Hollow Zero/Lore

Overview

According to the Hollow Investigative Association's database, all major Hollows discovered in New Eridu are derived from Hollow Zero's Companion Hollows.^[1] Eliminating Ethereals within Hollow Zero suppresses the activity of Companion Hollows.^[2] Therefore, to prevent a recurrence of the old capital tragedy, or perhaps for other undisclosed reasons,^[3] the authorities of New Eridu regularly send members of the Defense Force, the White Star Institute, the HIA, and H.A.N.D. to investigate and suppress Ether activity within Hollow Zero, keeping its levels in check. Scott Outpost is the center of all Hollow Zero-related research and suppression activity.

Hollow Zero is the home of powerful Ethereal entities known as Ethereal Swarms: Symbiotic Ethereal Swarm - Code Name: Nineveh, and Parasitic Ethereal Swarm - Code Name: Geppetto, the activity of which is deeply tied to the danger status of Hollow Zero. The nature of these creatures is a conundrum the White Star Institute is currently researching, especially Ray Yersin, research director at Scott Outpost. A mysterious supervisor of hers has suggested that "powerful corrupted entities" such as Nineveh and Geppetto "might not be just an act of nature, but rather something created by people," before granting Ray extended clearance in exchange for stopping her and Phaethon's pursuit of Geppetto.^[4] It has thus been implied that Ethereal Swarms might be a product of a human experiment or hidden schemes.^[5]

History

Hollow Zero is the oldest, most impactful, and most hazardous Hollow in all of New Eridu.^[1] Its expansion was responsible for the destruction of the city of Eridu eleven years prior to the start of the game. Despite the best efforts of its inhabitants, the Hollow expanded relentlessly, engulfing the city and those unable to escape. Though the reason for Hollow Zero's expansion is unknown, Carole Arna, a senior research director of the Helios Academy, has been officially identified as the main culprit, with her name and others involved etched on the pillar of shame.^[6] Some people, such as Phaethon and the Obol Squad, believe Carole Arna was innocent and are working to uncover the real truth about what happened.^[7]

In a desperate effort to control Hollow Zero, Eridu's leaders detonated fourteen Shiyu Pillars in its path, from the southwest to the northeast. The explosion annihilated any form of matter the Hollow could have fed off of to further expand, creating the Chasm, a massive ravine. This extreme act stopped the disaster and allowed the city to rebuild itself as New Eridu. A memorial was built beside The Chasm to honor the victims of the catastrophe.^[6]

In an unspecified moment of history, Professor Arche entered Hollow Zero to investigate it, never to return.^[8]

References