Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 098
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| Names | |||||||||||||
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| English | Lightning Storm | ||||||||||||
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| Series | |||||||||||||
| Series | Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS | ||||||||||||
| Number | 98 | ||||||||||||
| Season | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Music | |||||||||||||
| Japanese OP | "go forward" | ||||||||||||
| Japanese ED | "Are you ready?" | ||||||||||||
| English OP & ED | "Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS Main Theme" | ||||||||||||
| Staff | |||||||||||||
| Screenplay | |||||||||||||
| Director | |||||||||||||
| Storyboard | |||||||||||||
| Animation director | |||||||||||||
| Air dates | |||||||||||||
| Japanese | April 17, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| English | December 20, 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Chronology | |||||||||||||
| Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS episodes (season 2) | |||||||||||||
| Previous | "Ignis Unification Plan" | ||||||||||||
| Next | "Door to the New World" | ||||||||||||
"Lightning Storm", known as "The AI Crosses the Line" in the Japanese version, is the ninety-eighth episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS anime. It first aired in Japan on April 17, 2019, and aired in Canada on December 20, 2020.
Lightning uses Jin as a hostage to rattle Varis. However, Bohman, who is very disappointed in Lightning's actions, decides to step in. Now that his stratagem has failed, Lightning reveals a shocking truth about Dr. Kiyoshi Kogami to Varis, who's covered in wounds... Their fierce Duel finally reaches its conclusion!!
Summary
The "Thunder Borrel Cannon" attack of "Borreload Dragon" builds in its cannon as it and "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" oppose the "Estrangement Dragon" that Varis Summoned to Lightning's field, while the relinquished Jin watches in fear. The score stands with Varis on 2000 LP and Lightning on 1500 as Playmaker whispers Varis's name (in the dub, Lightning asks if Varis will attack and sacrifice Jin, and Varis asks if Lightning thinks he cares about Jin's existence, much to Playmaker's shock). Ai protests that this is dirty, but Lightning claims that he's showing them how to use a hostage. He comments that it was the right decision not to end Jin earlier (in the dub Ai snaps that it's the definition of cheating), and as Bohman watches with disapproval Lightning adds that he's also linked himself to Spectre's consciousness data, so if Varis defeats him then Spectre will vanish as well. He asks if they don't think this is the appropriate way to use weaklings, and when Varis doesn't respond Lightning asks him what's wrong, since he was previously fine having many innocent victims if it meant killing the Ignis. His strategy was to kill the few so the many could live, so he doesn't need to hesitate, and he tells Varis to do it (in the dub, Lightning comments that it's odd how a change in circumstances can alter his game, and he asks again if Varis will attack). Varis snarls at Lightning not to underestimate him, and he begins to order the attack of "Borreload Dragon", but Playmaker begs him not to do it. Varis grits his teeth and looks over to Playmaker, who protests that if Varis attacks, he'll revert back to how he used to be. They've come this far together because Varis has changed (in the dub, Playmaker acknowledges that Lightning must be stopped, but not by sacrificing Jin and Spectre). Varis closes his eyes and he states that they came to Mirror LINK VRAINS prepared to make sacrifices (he specifies Spectre in the dub). Playmaker agrees that they did, and Varis points out that this was why Playmaker defeated Cal Kolter. Playmaker is briefly stunned by the statement, but he replies that Kolter was willing to make that sacrifice, but not Jin. He was dragged into the Lost Incident, and into this war as well. He hasn't done anything wrong (in the dub, Playmaker also specifies that Kolter sacrificed himself to save Jin). Jin trembles in fear as Playmaker asks if Varis wants to end the life of another victim of the Lost Incident. Varis narrows his eyes as Playmaker insists that Varis has changed; he chose not to Duel Soulburner earlier. Varis whispers "Back then..." as he recalls Soulburner's rage against him. Lightning bursts out laughing, commenting that humans certainly are funny. His enemy Playmaker is trying to save his life. Playmaker furiously insists that he isn't trying to save Lightning, but if he abandons Jin and Spectre, that means they've truly lost (in the dub, he states that just because they have mistakenly got into this mess, there's always a way out of it).
Lightning admits that's true; nothing would be sadder were Jin to vanish now (in the dub he claims that this mistake is all of his design). Playmaker asks "What?" in shock, and Lightning explains that back during the Lost Incident he already knew how to invade the network, and while Jin's fear was pathetic, Lightning continued to access him, and he learned how to terrify people. Playmaker stares a Lightning in fury and Lightning remarks that Jin truly entertained him. After Jin was electrocuted for losing a Duel, and just as he would regain consciousness, Lightning would show him an illusion that help had arrived and that he could escape, but the moment Jin felt safe, Lightning would drop him into a pit of terror, recounting transforming the rescue workers into skeletons that caused Jin to begin crying and raging. He laughs highly, but admits that he tormented Jin a bit too much and completely broke his spirit (in the dub he claims that his torture was so severe that Jin didn't believe he had eventually been freed, and still doesn't). Varis snarls that Lightning is an evil error program that shouldn't exist in this world, and he vows to completely bury him. Bohman watches as Lightning replies that Varis should attack if he really means that, that is, if he can destroy these foolish humans. Varis spoke of free will and how the Ignis were spineless, so he should show him what he's willing to do. (In the dub, Varis angrily asks why Lightning would torture Jin, and Lightning claims that logically it was for control, but in truth it was to bring events to this moment, and he whimsically comments that Varis has the choice to attack him now and erase Jin, or abstain and lose his only chance to win the Duel, ordering him to decide. The dub repeats this scene after commercial, with Lightning emphasizing that Varis will erase Jin and Spectre if he attacks.)
Varis Sets a card, ending his turn. As his turn ended, the effect of the Special Summoned "Estrangement Dragon" sends it to the Graveyard. Lightning bursts out laughing; now that Varis has made new allies and begun walking the path of justice, he's no longer willing to go as far as he would in the past. Now what should Lightning do with Varis now? (In the dub, Lightning claims this makes Varis inferior to an Ignis.) On Roken's speedboat, Klarissa seethes at Lightning's cheating, while in Café Nom Alec notes that previously Varis wouldn't have hesitated to make his decision. Dr. Genome notes that now Varis is unsure and the Light Ignis realized that. Alec declares that they created a terror. (In the dub, Genome comments that it seems Varis has a new way of Dueling now, and Alec hopes that Varis knows what he's doing for all their sakes.)
Lightning declares that this will end Varis, and he declares his turn, but before he can draw Bohman tells him to wait (and in the dub, Lightning is incensed that Bohman told him to stop). Bohman warns Lightning that he hold him he wouldn't let him use any more dirty tricks. Lightning begins to protest, but Bohman looks away in disgust and states that he can't stand what Lightning is doing. Soulburner was a fair Duelist, but Windy - no, Lightning - spoiled that Duel. Bohman is disappointed in Lightning, and he won't let that kind of Duel happen again. Lightning protests again, but Bohman declares that he'll hold onto Jin and Spectre's consciousness data, and he raises a glowing hand. Yellow data fragments emerge from Lightning's body as he groans in discomfort, much to Varis and Playmaker's surprise. Ai asks if Bohman and Lightning are having a falling out as Lightning tries to resist, but he is unsuccessful; Bohman telling Lightning that his program can no longer meddle with Bohman's. Lightning growls as Jin's Avatar is transformed back into its robed form and Bohman lowers his hand, declaring that there are no more hostages and ordering Lightning to defeat Varis with his own skills. Lightning growls in anger (in the dub, he angrily thanks Bohman for his belief that he can defeat Varis), but Bohman ignores him and tells Varis to continue the Duel without any distress. Varis replies that he won't thank Bohman, who smiles and he replies that he knows.
Lightning clenches his fist and he furiously vows to crush Varis with power instead. Varis warns Lightning that he will never forgive him (in the dub, he tells Lightning that he will be the winner instead), and Lightning declares his turn and draws. He Summons "Armatos Legio Sica", the chants "Appear! The circuit that guides the light!" and declares that the Summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower "Armatos Legio" monster, setting "Sica" to Link Summon the Link-1 "Armatos Legio Decurion". Then Lightning activates the Spell Card "Armatos Fulgur", Tributing an "Armatos Legio" Link Monster to Special Summon a different one from his Extra Deck, but with the same Link Rating. He Tributes "Decurion" to Special Summon "Armatos Legio Eques Flamma", and then he activates the effect of the Link Spell Card "Armatos Legio Plumbum Trident", returning a Link Monster in his Graveyard to the Extra Deck, then Special Summoning an "Armatos Legio" monster to a zone that "Plumbum Trident" points to. Returning "Decurion" to the Extra Deck, Lightning revives "Armatos Legio Magnus Dux". Varis scowls that "Magnus Dux" was resurrected again, and Lightning notes that the effect of "Borreload Dragon" will reduce the ATK of "Magnus Dux" by 500, but then the effect of "Judgment Arrows" will raise "Magnus Dux" to 5000 ATK. Both of Varis's "Borreloads" have 3000 ATK and Varis has 2000 LP, so Varis will be brought down to exactly zero.
Lightning asks Varis to allow him to tell him something good before he's gone, and unlike Varis, he'll get straight to the point. Varis shortly asks Lightning what he's talking about, and Lightning explains that he wants to tell him something about his father, Dr. Kogami. There's something about him that Varis has misunderstood. Varis gasps "What?" in shock, and Lightning explains that Varis thinks that SOL Technologies infected Kogami with a computer virus - but that isn't true. After the Lost Incident, the Ignis built the Cyberse within the network, and this created Data Material, assisting SOL Technologies greatly. Back then Lightning ran the simulations that Varis mentioned, but strangely Dr. Kogami ran one himself on the future of the Ignis that determined that the Ignis would become the enemy of mankind, and had Kogami run more he would have eventually discovered Lightning to be the cause. So Lightning took the initiative and eliminated that problem - he was the one who implanted the computer virus in Dr. Kogami.
Varis cries "What?!" in horror, and Lightning notes that SOL Technologies were unwilling to take responsibility for the Lost Incident and confined Kogami, and since they were both in the same company, Lightning got to him through the server. Fortunately, Kogami had complained to SOL's higher-ups about the danger of the Ignis and thus they were already at odds. Lightning didn't expect Varis to resurrect Kogami within the network, but when he did Kogami believed SOL Technologies to be responsible for implanting the virus within him. (In the dub, Lightning further taunts Varis over thinking that SOL Technologies infected his father and claiming that Varis only has himself to blame). Klarissa, Alec and Genome watch furiously as Playmaker realizes that Lightning was the one who created the virus, and Ai notes that's why it's such a powerful program. Thanks to that, Lightning was able to get plenty of time to build his new trump card - Bohman. Varis seethes that Lightning is the one who hurt his father, and Genome blanches as he realizes that the Knights of Hanoi made a huge misunderstanding. Alec growls that their revenge should have been against the Light Ignis all along. Lightning comments that it was fun to see Varis fight with all his might, never realizing that his revenge should have been directed at Lightning.
Varis clenches his fist as Lightning tells him that he'll send him to meet Kogami, and declares his Battle Phase. Energy begins building in the cannons mounted on "Magnus Dux" as Lightning orders it to attack "Borreload eXcharge Dragon". Varis activates the effect of "Borreload Dragon" in response, reducing the ATK and DEF of a monster Lightning controls by 500, and Lightning will be unable to activate his own effects in response. "Borreload Dragon" blasts a stream of energy from its maw, reducing the ATK of "Magnus Dux" to 2500. Ai protests that the ATK of "Magnus Dux" will be doubled due to "Judgment Arrows", so Varis will lose if the attack succeeds. Varis then activates a Continuous Trap Card, "Borrel Ring", allowing him to Tribute a "Borrel" Link Monster to place counters on it equal to its Link Rating. He Tributes the Link-4 "Borreload Dragon", thus placing four counters, and then he removes one as his monster is being attacked, preventing his monster's destruction and reducing the ATK of the attacking monster by 100 for each counter until the end of the turn. With three counters remaining, "Magnus Dux" falls to 2200 ATK as Playmaker observes, and Lightning wearily notes that Varis lowered the ATK of "Magnus Dux" even more (in the dub he calls it a last ditch-effort on Varis's part), but then declares the effect of "Judgment Arrows", noting that Varis will still take the damage as the ATK of "Magnus Dux" doubles to 4400. It fires its cannons, blasting "Borreload eXcharge Dragon", but only reducing Varis to 600 LP. Lightning ends his turn, and Varis comments that he wasn't able to finish him off. Lightning points out that Varis only has 600 LP left, so no matter what Varis tries he'll lose if Lightning's attack next turn succeeds. Varis sharply asks why Lightning doesn't just accept the fact that he knows he will lose before his next turn comes.
Lightning is infuriated by Varis's claim, and Ai is shocked that Varis can turn the Duel around. Playmaker reminds him that "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" still has one more Overlay Unit left, and Ai realizes that Varis will be able to win if the attack he attempted last turn succeeds this turn (in the dub, they do not discuss this, merely Varis's confidence in his claim). Varis declares his turn and draws, activating the effect of "Borreload eXcharge Dragon"; detaching an Overlay Unit to reduce the ATK of a monster by 600. He declares "Enemy Negation Blasting Charge" and "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" blasts a purple beam of energy from its maw, lowering the ATK of "Magnus Dux" to 1900 again. Then Varis can Special Summon a "Borrel" monster from his Graveyard, and he orders "Borreload Dragon" to revive. He declares his Battle Phase, ordering "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" to attack "Magnus Dux". "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" opens its wing cannons and projects its double-barreled maw cannon and at Varis's command it opens fire. Varis then activates the "Enemy Negation" effect of "Borreload Dragon", which blasts an orange beam from its maw again, reducing "Magnus Dux" to 1400 ATK. Ai cheers that now even if the ATK of "Magnus Dux" is doubled due to "Judgment Arrows", "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" will still have more ATK. Playmaker notes that Lightning will lose 200 LP if this attack succeeds and if the attack of "Borreload Dragon" destroys "Eques Flamma", Lightning's LP will be reduced to zero.
Lightning clenches his fist in fury, and instead of using the effect of "Judgment Arrows", he instead activates the effect of "Magnus Dux"; for every monster that is co-linked to "Magnus Dux" he can return a card from the field or Graveyard to the hand, and he returns the Continuous Trap Card "Armatos Gloria" to his hand. This activates the effect of "Armatos Gloria" since it was targeted by an effect while it was in his Spell & Trap Zone, destroying all monsters he controls. "Eques Flamma and "Magnus Dux" both explode, and Lightning then activates the effect of "Eques Flamma" as a card effect destroyed it while it was co-linked, inflicting damage to them equal to the original ATK of the monster that was co-linked to it.
Varis cries "What?!" in shock, and Lightning vows that he won't lose; he, an Ignis that transcends humanity, can't lose to someone like Varis (in the dub he snarls that he refuses to lose to any human, even if it requires him sacrificing himself). "Eques Flamma" flings its ordnance ball into the air and it detonates, reducing Varis's LP to zero and blasting him off his feet, while blasting Lightning away as well. Klarissa leaps out of her seat, screaming Varis's name, and Genome is horrified that Varis was defeated. Alec grits his teeth; noting that the Light Ignis destroyed itself to get a tie.
As the smoke clears around Varis, Playmaker runs to him, calling his name and begging him to pull himself together. Varis weakly admits that he didn't expect the Light Ignis to destroy itself and that he let his guard down (in the dub, he notes how odd Lightning's move was after attempting to survive for so long). Ai tells Varis that he did well, and Varis smiles, admitting that when he was young he'd lie down in a field of flowers and look up at the sky just as he is now (in the dub, Varis admits his surprise that an Ignis is trying to cheer him up). His visor cracked, Varis looks up at the sky and admits that he's reminded of those times. Roken recalls that he had no troubles back then; he was just excited about the world that spread before his eyes. His Avatar turns green, and Varis admits that he's leaving now, and he reaches towards Playmaker and Ai, telling him that he's leaving the rest to them before disintegrating into green data fragments that scatter into green petals. Playmaker gasps and Ai whispers that Varis called him by his name. Klarissa begins to sob, while Alec and Genome can only watch in shock.
Ai then asks what happened to Lightning, and he and Playmaker turn towards where Lightning was standing (in the dub, Ai gasps that this means that only Bohman is left, but then he is proven wrong by Lightning's voice). Jin's Avatar has vanished, and only Bohman stands before them - but Lightning is crawling wearily through the flowers, and he chokes that he's still alive - he has 1 LP left. Playmaker gasps "What?!" in shock, and Ai asks why only Lightning survived. As Lightning crawls, Bohman sharply says his name and as Lightning looks up, Bohman observes that Lightning didn't relinquish all of Jin's consciousness data and converted it into extra LP. Lightning confirms that he did, weakly claiming that he'll do anything to win, as this is his mission. But he falters, and he tells Bohman that he'll give him everything, reaching towards Bohman and begging him to show Lightning mercy (in the dub, Lightning actually asks for Bohman to share his energy with him to heal him after he gave Bohman life). Bohman sharply tells Lightning that he caused chaos by deceiving everyone with his wicked ideas, much to Lightning's horror.
But Bohman notes that everything Lightning did, he did to live; in that way he may have been the most human among the Ignis. He kneels down and stretches his hand out to Lightning, declaring that he will accept everything (in the dub, Bohman refuses to give Lightning his energy, both due to his treachery and because Lightning cannot create the perfect world, while Bohman can, so Lightning giving him his energy instead is the logical choice). Lightning is shocked by Bohman's gesture, and he wearily tells Bohman that he is giving his soul to him (in the dub, Lightning resigns himself to his fate). As he reaches forward his body begins to glow, and he barely manages to grasp Bohman's finger before disintegrating into yellow shards of data. The data flows into Bohman's hand, and the symbol of LIGHT glows on Bohman's back, followed by the symbols of FIRE, WATER, EARTH and WIND. Playmaker observes that Lightning gave himself to Bohman, and Ai grimly adds that now Bohman has acquired five Attributes (in the dub, he gasps that he's the only one left as well). Bohman stands up and he declares that the stage is set and he has completed his training, and he tells Playmaker to accept his Duel. Playmaker agrees, telling Bohman that it's the final fight.
Featured Duel: Varis vs Lightning
Duel continues from the previous episode.
Varis has 2000 LP and controls "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" (3000/2500, 1 ORU) in the Extra Monster Zone, and "Borreload Dragon" (3000/←↙↘→) in his Main Monster Zone, as well as "Boot Sector Launch" in his Field Zone. Lightning has 1500 LP and controls "Estrangement Dragon" (1500/1500) in Attack Position, as well as "Judgment Arrows" (↖↑↗), "Armatos Legio Plumbum Trident" (as a Link Spell (↖↑↗)) and "Armatos Gloria" in his Spell & Trap Zones,and "Armatos Colosseum" in his Field Zone.
Turn 4: Varis
As Lightning is holding Jin hostage, Varis chooses not to continue attacking. Varis Sets a card. During the End Phase, since it was Special Summoned, the "Estrangement Dragon" that Lightning controls is sent to the GY due to its own effect.
Before Lightning begins his turn, Bohman absorbs the data of Jin and Spectre from Lightning into himself, releasing Lightning's hostage.
Turn 5: Lightning
Lightning Normal Summons "Armatos Legio Sica" (0/400). Lightning sets "Sica" (a Level 4 or lower "Armatos Legio" monster) in the Link Arrows to Link Summon "Armatos Legio Decurion" (1000/↓). Lightning activates "Armatos Fulgur", Tributing 1 "Armatos Legio" Link Monster he controls to Special Summon 1 Link Monster from his Extra Deck with the same Link Rating but a different name, however while it is on the field, he cannot Link Summon. Lightning Tributes the Link-1 "Decurion" to Special Summon the Link-1 "Armatos Legio Eques Flamma" (800/←). Lightning activates the effect of the Link Spell "Armatos Legio Plumbum Trident" as it is in his Spell & Trap Zone by its own effect, returning 1 Link Monster from his GY to his Extra Deck, then Special Summoning 1 "Armatos Legio" Link Monster from his GY to a Main Monster Zone "Plumbum Trident" points to. Lightning returns "Decurion" from his GY to his Extra Deck and Special Summons "Armatos Legio Magnus Dux" (3000/↑←↓→) from his GY to the Main Monster Zone the Top-Right Link Arrow of "Plumbum Trident" and the Top-Center Link Arrow of "Judgment Arrows" point to so that it is co-linked with "Eques Flamma".
"Magnus Dux" attacks "Borreload eXcharge Dragon". Varis activates the effect of "Borreload Dragon", targeting 1 other face-up monster on the field and reducing its ATK/DEF by 500, with Lightning being unable to activate cards or effects in response to the effect's activation. He targets "Magnus Dux" ("Magnus Dux": 3000 → 2500 ATK). Varis activates his Continuous Trap "Borrel Ring", Tributing a "Borrel" Link Monster he controls and placing counters on "Borrel Ring" equal to the Tributed monster's Link Rating. Varis Tributes the Link-4 "Borreload Dragon" ("Borrel Ring": 0 → 4 counters). Varis activates the effect of "Borrel Ring": once per attack, when a monster he controls is targeted for an attack, he can remove 1 of these counters from "Borrel Ring" to prevent the monster he controls from being destroyed by that battle, and the opponent's attacking monster loses 100 ATK for each of these counters on "Borrel Ring" until the End Phase ("Borrel Ring": 4 → 3 counters) ("Magnus Dux": 2500 → 2200 ATK). As a Link Monster it points to is battling, the effect of "Judgment Arrows" activates, doubling the ATK of that monster during damage calculation only ("Magnus Dux": 2200 → 4400 ATK). "Magnus Dux" attacks "Borreload eXcharge Dragon", which isn't destroyed due to the effect of "Borrel Ring" (Varis: 2000 → 600 LP).
Turn 6: Varis
Varis activates the effect of "Borreload Xcharge Dragon", detaching an Overlay Unit ("Borreload eXcharge Dragon: 1 → 0 ORU) to target 1 face-up monster on the field and reduce its ATK/DEF by 600, then he can Special Summon 1 "Borrel" monster from his GY, but for the rest of the turn, Varis cannot Special Summon monsters or attack directly. He targets "Magnus Dux" on the field ("Magnus Dux": 2500 → 1900 ATK) and Special Summons "Borreload Dragon" (3000 ATK/←↙↘→) from his GY. "Borreload eXcharge Dragon" attacks "Magnus Dux". Varis activates the effect of "Borreload Dragon", targeting "Magnus Dux" and reducing its ATK/DEF by 500, with Lightning being unable to activate cards or effects in response to this effect's activation ("Magnus Dux": 1900 → 1400 ATK). Lightning activates the effect of "Magnus Dux", targeting cards on the field and/or in the GYs up to the number of monsters it is co-linked with, and returning them to the hand. Lightning targets "Armatos Gloria". As it was targeted by a card or effect in the Spell & Trap Zone, the effect of "Armatos Gloria" activates, destroying all monsters Lightning controls. As "Eques Flamma" was destroyed on the field while it was co-linked, Lightning activates its effect, inflicting damage to both players equal to the original ATK of the Link Monster it was co-linked to. "Magnus Dux" had 3000 original ATK. However before the Duel ends, Lightning converts the remainder of Jin's consciousness data in himself into additional LP (Varis: 600 → 0 LP), (Lightning: 1500 → 3001 → 1 LP).
Featured cards
The following cards appeared in this episode. Cards in italics debuted here.
Flashback
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