WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The High Republic: The Edge of Balance, Vols. 1-2, on sale now.
In the Star Wars: The High Republic subseries, the main villains have been the Nihil, a group of marauders determined to cause chaos and destruction throughout the Outer Rim, both for their own gain and to prevent the Jedi and the Republic from gaining influence in the region. The focus of the subseries' third wave has been the Nihil’s attacks across the galaxy and specifically on the Starlight Beacon space station.
While the Nihil's main targets in the past have been more high profile, such as the Republic Fair on Valo and the Starlight Beacon, they also have been terrorizing smaller settlements to break civilian morale and show that nowhere is safe. Star Wars: The High Republic: The Edge of Balance Vol. 2 focused on the Nihil's destruction of Banchii, a small refugee settlement. However, while the Nihil intended to use the destruction of Banchii's colony to demoralize the galaxy, the Jedi's successful evacuation of the refugees showed there was still hope the Nihil can be defeated.
Both volumes of the Edge of Balance manga have focused on the Jedi Temple on Banchii, a peaceful planet which the Jedi attempted to make a haven for refugees from the Great Disaster. Throughout the series, the Nihil have targeted the colony despite its small size and peaceful nature. They managed to smuggle mutated versions of the Drengir onto the planet by giving them to refugees as gifts to help them start a new life in Vol. 1.
While the Drengir wrecked havoc, Lily Tora-Asi's strategic thinking helped end their rampage on Banchii. In Star Wars: The High Republic: Edge of Balance Vol. 2, she tries to prepare the settlement for a potential Nihil attack while also avoiding sowing discord in the community. Ultimately, she and her fellow Jedi were unable to identify the Nihil infiltrator in their midst before the Nihil launched their attack on the settlement.
At the beginning of Vol. 2, a meeting between the Nihil preparing for the attacks on the Starlight Beacon, Banchii and numerous other targets throughout the galaxy firmly established the ruthlessness behind the villains' actions. Marchion Ro, the Nihil's leader, explained that Banchii's value as a target is more emotional than strategic. He stated that, "its existence means it's a place of hope for the Republic... and a likely refuge for an object I have long sought." Therefore, the Nihil attacked Banchii to try to destroy the Republic's hope -- and to exploit the planet and its history for their own gain.
The Nihil won their current victory on Banchii because they took advantage of the Jedi's goodwill. Nihil operatives also posed as refugees, building a trusting rapport with the Jedi and the other settlers that they used to guide their attack. In Vol. 2's most heartbreaking moment, during the attack on Banchii, Lily's Padawan Keerin attempted to take on the Nihil, but he stood down to protect Mr. Zaret, one of the refugees. However, Mr. Zaret was an undercover Nihil operative who killed Keerin instead. This betrayal exemplified the Nihil's ruthlessness and willingness to manipulate to destroy their enemies.
Throughout Edge of Balance Vol. 2, Lily realized that the importance of their battle against the Nihil lay in protecting each other, not the buildings or structures their community held dear. To prevent the Nihil from gaining any secrets that could help their mission to destroy the Republic and the Jedi, Lily chose to destroy the Jedi Temple once everyone had been evacuated.
Lily also elected to remain behind to protect the planet alongside the native Banchiians, meaning she may discover more about Marchion Ro's future plans. Therefore, while Banchii seemed to be a wastleland in the aftermath of the attack, the Nihil did not actually gain what they set out to accomplish. Most of the settlers survived and the planet's secrets currently remain secure, meaning hope also survived despite the chaos.
The Nihil’s destruction of the Jedi Temple and refugee settlement on Banchii showed just how ruthless they can be. Lily's actions to protect Banchii's people are admirable, but the Jedi will have to adapt new tactics to stop the Nihil’s reign of terror throughout the galaxy. While their victory on Banchii seemed complete, the survival and evacuation of the planet's civilians and showed the villains did not truly win. In future volumes of Star Wars: The High Republic, Lily may be able to retake the planet and gain critical intel to stop the Nihil's spread across the galaxy.
