Back in April 2025, the streets of New Eridu buzzed with a strange mixture of dread and hope. The Sacrifice crisis had turned the city upside down, and just when it felt like all was lost, the Proxies stood at the heart of a mystery that refused to stay buried. The Zenless Zone Zero 1.7 update, “Bury Your Tears with the Past,” didn’t just wrap up Season 1’s story — it tore open the past, handed players a parasol and a scythe, and asked them to dance through the shadows.
The finale hit like a freight train. As the Proxies dug deeper into Vivian’s haunted history, the truth about Hugo’s apparent demise grew murkier by the minute. One moment he was facing the abyss, the next — silence. Had the elegant schemer truly fallen into the Hollow? The game left that thread dangling, a cliffhanger so sharp it could cut glass. Well, nobody ever said Mockingbird played fair.
Amid the chaos, the Mayor deployed a Void Hunter-rank special investigator, a figure whose reputation alone could make rogue factions think twice. Together, they plunged into enemy territory alongside Vivian, chasing the elusive Sacrifice Core while peeling back layers of an old conspiracy involving the Exaltists. It was personal, it was relentless, and it made one thing clear: in New Eridu, every tear had a story.
Vivian – The Ether Anomaly Who Dances on Air
Vivian didn’t just enter the battlefield; she owned it with the grace of a phantom. Wielding a delicate parasol and a sharp rapier, she blurred the line between elegance and lethality. Her Basic Attack, Featherbloom, wasn’t merely a strike — it was a performance that amplified Anomaly damage and wove seamlessly into the team’s Corruption build. Whenever an ally unleashed an EX Special Attack, Vivian’s damage soared, turning the battlefield into a stage of shimmering Ether and silent screams. Honestly, if you blinked, you’d miss three of her pirouettes and half the enemy’s health bar.
Her banner ran from April 23 to May 13, 2025, and those lucky enough to pull her unlocked a playstyle that felt less like fighting and more like sculpting a masterpiece in midair. Swapping between ground and aerial combos, she made the Hollows look almost beautiful — almost.
Hugo – The Ice Reaper with a Deadly Fashion Sense
Then came Hugo, the Ice Attack Agent who turned a sleek suitcase into a massive scythe without breaking a sweat. Talk about a power move. His attacks weren’t just cold; they were surgical. Single-target slashes transitioned into sweeping area assaults, and when he struck a stunned enemy, the Totalize effect kicked in — a mechanic that converted leftover stun time into devastating extra damage. Fighting alongside Hugo felt like watching a grim conductor leading an orchestra of shattered foes.
His banner dominated the second phase, from May 14 to June 4, 2025. Players who invested in him soon discovered that patience wasn’t just a virtue — it was a weapon. The longer enemies stayed stunned, the harder Hugo hit, rewarding tactical play with breathtaking ice-shattered finales.
A Flower Shop Break and Bangboo Showdowns
Not everything in 1.7 was drenched in tears and subterfuge. The “Say It With Flowers” event let players step away from the gloom to run a cozy flower shop, arranging bouquets for the city’s eclectic residents. Hey, even hardened Proxy veterans need a breather, right? Completing these floral requests unlocked a permanent arrangement feature in Quality Time mode, along with the adorable A-Rank Bangboo Overtimeboo. It was the perfect slice of calm — until Bangboo Bash came knocking.
The fan-favorite minigame returned with a ranked mode, throwing Proxies into obstacle and survival gauntlets where every stumble cost precious points. Climbing the leaderboard wasn’t just about bragging rights; it brought exclusive event titles, Polychromes, and the kind of competitive rush that makes New Eridu’s nightlife feel tame.
What Lay Beyond the Tears
As the dust settled on “Bury Your Tears with the Past,” the Hollows felt different — heavier with secrets yet lighter with resolution. Vivian’s shared history with old acquaintances had been partially unveiled, but new questions rose like mist. Where did the Sacrifice Core truly lead? Was Hugo’s fall a grand deception or a genuine sacrifice? And just how deep did the Exaltists’ web stretch?
The season’s end left a quiet but powerful mark. The Mockingbird’s song had changed, and TOPS found itself on unfamiliar, shaken ground. For the Proxies, the battle was personal, and the tears shed weren’t just for show — they watered the roots of a conflict still growing. One thing was certain: in New Eridu, burying the past only made it dig back up. And when it did, the city would remember who held the shovels — and who held the flowers.