Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The High Republic- Shadows of Starlight #4

Summary

• The Nihil have evolved into a major threat, using new technology and weapons to resist the Republic and frighten the Jedi.
• Marchion Ro has expanded the Nihil's power and influence by creating Ministries and upgrading their forces.
• Marchion Ro may throw away the Nihil's legacy to destroy the Republic and Jedi Order in his quest for complete dominance.

The Jedi's greatest Nihil marauders and their leader Marchion Ro have decided to take full advantage of their rising power as they continue to resist the Republic's authority and influence. As such, they've completely evolved from the raiders they once were, becoming a major threat even the Jedi Order has come to fear.

As seen in the new Star Wars: The High Republic- Shadows of Starlight #4 by Charles Soule, David Messina, and Jethro Morales, the Nihil are seen celebrating Starlight's fall as Stormwall, preventing ships from entering their new "Occlusion Zone" at lightspeed. Likewise, they're also armed with their unique path engines and more weapons such as the Nameless, monstrous Force predators who can completely paralyze and kill Jedi. As such, it's no wonder that Ro believes the galaxy has entered a new age, one dominated by the Nihil.

Although they were seemingly at risk of stagnation, Marchion Ro is convinced during this new issue to expand the NIhil's influence and power, completely restructuring the marauders into something much bigger, a force that could perhaps last long into the future of the Star Wars timeline.

It Only Took 1 Year For The Nihil To Massively Evolve

They're No Longer Just Marauders

Over the course of a single year, Marchion Ro goes to great lengths to expand and evolve the Nihil and their galactic control within the Stormwall. Creating a true infrastructure, the Nihil now has Ministries of Protection, Advancement, and Information. The Ministry of Protection is led by one General Viess, an accomplished military tactician who particularly enjoys killing Jedi. The Ministry of Advancement is being run by Baron Boolan, a mad scientist whose first task from Ro is to upgrade the Nameless with cybernetic enhancements.

However, the Ministry of Information is being run by former Republic Senator Ghirra Starros. Starros was instrumental in encouraging Ro to legitimize the Nihil and his own rule governing the Occlusion Zone. However, it certainly seems as though Ro is neither for nor against Starros' changes and reforms in her desire to turn the Nihil into a force that could last well into the future.

Marchion Ro Is Only Getting Started In The High Republic

What Will He Do Next?

It's certainly impressive to see how far the Nihil have come in the wake of Starlight's fall. However, Marchion Ro doesn't seem all that enthused or impressed by the evolution. To that end, it's not hard to imagine Ro potentially throwing all that the Nihil could be away in his desire to completely and utterly destroy both the Republic and Jedi Order going forward. At any rate, there's no denying that the Nihil has become more powerful than its ever been, and it currently doesn't look like they can yet be stopped thanks to all they built during the High Republic Era.

Star Wars: The High Republic- Shadows of Starlight #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.