The Unsung Champion in Zenless Zone Zero is the story of Agent Lightyear. In it, you will get to know the champion of the Sons of Calydon better, spend the Days of Settlement with him on the Bypass and eliminate the bandits who threaten the peaceful life of Blazewood.
In this guide, we've covered how to start and complete each chapter of the story, including combat orders.
Walkthrough of the Unsung Champion story in ZZZ
How to start
You can access the first chapter by completing the story episode “Light Interlude – Unexpected Guest”. To open the story, use the archive in the video rental store.
Celebration and Championship
Head to the Meeting in Blazewood
After talking to your brother/sister at the rental shop, you will automatically be transported to the Bypass, where you have an appointment with Caesar. The girl will not be there, but you will see Lightyear – talk to him.
The man will tell you about the Days of Reckoning – a kind of holiday when you can meet your offender and arrange a competition.
Approach “Toothy”
In response to your insult, Lightyear will offer to compete in drinking “Nitro Fuel”. Approach Piper's car, which serves as a bar for selling the drink.
All the supplies of “Nitro Fuel” have been sold out, so the saleswoman will offer you to borrow a drink from the locals.
Get “Nitro Fuel”
First, approach the hesitant girl standing next to the couch, not far from “Nibbler”.
Then go down using the elevator and talk to the strong man.
Return to “Nibbler”
Meet Lightyear again at the bar and start the competition.
After Lighter loses, a cocky young man will approach him and challenge him to a boxing match.
The man will offer you to buy betting coupons so that if he wins, you will receive a huge supply of drinks.
Buy Nitro Fuel Sweepstakes Coupons
Go down to the bottom tier and buy coupons from the young vendor. It is recommended to buy 5 coupons to get a bigger reward later.
Watch the Competition
There's a crowd standing near the vendor, surrounding Lightyear and his opponent. Talk to the referee and watch your friend's winning streak.
Exchange the coupons at “Nibbler”
Go to the bar on the upper tier and talk to Bernice. The girl will offer to exchange coupons for denny – a thousand for each coupon.
Find Lightyear
Head to the exit of Blazewood and give the champion the message from Bernice and Pops.
Talk to Weisz/Belle
The brother/sister is waiting for you on the lower level, near the stairs. After the conversation, you can complete the first chapter of the story.
Also an Arena
To access the second chapter of the story, you must complete the quest “Echoes of the Interlude”, which is the beginning of the “Inferno Cross” storyline.
Talk to Piper: she will tell you that Lightyear is nowhere to be found. Remember his last opponent, who mentioned the cavern, and decide to go look for your friend.
Go to the cavern and find Lightyear
Accept the “Fierce Confrontation” combat order and start completing it using the HDD system.
It is best to form a squad of agents with physical and fire attributes. Ice agents will show the least effective results.
In trial mode, Lightyear will join your team, and you can choose two more fighters independently. We have described the best units for Lightyear and his rotations in a separate guide.
When you meet, Lightyear will tell you that he wants to prevent an enemy gang from attacking Blazewood and plans to find clues in the cavern.
Defeat enemies
To get all rewards, you must keep all agents' health at 30% or higher.
Defeat a group of bandits, then examine the enemy gang's emblem.
Go further, collect resources from the mini-truck.
Deal with another wave of enemies and investigate the junk blocking the passage.
Help Andreas
You will see Lightyear's opponent, Andreas, and a group of bandits. It turns out that Andreas was deceived, and he unwittingly became a participant in the upcoming pogrom in Blazewood. Defeat two groups of enemies together with your new ally.
Defeat Andreas
Lightyear will challenge Andreas to a duel – defeat him to learn information about the upcoming attack and make peace.
Talk to Weisz/Belle
The brother/sister is waiting for you by the car. Discuss what happened to complete the second chapter.
The Invincible Red Scarf
You can start the third chapter of the story immediately after completing the second.
Talk to Lightyear about the upcoming foray into the cavern and accept the “Furious Struggle” combat order. You can complete it using the HDD.
Enter the cavern with Lightyear
You will only have access to a squad of Lightyear and Banbu Red Mokkus, you cannot add your own agents.
Run forward, destroying obstacles and avoiding exploding mines.
Defeat two groups of enemies. To get all the rewards, you need to keep Lightyear's health at 30% or higher, so don't forget to dodge in time.
Catch up with the enemy
Move on, restore HP and energy along the way and open the mini-truck. After that, enter the rift where one of the bandits escaped.
Deal with the Bandits
Watch an epic cutscene where Lightyear challenges the criminals and puts his scarf on the line.
After that, you'll be in a side-view mode, like in fighting games. The rest of the combat mechanics will remain the same. Defeat several groups of enemies this way until you reach the elite enemy.
After winning, talk to Lightyear and learn more about his past.
Talk to Weisz/Belle
To complete the story, discuss what happened with your sibling.
Rewards
After completing all three chapters of the story and two combat orders, you will receive:
- 195 Polychromes
- 1200 Internet Credits
- 65500 denny
- 12 expert logs
- 8 specialist logs
- 6 amplifier power modules
- 4 amplifier power supplies
- 3 ether coatings
- 6 crystalline coatings
- 20 plastic coatings
- 10 noise reduction master discs
After completing Chapter 3, you will also receive the “Furious Struggle” achievement from the “Agent Stories” set, which will earn you an additional 10 Polychromes.
The Unsung Champion (Limited Event)
Until December 16, 2024, players will have access to additional content for Lightyear's story: Special Story and Warm-up.
Special Story: A Fistful of Denny
A Fistful of Denny – A Wasteland Search
Travel to Inspector Meowchel on the Bypass – Caesar, Lightyear, and a biker are standing next to him, who was attacked by bandits from the caverns. The biker will ask the Chieftain to deal with it, but Lightyear will take it upon himself.
Bernice will join you on the way. Click “To Battle!” to begin the tests.
As part of a special storyline, you will have to complete time trials with various power-ups. After each mini-quest, you will need to complete a test in the “Reconnaissance!” mode with time limits.
The battles here are designed in the same way as in the last chapter of the story, with a side view. You can take a support character (the choice will be larger with each new level) and sometimes call him by pressing the spacebar. Lightyear will not leave the field; support agents will act independently, and you will remain in control of the champion throughout the battle.
The boosts from old levels also remain valid on new ones.
Below is a video walkthrough of the first level. The subsequent challenges are quite similar and differ only in the number of power-ups and support agents.
For a Fistful of Denny – A Dance with the Queen
Talk to Lightyear and Caesar near the exit from Blazewood.
For a Fistful of Denny – Ignition Period
Lightyear, Bernice, and Piper will be waiting for you at the elevator on the top tier. Talk about cargo transportation and convince Lightyear to follow through.
For a Fistful of Denny – Fists and Guns
Talk to the champion near the Inspector Meowchelo post. Invite Billy, who has agreed to help you in the case on behalf of the Sly Hares.
For a Fistful of Denny – In Broad Daylight
Talk to Lightyear and Billy again at the elevator to learn the plan for the champion to escort the valuable cargo and protect it from bandits.
Complete the final level of the mode, “Endless Noon”. In it, unlike the previous tests, you need to score the highest number of points in a certain time. You can choose different Intensity options that strengthen not only you, but also your opponents. The more options you collect, the higher the score multiplier will be. In this case, the test is considered completed even if Lightyear dies – the result depends only on the points scored.
This will end the event's storyline, and you will gain access to all levels of “Brawl!” – a mode with a set of points. On each of the levels, you can choose up to 2 Intensity options.
Burning Strike
Burning Strike (Warm-up) is a series of combat challenges where you need to defeat enemies within a certain time. To get all the rewards in each level, you need to use Lightyear and complete the challenge within 240 seconds.
At levels I, II and VI, you will get trial Soldier 11 and Lucy; at levels III–V, you will get Lycaon and Ellen. At all levels, you will also get trial Lightyear. These units are optimal and allow you to easily pass the trials.
Banbus such as Red Mokkus, Rocketboo and Plaxaboo are good for the first team. Majordomo, Sharkboo and Pinguiboo are ideal for the second team.
Of the battle buffs, the easiest to activate is Threatening Fist: After Lightyear's finishing blow, a status is applied to enemies, which, when hit, gives your agents +80% crit damage. This is especially useful for the attack agents – Soldier 11 and Ellen.
To activate the buff, you should actively gain and spend the energy of the entire squad while getting rid of small mobs. When enough Fighting Spirit has accumulated, use a combo of Lightyear's basic attacks, finish it with a powerful blow and switch to the damage dealer (Soldier 11/Ellen), who has received the crit buff. This bonus will allow you to quickly deal with strong opponents that will appear in the last waves.
By completing Special Story and Warm-up Quests and Challenges, you will receive Arena Tokens, which can be exchanged for Polychromes and other resources in the Event Store.
