Who Are The Followers of Nihility? | Honkai Star Rail Lore 

It’s important to point out that nihility is not the same as pessimism, cynicism or apathy - there are also different schools of thought within nihilism. It’s a whole rabbit hole but one I find quite interesting to learn about

Curious now how the Trailblazer will acquire the Path of Nihility. According to Acheron. IX doesn't gaze upon anyone. Rather, you end up gaining the powers of Nihility after exposed and Surviving IX shadow.

In Acheron's talk with Aventurine, not only does she herself confirm that she doesn't believe that living is meaningless, but after Aventurine points out that Nihility is everywhere and inescapable, Acheron replies with something to the effect of, "and therefore it [Nihility] is meaningless". Essentially, it feels like Acheron is saying that because Nihility is inevitable and omnipresent, it's meaningless to dwell on it, or question the purpose of the universe and existence. This ties in to a lot of her other dialogue, even from the first time we meet her. She may not be a Doctor of Chaos, but she clearly believes that, at the very least, choices have meaning, that emotions and experiences have meaning, and therefore people making choices and choosing to keep moving is meaningful. It's neatly summarized in her line from her trailer: "All that is past has returned to Nihility [...] Don't look back. There is nowhere to go but forward." And I think that this mentality is how she's managed to stop the creeping doom of being a Self-Annihilator. And, as a bonus, if we take Dr. Primitive's view of Self-Annihilators of this kind into account, this outlook may actually not only be keeping her alive in the short-term, but also potentially prolonging her life indefinitely, like someone caught at the event horizon of a black hole, never sinking deeper, but never escaping either.

Nihilism isn't depression. Its the belief that there is no 'greater purpose' to life. Life is its own purpose. For some this leads to lazyness or a sense of nothing mattering so why bother, but for others its like a freedom to do things for their own sake. "I get no reward for doing this good deed, and in the end it is a meaningless gesture, but I do it anyway because I choose to."

What interests me most about Acheron is that she herself does not want to follow nihility, according to the dialogue with that person, before the cinematic where she "kills" Aventurine.

HSR has a lot of links with philosophy, and in IX's instance it's positive (Doctors of Chaos) and negative (Self Annihilators) nihilism. IX represents the inherent lack of meaning of the universe, and mortals choose to react positively or negatively to it. The philosophy of HSR is my favorite part of the game, especially Elation and it's representation of Absurdism.

I don't believe in nihility as a guiding principle but damn I'd be a nihility pathstrider just because IX is so adorable

Acheron being a emanator of nihility makes me think of Miyamoto Musashi and his book of “void”. Where he talks about nothingness being a state of enlightenment.

What Acheron talked about indicates IX feels that the universe is meaningless so much that they do not gaze at anyone unlike the other AEONS. One becomes an Eminator of Nihility by Oure Happenstance. Fitting how they gaining the power was an Accident they didn't want and so part of the seemingly meaningless existence

IX collects mommys

My favorite nihility lore was when the Annihilation gang wants to notice me sempai to Nanook they challenge IX because they want to kill an Aeon and they sees IX as lazy and looks the easiest. Aha even bless them and made them more convince they can do it. But Aha knew they will fail but did because it was funny to see.

I wonder if we will ever see a planet connected to/based on nihility. That would be crazy for lore

I like how the reason people don't approach or even see IX is most likely based off Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror if it actually exists. The only reason we know of cosmic horrors is because Lovecraft thought it up, because if those things ever do exist, we won't be able to research it and survive doing so.

The Path itself is interesting to say the least but the thing that really makes it interesting is the fact that how deep it goes when it comes to the very nature of life and existence. "What is the meaning of all things?" or "Who are you at the end of it all?" or "what do i amount to?" all of these things amount to nothing in the face of Nihilism and entropy and most of these factions in the "shadow" of IX behaves in the way that reflects that actual notion of oblivion and self Annihilation. IX being the embodiment of this philosophical notion is scary. 1.Metaphysical Nihilism: This concept argues that nothing exists or has any intrinsic value. It posits that the universe is devoid of any ultimate meaning or purpose. 2. Existential Nihilism: This branch of nihilism focuses on the individual's experience of meaninglessness. Existential nihilism contends that life lacks inherent meaning, and individuals must confront this lack of meaning and create their own subjective meaning or purpose. 3. Moral Nihilism: Moral nihilism challenges the idea of objective moral truths or values. It suggests that moral principles are ultimately baseless or illusory, and there are no universal standards for ethical behavior. 4. Epistemological Nihilism: This concept questions the possibility of attaining knowledge or truth. Epistemological nihilism asserts that there are no justified beliefs or reliable methods for acquiring knowledge, leading to skepticism about the validity of any claims to truth. 5. Nihilistic Absurdism: This perspective, influenced by existentialism, acknowledges the inherent absurdity of existence and the human quest for meaning. It suggests that despite the apparent meaninglessness of life, individuals may still find purpose or fulfillment through the acceptance of this absurdity. 6. Optimistic nihilism: is a philosophical perspective that combines elements of nihilism with a more positive or hopeful outlook on life. While traditional nihilism tends to focus on the absence of inherent meaning or value in the universe, optimistic nihilism takes a different approach by embracing the idea that life is ultimately what you make of it. (Doctors of Chaos) Don't get me started on "Cosmic Nihilism" that's a different beast in itself and just crippling.

Like the idea of an Aeon of Nihility itself, the Doctors of Chaos are contradictory. To have your life purpose be to convince the embodiment of Nihility itself that existence has meaning is basically an impossible quest, thus worthless. You have made a meaningless act into the reason of your existence, thus inscribing meaning into both. As for Self-Annihilators, it's back to Welt's quote: "Survive or be destroyed" and to survive you must forever struggle against Nihility or be rendered non-existent. An Aeon who denies meaning in all existence including its own should theoretically end itself, but since it cannot act then it must wait for others to end it or forever drag everything down with it. In that sense, a Self-Annihilator is the ultimate expression of IX. Someone who either automatically self-deletes, doing something IX might desire for itself or someone who must fight it to survive, leading to another impossible but ideal conclusion; the slaying of IX. In the end though, this struggle and suffering is probably the meaning of life itself, and the meaning of Nihility. Truly the most contradictory of Aeons. On a side note, while IX is indeed IX in all languages, the way Device IX is written in japanese and chinese is interesting because it's written in a way that implies 'IX' is a number... like the IXth Organization or IXth Device. I wonder if 'Nihility's End' ties into the things Aha saw.

I second Acheron’s opinion that IX does not gaze on anyone. If they did it would mean they assign meaning or significance to something or someone which goes against their whole existence

It make sense their Called the Doctors of Chaos now, the not only want to save IX but they help Self-Annihilators as part of their Creed, like if the influence of Nihilism is conquered by mortals why can’t IX itself could. That’s why I believe, IX’s form is just a cocoon, and IX will emerge as a totally different Aeon and Form a totally different path.

I think we can look on nihility like on realism. Everything has its end. Also people may not be so important as they think of themselves. When you realise it there is two paths - depression or accept it and live as you want. I can understand nihility very well.

Maybe the walls Qliphot is building are meant to hold back the influence of IX.

IX is a name that can be pronounced multiple different ways because it doesn't matter how you pronounce it so you can pronounce it however you want. Also, nihilism can be that nothing you do matters, so it's what you do that matters

The thing about Nihility is that its Nothingness at the same time is Everything. Everyone steps into Nihility once in a While. Like ACheron told Aventurine "Nihility is something we all Linger before choosing our own Path" When we re discovering ourself and what we want we are Nihility because we are Nothing until we finally make a Choice to turn that Nothingness into Something. And I guess that's what happened to the Dr. Of Chaos although in a more extreme and a bit unhinge way. We all were nothing until we came to existence. We will all enetually returne to that Nothingness but we just have to do the best with our Time like Acheron told Aventurine. Like our MC job as traiblazer "Is about the Journey, not its end"

IX is so pookie 💕💅

If part of the Path of Nihility is actually entropy itself, it seems possible that it could eventually absorb the Path of destruction, the way other Paths have been absorbed by a more general conceptual Path

I think you could also be interested in the description of the curio "Tonic of Efficacious Chaos", its a curio related to the Doctors of Chaos 👀👀👀👀. And I'm so happy the self annihilators have their own entry in the Data Bank, they are veeery prominent in the Swarm Disaster event!!

I feel like the reason why Nihility, as a path, is so powerful is because every living thing is destined to nothingness, they were all nothing before existing, and death calls upon almost all (Xianzhou natives and similar races obviously don't die naturally). On another note, one of the stories of Acheron is a note from a Doctor of Chaos about her that says she's different from other self annihilators, and I think the reason is Naught, her sword, keeping the memories she's losing and bringing them back to her when she unsheathes it. She might still be self annihilating, but it might be slower for her because of that. Those are just little theories I have about Nihility and Acheron, more akin to head canon though (I don't want her to just cease to exist 😭).

The way I interpret it, there are two ways an Aeon can "gaze" at a mortal. One is a fleeting glance, like we experienced with Nanook at the start of the game and later with Qlipoth in the fight with Cocolia. The other is the full "gaze" of the Aeon, which is more like a blessing, and it can turn the mortal into an Emenator. That way IX could have glanced at many people who turn into Self-Annihalators or Doctors of Chaos, but Acheron is unique. IX has never truly blessed anyone, but she walked so far in it's shadow that she eventually became an Emenator of Nihility. That's why she says that THEY have never gazed on anyone. And it's why Acheron is "an Emenator that should not exist".

I theorise IX and its pathstriders have the power to change fate by destroying it,since its ideology of nihilism is objectively incorrect if the imaginary tree has a preset fate/timeline for every one in every universe That's why aventurine is scared shitless by acheron,if she is seperate from predetermined fate then aventurines luck (which is just fate) then she can stop him and his plans simply by existing,it would also explain why he thinks she's a finality emmenator since they would naturally have a similar ability due to finality having control over time Theory could be bust if I'm misremembering some things,but i think it makes sense for IX to able to "force" nihilism by destroying fate/the future

according to self-anihilator data and the Pioneer relic it likely that IX isn't just a black hole but every black hole are connected to IX,so jump in a random black hole out there would always result in meet up with IX of course only if you can survived from not turning into a spaghetti dish

Been waiting for your vids!!!!!

A great video since its sometimes hard to figure it all out since the lore is all over the place. Of the 3 Nihility factions Device IX is the most facinating since no one even know if they even exist making it even more facinating when Acheron mentions it as a possible location. I am curious though about something thats not really explained in the lore, and that is if all Self-annihilators are Emenators, couse Acheron definitely is, but are others the same or is it just a power level thing about how much they were exposed to IX?

Wait? Wouldn't making IX accept its existence has meaning cause it to fall of its own path and disappear?

Even herta explicitly forbids interacting with IX in SU. Me with kafka, black swan in tow: nihility go brrrrrrrrr

Now that i come to think of it Its probably better to not follow the path of nihility because being a self-annihilator seems like suffering but hey atleast if your lucky enough to be an emanator then you get to be cool i guess

fyi, IX isn't a nebula, it's a black hole

IX's shadow influence kind of reminds of Shady Yokais from Yokai Watch. Basically, when an individual is in the effect radius of a Shady Yokai, they (the person) will be influenced by the Shady Yokai's "beliefs", to simply put. If the Shady Yokai believes it's not worthy of existing, then the influenced individual would also feel that way.

IX, and thanks to acheron's words, is probably more akin to the scientific concept of Entropy from the 2nd law of thermal dynamics. Basically, all things will naturally fall to the path of Nihility, it is the end of all things via normal means, While Nanook and the path of destruction is the active destruction of things, like detonating a bomb destroys the surrounding landscape (though with the anti-matter legion it would be the complete destruction of matter).

3:30 depicting IX with the image of 40k's Tyranid Hivemind is a bold move considering that the latter bears greaters resemblance to Tazzynroth than IX.

Fun fact : no one actualy follow the path of nhility in lore, never intentionnaly, just like XI himself never intentionnaly chose people as emanators

Just a thought I had on hearing the phrase "The Doctors of Chaos looked on IX in its totality." I wonder if the secret to what separates the Doctors of Chaos from the Self-Annihlators is that the Doctors look upon IX and see that it isn't limitless. They see that while the depression and despair are overwhelming and powerful, it has an end and thus will not go on forever. I could see that insight as a catalyst to turning the despair of seeing existence as meaningless into perceiving that even that meaninglessness has limits. Just a thought.

watching this at 3 am farming for acheron made me have a existential crisis

I think its more likely that someone who realizes there is no meaning and by pure random chance IX is gazing at that direction in the universe will gain path striding or emanator powers

The side effects of exposure to IX are also somewhat described by Firefly. Makes me wonder...

Megumi being an Emanator of Nihility 😂😂😂

There is no inherent meaning to anything in existence, but it is you yourself who gives things meaning by the thing you define them as.

The amount of mtg art caught me off-guard lmao, but I ain't complaining. Good taste!

Im js ganna comment before watching the video, the doctors of chaos follow IX because they want to prove life is worth living to it, they’re essentially IX’ therapist lol

Are Pathstriders and Follows ultimately different? As Sampo is a nihility character but follows Aha. I am just curious.

Well imo Nihilty being all encompassing is just because at some point, conscious beings realize at some point that life has no meaning but never allowing it guide their life. But when they do allow it to lead their life, does one truly walk the path of nihility

Love ur content. Keep it up!

The way i see it if their is no inherent meaning to existence the one must Either make their own personal meaning or surrender to meaninglessness, i believe currently it is this realisation of personal meaning Being Invaluable in the face of their being no Grand Meaning Behind All Existence which which makes the doctors of chaos Effectively not become a self annihilator because they've made a More Personal Realisation and Experience then any Definitive and absolute truth could provide and as such the answer to the Question of life has no Meaning then why does life exists becomes because in spite of all its meaninglessness in the grand scheme it has Developed Emotions Memories and Individuality effectively transforming from the dust of the world into an independent being and as an independent being its meaning is that which it must define for itself, and if one still defines their self Meaning as Nothingness/meaninglessness then they become a self annihilator swallowed by nihilism

9:00 Lol , bro reads jjk , goated channel just for that alone

Existence is a prison? *Endsinger has entered the chat*

I actually like IX and nihility as a whole, i guess i would be a self-destructor as well lol

tbh, i feel both factions do fall really well with some real world views of nihilism. some people do fall into that “life is meaningless and therefore not worth living” (akin to the effects imposed on self annihilators) or “life is meaningless therefore i will make my own meaning” (more akin to the doctors of chaos, their meaning being to find IX’s meaning) but this view is ofc subjective, and about the doctors of chaos specifically, if i had the oportunity to ask sth to that faction: does nothingness truly want a meaning? does it even hold sentience enough to desire it? is it not in its definition itself that _Nothing_ has _No Meaning_ and therefore by giving it one you strip it of its identity? does this not kill IX (or what they stand for at least)?

Think Acheron might've been exposed to Dr. Primitive Device IX

Pls make more of these videos, I’m literally confused 😭😭😭 I’m very bad at catching the meaning of the cutscenes and story

can you make a video about how Acheron became nihility emanating and why

2:28 can somebody point where exactly this is said, please?

Man , I wonder how powerful are members of the Device IX

Nihilism itself is an ironic mindset: Everything people hold dear is meaningless at the gaze of the enviable finality of the end. But it doesn't mean that it'll eventually fall into the abyss. It means that in spite of what will come, it's still out there, the past is pointless to ponder about the choices made and what lead you to this point; similar about the future is uncertain, so it's worthless to try and change what will eventually come, but as you live here and now has meaning and what you'll do with it is up to you. TL;DR: To prove that something is meaningless; that you have known it's purpose or reason it exists. IX envelopes all in its shadow and walking in-between the horizon, you would surely gaze back into the abyss, and that's how IX would gaze back at you. It is shapeless, so it can be whatever and it's pointless to think of what it'll take.

IX is just in their flop era

Basically there are two paths or schools of thought for nihility. Both sides believe that there is no meaning to life and existence is pointless. But what you do with that information is important. Followers of the Doctors of Chaos believe that just because life is pointless, it leaves one free to create their own meaning in life. You have no higher purpose to follow or goal to achieve other than things you see value in yourself. That life is beautiful in it's pointlessness which is what they're trying to teach to IX. The other side is the usual if life is pointless why bother doing anything which is where self annihilators currently stand.

I also think acheron lost her left eye due to being a self anihilator. Theres a lot of cases of people whose eyes turn white after becoming blind. It is hard to see acherons second eye but when you can catch a glympse of it, it seems white. So she might also be half blind due to her body losing functions.

imagine clinical depression as a sentient being

Eye ex, my beloved

the doctors of chaos are kinda sweet

I'll paths will inevitably lead to finality

I have a question would it be possible to a person to gain multiple power from different Eons.

“There’s no purpose in life”😢 “There IS NO purpose in life”🕺🕺 Since there is no purpose at all, you can make one. You can choose which ever matter you the most. You are free. I believe in this philosophy.

IX just like me frfr

nihility numba wan,but my phone denied it

My favourite aeon :)

I there is one path that rejects nihility completely and if Qlipoth wins well I guess nihility would still win coz it would mean the annihilation of nihility itself. or maybe two, abundance as well. or maybe there used to be more, Permanence and Propagation. Or who knows, maybe if Ruan Mei truly ascends to aeonhood... her goals ultimately excludes nihility. Ruan Mei is trying to breakdown the meaning of life and existence. but then again everything may be considered nihilistic in one way or another... balance will always prevail i guess so that means HooH is the one true aeon hahaha jk

I wonder how did ix ascended to aeonhood?

Me: no. I wont follow u. Nihility: i've got the prettier girls. Me: suddenly i like nihility

As someone who knows Welt entire lore, belief and worldview, seeing him being in the Nihility path feels like a contradiction to his character.

Nihility sound like my depression every weekend 💀

I don't think "Follow" is the right word, they "Fall" into the shadow of Nihility

whens the Trailblazer gonna fall into a black hole lol

The path of Nihility is quite the opposite of what you said at the beginning. It's about resistant the pull of IX, you can see it by technically all character. Luca does his best to be becon of hope for people of Underworld even if it means getting beaten by Robo dad to make dead kid wish come true. Kafka quite literally tells us her wish is to find meaning in life and learn fear While Acheron failed to resist the pull and ended up in IX's shadow. But she menage to survive and became an emenetor instead of being erased, but as a price, she became self-annihilator. This is why people who say "game path =/= lore path" are dumb as fuck

Maybe im a follower of Nihility

Nihility is based in the IRL Nihilism. And since nihilism is pronounced ‘9lism’, I think Device 9 is the correct way to say it.

So I watch a HSR and Warhammer 40K Vid Essay now?

and why destruction and finality and the ouroboros vorism mean anythign diffrent? they all lead to same thing eh? irl nihhility would be nihhilist athiest and JWs., along with some other belief systems.

I know IX He is a friend, his real name is bob, he likes sandwichs

Ix is mommy issue 💅

Who follows Nihility? Mommies

This is a complete spoiler, but... I like how Acheron looks at IX and Nihility. If everything is pointless, then why should the pointlessness of everything be exempt from that? Why is it not also pointless for everything to be pointless? That's probably why she's able to keep most of her faculties in spite of her memory loss. Because she's more attuned to the path by this understanding.

Nihilists?

I prefere Iks as pronounciation, but it's pointless to argue over it

Why don't my replies show up lmao I ain't even writing swear words

That’s basically the path of Nihility be like Doctor of Chaos: Life has meaning IX: … Giving IX therapy is meaningless

Lmao I’d be the best nihility character 😂

Aoens are ideals in absolute, so they are inherently bad

IX is MOHG, he doesn't care about anything except shoutas

Haahaahahaha dude just sit there and do nothing as a god wtf

I follow this aeon i guess