So did I save Hallownest?

[Uncle Nastyfingers]

I completed the game at 90 percent (still took 40 hours!). In the ending, the knight destroys the Hollow Knight within the Black Egg and seems to take his place. The infection/pulse in his eyes fades as he does this, so I assume he has contained the infection within himself? Is the kingdom rid of the infection in this ending?

Also, the Hollow Knight (former one) stabbing himself during the boss battle, is this because he/it becomes aware of what is happening at that point in the battle, and tries to kill him/itself and help you?

[Uncle Nastyfingers]

As well, how much of the story/lore did you guys know after finishing the game with this ending? Did you have to do another playthrough to get a much better understanding of it all? I still have many questions, I'm wondering if I did something wrong or did not pick up on what was shown to me. I explored/played the game pretty thoroughly.

[Carbo]

You're still missing 2 endings and the real percent is 112%, so you'll know when you're really done. And the Hollow Knight in deed stabs himself to help you. At last, I had to look up on YT (thanks Mossbag) for the lore, since some if it is pretty much hidden and still there are some major questions unanswered. Also I knew sht about the lore after my first ending lmao

[Appaguchee]

You've saved Hallownest, but you haven't "freed" it. You're missing no joke 4 more endings. Goodluck.

[Boksha]

Yes, you've (probably) permanently sealed the infection inside yourself and Hallownest should be safe.

On my first finish I didn't really understand all that much of the story yet. The nice thing about the story is there's a bunch of layers to it; in particular, all of the texts you read that were written by bugs, describe the infection as they see it and merely speculate about its nature and how it spreads. Only a few living characters (Hornet, Bardoon and, most importantly, the Seer) actually know what the infection IS and where it comes from.

I don't think it's very likely to pick up on everything from a single playthrough given how (needlessly) cryptic many characters are and how the Knight is incapable of asking questions (due to the whole no mouth thing)

[Uncle Nastyfingers]

Originally posted by Boksha:

Yes, you've (probably) permanently sealed the infection inside yourself and Hallownest should be safe.

On my first finish I didn't really understand all that much of the story yet. The nice thing about the story is there's a bunch of layers to it; in particular, all of the texts you read that were written by bugs, describe the infection as they see it and merely speculate about its nature and how it spreads. Only a few living characters (Hornet, Bardoon and, most importantly, the Seer) actually know what the infection IS and where it comes from.

I don't think it's very likely to pick up on everything from a single playthrough given how (needlessly) cryptic many characters are and how the Knight is incapable of asking questions (due to the whole no mouth thing)

What's a Knight gotta do to get some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ answers out of Hornet and the Seer lol. I don't even know who Bardoon is!

[paladin181]

Originally posted by Fresh:

I completed the game at 90 percent (still took 40 hours!). In the ending, the knight destroys the Hollow Knight within the Black Egg and seems to take his place. The infection/pulse in his eyes fades as he does this, so I assume he has contained the infection within himself? Is the kingdom rid of the infection in this ending?

Also, the Hollow Knight (former one) stabbing himself during the boss battle, is this because he/it becomes aware of what is happening at that point in the battle, and tries to kill him/itself and help you?

Hollow night is stabbing itself because it is instinctually trying to ill the Radiance. It is its purpose. It's not necessarily "helping" you, it is just trying to fulfill its purpose.

[Uncle Nastyfingers]

Ok so with the radiance contained, isn't that the same as having it destroyed? It's locked within you/the Black Egg, the Kingdom can be repopulated safely no?

[paladin181]

Originally posted by Fresh:

Ok so with the radiance contained, isn't that the same as having it destroyed? It's locked within you/the Black Egg, the Kingdom can be repopulated safely no?

The idea is that eventually the cycle will repeat because you're not a pure vessel yet. There are some important steps to purifying yourself and getting the second/third endings.

[Watermelons]

Originally posted by Fresh:

Ok so with the radiance contained, isn't that the same as having it destroyed? It's locked within you/the Black Egg, the Kingdom can be repopulated safely no?

Same as being destroyed? No. It's contained, but contained in a supposedly unbreakable vessel. But without delving deeper into itself and its memories, your character probably isn't quite so unbreakable. Hence the gathering of the Kingsoul/Voidheart.

As for what that means with all the bugs afflicted with the infection, who knows? The story doesn't tell us that, but in one of the hidden endings, you see the veins of infection stop glowing. Safe to assume that it can die away, but then again, that ending is not about sealing the Radiance, but destroying it .