The Zaizens' duel against Ai continues; their combined synergy breaks through his formation, but he quickly brings out a new trump card and pushes the two siblings into a corner once again.
This episode contains the following tropes:
- The Bad Guy Wins: Ai has finally fulfilled his objective in getting the two code keys, "killing" Akira in the process.
- Cruel Mercy: With emphasis on "Cruel"; Ai doesn't erase Blue Maiden, because he wants to let her live with the regret for failing to protect a loved one just like him.
- Death by Irony: Ai defeats the Zaizens using Water Leviathan @Ignister, which represents Aqua, Aoi's former partner. However, he ultimately lets Aoi live.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Aoi activating the direct damage effect of Marincess Bubble Circle before going into her battle phase in her last turn gave Ai the opening he needed to win.
- It's Personal: Now that Ai has both halves of the SOL Technologies code key in his possession, Revolver has no reservations about voicing his intentions to terminate Ai.
- Kick the Dog: Ai "kills" Akira in front of Aoi not only to make her feel weak and useless for failing to protect her brother, but also just to spite her.
- Moral Event Horizon: In-Universe example. Ai activates "Judgement Arrows" during the duel which shows he intends to truly follow Lightning's will and erases Akira while letting Aoi live with the regret of being unable to save him. These actions causes Soulburner to feel that Ai can't come back anymore, Revolver stating that he now has no hesitation to erase him, while leaving Playmaker speechless at his partner's cruelty.
- Pet the Dog: Subverted. Ai doesn't erase Blue Maiden even after she (alongside Akira) fails to defeat him, but the only reason he leaves her be is to make her continue living in regret for failing to protect a loved one.
- So Last Season: Acute Cerberus proved quite troublesome for Playmaker when he dueled Akira. This time, it stays on the field for one turn before Ai uses Water Leviathan's effect to bounce it back into Akira's extra deck.
- Tender Tears: Aoi can do little but helplessly shed a couple of tears after apologising for failing to protect Akira from Ai.
- Together in Death: Defied. Aoi and Akira think they'll be erased together, but Ai only erases Akira so Aoi will have to live with failing to protect him.
- The Worf Effect: Despite the Zaizens' best efforts, Ai once again trumps his opponents, establishing him as a legitimate threat to humanity.
- You Can't Thwart Stage One: Less than ten episodes into the season, it should go without saying that Ai wasn't going to be stopped this quickly.
