Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 082 Defeat the Darkness!

Isn't that a little self-defeating? I mean, Yami has used that "dark wisdom and strength" to judge plenty of antagonists thus far in the story, so he's not exactly above utilizing his own special brand of darkness as a weapon. But, maybe that's what he MEANT by that little jab at the superfluous asshole in the last chapter. After all, if there is someone who knows what it's like to exist in darkness for a long-ass time, it would be Yami, and no doubt he thought it sucked. Come to think of it, that might not have been a jab at all, but sage advice to a guy who likes USING darkness for his own ends, but has no idea what it's like to exist inside it for an extended period, being invisible.

Yeah, that's definitely a reference to Yami's actual dark powers. This darkness the superfluous asshole is using is just a POSER darkness.

The superfluous asshole bursts out laughing, though, because he's not buying such big talk from such a little man. He tells Yami he should consider his position before he opens his big mouth, because as long as his dark castle remains in play, Yami can't see or attack his monsters, and he can't lose. Yami chuckles, awarding the superfluous asshole a small speck of respect for acting like a true duelist in the single respect that he won't give up just because someone says he'll lose. The superfluous asshole scoffs, but his tune changes when Yami offers to show him the card he'll be defeated with, and he's shocked that Yami would do that.

Yami, I know you're in love with that magician card of yours, but could you STOP acting like everything you do is like pulling a freaking rabbit out of your nonexistent hat? Please?

However, the superfluous asshole looks genuinely upset by this reveal, not that Yami can see this. Yami explains that the swords' holy light holds monsters back from attacking for three turns, even the ones in hidden in the dark. When the superfluous assholes monsters are trapped in the light unable to attack for three turns, it will destroy them. The superfluous asshole is freaking out, but trying to convince himself that a card like that can't beat the darkness. Yami chuckles again and promises that the superfluous asshole will see what he means in five turns.

He then politely confirms that it was his turn and draws a card. Yami plays Curse of Dragon in defense, and also plays a card face-down on the table to end his turn. The superfluous asshole automatically assumes that it's the Swords of Revealing Light card Yami showed him as Yami points to him and repeats that that's one turn down; four more until he's beaten. The superfluous asshole's eyes bulge, cursing Yami in his head for trying to make a fool of him.

The women outside the booth tell Yami to go for it, and Anzu turns to Mai, asking if it's alright for Yami to be showing off his cards like that. After a pause, Mai's eyes widen and she thinks a single word, "maybe". Mai looks back to normal by the next panel, though, when she tells Anzu showing cards isn't against the rules, and perhaps Yami is planning on using a tactic other than cards to beat the darkness. Anzu questions this idea, and Mai says that as long as the superfluous asshole hides in the dark, Yami can't attack with cards, but there is one thing that can get through the darkness. She asks Anzu if she knows what that is.

A... glowstick?

Trash-talk! Of course! I knew that... Ahem.

Yami promises again to get Mai's star chips back as he spies them still hanging out beyond the glass. Mai, on the other hand, mentally asks Yami to show her how he duels. The superfluous asshole has that hideous grin back on when he announces that it's his turn and draws a card. It grows wider when he looks at that card and he giggles. He points at Yami, declaring he's never met an opponent dumb enough to show his cards and blab about his strategy. I guess there's no chance that there was anything he left out of his description of his strategy that could allow for an opponent to fall into a trap? No? The superfluous asshole claims he'll make Yami regret all his spoilery missteps now. Yami gives him nothing more concrete than a glare.

The superfluous asshole slaps down a card that will apparently send Yami's strategy to the grave. It's a card called "The Reaper of the Cards" and it rises out of its cardstock bounds in stereotypical reapy glory. Yami seems surprised by this card, staring open-mouthed at it as it sweeps over to his side of the table.

Anzu and Mai are not happy at the loss of the card, but the superfluous asshole is, laughing about how Yami's trump card is now supposedly gone. Then he abruptly goes from amused to confused.

Yami is chuckling again, which the superfluous asshole is super pissed about. Yami reminds him that he said the swords were his key to winning, but he never said he played the card. The superfluous asshole's eyes bulge once more, asking why his reaper isn't actually doing anything. Yami answers that it's because the card he played face down was something different as he turns it over.

The superfluous asshole is livid and speechless. Yami says that when you're playing a spell or trap card, the reaper is what you should always look out for. But because Yami takes the wise words of The Blue Oyster Cult to heart, he didn't fear the reaper, and was therefore able to find out that his opponent had it and trap it in the circle so he can play all the spell cards he wants. The superfluous asshole is practically apoplectic with rage, stuttering that Yami tricked him. Yami winks and laughs, not-pologizing for the fact that the superfluous asshole's turn ended up being such a waste.

He then holds up the Swords of Revealing Light again before he plays it face down on the table for realsies this time. The superfluous asshole growls. Yami plays yet another face-down spell card before he ends his turn. This leaves the superfluous asshole to wonder what kinds of cards they are. Uh, dude, you know at least ONE of the cards he put down. He could be thinking Yami is tricking him again, but he saw Yami go from showing the card to laying it down this time. He shouldn't be wondering what BOTH cards are once, let alone twice, which is what he's doing.

Good grief, he really is a numbskull.

Yami asks the superfluous and stupid asshole if he can see IT. When the superfluous asshole asks what IT is, Yami answers, "the rope around your neck." Yami is bringing the BURN right now! The superfluous asshole is so idiotic that he apparently doesn't understand the metaphorical nature of this statement and shouts about how it's YAMI who has the rope around his neck, not him.

Well, that's a vivid image. Apparently the superfluous asshole actually SAW it, and it wasn't just for the audience's benefit, because he starts to wonder if he was really there at the gallows. I WOULD tell Yami not to fuck with this guy's head like this, but seeing as how Yami really IS being threatened with a strangling, I'm not going to discourage him from doing his thing.

But if this guy comes back with a death theme park and a hankering for revenge, I'm going to be PISSED. That goes for the weird puppet guy too.

Yami compares darkness to a mirror that throws your fears back at you, and that fear eats people with weak hearts like the superfluous asshole for breakfast. The superfluous asshole threatens to jerk Yami's leash to a deadly capacity the next time Yami speaks, but Yami winks and cockily states that it's superfluous asshole's turn. The superfluous asshole promises to fucking murder this kid.

Anzu is amazed that Mai was right, because Yami is putting the superfluous asshole off balance and winning just by talking. Mai marvels at how Yami's words has the superfluous asshole on the defensive and running scared even in his own territory, and recognizes it as superb self-confidence. Meanwhile, Yami demands that the moron draw a card already. The superfluous asshole scoffs and draws. He looks at the card and a giggle turns into full-blown laughter when he announces this is his ultimate card. It's called the King of Yamimakai, and it is a BEAST.

Yami can't see it like we can, but he thinks it sounds like it has high stats. The superfluous asshole continues to laugh, shouting that this is the card that's going to kill Yami because unfortunately for him, it'll be all over before he can even play his swords. Yami does what he does best and glares.

The superfluous asshole commands his king to kill Yami's dragon with and Evil Shock Wave. Couldn't come up with a better name for that, dude? The king does his shock wave, firing on the dragon, ignoring the reaper in between. When the superfluous asshole encourages the dragon to die, Yami chuckles and wags a finger at him, saying that while it's fine for him to attack, he really should have paid more attention to the position of all the monsters on the table. The superfluous asshole is dumbfounded, watching his king headed straight for the reaper trapped in the magic circle in disbelief. He reiterates that the dragon is hiding behind the reaper in order to use it as a shield. Really, no one needed that information spelled out. It was all pretty damn clear, thanks.

When the reaper is dead (heh, irony), the superfluous asshole proceeds to be flabbergasted that Yami thought far enough ahead to play the Spellbinding Circle in order to lure him into attacking his own card. Now THAT is strategy, friends. The superfluous asshole's life points drop to 1200, and Yami brags that his monster is feeling just fine.

He announces that it's his turn, and asks the superfluous asshole if he wants to see his trump card as he flips it over.

You ever seen Star Wars, superfluous asshole?

Imagine THAT, except, you know, surrounding your howling monsters in a sort of cage. Also a card.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It was pretty fun watching Yami get this dude all riled up. It's strange, though, because he's so completely confident in this particular match that it kind of takes the tension out of this big risk he's taking. He seemed more nervous in the more innocuous duels than he ever looks here, and while I realize he HAS to hold that face in order to make his mind-fuckery more effective, it's sending me some seriously mixed messages. Is he really in any danger? Why should I believe he is when he's so good at convincing everyone he's got this in the bag? It's a strange effect when you have a character who is in more danger than they have been in the entire tournament, and they're cocky throughout the whole ordeal. It almost negates all tension, which is SUPER weird.

Maybe KT thought the tension he set up was a bit too much and decided this would be the best route to tone it down? I don't know.