Overview
New Helios is a city in the world of Neverness to Everness, separate from but connected to Hethereau. It is the location where the catastrophic Hypervortex event occurred, a Class VII anomaly that nearly destroyed the entire city. The disaster is the central backstory event of the game's narrative: the protagonist Esper Zero was found at the ground zero of the Hypervortex with no memories, and the investigation into what happened at New Helios drives much of the story.
The events at New Helios are depicted in the opening animation "Hypervortex Before the Storm," which was released on June 25, 2025, and shows the darker side of NTE's lore beneath the game's otherwise bright and fast-paced open world.
The Hypervortex Disaster
At dusk, the citizens of New Helios were preparing for an incoming torrential downpour when a far more devastating catastrophe arrived. The Hypervortex, a Class VII anomaly, appeared in the sky above the city. It was described as "both magnificent and devastating," a phenomenon that was simultaneously awe-inspiring and destructive on a scale the world had rarely seen.
The Hypervortex is defined as "fatal to the casual observer". Simply looking at it could prove deadly, which is why the warning "Remember, do NOT look at it" became associated with the event. However, the Hypervortex had a critical vulnerability: if someone could peer into its Core (its Nexus), the anomaly would collapse within minutes. This paradox, that survival required doing the very thing that was dangerous, is central to the mystery of how Zero survived.
The Hypervortex nearly destroyed all of New Helios. The anomaly distorted the city's environment, corrupted those caught in its path, and transformed the area. The official description states that the disaster involved "destroying the area and changing people," suggesting both physical destruction and some form of anomalous corruption of the population.
ETD-4 Response
When the Hypervortex struck New Helios, members of ETD-4 from the Bureau of Anomaly Control (BAC) immediately departed from Hethereau, rushing to the scene to handle the disaster. ETD-4 is a field team within the BAC responsible for containing and resolving anomaly events.
The ETD-4 members who responded to New Helios include four characters who appear in the game's prologue:
Character | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
ETD-4 Member | Detached and seemingly wanting to be elsewhere. Known for her love of tomatoes and a dreamlike personality. | |
ETD-4 Member | Serious and tough. Takes a no-nonsense approach to anomaly containment. | |
ETD-4 Member | Seductive and somewhat unhinged. Her unpredictable demeanor contrasts with the gravity of the mission. | |
ETD-4 Member | Part of the response team dispatched to New Helios alongside the other three. |
The team's departure from Hethereau to New Helios establishes that the two cities are connected but geographically separate. The urgency of their response, departing "immediately" upon learning of the disaster, reflects the severity of a Class VII anomaly event.
Connection to Zero
The protagonist Esper Zero was found at the ground zero of the Hypervortex with complete amnesia, possessing no memories of anything prior to the event. The official description states that Zero "emerged from nothingness," leaving the fundamental question of their origin unresolved: whether Zero was present before the Hypervortex struck, was created by it, or arrived through it.
What made Zero stand out was their knowledge of the Hypervortex's Nexus, the anomaly's critical weak point. A key line of dialogue captures this moment: "How did you know about its Nexus?... Looks like you're coming with me... back to the BAC." This knowledge, which no one else possessed, led to Zero's recruitment by the Bureau of Anomaly Control and their eventual placement at the Eibon Antique Shop in Hethereau.
The Central Mystery
The connection between Zero and the Hypervortex is one of the central mysteries of NTE's narrative. Zero's unique ability to perceive the true essence of anomalies and communicate with them may be linked to whatever happened during the disaster. The events at New Helios set the entire story in motion: without the Hypervortex, Zero would not exist as the player knows them, and the game's investigation-driven narrative would have no catalyst.
Aftermath
The Hypervortex's impact on New Helios was devastating but not total. The city was nearly destroyed rather than completely annihilated, suggesting that some infrastructure and population survived. However, the transformation of the area and its people by the anomaly likely left New Helios in a altered state.
After the disaster, Zero was brought from New Helios to Hethereau. They spent time in detention under observation by the Bureau of Anomaly Control while the BAC assessed their nature and abilities. Upon release, Zero was assigned to the Eibon Antique Shop as their new Appraiser, beginning the game's main storyline in Hethereau.
Opening Animation
The events at New Helios are depicted in the official opening animation titled "Hypervortex Before the Storm," released on June 25, 2025. The animation deliberately contrasts with NTE's bright, fast-paced open world gameplay, instead presenting the darker and more disturbing lore underlying the game's world. It shows the ETD-4 members making their way to New Helios to confront the catastrophe, establishing the tone of the game's backstory as something far more serious than the everyday life simulation elements might suggest.
A separate Prologue Gameplay Trailer further explores the events following the Hypervortex. This shows the protagonist visiting the Bureau of Anomaly Control offices, meeting key characters, and beginning their journey as an anomaly hunter. Both videos establish New Helios as the inciting location that sets every subsequent event in motion.
Relationship to Hethereau
New Helios and Hethereau are separate cities, but they are connected through the Bureau of Anomaly Control, which operates in both locations. The BAC's ability to dispatch ETD-4 from Hethereau to New Helios in response to the Hypervortex demonstrates an organizational reach that spans multiple cities. Zero's transfer from New Helios to Hethereau after the disaster further connects the two locations narratively.
New Helios is not a playable area in Neverness to Everness. The game takes place entirely within Hethereau and its surrounding areas. New Helios exists as a backstory location, experienced through cutscenes, dialogue, and the opening animation rather than through direct exploration.
Trivia
The name "New Helios" references Helios, the ancient Greek god of the sun, suggesting a city associated with light and brilliance, which makes its devastation by the Hypervortex all the more symbolic.
The Hypervortex is classified as Class VII, implying a structured anomaly classification system within the BAC with at least seven tiers of severity.
The warning "Remember, do NOT look at it" echoes mythological themes where looking at something forbidden brings destruction, similar to Orpheus looking back at Eurydice or Lot's wife turning to look at Sodom.
New Helios is the only named city outside of Hethereau confirmed in NTE's world, establishing that the game's universe extends beyond the playable map.
The opening animation "Hypervortex Before the Storm" was praised for its darker tone, with outlets describing NTE's lore as "dark and messed up" beneath its bright surface aesthetic.