Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 058 The Millennium Enemy, Part 9

Still no more word on the true nature of Yuugi and Yami's relationship, but what's this? Right there on page one of this chapter:

I didn't much think about it during the last chapter, but the NPC character White Wizard Bakura contains as much of Ryou Bakura's soul as Zork contains that of Other Bakura. After all, how could White Wizard Bakura follow Ryou's will if he wasn't a reflection of that will? Therefore, since White Wizard Bakura was expelled from Zork's body, this can be interpreted as a metaphor for Ryou's regained freedom from his possession as well.

Does this mean that Ryou is not being possessed by an intimately connected part of his own soul like Yuugi, but being possessed by the ACTUAL Zork? Is Zork the spirit of the Millennium Ring? I DO remember there being an ancient Egyptian version of Bakura at the end of the show (which is a pretty vague memory, to be honest), but I don't remember much about whether he was actually sealed into the ring, though. I think it might be a possibility, but I guess I won't know for sure for quite a while yet.

Anyway, on with the show! Asshole Bakura, with hand still bleeding profusely, is grinding his teeth at Yami from across the table. Not just at Yami, of course, but at Regular Bakura's interference as well. Asshole Bakura wonders how his host could have created an NPC and caused his plan so much upset when he buried him so deep inside.

There's no time for him to dwell, however, because Zork's defenses and hit points are down and he has to implement his last chance for victory. He's convinced that no matter how many of these low-level characters turn up, they'll never be able to defeat Zork. Yami is having similar thoughts across the way, knowing that though the past few attacks have worked in their favor, they still can't let their guards down or they'll die in this final stage of the game. He knows this is their last stand, and it's either them or the Dark Master.

Zork's piece suddenly starts to convulse and scream. Asshole Bakura chuckles at this, and while everyone looks on with open mouths, White Wizard Bakura seems to recognize what's happening. He's not explaining anything, though, not while Zork is making horrible movements and sounds. Yuugi points out that Zork is actually transforming, and White Wizard Bakura thinks that it's bad when this happens.

Well that's gross-looking. What, has he got some sort of weird shutter on his chest now or something?

Asshole Bakura shouts that it's time for Zork's long-anticipated attack. Yami gasps, wondering how they're going to get out of this one when it looks like this attack is focusing all of Zork's power. White Wizard Bakura stands protectively in front of everyone with little arms outstretched, warning them to look out. He doesn't have time to raise everyone's defense points. Asshole Bakura rolls the dice with a shout and the dice land on the super critical double zeroes.

EW! It IS a shutter for a weird laser eyeball! EWWWWW!

The thing about that, though, is it's a VERY obvious target too. But, you know, they have to survive the attack to target the eyeball, so... White Wizard Bakura leaps forward and casts a shining magical shield spell, and the eyeball laser blast is split across it. It looks like Yami isn't convinced White Wizard Bakura's spell can withstand the attack, as White Wizard Bakura himself grunts trying to hold up the shield. He maintains it and the lives of Yuugi and pals, though Asshole Bakura questions how long his shield can last against Zork's flames. Zork's piece yells at them while White Wizard Bakura tells everyone to hang in there. He knows he'll run out of magic soon, so he decides to convert his hit points to magic points instead.

Everyone behind the shield is grinding their little lead teeth while Yami stares, on the edge of his seat. When the onslaught of eyeball lasers subsides, everyone's health appears to be reduced back down to single digits, mostly ones. Honda's piece asks everyone is they're okay, and Jonouchi updates him on how much damage they've taken. White Wizard Bakura collapses and cries of his name follow. Anzu acknowledges the life-risking stunt he pulled to save them, and promises to use her magic the next turn to heal him. White Wizard Bakura insists that she use that magic she has to attack Zork instead, however. He says he doesn't have enough power for another shield, so they need to end this game on their next turn, or else be destroyed the next time Zork attacks.

Yami's mouth remains ajar as Jonouchi and Yuugi stand by the White Wizard's plan, stating that if they have to die, they'll do it together. Jonouchi says it's time to fall back on hacking and slashing.

Asshole Bakura is pissed that they managed to withstand Zork's attack, because with it, his weak point was exposed. Yuugi wonders why Asshole Bakura didn't bring out the final boss version of Zork before if it so effectively raises his attack and defense points, and Yami explains that it's the last resort of someone who's backed into a corner. He's seen that weak point that Asshole Bakura was just worrying about. Yuugi repeats this information as Yami points at the exposed eyeball behind the retracted shutters on Zork's chest.

Shit, don't let that happen! Yuugi laments that the shutters will close before they have a chance to attack and his Pokii pet growls in frustration. Asshole Bakura grins at his good fortune that, while they figured out the weakness, they won't be able to exploit it, so he wins. He spoke too soon, however, because his uninjured eye bulges in disbelief.

All the little pieces gasp at this selfless little creature's actions. Pokii tells them to blow him away with Zork, though everyone hesitates. He squeezes his eyes shut and thanks the crew for making him their friend, because it was fun being with them at least a little while. He shouts at them to launch their attacks now.

No, really, it's a twig and/or branch!

Jonouchi thanks Pokii, but says it's not too late, because they're not prepared to sacrifice the life of their friend, which is much more valuable than Zork's evil soul. Pokii sheds a tiny lead tear as Yami smiles at him, clutching the dice in a raised fist. Pokii thinks it's impossible to save him, because he's stuck, but when Yami rolls, he calls out that it's Yuugi's turn to use his beast-taming powers. Yuugi's piece makes the silent promise to save Pokii as the dice tumble. They land on a critical 02, and Yuugi's beast-taming hand appears. What's he going to do with that? It's not like it can do anything other than taming...

... I don't know why I didn't see that coming. Zork screams as the fist tears right through him, holding an alive and well Pokii in its fingers on the other side. How? I mean, how did the fist manage to grab hold of Pokii without opening? And how did it manage to NOT obliterate him on the the way through Zork?

Oh well, Honda cheers about how the fist hit the weak point head on, and no one thinks about the logistics of Pokii's rescue except for me. Zork continues to groan and writhe, and Asshole Bakura is doubled over in pain as well, cursing Yuugi. Asshole Bakura will have more curses to utter, of course, because Yami declares it's Jonouchi's turn to bring the pain. Yami rolls the dice to reveal another critical hit - 01 - and Jonouchi leaps forward, thinking this will be the final blow. He slashes energetically at Zork, cutting him straight in half. Both halves of the body flop to the board below, and the pieces all cheer that they managed to beat Zork. Yami isn't so quick to celebrate, though.

That fucker just won't DIE! Asshole Bakura is grinning through the sweat pouring down his face, thinking that he still has another card to play. Wrong game, dude. He points at Yami as he tells him that this next turn they must roll for initiative again, and he'll regret that he and his friends didn't manage to finish off Zork on Jonouchi's move. Yami glares without a word, and I love it when he does that, because it means he's not saying anything unnecessary.

Unlike Asshole Bakura, who is still pointing and talking, reiterating that during this last roll, they toss their respective dice at the same time, and whoever wins goes first. WE KNOW, ASSHOLE BAKURA. He plans to have Zork blow himself up to take the adventurers with him, in which case they'll all be dead and he'll be the winner.

We already know that too.

So, what did I think about this chapter overall? I'm afraid I don't have much else to say that hasn't been said about the last two chapters. This one was just as great - mostly visual and visceral, with a final transformation for Zork inspiring awe and revulsion at the same time. His attack managed to render the NPC advantage the adventurers JUST got nearly inert, so the tension and stakes remain very high, so that was also very well done.

Pokii being willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the team was touching, and it was just as touching that the team found a way to make sure he didn't have to. This was also done in such a way that it didn't seem cheap or like a cop-out; they saved Pokii rather than resurrecting him, and also made it clear to him that he was important enough for them not to want to lose him at all. It was so beautiful and a great tribute to the core theme of this manga, which is the power of friendship.

The only things that had me scratching my head about it were the technical details of the rescue, and also wondering just what Pokii was. Is he also a soul trapped in a piece? Is he truly a kind of demon monster that used to be aligned with Zork and managed to be persuaded by Yuugi's game magic? Is he like my interpretation of that first duel with Kaiba, when I speculated that the shadow game gave the monsters their own wills? He's expressing agency as well as feelings, so it's clear he's autonomous. I don't know what to make of him beyond that, though.

I would like to believe I'll get an explanation, but given how unclear this arc has been so far when it comes to what is happening in reality versus what is happening in imagination, I'm not holding out much hope.