Yuya faces Isao Kachidoki (Iggy Arlo). Kachidoki proves to be a Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy who physically assaults Yuya to prevent him from winning the duel. Yuya is quickly backed into a corner, and no matter how hard he tries he cannot get through to Kachidoki. Then Yuto's spirit fuses with Yuya, bringing out his Superpowered Evil Side for the first time. In a berserker state, Yuya summons Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon to win the duel in a vicious attack, but when the state wears off he's met by Stunned Silence from the audience and realizes he's done something awful.
This episode contains examples of:
- Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: Kachidoki, natch.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Kachidoki told Yuya to face the pitch black darkness, after putting him in a corner. Then Yuya went to Berserk Mode.
- Call-Back: In episode 9, the fact that Xyz monsters do not have levels is brought up a few times during Yuya's duel against Hokuto, and in that episode, Yuya was able to exploit this in order to win that duel. When Kachidoki tries to use his monster's effect (which relies on the monster's level being lower than his monster) against Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, Yuya simply replies that Xyz monsters don't have levels, thus the effect is negated.
- Deconstruction: Of two common Yugioh tropes. First the hero having a Superpowered Evil Side as Yuya's frightens everyone and is clearly meant to show something wrong with him. Then, Defeat Means Friendship, as Yuya sets out to do this to Kachidoki, but utterly fails in the end.
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: When Yuya returns to normal and sees he has won the duel and Kachidoki on the floor, he runs over to him and tries to help him up. Kachidoki just angrily slaps his hand away.
- Double-Meaning Title: The Japanese title uses Awakening of the Gekirin. Gekirin (逆鱗) can be interpreted as 'Reverse Scales' or 'Imperial Wrath'. According to Japanese and Chinese mythology, out of the 81 scales of a(n Eastern) dragon, one of them is inverted/reverse and that touching that particular scale can invoke the wrath of the dragon. Explained here
. - Superpowered Evil Side: We see Yuya's for the first time.
- Wham Episode: Yuya gets a Superpowered Evil Side.
- Wham Line: Yuya gets a good one.Yuya: "Formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Descend now! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"
