"I once knew a people who worshipped the sun. (Gazes off at Teochihua as it passes along the horizon) They thought their 'sacred flame' could protect them from anything, from me. So I took it from them." ― Zalgo, The Eclipser
Zalgo is one of 2 entities believed to exist in Level 82, the other being the Black Sun which roams across the sky. Zalgo has been described as an 8'4 inhuman monster that tricks wanderers into believing they must listen to it to find an exit from Level 84.
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Description
It is said that it is painful just to behold Zalgo, in a manner similar to staring at the sun too long, forcing those who observe the entity to avert their eyes after mere seconds. The entity stands at 8'4, and is often first spotted looming from some high vantage point in the horizon before it begins approaching the traveler.
As it comes closer, you will notice that it is covered in a leathery black fabric that is said to be composed from the concentrated suffering of the mothers of those it's consumed, though how it is able to extract this substance from within Level 82 remains unknown. Touching this fabric also causes you to experience unimaginable pain that will likely leave you momentarily paralyzed from the shock. This fabric is also believed to be what allows Zalgo to tolerate the intense heat of the Black Suns.
Its head appears to be a squirming mass of black tentacles that ungulate constantly, and which it uses to devour the corpses of those it has defeated in battle. When eating, these tentacles will extend to completely envelop prey and subdue them before dragging them back to its head and absorbing them completely. It can also use its mantis-like insect arms to impale travelers who accept its challenge, as well as use them to climb and traverse the Level with ease, much like an arachnid climbing up a wall.
Behavior
Zalgo will constantly advise travelers to perform the following tasks:
- Jump off of an island. Zalgo says this will send you to Level Infinity, but it just teleports you back to the island that you were on.
- Dig in the ground and find rocks. Zalgo says performing this will take you to Level 83, but it actually does nothing.
- Screech for more than 3 minutes nonstop. Zalgo says this will take you to Level 181, but it also does nothing.
- Zalgo tells all travelers it encounters that dying on this level will simply take you to Level 10, but again, nothing happens, and you'll just die.
If you ignore or fail to comply with Zalgo's requests, it will begin to taunt you and challenge you to a brawl; if you win, you will be sent to Level 83, but if you lose, you will die. To date, only 2 entities have managed to defeat Zalgo, but none have been able to tame or befriend it. It is also said that Zalgo devours the corpses of those it defeats, and those who have expired due to the immense heat of Level Level 82. Zalgo does not seem to be affected by this heat
Examples of taunts used by Zalgo include:
- Who are you praying to? Them? (Motions to Xandros as it floats across the horizon) 'Mans Defenders'... They used to pray once long ago too you know; and now their ruins are here, with me.
- Why do you keep running from me? (Follows the frightened traveler, crawling along the wall as they try to get away by climbing a ladder) Do you think you can climb a ladder high enough that you reach God? (Looks towards Babel) Others have tried it, and look where that got them.
Defeating Zalgo
Defeating Zalgo in combat will not be easy, as only 2 entities have managed to accomplish this task. For one, Zalgo is able to easily traverse the labyrinthian structures of Level 82, and does not seem to tire or be affected by the intense heat characteristic of the level. Merely looking at the entity causes a seering pain, as does touching it directly in any way.
The only way to truly combat this entity is to already be in possession of a firearm or some other type of weapon. Its height and reach advantage allow it to easily attack and impale its opponents without endangering itself, though if you possess a blade, it is possible to cut off its "arms". It is also possible to pierce the leathery fabric that covers it, though doing so releases the screams of a hundred grieving mothers, an event that can be deafening and severely psychologically harmful.
Even when harmed, Zalgo appears to be incredibly resistant to pain, and will continue fighting despite being severly injured. In the only documented instance of Zalgo being defeated, 2 travelers who happened to spawn in at similar times worked together to defeat Zalgo, using scraps of metal as spears to strike the entity, an act which was incredibly traumatizing for the 2 individuals due to its previously mentioned abilities. It is said that they had to stab the entity 7 times before it was finally subdued, though it is believed due to recent tales from travelers that Zalgo survived this assault and remains in control of Level 82.
Origins
It is believed that Zalgo is an entity which was banished to the backrooms after committing mass theocide against the deities of its original dimension. According to texts found in the Infinite Library, Zalgo achieved Godhood after managing to somehow eclipse the sun, causing the inhabitants of the world to abandon their faith and worship it instead. From there, Zalgo went on to usurp the heavens of the fallen deities and twisted them to its own malevolent whims. After committing these acts, Zalgo and its false heavens were banished by unknown forces, and imprisoned in the same "void" it used to trap the sun.
There Zalgo would fester and brood for millennia until the first explorers began to stumble upon the isolated level. While this cannot be confirmed, it is believed that Zalgo now taunts its victims as a form of entertainment due its centuries of lingering solitude. Others believe it seeks to devour souls so that it may attain the power necessary to escape its imprisonment, though it is also believed to be far from accomplishing this goal, as much of its power was lost due to unknown reasons when it was banished to the Backrooms.
The Seven False Heavens
Before being banished, Zalgo managed to drag with it a portion of each of the 7 fallen deities' heavens, bringing them to with it into the black dimension known as Level 82. There, these False Heavens linger in the sky as floating islands which revolve around the Dead Black Sun slain by Zalgo. The names of these islands are known due to the comments made by Zalgo as each one of them, to Zalgo, represents a triumph over the inferior deities the humans of its world once worshipped before its arrival.
Vagniterattra
Vagniterattra is characterized by vast labyrinthian temples bearing a resemblance to Hindu architecture. These temples make up the entirety of the island, and gravity is known to be reversed for the bottom levels of the temple. Individuals who spawn on this island will spawn deep within the temple, and may not even be initially aware of the Black Sun looming in the sky. While these temples have many windows, only 4 doorways are found on the outskirts of this island. If you manage to pass through one of the doorways to the temple, you will be transported to Level 249.
"... as for Vagniterattra, I dragged her temples out from beneath the Ocean. I awoke and unleashed the burning god that had destroyed the Earth over 7,203 times, and despite unraveling her volcanic fury, she could not defeat me; For one who can devour the Earth is no match for one who can devour the Sun ..." ― Zalgo, The Eclipser
Teochihua
Teochuhua is characterized by vast temple complexes interwoven into mountain ranges which extend across the island. The buildings of Teocuhua will have a distinct Aztec design and architecture, albiet with modern elements sporadically integrated. Using any elevator within one of the Aztec skyscraper buildings will transport you to the Sci-Fi Sector of Level 184, however in order to use these elevators, you will be prompted to make a blood sacrifice before you can press any buttons.
"... In time the people of Teochihua achieved great marvels, each time by shedding the blood of the weak, simply to please their gods. They would sacrifice anything, their own children even, to their Sacred Flame, because they believed it to be divine. And so it was, until the day I discovered how to blacken the Sun ..." ― Zalgo, The Eclipser
Xu Kong
Xu Kong is characterized by a barren, mountainous terrain with very few structures. The few structures that do exist here are placed in isolated, difficult to reach regions of the island. These structures will bear a resemblance to Buddhist shrines and be made completely out of stone. However instead of statues of buddha on a pedestal, there will instead be warped, humanoid shapes made of stones in their place. Beneath these shrines will be an entrance; to pass through this entrance once must crouch down and crawl into it. Once inside they will find the structure to be completely hollow and empty before suddenly being transported to Level 249.
"... Those who believed in Xu Kong thought they could escape the world by believing everything to be an illusion. But when the sun vanished and the world grew cold, many among them faltered. Their philosophies had been truly empty and void, because though even the Sun may be an illusion, the pain you are experiencing is not, and neither am I ..." ― Zalgo, The Eclipser
Babel
Babel is characterized by its vast, slum-like cities of buildings made of metal and wooden scraps that somehow remain stable and are able to rise into the sky like skyscrapers scattered across the surface of the island. Occasionally, these scraps of metal will have some form of Arabic text or writing suggesting that they are of middle eastern origin. Graffiti has also been found on the walls of these makeshift buildings. Reaching the top of one of these buildings is the only way to exit this island. Upon reaching the top, you will be transported to the Dark Sector of Level 184.
"... In their attempt to reach God, mankind began to build a mighty tower that would rise into the Sun. They turned their society into a mass of slaves which were forced to continue building on top of each other until they were buried beneath the rising structure. At the top of this great tower, the elites rose higher and higher towards God, leaving the rest behind as the 'benevolent' deity looked on. It was then when I struck them down and collapsed their society, dividing them so they could never again reach this so called 'God' ..." ― Zalgo, The Eclipser
Xandros
Xandros is characterized by its vast megalopolis of buildings bearing an ancient Greek architecture, except scaled up to the size of modern high rising buildings. Many of the structures on this level have huge gashes and scratch marks on them, as though some sort of battle with a clawed animal took place here. Reaching the top of one of these buildings will transport you to the Futuristic Sector of Level 184.
"... they called themselves the Defenders of Xandros, and believed themselves to be the Sons of God himself. They thought that through their god, they had the power to save billions of souls from eternal damnation. In the end, they could not save their own city from my prison of eternal isolation ..." ― Zalgo, The Eclipser
Steroi
Steroi is characterized by its resemblance to an asteroid in shape except for being completely covered in closed windows of various shapes and sizes, that lead into pitch black space inside. These windows seem to impossible to open, however, very rarely a window will shine with bright, piercing white light. These windows can be opened, and passing through them will transport you to the Bright Sector of Level 184.
"... Some had no faith, and worshipped no gods, but found refuge in the findings of science and the powers of their technology. Upon these I took pity, for their intellect allowed them to enter space and witness the same Sun that I had once looked upon. They watched as I sealed their sun away in eternal darkness, and when I was banished, they watched as I dragged them with me as well. Here they have survived for 8,000 years, still clinging to sciences which barely keep them alive ..." ― Zalgo, The Eclipser