The lore revealed in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has broader implications for the rest of the franchise, including offering new and horrifying context for a previous Zelda setting. Although relatively small in comparison to its immediate predecessors, Echoes of Wisdom has nonetheless revealed striking new details about Hyrule and the circumstances behind its creation. Moreover, while this naturally feeds strongly into EoW’s own narrative, the new perspective changes how the events of older games can be interpreted as well.

Undoubtedly the most significant addition to The Legend of Zelda lore in Echoes of Wisdom is Null, an all-consuming entity whose very existence inspired the creation of Hyrule as a means to contain it. why Link cannot talk in Echoes of Wisdom, Null’s efforts to effectively end existence itself have apparently damaged Hyrule repeatedly over the ages, with true disaster only being held at bay by the Tris.

Null Could Be Responsible For Lorule Crumbling Away

Its Rifts Could Be Tearing The Dimension Apart Unopposed

It is explained in A Link Between Worlds that Lorule is crumbling away due to the loss of its Triforce, with the artifact having been wished away by the royal family. This was done to end the wars fought to claim it, something which parallels the wars Hyrule has also experienced. The unforeseen consequences of this act were disastrous; by the time Link travels to Lorule in ALBW, the kingdom is split apart by a series of chasms created by its slow but unrelenting disintegration.

At the time of ALBW’s release and the introduction of this non-Hyrule Legend of Zelda setting, this was all the explanation that was offered for Lorule’s plight. Now, however, Echoes of Wisdom’s introduction of Null suggests something far more terrifying. The chasms that block Link’s path in ALBW could be the work of Null, or perhaps its Lorulean equivalent, eating away at the kingdom personally. This would imply that the loss of the Triforce also had a profoundly negative impact on Lorule’s Tris, rendering them incapable of properly performing their duties.

Of course, Lorule’s chasms aren’t precisely the same as the rifts seen appearing across Hyrule in Echoes of Wisdom. However, this in itself is far from inexplicable; perhaps Lorule’s Tris retain enough power to close Null’s rifts, but without the Triforce (which would presumably act as a supply of power) they are unable to restore what was lost. If so, the restoration of the Lorulean Triforce actually saved the kingdom in more ways than one.

Link Averted More Than One Disaster In ALBW

He Unknowingly Prevented Null From Breaking Free

Assuming that Null exists in Lorule as it does in EoW’s Hyrule, imprisoned but eager to escape its prison and destroy the world, then it is possible that it was very close to succeeding. The condition of Lorule makes it very easy to imagine Null breaking free in the near future, at least if it were not for Link. Having defeated Yuga Ganon and wished on Hyurle’s own Triforce to restore itsLorulean counterpart with Zelda, it seems that the hero unknowingly saves Lorule (and, by extension, Hyrule) twice over.

Of course, it is worth noting that this holds true even if the condition of Lorule is not directly the work of Null. The impact of losing its Triforce remains, after all, and Lorule’s crumbling still represents a potentially catastrophic breakdown of Null’s prison. With just a little more time, Null would be able to escape without even needing to exert itself. However, in either case, Link’s actions directly prevent this worst-case scenario from coming to fruition; Lorule is put firmly on the path to restoration, and so too is Null’s prison.

What This Could Mean For Larger Zelda Lore

Null Could Be An Unseen Threat Across The Timeline

As Lorule is effectively a darker reflection of Hyrule, it would not be surprising for it to either have its own Null or be part of Hyrule’s own entity’s prison. In any case, Null is one of the most original Zelda villains to be introduced, so it is interesting to consider how it may play into other aspects of the franchise. For example, Null constantly eating away at the world could help explain why Hyrule’s geography often changes dramatically between titles.

With that being said, it should be noted that Null may not be an issue in ALBW due to it already being dead. This is because it is not entirely certain how Echoes of Wisdom relates to the timeline, so it is possible that Null was defeated long before Lorule lost its Triforce. On the other hand, EoW may also likewise take place after TOTK, in which case the Demon Dragon’s immensely destructive assault on Hyrule could have similarly threatened to release Null.

The fact that Null is able to create an Echo of Ganon implies that at least one incarnation of Hyrule’s recurring foe has appeared prior to EoW, which would at least place the game after Skyward Sword.

With Hyrule facing so many threats aiming to destroy it to some degree throughout the franchise, the fact that for a large part of its history Null lies trapped deep below its surface is naturally cause for concern. In particular, Lorule’s troubles clearly represent a major potential escape route for Null, depending on where The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom falls within the wider timeline. Null is now effectively a lurking threat throughout the franchise, the world above never knowing just how close it is to oblivion.

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