Nine Audio Lore Easter Egg

Overview

Discover a hidden audio Easter Egg in the Black Ops 4 Zombies map "Nine" by locating and interacting with specific skulls. Each skull reveals a list of elements that, when translated using their periodic table symbols, spell out a secret message. Collecting all five messages unveils a significant narrative element related to the map's lore.

Step 1: Locate the Pack-a-Punch Room (Temple)

The Easter Egg begins in the main arena of the "Nine" map. Your primary objective for the initial skulls will be to head into the Temple, which is also the Pack-a-Punch room. As you progress, you'll notice certain skulls are darker and smaller than others; these are the ones you need to activate to trigger the audio messages.

Step 2: Activate the First Skull (Helium, Argon, Uranium, Sulfur, Nobelium, Tungsten)

• Head into the Temple (Pack-a-Punch room).
• Find the first dark skull positioned to the right of the Pack-a-Punch machine.
• Interact with the skull to hear an audio sequence listing several elements (Helium, Argon, Uranium, Sulfur, Nobelium, Tungsten).
• When translated from the periodic table, the elemental symbols spell out the message: HEAR US NOW.

Step 3: Activate the Second Skull (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Cerium, Yttrium, Oxygen, Uranium, Protactinium, Sulfur, Sulfur, Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Gallium)

• Stay within the Temple room.
• Locate the second dark skull on the opposite side of the Pack-a-Punch machine, situated underneath a window (it can be difficult to spot).
• Interact with it to trigger the next audio sequence (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Cerium, Yttrium, Oxygen, Uranium, Protactinium, Sulfur, Sulfur, Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Gallium).
• This sequence translates to the message: ONCE YOU PASS THIS GATE.

Step 4: Activate the Third Skull (Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Polonium, Tungsten, Erbium, Lithium, Vanadium, Einsteinium, Fluorine, Oxygen, Rhenium, Vanadium, Erbium)

• Exit the Temple and proceed into the Flooded Crypt area.
• Find the third dark skull on a prominent pillar to the left of the flooded path.
• Interact with the skull to listen to the element list (Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Polonium, Tungsten, Erbium, Lithium, Vanadium, Einsteinium, Fluorine, Oxygen, Rhenium, Vanadium, Erbium).
• The translated message from these elements is: THIS POWER LIVES FOREVER.

Step 5: Activate the Fourth Skull (Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Polonium, Tungsten, Erbium, Polonium, Iodine, Sulfur, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Fluorine, Oxygen, Rhenium, Vanadium, Erbium)

• Move to The Cursed Room.
• Locate the fourth dark skull tucked away in a pile of skulls in a dark corner, surrounded by candles.
• Interact with it to activate the audio (Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Polonium, Tungsten, Erbium, Polonium, Iodine, Sulfur, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Fluorine, Oxygen, Rhenium, Vanadium, Erbium).
• This sequence of elements translates to: THIS POWER POISONS FOREVER.

Step 6: Activate the Fifth Skull (Helium, Argon, Uranium, Sulfur, Nickel, Neon, Iron, Argon, Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Polonium, Tungsten, Erbium)

• Proceed to the Danu-Ra Temple Entrance.
• Find the fifth dark skull on a pile of skulls situated near a pillar in this area.
• Interact with the skull to play the final audio message (Helium, Argon, Uranium, Sulfur, Nickel, Neon, Iron, Argon, Thorium, Iodine, Sulfur, Polonium, Tungsten, Erbium).
• This spells out: HEAR US, NINE FEAR THIS POWER.

Step 7: Interpret the Messages

Once all five skulls have been activated, the full sequence of messages is revealed:

• HEAR US NOW.
• ONCE YOU PASS THIS GATE.
• THIS POWER LIVES FOREVER.
• THIS POWER POISONS FOREVER.
• HEAR US, NINE FEAR THIS POWER.

These messages are believed to be warnings from previous contestants who perished in the arena, attempting to communicate with your characters. They warn against "the Nine" (a cult seen in the Easter Egg cutscene) and the dangerous power they wield, suggesting that this power grants immortality to its wielder but poisons others, and that the Nine themselves fear this power.