Zero

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Zero was one of thousands of subjects used in Khaenri'ah’s failed experiments. Only a handful survived. Scientists implanted him with a complete Archon Brain, the organ through which true demon gods convert elements into combat power. Such implantation was normally fatal even to Vision bearers, but Zero’s Electro Delusion made him unusually compatible 104 113.

By his introduction, Zero was bound to the Thaliga Family by contractual restrictions and a curse. A family member had promised him freedom after fulfilling his obligations. When Duo Jie awakened him to deal with Lin Yi, Zero insisted that this would be his final service and demanded release afterward. Duo Jie agreed outwardly while privately intending to keep him enslaved 104.

Appearance

• Massive, muscular build: His biceps are described as being as large as Lin Yi’s head 105.
• Lionlike features: After washing, he resembles a male lion walking upright; his eyes are also described as lionlike 104 105.
• “0” shoulder tattoo: The mark identifies him as a distinctive experimental subject and provides the basis for calling him Zero 104.
• Transformed features: His combat mutations include a five- or six-meter-tall frame, steel-hard skin, crimson eyes, and densely packed, spiderweb-like scars 107 116 117.

Personality

Zero is contemptuous and confident in his strength. He initially dismisses Lin Yi as an unworthy Geo Archon because he senses only a faint Geo aura. His hostility toward divine authority is also personal: during their fight, he demands to know where the Geo Archon was when he and others suffered at Khaenri'ah’s hands 105 107.

His arrogance does not prevent careful planning. He identifies Lin Yi’s reliance on defense and counterattacks, exploits openings with surprise attacks, and combines assassination with a scheme to undermine public trust in Liyue’s ruler 107 108 111 113.

Freedom and survival strongly influence his decisions. He demands an end to the Thaliga Family’s control and eventually accepts Lin Yi’s offer of submission when presented with a possible escape from impending death. Afterward, he remains suspicious, imagining that Lin Yi might want to reverse-engineer Khaenri'ah’s technology through him—even though Lin Yi has not decided on such a purpose 104 117 119.

Abilities & Skills

Electro Delusion Techniques

• Demonic Thunder: Creates thick violet lightning that forms an electric net, intercepting Lin Yi’s barrage of Elemental Arrows 105.
• Lightning claw: Produces a pitch-black claw beneath his feet with destructive and corrosive power; its attack sweeps across dozens of meters 107.
• Source of Lightning: Converges purple lightning serpents into a pulsing sphere that explodes outward. The shock wave throws Lin Yi back and leaves his body numb and weak 107.
• Evil Thunder Domain: Releases scarlet-black lightning and greatly increases his combat pressure and speed. Lin Yi ultimately shatters its lightning with the Geo-coated Rockflame Longblade 108.

Archon Brain: Mental Interference

• Releases a disruptive substance that amplifies negative emotions, turning normally calm people violent and erratic 113.
• A small release affects nearly a hundred people during the harbor dispute. Their worsening emotions strengthen the interference in a self-reinforcing cycle 113.
• Directs the crowd’s hostility specifically toward Lin Yi, while observing events from the Thaliga merchant ship through his artificial demon god abilities 113.
• Lin Yi’s initial attempts to eradicate the energy with Divine Authority and Elemental Power fail and worsen its spread 113.
• Ningguang detects an attempt to interfere with her mind and prevents intrusion by guarding her thoughts 113.

Physical Combat and Mutation

• Possesses enough strength to seize Lin Yi by the collar and throw him hundreds of meters from the Jade Chamber 105.
• Uses rapid close-range strikes, ambushes, and a dagger; during their second battle, he stabs Lin Yi through the shoulder 107 116.
• Can regenerate wounds and enlarge his body during combat 107.
• His later mutation gives him a scarlet tongue capable of pursuing and binding Lin Yi’s arm. Lin Yi breaks it with a palm strike 117.
• Enhanced toughness does not make him invulnerable: Lin Yi’s Rock Spears wound him, and prolonged exertion exceeds what his body can sustain 116.

Cursed Thunder Mark

• Places lightning marks on Lin Yi’s chest during their first battle 107.
• Identifies the mark as a special curse originating from Khaenri'ah Technology that allows him to track Lin Yi’s location 108.
• Says removal is possible but requires time. He declines to help while they remain enemies and states that the mark will not otherwise affect Lin Yi for the time being 108.

Flight and Energy Detection

• Uses a Wind Glider to approach the Jade Chamber and patrol the Sea of Clouds 105 119.
• Extended flight consumes substantial corrupt elemental energy and magic power, unlike Lin Yi’s low-cost movement on a Geo Ring 119.
• Senses the arrival of another demon god near Liyue and later detects a fleeting trace of an archon’s aura during the coastal search 117 119.

Unexplained Flame Suppression

• Extinguishes the flames surrounding him with a wave of his hand, without detectable wind or elemental fluctuations 104.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Electro Delusion — Central to his combat abilities and compatibility with the implanted Archon Brain 113.
• Implanted Archon Brain — Complete demon god organ that supplies artificial divine capabilities and mental interference; later fuses fully with him 113 117.
• Wind Glider — Used for aerial travel and reconnaissance 105 119.
• Dagger — Used to pierce Lin Yi’s shoulder in their second clash 116.

Relationships

• Lin Yi — Initially his assassination target and opponent in two major battles. After losing again, Zero kneels and acknowledges him as Emperor. He subsequently assists Lin Yi’s coastal investigation and privately believes that Lin Yi may eventually rival the Heavenly Principles 105 108 117 119.
• Duo Jie — Thaliga Family representative who awakens and deploys him. Zero demands freedom after one final assignment, unaware that Duo Jie intends to disregard the promise 104.
• Muyun — Duo Jie’s son, terrified by Zero’s presence. Participates with his father in the commercial scheme Zero proposes against Lin Yi 104 111 113.
• Ningguang — Notices her importance to Lin Yi during the assassination attempt. Later tries to interfere with her mind during the harbor unrest, but she detects and resists the intrusion 105 113.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Assassination Attempt

After Duo Jie awakens him, Zero locates the Jade Chamber and ambushes Lin Yi. Their battle escalates through several lightning techniques and transformations before Lin Yi reveals enough power to overpower him. Zero admits defeat and explains the tracking curse, but still threatens to kill Lin Yi at their next meeting 104 105 107 108.

Lin Yi permits him to leave rather than risk continuing after his strength and Artifact boosts approach their limits. The victory carries a severe cost: Lin Yi returns to Ningguang injured and collapses, remaining unconscious for three days 108 109.

Harbor Unrest and Second Battle

Before the assassination attempt, Zero also proposes a second plan to Duo Jie and Muyun. Their manipulation of gunpowder merchants supplies the grievance, while Zero’s mind-corroding energy turns the dispute into escalating hostility toward Lin Yi. He directs the interference while recovering aboard the Thaliga ship 111 113.

When a search exposes the ship’s concealed Ironclad Warship and his hiding place, Zero admits responsibility and threatens Liyue’s citizens unless Lin Yi accepts his demand. Their renewed battle spreads across rooftops, streets, the harbor, and the sea. Despite further enhancement and mutation, Zero eventually recognizes that he cannot win 115 116 117.

Submission and Coastal Investigation

Lin Yi offers Zero a possible escape from death in exchange for admitting his crimes and submitting. Zero initially refuses, then accepts and kneels before him. Their confrontation ends just as an unfamiliar demon god presence shakes the sea 117.

Zero subsequently searches the Sea of Clouds alongside Lin Yi. After reporting no useful discovery beyond a fleeting archon aura, he is sent west while Lin Yi searches east 119.

Notable Quotes

“Remember, this is the final time I will act under my contract with the Thaliga Family. Once it is done, you will lift the binding curse on me and let me leave!” 104

“Geo Archon? That's nothing but an empty title. Where were you when we suffered at the hands of the people of Khaenri'ah!?” 107

“Zero pays his respects to the Emperor.” 117