Knowing the ins and outs of Playmaker's deck, Kusanagi launches a relentless attack against him and does all he can to protect Jin. On the other hand, Playmaker just can't attack his partner. Playmaker's LP is now dangerously low. Kusanagi then starts talking about the promise the two of them made in the past.
This episode contains the following tropes:
- Angst Coma: The emotional trauma Playmaker encountered after Kusanagi is terminated takes a toll on him, and he falls unconscious.
- Berserker Tears: Soulburner explodes while crying at the same time, voicing his outrage towards both Bohman and Lightning for setting up a Duel between Playmaker and Kusanagi.
- Delaying Action: Playmaker, still unable to bring himself to attack his opponent, uses "Link Satellite" in an attempt to stall the Duel. It fails, however, as Kusanagi quickly destroys it the turn after it was activated.
- Go Out with a Smile: Kusanagi can only manage one last smile, along with an apology to his little brother, before he disintegrates completely.
- Heroic BSoD: Playmaker breaks down in a teary mess when Kusanagi is terminated after losing to his opponent.
- It's Personal: Soulburner is vehemently outraged over the aftermath of Playmaker and Kusanagi's Duel, and vows to make Bohman and Lightning pay.
- My Death Is Just the Beginning: Lightning played Kusanagi for a fool when the latter confronted the former, but Kusanagi actually anticipated beforehand that Lightning would use Jin as a bargaining chip to coax Kusanagi and Playmaker into fighting each other. Prior to the Duel, Kusanagi advised Yusaku to go all-out, which he fails to do... until his final turn and thus fulfills his promise, though it comes at the cost of Kusanagi's existence.
- One-Hit Kill: Playmaker finishes off Kusanagi in a single turn with the 4300 ATK "Decode Talker Extend".
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: You know something's wrong when Playmaker, who usually maintains a stoic front, breaks down in tears for the first time after Kusanagi is terminated.
- Out-Gambitted: Lightning, as he learns when Playmaker tells him Kusanagi predicted his actiom and played *him*, and not the other way around. This manages to actually crack his composure.
- Pyrrhic Victory: Playmaker overcomes his hesitation and defeats Kusanagi, but at the cost of the latter's existence, which takes a toll on Playmaker's willpower and causes him to fall unconscious.
- Rage Breaking Point: Kusanagi's termination after his defeat at Playmaker's hands was the last straw for Soulburner, who explodes and voices his outrage towards Bohman and Lightning for invoking a Sadistic Choice on both Kusanagi and Playmaker.
- Sorry That I'm Dying: Kusanagi can do little but to apologise to his little brother before disintegrating completely.
- This Is Unforgivable!: Soulburner vehemently holds both Bohman and Lightning in contempt for tricking Playmaker and Kusanagi into turning against each other, which doesn't end well for either of them at all.
- Why Don't Ya Just Shoot Him?: Lightning points out that Kusanagi could just defeat Playmaker instead of taunting him about his promises, but Kusanagi brushes it off. As expected, this gives Playmaker the strenght to fight back and win the duel. Which was Kusanagi's plan all along.
