cross-legged on the bed, letting the dim light of the room wrap around him like a comforting mist.
With a deep breath, he placed the sphere to his forehead.
The orb pulsed once—and information poured into his mind like a flood bursting through a cracked dam.
---
Information Log: Mi Ling World
> Coordinates discovered: 127 years ago by the Abyssal Scouts of the Burning Chain.
> One year after discovery, Lord Carto—the Fire Demon and Warlord of the Lava Wastelands—initiated a large-scale invasion against the Mi Ling World.
Environmental Structure:
A unique planar composition. Not spherical, but rather suspended within a closed crystalline shell. Flat ocean expanses dominate the world's geography. In the center lies a massive continental landmass, while thousands of islands float around the perimeter like scattered embers from a great flame.
Primary Races:
Dragons (Ancient, Territorial, Feared)
Dwarves (Skilled craftsmen, reclusive)
Humans (Numerous, adaptive, politically fragmented)
Elves (Magically gifted, prideful)
Orcs (Tribal and aggressive, scattered across plains and mountains)
Dominant Powers:
Divinity: Gods hold sway over both mortals and nature.
Cultivation Systems: Magic, spiritual power, fighting spirit. Each race favors one or more.
Technological Progress: Low to moderate. No widespread machinery. Magic fills the role of industry and warfare.
Rare Resources:
Golden Rock: A mystic ore imbued with solar resonance, capable of amplifying divine or abyssal energy.
Undiscovered plant matter with potentially alchemical properties. Further research needed.
Historical Records:
Spanning millions of years. The presence of gods has been consistent, with mortal champions occasionally rising to defy them—usually ending in tragedy or apotheosis.
---
Dex opened his eyes. The light of the orb had faded, crumbling into shimmering dust that drifted downward before vanishing.
Without a word, he flicked the remaining shell between his fingers and crushed it. The fragments dissolved like mist.
"Hmm… So, a classic magic world ruled by gods, crawling with dragons and races that think themselves clever," Dex murmured, leaning back against the cushioned headrest.
His glowing eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
The information was detailed, factual—almost too clean. It had the polished sterility of a third-party observer: someone powerful enough to scout but uninterested in tampering.
But Dex wasn't naïve. In the Abyss, truth was a relative concept.
Even with the vendor swearing by the Will of the Abyss, it could have been half-lies wrapped in well-structured statements. Every demon, especially those in the intelligence trade, had a tongue sharper than any sword and layered their words with meanings that twisted the mind.
Even the truth, when delivered at the wrong angle, could become a weapon.
Still, he was satisfied.
This world—Mi Ling—felt different from many of the chaotic, industrialized, interdimensional worlds he had passed through in recent years. There were no alien parasites wielding laser rifles or cosmic horrors slipping through science-made portals.
This was something else.
It was… fantastical.
He could almost imagine himself walking through enchanted forests or fighting atop floating ruins while golden-armored beings rained down from the skies.
Yes. This was a stage worthy of a demon like him.
"True dragons… gods… elves…" Dex repeated aloud, a slow smirk stretching across his face. "Sounds like the perfect place to build my legend."
He imagined it: burning cathedrals of false gods, dragon bones scattered across mountain paths, elf kingdoms brought low in silence.
Then his voice dropped into a whisper, almost tender in its excitement:
"I wonder if I can find a chance to kill a few gods to test my skills..."
The thought was as intoxicating as the richest abyssal wine. He licked his lips, eyes burning with anticipation.
There were so many things to plan. So many possibilities.
Whether in his previous life or his current existence as a demon, Dex had never once felt reverence toward the so-called gods.
He didn't fear them. He didn't worship them. Not then. Not now. At best, the gods were amusing curiosities—powerful entities whose influence swayed mortals, but who were still bound by rules, weaknesses, and desires. The awe others held for them was something he found baffling, almost pitiable. Statues, temples, hymns... none of it impressed him.
No matter how pious their followers were—kneeling in reverence, burning incense, spilling blood—Dex only ever saw them for what they truly were: apex predators on the food chain of existence. Not divine. Just dominant.
*****
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