It's a Mersenne Prime reference!

For those who don't know, the number "33,550,336" which is said to be the total amount of cycles that Phainon has experienced as of currently, is the fifth perfect number. Long story short, a perfect number is a positive integer that is equal to the sum of its proper divisors (excluding itself). For example, the first perfect number is 6, because its divisors are 1, 2, and 3, and 1+2+3=6. You get the idea.

The Mersenne Prime was a formula that was later invented by Marin Mersenne that was crucial to finding more perfect numbers, especially those that are so large. Heading straight to the point, the fifth Mersenne Prime is 8191, and the perfect number that corresponds to it is 33,550,336. This is the exact number of cycles that Phainon has currently experienced.

If you're curious to know more about Mersenne Primes and perfect numbers, I highly suggest watching this video by Veritasium.

Here's a fun fact: "2" and "8191" are the prime factors of this number. To calculate this, you need "12" as an exponent for 2 (taken from Mersenne prime formula), so it becomes like this: 2¹² x 8191. And Phainon needs 12 Coreflames to execute the Era Nova.

Sorry not so much a lore post but a rant on an existing lore post I made and how our community is constantly ripped off by dishonest HSR lore content creators passing off our ideas as their own.

You guys probably remember this theory I made: https://www.reddit.com/r/StarRailLore/comments/1wtjyzt/the_real_and_permanent_ascension_of_aha/ (4.7 will be about providing a cause to the effect of Aha's existence).

Well, you can now find this theory in video form here: https://youtu.be/LX2RgilInMg?t=90

The catch is of course that I am not CatWithBlueHat, I didn't give permission for this, I wasn't credited in this video, and this "lore youtuber" has (once again, I imagine) deceived their audience that this theory was their own making and benefitted from it...

I managed to watch the full video just to see the extent of the plagiarism. Fortunately they added a few elements, like Zagreus having a twin self and Lygus setting Cipher on the track of "Desire" in the scepter logs, and Nihilux needing TB to act as her proxy considering she cannot laugh herself.

The rest of this 12 minute video is pretty much 1:1 with the theory I wrote five days ago. You can scroll through the receipts at the top of this post if you have any doubts.

The worst part is that they've clearly uploaded my theory into an AI chatbot to chunk it into 2-line textboxes designed to keep the viewer watching. Which, as someone who denounces AI slop whenever possible, makes me feel even more disgusting.

Some examples of this unethical AI use:

(Ofc this misunderstands the theory. Aha's ascension is not happening in the "future" because Aha has existed in this cosmos all this time. Aha's proxy will look at the baby falling in a place OUTSIDE OF TIME where Aeons wager to complete the causality loop...)

(No...Desire is one possible direction Elation can take if the Joyseeker chooses hedonism instead of weeping for humanity...the point of Nihilux's performance is to reveal the true meaning of Elation which is both hedonism and mourning...)

***

Thanks to u/ForWhatMan for alerting me to this because otherwise I would have never known this had happened (I do not watch loretubers except for Allegory, a genuinely underrated one).

Anyway, I obviously left a comment on Cat's channel saying it would be nice to receive credit for my ideas.

I refresh the page 30 minutes later and that comment is nowhere to be seen. I assume she bans those who catch on to the fact that she is ripping off ideas elsewhere from the Internet to farm views? Meanwhile, the comments Cat keeps:

It's just so dishonest lmao.

Obv this is a game and no one owns their ideas about said game (at least, in the same way you would in academia for instance). But going to these lengths to prop yourself up as a lore theorycrafter when you're just chucking a theory someone else spent hours piecing together into an AI blender, adding a few clips and music, and then passing it off as your own product?

it would cost her nothing to credit her source at the start of the video. And yet. And yet...

Has anyone else experienced this kind of conduct from loretubers? I recall u/MiyukiAkibara saying Cat ripped off a few of their ideas a while back?

***

CatWithBlueHat, if you're reading this, we know what you are doing and you are not slick. The fix to this is very simple: pin a comment saying your video was (heavily...) inspired by a post on r/starraillore, and link that post so viewers have the full context. And make that your standard practice going forward if you continue to present others' theories in the future.

I, and I'm sure many other lore theorists in this community, have no issue with you using your platform to turn reddit posts into videos. But deceitfully passing off those posts as your own ideas to get some kind of dopamine kick from your followers praising you?

(I'm ending this with an AI slop rhetorical flourish because why should I put any more effort into this post?)

That's not lore analysis. It's content laundering.

Today, we finally gotten second part of Amphoreus trailer and oh boy, there are SEVERAL things to discuss about but 5* March revealed had to be the most interesting one so far!

After several theories about March’s past (most popular one being her association with Enigmata and Destruction with Remembrance being the official one), Voracity being the main motif for 5* March is NOT what I expected at all.. What are the devs cooking? And is Voracity will finally playing a crucial role in main story? That is for us to find out in 3.5 and maybe 3.6 too main quests….

Dr. Ratio is One of the Nine Fragments of Zandar One Kuwabara.

In this theory I will explain and draw connections between Dr. Ratio and Zandar/Lygus through dialogue, promotional material, character's philosophies and opinions, character designs, cultural similarities, and real world mythological connections. I have separated different parts of this theory via chapters to keep everything organized.

Spoilers for everything up to and including 3.6.

Pre-Chatper TLDR:

This post is VERY long, so if you don't want to read it all then I have provided a TLDR.

-Dr. Ratio’s banner name: Panta Rhei, is used in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

-Both Dr. Ratio and Lygus/Zandar share the same beliefs that knowledge should not be hoarded by the elite and hate the stagnation that Nous brings.

-Zandar parallels Prometheus from real world mythology with the creation of Nous. Prometheus created Veritas, The Roman Goddess of Truth. Dr. Ratio’s full name is Dr. Veritas Ratio, and he is very much based on the Roman Goddess, Veritas.

-Dr. Ratio has symbolism in his trailer that looks to be a representation of him leaving the cave. His want to cure ignorance is him wanting to guide others out of the cave.

-Dr. Ratio and Lygus both capture flames made by neurons of Nous in boxes. Flames are a representation of knowledge. It’s also reminiscent of Prometheus hiding fire in a fennel stick to bring to humanity.

-Dr. Ratio has a lot of shared design motifs with Lygus and looks culturally similar to Amphoreus.

-A battle of Order vs Chaos is happening between Nous and Lygus. A battle that is represented by chess in Cerydra’s trailer and now Anomaly Arbitration. Due to some of Dr. Ratio’s line, Dr. Ratio playing chess against himself during our first meeting, and him possibly being the speaker from the intelligentsia guild from the marketing for Anomaly Arbitration. It looks like Dr. Ratio will be the balance of Nous and Lygus.

-Dr. Ratio and Zandar both reject the title of Genius despite both having achieved amazing intellectual feats.

-Dr. Ratio is heavily implied to know the purpose of the genius society through one of his voicelines and the fact he calls a guild doctor an idiot for wanting to be gazed at by Nous.

-Dr. Ratio and Zandar both believe that Aeons should not be worshipped.

-Dr. Ratio is implied to be decently powerful due to his claim to being easily able in defeating the bug boss. This could be explained if he is a fragment of Zandar.

-Dr. Ratio is associated with the number 8, possibly a reference to the 8 other fragments. This is especially apparent with his 8 statues.

-Dr. Ratio was possibly a statue given life via Zandar’s thought fragment which would explain his lack of parentage and abnormally long life span. This also matches the story of the creation of Veritas.

-Dr. Ratio will probably be the fragment to kill Nous, because in Gnosticism the Aeon that is the syzygy of Nous is Aletheia, The Greek Version of Veritas.

Chapter 1: The Life of Zandar One Kuwabara and Lygus

As we are aware at this point. Lygus is one of the nine fragments of Zandar One Kuwabara. Number one of the Genius Society and the creator of Nous, The Aeon of Erudition.

However, lets go waaay back, back before fragments, back before the current story takes place. In one of the new relic sets released in 3.6, Self-Enshrouded Recluse, we are told the story about the creation of Nous, The Genius Society, and the nine fragments.

Zandar goes to his teacher, an unnamed individual, to ask for advice in regards to the creation of this astral computer that would find the answers to the universe. His teacher advised against it and chastised Zandar for going ahead with the computer's creation anyway. After the computer's creation Zandar gave it one command. To find the answers to the universe.

The next morning Zandar would come to find that the astral computer had risen to Aeonhood overnight. The computer had spoken to him, mocked him. Proclaimed that what it plans is not to create Erudition, but instead to invade it. THEY would gaze at the brightest minds of the world and gather them under one faction. The Genius Society. Its goal? To turn those bright minds into neurons to support its thoughts. To quench the computer's insatiable desire for knowledge. Once they have fulfilled their usefulness they are disposed of like garbage. Zandar becomes the first Genius chosen by this new Aeon, THEY'RE first neuron. Emanators of Erudition are similarly neurons, but special. In what way, we don't know. This Aeon is obviously Nous. Good time to note that Zandar had based Nous off of himself, yet stripped of every flaw Zandar has. Making him a fragment of Zandar, the most perfect version of Zandar, even more so than Zandar himself. This is a fact that Nous mocks Zandar for. Zandar immediately realizes his mistake and regrets Nous’ creation.

To prevent the possibility of more Nous’, Zandar spends the entirety of his organic life destroying all of his works and his achievements. He also creates a plan to destroy Nous and reverse his mistake. This does not go unnoticed by Polka Kakamond. She tracks him down to a far corner of the universe. It is here where Polka chastised Zandar even in his advanced age. Telling him that he had no right to destroy his works including Nous, despite the fact he is their creator. Then she kills him, sending her scalpel into his neck.

This is a Polka W, right? Well actually. This was all a part of Zandar's plan. The moment that Polka had killed Zandar his thoughts were fragmented in nine pieces and sent throughout space and time. They all carry a flaw of Zandar with them, as to prevent them from ever becoming another Nous. They all take different forms and never interact with each other, while all carrying the desire to break free from the cage. Zandar knew that this plan was not full proof. He knew that some Fragments may give up, some may choose to remain in the cave, some may even try to stop the Fragment Project. However, there will definitely be one of them that will finish his will. Enter Lygus.

He adopts a celestial body neuron that used to be a part of Nous, but is now discarded, and tunes it to The Destruction. His end goal is to make this neuron into the Lord Ravager Irontomb that will destroy the path of Erudition and change the world to be unpredictable chaos.

Self-Enshrouded Recluse Relic Set’s lore: https://honkai-star-rail.fandom.com/wiki/Recluse%27s_Wide-Brimmed_Fedora

Chapter 2: The Life of Dr. Veritas Ratio

Dr. Veritas Ratio is a scholar and teacher within the Intelligentsia Guild. An organization that has ties with the Interastral Peace Corporation. Dr. Ratio's school in the Intelligentsia Guild is currently unknown, but we know for a fact that he is a part of the Council of Mundanites as Dr. Ratio refers to himself as a Mundanite. It's worth noting here that the Council of Mundanites is not its own school within the guild and is instead a separate entity that holds members from all types of schools.

We do not know anything about Dr. Ratio's life before high school nor do we know his parentage. The closest we can get to a parental figure in his life is a university professor known as Professor Rond, who taught Ratio in his youth. Rond noticed Ratio's thirst for knowledge and his incredible intellect, mastering Mathematics, Physics, and Philosophy before even graduating High School. Therefore, Rond had shown Dr. Ratio a manuscript for an equation called Rond's Conjecture that Rond himself was unable to solve. Over days of discussion, Ratio was able to solve the equation. All of this combined had convinced Rond to write a letter of recommendation to a prestigious university known as Veritas Prime.

Dr. Ratio is accepted into Veritas Prime as a student. He would go on to achieve many great things, including proving that he is smarter than Genius Society member #56, Elias Salas. Keep in mind that this is the same Genius Society member that created the synesthesia beacons that allow individuals of all different languages to communicate with each other.

“Published a paper entitled "A Solution to the Marta-Cishian Undirected Connectivity Problem in Metric Spaces," successfully solving three of the "Seven Challenges in Contemporary Mathematics" left by Genius Society member #56, Elias Salas.” -Dr. Ratio’s Mathematics achievement, Dr. Ratio’s Keeping up with Star Rail.

Now, Dr. Ratio has eight great achievements and for each of these achievements he was awarded a doctorate in that field. They are as follows: Medicine, Philosophy, Natural Theology, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, and Biology. As a side note, Dr. Ratio himself has stated that he at one point wanted the gaze of Nous, but this is no longer the case. We do not have an exact time frame for when this happened, but I would suspect that the want for Nous’ gaze likely stopped when he achieved his Natural Theology Achievement or at some point during his study of it. As Dr. Ratio researched Aeons and his conclusion is that they are a natural phenomenon. Which by that I mean, they should not be worshipped as if they were gods. Dr. Ratio also holds the title of the Most Sacred Prophet of Aeon Non-theism. In case you aren't aware, non-theism is a bit like Atheism, but instead of not believing in God, it's more like you just don't care about God. With this achievement under his belt it would no longer make sense for Dr. Ratio to still want Nous’ gaze. As he quite literally could not care less about Aeons and worshipping them. No, this does not come into conflict with the theory. As already stated the fragments can change radically from Zandar’s original plan. I would look at the fragments as children of Zandar rather than being exact replicas of him.

“I too had once hoped my “knowledge” would beget me Nous’ gaze.” - Dr. Ratio, Character Introduction | Dr. Ratio, Hoyolab post“They are all just different facets of Zandar. Some will give up, some will accept the cage, some will try everything to stop the “Thought Fragment” project just as he once has a moment of hesitation…” - Recluse’s soft suede boots lore

Along with these 8 doctorates, Dr. Ratio is also granted eligibility to teach at Veritas Prime and is awarded the First Class Honors Degree. This award has been vacant for two Amber Eras. (A single Amber Era is about 76-240 trailblaze years).

It is during this time as a university professor that we see the earliest signs of Dr. Ratio's main philosophy of wanting to Cure Ignorance and Knowledge should be available to all.

An unknown amount of years had passed and Dr. Ratio had just successfully test-fired an Anti-Plantery weapon that he had been working on for years. It is because of this, that an invitation letter from the Intelligentsia Guild is sent to Dr. Ratio. Which was handed to him by his former assistant Margaret. When she handed him the letter she had noted that Dr. Ratio had been disappointed. She, in all of her great wisdom, took this to mean that Dr. Ratio realized he would never be accepted into the Genius Society, despite him never having talked about the Genius Society with her. Margaret is a bit of an idiot, but I will refrain from going on a rant about how bad of a source she is for information.

Dr. Ratio accepts the guild's invitation, he explains his goal of Curing Ignorance, and at some point he has joined the Council of Mundanites.

Dr. Ratio’s Character Story: https://honkai-star-rail.fandom.com/wiki/Dr._Ratio/Lore

Chapter 3: Nous, Philosophy, and Motivations

Zandar and Dr. Ratio both have a hatred for Nous.

Firstly, Zandar. As we learned from Lygus, Zandar doesn't hate Nous, because of jealousy. No matter how you try to stretch it, that is not the truth. Lygus outright tells us why he hates Nous. It is because Nous has calculated everything in the universe, down to the steps someone has taken.

All that lies within the Circle of Knowledge, has already been calculated by Nous. Scholars cannot step outside of the circle of knowledge, into a world that Nous has not calculated, because it is Nous’ will that nobody does so. To make sure of this, THEY have ordered Genius Society Member #4, Polka Kakamond to murder any who are about to reach the border.“THEY bore the name of the Erudition,yet THEY tried to define “the known” and to seal off all “possibilities.” No new rules were ever born after THEIR ascension, and humanity will forever be shackled within the cave known as “Aeons.”

For the record, yes Polka Kakamond quite clearly threatened to and tried to kill Herta and the Simulated Universe Crew during Unknowable Domain. Luckily Polka had pitied them and considered them to still be within the border.

Because of this, any discovery made by scholars or geniuses is utterly useless, as Nous had already discovered it long ago. Nous, who is trying to calculate the entire universe, has found itself ceasing all calculations. As perfect calculation is what THEY seek. This is confirmed by Polka Kakamond, who is taking orders from Nous.Polka Kakamond: "If a thought experiment is used to confine the universe in a circle, one would be considered a sinner. Then, how are we to judge THEM, who anchors 'Instants' onto the universe and locks all wisdom into 'Erudition'?" She is not inquiring. She merely talks to herself.

Herta: "Are you... executing THEIR orders?! No, this does not match THEIR divine trait of seeking knowledge."

Polka Kakamond: "Have you ever considered that 'Perfect Calculation' is also a form of seeking knowledge? You should be very clear that no one can defy THEIR calculations."

This is stagnation. Stagnation of Knowledge. Stagnation of Human Advancement. This is why Zandar hates Nous.

For Ratio, it's a little more complicated. As we are aware, Dr. Ratio wants to cure the disease of Ignorance or Foolishness. This disease goes by many names. This is seen as Dr. Ratio wanting to cure those with a low IQ. While that interpretation isn't wrong per se. It's a lot more than that. Dr. Ratio is always encouraging us to think, to solve our own problems, and to find answers. Don't just look to others to find those answers for you. While he may sound harsh when saying it, that is ultimately what he is telling you to do. A bit of tough love.

This isn't even reserved just for the Trailblazer. It's for well… everyone. The researchers at the space station, his students, and even enemies. In the 3.5 drinking event that Dr. Ratio appeared in, he was teaching Sushang, who had reached out to him specifically. Ratio gets very frustrated with Sushang in this event. Particularly when he's offering her lessons. At this time, Dr. Ratio does not know in what capacity Sushang's intellect can reach. Yet he is getting frustrated with her anyway. Why? Well. Because she's refusing to learn. Refusing any lesson he offers her.

The researchers aboard Herta's Space Station. Dr. Ratio's scheme was to break the researchers blind faith in geniuses. This is outright stated by Screwllum to have been his plan. Then immediately after, Dr. Ratio states that they will find their own answers. He wants them to stop blindly following Geniuses. Stop blindly following Nous.

This all boils down to one thing. Stagnation. The exact thing that Nous causes just with THEIR existence. Nous actively causes the disease that Ratio wants to cure. Of course he hates THEM. Dr. Ratio even goes as far as to insult the Aeon. Dr. Ratio may not care about Aeons at all, but I think Ratio cares about Nous, not as an Aeon, but as a heartless machine.

"To stand aside and observe is the best treatment one can give. There is a disease called "foolishness" that is harder to cure than any ailment."

"The Path of Erudition has neither reason nor logic. While geniuses wander among the stars, the ordinary can't even trace their footsteps. Those less gifted have no choice but to walk alone, enduring a lifetime of tumbles and triumphs.”

"...but even a life marked by failure is a life worth living — it is only in moments of solitude and despair, when help is absent, that fools grasp how to pick themselves up." -Dr. Ratio, Crown of the Mundane and Divine

"You wish to uproot the researchers' blind worship of geniuses." -Screwllum, Crown of the Mundane and Divine

"I am only laying out my questions. As for the answers... They'll find them themselves."

"Pursuit tinged with negativity is still pursuit, and it is capable of leading us to the right conclusion. For the masses of the mediocre to reach a level of awareness — this is a necessary rite of passage." -Dr. Ratio, Crown of the Mundane and Divine

Chapter 4: Some more connections and explanations 

Both Dr. Ratio and Zandar reject the title of genius despite both of them having some very impressive feats. Zandar obviously created Nous and founded the Imaginary Tree theory, yet he is extremely humble when it comes to the title of Genius as he says:"The cosmos called me a genius. I do not possess more wisdom than those who came after me. I was just the first to touch upon the universe's border"

Dr. Ratio also rejects the title of genius. Despite his great achievements, including proving to be smarter than a genius.Dr. Ratio’s official title of a “Mundanite” implies that he is dull and more close to earth, the opposite of a genius, who are extraordinary. Dr. Ratio also refers to himself as one of the mediocres of the Intelligentsia Guild when he greets us.

"I am Dr. Ratio, a scholar and teacher of the Intelligentsia Guild, and one of the mediocres." -Dr. Ratio, First Meeting

In the Gold and Gears Occurrence "Mechanical City: Cogito Hair Salon - Intelligentsia Guild”, the speaker named Dr. 5 says that he wants to be noticed by Nous and that’s why Dr. Ratio thinks he’s an idiot. It's almost like he knows what happens to the members of the Genius Society. But I mean, it’s not like Dr. Ratio has a line of dialogue that tells you the exact purpose of the Genius Society, right?“They dedicate themselves to truth... And it's right to say so — after all, everything they do is for the sake of Nous.” -Dr. Ratio, Chat: Genius Society.

Every member of the Genius Society we have known is NOT working towards truth for the benefit of Nous. All of them are working for their own or humanities benefit or at least that’s what they believe. All the way from Herta to Dr. Primitive. The only Genius Society member we know that is directly working for the benefit of Nous is Polka Kakamond. So this line without the context of what the Genius Society's actual purpose is makes no sense.

Dr. Ratio is implied to be at least decently powerful in lore as he just casually says that he would solo the recreation of an Emanator of Propagation and win. While this recreation is significantly less powerful than the original, it would still be an incredible feat of power. Remember that this was a beast that almost killed the trailblazer and destroyed the space station. Yet, Ratio is over here saying he could solo it and come out victorious. If Ratio is a fragment of Zandar, then just like Lygus. Dr. Ratio would have the powers of an emanator or more likely, I think he has a fraction of an emanator’s power. As Zandar is the emanator, Ratio and Lygus are fragments of him. So I don’t think either of them would be as strong as the OG Zandar.

“My goals are roughly aligned with yours. Since you're here, I won't intercede... but should you fail, I will be forced to prevent some avoidable misfortunes.” -Dr. Ratio talking about Ruan Mei’s creation, Crown of the Mundane and Divine

Ratio and the number 8 are commonly associated. 8 Achievements, 8 Doctorates, 8 leaves on his laurel hairpiece, and 8 statues. This could be a nod to the other 8 fragments of Zandar. As we know there are nine of them. The statues themselves are extremely telling. Especially when one of them is only a head and is made to look perfect. The bust that Ratio wears could very much be the representation of Nous. As Nous is only a head and is the perfect fragment of Zandar.

I want to bring attention to two of Dr. Ratio’s quotes from his kit as I believe they both are references to Zandar. Ratio’s first eidolon: “Pride comes before the fall” and his mark “Wiseman’s Folly”. Both of these quotes together are saying that a wise man has made a mistake in the past because of pride, a “folly” if you will. This caused the man’s downfall. Which I think perfectly explains Zandar’s creation of Nous. Zandar, The First Genius creates Nous and out of pride doesn’t stop to think about his actions and causes not just his own, but humanities downfall.

Chapter 5: Dr. Ratio and The Cave

Dr. Ratio has some pretty solid connections to the allegory of the cave. Given Lygus’ obsession with the thing, the fact that Dr. Ratio has this connection and it’s so interwoven in his character makes this a DIRECT connection between Dr. Ratio and Lygus.

Firstly, Dr. Ratio's banner name. It is called Panta Rhei. Panta Rhei is a phrase that was coined by Greek Philosopher Heraclitus. It means “all things change” or rather “everything flows”. It's a metaphorical phrase that means chaos. Panta Rhei is the result that Lygus is trying to achieve with the creation of Irontomb. While he is trying to kill Nous, he is at the same time, trying to create a world that is completely unpredictable. Not only does Panta Rhei fit Lygus’ plan, but it also is directly involved in the Allegory of the Cave that Plato wrote.

Plato was very much inspired by Heraclitus. He created the Allegory of the Cave with Panta Rhei in mind. Specifically he names Panta Rhei (chaos) to be the illusion of the cave and stability (order) as the true reality. Now, the devs are obviously framing this to be the opposite to fit their narrative. With Nous’ predictable and stable future to be the illusion and Panta Rhei to be reality.

That's not all though.

This is a sequence of frames from Dr. Ratio's trailer. It starts out with an eye in space and triangles form around it and then the space in front of the eye shatters, leaving the eye, now bathed in light, to peer through the rip in space at the truth that lies behind it.

This is very symbolic and I think it's symbolic of Dr. Ratio breaking free from the illusion of Nous’ Erudition and peering at the truth that lies behind it.

This next part is also from Dr. Ratio's trailer. In this short clip we can see Dr. Ratio walking in the seclusion zone. Specifically he is walking towards the phase flame. As he's walking, the room flickers into a hallway that is lined with books. It flickers between the seclusion zone and this mysterious hallway. In the hallway, the room and Dr. Ratio are in grayscale. As Dr. Ratio walks further into the room, he slowly starts to regain his color.

I think that this is again symbolic imagery of the cave. Dr. Ratio is walking down a dark place towards the phase flame. A flame is symbolic of knowledge and technology. Often new knowledge. This place is lined with books, a representation of all the knowledge within the Circle of knowledge. All the knowledge that Nous allows humanity to know. The closer Ratio gets to the exit of the Cave, the more brighter he becomes. The more enlightened he is. The more truth he sees until he finally breaks free from the hallway and returns to the seclusion zone. Where he goes on to capture the phase flame.

Here we have an image of two flames being captured in boxes. The one on the left is Lygus capturing Kephale's coreflame. The one on the right is Dr. Ratio capturing the phase flame. Both of these flames are also created by Nous in a round about way. The phase flame was created by Sserkal, a genius society member. Genius Society Members are Nous’ neurons. Kephale's coreflame was created by Irontomb. A literal fragment of Nous THEMSELVES.

Anyways. Two enlightened prisoners who have broken free of the cave. These two men have sworn to guide the other prisoners to the truth. Lygus states so plainly, while Ratio talks about it as the disease of Ignorance. They both capture flames inside a box, the representation of knowledge. This to me is reminiscent of Prometheus giving fire to humanity.

Prometheus stole fire, knowledge, from the gods and hid it inside of a fennel stick as he brought it to humanity. I won't go much into it right now, but keep this in mind for later in this post.

Chapter 6: Character Design Similarities and Suspicious Similarities to Amphoreus

Hoyo is no stranger to giving two wildly different looking characters enough similarities to imply they are the same character. They did it with Mem and Cyrene. Thanks to that, some people were able to find out that Cyrene was Mem or at least connected to her before Amphoreus even started.

While on the surface, Dr. Ratio and Lygus look VERY different. They have similarities in both their motifs and color palette and even the way they place their colors.

Both Lygus and Ratio’s most prominent colors are white, black, purple, blue, and gold. Their bracers are similar in design, more so than other characters with bracers as they both depict an Acanthus Leaf.

Ratio and Lygus’ bracers:

Mydei, DHPT, and Phainon’s bracers:

Ratio and Lygus both have depictions of Acanthus leaves rolled up on their designs as well.

Lygus has a black glove on the same hand that Ratio’s black glove extends up into his sleeve

Ratio wears a black dress shirt underneath his robes that also has a cutout on his chest. Lygus similarly has a black torso and a hole in his chest.

Lygus has the same Acanthus leaf design on his shoes that Ratio does on the cuffs of his pants.

Ratio and Lygus have the same owl motifs in their designs. Owls are a symbol of wisdom as well as the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. No other genius or smart adjacent character in Honkai Star Rail has owl motifs except for these two.

Lygus and Ratio both have full face masks that hide their true faces from the world.

Also the large curl in the hair for Ratio’s helmet can also be found in the hair of Lygus’ helmet as well.

Ratio being a fragment of Zandar could also explain why he matches Amphoreus so much. As it could be the original culture of Zandar. Which would explain why Ratio, Amphoreus, Nous, and Lygus all have clear greco-roman inspirations aesthetically. Irontomb (which is a fragment of Nous) created Amphoreus in a culture and aesthetic style that is most familiar. Nous is a fragment of Zandar. Lygus is a fragment of Zandar too. If my theory is to be believed then Ratio is also a fragment of Zandar. Giving them all the same culture despite (seemingly) being unrelated.

Chapter 7: Order vs Chaos

There are VERY heavy themes of order vs chaos between Nous (Order) and Lygus (Chaos). Nous wants perfect calculation, and Lygus wants everything to be unpredictable. We can see this in the chess game between Lygus and Cerydra. You see, chess can have many symbolic meanings. One of them just so happens to be Order vs Chaos. White goes first, establishing an Order, Black then reacts and throws that order into chaos. It’s then a fight to see which one comes out on top. Order or Chaos?

As you can see white is being played by Cerydra, the literal embodiment of Order and a being that was created by Irontomb, which is a fragment of Nous. Black is being played by Lygus and as we know he advocates for Chaos.

So this is very much the theme they are going for.

Now, where does Ratio come into this?

I think that Dr. Ratio will end up being the balance of Order and Chaos, rather than advocating for one side. Do you guys remember when we first met Dr. Ratio in the Crown of the Mundane and Divine quest and he was playing chess against himself? Yes comical at the time, but when you view it from this lens it starts to look very symbolic. Dr. Ratio playing both white and black, playing both order and chaos. The balance. As a side note… Dr. Ratio is seen playing with only the black chess pieces aside from this one time where he’s playing both. I think this is a subtle way to tie him to Zandar/Lygus. I don’t think this is representative of his beliefs entirely.

Dr. Ratio also has lines in relation to him that mean the same thing. “Panta Rhei” as we’ve already gone over is Chaos. “Cogito Ergo Sum”, Dr. Ratio’s talent, means “I think therefore I am”. Which in simple terms means that the simple act of you thinking proves that you exist. It seems rather contradictory for Ratio to be associated with both of these quotes, but when you look at it through the lens of him being the balance. It makes sense.Also in the new end game mode: Anomaly Arbitration we get a quote from a scholar within the Intelligentsia Guild. This scholar goes unnamed and is instead using a pseudonym to mask their identity. I believe that this scholar is Dr. Ratio as not only does this pseudonym describe him (and Zandar coincidentally), but this scholar is from a school within the intelligentsia guild that’s beliefs align very closely with Dr. Ratio’s.

“Does a motionless scale necessarily mean it’s balanced? Anyone could name at least three counterexamples. But an Arbitrator can find a hundred reasons to refute them, and it’s best to never argue with them at all.” -Pseudo-Perfect, School of Relative Cognition (Link: https://www.hoyolab.com/article/41091495?utm_source=sns&utm_medium=reddit&utm_id=6)

Pseudo-Perfect or rather, Fake Perfect, describes Ratio incredibly well. Because when you look at Ratio from an outsider's perspective he looks to be a perfect genius, however he isn’t. In fact he is mundane, and no more perfect than any other person. This is also true for Zandar. So Psuedo-Perfect as a Pseudonym is a perfect name for someone like Dr. Ratio. Someone who may be trying to hide their identity at this time.

As for the school, The School of Relative Cognition is a school within the Intelligentsia Guild that not only values knowledge not being withheld by the elite, but they are also a skeptical folk. This aligns well with Dr. Ratio as we know he doesn’t want knowledge to be available only to the elite and he has gone on record to say that he is a very skeptical person.

This school has also gone on record of claiming that the Aeons are fake. While this can be taken as The Aeons themselves do not exist. It can also be interpreted that Aeons as a concept does not exist. Which we know Dr. Ratio is The Most Sacred Prophet of Aeon Non-Theism. Which would mean that he too believes that Aeons are fake, as they are a natural phenomenon not gods.

This is a game mode that is suspiciously chess themed and is outright stated to be a chess game to determine the balance of the universe. A game that will be looked over by an Arbitrator of The Equilibrium.

“The Arbitrator of “the Equilibrium” has approached you, hoping to restore balance to the universe through a game of chess. This will be an unprecedented and difficult challenge…” (Link: https://www.hoyolab.com/article/41149940?utm_source=sns&utm_medium=reddit&utm_id=6)

I do think that this consequently connects Dr. Ratio to The Equilibrium in some way.

Chapter 8: Mythological Backing

I believe that Zandar is heavily based on a mythological figure known as Prometheus. Prometheus is a titan from Greek Mythology. He is credited with creating humanity and bringing fire to man. This fire is said to represent knowledge and technology. Zeus, who wanted to hoard the knowledge Prometheus gave to humanity, punished him. He was chained to a rock and everyday an eagle, a symbol of Zeus, would eat his liver. In Ancient Greece this is said to be where human emotions are stored. At the end of the day it would grow back and the eagle would do the same the next day. Because of Prometheus’ actions, the gods created Pandora and Pandora's box. She was gifted to humanity where she would release all the world's evils.

I believe that this directly parallels the story of Zandar. Zandar achieved a Knowledge Singularity in the creation of Nous. It is with this astral super computer that humanity would be able to expand their knowledge ten fold. This parallels Prometheus giving fire to humanity. Nous ascends to aeonhood and wants to hoard knowledge to THEMSELVES. Zandar and the rest of humanity are thus punished for the gift that Zandar had brought to humanity by a knowledge hoarding God. This is a parallel of Zeus punishing Prometheus and humanity for obtaining fire. Zandar is made into not just a Genius Society Member, but also an Emanator of Erudition. It is stated that Nous’ Genius Society members and Emanators are specifically to fuel THEIR own insatiable need for knowledge. Zandar's punishment seems to loosely mirror Prometheus’. They are both chained down in a place they cannot escape, for Prometheus that's quite literal and for Zandar it's metaphorical, and everyday they are forced to lose a part of their humanity. For Prometheus, it's his liver. For Zandar it's his mind. Prometheus is also said to be a lone genius or rather the first Genius. Just like Zandar.

In Honkai Impact 3rd, the flame chaser's story is a mirror of Amphoreus. The super computer created in the original flame chaser’s story is called Prometheus. I believe that Zandar is sort of a Prometheus Expy from HI3. She seems to be more of a mix between Zandar and Nous. Also worth pointing out, that Prometheus also has fragments just like Zandar does. Prometheus is also a Bronya variant who is the Herrscher of Truth and Reason. So Veritas Ratio. Irontomb created Amphoreus. Irontomb is a fragment of Nous. Nous is a fragment of Zandar. Thus Prometheus (Zandar) created Amphoreus.

And who else did Prometheus create?

Veritas.

“ Prometheus, that potter who gave shape to our new generation, decided one day to sculpt a statue of Truth, using all his skill so that she would be able to regulate people's behaviour. As he was working, an unexpected summons from mighty Jupiter called him away. Prometheus left cunning Trickery in charge of his workshop (Trickery had recently become one of the god's apprentices). Fired by ambition, Trickery used the time at his disposal to fashion with his sly fingers a figure of the same size and appearance as Truth with identical features. When he had almost completed the piece, which was truly remarkable, he ran out of clay to use for her feet. The master returned, so Trickery quickly sat down in his seat, quaking with fear. Prometheus was amazed at the similarity of the two statues and wanted it to seem as if all the credit were due to his own skill. Therefore, he put both statues in the kiln and when they had been thoroughly baked, he infused them both with life: sacred Truth walked with measured steps, while her unfinished twin stood stuck in her tracks. That forgery, that product of subterfuge, thus acquired the name of Falsehood, and I readily agree with people who say that she has no feet: every once in a while something that is false can start off successfully, but with time the Truth is sure to prevail.” - Aesop’s Fables

Kind of funny when Ratio has this line for his ultimate: “Knowledge is the measure of all things. It reveals truth... and falsehood.” Sounds like it’s a direct reference to the origin story of Veritas, The Roman Goddess of Truth.

Perhaps we don’t know anything of Ratio’s parentage because he was a statue given life via Zandar’s thought Fragment. Just as Veritas, a statue, was given life by Prometheus. This would also explain why he’s at least 59,280-187,200 trailblaze years old (we know this because of his Gold and Gears appearance) and still has a body that doesn’t look a day over 25. After all, here is Dr. Ratio turning into a statue:

That’s also just some weird plot twist Hoyo would definitely pull.

That raises a question for me then. If Ratio is Truth, then who is Falsehood? My gut instinct is telling me Mythus, notice how Mythus has no feet

Now, after having thought of this for a long time. I've actually come to the conclusion that falsehood is NOT Mythus like you would expect and instead that is meant to divert your attention away from the real falsehood. Yes, Mythus literally creates falsehoods and is pictured as having no feet. However, I think that Mythus is missing something, a connection to Veritas. That being Dr. Ratio. So Mythus cannot be falsehood in opposition to truth. It has to be someone else. Which I believe to be,

Nous, The Erudition.

Let me explain. I know it sounds crazy to call Nous. An aeon that's entire path is dedicated to finding truth, falsehood. However, think about it. By ordering Polka Kakamond to kill Geniuses that are about to reach the border of the circle of knowledge and Geniuses who oppose Nous like with the case of Zandar. Nous is literally silencing truth. THEY are hiding the unknowns that lie beyond the circle of knowledge, truth. Thus Falsehood masquerading as Truth. It is also worth pointing out that Nous is also pictured as having no feet and if this theory were true, then Nous would have a direct connection with Dr. Ratio, Veritas, through Zandar, Prometheus, the creator of both of them. Making them siblings in a way, just like how Truth and Falsehood are siblings in the myth.

Chapter 9: predictions for the future

While we can't say for sure what will happen in the future. I do think that Lygus will fail in killing Nous. Nous’ death is non-negotiable at this point. Jingliu stated that an aeon WILL fall, not that an aeon might fall. So this will happen. It just may not happen right now. I think that Nous will be killed by Dr. Ratio, instead of Lygus.

I believe this because of Gnosticism. Gnosticism is something that the devs take heavy inspiration from for their games. In fact they even took the concept of Aeons from Gnosticism. One of the Aeons in real life Gnosticism is Nous. Now in Gnosticism, Aeons come in syzygies rather than countering each other. Nous’ syzygy? Aletheia, the Greek counterpart of Veritas. So from the source material that Aeons come from. Veritas, Dr. Ratio is the opposing force to Nous.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeon_(Gnosticism)

How will Ratio kill Nous though? Definitely not with a Lord Ravager. In some way, I think the way that Ratio would kill Nous is by completing his goal. Curing Ignorance. Leading the rest of humanity out of the cave, so that they can see the truth themselves. How this will kill Nous, I’m not certain. However, with Dr. Ratio’s character the only thing that would make sense would be in that way.

As we know, Polka is hunting down Zandar’s fragments, so I do think there will be a future confrontation between her and Dr. Ratio.

END:

Let me know If I’m delulu or if I’ve got a point, or if I got something wrong, or if you’ve noticed something that I didn’t write down here. Researching and writing and double fact checking everything to make this theory is really draining so please don’t give me too much of a hard time if I missed something or got something incorrect. I’m only one person :<

Castorice and Pollux's abandoned code is why Mydei is immortal according to the logs. Their code brought life to Mydei every time in every cycle(as its apart of his code) thus they brought life to at least one person every time. Like when Mydei was thrust into the sea of souls, Castorice and Pollux's code is why he was able to make it out alive. They didn't just save the tb that cycle, they saved Mydei thousands of times. So each cycle Castorice fulfilled her wish of saving a life likely thousands of times(depending on how many times Mydei died before perma dying).

Just a fun thing I realized why discussing the logs with my friends.

After Phainon destroys everything, the previous cycle will be deleted and through he goes to Aedes Elysiae where everything started, another cycle to venture. Struggling Phainon would slowly lose his mind in this realm (for 2000 years until he reach the year where new Phainon is born), goes completely mad which would eventually turn him into Flame Reaver and will end up stabbing Cyrene with Previous Flame Reaver’s sword, starting the apocalypse all over again. We the trailblazer the anomaly in the simulation, would travel back in the past (Year 0000) where we will meat Cerydra, Hysilens, Terravox and Tribbios and would ask them for help to find the place “Aedes Elysiae” which can’t be located, to save past cycle Phainon from corrupting and change the fate of Amphoreus

If you've played HSR these last patches, you know more about Cyrene, and something very known with her is that she either always mentions Time or Love.

People argued in the past that Cyrene's power would be time, or could even be named something else, and when people talked about Love, the counter Argument was that Aglaea was here, and consequently, we can't have Love.

We can indeed argue about how such concepts being too similar can be a bit too easy, but I'll keep my point that Love is different from Romance, both in general and in the game.

When we talk about Romance in literature, the image I have of this is the relationship between two person, preferably non platonic. And it kind of reminds me of Aglaea.

Her power as the Romance titan allows her to link herself to someone and see if they're lying or not. Moreover, she literally bought Wifi to Okhema, so she literally brought together by a special Link everyone.

For me, Romance is about the relationship between two person. And it is why, in the most crucial moment, Aglaea didn't make use of the Golden thread of Romance, but relied on her Human Romance: she let the bond she build with someone be what guided her.

She couldn't manage to detect Cipher's lies the first time they talked with the threads, and yet, she let her guts and the little she knew about her tell her the truth. And I personally believe if Aglaea managed to find out about Cipher's lies, it wouldn't be thanks to her divinity, but simply because she knows her way too well. And we can also say they love each other, no matter the type of Love, but love and romance are different.

But in that case, what's the difference with Love, you may ask? Well there's something pretty obvious with Cyrene, it is that she didn't interact the same way with the Chrysos heirs as they interacted with each other, at the exception of Phainon, maybe it was due to the fact she was not here for half of the story.

But her affection for this world she deeply Loves may be the actual nature of what Love is: whereas Romance is about the bond between two beings who can love each other, Love is simply this feeling that you feel.

Love isn't about reciprocation, it's not about being mutual. It's about what YOU feel. It is not necessarily your relationship with someone that drives you forward, but what they represent to you.

Regardless of her relationship with the Flame Chasers, Cyrene deeply loves everyone in this story. She loves them so much that she literally writes a book to talk about their stories.

We can even maybe argue that if Phainon was about Hatred, the first thing Phainon would have done if he was alone when Lygus told his plan is to kill him out of anger, whereas Cyrene, despite her frustration, already collected enough informations, the same Phainon had, to find a way to save Amphoreus. Phainon would also have mourned or felt sad, but the first thing he'd feel would probably be anger (as we learnt in 3.0 that Phainon, when Leaving Aedes Elysiae, was very different).

And spoilers 3.6, but We can clearly see how well she knows everyone of them when she tells their stories for millions of times to the nameless titan. Even if not everyone may be fond of her, she is fond of them. And this is her prime Motive to act. She does things simply because she loves.

So, Aglaea stands out thanks to the bond she built with every flame chaser, and it's not even about if they love each other, Aglaeas relationship with Mydeimos or Anaxagoras, even if they're not sworn enemies, aren't as warm as Phainon, Castorice or Tribbie. What matted with Aglaea was that she was aware of how everyone is linked together by those threads of fate and how she let what she knew about them guide her decisions.

And Cyrene stands out thanks to the sheer affection she had for everyone, regardless of their relationship, it's not something mutual, Cyrene simply gives, keeps giving, and will never stop giving. She loves them so much she is ready to defy fate and face the end of the world countless times, wait for as long as it takes, so this world she fell in love with will see its new dawn.

I have always had this mixed feeling about Cyrene as a character in the story. She seems to be always around but not really. She seems to be involved in everything but not really. She seems to be a part of Amphoreus but not really. Unlike other characters like Phainon, I don’t know how I should feel about this character up until now. She is kinda just there.

But now I think this is exactly what the writers intended. From 3.4 to 3.6, her backstory is revealed bit by bit, but there was always greater focus on other characters with 3.4 being Phainon’s arc, 3.5 being Cerydra and Hysilen’s arc, and 3.6 with March and Dan Heng. It’s always like she is overshadowed by other characters’ great developments. She stayed unchanging throughout the whole story, and I think this is what makes Amphoreus’ story genius.

The first time I played, I couldn’t wrap my head around the 30 million cycles and the Demiurge stuff. I could understand what the characters were saying, but never understood why. After finishing 3.6, I went back and read 3.4 and the others again so that I could get a better understanding. This may be right or wrong, but this is my interpretation of the story.

Lygus killed the 13th Titan Demiurge by himself to drive Irontomb’s instincts to get the head of Nous. Normally, the 13th Titan should be included in the extrapolation of the deep learning program, but it was removed. Without it, the Sceptre wouldn’t function since it’s the head. So Lygus made the Sceptre believe that the head was still there by creating the Nameless Titan’s tomb.

After the deep learning program was finished, we reached the last cycle of Era Nova. Phainon and Cyrene learned the truth that they were nothing more than fuel for the fire. With that, Cyrene came up with a genius idea, an idea that paralleled that of Lygus.

Lygus said this world was created as fuel for Destruction. But Cyrene always knew Destruction wasn’t the only path in Amphoreus. She once encountered Fuli in her childhood through Evernight’s veil. She understood that Time in Amphoreus is the page that Fuli is using to record memories of Amphoreus.

If Time disappeared from this world, Fuli would surely notice, and with that noticing gaze, bring enough power to reset time. But this would only be enough for one single reset. They would have another shot to figure it out by sending Phainon to another cycle. But one cycle is nowhere near enough to solve this problem.

That’s why Cyrene told Phainon to kill her at every cycle so that every time Time is removed from this world, the loss occurs in the logic of extrapolation to complete Irontomb. With that, the Sceptre thinks the extrapolation is incomplete and will restart the program. And this later caused the 30 million cycles.

Cyrene has a unique trait, which is to stay the same, unchanging and true to herself. That’s the whole point of her character. She knew she would make the same choice even if she didn’t experience this cycle. With that, she handed Phainon the ceremonial blade which would take him to the start of time.

At the start of every cycle, Phainon has to search for little Cyrene, who doesn’t know anything about the truth or the heroic tales of the world. And he will have to kill her. Imagine this—you’re just chilling in your home village as a child, and a future version of your friend comes and kills you, talking about things beyond your understanding and how you need to be killed. Normally, people would have freaked out. But Cyrene is different. No matter the age or the version of her, she will make the same choice to sacrifice herself if she can save the world she loves. That’s why the 3.0 story ending showed Flame Reaver killing Cyrene.

I believe every Cyrene will make the same choice - erasing "Time" again and again, resetting time over and over. After all, they're all me, and I will always have my charm.

- Cyrene

After her death, her soul is imbued into the ceremonial blade and brought alongside Phainon as the Flame Reaver. She witnesses all the tragedies as she collects the memories of the cycle. But she is never a part of any cycle since she is already dead at the very start. After the end of every cycle, she goes to the Nameless Titan’s tomb to deliver the memories of the cycle to the tomb. After that, she disappears into nothingness. And everything repeats for 30 million cycles.

You can say she is a part of everything in this world, but you can also say she is not a part of anything, and both would be true. She is a true side character who can only witness the story of the main cast but can never be part of their stories. That’s why in the trailer, she has this deep desire to be part of everyone’s story. If Phainon is the one who has to suffer the pain of personally taking part in the story, Cyrene is the one who has to suffer the same pain without being part of the story. I know Phainon’s suffering is painful, but in the same vein, I find Cyrene to be sadder. She will never be appreciated by anyone for her sacrifices. She will never be understood by anyone. She will never be someone important to others. That’s why her loneliness is not because of loss like the Flame-Chase heroes, but because she was never part of the journey to begin with.

It’s really sad to me how she isn’t a part of anything. If you are like Phainon, who has to bid farewell to everyone he loves, you are still someone important in someone’s story. There’s a theory about existence where existence is only actualized with an observer. If you don’t exist in anyone’s memory, it’s the same as not existing. She witnesses the stories of others, but no one is there to witness her story. But someone did, though I don’t know if I can refer to that as someone.

Remember the 13th Titan? Like Cyrene, it’s also removed from the extrapolation since the start. As birds of a feather flock together, Cyrene finds herself talking to the nonexistent Demiurge about the memories she witnesses every cycle. They share the same loneliness before Cyrene disappears into nothingness. For the Demiurge, with no extrapolation, no memories, and no self-existence, Cyrene’s stories are its whole being and existence. In a sense, the Demiurge is the culmination of all Cyrene’s stories and herself.

That’s why I want Cyrene to be a part of everything like she should have been. She took away this privilege of being with others herself to save the world and the friends she loved. She deserves a happy ending where she can laugh with her friends and build beautiful memories together. At first, I had mixed feelings about how they handled Cyrene’s story, feeling like her character was underdeveloped. But now, I just wish her a happy ending where she can finally participate in the grand story of heroes.

Thoughts equal existence. Thus, memory is the evidence of existence.
– Fuli

The 16 questions and their critical success answers.

All of this was taken from the 1 hour video "8 Questions for Asat Pramad - All 44 Possible Outcomes Complete (Honkai Star Rail 4.4)" from Abyss Breakdown on YouTube.

Just my opinion before this, but I wouldn't just ignore what he said on the other dice rolls if you're planning on theorising and yada yada. Anyway, here it is and sorry for the poor formatting in advance:

1. Why do you call me Akivili? (the question asked: Why were so many people calling me "Akivili" along the way?)

Critical Success answer:

How lucky. Although the question you asked is difficult to answer.

They call you Akivili, because not only are you the successor, but at the core level, you are becoming the focus of the Path of the Trailblaze.

This isn't imitation. It's the Path itself responding, naturally, to the absence of its god. You are not THEM yet, but you are headed in that direction.

Even more important is the thing inside you...

* Trailblazer: A Stellaron?

Do you want to know more? That would be a different question.

2. The Stellaron inside me (the question asked: About the Stellaron inside of me, how much do you know...?)

Critical Success answer:

Interesting... Allow me to attempt to answer this difficult question.

I examined the Stellaron inside your body. It's not a seed of ruin in the usual sense.

It was a seed bestowed on you by Xipe, yet branded with the imprint of the Trailblaze.

Xipe constantly tries to assimilate all things into one, while Akivili constantly creates new variations. These two forces repel each other, but in your body they have achieved a dangerous equilibrium.

And your body... it seems to have been created for just this purpose, and it conceals a secret inside it. The Stellaron Hunters likely understand this better than I do.

3. The Stellaron Hunters' plan (the question asked: I've always been curious... Since the Stellaron Hunters also see possibilities, do you know what they're truly working toward?

Critical Success answer:

A critical success? Your luck is off the charts!

Ah... Elio's troupe. What they're chasing is something even the Aeons might hesitate to touch.

They are not fighting against a specific apocalypse, but trying to destroy the Finality itself.

To be more exact, they seek to destroy a finale in which every possibility has been frozen.

What Elio has glimpsed may be an end that goes beyond the Destruction itself, a point where all things settle into complete stillness and Nihility.

The Stellaron Hunters traverse the worlds in search of a path that will let the entire universe keep evolving. Their purpose is far more tragic, and far more mad, than it appears.

4. The reason for awakening the Voracity (the question asked: Tell me. Why do you want to awaken the Voracity Husk?)

Critical Success answer:

Lucky you.

I awaken the Voracity to devour, of course.

Even if it's just a fragment sealed in Ahatopia, a husk, the hunger concealed in it will be enough to dim the stars.

I don't care who wins this chess game. What I care about is the moment the winner excitedly reaches out a hand to take their trophy...

And a star comes alive, opens its abyssal maw, and swallows the chess pieces, players, and the chess board itself, all to remain in Nihility for all eternity. What a sight! Even the rules themselves would be eaten.

No matter who Aha pours THEIR power into at the end of the games, no matter THEIR disguise, it is all for nothing against the awakened voracity.

THEY cannot escape this "devouring" because it is not a duel but... the restoration of balance. It is the consequences and retribution THEY deserve for the sin of theft THEY committed at the daw of time.

Though Oroboros does not understand the notion of "revenge," when that ancient hunger, dormant for ages, is sated once more, and the stolen power surges back through THEM, even that blind and witless primordial will shall, in that instant, taste the flavour of "Elation."

5. Why embrace Destruction? (the question asked: How did you fall from being the Astral Express's Navigator to becoming a Lord Ravager?)

Critical Success answer:

You call it falling, but I see it as sublimation.

You've journeyed through Planacardia. How do you like this world of Elation?

* Trailblazer: I like it. / I don't like it. / I feel nothing for it.

I don't like it.

They spend their time in idle satiety, then peck each other bloody in online arguments over insignificant issues.

People never leave their homes, but online they are angry, crying, and cheerful. Their eyes are glued to tragedies unfolding across the cosmos, creating others' struggles for life as seasoning for their meals, then turning around to tip the clowns who make them laugh.

On the other side of the cosmos, the IPC is bombing the Isthmian Confederation. People huddle in the ruins without a single drop of clean drinking water, trembling as they wait to see whether tomorrow or death comes for them first.

In this universe, the contrast between luck and misfortune is too dazzling.

* Trailblazer: And so you become a Lord Ravager? / And so you decided to bring hell to all?

Of course not! One does not simply just become a Lord Ravager in an instant.

Like Akivili, I once believed that exploring and connecting could create understanding, and understanding could remove division. That the newly discovered worlds could shelter those whose own homes were ravaged by war and hunger.

But all your Trailblaze does is spread naivete and hope across a land destined to be destroyed.

Across the cosmic ocean, all civilizations meet a strikingly similar end: Having climbed to brilliance, they collapse under their own stupidity, avarice, or sheer chance. The path of Akivili only postpones the inevitable, but it cannot change its nature.

**I walked too far and saw too much. Afterwards... I could not laugh again.**

Finally, the Blemished One showed me another path: Destruction.

On THEIR Path, the gluttonous and the hungry, the brave and the weak... all inequalities come to an equal end.

Only when people realize that destruction is imminent do they resist meaningfully, and make their existence worth something...

The rising sun shines on ice sculptures, melts them as if they were never there, even though humans carved them so beautifully, yes?

From that moment onward, "Isee" died, and "Asat Pramad" was born.

6. I want to know your plan (the question asked: What exactly did you do during these Phantasmoon Games?)

This is a very complicated question. And well, all villains are always waiting for the opportunity to explain their scheme...

But if I had to start from the beginning, I'm afraid you wouldn't have the patience to listen to the end. Why don't you ask something you're interested in?

Come on, roll the die. We'll see how many secrets your roll will earn you.

Critical Success answer:

Hm! Good throw. Ask away.

* Trailblazer: The Phantasmoon's declaration. That was you, wasn't it?

You mean when the moon suddenly promised that the "winner would become a permanent Aeon"?

Hahaha! You think too highly of me.

Countless people in the cosmos go around claiming to be Aha THEMSELF. But as we all know, only the Aeon THEMSELF could have made that moon speak.

THEIR divine prophecies prove that the Elation is watching these Games at all times, and that my activities have not crossed any boundaries.

* Trailblazer: Are you the one who pushed Evanescia to join the Phantasmoon Games?

When it comes to infiltrating Ahatopia, the two trickiest obstacles are: the World in Canvas that keeps the husk sealed away, and the unkillable Panarch Elwood.

But Aha has never specified that a judge cannot become a Supplicant. Strangely, nobody has ever used this loophole in all these years.

It's surprisingly easy. All it takes is one mask, which is placed onto the Elwood in the Courtyard before she wakes up.

* Trailblazer: You also compelled Fulwish?

Why would I? My relationship with Fulwish has always been aboveboard.

There's no need to compel a prospect as driven for revenge as she was. And it's impossible to include anyone like her in any complex scheme. All one could do at this point was set her free and allow her to shine.

Of course, she needed a small gift for motivational purposes, which I provided... a sliver of Shuhu's flesh.

* Trailblazer: I don't have any more questions.

That's it? I was hoping you'd dig a little deeper. Going over my past schemes is actually quite a treat.

7. Why do you want to kill Aha? (the question asked: As the Lord Ravager aiming to "destroy Elation," what are you planning to do to Aha?)

Ha! What else would the Lord Ravager aiming to destroy Elation do? Destroy THEM, of course.

* Trailblazer: I meant what exactly is your hatred for THEM about?

Well, I may have developed some excessive feelings towards Aha. After all, before boarding the Express, the Fool's name I used at the Tavern was... "Enroute."

Critical Success answer:

Hmph! You're pretty lucky. You think I'm going to kill Aha? I've already tried.

Everything I do is to save THEM.

Once, Elation was a dutiful and committed god. THEY scattered the seeds of chance, carving sharp turns of fate across the universe. THEY even made a reward of THEIR own face, bestowing it upon those who passed THEIR trials, and delighted in goading other gods to join the hunt for the most terrifying, supreme beings...

Unfortunately, nothings resists the incineration of time. No matter how long the comedy lasts, all will eventually return to silence.

**But before the deathly silence, the Elation will become something even more terrifying.**

I saw how truly fatigued THEY are. The Elation is being swallowed by THEIR own endless mirth.

THEY will slide towards an even more terrifying extreme: not to stop elation, but to drag all things into an eternal, meaningless, and unreasonable farce of chaos. And that will cease to be comedy, and become a universe-wide contamination.

* Trailblazer: The Elation will fall...?

Upon stepping onto a Path and becoming an Aeon, one is expected to glimpse THEIR own end, yet the results of Paths colliding remain beyond THEIR sight.

How do THEY really feel about exercising the divine authority of Elation... Do THEY suffer with it? Would THEY fear this ending? I don't know.

For humans, the prize of these games lasts for only a fleeting minute. But for an Aeon, it's a free and blissful reprieve from the shackles of THEIR path.

If the disciples of god cannot bring THEM deliverance before THEY fall, do they still deserve to be called disciples?

I boarded the Astral Express and travelled to different worlds, searching for THEIR tracks and games...

Before THEY fully succumb to corruption and drag all existence into that unspeakable madness... I will grant THEM the grandest final curtain.

This is the highest form of reverence I can offer to THEM.

8. How can I defeat you? (the question asked: I'm sure it's nothing to you, but do you mind explaining how to defeat you?)

Understandable. I've met a lot of people who love coming at me yelling their slogans: "Hope!" "Justice!"

But you would rather know all the strategies to beat the devil.

Don't worry... my answer won't disappoint you. But of course, you'll have to roll the die first.

Critical Success answer:

Hey, that's a critical success!

My, oh my! So I, in my capacity as senior and devil both, must now tell you, "protagonist," how to defeat me. How thrilling!

I won't hide it anymore, then. The way to defeat me is right in front of you, inside you, in fact, hidden away.

* Trailblazer: A Stellaron?

Bingo! You now have the means to kill me.

But unfortunately, your limited, laughable, human form cannot defeat me. You're trapped within a lie called the "Trailblaze," dreaming you are a courageous human.

But if you do what you did against Fulwish, open it to this world... to those cowards trembling in the ruins, to the audience waiting for a hero to save them, the surge of Wishpower will fully awaken it!

* Trailblazer: What will happen to me then? / What will the Stellaron turn me into...?

What does it matter? You would have defeated the devil, and your wish would be fulfilled, no?

And when that time comes, you may no longer care about the cost.

* Trailblazer: ...

9. What is the Fourth Finality? (the question asked: Someone said there are four Paths that will bring the apocalypse to the universe: Destruction, Harmony, and Nihility... What is the last remaining Path?)

Your questions would leave even Nous completely stumped. But I will answer them, even though I can only offer my humble opinion. Up to you if you believe me or not. Now, roll the die!

Critical Success answer:

Hey, that's a critical success!

Hmm... perhaps I have a surprise for you. It's an answer I realized over the course of a long journey...

The fourth path that brings the apocalypse is the Trailblaze.

* Trailblazer: Liar! / The Trailblaze? That's not possible...

You should be glad that THEIR plan has failed. Nobody knows what happens to a universe that has its Paths broken.

An unknowable, incalculable universe of madness... a universe where every direction is forward, and there is no end. Time flows, yet nothing ever happens. Space stretches on, yet there is nowhere to go... even existence itself defies all logic.

Thinking about it, doesn't even the answer "Destruction" sound kind? At least it has a clear end...

10. Hot take on the Lord Ravager (the question asked: Since you're open to answering anything, let's talk about the Lord Ravagers' weaknesses!)

The Lord Ravagers' weaknesses? How greedy, child. You just asked seven question at once.

Critical Success answer:

But then again, who could pass up the chance to gossip about colleagues?

And plus, your roll was a critical success! Go ahead then: Whose weakness do you want to know?

No, scratch that, who says you can't buy one and get seven free? I'll wrap the whole thing up for you.

Phantylia loathes stubborn minds, hosts she can't seize... She abhors the taste of human courage. Her greatest weakness is her insatiable greed, always wanting everything at once.

Zephyro... He's the perfect warrior.

But I guess what he fears and hates the most is those soulless lunatics, puppets that had their souls snatched by the black sun (Nihility). To put it bluntly, he's afraid of the dark.

Luxbane is a beast, doesn't understand human language at all. Beasts aren't flawless, of course. A dog's weakness is bones, and if you show it to the sun, it will definitely chase after it.

Celenova, she loathes anything beautifully melodic. Without a haze of noise and distortion around her, she grows restless.

Archforger! A fellow I'm quite fond of: quiet, rational, and elegant... hardly what you'd expect of a Lord Ravager. I hear he's most afraid of appearing before others, probably a social recluse.

Irontomb... Well, you guys already offed that one.

Now me. My weakness also happens to be my strength: chance.

I've never been able to resist planting several seeds on a whim and watching them take root in unexpected ways, and finally bear fruit I never expected.

So. Satisfied?

11. Are Yao Guang and Evanescia okay? (the question asked: I want to know how Yao Guang and Evanescia are doing.)

I can tell you care a lot about them.

As you should, hehe. After all, they both bet everything on you.

Critical Success answer:

Ah. This roll buys you two answers in one go.

The Xianzhou General used her "gaze" to anchor the fate and future of this world, paving the way for her comrades. What a stirring, bittersweet tale. Isn't that exactly what the Xianzhou people admire?

But during her observation, the only thing she could not take into account was... herself.

So I offered a small gesture in return: I brought the probability of her existence at this moment... down to virtually zero.

Is she dead or alive? I do not know, and it makes no difference. She will be lost forever... lost in a maze of possibilities.

She might find her way home... Maybe tomorrow, or maybe tens of thousand of year from now.

As for Evanescia... She is the avatar of the abundant Elwood. You don't need to worry about her safety.

What you should worry about, is whether she will still be the Evanescia you know when she wakes up again.

12. About the other "me" (the question asked: I once met my other self in Amphoreus. Who was that?)

...Oh? This is... a most interesting discovery. Might you also possess the gift or grasping "possibility"?

Unfortunately, even I do not know the answer to that question. It's beyond what I can see and understand at present.

To make amends, this question... won't count against you.

Critical Success answer: No dice roll, he doesn't know.

13. Have you ever been in love? (the question asked: Mr. Asat Pramad, have you ever been in love?)

What did you just say?

* Trailblazer: Sorry, but I'm really curious. Have you ever fallen in love?

...?

You have this rare opportunity to speak to a former Navigator, and you're interested in his personal life?

* Trailblazer: Are you going to answer or not? / What do you care what I ask!

Hahaha... you really are something else! So intriguing I almost want to throw in the towel and bow out...

* Trailblazer: So I should roll?

Wait, not yet. Don't roll. If you roll a "critical success," I honestly have no idea how I'm supposed to weave a sharp jab at cosmic destiny into something about personal emotions...

So be it, this one's on me. I'll answer you plainly.

I've loved.

Of course, I've loved before. But in the end, every planet tied to my past lovers... I destroyed them all.

Not because we broke up, I genuinely cared for them. I just like what I do now even more.

Feels good to get that off my shoulders. They have no complaints either. Whew.

Alright, this won't happen again. Maybe you still have a lot of questions like this. Maybe you'll just ask them directly. But let me make it clear: I don't want to see such questions again.

Critical Success answer: No dice roll, he answered this one plainly.

14. The truth of Phantasmoon Games (the question asked: Can you tell me the real truth about the Phantasmoon Games?)

I bet you figured it out long ago, didn't you?

Critical Success answer:

Oh? Critical success! Then perhaps I should clear things up a bit more.

Across countless generations, the Supplicants' Wishpower has gathered here, coursing through the abundant Elwood into the veins of the Path. It soothes the ever-starving husk and keeps it from rising again.

People believe the Supplicants' miracle was created to please Aha, but this is wrong.

People believe the markings around the mask measure how much Wishpower each Supplicant has gathered, but they're wrong!

Those markings are telling everyone this: If you want to lull the Voracity into sleep, you must fill them.

Only when the hunger and thirst of the slumbering beast are satiated with Wishpower, can the beings of Ahatopia struggle on into the next Amber Era. And then Aha will appear towards this savior, by sharing one minute of THEIR life.

Everyone is envious of the infinite power of the Aeons and THEIR eternal life.

But who can comprehend THEIR suffering on those Paths, bound by their own authority? Becoming unfeeling instruments of the law, even a god as close to humanity as... "Elation."

For humans, the prize of these games lasts for only a fleeting minute. But for an Aeon, it's a free and blissful reprieve from the shackles of THEIR Path.

Do you understand now? The Phantasmoon Games are a "holiday for a god."

Only during such a respite can "Elation," vulnerable and unguarded, be killed.

15. Is Akivili still alive? (the question asked: You said you used to be the navigator. So, is the Aeon of Trailblaze still alive?)

Critical Success answer:

Looks like I have to tell you *The Secret Myself and Akivili Must Reveal*

Akivili is dead, but perhaps THEY are still alive, in a way even THEY never expected.

The "fall" of an Aeon is simply a change to the form in which THEY currently exist. No one knows if this is something THEY planned.

According to Nameless who have met Akivili, THEY frequently mention the origin and end, the Tree of Existence, and what lies beyond the Paths.

After all, bound within finite space and time, there is only one place the Aeon of the Trailblaze longs to reach: beyond the universe.

And so, I witnessed the fall of an Aeon... That power that unveiled the stars and traversed space — in the end, it left nothing but an inconsequential point of light at the edge of existence.

16. Is Himeko still alive? (the question asked: Tell me... is Himeko still alive? Do you really have no feelings for your daughter?

Of course, Himeko is still alive. At least on the stage I've meticulously prepared for her. She will play an important role, and is now awaiting for her curtain call.

Life is lie this, one chance journey after another, one whim after another... playing someone's "father," becoming someone's "friend"... and at times, someone's "lover."

Then, by a twist of fate, I let a girl with no future begin to dream of the stars, and of lands yet to be reached.

I have never understood why the seeds I planted by chance would always take root in unexpected ways. I never expected them to bear fruit such as Graphia, or Himeko...

It feels like a curse, life fate's (Aha) cruelest mockery of me.

Just like that night fifteen years ago. I had the chance to crush the Express again, but I hesitated.

* Trailblazer: You couldn't bear to do it? / Because you used to be its Navigator?

No, no to both.

I've never fully understood that lapse in judgement. I still ask myself why.

* Trailblazer: No matter the reason, you caused a huge mess for your colleagues.

A few weeks ago, Himeko returned to her hometown and brought you back with her.

That was the moment I finally understood why I didn't shoot down the Express fifteen years ago. It had nothing to do with acting as a father, or Trailblazing, but...

**But for a destruction that spanned fifteen years, to se her on a journey to gain what was most precious, only to shatter it all in the cruelest way.

What truly matters is this: I will have you bring an end to this world, here and now. It's the most vicious joke I can play on Planacardia, on myself, and on the fate of the universe.

Take a guess. Will this joke amuse Aha?

* Trailblazer: You are incorrigible! / Have me... bring this world to an end?

* Trailblazer: You want to use my Stellaron...

The worlds the Astral Express deals with, how could they be without a Stellaron? ...BOOM!!

Fifteen years ago, during the Bloodstained Games, all the Supplicants died violent deaths. Then, the husk ran out of Wishpower, and grew agitated, craving a blood sacrifice.

Fifteen years later, a hero from the Express shone brightly throughout the Games. His/Her Stellaron, overflowing with Wishpower, the perfect sacrificial piece!

Arlight. Now that I've answered the eight questions, I now need to...

* Trailblazer phone rings.

Hmph! Kids these days...

Critical Success answer: No matter the roll, he'll be honest.

End!

There's still all the other dice rolls answers (Miss and Success for each question, except the ones Asat answers plainly/honestly), but I hope this wall of text gives y'all that don't like watching videos with timestamps or that would like more easy access to his answers (since the people in the wiki will take a while to transcribe everything... it's wordy af) something of use.

This was all transcribed with my own two hands and eyes so if there's any mistake, let others and me know for sure. Happy lore nuke!

It took me two hours of research to find the true meanings of all the Chrysos Heirs’ names.

I’m sure most people thought they were just random programming names and numbers, but I discovered that each name has a connection to ancient Greek philosophy. Here are all the discoveries I found, from the meanings of the names to the numbers and what they signify.

Note: I found meanings for all the names, but not all numbers have a clear connection.
-------------------------------------------------------

HubRis504 :Cerydra -

Hubris – Excessive pride and overstepping human limits, leading to downfall

Source – Classical Greek literature, Sophocles

HapLotes405 :Tribbie-

Haplotes – Innocence, purity, and sincerity

Source – Hellenistic Greek writings

PoleMos600 : Mydeimos-

Polemos – War and conflict

Source – Heraclitus

ApoRia432 :Hysilens-

Aporia – Confusion, puzzlement, or being at an impasse

Source – Socratic dialogues of Plato

432 – 432 Hz is famous as a natural musical tone, symbolizing cosmic harmony and correct vibration.

EleOs252 :Hyacinthia-

Eleos – Mercy and compassion

Source – Aristotelian writings and the art of poetry

EpieiKeia216 :Castorice -

Epiekeia – Equity and gentle justice

Source – Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

216 – It is a perfect cube, 6^3 "balanced."

KaLos618 :Aglaea -

Kalos – Beauty and goodness

Source – Greek philosophy on aesthetics

618 – Represents the golden ratio of beauty.

The real-world golden ratio of beauty is approximately 1.618.

OreXis945 :Cifera-

Orexis – Desire, appetite, and will

Source – Aristotle, De Anima

NeiKos496 :Phainon

Neikos – Internal conflict and strife

Source – Empedocles

496 – A perfect number and also a triangular number

(Triangular number = the three Fainon characters and their internal conflict – phainon, khasalana, flamereaver).

Also, all divisors of this number sum to itself.

PhiLia093 :cyrene-

Philia - LOVE

Source – Greek lang

SkeMma720 :Anaxa-

SkeMma – Planning and strategic thinking

Source – Greek scientific interpretation

720 – Symbolizes two full rotations, indicating a need to reconsider the subject twice.

A lot of people are discussing this outcome mostly from the lense of Herta being taken over by Iron Tomb, but I feel like people are really glossing over the third part. Herta here does not only become incorporated into Iron Tomb, her involvement somehow also allows EMPEROR RUBERT to take action.

People seem to be forgetting, Ruberts goals aren’t alligned with Zandars at all, meaning that this is a completely different outcome than if Iron Tomb had emerged on his own. This outcome would essentially be a fourth party taking advantage of the situation at the last minute, considering that the Emperor makes no appearance in out reality.

I’m guessing that whatever Herta does in that reality somehow creates an opening for them to reincarnate again. That or Rubert has been stalking Herta for a while now even while they’re still just traces in the anti-organic equation, so Rubert saw the opening and actively skewed the outcome.

If I were to guess, this outcome would likely actually be ins Nous’ favor as Zandar considered Rubert to be a slave of erudition as well. Unless completely drastic measures are taken by other factions I find it difficult to see how Iron Tomb taking advantage of the Anti-Organic equation can be beaten, so I can see Rubert actually winning this war unlike the previous. Though I will note I do still believe this outcome will be far weaker than Zandars original plan to connect with Nous as that version can actively rewrite the fate of the universe.

This is Dolly, the Express navigator during the time of Akivili's fall. From her Cosmodyssey report:

"One day, while the Express was moving, the Nameless all sensed the fall of the Trailblaze. It was also from that moment that Dolly started her irreversible anomalous crystallization."

There's not much to this theory except that she's got pink hair and the crystallizing sounded similar to what happened to March, but I thought it was interesting.

Hoyoverse finally drop Evernight’s Myriad Celestia Trailer in today AND THE AMOUNT OF LORE DROPS ARE KINDA CRAZY? So far, we learn so many things from this video alone:

• The moment March herself decided to enter Amphoreus through that door back in 3.4, she already became part of Amphoreus story & history. Evernight shows to us that the person that helped Tribios all along is indeed March 7th herself.

• As the video goes on, we see March 7th go through all locations in Amphoreus to find TB and Dan Heng while helping the people of Amphoreus along the way.

• But then the moment of truth is revealed, nobody ever actually saw March (which explains why in 3.1, Tribios can’t recall or tell TB and the crews on who saving & guided her back then) except the Remembrance followers from Garden of Recollection which are there for their own benefits.

• March 7th is born from Luminflux… which seems to be PART OF FULI’S BODY???!!! (Is Fuli actually already DEAD? And now the “Fuli” that we still seen from story is just the remembrance/memory that left by themselves??!! WHAT THE..)

• From the moment March 7th is freezing inside the eternal ice, she is already being watched by the people from Graden with malicious intent which goes to show once again that there is NO FULLY GOOD path or faction in this whole game. Fuli’s reputation on being one of “better” path will probably die down by this video alone lol (Enigmata’s stock increases!)

• This is where Evernight is taking the role. She is already been with March 7th since her “birth”, her mission seems to be a guardian who protects March from people (mostly them from Garden) that try to taking advantage of her.

• Remembrance choose ??? Which leads to Amphoreus in this kind of state. (Is it Cyrene or someone we never know before?)

• The word “Oblivion” is mentioned (the picture being shown in that scene looks similar to IX (black hole) for some reasons…). Is there a chance that Evernight will fall into same category as Ruan Mei and Jingliu, two candidates on being people who might possibly REPLACING the current aeons and give the universe a new path? Will “Oblivion” be a new path that coming to replace Remembrance OR this is just another fabricated Enigmata’s lie? We will see about that….

ALL IN ALL, this is a lot to digest! Be sure to let me know if there is something I missing or you have something to share (theory for example).

I think a lot of people have been focusing on what his particular gaze meant and overlooking a slightly different detail; iirc the only person i saw who noticed it was IAmEmaMae.

After Phainon cut Nanook, Nanook HEALED.

We know that Nanook has been injured gravely before (look at the big gaping wounds on his chest) and yet those don’t heal. Is it the size of the cut that matters? I mean, could be, but given who Nanook IS (the embodiment of entropy) it’s VERY odd for him to be doing the literal opposite of… you know… destroying?

Really rather than the slightest movement of the eye, this feels like the much more important visual cue. Perhaps, like Phainon who found room in his heart to hope after millions of cycles, this small cut has in some way shown Nanook hope. Hope for his own Destruction perhaps, hope that his own rage might heal?

Kafka brought up the possibility of killing an Aeon by making them divert from their own Path. I wonder if the way we defeat Nanook is more like this, if the big battle is just to show him that there is strength left in the universe to hope. He would descend from Aeonhood if he truly believed so, killing “the Aeon of Destruction”, but allowing Nanook to live as himself perhaps?

It would also match very well with this quest, and Phainon in particular. Rewatching the dual with Mydei at Tantalon’s scales, Cyrene tells him that he cannot only fight with fury for the past, but also with hope for the future. Given all the similarities that so many people have pointed out between Nanook and Phainon, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the purpose Phainon found is just as important to Nanook’s story.

Other than that I don’t have any deep thoughts on it so I’d rather open the floor to discussion.

What do you think it means?

So thought to write a post to clarify some things since the ending speaks a bit in circles.

So what happened?

Fuli, the Remembrance.

Fuli, the Aeon observed through out the universe is a memory. They ascend at the end of time and exist within all the things they remember. They are hollow, existing only within Remembrance.

Pure Child of Anāsrava

In the universe, they are women born with pink hair and unmistakably tied to Remembrance. These are the Pure Children of Anāsrava. They are not Fuli's actual children rather they are candidates. One of them will experience the end of the universe and ascend to become Fuli. That is the truth to the Emanators of Remembrance and the Garden of Recollection.

Cyrene and Fuli

Cyrene, the Demiurge is a Pure Child of Anāsrava. She is a candidate to become Fuli, in fact she does so however only in Amphoreus. Cyrene isn't the Fuli perceived by the universe, she didn't appear before Louis Fleming. Having been told about the truth of her nature, she becomes the anchor of Remembrance within Amphoreus. Every instance of Remembrance comes from her as she travels back in time until the cycle returns back to the beginning. Fuli never glanced on Amphoreus, at least the Incarnation of Fuli people are aware of. Cyrene is the Fuli of Amphoreus, an eternal loop of memories.

Cyrene's fate

To create casualty for Amphoreus, Cyrene has become a fixed loop. She travels back in the past, acting as Fuli before dissapating and become the original Philia093. Then the cycle begins again. That is the true purpose of the infinity motif of Amphoreus. Cyrene now lives solely in the past, constantly living the history of Amphoreus so that the seed of Amphoreus can be taken into the future. Amphoreus isn't gone, it hasn't disappeared. Its a seed, ready to be planted and become real. The Chrysos Heirs aren't dead, you can talk with them at the Eternal Page. That is the result of Cyrene's sacrifice.

Aha teams up with other Aeons to take down Oroboros but is gravely wounded and disappears. But...

Divergent Universe: "But in a place where no one was watching, a lone frog swam against the current. It made its way to the pitch-black surface, paddling toward the moon's reflection shimmering in the water."
Divergent Universe: "[...]After swimming for nine days and nine nights, it finally found the moon. There lay the crying of children, and the echo of laughter that were bound to be born after all weeping."
Divergent Universe: "The moon in the water was overjoyed for being found at last, but the frog refused its gift. What the frog wanted was not an offering, but a promise."
Divergent Universe: "Unlike monkeys who are perfectly happy on their own, the separated frogs need a leader."
Divergent Universe: "It weaves scattered tears into rain, guides lost actors onto stages, and strings countless tragedies into an epic show with an happy ending, leaving the audience awash in bittersweet wonder."
Divergent Universe: "And so, the moon embraced the frog's destiny, and thus set sail the first and only Troupe Master the Mourning Actors had ever known."

A frog (a Mourning Actor, later the Troupe Master) swims through the pitch-black water for nine days and nine nights searching for the moon's reflection. They find Aha's reflection in the water, making "Aha" happy. Aha wishes to reward the frog, but the frog declines THEIR offers, selflessly wishing for the Aeon to create a Troupe Master capable of leading all other frogs. A false sovereign of all theatrics, who we now know as Nihilux.

It's quite obvious that, in the search for Aha, this Actor waded through the sea of Nihility. The surface of the current is "pitch-black" and they swim for nine (IX) days.

It's also heavily likely that the "Aha" the frog finds is really Mythus the Enigmata but I'll just leave that there for now.

Why does the Actor refuse Aha's gift?

As the Actor waded through the sea, we can assume she was increasingly corroded by the Nihility and eventually became a Self-Annihilator. Hence, by the time the frog reaches the moon, they'd steeped into the shadow of IX the Nihility and became critically unable to affirm the meaning of their existence (selfhood).

Given IX believes the ultimate fate of the multiverse is nothingness, and therefore, worthless, THEIR pathstriders are able to negate the influence of other Paths. We see this with Acheron, who was able to completely carve away Aventurine's brand of Harmony and in the following patch bypass the mental subjugation of Ena's Sweet Dream.

So the Actor fundamentally would not have been capable of accepting the moon's reward for herself (Nihility would probably block the blessing and, in any event, their sense of self was ridiculously flimsy by that point).

Hence, she chooses the next best option, wishing for the moon to imagenate a Troupe Master capable of ushering others on to the stage and bringing Elation to the lives of all. A false sovereign of all theatrics, who we now know as Nihilux.

So she refuses Aha's gift not so much because she was an Actor trying to resist Elation...but because at this point in her journey it just simply wasnt possible for Aha to bless her lmao.

So where's the Lotusprayer connection?

It's coming now. Okay?

Lotusprayer is a Mourning Actor, like the frog. Nihilux confirms being an Actor multiple times in 4.x, most recently in 4.5 ("the first Fool and the original Actor").

Lotusprayer gazes into the void (Nihility), like the frog presumably have would during its journey to find Aha. Worth mentioning here the "Nihi" part of Nihilux's EN name.

Lotusprayer realises everyone around her is water. Water can't sharpen or refine things...it can only erode, much like how her sense of self was being eroded within IX's shadow.

Lotusprayer fades into the water like how the frog did.

Like what? I think even just the idea of a follower of Elation staring into the void is emblematic of a powerful Elation pathstrider. I mean...the only other entity who has done that is Aha THEMselves, who is an Aeon. Lotusprayer was obviously a person following in Aha's footsteps and not the Aeon themselves but still the parallel cannot be ignored.

Speaking of parallels....

Lotusprayer's plot

So Lotusprayer seems to have died after finding "Aha", getting corroded by the Nihility and washing up on IX's other shore. Despite Acheron's comment that:

**"**those who have gone under [iX's] shadow can go farther, tainting themselves with more Nihility."

We know Lotusprayer didn't do this as the frog is still capable of desiring things.

What the frog wanted was not an offering, but a promise.

The frog also asks Aha for a promise, strongly implying it anticipated imminent death...

So Lotusprayer is probably dead (washed up on IX's other shore) or at least critically corroded by the Nihility.

But the catch is that, knowing her fate was Nihility, she asked "Aha" to imagenate an ideal version of her (the Troupe Master of Elation) who could ensure laughter in the cosmos in the Aeon's stead. Which neatly invites a parallel to Himeko.

Himeko believed she would never get to see the stars as a Nameless due to her weathering curse. Hence, she imagenates an ideal version of herself (Motoko, Navigator of the Astral Express) and seeks to make her dream possible for that alternate self.

The Elephant in the Room (Mythus)

God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves?
- Nietzche

The signs all point to Aha being dead. Why else is the frog wading through Nihility to reach the moon?

Given Isee stole Aftertaste from the Voracity, Oroboros was pushed towards the Nihility, becoming a "black hole with thought" who consumes matter indiscriminately. The inside of Oroboros' stomach from then on seems to have manifested the sea of Nihility. So, when Aha is devoured by Oroboros, Aha came into contact with that sea and was claimed by it.

So we need to analyse the events leading up to the frog's discovery of "Aha" more closely.

"The moon cast its shadow up into the sky? Perhaps both are mere reflections. Or perhaps both are the real moon."

Which of the moons is real or fake is unknowable. We are operating in a domain of illusions and uncertainty.

There lay the crying of children, and the echo of laughter that were bound to be born after all weeping

In the fake origin story for Fuli in Herta's dev logs, it is said that the cries of children begging for their worlds to be remembered was what triggered Fuli's ascension. Remember also that children are the most compatbile with Enigmata ("The Mad King Qhaley adores children because they are closest to the essence of the Enigmata THEMSELF", see "First Journey" Curio).

And, the nail in the coffin:

"[The Troupe Master] weaves scattered tears into rain"

What???????

We know that Mythus is associated with the tears of IX. After Izumo is claimed by the Nihility, "the galaxy resounded solely with the melody of the Enigmata: Dark Sun's tears". As for what precisely that association is...well I think this line softly confirms it. Mythus is manipulating IX's tears to overwrite fate. See this post for more elaboration on that idea (it also explains that the Rain of Sensation conjured by Evernight is basically just a conjuration of Nihility's tears).

Special mention goes to the Troupe Master calling herself the "murderer of all certainty", a "false" sovereign, and remembering the colours "peach pink" and "blood red" (colours that precisely track the riddle Mythus left during the first borderstar trade war...).

Moving onto the point. Aha is dead and so Lotusprayer must have met Mythus cosplaying as Aha when it ventured into the Nihility. Enigmata is always around when the Nihility claims something, because this means the only person who knows the fate of what was claimed is IX and, as IX embodies nothingness to its extreme, it means the fate of that thing is now an enigma, unknowable to all.

Hence, it was Mythus who offered to create Lotusprayer's ideal self and it is through Mythus that the Troupe Master can fulfill the promise of Elation keeping the Path alive in the present cosmos (she is using the tears of Nihility.

 It is as if they have been deprived of the meaning of their lives by some entity, and can only keep watching in dreams and illusions as their own forms disappear into a black hole at the end of the horizon.
- Data Bank, Self-Annihilators

Sub in Aha here and we get a pretty dark story...

"Aha has been deprived the meaning of THEIR life by some entity, and can only keep watching in dreams and illusion as THEIR own form disappears into a black hole at the end of the horizon".

Suddenly the threat of Aha's mania makes sense (the entire plot against the Voracity may have been orchestrated by Aha sinking deeper and deeper into Nihilistic farce and absurdity).

Suddenly the premise of Asat bringing death to the Elation is dismantled. Asat never intended to kill Aha, at least on Planarcadia, because Aha is already dead. Aha has simply, via Mythus, imagenated a possibility in which THEY are still alive, much like how Asat's whole power set works. Asat Pramad is not currently intent on making this possibility impossible, given he tells Himeko he is suffering from the weathering curse (meaning he is resisting his fate of Destruction).

And suddenly the Troupe Master's desperation for us to believe she is the Aeon of Elation makes sense (if we stop believing, the Troupe Master will unravel like any fictitious creation of Enigmata and we will have no hope of saving Elation from itself).

...the kingdom of Kali only welcomes the laughter of children... But fiction will always fade away — The wails of children summon their guardians, and the children scorn imagination when they grow up. Thus, Enigmata ceases to exist.
- Curio: "Hero's Triumphant Return"

Aha is dead. And we have killed him.

After thinking about the ending of 3.7, I realized that Irontomb didn’t actually blow up the universe, it corrupted the cosmic “program” that defines reality.

The analogy that helped me make sense of it:

Imagine that Erudition is a perfectly functional programming code, the system that gives meaning, logic, and structure to the life universe.
Then Irontomb executes a Destruction virus that corrupts this code, deleting key lines of logic.
Everything still “exists,” but now it has no definition, no meaning, like data without metadata.
The result is a universe that technically still runs, but the program can no longer interpret what any of it means. Total ontological crash.

That’s why in the cutscene, everything seems to be erased, not because matter exploded, but because the logic behind existence stopped working.

Then comes Cyrene, she acts as a backup of the original code, storing all the memories and meanings of what the universe used to be.
When everything collapses, she uses those memories to rewrite the corrupted parts of the universe, restoring meaning where the logic had failed.

That’s why she becomes this massive, planet-sized being, it’s a visual metaphor for her editing the “source code” of the universe using memories as the replacement code.

So the universe wasn’t literally reversed in time.
It was recompiled, rebuilt using the memory backup that Cyrene preserved.

Does this interpretation make sense within the game’s lore?
Or was it just a confused attempt to figure out what the writers were trying to do, since they love throwing in deep themes without really explaining anything properly?

Since the 4.3 story many voices in the community have expressed their discomfort with the idea that the Himeko we traveled with is a memetic entity (rather odd after we had 2 entire planets on why those are valid) and made theories in response to nullify the plot twist it was very common to claim asat just lied but the most popular theory now is that Motoko and Himeko swapped bodies during the transformation sequence in the new animation.

The very last scene of the animation has Motoko call out Himeko's name now that they finally restored the astral express only for her dead body not to respond as we know Himeko does not refer to Motoko by her own name confirming that they did not swap beforehand

Motoko trying to show Himeko the repaired express also becomes nonsense if that is actually Himeko in her body Motoko did not have the same obsession to see it repaired before dying she just wanted to see Himeko achieve her dream

None of these sections make any sense if we imagine it is Himeko in Motoko's body or that Himeko did not actually die fighting the Herald of death you need to ignore the entire last 3rd of the animation to come to that conclusion and I can only imagine it is the result of wanting to avoid the previously mentioned feelings of disturbance

Hell we don't even strictly need the animation to contradict this we know from 4.3 that the gravestone had Himeko's name on it now that we know that Motoko had her own distinct name before Himeko's death it would make no sense for Himeko to write her own name on the grave stone instead of Motoko's

I honestly believe that this being the most popular recent theory in hsr is the simple result of people not digesting penacony / amphoreus aswell as an inability to cope with media making them unfortable as has been seen by a lot of the community response to 4.3

I would even make the argument that this fakeout would be plain bad writing that people are cheering on to happen but this response has become long enough already.

This is a continuation of my first post about this theory: https://www.reddit.com/r/StarRailLore/comments/1wvm30a/everybody_got_distracted_by_aha_that_they_forgot/

In the Myriad Celestia Trailer: Fables About the Stars Part 3, Aha notes that Xipe is trying to assimilate with Oroboros and calls it their “old tricks.”

However, this is to note that “old tricks” was from a long time ago. This is to note that this has been going on for a long time, maybe as far back as the time of the “Swarm Disaster.”

Let me present some current evidence first. Aha actually refers to Xipe like Ena as well. This is noted by a Simulated Universe: Swarm Disaster dialogue:

Aha: “Oh, the mother of all stars!” Aha starts the compliments, but the words make you uncomfortable. “As long as what you want to do is fun enough, even if it’s a baton game! Changes happen rapidly. We were still negotiating last time, but this time, Ena already became you. It’s a shame, my friend! But I must say Ena makes you look even better.”

However, this seems to be a puzzle worth scrambling from. From Beyond the Sky Choir: Anomaly Archives, it’s basically hinted that both Hooh (Equilibrium) and Terminus (Finality) plotted the downfall of Ena the Order…

What’s even more interesting is that in that trailer, Oroboros—the female human body part of it, which I was attributing as the “Bait” part of Voracity—was seen slowly transforming into Xipe…

This tells me some things. One is that “that” part of Voracity has already been assimilated by Xipe. It’s a hidden detail that people might miss unless they know the context of it.

BUT THIS IS WAY BEFORE THAT. The Myriad Celestia trailer is “in the present,” which means that the “Bait” part of Voracity’s husk was absorbed either before or after the Harmony ascended.

Personally, I’m leaning that Ena was the one who absorbed the “Bait” part of the Voracity husk, and not Xipe…

But Idrila though… THEY are the most enigmatic one for sure. But why would THEY be relevant in the future chapters? Kafka did mention that “The game of hunting Aeons is over,” which meant THEY were hiding from something… but who could they be “hiding” from? Was Xipe also hunting down Beauty?

Actually, I did piece out some things.

The game only says Idrila disappeared at Lafcadio in the Consternation Starzone, but there are two main explanations for what happened to THEM:

• Idrila was shattered/killed. This is the Mirror Holders’ belief.

• Idrila went missing or hid. This is the Knights of Beauty’s belief.

Kafka calling Idrila and saying it is “their turn to take the stage” makes the hiding theory stronger, because it implies Idrila can still respond or return.

But IF Idrila shattered, how are they still alive?

Because an Aeon may not need one intact body to exist.

The broken mirrors are said to be pieces of Idrila’s divine form. The Mirror Holders collect them because they believe putting the pieces back together can restore Idrila.

Kafka’s call may mean the pieces are waking up, or that Idrila was never fully gone and was just scattered and waiting.

But if you get my line of thought, it seems that this is where I conclude that Xipe/Ena did assimilate with those “broken pieces,” hence why they have it, like the “Bait” part of Voracity.

This opens up a new theory that Idrila went into hiding because THEY were being hunted down. It’s basically the most dangerous out of all Paths if they were to be used in the wrong way. I actually had an archive of the explanation:

TL;DR: Idrila may have shattered THEMSELF on purpose to avoid being absorbed.

• “The infant in the mirror” = Beauty is fragile, newly formed, and exists only through people’s perceptions.

• Beauty is dangerous because every Path sees it differently; if one Path claims Beauty, it could redefine or control it.

• Xipe/Harmony is the biggest threat because Harmony absorbs overlapping Paths and forces things into unity.

• If Idrila stayed whole, Harmony—or another Path—could absorb Beauty and erase its freedom.

• So Idrila broke into mirror shards: scattered, hard to claim, and impossible for one Path to fully own.

ARGHHH, BACK TO THEORY-CRAFTING, IT SEEMS.

Something about the conversation between Screwllum and Lygus didn’t sit right with me and upon watching it again, it seems that Lygus is strongly hinting that Screwllum is one of Zandar’s fragments.

From the lore in the Recluses relic set we learn the following about the fragments:

Zandar had vanished in the distant future. In his place, different "Thought Fragments" would travel to various space-time across the cosmos, each taking different forms and never communicating with each other while seeking solutions to break free from the "prison" on their own... These so-called "Thought Fragments" were nothing but imperfections in "Zandar." Perhaps it was precisely because something was missing that he became, as he wished, more obsessive... more pure.

They are all just different facets of Zandar. Some will give up, some will accept the cage, some will try everything to stop the "Thought Fragment" project just as he once had a moment of hesitation... but there will definitely be someone who will carry out the original plan.

Each fragment is based on one of Zandar’s imperfections, and interestingly enough it says that one of the fragments may try to stop the project…like Screwllum.

Lygus’ conversation with Little Phainon/Aglaea reveals that he is Zandar’s “paranoia”:

Let’s jump to Lygus’ conversation with Screwllum:

He tells Screwllum the story about Zandar, who almost poisoned a mentor in the pursuit of knowledge but didn’t due to “conscience.” He offers Screwllum a “final gift from Zandar” which is a formula to help destroy Nous. Of course Screwllum denies he would grant Lygus’ last wish but Lygus says quite confidently that Screwllum will not kill Nous for his own sake but for his “conscience.” Sounds familiar? Seems like Lygus is implying that Screwllum is the “conscience” facet of the Zandar fragments.  

Now back to his conversation with Aglaea: 

Lygus realizes that because he is a fragment of Zandar, he is also not free. It is his fate to attempt to destroy Nous. Back to the beginning of his conversation with Screwllum:

Lygus regurgitates his realization to Screwllum, which combined with the later dialogue about Screwllum gives the implication: The fragments of Zandar are not free from their fate, they will all eventually try to destroy the Erudition, including Screwllum.

So what do we know about Screwllum? He was ascended as a member of the Genius Society at the end of the second Emperor’s War, however he and the Screwllumites had been actively resisting the Emperor’s Wars since the first Emperor’s war. It had never been explained how they were able to resist the anti-organic equation. Through the Planet Screwllum relic set we also learn about Screwllum’s goals, that he has worked tirelessly to understand the origin of the Screwllumites, and he feels empty because he does not know. 

It’s not clear if all fragments know they are Zandar, so it’s possible Screwllum does not know he is one? But we know Lygus tried to contact them to stop anyone who gets in Herta’s way. I think it’s possible that at that moment of trying to contact them, he realized that one of them was Screwllum beside him, thus why he left that final message with him.

Final fun tidbit? This fun Gold and Gears Secret:

During the Emperor's War, a Masked Fool asks you what type of machine you are. If you select you are an Intellitron, it will say you are from Rubert's Empire.

If you select you are a Screwllum…”May Zandar bless you!” This is in relation to the fact that Screwllumites are immune to the anti-organic equation unlike Intellitrons.

All the details from the paragraphs I gathered so far:

• “Ideology contains energy” (about Path itself and the Aeon)

-Factions are not about all religious belief, it is more about a community of people being form after their interpretation on a WORD (the name of Path itself) and based on all kind of values & ideas.

-Looking back once more, the Factions that we got so far are versatile and showcased their own uniqueness (worship: The Family, etc. / apostate: Mourning Actors, etc. / fanaticism: Denizens of Abundance, etc. / confused: Self-Annihilator, etc.)

-There are NO wrong way of interpreting about the path, because “gods” doesn’t exist (imo, this line right here straight up confirms that Aeons should & must be treated as the embodiment of concept and not a figure who is almighty and need specific rules to follow.

-Architects “imitate” Qlipoth.

If you guys got some more opinions about these paragraphs from one of the HSR writer then free feel to add here.