RE9 RE9 Story DLC Theory

[Burton]

In the main game I thought it was strange that we didn't get to fight Zeno as a boss, although I did thoroughly enjoy Victor Gideon calling him an "imitation" and lopping his head off!

When the story DLC was announced I thought that perhaps they were saving the Zeno boss fight for the DLC, but how would that be possible with Zeno headless and dead, and Elpis having cured his virus based enhancements anyway.

In the final Cutscene they show Connections soldiers retrieving an objective, and right at the end the camera is placed on the ground looking up at the soldier who reaches down and grabs it. This undoubtedly means that what he picked up could see, so it's either a camera or eyes that were looking up at him.

It also looks like the same area that Zeno was decapitated in, so the Connections soldiers could be retrieving Zeno.

Even though Zeno was cured by Elpis, during the fight with Leon, Zeno's arm is almost completely severed by Leon's hatchet and it heals just like Ethan Winters severed hand.

Zeno has the Mold just like Ethan Winters. The Mold would not have been cured by Elpis and would explain why he can still see even when his head is decapitated, right until his still seeing head is picked up by the Connections soldiers. I think Zeno is going to be a boss in the story DLC!

 

[Caffeine Addict]

I love how Hunk from RE2 has finally resurfaced in the series, and in a canonical role. Plus, I know that while Capcom is keeping it all mysterious with his name change, having the signs of RCS on his body has practically confirmed it's Mr. Death himself.

 

[‘99 Problems]

What makes you believe Zeno contracted the mold? I thought anyone under the effects of it tended to turn rock solid up and dissolve after dying.

 

[Burton]

What makes you believe Zeno contracted the mold?

Because of how his arm regenerated, in the screenshot I posted it shows the arm almost completely severed and then it regenerates immediately. Wesker had regenerative ability from the virus but not like that, this was like Ethan Winters or the Baker Family.

I thought anyone under the effects of it tended to turn rock solid up and dissolve after dying.

He's not dead, the post credits cutscene shows the objective looking up at the connections soldiers from the ground. I'm proposing that is Zeno's still seeing head, kept alive by the Mold.

 

[Jitsu]

Because of how his arm regenerated, in the screenshot I posted it shows the arm almost completely severed and then it regenerates immediately. Wesker had regenerative ability from the virus but not like that, this was like Ethan Winters or the Baker Family.

He's not dead, the post credits cutscene shows the objective looking up at the connections soldiers from the ground. I'm proposing that is Zeno's still seeing head, kept alive by the Mold.

I watched the ending again. Considering the location, you might be onto something there. Not sure else what it could've been, now.

But I also don't really see the significance of gathering Zeno's body parts, either. Especially if he's just a clone.

 

[Caffeine Addict]

It may have a sample of the pathogen intact. Hence their interest in going after it.

It's like when Nicholai Ginovaef appeared in Outbreak. They're essentially desperate to get a hold of whatever they suspect could be of use. And going back to their leaders without anything important could have brought forth major consequences, such as death. It shows they lack competence, and would be discarded without delay.

 

[Burton]

But I also don't really see the significance of gathering Zeno's body parts, either. Especially if he's just a clone.

Because he's Mold Wesker, either all Mold like Ethan Winters, or human but infected with the Mold like the Baker family, in both cases it explains his fast regeneration after his arm was almost completely cut off. His head was completely separated from his body and once they are reunited he will be able to regenerate. We haven't seen the last of Zeno! They can also study the effects of Elpis in his system.

It may have a sample of the pathogen intact. Hence their interest in going after it.

True it could be an Elpis sample they retrieved, that's definitely possible.
It's just strange that the camera is looking up at the soldier who picks it up, it strongly implies that the thing he picked up was looking back up at him, so either a camera or something with eyes.

 

[‘99 Problems]

He's not dead, the post credits cutscene shows the objective looking up at the connections soldiers from the ground. I'm proposing that is Zeno's still seeing head, kept alive by the Mold.

I see…

When the game ended, I’d thought the BSAA was wiped out by the mercenaries and they were taking something from a dead BSAA troop.

 

[Burton]

they were taking something from a dead BSAA troop.

Yeah they do show a dead BSAA soldier on the ground, but they walk past him and pick something up. I suppose a dead BSAA soldier could be holding an Elpis sample and the view we see is the camera of the BSAA soldier. It just seems odd that they didn't show what they walked over to, like it's supposed to be something that is revealed in the future.

It's all just theories anyway and I'm curious as to what people think it was.

 

[Caffeine Addict]

I like the idea of the franchise potentially heading over to Japan for its next setting. It shows that Capcom is taking our feedback to heart - offering up unique opportunities for the series to continue evolving.

 

[Yama]

Love this theory @Burton ! I could totally see fighting him like Saddler in Separate Ways if it came to be. Intrigued by what the true DLC could entail. Zeno was admittedly one of the more jaw dropping introductions character wise, so I'd love to see more.

 

[Spera01]

I also dig this theory. I enjoyed Zeno being an implied clone of Wesker but not directly explained. The DLC focusing more on him (and possibly Chris?) would be interesting.