Yusho and Reiji ran into each other in Academia. It is then that Yuri attacks them. In order for Yusho to reach Leo, Asuka stands against Yuri. Asuka faces off against the boy with the ominous smile, Yuri, who is using an “Honor Student Deck” given to selected students. She tries to convey Yusho’s “bring smiles through Dueling” ideal. However…
This episode contains the following tropes:
- Ace Custom: The Honor Student Deck that Yuri uses is standard issue for distinguished Academia students, but his copy of it has deviations from the regular list, among which is his addition of Super Polymerization.
- Antagonist Title: Yuri and his Ace Custom Antique Gear Deck are the main focus of this episode's Duel.
- And I Must Scream: Asuka ends up being one of Yuri's "fatalities".
- Ax-Crazy: Yuri is delighted at the thought of carding everyone in the world until only he remains. You know he's reached a new level of ax-craziness when even the Professor is worried.
- Clock Punk: The "Honor Student Deck" Yuri uses is an Antique Gear deck.
- A Death in the Limelight: It was Asuka's.
- Did You Actually Believe...?: Yuri matter-of-factly explains that he just put Super Polymerization into the Honor Student Deck, mocking her for actually believing that he was unfamiliar with its content.
- Didn't See That Coming: Asuka wasn't expecting Super Polymerization to be in Yuri's deck because it's not part of the deck recipe for the Honor Student Deck. Judging by her attempt to negate it with Fusion Destruction (effects can't be activated in response to Super Polymerization), it's possible she didn't know anything about it, let alone that Yuri had it.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Just like Episode 106, Yuri shrugs off Asuka's friendship speech.
- Foregone Conclusion: The preview for this episode shows that Sora was trapped between the fences when Asuka was holding off Yuri while the summary for Episode 126 shows that he was defeated by Yuri before Yugo comes in. It was obvious that Yuri was going to win in this duel with Asuka.
- From Bad to Worse: Encouraging Yuri to do whatever he wants (ie. brutalizing his opponents) might prove to be the Professor's undoing.
- I Just Want to Have Friends: Yuri is "starving" for friendship in his childhood years.
- Loophole Abuse: The effect of Antique Gear Reactor Dragon prevents the opponent from activating Spell or Trap cards when it attacks. Yuri gets around this by activating a Trap when Asuka enters her Battle Phase, before Reactor Dragon can declare its attack. Unfortunately for her, too, this is a perfectly legal move.
- Lonely at the Top: Yuri says that he was jealous of Asuka for being a strong and popular duelist when he was younger. However, he loses that desire in his older years.
- Meaningful Name: Antique Gear Reactor Dragon is the titular "Glorious Machine Dragon".
- Mythology Gag: The episode shares a similar name to Asuka's debut episode, "The Brilliant Machine Angels."
- Asuka's defeat at the hands of Yuri mirrors Jim "Crocodile" Cook's defeat by Haou/The Supreme King in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. Bonus points for Yuri being something of an Expy of the latter.
- No-Sell: Asuka tries to negate Yuri's Super Polymerization with her Fusion Destruction card, but as Yuri smugly explains, Super Polymerization can't be negated.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Yuri clowns around for a good portion of the duel, pretending that he hasn't used the Honor Student Deck before and that he needs to read his cards' effects, only for him to reveal that not only does he know perfectly well how to use the deck, he's modified it by adding Super Polymerization.
- Oh, Crap!: The Professor has this expression when he learned how Ax-Crazy Yuri is.
- Omnicidal Maniac: This is Yuri's endgame.
- Pet the Dog: When Yuri gloats about carding everyone in existence, the Professor seems worried at Reiji and Yusho's well-being.
- Product Placement: The "Honor Student Deck" contains cards from the new Ancient Gear Starter deck that is going to be released the week after this episode airs.
- Redemption Rejection: Yuri cruelly rejects Asuka's attempts to turn him to the good side.
- Resignations Not Accepted: For Academia, sending Yuri to dispose of anyone but Yusho and Reiji is a good idea. Unfortunately, it works for Asuka.
- Shut Up, Kirk!: Asuka tries to get through to Yuri by pointing out that if he cards everyone else, he'll be totally alone, to which Yuri just replies that he doesn't care because that means he'd be the strongest.
- Troll: This episode may as well have been called "Yuri trolls Asuka and Sora". Let's count: (1) He claims that the "Honor Student Deck" that he's using is completely new to him and for him to utilize it so skillfully must mean he's a genius. It turns out he always knew how to use it. (2) Baits Asuka into thinking she got through to him and then spitefully rejects her, calling her a great "Honor Student" since she's "honestly stupid". (3) Reveals that Sora's attempts at locking Yuri out with grids could easily be opened by the guy; he didn't do it earlier because he wanted Sora trapped and needed an "audience". Sora's reaction says it all.
- Wham Line:Yuri: I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Super Polymerization!
- You Shall Not Pass!: Asuka holds off Yuri to give Reiji's group enough time to escape.
