

He says as much in the showdown at the Royal Menagerie and reiterates this point to Jullus during Endwalker.

Zenos is willing to let him do so as long as it lures the Warrior of Light into battle after all, there's no need to worry about 'And Then What?' if there's no after to worry about. Although it doesn't take, and he returns later hoping to have an even 'more' epic battle with the Warrior of Light, this time while aiding an Ascian who's bent on the world's destruction.Indeed, he finds it from the Warrior of Light, and after having a battle he believes can match no other, he kills himself. So what does he do? Purposely restart a war with both Ala Mihgo and Doma in hopes it'll provide him a modicum of entertainment. Combined with his sociopathic Blood Knight tendencies which make him find little enjoyment in anything but fighting, and Zenos is utterly bored with his lot, despite his vast power and wealth. The local resistances make little to no effort to fight back, and even if they try they are vastly overwhelmed by the empire's might. Deconstructed Zenos is a super powerful, super intelligent prodigy who's been granted stewardship of two powerful Garlean provinces.To Zenos, existence was so dull and unfulfilling that he only felt truly alive when his life was on the line.

After being defeated in a grandiose battle against the Warrior of Light, Zenos is overcome by experiencing genuine joy for the first time and marvels at how real the moment feels. Indeed as the Crown Prince, Zenos has access to every material pleasure the star has to offer, but he is only able to feel anything when his life is on the line against a formidable foe. Ambiguous Disorder: Zenos often expresses feelings of anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure, which is often a symptom of severe clinical depression.All Swords Are the Same: Zenos was trained to wield arming swords and for the most part he continues to wield both gunblades and katanas in the same manner, only going into proper samurai posture for special attacks.Admiring the Abomination: He expresses open and enthusiastic admiration of Shinryu, particularly its unbridled rage and raw destructive power, right before fusing with the Primal.When you return to Garlemald, Maxima notes that he has been given the name "viator", a disgraced title reserved for outcasts and enemies of the empire, making the hate and disdain official. His subjects loathe him, his underlings fear him, and his own family despises him. 0% Approval Rating: Seems to deliberately cultivate this with his wanton cruelty.
