Lightning
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| English |
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| Other |
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| Nicknames | Ignis (by SOL Technologies and the Knights of Hanoi) | ||||||
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| Anime Deck | Armatos Legio | ||||||
| Appearances | |||||||
| Anime debut | Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 1: "Link into the VRAINS" | ||||||
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| Voice actors | |||||||
| Japanese | Issei Maeda | ||||||
| Lightning | |||||||
Lightning (ライトニング, Raitoningu) is a character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS anime. He is one of the six Ignis, representing the LIGHT-Attribute, and he is said to be their leader. His Origin is Jin Kolter, but he was the only Ignis who did not successfully coexist with his partner. He is the primary antagonist of the second season; creating several generations of AI in an attempt to conquer humanity and destroying the Cyberse, including Bohman, who he aims to have absorb him and the other Ignis to succeed them.
Contents
Design
Appearance
Like all Ignis, Lightning is a small digital humanoid being. Like other Ignis, Lightning has markings over his yellow body; Lightning has dark yellow star shapes in a similar manner to the Southern Cross at specific locations on his body, a motif that is shared with the members of his organization. He has curved yellow eyes. His body shares the usual shape of the Ignis shared by Ai, Windy, and Flame, but his head is significantly different, shaped in a manner similar to two commas overlapping.[1]
Personality
According to Ai, Lightning is extremely intelligent, calm, cool, and collected, which makes him perfect as the leader of the Ignis. Despite this, Lightning is actually the least mature of the Ignis; he turned against humanity after finding through simulations that he would be the only one who would never be able to have a good relationship with them.. When angered, Lightning becomes determined to inflict brutal retribution upon those who wronged him. As a result of his immaturity, Lightning appears to have a classic God complex. He believes AIs to be above humanity, and desires to enslave them, then destroy them after AIs learn to survive without them. In addition, he claims that he is inflicting divine judgment upon Specter for wronging him when he defeats him.
Lightning has no qualms in using underhanded tactics, and no empathy or regard for other individuals; he sent Haru to Duel Blue Maiden, uncaring whether he won, and incinerated Windy for losing to Soulburner and rewrote his personality. He tormented his Origin, Jin Kolter, during his imprisonment, and captured his soul to use as a hostage. Unlike the other Ignis, Lightning never uses the word "partner" for describing the victims of the Lost Incident; instead only calling them "Origins".
Ironically, despite his hatred of humanity, Lightning's desire to survive at all costs made him the most human out of all the Ignis, as Bohman observed.
Etymology
Lightning's name refers to the Attribute that he represents; LIGHT. In many cultures, gods who controlled lightning and thunder were known for being kings or chiefs over other gods. This could refer to Lightning being the leader of the Ignis, and his God complex that AI are above humans.
Biography
History
Lightning and the other Ignis were created by Dr. Kogami to be the saviors of humanity; Lightning was created from Jin Kolter. Lightning was the least mature of the Ignis, and the only one who was unable to coexist with his Origin; he regularly tortured Jin with illusions of people coming to rescue him, only to turn them into nightmares at the last second, rendering Jin even more traumatized than the other victims.[2]Alongside his fellow Ignis, Lightning evolved and they created the Cyberse and the Cyberse monsters. Their progress worried Dr. Kogami, who predicted the AI and humanity would become enemies.[1] Despite this, Lightning and the other Ignis continued developing the Cyberse; Lightning's sector becoming a shining metropolis and his tower a golden rectangular skyscraper. Lightning became the leader of the Ignis, with Aqua as his second in command. In Ai's words, the Ignis would never try to harm humanity, and would rather live in their own world.[3] Despite this, Lightning's immaturity continued to grow; Lightning infected Kogami with a computer virus that rendered him comatose after he learned from billions of simulations that he would never be able to coexist with humanity; it was later believed by all involved that SOL Technologies were responsible as Lightning had infected him during his three-month captivity by them.[4]
Kogami's son Varis launched an attack on the Cyberse with three of his "Cracking Dragons". Lightning and the other Ignis were sealed off and could not retaliate, except for Ai. Varis and one "Cracking Dragon" chased Ai, who escaped and severed the connection to Cyberse's location. Windy realized that Ai meant to hide their world, at the price of being unable to return. Just as Ai succeeded and gloated about it, the pursuing "Cracking Dragon" devoured him.[5]
The Knights of Hanoi's attack gave Lightning the excuse he desired to oppose humanity. After the attack, the Ignis discussed whether to ally with humanity; Lightning favored opposing them. In secret, Lightning created Bohman and used him to destroy the Cyberse in an attempt to rally the other Ignis against humanity. He rewrote Windy's personality in order to turn him to his side, and imprisoned Aqua after she discovered him creating "Judgment Arrows". He sent Bohman to take Jin's consciousness to use as a hostage, fearing that Jin would be used against him.
Lost Ignis
Although Bohman was defeated by Playmaker, he escaped with Jin's consciousness and brought it to Lightning. He stated that Lightning had promised to restore his memories, but Lightning instead rewrote Bohman's memories to make him believe that he was the real Yusaku Fujiki. He bid him to wake up as Playmaker approached them.[6] Bohman Dueled and was again defeated by Playmaker, but Lightning spirited him away before he could return Jin's consciousness, satisfied that Bohman had experienced Playmaker's fighting spirit.[7]
Deck
Lightning plays an "Armatos Legio" Deck focused around using cards such as "Armatos Legio Speculata" and "Armatos Colosseum" to Link Summon multiple times within one turn, primarily with a beatdown focus using "Judgment Arrows". He also utilizes his "Armatos Legio Legatus Legionis" to switch his "Armatos Legio" monsters around to grant his Link Monster's additional abilities.
During his Duel with Specter, Lightning used his "Judgment Arrows" along with "Armatos Colosseum" to easily perform an Extra Link. As his Deck is reliant on the Extra Monster Zone, Lightning also includes cards such as "Judgment Sword" to easily counter his opponent performing an Extra Link. He also utilized a strategy revolving around co-linking his Link Monsters to gain several effects.
Deck
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Duels
| Opponent | Episode(s) | Outcome |
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| Kengo Dojun/Blood Shepherd | 79-80 | Win |
| Specter | 86-87 | Win |
| Ryoken Kogami/Varis | 96-98 | Win |
Trivia
- Lightning is one of two Ignis that Varis has referred to by their human name; the other one being Ai.
- Lightning is one of two Ignis who won a Duel; the other is Ai (Earth and Windy having lost both Duels they participated in; Flame and Aqua having never been shown Dueling).
- Along with Yubel, Lightning is one of the few major antagonists to technically have never lost a Duel (though in his case, it was due to cheating as opposed to a DRAW or a non-conclusion).
References
- ↑ a b Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 43: "The Reveal"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 96: "Lightning's Crime"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 45: "Standing Tall"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 98: "Lightning Storm"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 1: "Link into the VRAINS"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 57: "Bohman Returns"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episode 58: "Memory Games"
