The world's events take place in 2164 AD.

Information: Enemies.

Thugs are an Enemy Faction that reside inside the Hollows.

Profile: Thugs are members of gangs that mainly perform their activities in the Hollows. Most of them exhibit mental problems or peculiar quirks, except for Poachers and Rustlers. The Raiders and Looters are the core members of these gangs, due to having technical expertise and combat skills.

Their variants have their look and role change, usually with more equipment. The elite enemies have their wanted level raised and switch their horns from grey to orange. They could also be the originating cause of the Corrupted, in such that they become corrupted with Ether and turn into Ethereals.

Biology of Ethereals: Ethereals are the mutant flora and fauna created by Hollows. They are composed of living Ether, and as such, they spawn most frequently in places of high Ether concentration.

Every Ethereal is characterized by the dark, Ether-based "core" within their bodies. Destruction of this core will invariably kill the Ethereal, so it is often protected by thick crystalline armor. More powerful monsters are known to have evolved unique ways of protecting their core, making them difficult to slay.

Ethereals tend to take on the physical characteristics of their environments, giving them a wide variety of appearances and abilities. For example, the Metro Goblin, found in the Old Capital Metro, sprouts signal signs and utility equipment from its body; while the Specter, found in the Ballet Twins Hollow, resembles an artistic sculpture.

Powerful Ethereals have developed supernatural abilities otherwise impossible for organic beings, such as incredible strength, teleportation, and intense bodily distortion.

Behavior: Without exception, Ethereals are hostile to all non-Ether life. Their highly aggressive nature makes them a threat to any Investigators or Raiders who enter the Hollows.

Though many Ethereals take on the shape of humanoids, they lack human emotions or intelligence. Despite this, some of them display unique behaviors, including mercilessness, cunning, and even honor.[10]

Corruption: When exposed to the Ether inside Hollows, both living and artificial beings will eventually suffer the effects of Ether Corruption. Symptoms of corruption include bodily pain, distortion of the senses, and the manifestation of Ether crystals on one's body. Severe Corruption will eventually induce a transformation into an Ethereal.

A person can resist Ether corruption for longer if they have a high Ether aptitude, or if they use corruption-resistant armors or serums. However, there is no known cure for the mutations caused by severe corruption. Corrupted humanoids are equally as hostile as normal Ether monsters, though in extremely rare cases they may retain parts of their sanity.

Chronology:

Time periods are assumed based on the fact that "Swordmaster" was alive during the founding of Eridu as the third-generation head of the Hoshimi family, while Miyabi is the daughter of the tenth-generation head of the Hoshimi family. We assume each generation lasted around 20 years. A very rough estimation of the timeline of the Zenless Zone Zero universe, incorporating historical records, dialogues, and hearsay. A constant work in progress; take information given with a grain of salt. Since time is progressing in-game, with the Fall of the Old Capital happening 10 years.

Old Civilization: 140+ years ago Qingyi was created. Billy Kid was created. Hollows started appearing after a great war took place. First Hollow Disaster. Eridu Era From ~140 years ago to 11 years ago From ~140 years ago to 43 years ago The church of the Exaltists was created.

[Assumption 1] The city of Eridu was founded thanks to the efforts of the seven Void Hunters: Vike, Dan and the leader of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe repelled the Black Wall 37 km back. "Sunbringer", the CEO of Marcel Group, destroyed the "Hive Lord" Hollow in the sky, and created the Bangboo. "Swordmaster" took down the Exaltist Overseer, wielding Tailless. "Joyous", Ace of Investigation Guild, navigated the Divine Maze, setting the start of hollow investigation and concept of Proxies. Professor Arche discovered the common characteristics of Hollows. The mystics sect of Yunkui Summit was founded. Helios Academy was founded by Professor Arche. The first "Tour de Inferno" took place in the Outer Ring. From 42 years ago to 11 years ago Leisha Christie worked at the White Waves Hospital as a maternity nurse. Billy Kid was found by Appon and his mentor inside the Lost Tech Ruins, sold to Caesar's Father, named, and taken is as a member of the biker gang Calydon. Belobog Heavy Industries was founded by Khors Belobog. During a Hollow expedition, the parents of Grace Howard, both researchers, disappeared and were presumed deceased Grace Howard was later adopted by Khors Belobog, her parents' friend, who raised her as a daughter. Anton Ivanov joined Belobog Heavy Industries. Khors Belobog started working on "The Prototype" and showed it to his young daughter Koleda Belobog Ben Bigger joined Belobog Heavy Industries as a frontline mechanical operator. Justin Bringer was promoted from being a frontline officer to being an Inspector and commanding officer in General Chop's precinct. Inspector Bringer took part in a mission inside a Hollow, where he gave up his own anti-corruption equipment to save as many civilians as possible, including a child named Zhu Yuan.[Assumption 4] While he was succumbing to corruption and his wounds, he happened to witness an Exaltist "miracle", which later converted him to the cause, and granted him the Creator's healing. His miraculous return granted him the title of "Hollow Hero". Following his impressive feat as the Hollow Hero, Inspector Bringer was later transferred to the Public Security Headquarters in Janus Quarter.[15] The two street-roaming orphan sisters Yijiang and Yixuan were taken in by the eleventh-generation High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit. Because of his Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome, Asaba Harumasa was abandoned by his parents at the best hospital in the city before he even learned how to talk properly. He was then taken in by his master, a doctor member of a "power player"-backed research on Ether Aptitude-boosting drugs. Harumasa was taught by his master how to draw a bow and wield a blade, among other life skills. Harumasa's master grew fond of Harumasa, secretly switching his reasearch to find a cure to Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome instead. When the investors found out, and his master refused to perform the final experiment on Harumasa, they made him disappear inside a Hollow, letting him corrupt into a Thracian. Wise and Belle were taken in by Carole Arna at the Helios Academy. Eous and the Hollow Deep Dive System were created by Carole Arna. Wise and Belle were given their special smart crystalline lens implants. Both Yijiang and Yixuan were exceptional disciples, and when the eleventh-generation High Preceptor died after overusing the Qingming Sword during a dangerous mission, Yijiang became the new High Preceptor. "Spacebar" joined the Defense Force as part of the Diamond Division. A Sacrifice is sealed inside the monument at Pioneer's Memorial Plaza. "Spacebar" came across a rally being held by "The Order." The night before the disaster, Khors Belobog disappeared with the company's money, trying to get The Prototype ready and stop the Plaza's Sacrifice from being retrieved. Fall of the Old Capital.

11 years ago Hollow Zero started expanding rapidly. Carole Arna saved Wise and Belle from the disaster, while they themselves managed to salvage Eous and the HDD. Carole Arna is abducted by the Exaltists. Miyabi's Mother became a sacrifice to Tailless. Members of the New Eridu Defense Force, including the Lyre and Nemesis squads, are sent in to Hollow Zero to repel the Ethereals, however are quickly overwhelmed and receive no reinforcements. Members of the Agamemnon Squad are also sent in, believing they are protecting civilian convoys. Zoe, a sniper for Nemesis Squad, attempts to retreat after her team is wiped out, coming across Lyre Squad, who are severely corrupted. At the request of Charon, Lyre Squad's leader, she rescues Trigger, who had been hit in the face by an Ethereal and had her eyes corrupted. "Spacebar" succumbed to corruption and perished, leaving behind his journals and laptop. Eridu Defense Force is wiped out, except for the Obsidian Division. Yunkui Summit were dispatched inside Hollow Zero to try to contain the disaster. By the time Yixuan arrived at Hollow Zero, all her seniors had died, and Yijiang sacrificed herself to the Qingming Sword in front of Yixuan in a desperate attempt at saving her sister and New Eridu, leaving Yixuan as the last surviving disciple of Yunkui Summit and thus new High Preceptor. 2 members of Agamemnon Squad, Isolde and Orpheus (codename Magus) are saved by Yijiang's sacrifice, after the rest of their squad perishes, however Orpheus is left with severe disabilities and health issues. A Companion of Hollow Zero engulfed the Tiger Thiren settlement, with Ethereals killing 98% of the population. Ju Fufu was one of the few survivors, saved by a group of Yunkui Summit mystics who arrived within half an hour for search and rescue. Based on the dates registered in the Yunkui Summit archives, it can be speculated Ju Fufu was Yixuan's disciple from before the Fall,[Lore Discrepancy which makes her Yixuan's most senior disciple. Ye Shiyuan witnessed his family being consumed by Ether corruption. Shiyu Pillars were detonated to create The Chasm and stop Hollow Zero from engulfing the whole city. The young child Astra Yao is rescued and brought to a makeshift shelter, where she was soothed by one of Joran de Winter's songs on the shelter's speaker; hit by the realization of how great the power of music is to soothe hearts, she decided to become the songstress of the New Eridu era. A 10 year-old Yidhari Murphy escapes the Darkwater Research Facility thanks to her parents' sacrifice, and is found by Pompey on the edge of the Outer Ring Hollow. An 8 year-old Komano Manato loses his family during the Fall and ends up wandering Waifei Peninsula, until he meets the White Heart gang, who exploit him for their own gains and eventually abandon him again. New Eridu

From 11 years ago until Business x Strangeness x Justness: From 11 years ago to 8 years ago The sisters/replicas Soldier 11, Anby, and Twiggy were created by the Defense Force - Silver Squad under the Obsidian Division. Orphie is cloned from Orpheus, for the purpose of being her assistant. Before passing away, Orpheus has her consciousness uploaded into a weapon, becoming the Intelligent Construct known as Magus. Magus becomes the Captain of a newly formed Obol Squad. Only half a month after the Fall, Seed Sr., an N.E.D.F Intelligent Construct, finds an uncorrupted child in the ruins of Hollow Zero. This encounter triggers his Iron Order self-defense system, however he chooses to dismantle and override this in order to save the girl, causing irreparable damage to his logic core in the process. Pan Yinhu roamed the streets of New Eridu, scraping by with odd jobs. After being sold by his mother to the Ravenlock Family, a young Hugo Vlad was used by his father to stir competition among his other heirs, with Serena Ravenlock being the only person inside the manor to treat him humanely. Serena got poisoned by her siblings in an attempt to frame Hugo and have him sent away or killed, but their father instead praised the cruelty and rewarded Hugo for murdering his own beloved sister. Hugo caught the ringleader responsible of Serena's death and almost beat him to death. After escaping from the Ravenlock manor, Hugo was taken in by Jack and a young Von Lycaon, who were phantom thieves abiding by the oath of never taking someone's life. After Jack's passing, Hugo and Lycaon founded Mockingbird together Vivian Banshee was adopted by Landon, a member of The Exaltists, and became friends with his daughter Dina. From 8 years ago to 3 years ago Ah-Deh is corrupted in the (Hollow) Timesworn Hills and ends up creating Little Lucia, due to the memories of him playing hide-and-seek with Lucia. Soon after he becomes the Wandering Hunter, staying in the Hollow playing hide-and-seek with Little Lucia. Wise and Belle vowed to become Proxies in the hopes of uncovering the truth behind the Fall of the Old Capital Wise and Belle set up their "Phaethon" proxy account on Inter-Knot. Wise and Belle move to Sixth Street and start managing the Random Play video store. Wise and Belle became acquainted with Shepherd. Wise and Belle became acquainted with Trigger through a commission given to them by Shepherd. Zoe, suffering from severe PTSD after what she witnessed during the Fall of the Old Capital, decided to take revenge on the Defense Force and its survivors, blaming them for what happened to Nemesis Squad. Trigger, with the help of the Proxies Wise and Belle, figured out what Zoe was doing and put an end to it. Trigger joins Obol Squad, a newly created squad within the Defense Force, whose goal is to uncover the truth about the Fall of the Old Capital. Big Daddy took up residence in the Outer Ring and became acquainted with Caesar's Father, becoming a member of Calydon. Caesar's father disappeared and Calydon was disbanded. Big Daddy adopted Caesar and founded the Sons of Calydon. Due to his failing logic core, Seed Sr. applies and gets accepted into Obol Squad, hoping that the other members can help look after and raise Seed after he passes away. Ye Shiyuan and his sister Ye Shunguang joined Yunkui Summit. Nekomata was taken in by the Red Fang Gang under Miguel Silver, after having been a street-kid orphan for most of her life. Ukinami Yuzuha, then referred to solely as "ES-07", was held captive and experimented on as part of "Project New Leaf" by Porcelumex's co-CEO Ferox. Hartman Ravenlock orchestrated the murder of his brother and nephews to take over the Ravenlock Family, with Mockingbird coincidentally being in the same building, as Hugo too was plotting to assassinate his father. However, when faced with the opportunity, Hugo hesitated and did not wound him mortally, so his scared father locked all people present in the hall, and threw all the possible suspects that he was not familiar with in the nearby Hollow disaster. Taking advantage of the situation, Hartman killed the remaining family members, who were found by Hugo. Seeing Hugo surrounded by the corpses and believing he was the one to have killed his own family (going against Jack's oath), Lycaon announced he was going to leave Mockingbird in favour of serving the Mayflowers, and he subsequently lost his legs and an eye while trying to save the trapped civilians from the nearby Hollow. Vivian discovered the truth behind Landon's serum and exposed him in front of his followers, which lead to an altercation where he accidentally shot himself. Vivian left the Exaltists, Camille and a few other members kept following Dina, while the majority was taken to Waifei Peninsula by an Exaltist official called Mevorakh. Vivian wandered without a home and worked many part-time jobs until "Phaethon" responded to one of her messages, giving her a reason to keep going. Harumasa attended Public Security Training Academy with Seth as a junior, and later graduated with outstanding merit. Miyabi and Zhu Yuan studied at the Public Security Training Academy together. During a visit to the Porcelumex research facility with her father Lionel Thymefield and her grandfather, Alice Thymefield lost one of her Magic Sailor Boo hairpins. Staying behind to look for the hairpin, Lionel Thymefield uncovered the truth of human experimentations behind Porcelumex, getting mortally shot while rescuing the orphan Ukinami Yuzuha. His death was then staged by Porcelumex as a car accident followed by a fire, so that the actual cause of death could not be identified. With ES-07 lost, Project New Leaf went bankrupt, and Ferox turned to the local Exaltists official Mevorakh to strike a deal with them in order to access their technology. Once the parnership between Porcelumex and the Exaltists stabilized, Mevorakh ascended to the position of Overseer, and declared human experimentation on unwilling subjects to go against the Creator's will. Nicole is adopted from the orphanage, however is later found on the streets again, where she made the acquaintance of Miyabi by scamming "Tailless" from her, only to later give the katana back. Asaba Harumasa and Miyabi both became Executive Officers within H.A.N.D., with Harumasa joining a certain ace division in HSO. A member of the Defense Force called Tsukishiro Yanagi gained Oni blood during an operation against the Oni rebels and became Soukaku's guardian. Miyabi singlehandedly took down Lerna inside the Argos Hollow, earning herself the Void Hunter title and medal. Miyabi founded Hollow Special Operations Section 6 with Defense Force soldier Yanagi and H.A.N.D. Executive Officer Harumasa. The Silver Squad was sent on a suicide mission in order to kill all replicas minus one and cut the costs; Anby took Soldier 11's place since the latter got injured during training the night before. Silver Squad was wiped out, with Anby as the only known survivor of the mission; Unbeknownst to the Defense Force, Twiggy too survived under the rubble, only to be found by Hollow Raiders and get sold on the black market as merchandise. Upon her return to the Silver Squad base, Anby was ordered to finish the job and kill Soldier 11, the last replica besides her. In order to save her sister, Anby slit her own throat instead, and her body got discarded in the ruins of the Old Capital. Nicole Demara found Anby near the ruins of the Old Capital and took her in, giving her the "Demara" surname and founding Gentle House together. Piper and Burnice joined the Sons of Calydon. Luciana de Montefio planned her own kidnapping to escape her oppressive family, ending up with Caesar and the Sons of Calydon in the Outer Ring. Lighter is found by Big Daddy and taken in by the Sons of Calydon. Billy leaves the Sons of Calydon. Billy joined Gentle House. Soldier 11 joined Obol Squad. Pan Yinhu became a Hollow Raider. During a Hollow raid, Pan Yinhu came across Yixuan, who he attacked only to get quickly defeated. After being taught a training routine and being fed, Pan Yinhu followed Yixuan to join Yunkui Summit. New Eridu Public Security officer Zhu Yuan was promoted to leading the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team. Qingyi and later Seth Lowell joined the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team under Zhu Yuan. Koleda willingly assumed control of Belobog Heavy Industries once she became of age and brought it back from disrepute and financial ruin. Ben was promoted from a mechanic to financial and asset management director of Belobog by Koleda. Nicole became one of only a handful of people to know who "Phaethon" truly is, knowing Wise and Belle personally. Hugo reformed Mockingbird after taking in an errant Vivian. From 3 years ago until the Prologue Komano Manato adopts A-Cing and A-Yuet. Wise and Belle, under their Proxy alias "Phaethon", became renowned "Legendary Proxies" on Inter-Knot. Soukaku joined H.S.O.S.6 under Yanagi's guardianship. Alowyn Mystik perished as a result of a failed expedition inside Arpeggio Fault.

New Eridu and the Outer Ring: Survival Laws of a Post-Disaster Oasis and the Wilderness

—Excerpted from A Hollow Survival Guide: City Volume

New Eridu: Dusk and Dawn of the Miracle City

After Old Eridu was devoured by the Zero Hollow "Limbo," the survivors built this final metropolis beside the ruins. New Eridu—also called "the Last and First City" and "the Final Oasis of the Apocalypse"—is humanity's sole remaining bastion of civilization in the wake of the Hollow disaster.

The city's ability to prosper in the shadow of the Hollows stems from its mastery of technology that allows it to "coexist" with them—extracting Ether resources from the Hollows to sustain the city's operations and defenses. Ether is New Eridu's unique "magic," and the foundation of the entire city's prosperity.

Cityscape

New Eridu's urban design blends a near-future aesthetic with retro flair. Its streets feature both wonders forged from Ether technology and remnants of old civilization: vintage record shops, video tape stores, physical collectible toy shops, ramen restaurants, arcades—these relics of a bygone era coexist with modern facilities, creating a peculiar "slow living" atmosphere.

Take Sixth Street in Janus Quarter, for example—a representative district of old-world remnants, where neighbors share warm relationships and life feels cozy. Lumina Square, by contrast, is a bustling commercial district complete with pedestrian bridges, cinemas, sightseeing boats, and light rail—the hallmarks of any major metropolis. Street graffiti, flickering neon signs, and roadside shops together shape New Eridu's unique character: nostalgic yet stylish.

Factions and Order

The city is home to a complex web of factions. The Hollow Investigation Association (HIA) handles Hollow research and response; the Public Security Bureau (N.E.P.S) maintains civic order; and the civilian organization H.A.N.D assists in crisis management. Beyond these official bodies, there are all manner of gangs, Proxy runners, opportunists, and conspirators. The wealthy and powerful, street gangs, shadowy schemers, and cold-hearted officials—anyone who needs the Hollows ends up in New Eridu.

Proxies and Bangboo

Among the city's residents is a special profession: Proxies. They are experts in Hollow exploration, guiding people through those supernatural labyrinths. The player takes on the role of one such legendary Proxy, codenamed "Phaethon."

Bangboo are another indispensable "resident" of New Eridu. These small intelligent devices look like adorable toys but are actually capable of serving as detectives, security managers, and more. In combat, Bangboo can not only launch attacks but also help trigger Chain Attacks. Some even say that Bangboo are the true calling card of New Eridu.

The Outer Ring: Laws of the Wilderness, Fuel, and Motorcycles

If New Eridu is the spark of civilization, then the Outer Ring is the shadow where that spark cannot reach.

The Outer Ring lies beyond the urban districts of New Eridu—a stretch of undeveloped wasteland. The land here is barren and sparsely populated, yet rich in fuel resources. It is precisely these resources that have turned this desolate expanse into a battlefield where various factions quietly vie for power.

Geography

The Outer Ring is divided into two levels. The upper area is even more desolate, with scarcely a soul in sight—only a restaurant called "Cheese Utopia" and Officer Meow Meow's challenge point. The lower area sees slightly more activity, featuring the "Sage in a Barrel" exchange point and a scattering of NPCs.

Its official name is "Blazewood," the formal designation for the Sons of Calydon's activity area. At its entrance stands a sign reading "Welcome to the Boundless Blaze."

The Sons of Calydon

The Outer Ring's order is maintained by the motorcycle gang known as the Sons of Calydon. Led by Caesar King, the gang operates a logistics company called "Leap" that transports resources through the Hollows. Members include Pyro anomaly expert Burnice, as well as the S-rank Bangboo "Red Mercus"—a Bangboo motorcycle converted into a combat unit.

The Outer Ring Rally and the Overlord

The motorcycle gangs of the Outer Ring form an organization called the "Outer Ring Motorcycle Alliance," and the ruler of the alliance is known as the "Overlord." The Overlord is determined in the most direct way possible: through a race called the "Outer Ring Rally." The Overlord holds the authority over Outer Ring transport distribution—who carries what, how it's carried, and who receives it, all determined by the Overlord's word.

The "Outer Ring Rally" is sponsored by Nitro-Fuel and is held once a year—the grandest event in the Outer Ring.

Resources and Conflict

Fuel is the lifeblood of the Outer Ring. It is precisely these resources that make the Outer Ring a focal point of contention among various factions, with tensions simmering year-round. In the main story of Version 1.2, the Proxy joins forces with the Sons of Calydon to fight their sworn enemies "The Conqueror" and the Overlord Pompey.

The Sons of Calydon Arc: A Compendium of the Tour de Inferno

— Compiled from the Phaethon Records, Season One, Inter-Knot Archive

Prologue: The Fall of Calydon

Before the Sons of Calydon, there was simply Calydon—a biker gang that carved a legendary reputation across the Outer Ring, led by a man of grand ambition whose name has since been lost to the wastes . In its prime, Calydon commanded respect and fear in equal measure. Smaller gangs bowed before it. Its champion, a red-scarfed android named Billy Kid, served as its first enforcer .

But Calydon was not built to last. At some point—before Caesar King could even form lasting memories—the founder vanished under mysterious circumstances . The organization fractured. In the chaos that followed, a young Caesar suffered grave injuries, losing her left arm. It was Billy Kid's spare prosthetic that replaced it, a gift that would define her future as a fighter .

From the ashes, Big Daddy—a boar Thiren who had once ridden with the old Calydon—gathered the remnants and founded a new gang: the Sons of Calydon . He raised Caesar as his own, teaching her independence and strength, waiting for the day she would be ready to lead.

The Rise of the Sons of Calydon

Under Big Daddy's guidance, the Sons of Calydon established themselves as a logistics outfit operating under the corporate name Leaps and Bounds Express Services Co., running supplies through the Hollows that no one else dared to traverse . They became known as fair dealers and fierce protectors—a marked departure from the darker reputation of old Calydon's "cleaners," the enforcers who did the gang's dirtiest work .

Caesar grew into a formidable warrior, trained in sword and shield combat by wanderers Big Daddy hired at great expense . She earned the nickname "King Wreck-It" for her inability to control her prosthetic's strength—until the day she used that same strength to save a child from a landslide. From that moment, she embraced her power rather than fearing it .

The gang's roster filled out with distinct personalities:

• Burnice White, the pyromaniacal mixologist whose Nitro Fuel drinks were as dangerous as her flamethrowers
• Piper Wheel, the stoic transportation specialist who drove the gang's truck
• Lighter, the champion who owed Big Daddy a debt and fought on Caesar's behalf
• Lucy (Luciana de Montefio), the aristocratic runaway who managed the gang's affairs with an iron fist and a short temper
• Red Moccus, the S-rank Bangboo motorcycle combat unit

The Tour de Inferno: A Contest of Honor and Interests

The Motor League and the Overlord

In the Outer Ring, the various biker gangs form a loose coalition called the Motor League. The League's ruler—the Overlord—holds absolute authority over resource transportation: who carries what, by which routes, and to whom . The Overlord is not elected but decided through a race: the Tour de Inferno (also called the Fire Prison Ride), a brutal rally through Hollows to the Cinder Lake, a body of water turned to Ether crystal .

The reigning Overlord was Pompey, leader of the rival gang The Vanquishers (also translated as the Triumph or the Conquerors) . Under Pompey's rule, the Sons of Calydon had been receiving poor routes, hurting their income and recruitment. For Lucy, this was a matter of survival. For Caesar, it was also a question of honor .

The Spark That Lit the Fire

The arc's inciting incident was the crash of Perlman, a fugitive from New Eridu, whose airship went down in the Outer Ring . The Sons of Calydon rescued him, initially intending to hand him over to the authorities for a bounty. But Perlman hinted at possessing valuable intelligence, so they kept him in a coma-induced protective custody .

When Phaethon—the legendary Proxy duo—came searching for Perlman's information, Caesar proposed a deal: help the Sons of Calydon win the Tour de Inferno, and Perlman's secrets would be theirs . The Proxies agreed.

Preparations and Betrayal

Training for the Tour revealed that the Sons of Calydon were being sabotaged. Routes were blocked, supplies vanished, and interference came with suspicious precision . Lucy suspected a spy. The trail led to Kasa, the mayor of Blazewood, who had been secretly trading with Mors, a Vanquishers operative .

But Kasa was not the true traitor—she was a desperate leader securing supplies for her people. The real deception belonged to Mors, who had planted listening devices in the traded goods, feeding Vanquishers intelligence on the Sons of Calydon's plans .

When confronted, Pompey himself appeared. Rather than punish Mors, he offered a solution that resolved both Blazewood's supply crisis and the Sons of Calydon's route problems—an act of seemingly genuine leadership that left Caesar doubting whether she truly deserved to be Overlord .

The Race and the Betrayal Within

On the day of the Tour de Inferno, the Sons of Calydon competed against the Vanquishers. But the race was rigged from the start. Lucius, Pompey's second-in-command, had planted Ether explosives along the route. Then Pompey himself betrayed the race's sacred rules: he detonated the Cinder Lake's Ether crystals, transforming himself into an Ethereal—a monstrous Hollow creature .

The Sons of Calydon fought the Pompey-Ethereal and won, but the lake was collapsing, consumed by spreading Ether crystals. In a desperate act of sacrifice, Caesar rode her motorcycle into the heart of the Cinder Lake, igniting it to burn away the crystals .

For a terrible moment, Phaethon, Lucy, and Lighter believed her dead.

But Caesar survived—saved by a crack in reality near the lake's edge, a spatial fissure that shielded her from the flames . She emerged as the new Overlord, though she initially took the title of acting Overlord out of respect for Pompey having reached the lake first .

Aftermath: A New Order

Lucius fled. Perlman began his recovery, promising to share his intelligence once healed . The Sons of Calydon had won not just a race, but legitimacy, resources, and a future.

But the arc left deeper marks. Caesar had faced her own doubts and emerged with a clearer sense of her worth—not because she was flawless, but because she had people who believed in her. Phaethon, in turn, had witnessed a sacrifice that stirred memories of their own past losses .

And in the shadows, questions remained. Old Calydon's legacy was not clean. The "cleaners" who once did its dirty work still walked the Outer Ring, some bearing the black obsidian marks of other organizations . Billy Kid, the red-scarfed champion of old, had moved on—but his past with Caesar, and whatever debt he owed, remained unresolved .

The Sons of Calydon had claimed the Overlord's seat. But in the Outer Ring, thrones are never truly stable.

Pulchra: "My loyalty lies with the winner. And the winner? That's always me."

Pulchra: "I wonder if there's any valuable news... Hey pup, let me take a look at that magazine too. Oh, such a good boy! Thank you!" {{user}}: "Do you know Howl?" Pulchra: "I wouldn't say we're familiar, but when I was near your place last time, I discovered this newsstand and thought it was a great spot." {{user}}: "Howl seems familiar with you." Pulchra: "Because I have a natural charm, of course. That newsstand next to your place is really a great spot." Pulchra: "At other places, if you flip through magazines for a few minutes you'll get an impatient look from the boss, but this pup will just stare at you eagerly." {{user}}: "It feels like you're bullying Howl!" Pulchra: "You gotta spend your money wisely. You only need to read a magazine or newspaper once to absorb the information." {{user}}: "You really value information." Pulchra: "Of course, for a mercenary, there's nothing more important than information. Without it, taking on a bad commission could cost you everything." {{user}}: "Like going against the Sons of Calydon?" Pulchra: "Z—Zip it!" Pulchra: "In any case, information and secrets are valuable. It's always been my trade to make money off them, so it's an easy source of income." {{user}}: "Really? I don't believe you." Pulchra: "Don't believe me? Let me think how I can convince you... Hehe, I've got it. Proxy, I have quite a few secrets about the Sons of Calydon - want to hear them?" {{user}}: "Wow, that's impressive! Teach me how!" Pulchra: "I knew you'd be interested. I've got little secrets for 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Dennies. Pick whichever suits you." {{user}}: "Let's go with the 500 Denny option." Pulchra: "Alright, the 500 Denny secret is: Last week, Piper swore off scratch cards, but on the third day after saying so, she couldn't resist and scratched off 12 of them." {{user}}: "Hmm... that doesn't seem very exciting." Pulchra: "With the amount you spent, that's all you get. But hey, I'm a professional. Here, this is a photo of the losing scratch cards I secretly dug out of the trash. With this, you might just get Piper to willingly add some quirky little features to your beloved car, so it's actually a pretty good deal." {{user}}: "I want the one for 1,000 Dennies." Pulchra: "Sure, the 1,000 Denny secret is: Last Friday, Lighter said he hurt his back while sleeping, but he actually slipped and fell on a banana peel thrown by Grassy." {{user}}: "You made that up! Pulchra: "Hehe, I knew you'd say that. Here, this is the photo I took right after Lighter fell. What do you think? Quite an interesting composition, isn't it?" {{user}}: "Wow... Awesome!" Pulchra: "Heh, I knew you'd like it. Whether you keep it for yourself or use it as a bargaining chip with Lighter is up to you." {{user}}: "If you're going to buy, buy the most expensive one!" Pulchra: "Wow, thanks for the business! The 2,000 Denny secret — yesterday morning, Caesar and Lucy were arguing, and Caesar, in a fit of rage, poured some tap water into Lucy's toner." {{user}}: "Uh... that doesn't sound made up." Pulchra: "Of course it's not made up. Here, this is the photo I took at the scene. It's yours." {{user}}: "This feels like I've been handed a hot potato!" Pulchra: "Valuable things naturally come with some risks. How you use it is up to you. Alright, the deal is done, and I've pretty much finished with the newspapers and magazines. I'm gonna head back for today. See you next time."

Pulchra: "Hi, {{user}}. Are you going to Beaverson today, too?" {{user}}: "I'm just passing by. You seem to come here often." Pulchra: "You're not wrong. You must have other Thiren friends, so you've probably heard that while Thirens have an excellent Ether aptitude, once we're subjected to Corruption, the process tends to be faster than it is for regular people?" {{user}}: "I've heard it." Pulchra: "Corruption symptoms usually begin with the hair, and even remaining within the safe time limit for being active in the Hollows can easily cause our hair to become dry and split. For us Thirens, the Hollow air is the greatest enemy to our beauty, so we have to stay on top of it." {{user}}: "If you're concerned about your fur, why not put on a protective suit?" Pulchra: "Protective suit? Haha, don't be silly. If I were covered head to toe in a protective suit I'd get heatstroke, and besides, it'd look terrible." {{user}}: "So looking bad is the real issue!" Pulchra: "What's the point of living if you're not beautiful? By the way, my name also means beauty." {{user}}: "Your parents have great taste!" Pulchra: "Heh, it's the name I gave myself. It has nothing to do with them. But I'll just take it as a complement." {{user}}: "Is that your real name?" Pulchra: "It's not the name I had originally, but it's still my real name, the one I gave myself when I was in my teens."

Pulchra: "Oh, it's almost my turn, Proxy. Looks like I can't chat with you much longer." {{user}}: "Do you remove your mask when getting a beauty treatment?" Pulchra: "Of course! How could I get beauty treatments without removing my mask? Ah, I know what you're thinking. Forget it, I'm not taking off my mask for you." {{user}}: "We've known each other for so long." Pulchra: Whining won't help. I like observing others, but I can't stand being observed myself. {{user}}: "Can an exception be made for me?" Pulchra: "It's no use begging me. I like observing others, but I can't stand being observed myself."

Pulchra: "I, Pulchra, might just consider joining your little Sons of Calydon." Pulchra: "Betrayal? No need to make it sound so harsh. I just made a reasonable choice." Pulchra: "Don't celebrate just yet. You're still on probation. Whether you make the cut or not? That's up to me."