Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 123 The Final Turn!

Wow, really? That was quick. I mean, compared to the last duel between Mai and Yami, I knew this one would be pretty fast. I just didn't realize how it would fly by. Maybe it's because Keith is far less interesting than Mai, and therefore we're not spending as much time examining him and his feelings or motivations as we are going along. Maybe it's also because Jonouchi's struggle is him learning and growing more, while Yami's was getting over a stall. It might be either or both, but there's no doubt in my mind that it's partly because this one was REALLY marginal in the grand scheme of things and KT probably wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.

Look on the bright side, Keith: at least you're still winning.

Jonouchi glares from the other side of the table, thinking that he doesn't care if he wins by miracle or luck, because if he wins then his sister wins too, and that's all that matters. Anzu cheers while Yami mentally encourages Jonouchi that he can win. As if he was reading Jonouchi's mind, he assures Jonouchi that it's not luck or miracles that will win the duel, but duelist's courage. Jonouchi looks at him out of the corner of his eye and thinks, "Yeah!"

Wait, am I misreading these bubbles as thoughts when they're really spoken aloud again? Or is Yami REALLY telepathically communicating with Jonouchi? Either way... weird.

Keith growls about how Jonouchi copied his Metalmorph card to power up the Red Eyes Black Dragon, but dons an evil grin when he thinks Jonouchi should enjoy it while he can, because Keith's is a winning strategy. He's convinced he'll show Jonouchi that an amateur like him can't beat a pro with his no-strategy cards. Jonouchi tells Keith that he's right about him being an amateur without a strategy, but then asks why it's KEITH'S points that are decreasing lately. Keith answers that Jonouchi is an idiot, and skill will end up determining this match. Not really addressing the question, but whatever. Keith tells Jonouchi to shut up, because it's the pro's turn now, drawing a card.

Playing a face down card and leaving his slot machine monster in defense, Keith ends his turn. Jonouchi immediately realizes that the slot machine's 2300 attack points are easily dwarfed by his dragon's and he can kill it in one blow. Is it throwing anyone else off that these characters are talking about a SLOT MACHINE in terms of attacking and killing?

Oh balls, Keith, what NOW? He holds up the card, and identifies it as 7 Completed, a power unit that increases the slot machine's defenses. Jonouchi is flabbergasted, wondering what that means, then observes that a number seven has appeared on the center slot of the machine. Keith says this brings the machine's defense points up by 700, to a total of 3000. The increased defense means that the machine remains unscratched by Jonouchi's Red Eyes Black Dragon.

Jonouchi groans, noting that the attack bounced back and damaged him too, because his points are now reduced to 450. Yami reprimands him from the sidelines, because Jonouchi shouldn't be attacking without thinking like that. You are in no space to talk, Yami, given your initial performance in your previous duel. Keith shouts it's his turn, and draws a new card. His slot machine can be equipped with three 7 Completed cards, as evidenced by the three slots that can be occupied by the number, and each of these cards can increase either attack or defense with a total of 2100 points. Now, Keith wants to show Jonouchi what he meant by a difference in skill he mentioned earlier.

Your definition of "skill" is pretty wonky, Keith.

He pretends to have just so HAPPENED to have another 7 Completed card in his hand, which adds 700 attack points this time. A number seven shows in the slot machine's left slot, and its attack increases to 2700. Jonouchi realizes with horror that Keith is going to keep increasing the machine's attack while it's still in defense, and Yami notes that if one more of those cards is played, the slot machine will have 3400 attack points that will obliterate Jonouchi's dragon.

Keith also slaps down another card, called Blast Sphere, which is a metallic sphere with a button on one side and spider-legs on the other.

I really hope that this thing is SUPPOSED to remind someone of the facehuggers in Alien, because it's giving me the same creep-vibes.

Jonouchi is disturbed by how the ball has attached itself to his dragon too, and Keith is prompted to reveal that it's a time bomb that's set to go off in one turn, making the Red Eyes Black Dragon history if Jonouchi doesn't do something on this one. Jonouchi grinds his teeth as he watches it ticking ominously on his dragon's chest, knowing his dragon is doomed if he can't figure out how to get rid of the bomb.

He resolves to put his faith in the next card as he draws it, and looks at it with a desperate face before Keith yells that the time is up. A virtual explosion rocks the table and Yami looks agape at it while the smoke clears away. It eventually fades to reveal a figure that Keith is questioning the existence of.

It's the Red Eyes Black Dragon, unharmed, now with 3400 attack points too! Jonouchi breathes a sigh of relief when he holds up the card he's thankful he managed to draw in time. It's a card called Dragon Claws, which modifies any dark dragon-type monster by 600 attack points.

WAIT. Did Jonouchi bring any dark dragon-types to the island with him? Because he only just won Red Eyes Black Dragon from Ryuzaki while already in Duelist Kingdom, which only allowed him 40 cards to begin with. If he didn't already have a card that fit that description to modify, WHY DOES JONOUCHI HAVE THIS CARD?

Not that I'm not happy Keith has to face a 3400 attack point behemoth now, or that his attack points lowered to 400 by the blow-back. Keith's right hand hovers near his left wrist-band as he begins to curse Jonouchi, then shows him the other 7 Completed card he has to equip his slot machine with. He puts the points on in the attack stats, as anyone could have predicted.

What are you grinning about, Keith? You don't have the lead anymore and you're tied for attack points. Anzu calls them totally even, because I guess Jonouchi's fifty-point lead isn't worth acknowledging. Frowning heavily, Yami says that everything comes down to this next turn, and bids Jonouchi to play well.

Jonouchi wonders what cards he has, assessing his hand and the face down card on the table in front of him as all he has left. Seriously? He already played almost FORTY cards? I find this hard to believe, comic. Jonouchi resolves to end the game during this turn, sweat running down his cheek. Laughing, Keith warns Jonouchi not to dare think he can still win, but Jonouchi doesn't reply. Keith says if Jonouchi IS still thinking there's a chance, he'll change Jonouchi's mind real quick with a card he's drawing from his hand.

It's Pillager, a card that Jonouchi thinks must be some kind of "bandit" card in his panic. Keith tells him this card allows him to look at Jonouchi's hand and take any card he pleases, and demands to see Jonouchi's hand. After a shocked pause, Jonouchi growls and turns his cards to face Keith, who laughs as he swipes the Shield and Sword card. Keith acknowledges this as the card Jonouchi beat Kozuka with and laughing, he says this is the only good card among the other crap ones in Jonouchi's hand.

Yami is agape at Keith's choice, knowing that if the attack and defense are reversed now, Jonouchi will lose for sure. Sadly, this is EXACTLY what Keith plans on doing, telling "Joey" that it's over as he plays Shield and Sword, making the slot machine's attack 3000 and Red Eyes Black Dragon 2400. Jonouchi gulps, which is exactly my reaction too, as Keith yells an attack through a wide grin.

How much you want to bet it DOES very much matter?

Keith continues laughing into the next panel, but his laughter fades really fast and his eyes widen again from behind those temporarily translucent sunglasses. An impish looking Grave Robber is holding Keith's Time Machine card, which Keith notes with shock. Jonouchi is the one smirking now, though he says he's not proud of beating Keith at thievery.

The Time Machine appears out of holographic smoke next to a now sober-looking Jonouchi, Keith gaping in horror. He thinks it just can't be that Jonouchi played the Time Machine on the last turn, meaning, of course...

If ANYBODY deserves that celebratory stand at the end, it's Jonouchi. Good job, kid!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I have to admit, I was almost fooled. KT pulled an awfully good bluff there, because it looked for all the world that Keith would win, what with him taking the very card with which Jonouchi beat Kozuka. This chapter epitomized everything that's so great about Jonouchi's duels; those readily apparent and almost insurmountable odds he faces when nearly everyone he duels has at the very least WAY more experience than him. When he pulls through, it's the most satisfying thing that I want to get up and cheer with him.

But I have to say, that one part of the chapter when he pulled a card that was TOO uniquely suited for the Red Eyes Black Dragon sours my happiness for Jonouchi right now. Unless Ryuzaki gave Jonouchi all the cards he had to modify the dragon as well as the dragon itself, I just don't see how Jonouchi would have had that card. Did KT forget that the Red Eyes Black Dragon wasn't an original piece of Jonouchi's deck? Or is there another card in Jonouchi's deck that fits the description of a dark dragon-type that I just don't remember?

Please, anyone reading this, reassure me that a crucial part of this super awesome duel wasn't a hack-job. PLEASE.