Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V - Episode 001

"The Trail of Light, Pendulum Summon!" is the first episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V anime. It first aired in Japan on April 6, 2014.

Summary
Yuya Sakaki and his friend, Gong, are having a Duel with each other. Gong controls "Superheavy Samurai Blue Brawler" and "Superheavy Samurai Swordsman". On the fourth turn of the Duel, Gong Tributes his two monsters to Tribute Summon "Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei". Gong yells at Yuya to Duel him with a one-on-one match. Behind a nearby pagoda, Yuya exclaims, "Ladies and gentlemen!" and leaps up while riding on "Performapal Hip Hippo". He activates the Quick-Play Spell Card, "Hippo Carnival". Gong is stunned as the "Hippo Tokens" are Special Summoned and start dancing. Elsewhere, Yuzu Hiragi is watching the Duel from a computer screen, and yells at Yuya to play seriously. In her anger, Yuzu accidentally pounds the keyboard, causing it to malfunction. She panics and the machine starts to explode. Yuzu's father, Shuzo, rushes into the room and asks what's happening. Yuzu apologizes and Shuzo exclaims that if the machine breaks, the Solid Vision would malfunction. As the machine explodes, Yuya dances and says that Entertainment Dueling is the specialty of You Show Duel School. Suddenly, the Solid Vision disappears and he falls to the ground. The blue-haired boy watching the Duel is concerned, but fortunately, Yuya manages to make a quick recovery and pull off a funny face.

The origins of Action Duels are explained. It was born when the generation of matter was integrated into Solid Vision. Duelists, their monsters and the field would become one, causing the crowd to go wild.

Back at school, Shuzo is upset and exclaims that if his hot-blooded coaching and the Solid Vision are ruined, students will leave. He panics further and adds that the school will be over. Yuya, placing his goggles over his eyes, is frustrated because he wanted to make the audience laugh even more, but he didn't get the chance because Yuzu broke the machine. Yuzu retorts that this was because Yuya was goofing off. She swats at him, but Yuya dodges and bumps into Gong. An unamused Gong says "this boy" was not laughing. Yuya removes his goggles and lightheartedly says that he was cracking up. Still angered, Gong tells Yuya that there is a difference between someone laughing at you and someone laughing with you. He reminds Yuya that his father, Yusho Sakaki, always made other people smile with his Dueling. Gong also asks Yuya if he had forgotten the smiles that stirred within the hearts of Yusho's audience. Yuya replies that the audience laughed at his father in the end. Yuzu and Gong yell at Yuya, still angry at him.

The door opens and a man wearing a suit and shades comes in. He says there is something amiss in here. Shuzo asks who the man is. The man introduces himself as Nico Smiley, the manager and promoter of the current Action Dueling Champion, Strong Ishijima. Yuya reacts to the name in shock. He recalls an advertisement of Ishijima urging others to brush up their skills at the Leo Duel School as several cards surround him. If one wanted to go pro, Ishijima would be waiting for them at LDS, managed by the Leo Corporation. Nico explains that Ishijima is the poster Duelist at LDS and that he would like to invite Yuya to join him on Fan Appreciation Day. Stunned, Yuya asks if Nico wanted him to join Ishijima. Nico confirms it, adding that Yuya can fulfill his dream from three years ago.

Yuya begins to hesitate as he recalls a memory of the final Duel between his father and Ishijima. The announcer asks what is going on and where the current champion, Yusho, is. Ishijima questions if Yusho got cold feet. The crowd is angry, thinking that Yusho ran away because he was afraid to lose. They continue their jeers, calling Yusho a coward and a weakling. A young Yuya runs to the bottom of the stands and yells that his father will show up. Until then, Yuya will Duel in his father's place. His mother, Yoko Sakaki, pulls Yuya from the stands as he continues to protest. Back in the present, Nico says the preparations are complete as he shows the group a poster of Ishijima. Yuya gulps in nervousness and Shuzo says he won't let Yuya compete. Frantic, Nico asks why, because Yusho's fans would love it if his son showed up. Shuzo yells that he will not let Nico use Yuya as their show pony. Yuya is still upset and Shuzo asks Nico about how Yuya felt for all these years. He orders Nico to leave. Nico calls this unfortunate and says that as a thank you for their cooperation, Leo Corporation would give You Show Duel School the newest Solid Vision technology for free. Shuzo is excited at the offer, but Yuzu smacks him on the head with a paper fan. She chides her father for going against his quote of not letting Yuya be a show pony. Shuzo begins to protest, but Yuzu says that the school is important; Gong continues that what is important is how Yuya feels. After he finishes the statement, Gong discovers that Yuya disappeared. Yuzu wonders where he went off to.

Elsewhere in Maiami City, Yuya sits on a bridge railing. He gazes into his pendant while wearing his goggles. He recalls another memory of his childhood, when he was sitting by himself, sobbing. A hand removes Yuya's goggles, causing his tears to flow out. Yuya rubs his eyes and his father, Yusho sits next to him. Yusho encourages his son to laugh the biggest laugh he can muster whenever he felt like crying. Yuya will start to have fun once he starts laughing, and that it will become the energy he will use to keep going. Yusho removes the pendant Yuya is wearing and compares the advice to a pendulum: The more you push, the more it comes back. The same principle can be applied to Dueling. Yuya repeats, "Dueling" and Yusho continues that Yuya can't do anything while he's frozen in fear. He adds that Yuya must step forward and have courage if he wanted to win and to push forward with courage, causing happiness to swing back at him. Yusho says the pendulum can be used for discovery as well. When Yuya is lost, the pendulum can show him where he can go. In the present, Yuya thinks, "swing, pendulum, more and more", as the pendant continues swinging back and forth. Yuzu, Gong and Shuzo arrive at the Dueling arena. Nico announces the main event: Strong Ishijima, the Action Duel Champion, will Duel against the only son of Yusho Sakaki, the Star Champion, Yuya Sakaki. Yuzu mutters Yuya's name. Gong asks if Yuya will really go against Ishijima. An excited Shuzo exclaims that he can smell the brand-new Solid Vision technology, only for his daughter to smack him on the head with her paper fan again.

Nico continues that the Duel will be conducted using the Action Duel rules. A card appears in his hand and he throws it into the sky, activating the Field Spell Card, "Frontier Fang Castle". Underground, the Solid Vision machine releases several light beams, causing a castle to appear above ground. Nico marvels at the sight, noting that the Solid Vision castle can be easily mistaken for the real thing. He introduces Strong Ishijima, who is on top of the castle, as the Ultimate King of Action Dueling for three years. Ishijima yells out a battle cry as the crowd cheers. Nico introduces the "young challenger to the Ultimate King", Yuya Sakaki. Shuzo cheers, but stops short when he realizes that Yuya is not showing up. Nico himself is stunned as well. A man in the audience asked if Yuya ran away, while another says he did it just like his father three years ago. A third man notes that Yuya is a coward, "like father, like son". Yuzu tells them to hold on a minute, but Gong stops her.

Ishijima is disappointed because he thought that Yusho would show up if he dragged his son out here. He can't be the true Ultimate King unless he defeated Yusho as a result. Yuya, dressed in a clown outfit, sneaks up behind him. A woman asks who that is, while another woman says he must be a clown. The same boy from Yuya's previous Duel is also watching the spectacle. Behind Ishijima, Yuya continues to dance and make funny faces. Yuzu recognizes the clown as Yuya. The crowd yells at Ishijima to look behind him. Ishijima turns, to find Yuya behind him. He asks if he is that "brat" of Yusho's. Yuya bows to Ishijima mockingly. This enrages him, causing him to ask if that is how Yuya respects the Champion. Yuya removes his clown mask and apologizes for his rudeness, and to make up for it, he requests to Ishijima to allow him the honor of Dueling him. Yuya activates his Duel Disk, ready to Duel. He wonders how great Ishijima is. Ishijima tells Yuya to know his place as he activates his own Duel Disk and adds that he will show Yuya the skills of a pro and give him some discipline. Yuya smiles at the statement. Nico exclaims that this was an unexpected turn of events, but both players are ready. He tells both players to draw five cards to start the Duel. Nico announces that the Duelists will kick across the earth and fly across the air with their monsters, while encouraging the audience to fix their eyes on the "ultimate evolution of Dueling," the Action... "DUEL!" Yuya and Ishijima yell. Nico snaps his fingers and Action Cards are scattered throughout the battlefield.

Ishijima lets Yuya go first, but reminds him that he cannot draw on the first turn. Yuya yells that he will show the audience what a classic Action Duel looks like, as he waltzes up to a zip line and glides down on it, much to Ishijima's surprise. For his first performance, Yuya Normal Summons "Performapal Hip Hippo". Yuya jumps off the zip line and lands on his monster's back. He tells Ishijima to catch him if he can as "Hip Hippo" runs off. The same male audience member from before asks if Yuya is running away already. His companion says that Yusho's son being quick at running is no surprise. The blue-haired boy watches in awe. Yuzu asks what Yuya is doing. Gong is upset as well and says Yuya should face Ishijima proudly. From the castle, Ishijima watches as Yuya and "Hip Hippo" escape into the forest. He mutters that it won't be long until he catches him. He draws "Battleguard King". Ishijima activates "Feast of the Wild LV5", allowing him to Special Summon two Level 5 Warrior-Type monsters from his hand with their effects negated. He Summons "Lava Battleguard" and "Swamp Battleguard". As the "Battleguards" jump to the ground, Ishijima Tributes them to Tribute Summon "Battleguard King", which pushes several trees out of the way and roars. Nico exclaims that Ishijima Summoned his ace monster as the audience cheers. Yuya stops short upon seeing Ishijima's monster blocking his path.

Ishijima says that while Yusho got away from him, there's no escape for Yuya. He declares an attack on "Hip Hippo" with "Battleguard King", as the monster swings its club. Yuya manages to find an Action Card, "Avoid", and subsequently activates it. This negates the attack. Yuya declares "Rolling Hippo" as "Hip Hippo" does a somersault, allowing it and Yuya to avoid the attack. Gong exclaims that Yuya can't just win by evading and that he needs to fight. A voice behind him says that Yuya is indeed fighting. He turns around to find Yoko Sakaki behind him, much to Shuzo's surprise. Yoko says that Yuya is reinventing himself while fighting. Back at the Duel, Yuya and "Hip Hippo" are running away from "Battleguard King". Ishijima notes that Yuya can use Action Cards effectively, just as expected. Professionals, however, can go beyond that. He reveals the effect of "Battleguard King": when it is Tribute Summoned by Tributing a "Battleguard" monster, it can attack twice during the same Battle Phase. Yuya is surprised at this. "Battleguard King" brings down its club, seemingly destroying Yuya's monster. Nico exclaims that "Battleguard King" did it, but is surprised to find Yuya and "Hip Hippo" escaping from the destruction unscathed. Ishijima is surprised as well, and Yuya says he managed to escape just in time. He reveals that he activated the Action Card, "Miracle", preventing the destruction of his monster by battle and halving the battle damage. This reduces his LP to 2900. The two male audience members are amazed and one of them says that Yuya is going toe-to-toe against the Champion. Ishijima Sets a card and ends his turn.

Yuzu asks Yoko on what she means about Yuya reinventing himself. Yoko replies that Yuya spent the last three years behind the mask of a clown. He made fun of himself before letting others make fun of him for his father running away. She continues that Yuya wants to be like his father, the legendary Duelist he admired since he was a boy. Yuya begins his turn and draws "Odd-Eyes Dragon". Yuya is satisfied that he got the card. "Hip Hippo" jumps up several pillars and Yuya announces the climax of his show. He explains that "Hip Hippo" can be treated as two Tributes for a Tribute Summon. "Hip Hippo" runs to the edge of the platform, jumps off and disappears. This leaves Yuya in a free-fall as he removes his clown outfit and Tributes "Hip Hippo" to Tribute Summon "Odd-Eyes Dragon".

Yuya lands on the back of "Odd-Eyes" and says the fun is just beginning. From the stands, Shuzo exclaims that this is Yusho's catchphrase, causing his blood to burn with excitement, while Yoko watches Yuya proudly. She thinks that Yuya was waiting for this moment. Ishijima chides Yuya for using his father's catchphrase, as a coward would. Yuya contacts Ishijima and affirms that his father is not a coward. He will win the Duel using the skills Yusho taught him to prove that he is stronger than anyone else. Ishijima says that "Odd-Eyes" only has 2500 ATK, which is lower than that of "Battleguard King". Yuya says, "we'll see about that", and activates the Continuous Spell Card, "Wonder Balloons". A multicolored box appears in front of Yuya. Yuya dashes into the forest, finding three Action Cards. He sends them to the Graveyard as Nico commentates on the spectacle. After doing this, Yuya yells that he will send "Wonder Balloons" flying off and explains that for each card he sent from his hand to the Graveyard, a balloon will appear. He can then send "Wonder Balloon" to the Graveyard to reduce an opponent's monster's ATK by 1000 for each balloon that was sent out until the End Phase. The balloons surrounding "Battleguard King" pop and trap it in even more balloons. Yuya says that it lost 3000 ATK, making its ATK 0. Nico exclaims that Yuya managed to turn the Duel around with the clever use of Action Cards. Ishijima says that a player cannot hold more than one Action Card at a time. He notes that Yuya wasn't just running around - he was finding out the locations of the Action Cards.

Yuya holds up his pendant and replies that he has a knack for finding things. The two male audience members are stunned and say that Yuya has the Champion on the ropes. As the crowd cheers, Yuya thinks this is the acclaim that his father felt at the stadium. He urges "Odd-Eyes" to get the crowd going even more. "Odd-Eyes" prepares an attack on "Battleguard King" as the blue orb on its chest gleams. Yuya explains the effect of "Odd-Eyes": when it destroys a monster by battle, it inflicts damage to the opponent equal to half the ATK of the destroyed monster. Since "Battleguard King" has 3000 ATK, Ishijima will take 1500 damage from its effect. Ishijima then realizes that with the 2500 ATK from "Odd-Eyes", this will total 4000 damage and he will lose. Yuya says he will win in one turn and declares an attack with "Odd-Eyes". He declares "Spiral Flame" as "Odd-Eyes" releases a crimson stream of fire from its mouth at Ishijima's monster, causing a huge explosion in the arena. Shuzo exclaims that Yuya won, while Gong and Yuzu yell Yuya's name. The crowd cheers at the victory.

When the smoke clears, "Battleguard King" is still on the field, trapped in the balloons. It lets out a loud roar. Yuzu asks why this happened. Ishijima reveals that he activated his own Action Card, "Miracle", which was the same card Yuya used earlier. Nico exclaims that the Champion did not let them down as always. Ishijima says this is all there is to Yusho's Dueling as he leaps from the castle tower and activates the Continuous Trap Card, "Battleguard Rage". When he takes damage, he can have a "Battleguard" monster he controls gain 2000 ATK. Frustrated that he missed the win, Yuya ends his turn. Ishijima continues that "Wonder Balloons" wears off, allowing "Battleguard King" to regain its original ATK. "Battleguard King" destroys the balloons surrounding it, increasing its ATK to 5000. Yuzu exclaims that not only did "Battleguard King" return to normal, it got stronger than before. Ishijima says this is the beginning of Yuya's requiem and starts his turn. Yuya turns around and starts to run away. Ishijima says Yuya won't get away and orders "Battleguard King" to attack "Odd-Eyes". As he tries to escape, Yuya sees an Action Card on a tree, but before he can reach it, "Battleguard King" brings its club down on "Odd-Eyes", destroying it and sending Yuya flying. Yuya is pitched to the ground as his Life Points fall to 400. Ishijima, standing on the hand of "Battleguard King", tells Yuya that "Battleguard Rage" returns a monster destroyed by battle with "Battleguard King" to its owner's hand instead of sending it to the Graveyard. He then activates "Battleguard Magic", allowing him to gain Life Points equal to half the ATK of "Odd-Eyes". This restores him to 4000 Life Points, much to Yuzu's surprise. Ishijima continues that "Battleguard King" can only attack monsters twice, allowing Yuya to survive for another turn. He Sets a card and ends his turn.

Ishijima urges Yuya to start his turn and draw a card. He also offers Yuya a chance to surrender, turning tail and running away just like his father. Yuya yells that he will never run, but stops and realizes he has all monsters in his hand - "Stargazer Magician", "Performapal Whip Snake", "Performapal Sword Fish" and "Odd-Eyes Dragon". He is unsure on what to do. Back at the stands, Yuzu mutters Yuya's name as Gong, Yoko and Shuzo watch. Yuya starts to doubt himself - he calls the situation hopeless and wonders if he has what it takes to take his father's place. He recalls the words Yusho said to him during his childhood. Rejuvenated, Yuya begins his turn and declares, "Swing pendulum! More and more!" as he draws "Timegazer Magician". Yuya's pendant starts to glow with a blue light. Yuya's cards, "Timegazer Magician", "Stargazer Magician" and "Odd-Eyes Dragon", are also surrounded by the same light. Surprised, Yuya watches the Monster Cards transform into half-orange, half-green cards with twin effect boxes and widened art frames - Pendulum Monsters, while "Odd-Eyes Dragon" transforms into "Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon". Yuya continues his turn, placing "Timegazer Magician" in the left Pendulum Zone and "Stargazer Magician" in the right Pendulum Zone. As he does so, the word "Pendulum" appears on his Duel Disk. Both of Yuya's Pendulum Monsters are surrounded in pillars of light as they rise up and an an enlarged version of Yuya's pendant appears between them. Yuya explains that he can Pendulum Summon monsters between Levels 2 and 7, as the Pendulum Scales of "Stargazer Magician" and "Timegazer Magician" are 1 and 8, respectively. Ishijima asks what's going on. Yuya chants, 「揺れろ、魂のペンデュラム！天空に描け光のアーク！」　"Swing, pendulum of souls! Draw an arc of light across the ether!" as a portal appears overhead and three rays of light burst through. He Pendulum Summons "Performapal Whip Snake", "Performapal Sword Fish" and "Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon". Yuzu, Shuzo, Gong and Yoko are stunned by the turn of events as Yuya stands before Ishijima, determined to defeat him.

Yuya Sakaki vs. Gong
Duel already in progress.

Yuya has 4000 LP remaining, no cards in his hand, and controls in Attack Position and 1 Set card.

Gong has 2600 LP remaining, 4 cards in his hand, and controls and  both in Defense Position and no Set cards.

Gong Tributes "Blue Brawler" and "Swordsman" to Tribute Summon in face-up Defense Position by its effect. Yuya activates his face-down "Hippo Carnival", Special Summoning three to his field.

Due to the Solid Vision machine breaking at this point, the Duel ends with no conclusion.

Yuya Sakaki vs. Strong Ishijima
At the start of the Duel, the Field Spell Card "Frontier Fang Castle" is activated, as per the rules of an Action Duel. It will allow the players to use Action Cards, but they may only have one in their hand at a time.



Yuya Normal Summons.

Ishijima draws "Battleguard King". He activates "Feast of the Wild LV5", letting him Special Summon two Level 5 Warrior-Type monsters from his hand, but their effects are negated. He Special Summons and, both in Attack Position. Ishijima Tributes both of them to Tribute Summon. "Battleguard King" attacks "Hip Hippo", but Yuya finds and activates the Action Card "Avoid", which negates the attack. As "Battleguard King" was Tributed Summoned using at least 1 "Battleguard" monster, it may attack again, as long as the attack target is a monster. "Battleguard King" attacks "Hip Hippo", but Yuya finds and activates another Action Card, "Miracle", preventing its destruction by battle and halving the battle damage (Yuya: 4000 → 2900 LP). Ishijima Sets 1 card.

Yuya draws. Yuya activates "Wonder Balloons", which allows him to send cards from his hand to the Graveyard to place a counter on it. Yuya finds and sends three Action Cards (two "Avoid" and a "Miracle") to the Graveyard, placing three counters on it ("Wonder Balloons": 0 → 3 counters). Yuya activates the second effect of "Wonder Balloons", sending it to the Graveyard and targeting "Battleguard King" to decrease the latter's ATK by 1000 for each counter "Wonder Balloons" had until the End Phase ("Battleguard King": 3000 → 0/1100). "Odd-Eyes" attacks "Battleguard King", but Ishijima activates the Action Card "Miracle", preventing the destruction of "Battleguard King" and halving the battle damage (Ishijima: 4000 → 2750 LP). He then activates his face-down "Battleguard Rage" as he took battle damage, targeting "Battleguard King" to increase its ATK by 2000 ("Battleguard King": 0 → 2000/1100). At the End Phase, the effect of "Wonder Balloons" expires ("Battleguard King": 2000 → 5000/1100).

"Battleguard King" attacks and destroys "Odd-Eyes Dragon" (Yuya: 2900 → 400 LP). Due to the effect of "Battleguard Rage", "Odd-Eyes Dragon" returns to Yuya's hand instead of going to the Graveyard. Ishijima then activates "Battleguard Magic", increasing his LP by an amount equal to half the ATK of a monster returned to the hand (Ishijima: 2750 → 4000 LP). Ishijima Sets 1 card.



Yuya's hand contains "Odd-Eyes Dragon", "Stargazer Magician", "Performapal Sword Fish" and "Performapal Whip Snake". Yuya draws "Timegazer Magician". Yuya's pendant transforms "Stargazer Magician" and "Timegazer Magician" into Pendulum Monsters and transforms "Odd-Eyes Dragon" into "Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon". Yuya places "Timegazer Magician" in the left Pendulum Zone ( 8) and "Stargazer Magician" in the right Pendulum Zone ( 1). Yuya Pendulum Summons, and  from his hand in Attack Position.

Featured cards
The following cards appeared in this episode. Cards in italics debuted here.