Who knew the 6.15 Omega Quests… (Spoilers)

[Iscah]

But the constant citation of "Hythlodaeus seemed ok" is... extremely Something. Meanwhile, the other souls are known as "Anguished Spirit," "Forlorn Spirit," and other such cheerful monikers in this zone literally named "The Sea of Sorrow."

Yes the “hazy fog” they were in was certainly terrible. You seem to desperately want to strawman into the position that I believe that being in Zodiark was some sort of party, it wasn’t. But it also wasn’t “hell.” If it was as terrible as you say, then why did they say:

["We are the will of the star, now and forever!"]

Kind of an odd statement if you were in unending torment.

Between these two apparently conflicting examples, I would like to make a suggestion, in line with my previous thoughts on the individuals becoming a single amalgamated primal will but also able to be individually plucked out again – it seems like they might act one way while they are within Zodiark but if individuals split out from the pack somehow, that's when they become self-aware and confused.

Maybe that happens naturally all the time that one or two drift off briefly and then they merge back in and resume being part of Zodiark, or maybe it's a consequence of the attack on Zodiark's bindings causing him to "fray" a bit. I'd have to go over the segment again and see exactly what is said about them.