What is Ethereal? Speculative Analysis of ZZZ Ethereal!

As June approaches, we are about to usher in Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.0 and its second season storyline. However, I believe many Proxies still lack understanding or even struggle to identify Ethereal. So what exactly are these creatures? Let's revisit our speculative analysis to better comprehend Ethereal, a unique lifeform in the world of Zenless Zone Zero!

1. Characteristics and Traits of Ethereal in Zenless Zone Zero

Ethereal bodies are typically composed of black/white inert Ether substances and red/green active Ether substances, sometimes mixed with environmental debris. Ionized Ethereal are unique, with bodies primarily made of deep blue translucent Ether material, featuring core-connected vascular structures that serve as functional channels. Corrupted Ethereal originating from machinery often retain mechanical components, with their cores embedded internally, making visual identification difficult.

The core is the most Ether-active region of an Ethereal, usually appearing as a black sphere emitting Ether-colored luminescence. Serving as the "heart," it continuously produces active Ether substances while converting Ether energy into operational power. High-risk Ethereal may create pseudo-cores matching core concentration to deceive enemies or supply energy for massive bodies. Cores perpetually release active-phase substances, elevating Ether activity in their vicinity. During combat, core activity intensifies, accelerating active-phase substance production and further increasing environmental Ether activity. Destroying an Ethereal's body impedes movement, while destroying its core results in permanent termination.

Ethereal exhibit species differentiation. Members of the same species (e.g., Tyrfing, Blastcrawler) share nearly identical morphologies. Remarkably, diverse organisms corrupted under different Hollow and Ether conditions can transform into identical Ethereal species, even replicating identical Ether utilization and combat patterns. This suggests corruption processes are directionally predetermined.

Corruption of living organisms within Hollows follows specific patterns, unlike the chaotic erosion of non-living matter. These patterns are influenced by Ether substance types-for instance, Melinoe Hollow's flare crystals corrode inorganic materials faster than organic matter.

2. Where Ethereals come from in Zenless Zone Zero?

Ethereal typically originate from the corruption of intelligent lifeforms and smart machinery. The definition of susceptible lifeforms appears broad-dogs, bees, and spiders can all be corrupted into Ethereal. These entities retain pre-corruption behavioral traits. A critical requirement for Ethereal formation is the survival of the host: corruption halts if the lifeform dies before core formation or if machinery shuts down.

From the main quest "Bury Your Tears With the Past", we learn corruption's essence: "the interaction between internal and external Ether particles within a body." Death disrupts this interaction because Ethereal transformation involves both external Ether field influence and internal Ether environment restructuring. Biological death terminates this internal Ether environment.

Corruption symptoms suggest it isn't purely harmful. Affected individuals gain enhanced strength and Ether sensitivity. Severely corrupted individuals describe Hollow Ether environments as "soothing like hot springs" rather than agitating-likely mirroring Ethereal perceptions.

For smart machinery, corruption may trigger consciousness awakening: Friday, Hans, and Greta's logs document post-corruption behavioral shifts, but full Ethereal transformation remains rare. Only a handful of machinery-originated Ethereal have been observed.

Individuals with Ether-Adaptive Physique require extended time for full transformation-even after core formation and complete bodily corruption. Those exhibiting partial Ethereal traits are classified as Corrupted. These entities, already highly aggressive toward surrounding lifeforms, inevitably become full Ethereal within hours.

The strength of Ethereal formed through corruption is influenced by multiple factors. While most Corrupted originate from intelligent lifeforms, does this mean all Ethereal derive from such sources? Not necessarily. Discussions within the Investigation Association reveal a special category: Living Ether.

My hypothesis: The most typical example of Living Ether is Ionized Ethereal. Both their morphology and structure differ significantly from common Ethereal. Living Ether likely forms through direct Ether material accumulation-where dense Ether clusters create core-like structures that continuously generate Ether. For unknown reasons, these entities develop self-awareness similar to standard Ethereal.

This unique formation process grants Ionized Ethereal unpredictable abilities. The prime example is Doppelganger, whose mimicry skills perfectly replicate targets' appearances and combat techniques-though its maximum combat potency appears capped at 87% of the original's strength.

3. Connection Between Ethereal, Ether, and Hollows in Zenless Zone Zero

While Ethereal cannot exist outside Hollows, partial fragments of their bodies can temporarily leave. For example, Pai Pai once transported Ethereal outside via containment vehicles. However, two irreversible factors determine their fate: Ether cannot be synthesized beyond Hollows, depriving Ethereal of energy and physical sustenance-exiled Ethereal degrade into inert Ether matter. Additionally, Active Ether substances (the core components of Ethereal) are absorbed by spatial rifts at Hollow boundaries. Since cores composed of Active Ether cannot exit, Ethereal inevitably perish when separated from Hollows.

Even within Hollows, Ethereal face operational constraints. The strength of their cores is intrinsically tied to ambient Ether activity. High concentrations of reactive Ether foster powerful Ethereal (e.g., Sacrifice variants), which in turn amplify local Ether levels. This interdependence means Ether depletion weakens Ethereal, creating a cyclical relationship where Ethereal both produce and consume Ether.

Mechanically, spatial rifts function as Ether transporters, while Ethereal act as Ether generators. Cores serve dual roles: they concentrate and produce Ether. The production rate of a core directly dictates a Hollow's scale and vitality. For Ethereal themselves, core efficiency in generating/storing Active Ether determines their combat potency.

The Hollow Investigative Association classifies Ethereal into ten tiers using heavy metal element symbols. The illogical progression (e.g., Hg→Pb→U) suggests criteria like Ether Reactivity Index rather than atomic properties. Current in-game texts only imply classifications without explicit tier labels, leaving much to speculation.

4. "Biological Traits" of Ethereal in Zenless Zone Zero

Ethereal possess a degree of intelligence, primarily manifested through aggression and territorial instincts toward non-corrupted entities. Without humanoid organs, how do they perceive beings and objects within Hollows? I hypothesize their environmental awareness functions similarly to Proxy Triggers: detecting Ether particle concentrations and fluctuations. Some Ethereal, however, may rely on ground vibrations to locate lifeforms.

Nineveh and Geppetto reveal another trait: mutualistic symbiosis. Nineveh's immense power should restrict it to high Ether-activity zones, yet we first encountered it at the periphery of Zero Hollow. This anomaly suggests the surrounding Hornet swarm artificially elevated local Ether levels, nullifying environmental constraints.

Geppetto employs advanced Ethereal to pave paths into low-Ether zones, albeit less efficiently. Its true intellect manifests in tactical command: Ethereal within its territory act like puppets, executing ambushes and feints-anomalous intelligence for standard Ethereal. Archives indicate Geppetto itself doesn't comprehend this ability, possibly originating from White Star Institute's experiments. Current research yields Rare Relic-artifacts crafted from elite Ethereal samples that function like Resonium, granting Hollow exploration buffs.

Controlling Ethereal could potentially curb Hollow expansions, preventing disasters like the Old Capital Collapse. Perhaps one day, we'll witness apex Ethereal battling each other under human direction.

5. Difference Between Ethereal and Sacrifice in Zenless Zone Zero

The fundamental distinction between Ethereal and Sacrifice lies in their origin mechanisms. While both emerge from Sacrificial Serum injections that trigger rapid Ether particle activation, critical differences manifest in operational autonomy and consciousness retention.

Sacrifice defy Hollow confinement by utilizing ultra-dense inert Ether cores that convert to active states for external energy supply-a paradoxical mechanism mirrored in Miyabi's anti-Ethereal blade "Tailless". During Bringer's transformation, localized Ether activity surged, funneling energy into core formation. Crucially, Sacrifice retain uneroded human DNA and partial consciousness, enabling tactical behaviors like tactical retreats and environmental exploitation-traits absent in Ethereal's relentless aggression.

Sacrifice cores amplify internal Ether to critical thresholds autonomously, bypassing external Ether interactions. This self-sustaining process determines serum success rates and contrasts sharply with Ethereal formation through external Ether corrosion that fundamentally alters biological composition. Thus, Ethereal represent external environmental erosion, while Sacrifice embody internalized Ether modification preserving baseline organic frameworks despite extensive Ether conversion.

6. Methods to Eliminate Ethereal in Zenless Zone Zero

In present-day New Eridu, Ethereal have become symbolic manifestations of Hollow dangers. Eliminating Ethereal remains the primary-if not sole-method of Hollow mitigation, with physical destruction still being the most efficient approach. However, if we could someday manipulate the Ether substances most critical to Ethereal within Hollows, we might achieve mass weakening of all Ethereal-even targeted suppression or eradication of specific Hollow types.

To use an analogy: If Ethereal are fish in water, draining the water would cripple their survival. Yet New Eridu still hasn't solved the challenge of converting Active Ether substances into inert Ether substances.

This concludes the foundational worldview elements of Zenless Zone Zero's first season-Ether, Hollows, and Ethereal. Though many mysteries remain, the first season provided limited information as the game's universe begins unfolding. The second season's journey to Waifei Peninsula promises deeper lore exploration and encounters with new factions.

With this comprehensive overview of Ethereal, I trust all Proxies now possess enriched context for the narrative. Stay tuned for future articles and merchandise delving further into Zenless Zone Zero's expanding universe!