Zenless Zone Zero Lore: What Is Hollow Zero and Why Does It Matter?
In Zenless Zone Zero, Hollow Zero stands as the primordial source of countless Hollows and the catalyst for the Fall of Old Eridu, shaping the entire world of New Eridu through its apocalyptic power. As the oldest, largest, and most hazardous Hollow ever recorded, Hollow Zero’s relentless growth engulfed the ancient capital, forcing survivors to carve out a new bastion beyond its reach.
The ongoing mystery surrounding its origin, tied by some to the controversial experiments of Professor Carole Arna, fuels both scholarly research at Scott Outpost and covert investigations by factions like the H.A.N.D. and the Hollow Investigative Association. Understanding Hollow Zero is crucial not only for contextualizing the game’s narrative stakes but also for appreciating why Proxies and Agents risk everything to venture into its depths.
What Is Hollow Zero?
Hollow Zero is the codename assigned to the original spherical dimension, known as a Hollow, that first appeared and devastated Old Eridu approximately ten years before the player’s arrival. Unlike typical Hollows, which manifest sporadically and remain isolated, Hollow Zero spawned numerous Companion Hollows, each linked to its etheric core and fueling widespread Ethereal outbreaks. Within its ever-shifting interior, powerful entities called Ethereal Swarms, notably “Nineveh” (Symbiotic Swarm) and “Geppetto” (Parasitic Swarm), pose existential threats whenever their activity spikes.
The Hollow Phenomenon
Hollows are apocalyptic-level anomalies: spherical pocket dimensions that abruptly materialize and consume all matter in their path, converting surroundings into hazardous, disordered spaces populated by Ethereals. These Hollows continuously expand unless actively suppressed, making them a persistent threat to New Eridu’s fragile stability.
Origins and History
The precise cause of Hollow Zero’s emergence remains shrouded in secrecy, but official records implicate Carole Arna, a senior researcher of the Helios Academy, in experimental ether studies that may have catalyzed the disaster. In a desperate attempt to halt Hollow Zero’s expansion, Eridu’s leaders deployed fourteen Shiyu Pillars, chain-reactive ether detonators, along its projected path, creating the vast ravine known as The Chasm. While this extreme measure successfully contained the Hollow and allowed the rebirth of New Eridu, the event remains a somber memorial to the fallen city and a cautionary tale of tampering with etheric forces.
The Aftermath
After the catastrophe, survivors established Scott Outpost as the research hub dedicated to studying Hollow Zero’s lingering etheric anomalies and coordinating suppression missions by New Eridu’s Defense Force, White Star Institute, Hollow Investigative Association, and H.A.N.D. agents. Despite these efforts, occasional surges within Hollow Zero still threaten to trigger synchronized activations in Companion Hollows, making ongoing vigilance imperative.
Why Hollow Zero Matters
Narratively, Hollow Zero serves as the epicenter of the game’s mystery and the ultimate challenge for Proxies like Phaethon to uncover the truth behind the Old Capital’s downfall and Carole Arna’s alleged culpability. Mechanically, its Companion Hollows unlock high-end content and rare Ether rewards, incentivizing players to master Hollow suppression and navigation tactics. Strategically, understanding Hollow Zero’s behavior informs citywide defense protocols and resource allocation, as New Eridu relies on extracted Ether for energy and technological advancements.
