The skies are about to get dark in Zenless Zone Zero, and Vivian's vision may have just given us a hint of what's coming.
No other lore drop in Zenless Zone Zero has really pushed the Phaeton's story forward quite like Version 1.6. While past updates have dropped hints of upcoming events here and there, this one brings Belle and Wise closer to a fate that feels inevitable.
If you've played other HoYoverse games like Honkai Impact 3rd, Genshin Impact, and Honkai Star Rail you know the drill—sooner or later, the main characters, like the Traveler or Trailblazer go through some kind of major trial or loss, and then sometimes undergo a major transformation that changes the game and the direction of the story.
The events in 1.6 open up many doorways for future developments, exposing the Phaeton siblings to increasing danger. However, perhaps the most concerning reveal of all is Vivian’s vision. What does it mean, and will it signal a tragic fate for Belle and Wise?
If you're feeling as lost as we are, let’s break down everything we know so far—what’s happening in the game, the literary references hidden in the story, and our theories about what might happen next.
WARNING: Major spoilers on ZZZ Version 1.6’s main story ahead.
What happened in Version 1.6?
In Version 1.6, Hugo comes to the video store, searching for a video named Children of the Devil. This raises suspicions immediately from Phaeton (Belle or Wise), but Hugo corrects himself and says the video may have been called Children of Gods.
Meanwhile, Lycaon contacts Phaeton and lets them know about the master of Victoria Housekeeping: none other than New Eridu’s mayor—a Mayflower family member who has been at odds with TOPS. Turns out, the mayor also had a connection to Carole Arna, the former teacher and adoptive parent of Belle and Wise. After using some of the data Carole left behind, he got the help of some researchers and they eventually found a way to upgrade the HDD system, and in turn upgrade the eye implants Belle and Wise had. This upgrade, which operates on significantly lower power, restores the Phaeton siblings’ ether aptitude to its original level—meaning they can now enter the Hollows without relying on Eous.
The mayor asks for their help in securing the sacrifice core at an auction hosted by TOPS, but Hugo sweeps in and steals it. A chase ensues, revealing the sacrifice core's role in a planned attack on New Eridu.
To understand the looming threat, Phaeton investigates Bringer’s past. They uncover an old recording from before he became a villain, where he speaks about his time trapped in a Hollow. On the verge of death, Bringer undergoes a revelation: rather than fighting against the Hollows, people should embrace them to survive. His transformation into a radical figure begins as he makes desperate pleas to the Creator.
During this time, Phaeton also learns more about Vivian, whose supernatural abilities allow her to foresee impending tragedies like death, plagues, and similar disasters. Every vision is accompanied by uncontrollable tears, hinting at the severity of the events she predicts. She is associated with Mockingbird and works alongside Hugo, helping the team identify possible locations of other sacrifices.
Phaeton ventures into a Hollow accompanied by Vivian, Hugo, Anby, and Lycaon, seeking answers. The mission takes a dark turn when the group is unknowingly tracked by a member of TOPS. They realise too late that they have inadvertently led the enemy straight to the sacrifice. The situation worsens when Hugo fully betrays them, threatening to kill Phaeton. In a swift and brutal moment, Lycaon intervenes, stabbing Hugo through the heart and throwing him off a building.
Meanwhile, Hartman Ravenlock from TOPS escapes. A shocking revelation follows—Hugo was actually a member of the Ravenlock family, making him an heir to a powerful lineage. The story ends on a dramatic cliffhanger: Vivian has another vision, this time of Phaeton with wings, falling from the sky. Given that her visions always signify tragic events, this foreshadows an impending catastrophe involving the Phaeton siblings.
Is Hugo still alive?
Before we get to the bigger questions, let’s get this one out of the way. Lycaon said he was sure his hand went straight through Hugo’s heart, but several clues suggest Hugo is still alive.
For one, Hugo is already confirmed as a playable character in the next patch, which is the biggest spoiler of all. His Agent Story video will likely shed more light on what’s going on with him, and whether he’s actually shaping up to be a full-fledged villain.
Then there’s his whole speech about becoming the “bad dragon” to slay the real dragon. That definitely doesn’t sound like the words of someone who’s about to die for real.
Then there are other not-so-subtle hints, such as Hugo’s Japanese VA being Jun Fukuyama, who has voiced many characters who faked their deaths or came back from the dead, including Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass), Koro-sensei (Assassination Classroom), and Joker (Persona 5). If we go by this pattern, it looks like Hugo will definitely return sooner rather than later.
Vivian’s vision: The fall of Phaeton
Vivian’s vision of Belle or Wise falling closely resembles two iconic images. The first is "Phaeton" from The Four Disgracers collection, a 1588 collaboration between engraver Hendrick Goltzius and painter Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem. However, in Vivian’s vision, Belle and Wise also have wings, resembling artistic depictions of another of the Four Disgracers: Icarus.
Both Phaeton and Icarus are prominent figures in Greek mythology, where they meet their demise after attempting to reach the sun or attain divine status. This comparison might seem puzzling, as Belle and Wise never sought fame or power. However, delving deeper into Phaeton's myth reveals alternative interpretations of the vision.
The Myth of Phaeton and its connections to Belle and Wise
(Images: HoYoverse, The Met Museum, Fine Art America)
In stories from Greek mythology, Phaeton embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his parentage, eventually reaching the sun palace of Helios. Despite Helios' warnings, Phaeton insists on driving the Sun Chariot for a day. Unable to control its fiery horses—Aethon, Phlegon, Pyrois, and, get this—Eous, Phaeton's reckless ride leads to chaos. He veers too close to Earth, scorching it, then too far, causing freezing temperatures. To prevent further destruction, Zeus strikes him down with a lightning bolt, sending him plummeting into the Eridanos River. His grieving sisters cried tears of amber and are transformed into poplar trees, their sorrowful sighs carried by the wind.
This myth directly parallels the Phaeton siblings in Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ). They originate from Helios Academy before the fall of the capital, and their story revolves around uncovering the truth about their teacher and adoptive parent, Carole Arna.
Theories on the past and future of Phaeton
From here, there are multiple theories about what has happened in the past and what could happen in the future.
If we go by the flow of events in Version 1.6, the chariot provided by Phaeton’s parent, Carole, and the main researcher of Helios Academy, consists of the eye implants, the HDD, and Eous, with the HDD taking a toll on the siblings' bodies.
Now that the HDD has been upgraded and their Ether aptitude has returned to normal levels, Belle or Wise begin venturing into the Hollows themselves, despite their sibling or other Agents expressing concern. By entering the Hollow without the safety of the HDD and Eous, Belle or Wise expose themselves to greater dangers—in fact, they nearly get killed twice in Version 1.6 alone. If this continues, they may face perils beyond their control.
We also don’t know what their newly unlocked abilities are. Does it take a toll on their bodies as well? Others believe the new update helps the story make more sense, because now Belle and Wise won’t “need” the TV.
But remember: their implants, Eous, and the HDD are all connected. In version 1.6, you might have noticed how the “second manager” and Lycaon kept asking the character you control (whether it be Belle or Wise) how they were feeling after entering the Hollows multiple times, and giving reminders for them to rest or take it easier. But perhaps due to newfound excitement, our character kept going, even if it seemed dangerous.
Then there’s Phaeton’s demise. Phaeton in Greek mythology fell into the Eridanos River, and it is no coincidence that one of the last remaining cities on Earth is named New Eridu. Vivian uncontrollably cries after seeing the vision, which could be a reference to one of the “sisters” of Phaeton in the Greek mythology. Along with other Agents, she might mourn the Phaeton’s fall.
Who is Zeus in this story?
One crucial question remains: who represents Zeus in this parallel? It is certainly not Carole, as she aligns with Helios and Helios Academy.
One possibility lies in the Bringer investigation. Once a righteous man, Bringer, in what he believed to be his final moments, had a revelation—rather than resisting the Hollows, humanity should embrace them.
He then pleaded to the mysterious Creator, who seemingly desires the Hollows to consume the world.
If Carole has indeed been training them to fight back, it would explain why the Exaltists or the Creator, who may very well be Zeus in this story, want them eliminated.
In Greek mythology, Zeus struck down Phaeton to protect the Earth. If the Creator, who wants everyone to embrace the Hollow and become ethereals themselves, is the equivalent of Zeus, then the Hollows are considered “earth” in this scenario—and therefore, Phaeton, who could be a threat to their plans, must be struck down.
But there’s a lot more that we don’t know about the Creator—because there just might be another powerful force or organisation calling the shots. So for now, while most clues point to the “Creator” as Zeus, we don’t know the exact entity or organisation is behind it.
Rewinding the past, or looking into the future?
Another theory takes us back to Version 1.0, where Phaeton’s HDD was hacked. Here, the player’s character loses consciousness and experiences a vision just before Fairy’s voice asks them to sign an agreement.
In the vision, Belle and Wise are standing somewhere overlooking what appears to be the Shiyu Pillars. If we examine that footage, it is actually Belle and Wise at the Scott Outpost, overlooking the Shiyu Pillars and Hollow Zero.
Wise calls Belle by name multiple times, and a rewind button flashes quickly multiple times. Then Wise speaks again: “In the end, it all comes down to us.”
Belle responds, “I won’t give up.”
An explosion follows, consuming them just before the vision ends.
If we follow this path, the vision could have two interpretations. It is possible that the events Belle or Wise saw were from the past. The game’s Lore Teaser, released in its first week, begins with the quote: “Here lies Phaeton, who in the Sun-god’s chariot fared. And though greatly he failed, more greatly he dared.”
If one of Carole’s experiments led to the fall of New Eridu, the Phaeton siblings could have been involved. Looking at the parallels with Greek mythology, the HDD and Eous could have been their chariot. By stepping onto the “chariot,” whatever destruction they may have caused could have triggered the Hollows, just as Phaeton’s reckless ride scorched and froze the Earth.
However, this raises contradictions—if they caused the Hollow disaster, why do they fight against it? Why do they have no recollection of their teacher’s fate?
This brings us to a third theory: the vision Belle or Wise had could actually be a glimpse of the future. Perhaps the siblings have been desperately trying to prevent an impending catastrophe, but despite their efforts, the Hollow spirals out of control, swallowing the Shiyu Towers and consuming them as well.
The role of the Obol Squad and Charon
With Phaeton’s fall seemingly imminent, additional foreshadowing appears in the game. In Anby’s agent story, Wise calls Trigger Charon.
In Greek mythology, Charon is the ferryman who transports souls across the river Styx to the Underworld. Those he takes with him pay with Obols. If Phaeton’s fall represents Belle or Wise’s downfall in the Hollows, the Obol Squad may play a role in either transporting them into the underworld (the Hollows) or retrieving them from it.
What comes next for Belle and Wise?
Vivian’s vision remains open-ended. While her visions often come true, could this be the one time the future changes? HoYoverse games rarely shy away from tragedy, but perhaps a different path awaits. For now, we can only watch closely as Belle, Wise, their allies, and the people of New Eridu slowly move toward an uncertain fate.