Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL - Episode 020

"Roots of the Problem"

Bronk faces Number 96.
Names
English	Roots of the Problem
Japanese name Japanese 漆黒のナンバーズ　闇遊馬vs鉄男 Rōmaji Shikkoku no Nanbāzu Yami Yūma Bāsasu Tetsuo Translated Pitch-Black Numbers - Dark Yuma vs. Tetsuo
Series
Series	Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL
Number	20
Season	1
Music
Japanese OP	"Masterpiece"
Japanese ED	"My Quest"
English OP & ED	"Take a Chance"
Staff
Screenplay	Yoshifumi Fukushima
Animation director	Akemi Yokota
Air dates
Japanese	August 22, 2011
English	April 21, 2012
Chronology
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL episodes (season 1)
Previous	"The Edge of the World"
Next	"Battle with the Bot"
Cards
Japanese gallery

"Roots of the Problem", known as "Pitch-Black Numbers - Dark Yuma vs. Tetsuo" in the Japanese version, is the twentieth episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL anime. It first aired in Japan on August 22, 2011 and in the United States on April 21, 2012.

Having gained control over Astral, "Number 96" manipulates and forces Yuma into a Duel against Bronk.

Summary

"False form of Dark Mist" is Summoned.

At the top of a building, Yuma and Astral are Dueling a man, while Tori and Bronk are watching. Yuma controls "Number 39: Utopia", and his opponent 3 "Giant Germs". The man overlays his three monsters to Xyz Summon "Number 96: Dark Mist". However, it only has 100 ATK, surprising all of them. Yuma gets excited, thinking it is an easy win now, and declares battle between "Utopia" and "Dark Mist". Bronk and Astral both warn Yuma, but he still declares battle. "Utopia" succeeds in destroying "Dark Mist", and wipes out his opponent's last remaining 1000 LP, winning the Duel. Yuma is happy to win, and Tori smiles, but Bronk looks unhappy, most likely because of Yuma's reckless attack.

Astral absorbs "Number 96", and the memory regained is shown. In a view from space, cracks open on the Earth, and it explodes (in the dub, the planet is only covered in purple lines). Yuma and Tori celebrate the victory, with Bronk watching in the back. While going home, Yuma boasts about his victory and obtaining another "Number". Tori tells him to pipe down, and Bronk asks him about the recklessness of Utopia's attack. Yuma tells him it was fine, but Bronk heavily replies it wasn't. Yuma reacts saying he shouldn't worry, but Bronk grabs him. Yuma breaks loose and starts pinching Bronk, and Tori yells, telling them to stop.

Yuma and Bronk ignoring each other.

The next day, Yuma and Bronk ignore each other on various instances. Inside the Emperor's Key, Astral presents Number 96 to a gear from his hand, inside the ship. He recalls the vision he saw when obtaining Number 96, and wonders what it means. Later, while lying on the school's roof, Yuma flashes back to the past, when a younger Yuma explains his ambition to his class. A young Bronk makes a comment about it, making the whole class laugh. Bronk also flashs back to those days, to the many Duels he and Yuma had, and Yuma's unbreakable spirit. However, despite them arguing during those Duels, they had a friendly rivalry, which Tori bore witness of.

Later, in the present, Tori questions the reason for his argument with Bronk, and Astral asks if he really means what he said. Yuma says he did, however, Bronk was in fact right in front of him. Yuma goes after him when he walks away, but when he grabs Bronk's shoulder, Bronk swings his arm, inadvertently knocking the Emperor's Key of its rope. Almost immediately, black slime drools from Yuma's Deck case, streaming up, and enveloping Astral, who becomes visible to Tori and Bronk. However, the light parts of Astral's body became dark and black, and shocks start appearing on Astral. The black streams continue to pump the black sludge into Astral from multiple angles. Bronk sees where the Emperor's Key landed after the blow, and picks it up. Astral, while still getting shocked and the dark sludge is still being pumped into him, seems to talk to someone, saying they're Number 96. A voice from somewhere appears, and Astral's arms are being tilted up, with the sludge still being pumped into him. Astral screams out, and in a purple space, in Numbers-style, the number 96 appears. Number 96 is possessing Astral, while holding onto Yuma.

Astral tells Yuma to give Bronk "Number 39: Utopia".

The darkened Astral gives them a malicious look, but the real Astral tells Yuma to entrust Bronk with "Number 39: Utopia". Yuma asks why, but Astral tells him to just do it. Yuma manages to pull Utopia's card out of his Deck, and throws it towards Bronk, who catches it, looks at it, and is surprised he threw him "Utopia".

Emperor's Key protecting Bronk.

Astral then is completely possessed by Number 96 , who declares himself the strongest "Number", and extends Astral's arm to grab "Utopia" back from Bronk (96 makes no claim of being the strongest in the dub. This, however, is prevented by the Emperor's Key, which creates a shield around Bronk. Tori asks if he is okay, which he confirms, but is worried about Yuma. Number 96 looks at Bronk angrily. The latter thinks about a way to save Yuma and Astral from Number 96. Bronk tells him that if he wants Utopia, he should Duel him. Number 96 agrees, and lets Yuma free, deciding he'll use him as a puppet. Controlling Yuma's actions, the Duel starts, and Number 96 uses Yuma's Deck.

The true body of "Number 96: Dark Mist".

During the Duel, Number 96 quickly Summons his own card, "Dark Mist". However, it looks different than in Yuma's Duel against its original holder. 96 explains that this is Number 96's, his own, true form. Number 96 actually uses its effects during the Duel, revealing it willingly manipulated its holder into losing in order to get to more "Number" cards. Bronk is able to Summon "Utopia" in a reaction to "Dark Mist". The will-enforcing effect of the "Numbers" appears to take over Bronk, but he seems to be able to shake it off.

Yuma deceives Number 96.

Using the effects of Yuma's Deck after he enhanced it with cards from the Duel Sanctuary's secret Deck and some extra anti-Xyz cards, Number 96 obtains an edge over some of Bronk's moves. During the Duel, Astral manages to get in contact with Yuma. In a mysterious space, Astral is hanging, with his body slowly fading away. After Bronk finishes his turn, Yuma suddenly collapses, getting back up. He stands in a zombie-like stance, and Number 96 laughs, saying he now controls Yuma too. Number 96 ends up destroying "Utopia" relatively easy, and "Dark Mist" now has 3100 ATK.

"Gearspring Spirit" is Summoned.

Yuma explains to 96 that he should be careful of Bronk's face-down card, as its most likely the card "Gearspring Exploder", which, if used, could win Bronk the Duel at the moment. Not happy to hear it, Numbers 96 responds to this by activating the Quick-Play Spell Card "Xyz Cyclone", to destroy "Gearspring Exploder". Number 96 thanks Yuma for giving him warning about the facedown card. Bronk seems devastated by Yuma being under 96's control and also the fact that he had sold him out, but flashes back to Yuma yelling he will never give up. He then continues the Duel with a combo between "Automatic Gearspring Machine", "Gearspring Spirit", "Gearspring Catapult" and a "Monster Reborn"-revived "Utopia". Before Bronk defeats Number 96 Yuma starts snickering, and tells Bronk he did great. Number 96 is shocked to see that Yuma wasn't under his control at all, and Yuma explains it was a trick to make sure Bronk would still have his "Catapult" and "Automatic Machine".

Astral absorbs Number 96 again.

Bronk, while declaring that he is "feeling the flow," destroys "Dark Mist" with "Utopia". He then tosses the Emperor's Key to Yuma, which releases Astral from the prison created by Number 96. Astral appears in the sky, and re-absorbs Number 96. Yuma and Bronk happily run to each other. Bronk gives Yuma "Utopia" back, while asking how he came up with the idea of tricking Number 96. Judging from his reaction, Bronk figures it was Astral's plan, and the two get into an argument over it. Above them, Astral says Yuma and Bronk saved him. Looking at Number 96's card, he figures there is something up with it. He asks if there were other memories like it.

Featured Duels

Yuma Tsukumo vs. Number 96's holder

Duel is shown from an unspecified turn.

Yuma controls "Number 39: Utopia" (4/2500/2000, ORU: 2) in Attack Position, while Number 96's holder controls three "Giant Germs" (2/1000/100 each) and has 1000 LP.

Number 96's holder turn
Number 96's holder overlays his three "Giant Germs" in order to Xyz Summon "Number 96: Dark Mist" (2/100/1000, ORU: 3) in Attack Position.

Yuma's turn
"Utopia" attacks and destroys "Dark Mist" (Number 96's holder: 1000 → 0 LP).

Bronk Stone vs. Number 96

Turn 1: Bronk
Bronk draws "Aye-Iron" and subsequently Normal Summons it (4/1600/1800) in Attack Position. He then activates "Spring Punch" and equips it to "Aye-Iron". Now whenever "Aye-Iron" gains ATK, half of its ATK will be inflicted to Number 96 as damage, but Bronk will be forbidden from conducting his Battle Phase the turn this effect is activated.

Bronk activates the effect of "Aye-Iron", increasing its ATK by 400 ("Aye Iron": 1600 → 2000 ATK) and preventing it from attacking this turn. The effect of "Spring Punch" activates (Number 96: 4000 → 3000 LP). Bronk activates "Gearspring Catapult". Now during each of Bronk's Standby Phases, this card will gain a Gearspring Counter. Bronk can then, during his Main Phase, remove a Gearspring Counter to increase the ATK of a monster he controls by 500.

Turn 2: Number 96
Number 96 draws "Acorno" and subsequently Special Summons it (1/200/400) in Attack Position by discarding "Pinecono". As "Pinecono" was sent from the hand to the Graveyard, Number 96 activates its effect to revive itself (1/400/200) in Attack Position. He then Normal Summons "Darklon" (1/100/100) in Attack Position. Since "Darklon" was Normal Summoned, Number 96 activates its effect to increase the Level of all monsters he controls by 1 ("Acorno", "Darklon" and "Pinecono": 1 → 2) and change their Attributes to DARK.

Number 96 overlays "Acorno", "Pinecono" and "Darklon" in order to Xyz Summon "Number 96: Dark Mist" (2/100/1000, ORU: 3) in Attack Position. "Dark Mist" attacks "Aye-Iron". As "Dark Mist" is battling a monster, Number 96 activates its effect, detaching an Overlay Unit ("Dark Mist": 3 → 2 ORU) to halve the ATK of "Aye-Iron" and add it to that of "Dark Mist" ("Aye-Iron": 2000 → 1000 ATK, "Dark Mist": 100 → 1100 ATK). "Dark Mist" destroys "Aye-Iron" (Bronk: 4000 → 3900 LP). Number 96 Sets two cards.

Turn 3: Bronk
Bronk draws. During the Standby Phase, "Gearspring Catapult" gains a Gearspring Counter. Bronk Normal Summons "Tin Goldfish" (4/800/2000) in Attack Position. He then activates "Iron Call" to revive "Aye-Iron" (4/1600/1800) in Defense Position (as Bronk controls a Machine-type monster and the summoned monster is a Level 4 or below Machine-type monster). As Bronk controls exactly two face-up Machine-type monsters, he activates "Iron Draw" to draw two cards. He then overlays "Tin Goldfish" and "Aye-Iron" in order to Xyz Summon "Number 39: Utopia" (4/2500/2000, ORU: 2) in Attack Position. Bronk activates the effect of "Gearspring Catapult" to remove a Gearspring Counter and increase the ATK of "Utopia" by 500 ("Utopia": 2500 → 3000 ATK).

"Utopia" attacks "Dark Mist", but Number 96 activates the effect of "Dark Mist" in response ("Dark Mist": 2 → 1 ORU) ("Utopia": 3000 → 1500 ATK, "Dark Mist": 1100 → 2600 ATK). Bronk activates the effect of "Utopia" to detach an Overlay Unit ("Utopia": 2 → 1 ORU) and negate the attack. As an attack between two Attack Position monsters was negated, Number 96 activates his face-down "Counterforce" to inflict damage to Bronk equal to the difference between their monsters' ATK (Bronk: 3900 → 2800 LP). Bronk activates "Automatic Gearspring Machine", which gains two Gearspring Counters upon activation. Now during each of Bronk's Standby Phases, this card will gain a Gearspring Counter. He then may, during his Main Phase, send it to the Graveyard and move its Gearspring Counters to another card that can use them. Bronk Sets a card.

Turn 4: Number 96
Number 96 draws. "Dark Mist" attacks "Utopia" with Number 96 activating the effect of "Dark Mist" ("Dark Mist": 1 → 0 ORU) ("Utopia": 1000 → 500 ATK, "Dark Mist": 2600 → 3100 ATK). Bronk activates the effect of "Utopia" ("Utopia": 1 → 0 ORU) to negate the attack, but Number 96 activates his face-down "Overlay Banish", to negate the effect of "Utopia" as it was activated during the Battle Phase by detaching an Overlay Unit. "Dark Mist" then destroys "Utopia" (Bronk: 2800 → 200 LP).

At this moment, Number 96 plans on destroying "Gearspring Catapult" to prevent Bronk from increasing the ATK of any monsters he may summon during his next turn, but Yuma, pretending to be under Number 96's influence, says that's not his plan and reveals that Bronk's face-down is "Gearspring Exploder" and explains that when Bronk, during his turn, has a Gearspring Counter placed on a card he controls, he can activate "Gearspring Exploder" to inflict 800 damage to Number 96 for each Gearspring Counter on his field, which will total to 3200 once it's Bronk's turn. Number 96 activates "Xyz Cyclone" to destroy Bronk's face-down "Gearspring Exploder" as a monster he controlled destroyed an Xyz Monster.

Turn 5: Bronk
Bronk draws. During the Standby Phase, "Gearspring Catapult" and "Automatic Gearspring Machine" each gain a Gearspring Counter. Bronk removes three Gearspring Counters from the latter card in order to Special Summon "Gearspring Spirit" (8/100/100) from his hand in Attack Position via its own effect. He then activates the effect of "Gearspring Spirit" to decrease the ATK of "Dark Mist" to 0 ("Dark Mist": 3600 → 0 ATK) until the End Phase. Bronk activates "Monster Reborn" to revive "Utopia" (4/2500/2000) in Attack Position. He then activates the effect of "Gearspring Catapult" by targeting "Utopia" ("Utopia": 2500 → 3000 ATK). "Utopia" attacks and destroys "Dark Mist" (Number 96: 3000 → 0 LP).

Differences in adaptations

• In the dub, the effect of "Darklon" is not explained to treat the other monsters as DARK.

Featured cards

The following cards appeared in this episode. Cards in italics debuted here.

Number 96/Yuma Tsukumo
Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Acorno Darklon Pinecono Spell Cards Wonder Wand Xyz Cyclone Trap Cards Counterforce Overlay Banish Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Number 39: Utopia Number 96: Dark Mist

Number 96's holder
Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Giant Germ x3 Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Number 96: Dark Mist

Bronk Stone
Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Aye-Iron Gearspring Spirit Tin Goldfish Spell Cards Automatic Gearspring Machine Gearspring Catapult Iron Call Iron Draw Monster Reborn Spring Punch Trap Cards Gearspring Exploder Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Number 39: Utopia

Flashback
Monster Cards Effect Monsters Aye-Iron