Zero
Zero (Japanese: ゼロ, Hepburn: Zero; c. 980 – June 997), also known as Rose (Japanese: 薄紅, Hepburn: Usubeni) prior to June 997 AD, was a singularity and the original Intoner. When she found out the true purpose of the "flower" that had given her her powers, she tried to end her life, resulting in the birth of her five "sisters." She made it her mission to kill them and destroy the "flower" once and for all.
| Zero | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Biographical data | |||
| AKA | Rose[1.1] The witch with eyes of rose[1][1.1] | ||
| Gender | Female[2][2.1] | ||
| Age | 17 (died at 17)[2.1] | ||
| Born | c. 980 AD[2.1][note 1] | ||
| Died | June 997 AD (as Rose) | ||
| Resurrected | June 997 AD (as Zero) | ||
| Height | 168cm[2.1] | ||
| Weight | 56kg[2.1] | ||
| B/W/H | Unknown[2.1] | ||
| Cup size | D (measured by touch)[2.1] | ||
| Likes | Nothing in particular[2.1] | ||
| Dislikes | Smelly things[2.1] | ||
| Favourite food | No preference[2.1] | ||
| Weapon(s) | Zero's Blade | ||
| Hair colour | Silver[2.1] | ||
| Eye colour | Rose[2.1] | ||
| Behind the scenes data | |||
| Designed by | Kimihiko Fujisaka | ||
| Voiced by | Maaya Uchida (Japanese) Tara Platt (English) | ||
| Appears in | Drag-On Dragoon Utahime Five Drakengard 3 SINoALICE NieR Re[in]carnation | ||
History
As Rose
Early life
She, initially without a name, was born to a single mother around the year 980 AD. Because of parental neglect, she learnt to steal food before she even learnt to speak. When she was of suitable age, her mother sold her off to a brothel.[1.1]
At the brothel, she made friends with a girl who called her Rose because of the colour of her eyes. In turn, she came to call the girl Indigo. One day, Indigo suggested they steal as much money as they can and run away. However, when they were out of town, a man on a horse was waiting for them. It was then that it became clear to Rose: Indigo only needed her to carry more money, and never intended to actually take her along. As Indigo was about to kill her, their pursuers caught up with them, forcing Indigo and her man to flee. Rose survived and returned to the brothel.[1.1]
Several months later, Rose murdered everyone in the brothel and ran away with their gold. Unfortunately for her, she was caught by bandits who robbed her blind. Luckily, she managed to escape them before they sold her off to another brothel. It was then that she decided not to own anything again, only to take things as she needed them.[1.1]
For a time, Rose settled down with a man who was once a patron of her former brothel. However, she ended up catching a scourge that was going around and he left her. In fact, he plotted to betray her, as there was a bounty out for the one who massacred the brothel. Rather than let him take her, Rose killed him.[1.1]
Getting caught and death
Afterwards, Rose found herself wandering from place to place, killing people in order to take their food and sleep in their beds. She had built up a reputation, becoming known as "the witch with eyes of rose." She was eventually caught in June 997 AD, as a hefty bounty was placed on her head.[1.1]
Rose was dragged off to the bastille, where she was lashed. Then, she was chained up in its square along with five rebels who tried to revolt against the landed lord. One of them, a girl with gouged out eyes and a strong sense of justice, stood out to Rose. They shared a brief conversation where Rose reflected on her empty life, leaving her with zero to show for it.[1.1]
As the scourge began to take her, Rose cursed the cruel and unjust world. It was then that she saw the flower.[1.1]
As an Intoner
Before her sisters were born
The "flower" Rose saw parasitized her dead body. She began to call herself Zero after obtaining the Power of Song.[2.2] Seven months later, in January 998 AD, she used her powers to create a disciple for the first time.[3][3.1][note 2]
Birth of the Intoners
Eventually, Zero realised the threat that the "flower" posed to the world. In February 998 AD, she woke up to see a pink bloom sprouting from her chest. It was then that she decided she would kill herself.[4][4.1] Although she knew that dragons and the "flower" were natural enemies, she didn't know where to look for one, so she tried to kill herself on her own. Her attempt was unsuccessful however, and resulted in the birth of her "sisters" One, Two, Three, Four and Five.[2.2] The girls appeared to be about three to four years old and immediately considered Zero their sister. The eldest among them, One, instinctively knew that Zero would try to kill them and so ordered her sisters to run away.[4.1]
Meeting Michael
After her sisters had run away from her, Zero began searching for a way to permanently kill them and herself. This time she would leave nothing to chance, and so searched for the strongest dragon in the world. On March 11, 998 AD, she met the dragon Michael.[5][5.1] Michael was reluctant to trust her at first, but vowed to help her should she pass his trials. Following two months of testing, Michael finally agreed to help her.[5.2]
Attempts to kill her sisters
Zero caught up to her sisters on June 6, 998 AD, in the Cathedral City, where she found them being controlled by a black flower. She quickly created disciples to contain her sisters' rampaging powers, and then ordered Michael to blast the black flower with a powerful attack. The flower dissipated and its threat passed.[6][6.1] Zero then began fighting One, the only sister who was not being controlled by the black flower, as Michael began fighting One's newfound dragon companion Gabriella.[6.2] However, their fighting was interrupted by the mechanical humanoid Baltas.[6.2] Zero and Michael were forced to flee the battle.[6.3]
Months later, on March 4, 999 AD, Zero and Michael attacked the Cathedral City in the hopes of killing all of Zero's sisters. Unfortunately, they found themselves overpowered by Gabriel, a daemonised version of One's friend Gabriella. Zero ended up losing one of her arms while Michael himself took the brunt of the attack and died, but not before he was able to use his final wish to reincarnate as Mikhail.[5.3][5.4][3.1][2.2]
Characteristics
Appearance
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Personality
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Abilities
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Gameplay
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Behind the scenes
Design and development
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Etymology
Her initial name, Rose, was given to her by a fellow girl in the brothel, based on the colour of her eyes. Her name after she became an Intoner, Zero, comes from her self-reflection at the end of her mortal life, which she felt was empty and purposeless.[1.1]
Notes
- ↑ Zero's year of birth is inferred from information about her age. Therefore, it should be understood as an approximation.
- ↑ Cent, Octa, Decadus, and Dito are created in Chapter 12 of Dragon-On Dragoon Utahime Five. This is also affirmed in Drag-On Dragoon 3 Story Side. It is unknown what disciple (or disciples) Zero created before her sisters were born. It is possible that this is simply an error in Yoko Taro's chronology document.
References
- ↑ Drakengard 3 - Prelude. Released by Square Enix as part of the Drakengard 3 Collector's Edition on May 20, 2014.
- ↑ Drag-On Dragoon 3 Setting Document Collection + The Complete Guide. First edition produced by ASCII Media Works and published by Kadokawa Future Publishing on April 10, 2014.
- ↑ NieR 10th Anniversary Livestream. Broadcast live on April 22, 2020.
- ↑ Drag-On Dragoon 3 Story Side. Written by Jun Eishima. Supervised by Yoko Taro. Published by Square Enix on August 28, 2014.
- ↑ Drakengard 3. Developed by Access Games. Published as Drag-On Dragoon 3 by Square Enix on December 19, 2013.
- ↑ Drag-On Dragoon Utahime Five. Written by Jun Eishima. Illustrated by IsII. Supervised by Yoko Taro.