What is Zodiark?

[Februs]

I am incline to think that ultimately she is just the most powerful Primal/Eikon though, to the point where she can create others (plot twist: Primals are just unsanctioned Eikons, that's why they're damaging, if Hydaelyn "summoned" Ifrit, instead of the Amalj'aa, he'd be an Eikon perhaps)

I dunno... I have trouble picturing Hydaelyn and Zodiark as simple Eikons. I mean, it is definitely possible, but they don't seem to fit. Primals seem too limited...

So far, we have different levels of "God-like" beings that have some linguistically confused names, but the Odin lore panel seems to have (somewhat) cleared some of it up. From that we have learned (although there's still a lot of back and forth on it in regards to the exact definitions) that the lowest level is "Primals" or "Toshin" (the Allagan term for Primal, meaning "god of fighting"). Then, above them, is "Elder Primal" or "Eikon" (the Allagan term for Elder Primal). Now, what they have not stated is if there is a level above these two, or if all "God-like beings" can be categorized under one of these two settings. However, if you consider the known characteristics of Primals (elder or otherwise) it's hard to believe that Hydaelyn or Zodiark could be sustained in the same way as which Primals are.

For one, can we honestly say that Hydaelyn has enough "true believers" who offer up their prayers with Aether and Crystals in order to sustain her? Considering the rather extreme methods of ceremonies that have been required to create and sustain more powerful versions of Primals (ie: live sacrifice for some extreme versions, or tens of thousands of tortured followers in other cases) what would be the nature of Hydaelyn's continued existence?

Worse yet, consider Zodiark. He, certainly, does not have enough followers to warrant his existence as a Primal on the same level as Hydaelyn. No one aside from the Ascians worships him, or even knows about him. It's kind of hard to offer your faith to a god you don't even know, so I just don't see this as being the basis of their existence. Personally, I'm more inclined to see entities like Zodiark and Hydaelyn (and maybe the 12 and the Warring Triad) as "true gods," rather than Primals. Obviously I'm speculating, but what I mean here is that, contrary to any Primals we know of, neither Hydaelyn or Zodiark require faith or belief to sustain themselves. They are not insubstantial aetheric beings, but real physical beings that can manipulate, or perhaps even spawn, massive amounts of aether.