[Spoilers] Why Zenos is the most important character moving forward

[Iscah]

I dare say Varis named no successor (just like his complaint of Solus)

I want to say we've already been told that Varis named Zenos as his heir long ago, exactly to avoid a repeat of the conflict Solus caused by refusing to do so. I don't know where that information is from though.

[Erendis]

I want to say we've already been told that Varis named Zenos as his heir long ago, exactly to avoid a repeat of the conflict Solus caused by refusing to do so. I don't know where that information is from though.

Even if Zenos was named a successor, rumours about him being demon obsessed might induce objections for him to inherit the throne.

[EdwinLi]

Even if Zenos was named a successor, rumours about him being demon obsessed might induce objections for him to inherit the throne.

It was very clear Varis did not name Zenos his successor due to how he believed Zenos was just purely unfit to rule the Garlean Empire.

If anything it seems Varis may have assumed his goal is in reach and did not actually name a sucessor due to not expecting to be offed so soon which would not have happened if we followed the original course of time and went right into the Garlemald expansion rather than the First since we can assume if we followed through with the Garlean Empire expansion storyline for 5.0, we would have continuously encountered Zenos in a new body over and over again during our progess which would have given varis enough time to prepare and use Black Rose.

[Alleo]

Even if Zenos was named a successor, rumours about him being demon obsessed might induce objections for him to inherit the throne.

Maybe I remember it wrong but wasnt this the plan that Thancred had before he collapsed? Making sure that the people ask themselves if this is truly Zenos? And wasnt it even talked about that the death of Zenos would have left Varis with another war at hand because he would have no heir left, thus Elidibus snatching the corpse was also going to put down any voice that wanted to claim the right to the throne. That does sound like he was a successor and thus his death at Ala Mhigo would have thrown the country into chaos.

Edit:

I still hope that he wont "eat" either of the crystals. Hydaelyn should be out of his reach until he can somehow find a way into that realm and Zodiark itself was split up? For him to consume that one shouldnt the rejoining be complete? And would Elidibus really stand by and let that happen? Also it would be really boring to have such a villian at the end, at least for me. I want Elidibus as the big bad at the end. Not such a character like Zenos who is just bland. Have something like that as an expansion enemy but more than that?

[Erendis]

Maybe I remember it wrong but wasnt this the plan that Thancred had before he collapsed? Making sure that the people ask themselves if this is truly Zenos?

It was and Riol proceeded with that plan after Thancred collapsed. And if I remember correctly Maxima confirmed that it was a success when he arrived in Rhalgr's Reach.

[EdwinLi]

It was and Riol proceeded with that plan after Thancred collapsed. And if I remember correctly Maxima confirmed that it was a success when he arrived in Rhalgr's Reach.

Yep this did succeed but Elidibus directly succeeded in quieting that story after.

Still, the story has set it self up properly for 6.0 to focus on a new Civil War since even with the story quieted, there is still enough for internal conflict to rise from many political factions and both uncorrupt and corrupted nobles in the Garlean Empire with the parallel plot of concluding the long Zodiark vs Hydaelyn Arc (aka Season 1 storyline) through the finale of 6.0 to 6.3.