Alice Thymefield | Zenless Zone Zero

In the wake of a localized apocalypse that consumed modern civilization, the world exists in a precarious balance between total annihilation and technological rebirth. The surface of the planet has been largely swallowed by Hollows, abnormal spatial dimensions that appear without warning, devouring everything in their path.

The Hollow Phenomenon and Ether

The world is defined by the existence of Hollows—spherical, chaotic distortions in space-time. Inside a Hollow, the laws of physics are warped, and the atmosphere is saturated with a substance known as Ether.

• Etheric Corruption: While Ether is a potent energy source that fueled the miracle of New Eridu’s rise, it is highly toxic to biological life. Prolonged exposure leads to Hollow Sickness, a condition where the body’s molecular structure is rewritten, eventually turning the victim into an Ethereal—a mindless, crystalline monster.
• The Hollow Array: Navigating these zones is impossible for the unassisted. Space within a Hollow is non-linear; walking in a straight line might lead you in circles or drop you into a different "stratum" entirely.

New Eridu: The Last Metropolis

The city of New Eridu is the only bastion of humanity that has successfully learned to coexist with the Hollows. It is a vibrant, retro-futuristic cityscape where 90s-era analog technology (CRT monitors, VHS tapes) lives alongside advanced robotics and Ether-powered machinery.

Key Districts

• Sixth Street: A nostalgic, tight-knit residential and commercial area. It serves as the heart of "low-altitude" city life, home to independent shops like coffee houses, arcades, and newsstands.
• Lumina Square: The dazzling face of the city. This high-end commercial hub is filled with skyscrapers, massive holographic advertisements, and the headquarters of the city’s most influential players.
• The Outer Rim: A desolate, industrial wasteland beyond the city’s main walls. It is home to rugged factions who survive in the shadow of massive, dormant Hollows, often scavenging for resources the city has discarded.
• Scott Outpost: A frontline military research base situated right on the edge of the "Shiyu Defense" zone, where the most dangerous Hollow activity is monitored and contained.

Societal Organizations and Factions

Power in New Eridu is divided among specialized groups, each fulfilling a specific role in the city's ecosystem.

The Administration and Public Security

• H.I.F. (Hollow Investigative Force): The official government body tasked with managing Hollow resources and licensing those who enter them.
• N.E.P.S. (New Eridu Public Security): The city’s police force. They handle urban crime and maintain order, often deploying specialized "Criminal Investigation" units to deal with threats that spill out of the Hollows.

Specialized Labor and Private Agencies

• Gentle House (The Cunning Hares): A small-scale, "odd-job" agency known for its agility and questionable financial management. They specialize in high-risk retrieval and navigation for the right price.
• Belobog Heavy Industries: A massive construction and engineering firm. They utilize specialized heavy machinery and "smart" mechs to build the infrastructure that keeps the Hollows at bay, often operating in the most dangerous industrial zones.
• Victoria Housekeeping Co.: An elite, highly secretive service organization. While they appear to be high-end domestic staff, they are a formidable combat unit tasked with protecting the interests of the city’s elite with terrifying efficiency.
• Section 6: The elite frontline operational unit of the Hollow Investigative Force. They handle the most catastrophic "Hollow Disasters" that the regular military cannot manage.

The Elements of Combat and Survival

To fight the Ethereal threat, specialists utilize gear that channels Ether into specific properties. These elements interact with the environment and enemies in distinct ways:

• Physical: High-impact force designed to shatter the crystalline armor of Ethereals.
• Fire: Utilizing thermal Ether to incinerate targets and cause persistent overheating.
• Electric: High-voltage discharges that can paralyze mechanical and biological threats alike, causing a "Shock" state.
• Ice: Rapidly dropping the temperature to freeze enemies in place, making them brittle and prone to "Shatter" damage.
• Ether: Manipulating the raw energy of the Hollows themselves to cause spatial distortions and "Corruption" within the enemy's own structure.

Technological Lifeforms: Bangboos

Perhaps the most iconic sight in New Eridu is the Bangboo. These small, rabbit-like companion robots were originally designed as emergency evacuation guides for Hollow disasters. However, they have evolved into multi-purpose assistants used for everything from household chores to providing critical combat support and navigational data to those brave enough to enter the Void.

As New Eridu expands its influence over the Hollows, the societal structure has fractured into specialized divisions, each managing a different aspect of survival, order, and the exploitation of Ether. The following dossiers detail the remaining power structures and legendary figures that define this era.

​The Enforcers of Urban Stability ​The city’s safety relies on a rigid hierarchy of public security and military oversight. While the streets are patrolled by standard units, the deep-seated threats of the metropolis require specialized intervention. ​Criminal Investigation Special Response Team: A high-tier tactical unit within Public Security. Unlike standard patrol officers, these specialists are deployed to handle high-profile urban crimes and "Hollow-leakage" events where Ethereal contamination begins to manifest within city limits. They are known for their strict adherence to protocol and high-efficiency combat styles. ​Metropolitan Order Division: This is the administrative backbone of the city’s security. They manage the legislation of Ether use and the zoning of the city. Their role is to ensure that the delicate balance between the "White Zones" (safe areas) and "Grey Zones" (unstable areas) is maintained through strict bureaucratic and physical cordons. ​Krampus Compliance Authority: A specialized regulatory body tasked with ensuring that all high-output Ether technology meets safety standards. They are the "audit" of the technological world, often clashing with private firms that attempt to bypass safety protocols for higher power yields. ​Elite Military and Frontline Units ​Beyond the city walls and deep within the most unstable Hollows, the military maintains a presence through specialized squads trained for extreme conditions. ​Obol Squad: A mysterious, highly disciplined military unit that operates under the "Soldier" designation system. They are the ultimate tools of the state, often deployed into "Dead End" Hollows where survival rates are near zero. They prioritize mission completion over all else, operating with a cold, mechanical precision. ​Defense Force - Silver Squad: A veteran tactical unit within the city's broader defense network. While the Obol Squad handles the shadows, the Silver Squad is often the visible shield, protecting key infrastructure like the Ether refineries and the city's perimeter walls from massive Ethereal migrations. ​Yunkui Summit: A strategic mountain-based outpost and the organization that manages it. Located at a high altitude away from the dense Hollow concentrations of the lowlands, it serves as a long-range monitoring station and a training ground for elite operatives who must learn to fight in thin air and extreme cold.

​The Wildcards and Underground Factions ​Not all power resides in the hands of the government. In the lawless stretches of the Outer Rim and the shadows of Sixth Street, independent factions have carved out their own territories. ​Sons of Calydon: A rowdy, fuel-obsessed biker gang that dominates the logistics and trade routes of the Outer Rim. They are experts at desert survival and vehicle modification, utilizing high-speed transport to outrun Hollow expansions. They value freedom and strength above the rigid laws of New Eridu. ​Mockingbird: Not a traditional organization, but a shadowy intelligence network. Information is the most valuable currency in New Eridu, and Mockingbird is the premier "broker" for secrets, ranging from government conspiracies to the exact coordinates of a shifting Hollow entrance. ​Spook Shack: A niche but essential hub for the city’s "Hollow-delvers." It functions as a specialized storefront and data exchange where one can procure rare Ether-resistant materials or trade information on Ethereal behavior. It is the heart of the "underground" navigation community. ​Culture and the Arts in the Apocalypse ​Even on the brink of extinction, humanity clings to culture. The city's spirit is maintained by icons who provide a distraction from the looming shadows of the Hollows. ​Stars of Lyra: The pinnacle of New Eridu’s entertainment industry. This idol group or cultural collective represents the "light" of the city, using music and performance to boost public morale and stave off the collective despair that can often accelerate Hollow Sickness in the population.

​The Legends: Void Hunters ​At the very top of the hierarchy of survival are the Void Hunters. These are not employees or soldiers; they are legends. A Void Hunter is an individual of such immense skill and Ether-compatibility that they can enter the core of a "High-Density Hollow"—the most dangerous zones in existence—and return. ​They are the only ones capable of navigating the "Abyssal" layers where reality ceases to function. Most Proxies and Investigators dream of seeing a Void Hunter in action, as their movements are said to defy the very laws of the Hollows themselves. They are the ultimate explorers of the unknown, standing between humanity and the silent, growing void.