Is Zenos Zodiark?

[HiraishinNoJutsu]

It could just mean he inherited an exceptionally strong soul (The fact that he can perceive a soul's "color" was something noted as being rare even amongst the Ancients), but it's also suggested he may have been somehow tampered with by Emet Selch.

Unless he inherited the ability to see a soul's color from you know... His great grandfather..... Was he always able to see the color though or did that happen after becoming a resonant?

My Tinfoil hat theory of HythZenos gets thrown out the window if soul seeing is hereditary but branching off Kage I think both are a possibility.

The excerpt from "Through his eyes" says:
"Yet like Hades, he was eminently gifted in the ability to behold the Underworld. As a matter of fact, were it purely a question of vision, his was the keener of the two."

If Zenos' power stems from an exceptional soul Hythlodeaus is a sound fit being second to none in at least that one department which could also give Emet-Selch a purpose in fiddling around with his soul. If he recognized his old friend I wouldn't think it out of the realm of possibility that motivated by his loss he would seek to bring it to the forefront somehow. (perhaps through many artificial rejoinings in one body?)

[Tracewood]

I've been having this theory about zenos after 5.55 of the scream and the mention of a dreamer. First, If you look up the FFX anima cinematic and listen to the scream, it sounds eerily familiar to the scream at the end of Zenos's cutscene. Here are some links:

Anima Cinematic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JudM8-EgFio

Zenos Scream
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugxy7hmknzCfZle_7RV4AaABCQ

Next, here is a link to Seymour Guado's wiki:

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Seymour_Guado

Also, an excerpt from Seymour's personality:

"Due to his harsh and lonely upbringing, Seymour has nihilistic views on life. When confronted he drops the pretenses and reveals his true nature as an arrogant and cruel man. He has feelings for Summoner Yuna, whom he proposes to, but much of this attraction is due to a desire to gain her powers, so that he can become the next Sin.

Seymour does not hesitate to kill anyone who stands in the way of his objectives, rationalizing that by murdering them, he has saved them from the pain of life. Though he is undoubtedly evil-natured, much of his malice stems from the trauma he suffered in his childhood. The Guado considered his birth a heresy and he had to witness his mother turn into a fayth."

Zenos's Wiki:

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Zenos_yae_Galvus

Does this all sound familiar? Seymour's story is Zenos's story.

This now makes me wonder if Anima in FF14 is Zenos's mother, the dreamer, and that it is his Reaper's stand instead of a voidsent. It could explain why Varis despised Zenos as well due to Emet-Selch killing his wife to make Zenos attached to her soul from the Underworld.

We've seen Emet-Selch commit these experiments with Vauthry and a Lightwarden.

I have a feeling you might be right with this. Though not sure if I want another villain with mommy-issues after Sephiroth and Seymour.