The Appraiser

Overview

Esper Zero, commonly known as The Appraiser, is the player protagonist of Neverness to Everness. An S-Rank Cosmos Esper found at the ground zero of the Hypervortex disaster with no memories, Zero possesses a unique ability to perceive the true essence of anomalies and communicate with them. Assigned by the Bureau of Anomaly Control to the Eibon Antique Shop, Zero serves as the first "unlicensed" anomaly hunter in Hethereau.

Character Profile

Backstory

The Hypervortex

Zero's story begins at the Hypervortex, a catastrophic Class VII anomaly that struck the city of New Helios. The Hypervortex nearly destroyed the entire city, transforming its environment and corrupting those caught in its path. Zero was found at ground zero of this disaster with complete amnesia, possessing no memories of anything prior to the event.

The official description states that Zero "emerged from nothingness," underscoring the mystery of their origin. Whether Zero was present before the Hypervortex struck, was created by it, or arrived through it remains one of the central mysteries of the narrative.

Detention and Observation

After being discovered at the disaster site, Zero was taken into custody by the Bureau of Anomaly Control. They spent time in prison under observation while the Bureau assessed their nature and abilities. During this period, Zero's unique perceptual abilities were identified, leading the BAC to recognize their potential value rather than treat them purely as a threat.

Code Zero Operations

Upon release, Zero agreed to participate in Code Zero containment operations, a designation that appears to describe the type of anomaly missions assigned to the protagonist. The name "Zero" likely connects to both the character's discovery at "ground zero" of the Hypervortex and their participation in these Code Zero operations.

Assignment to Eibon

"Per the Bureau's arrangement," Zero was assigned to join the Eibon Antique Shop as their new Appraiser. This placement gave Zero a legal framework to operate as an anomaly hunter despite lacking formal licensing. Eibon's commission-based work model allowed Zero to take on anomaly cases through the shop rather than needing official BAC credentials.

The Appraiser Role

The Appraiser is Zero's specific job title at Eibon. The role involves investigating, analyzing, and resolving supernatural disturbances occurring throughout Hethereau. Rather than simple extermination, the Appraiser's work follows a detective-style approach:

1. Investigation: Travel to the commission site and gather information about the anomaly

2. Analysis: Use Zero's unique perception abilities to understand the anomaly's nature, origin, and Nexus

3. Resolution: Contain or neutralize the anomaly through combat, puzzle-solving, or environmental manipulation

Every main quest is structured like a case file rather than a traditional RPG quest. The Appraiser examines evidence, follows leads, and pieces together what caused each anomaly before confronting it directly. This investigative structure sets NTE's storytelling apart from the genre standard.

Unique Abilities

Zero possesses abilities that distinguish them from other Espers in Hethereau. Their defining power is a "sharp instinct for the 'Nexus' of all sorts of anomalies." The Nexus is the critical core or focal point from which an anomaly radiates. Detecting it allows Zero to understand and ultimately resolve anomaly disturbances.

Anomaly Perception

More specifically, Zero can "see the true essence of Anomalies and talk to them." This is a perception and communication power rather than a raw combat ability. Zero can interact with anomalies and Oddities in ways that other hunters cannot, making them uniquely suited for investigation work. As one reviewer noted: "It doesn't make you strong, but it does make you useful."

Anomaly Communication

Zero has a natural capacity to communicate with and capture anomalies and interact with Oddities throughout the world. This ability is unexplained within the early narrative and is likely connected to Zero's mysterious origin at the Hypervortex. It enables Zero to gather information from anomalies directly, supplementing traditional investigation methods.

Unlicensed Status

Zero is described as the first "unlicensed" anomaly hunter in Hethereau. The Bureau of Anomaly Control maintains a formal licensing system for anomaly hunters, and operating without credentials is unusual. Zero lacks the official registration and documentation that other hunters possess.

Despite this, the BAC deliberately placed Zero at Eibon, suggesting they view Zero's unique abilities as valuable enough to bypass standard procedure. The Eibon Antique Shop's existing commission system provides a legal framework for Zero to operate, taking on cases through the shop rather than under personal credentials.

Relationship with Eibon

Zero is the newest member of the Eibon crew and occupies the role of an underling learning the ropes. The dynamic has been compared to the Trailblazer joining the Astral Express in Honkai: Star Rail, with the key difference that "the instant family you've been given has a lot more actual kids."

Key Relationships

Beyond Eibon

Zero interacts with characters outside the Eibon crew as the story progresses. The prologue features members of ETD-4 including Lacrimosa, Skia, Fadia, and Baicang. These BAC agents appear in the Hypervortex opening sequence and are involved in Zero's journey from the outset. The story episode "Deal? Deal!" sees Zero working alongside the Sterry Express crew at an anomaly auction.

Gender and Customization

Players choose Zero's gender at the start of the game, selecting between FZero (female) and MZero (male). Both forms share the same stats, abilities, and story progression. After completing the side quest "In the Reflection," players unlock the ability to swap freely between male and female forms at any time with no restrictions.

Players can also choose a custom name for the protagonist rather than using the default "Zero." The gender choice does not appear to affect story outcomes beyond cosmetic and pronoun differences.

Voiced Protagonist

Unlike many gacha game protagonists who are silent or minimally voiced, Esper Zero is a fully voiced character with a distinct personality. This has been highlighted by reviewers as a notable departure from genre conventions.

The Japanese voice cast features real-life siblings Yuma and Maaya Uchida. Suzie Yeung, who voices FZero in English, is known for voicing Hu Tao in Genshin Impact. The game supports English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese voice-overs.

Combat

As an S-Rank Cosmos character, Zero is a fully playable combatant who participates in the Esper Cycle system alongside the rest of the party. Zero's Cosmos element enables Blossom (with Anima) and Remora (with Lakshana) duo reactions, and contributes to the Charge trio reaction (Cosmos + Anima + Lakshana).

Both FZero and MZero can trigger instant Esper Cycle meter charges, making them efficient at maintaining reaction uptime. Specific skill descriptions and detailed kit data for Zero are expected to be fully documented after the game's April 29, 2026 launch.

Trivia

• The name "Zero" connects to multiple in-lore references: the character's discovery at "ground zero" of the Hypervortex, their participation in "Code Zero" containment operations, and the thematic idea of emerging from nothingness.

• The game's Chinese title is "Yi Huan" (Strange Ring/Anomalous Ring), which may carry additional thematic significance not yet fully explored in English materials.

• Zero's unique ability to communicate with anomalies is explicitly described as not making them "strong" but making them "useful," distinguishing the protagonist from combat-oriented Espers.

• The "In the Reflection" side quest that unlocks gender swapping uses a mirror motif, playing on themes of identity and self-perception.