ZZZ Starlight-Billy Kid: Don't Forget Knight Dream! Details Behind Billy Kid

The protagonist of today's article is quite special! Ignite your heroic soul, fellow adventurers who steadfastly await the knight dream—brace yourselves! Let's take a look together at our day-one friend Billy, and catch a glimpse of his new form, Starlight - Billy Kid, upgraded by emptying Nicole's wallet.

1. Historical Prototype & Identity Comparison

That wild, dashing figure — though Billy's super cool transformed form got shown up by the new form from Phaethon's first-ever transformation, it doesn't take away from how cool he still is.

First, let's do the obvious comparison: put this side-by-side with our classic Billy. Just what exactly is different about this "self-funded by Nicole, straight-out-of-her own wallet" custom upgrade? The original design proportions are rooted in the full name Billy Kid , inspired by the famous American Wild West outlaw — Billy the Kid . Historically, Billy the Kid was a dead-accurate quick-draw gunman and former outlaw, but in folk legend he's always been painted as the kind of guy who steals from the rich to help the poor — a people's hero.

This morally ambiguous image closely aligns with Billy's past in the game. Billy the Kid has legends of faking his death, and similarly, Billy in the game left the Outer Ring after the Sons of Calydon disbanded, hiding his identity and starting a new life in New Eridu. This narrative of death and rebirth is a shared theme between the two. The original Billy prominently featured Western cowboy traits, perfectly blending into the streetwise vibe of Cunning Hares as a young man.

Only the Sons of Calydon emblem on his back hints at the secrets of his past. If Billy Kid represents his current social identity — an externalized social image — then Starlight - Billy Kid embodies the ideal version of himself in his heart. Of course, it's not quite the complete ideal yet, since the real-world budget ran out.

Stars symbolize hope, light, and guidance, while chivalry represents justice, courage, and protection. Starlight - Billy Kid combines the two, becoming a star-like beacon of hope and a knight with a mission to protect. Compared to his original form, and unlike Anby reclaiming her past appearance, Billy's overall changes are relatively limited, mostly revolving around detailed modifications.

2. Design Detail Changes

The Intelligent Constructs body itself hasn't changed much — just the original belt replaced with a standard belt commonly seen in transformation shows. His own physique has shifted from casual streetwear pants and sneakers to a wilder style with exposed mechanical parts. The leg-foot integration further highlights the uniqueness of his bodily construction.

The biggest overall change comes from swapping his original red jacket for a gray motorcycle vest with a silver fur collar — naturally more fitting for the Outer Ring's style. The iron chain wrapped around his left hand and the spike ring on his wrist both showcase rugged beauty. Then there's the tattered, flowing red scarf — in Lighter's words, this likely dates back to Billy's Sons of Calydon days, making it the most emotionally valuable piece in the entire outfit: it records the past while witnessing the future. Naturally, the red scarf is also one of the most iconic heroic design elements in the "Kamen Rider" series.

One arm is wrapped with chains. Following the tradition of asymmetry, the other arm is an exposed white mechanical hand, with a foldable hand cannon specially installed — this feels more like a part from the "Gundam" series. From the story we know that having only one arm is actually because most of the budget went into the cool motorcycle.

There is also a subtle change: two thin antennae extend from Billy's eyes. Naturally, this comes from the design of "Kamen Rider" horns.

Overall, compared to his original form, Starlight - Billy Kid places greater emphasis on his exposed, ambitious aesthetic. The striking red of his original jacket has transformed into a tattered scarf with deeper emotional value, scattered across his body as accents. Overall, the upper body features many accessories, making the head and shoulders appear broad while the body remains slim. Meanwhile, the elongated legs balance out any potential disproportion from the upper body, giving him a dashing and heroic silhouette. While retaining the original details of Billy, this new form grants him a fresh way to present himself.

3. Transformation & Homages

The thrilling big transformation! In the story, Billy performs an exciting transformation sequence against a swarm of enemies. Both the storyboarding and atmosphere are cranked up to the max. It's packed with references:

Double-tapping the chest button to transform calls to mind Tony Stark activating the Mark 50. The transformation incantation is borrowed from the chant in "Slayers," a series widely referenced in anime. The following line "Rejoice!" is a familiar celebration speech from Woz, instantly recognizable to tokusatsu fans.

The motorcycle, bought with the budget saved from not modifying one arm, is not only a stylish staple for any knight but also serves as a handy weapon. This immediately brings to mind the unstoppable Dante and his motorcycle!

Finally, there's Billy's incredibly cool "Rider Kick." This classic move recreation is something everyone can recognize. However, what caught my attention was the slow-motion shot of Starlight - Billy Kid inserting a chip-like block into his belt. This action style strongly resembles the signature feature of "Armor Hero" — that slap really hits with style. Although Billy fell under the Proxy's overwhelming presence in the story, don't worry. As a knight, Billy will surely have a dark evolution or a final limited form down the road.

"Starlight Knight," as a fictional work with a strong presence since the very beginning of Zenless Zone Zero, is inseparable from Billy's life. And this is what I find most compelling about Billy's design: a passionate young man who has always looked up to his hero, carrying a beautiful dream of continuously advancing toward that ideal. That's already classic and exciting. And layered onto Billy is another cycle of reincarnation.

After the Version 2.8 update, an NPC next to the Starlight Knight standee at the Gravity Cinema mentioned: Among Starlight Knight fans, there is a competition called "Knight Cup" that only uses Beginner Knights. And Billy fans from bilibili, a website known as the Chinese YouTube, organized the "Billy Cup" competition. Coincidentally, both the Knight Cup and the Billy Cup have run up to the fifth season.

Later, a fan in the game mentioned that the director talked about the very first Starlight Knight among the Starlight Knights — the Beginner Knight. The Beginner Knight's creative prototype was an Intelligent Construct from the Outer Ring, with white hair, golden eyes, a black coat, a red scarf, kind and brave, taciturn, and resolute. That's right, it was Billy himself back when he was in the Outer Ring. Completing the dialogue rewards the achievement "Star." And the idol Billy admires turns out to be his former self. Who knows — if Billy ever learns the truth, might that be the moment his final form is born?

No more rambling — time to ride the bike! That's all for this article. May you get double golds in a 10-pull and a single gold on a single pull. Never forget the knight dream. See you in the next article!