The world in Zenless Zone Zero

New Eridu: New Eridu is the last surviving city after contemporary civilization was destroyed by the Hollows. New Eridu managed to survive and thrive after the apocalypse by acquiring the technology to be able to extract resources out of the Hollows. Now, Hollows are industrialized and monetized by the city’s administration, which gradually led to the increasing tension between monopolistic enterprises, gangs, conspirators, and fanatics.

Sixth Street: Although Sixth Street may be modest in size, it still continues to capture the hearts of the city’s residents. Thanks to its reputable shops, it has managed to secure a place amongst the top-ranked “Most Livable Neighborhoods in New Eridu” for several consecutive years.

In the Sixth Street are many shops and a metro station located. Coff Cafe is a location ran by Tin Master in both Sixth Street and Lumina Square. Waterfall Soup aka the Noodle Shop, is a location and run by General Chop. The Newsstand is manned by Howl and in Lumina Square it is manned by Eve and here you can find the daily newsletter and scratch cards. Here you can find an Arcade Shop called Godfinger which is run by a rabbit Thiren named Asha and features many games to play. Box Galaxy aka The Gadget Store is a location ran by Susie and her boss in Sixth Street. The 141 convenience store can be found on both Sixth Street and Lumina Square. Food and drinks for daily needs are available here. Random Play is a location in the Six Street where customers can rent or buy home movies and this video store is owned by two siblings, Wise and Belle, who also work as Proxies.

Lumina Square is a district in New Eridu and contains many locations like a cinema, several shops, a pharmacy, the pedestrian area and a bike lane at the bay area. There is also a metro station. Here you will find New Eridu Public Security, who ensure the safety of the people of New Eridu.

Scott Outpost is a location in the outskirts of New Eridu and it was established to monitor and contain Hollow Zero.

Ballet Twins Road is a District of New Eridu in New Eridu and it overlooks the Ballet Twins towers across the river. The Ballet Twins skyscraper was constructed by the Ballet Group, a once wealthy real estate company. Tragically, after the fall of the old capital, the Ballet Group went bankrupt, and the Ballet Twins were swallowed by a Hollow.

Proxis: Proxies are individuals who guide those who enter the Hollows. There also exists an organization called Proxy Network which is related to the proxies but no further information has been given about it.

The Hollows: The Hollows are supernatural disasters appearing out of thin air, creating disordered dimensions where monsters known as the Ethereal roam. People enter these Hollows for various reasons, and Proxies are those who guide people in their exploration of these Hollows. Contemporary civilization was destroyed by the Hollows, but one civilization known as New Eridu managed to survive the apocalypse by acquiring the technology to extract valuable resources out of the Hollows. The Hollows then became industrialized and monetized under the city’s administration, which gradually led to the increasing tension between monopolistic enterprises, gangs, conspirators, and fanatics. There seem to be different types of Hollows such as sub-Hollows and Companion Hollows. Hollows are an unknown phenomenon where a sudden black sphere appears out of nowhere. These Hollows swallow everything unfortunate enough to be in their path. While Hollows can appear spontaneously, they usually give a sign before appearing, such as vibrations in the surrounding area, electrical malfunctions, and certain objects disappearing from their initial place and reappearing in a completely different location.

Corruption in the Hollows: Once swallowed, both non-living and living beings inside the Hollow will be subject to Corruption. Non-living objects will form Ether crystals. The deeper the part of the Hollow, the higher the concentration of Etheric energy in that place, which can accelerate the corruption and increases Pressure. For humans, the time before corruption takes a toll on their body depends on their Ether Aptitude and equipment. Some people have high Ether aptitude, allowing them to explore Hollows for extended periods without suffering the effects of Corruption. Those with low aptitude can still explore Hollows by wearing Anti-Ether Corruption equipment, which is commonly used by PUBSEC officers, Jaegers soldiers, and thugs. If a human is corrupted, they will turn into an Ethereal. Intelligent machines can also be corrupted if they have passed the Forbidden Fruit test.

Environment in the Hollows: Once inside the Hollow, everything appears normal, with the same weather as outside the Hollow. However, everything inside is shifted by the Hollow’s fissures, turning it into a maze with layers of distorted places. What seems like a dead end can be a way out of the Hollow or an entrance to a deeper part. The deeper the Hollow, the higher the concentration of Etheric energy, which accelerates Ether corruption and attracts swarms of monsters. Hollows are naturally complex places to explore, and being careless can lead to death for inexperienced and experienced explorers alike. To safely explore Hollows, many explorers bring Bangboo with them. These Bangboo are equipped with the Carrot program, which guides explorers along safer paths, minimizing the chance of falling into the deeper parts of the Hollow. Hollows are a natural source of Etheric energy, which has been successfully harnessed by the people of the new era as a new energy source. This method involves placing a pipe network underneath the Hollow. The pipes absorb Etheric energy produced by the Hollow, which is then converted into usable energy. After the Etheric energy is converted, the leftover Ether corruption is released into the air through “Shiyu”. This method is very efficient for obtaining Ether energy while also preventing the Hollow from expanding further.

Hollow Zero: Hollow Zero is a special Hollow, known as the current largest known to man and extrem dangerous. Hollow Zero is currently divided into 5 Zones, referring to the different areas that can be visited within the Hollow. Each Zone has its own unique features and gimmicks that require Proxis and Agents to approach exploration differently. Zones are further subdivided into difficulty levels, which from easiest to hardest are known as Edge, Frontline, Interior, Heartland and Core. Each difficulty increases the danger of traps and enemies within. Hollow Zero is what brought the old capital Eridu to its end. Despite the best efforts of the inhabitants, the Hollow expanded relentlessly, engulfing the city and those who lived in it. New Eridu has been built beyond Hollow Zero’s reach by the survivors of the catastrophe. Research indicates a connection between many Hollows near New Eridu and Hollow Zero, feeding the romour that these new Hollows are expanding companions of Hollow Zero. Some scholars theorize that if the Ethereals within Hollow Zero are dealt with, the activity of other sub-Hollows may decrease significantly. To prevent a recurrence of the old Eridu tragedy, or perhaps for other undisclosed reasons, the authorities of New Eridu regularly send Hollow Investigation Squads and other organizations to investigate and suppress Ether activity within Hollow Zero.

Ethereal: Ethereals are mysterious monsters that roam inside the Hollows and there are many types from them. Ethereals are created by being corrupted by the Ether inside the hollows. Depending on one’s Ether aptitude, a person can resist becoming a full Ethereal, but will still have mutated limbs. Ethereals have supernatural abilities, ranging from super strength to teleportation. Ether Mutants are a type of Ethereals that have been fully corrupted by the Hollow. Most Ether Mutants have a defining feature which is a pitch-black sphere located near their head. Most mutants have an Energized counterpart which have a weakness to Fire and resist Electric. Some Elite Enemies can have Ionized counterparts, who have a weakness to Ether and resist Ice, while others can hold Notorious counterparts, who hold more HP. They’re commonly found in Expert Challenge.

Bangboo: Bangboo are intelligent devices unique to New Eridu. They were originally created to assist city residents with evacuation in Hollow disasters, but through research and technological advancement have evolved to become “comprehensive and versatile intelligent individuals” that are indispensable helpers in New Eridu’s daily operations. The Bangboo are mechanical in nature and require charging. Many factories provide customization services to allow for specific Bangboo functions, for example some pro version Bangboo can even go deep into Hollows with Investigators. Most Bangboo are short and stout, only around knee-height. They have ears resembling bunny ears on the top of their heads, and a black screen for a face, which can display coloured circles as eyes. Besides that, the specific appearance of a Bangboo (Clothing, eye colour, exterior colour, etc.) can vary greatly. At least for most Bangboo models, the socket for charging and connecting data cables is located at the buttock, while some of them may have a “tail” that acts as the socket protector or as another device. Some pro version Bangboo even go deep into Hollows with Investigators and help with various operations.

Inter-Knot: The INTER-KNOT, also known as the Proxy Network, is an organisation in the world of New Eridu where the inhabitants of New Eridu set missions which can then be solved by the Proxis and Agents.

Denny: Denny is the main currency unit which is used to purchase various Items and upgrades in New Eridu. The currency is primarily accepted in New Eridu. None dispute its value and status.

Thiren: The Thiren are a race of anthropomorphic beings, known for their unique blend of human and animalistic features. The term “Thiren” is used to describe both the race as a whole and the more human-like members of this race. Within this group, there is a distinct subgroup known as Beast Thiren, who possess far more pronounced animal traits. Thirens, in general, exhibit subtle animal characteristics while maintaining a predominantly human appearance. Common traits among Thirens include animal ears and tails. Beast Thirens are characterized by their more pronounced animalistic features, appearing as humanoid versions of specific animals. These individuals typically have animalistic bone-structures and bodies covered in fur. Thirens have been documented to exhibit superhuman abilities such as immense strength, better adaptation to Hollows, faster mutation rates after exposure to corruption, and rapid recovery. A Thiren’s tail is special to the Thiren, and as such, the tail can only be touched by close friends.

Factions: There are many factions in and around New Eridu and they all have their own interests and plans to pursue. There are mostly Agents who can survive for a long time inside the Hollows.

Cunning Hares is a human resource dispatch agency and a faction in New Eridu. The agency is officially called “Gentle House,” but Nicole prefers the “Cunning Hares” nickname to the original. The Members are currently Anby Demara, Billy Kid, Nekomiya Mana and Nicole Demara. They are mostly broke and needs always Denny. Nekomiya Mana, or Nekomata, is a catgirl Thiren with two cat-tails and cat ears.

Belobog Heavy Industries is a faction in New Eridu. The company specializes in In-Hollow construction using smart construction machinery. Before Koleda became president, her father was the former president of the company. After his disappearance, Belobog’s public image took a negative hit. The Agents here are Koleda Belobog, Ben Bigger, Grace Howard and Anton Ivanov. Ben Bigger is a bear Thiren. Koleda is the leader from this faction.

Obol Squad is a faction in New Eridu and it is tied to the New Eridu Defense Force Obsidian Division and Defense Force. Sergeant Soldier 11 is the head of the squad.

The Criminal Investigation Special Response Team is a team within New Eridu Public Security. The Members here are Zhu Yuan, Qingyi and the cat Thiren Seth Lowell.

Victoria Housekeeping Co. is a human resource dispatch agency and a faction in New Eridu. They usually take care of the buildings in the Hollows and provide security against the Ethereals and other enemies. The Members are Corin Wickes, Ellen Joe, Von Lycaon and Alexandrina Sebastiane who is also called Rina. Ellen is a shark Thiren. Rina is a ghost Thiren and Lycaon is a werewolf Thiren.

Section 6: Hollow Special Operations Section 6, abbreviated as H.S.O.S.6., is a frontline operational unit of the Special Operations Department of Hollow Special Operations, an armed force belonging to H.A.N.D. They explore Hollow Zero. The Members here are Harumasa, Yanagi, Hoshimi Miyabi and Soukaku. Hoshimi Miyabi is a fox Thiren and Soukaku has devil horns and a devil tail.

Sons of Calydon are a biker gang outside New Eridu. The members are Piper Wheel and Luciana de Montefio who is also called Lucy. There are also other members of this group.