The Reason Zenos.

[Valic]

That's where I don't follow. I don't think he has the "pure evil" vibe that some villains have (the first to come to my mind is Kefka). So Zenos could have some potential to develop in that character of a villain-because-he-is-evil, but it need far more writing that "my friend, my enemy" on and on. I kinda like the way he might be used as a tool by other villains though, so I'm curious to see how things unfold around him. But I'd be more convinced by that kind of outcome of people trying to manipulate him into something rather than his own behaviour.

I mean.... look at Sephiroth. Obsessed long haired katana wieldin man chases down main protagonist and final fight is mutation god thing....

What's Zenos?

wields katana.

long hair.

experimented on him for powers/magics

obsessed with main character....

Does he not fit the quota perfectly?

Which is all fair enough. Personally, I don't find his mentality to be that beyond comprehension. He seems to believe that he is the WoL's twinned (or mirrored, if you prefer) soul, in a sense, but in all honesty I believe the Ascians, and especially Emet-Selch, are closer to the WoL in that their primary loyalty is to a higher purpose, namely the restoration of their homeland, their god and their world, and what they see as the natural order; all things the WoL takes on as well, but from the opposite side. With recent revelations, we know that they are cut from the same cloth but of a different hue. Zenos has identified one trait of the WoL, his supposed bloodlust, and identifies with that. It's a twisted caricature, in a way, much like Zenos himself is, but I really think he is deluded enough to think the WoL shares his mindset, which is demonstrated with his expectation that the WoL will simply do the same to Hydaelyn as he intends to do to Zodiark. I suppose what interests me about him is that he is a defiance of the natural order, his gift - the Resonance - being the epitome of this. In terms of raw power, though? Several antagonists, not least of which Hades, had the raw ability to kill the WoL; the real issue was and will remain the Blessing of Light.

I suspect there is one differentiating factor between Zenos and the other foes we've faced, and that is his sheer hubris and hunger for power. To that end, he is willing to do something like try to absorb a god, and because of that, maybe he will be the first foe to be able to suppress the Blessing outright by means other than merely exhausting Hydaelyn, which even Lahabrea and Hades were incapable of doing... with the power of a god behind him, he may mirror the WoL in that singular respect. He is also a wrecking ball in the pursuit of his sole objective, and it definitely looks like he is being used to that effect by his new friend. I also think Elidibus is confident he will cause chaos on the Source.

He will eventually go down the drain, IMO, and he could well suffer a fate like the WoL when trying to absorb all that corrupted light - his Resonant soul tearing at its seams as Zodiark's sheer presence overwhelms it. If I had to guess, we'll probably face him in some kind of One Winged Angel showdown, and his defeat will be the catalyst for Zodiark to break free. Will this be the Zodiark of the ancient world, or some corrupted version of him, like Lakshmi when summoned out of grief? Who knows. Maybe he will have the ability to contain him, but I also feel SE want to give us a chance to encounter Zodiark more directly, since he has been the focal point of so much of the lore up to now.

I suppose I always found Elidibus to be the more intriguing antagonist, because he always had a genuine curiosity about the WoL, unlike Zenos's delusional caricature of the character, and he knows so much more than just about anyone in the plot, and we've yet to see what role he played in ancient times, and what role he still intends to play. Zenos lacks that potential, so I find him interesting... but to a point. Since he'll likely be around longer between the two of them, with it looking like 5.x will mostly focus on the Ascians, and 6.x on wrapping up the Hydaelyn/Zodiark saga (maaaaybe it'll seep into 7.x), I'd like for them to at least work on making Zenos more engaging, even if he won't get much of a rationale beyond wanting the ultimate showdown. I think it is a fair criticism of him that he lacks personality at the moment and that this needs to be rectified.

On another note, the Ascians stumbled on a really good trick with the Lightwardens, as it uses the WoL's blessing against him/her, so I am wondering if this is what Elidibus will capitalise on re-creating next, rather than summoning literal WoLs... there is a lot of hints that he is this WoL he spoke of at the end of 5.0. We'll see.

Lastly, as a personal wish I'd love to see Emet-Selch in Dissidia next!

I guess I just find the ascians base motive(s) very.... base? Zenos, we don't truly know the goal in mind. Ascians, it's always muahahaha we'll kill the light muahahaha....While that's been able to fly for some time now, I'm kinda more interested in going beyond all that? I find a being wanting to be the end all be all of universal beginning and end to be a bit more appealing. I'm almost positive Zenos is going to become the opposite of the Big Bang. Or at least, I think he wants some form of that that includes maximum power WoL vs Maximum power Zenos.

I think people need to give Zenos a chance, it's been one expac of him and some hints through another expac, and he's building up as time passes... most bad guys we've face seem to die either in an expac or in the fabled "between the end of an expac and beginning of another" area. I'd like a villain that doesn't get offed in that manner of time for a change. I also think ascians lean towards more of a lawful evil.... whereas Zenos leans more towards a chaotic evil.... And the latter being a MAIN villain? Gives me a bit of fear. As a side villain, okay I get it... it's a joke and wacky and they'll likely be an idiot... but as someone who's well within reason and knowledge of things the main character is up to and has general understanding rather than just "I'ma do a bad cuz luls"... I find that much more terrifying than another perspective we differ from (ya know... again.) the whole "ascians could be right" thing is neat and all but I'm ready for universe shattering battle that actually brands me the warrior of light for more than just slaying dragons, ascians, and summons. I wanna defeat the thing that would "actually" end the world... not the things all the characters seem to hype up "could" end the world whe really all they'd do is just change things. If Emet Selch succeeded... maybe they'd get a rejoining and maybe the people would come back and zodiark bla bla all that and hey we have a whole planet of ascians again. If Omega succeeded, he'd destroy life I guess. If the garleans succeed, they take over bla bla.... YAAAAAAAAAAWN. What about someone willing to end existence itself? Not just ever life, but every star, every light, darkness, all of it, just blank nothingness. The edge of realities, between nothing and everything. Now THAT is a boss I think I can claim the title "warrior of light" for, someone who's hubris extends beyond the cosmos themselves, beyond base motives. Where not just people would die, where not just a world would blow up... but EVERYTHING, erased. Now that could just be the FF8 fanboy in me talking, but I find that much more interesting than these.... so far.... small scale "muahahaha" plans that our villains have us face.