The Path Nobody Follows | Honkai Star Rail Lore

In Honkai Star Rail Lore, most that follow a path do so because they either resonate with its ideals or they want to. Its an concious choice by the pathstrider to follow a path even if its through actions alone. But there is a path that doesnt have true followers one that nobody really follows out of choice and this path is the path of nihility. If we look at the factions and individuals who are treading the path of nihility few actually want to be there so in this video we are going to discuss why nihility is the path nobody follows

Some part of this video comes from the actual lore while others may be speculation on my part as we currently do not know the full story. As such take it with a grain of salt as the point of this video is just a deeper dive into Honkai Star Rail lore.

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#honkaistarrail #starrail #lore #gametheory #gaminglore #aeon #nihility #hsr

[kravt]

It's paradoxical to find a meaning in following the idea of everything being meaningless. It can't have followers, only victims.

[arnowisp]

Honestly. Nihility is looking to be a Path you do not want but get anyway due to the random chaos of Life.

[CelesNihility]

The moment your experiences embodies nihility or when you came to the realization or conclusion that you literally have "nothing" left, that's when you are unintentionally closest to IX's shadow, and IX unintentionally let you use its power because it doesn't care.

[TheMentallyTired]

So basically

Hunt: As long you hunt the destroyer

Abundance: As long life prevail

Destruction: As long you destroy things

Erudition: As long you're smart

Elation: As long if its funny

Propagation: As long the worlds is propagated

Preservation: As long it preserves the civilization

Trailblazer: As long its a journey

Remembrance: As long you remember

Finality: As long there is end of the line

Enigma: As long you don't exist

Harmony: As long you're harmonious

Order: As long people obey

Beauty: As long you realize everything is beautiful

Permanence: As 'long'

Equilibrium: As long if its balance

Nihility:

[jakeail]

5:06 you don't need to think coz this is canon and already mention, doctor of chaos was once self annihilator themselves, technically they still are
6:08 The method Acheron do to walk nihility itself is quite interesting and not just her strong will either, her will is still part of it ofc. You actually can interpret that Acheron put her existence and life into her sword which help her stay safe from nihility, as she walk further into nihility she is getting consume but becoz she already move her entire self elsewhere she remain safe(atleast the core part of her remain safe), you can think of this method is like an anchor or horcrux from harry potter in nature.
- i think the reason why Acheron able to become emanator eventhough IX won't glance or notice anyone is becoz there is no permission or gatekeeping for nihility compare to other path, IX don't manage nihility in any way so there is no barrier to become an emanator so if someone manage to walk far enough into nihility and they could become emanator but most would fail before coming far enough or disappear into nihility, i believe it was Acheron transfer everything into her sword that she was manage to walk so far into nihility
- on subject of nihility, hi3 actually explore the concept of it very well with flamechaser and previous era story, even Welt story actually embody many aspect of nihility

[arnowisp]

Nihility is the Thug life path. You don't choose Nihility. Nihility Chooses you.

[noahi.]

Basically, Nihility is the CONCEPT. A concept that can quite literally BREAK or ANNIHILATE you.

Meanwhile, ABSURDISM is the PHILOSOPHY that keeps you alive and relatively sane enough to keep treading along Nihility. Not just because it's pointless, but because absurdism focuses on DOING THINGS BECAUSE IT'S POINTLESS.

It's likely why the Doctors of Chaos came to be, and how Acheron is an Emanator.
It's also why there's even an Aeon for Nihility. IX MOVES across the Universe even if it's pointless. IX casts a shadow even if it's pointless. Creates change even if it's pointless. It just... IS, because it's pointless to care for otherwise.


Come to think of it, Nihility's conceptualization is close to the concept of Wei Wu, or "actionless action" in Taoism.

[zameme]

6:35 I don't think Acheron would think that they led unfulfilling lives at all. From my understanding, Acheron is easily one of the most meaningful person in the story thus far. She says that all those actions people do are meaningless, because in an objective sense weighted against IX, they are. However, she constantly reinforces that there doesn't need to be a meaning to be worth doing.
She waves goodbye to the girl that delves into IX with a smile, she stays and helps tiernan, and then proceeds to give her name, place flowers on his grave, gives respect to Duke who died living his belief, and once again states that the trailblazer's answers aren't important, but the act of answering with your own will does.
On the other hand, actions that seem to have some tangible practical meaning are seen as pointless in her eyes, namely how penacony operates: pepeshis constantly working to make more money, not noticing someone falling from a building, a pair of lovers arrive to penacony thinking it'll give them a dream life, only to be separated, etc.
In conclusion, Acheron can really see meaning because of her curse of IX's shadow, and through her, the story tells us what it deems as truly important, because now, what she remembers are the more mundane, little moments that most would take for granted. I think those she lingers around are the truly meaningful in the story, doing ultimately pointless acts, but their convictions are undeniable.

While she's a self-annihilator, her role perfectly captures the essence of doctors of chaos. Everywhere she's gone, she's helped people around her find/complete their purpose or meaning: tiernan, talk with aventurine, help awakening penacony

[Ultimate_Hater]

I would love to see a future character willingly take the path of Nihility. Maybe a character that believes he/she doesn't have a purpose anymore and so wants to become a Self-Anihilator.

[joshuahirst]

I think it’s those who have such purpose. Like Acheron wanting to save Izumi but failing in their goal are the people most susceptible to to the nihility. I believe self annihilators are those who have survived the will of IX. Acheron emplies that there are other self annihilators IIRC

[Smug_o]

I feel like there are some people who follows the path of Nihility since there are certain fractions who follow them (ex the doctor of chaos). A path that nobody truely follows is the path of Voracity. There are both no people and no fractions that follow the path of Voracity. The only follower is the Aeon themself.

[PA]

Honestly I think we will get more info with device IX on IX and aeons in global.
Tho you right not only bc of the shadow of IX but also bc basically nihility is one side of the coin within the universe with reality so basically nihility is omnipresent through the whole universe across space time dimensions realities world, IMG Space etc.
To say it’s influence is really big even if nobody really see it or sense it.

[TinkRomero]

Before I share my thoughts, I must first remind everyone that with very little information about this Aeon, I could be researching into the wrong area and could be wrong about my conclusions.

Also, my thoughts are concerning what inspired IX’s existence, which can hopefully lead to discovering something more about the Path of Nihility.

Why is the Aeon of Nihility named IX? We see from HooH, Aha, and Mythus that an Aeons name is normally adapted to that Aeons respective Path. So for the Aeon of Nothingness, where does IX come from? Let me introduce you all to the Missing Ninth Legion of the Roman Empire.

Legion IX Hispana, this Roman Legion is rather popular in certain areas of media due to its mysterious disappearance. IX’s last recorded appearance was in 120, and in year 197, a list consisting of every Legion was discovered, the Ninth Legion was not on this list, suggesting that it no longer exists.

Perhaps, that is what the Path of Nihility suggests? An Existence no longer existing, this might be one aspect of Nihility, it definitely fits somewhere within that Path.

Now, there is one question about the Nihility that I have, concerning its potential link with Death. When Tiernan and his fellow Galaxy Rangers all died, they died fighting an Emanator of Destruction, so why would they appear as Sin Thirsters? Was the Nihility nearby, was the Nihility inevitable, or was the Nihility a consequence of some kind? (Was this explained to us and I simply forgot? If so, then apologies for asking an answered question.)

[ilnas]

I think we (the player) are in fact the Elio cuz we made decisions during penacony event and was written directed by Elio and probably thats why Acheron will look at us during her ultimate while sampo (who could be aHA) break 4th wall scene and talk to us.

[Farah-xer]

That’s actually a thought that crossed my mind for some time, but still that doesn’t explain how someone can be an emnator without the gaze of the aeon

[hamadaljobore]

it's a game and not all paths necessarily make since or right they are not complicated they are wrong in some cases.
from our perspective such thing as seeing the future and be sure about it is simply impassible but in hsr there is people who can do that, IX is such example because for us nothingness or nihility can't have in effect or existing all together but in hsr it does as a path for those who fall so far in despair but did not yet reach the bottom of it, that's why the descriptions of IX shadow or their existing is like an ocean that you will fall into, the more you drowned the farther away light seems, for me the idea of nihility as philosophical questions was answered by some examples one as follow "there was a ship in the harbor, the ship arrived on it own, the the goods start moving by there own and the cargo has been unloaded even no one was there to do the work, will you ever believe that?, no you will not because that is not passable, that is existing, you can't say it's random or meaningless as your own existing disapprove the meaningless or randomness of life", it's rather clear if you lost your path than start another or die in despair the choice is your's, the lore of hsr is one of my favorites as i played hi3 first than Gi second and now hsr, so for now i will enjoy the rides on the astral express and laugh with Aha as much as i want.

[Anti_Plot_Armor]

I'm surprised you never mention Device IX or Dr. Primitive (The same guy who made the anti meme for Sparkle), as he is probably the 2nd most deeply connected individual to IX.

He invented impossible constructs like gravity-capture technology which allowed him to forge boots that he used to walk on space itself. He is also the creator of The Doctor's Robe, an item that had surfaced on Device IX's dark web and supposedly had incredible powers. As in you know Doctors of Chaos

As well as that; according to a drunk Galaxy Ranger, Device IX is where all of Dr. Primitive's secrets lie. Acheron is searching for Device IX and Dr. Primitive knows exactly all the information that Acheron is searching for. I suspect we'll get out answers when Acheron meets with Dr. Primitive. (I bet he's a monkey cause he likes bananas source trust me bro)

[RePhantomz]

I disagree about nobody willingly join path of nihility. Based on Acheron retelling about freebas end disolving into nihility stale water when talking to tiernam. Freebas did kowingly accepted it. The same as several doctor of chaos. Not all if them start as self annihilator.

[Phapchamp]

Can you make a video about "justice" theme of The Hunt? From what i read on reddit The Hunt is actually called something like "The Justice" in CN and has a lot of ties to some historic chinese myths.

[neel]

One thing I'd liek to point out is that nothingness should be given a new meaning of wanting to do nothing and observe and not interact instead of like how Nihilism is the very spitome of pessimism and seeing that life is meaningless so why even life? Why even IX exists? Maybe because it is mearly a gloomy entity that knows it all yet wants to know what comes next and what if it gives life meaning. Relatively how The followers of the path even Acheron live to to see what ensues forward in life if it's a straight up shitshow or something climatic and thirlling