Black Abyss

The Abyss is an afterlife and black realm in the multiverse possibly associated with hell.

Background
Death fascinates men the world round, and there are as many philosophies about what comes after this life as there are, it seems, lives which end. The Abyss is a dark realm, where evil is banished in Daventry's legends.

Having received advice from the frozen Archons, Connor banished Lucreto into the black Abyss. With Lucreto defeated, the vortex closed behind him vanquishing him forever. It is said to look into the eyes of Charon is to look into the Abyss. It only unclouded enough for Lucreto to speak to Conner through the mirror, before going completely dark.

During the cataclysm, the Magic Mirror was also darkened only showing swirling vortex similar to that seen in the portal to the Abyss.

Being a realm of dark and shadow, this may be the home of the Efreeti who are a race said to live in another plane of existence.

Perhaps this land is also ruled by the Lord of Darkness (if it is not a title for another lord such as Azriel).

Very little is known about the geography of this realm, all that has been seen is a swirling pink and black vortex entering into the realm.

Behind the scenes
In biblical literature, abyss refers to a bottomless pit, to the underworld, to the deepest ocean floor, or to hell.

The Abyss is first mentioned in the KQ6 Hintbook, but appears in KQ8.

According to the debug console after the mask is restored the 'vortex' behind the alter leads to the Abyss. Thus Conner sends Lucreto to the Abyss. The archons also give Connor the clue that only the black Abyss can vanquish Lucreto.

It is possible for Conner to sucked into Abyss vortex... This leads to one of the game's more original deaths, and somewhat of an alternate 'ending cutscene', as Conner screams as he rotates within the vortex, sucked ever deeper into the black hole. It takes strong magic to either kill or banish the efreeti back to their realm.

In an early version of KQ8 a place known as 'the dark abyss'' would have apparently been one of the lands visited in the game (though its relevance is unknown).

The Abyss seems to have similarities to the Phantom Zone in Superman mythology.

The vortex somewhat resembles the pink vortex leading from Daventry to the Realm of the Sun in KQ7. Rosella is grabbed by False Troll King, who pulls her through the side of the vortex through his magic mirror.