  In this work we study interesting corners of the quantum gravity landscape
with 8 supercharges pushing the boundaries of our current understanding.
Calabi-Yau threefolds compactifications of F/M/type II theories to 6, 5 and 4
dimensions are the most prominent examples of this class, and these always lead
to a universal hypermultiplet coming from the volume/string coupling constant.
We find that there are asymmetric orbifold constructions which have no
hypermultiplets in 4 or 5 dimensions and no neutral hypers in 6d. We argue that
these theories can also be obtained by going to strong coupling/small volume
regions of geometric constructions where a new Coulomb branch opens up and
moving in this direction freezes the volume/string coupling constant.
Interestingly we find that the Kodaira condition encountered in geometric
limits of F-theory compactifications to 6 dimensions is violated in these
corners of the landscape due to strong quantum corrections. We also construct a
theory in 3 dimensions which if it were to arise by toroidal compactifications
from 5d, it would have to come from pure ${\mathcal N}=1$ supergravity with no
massless scalar fields.
