Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.32 Part 1/4 (Memory World Prologue)

Back on track, it took me longer than I expected to write this, not because of the number of panels, how the weeks have been going, lots of things have been slowing me down, which happens, many times...After this post, so when I will have time to post the next one (since scanning the pages I want is almost over..., so then I edit), and all I have to do is write.
Plot Summary:

Memory World Arc begins with Sugoroku Mutou (Yugi's grandfather) in his early fourties around the 60s in the Valley of the Kings accompanied by two siblings grave robbers, they speak about a specific tomb where the legendary game called "shadow games" happens, it is a tomb of a nameless pharaoh...
They rest a little for when the night comes, so they won't be seen at night to enter this royal tomb...
When they enter the tomb, in the start, not much happens, until they arrive at the entrance of a labyrinth, one of the grave robbers unlock a hidden trap, the entrance is closed, with spikes and the same for the walls side by side of the entrance and starts moving on it's own, so they're forced to enter the labyrinth with moving statues if you make the wrong move, you die or severely injured, if is the right one, it stays still.

Sugoroku and one grave robber survived, the other was killed by the moving statues for rushing, all that is left is to walk over some stone slabs laid down with sculptings of monsters as a bridge, Sugoroku passes by peacefully, when he is almost reaching the end, the grave robber from far behind who hadn't entered the bridge yet, shot Sugoroku on the shoulder from a gun he was carrying hidden, he entered this bridge and was swallowed by one of the monsters summoned from the stone slabs on it's own, while Sugoroku hanging to his life on the edge of the monsters's stone slabs bridge, when he wonders if this is the end, then an image or spirit of a young man who looked like a pharaoh who called Sugoroku a different name and "help" to get up and he reached the last room with the millenium puzzle inside the golden box...

30 years later or so, Sugoroku thinking about Yugi's fate and role with the millenium puzzle, it's revealed that after school, Yugi is going to the museum, so that Dark Yugi can start his quest to recover his lost memories, as he thinks about this, Yugi's grandfather enters his room and asks to see one more time to see the god cards, so there is a bit of a discussion to an important conversation (which  Sugoroku reveals he knew all along about the pharaoh soul that Yugi is hosting and his grandfather giving a warning and advice to Yugi about his role not only as a vessel of the pharaoh soul but also as the chosen one by the Millenium Puzzle...).


Key Points:

 

This is happening 30 years before the present now, when Sugoroku was in his early forties, this is pretty much about how Sugoroku Mutou got the Millenium Puzzle backstory, I think is a great way to open into the journey to the quest of the lost memories of the nameless pharaoh.

The conversation about the special tomb, the one as referred as that it has "shadow games", the mention of this team of archaeologists that this grave robber spoken about is probably the same one Sugoroku mentions in the beginning of the series, they're going to the Valley of the Kings, the graveyard of pharaohs of Egypt New Kingdom period, the way one of the escorts speaks of the special tomb as "that tomb", it implies the name of the pharaoh of this tomb is unknown, because no archaeologist was able to reach the point of where it reveals his name...

 

I have to say, Sugoroku in his forties was pretty handsome, you can see some similarities to Dark Yugi and Yugi as well, but his expressions is more Dark Yugi's inclined.

These two men escorting Sugoroku are grave robbers, because of the stories of mentioned tomb, no other grave robber ever tried since many have died already, including archaeologists, so they're only going with Sugoroku Mutou to rob the tomb, because Sugoroku being a professional gamer and him being interested in this game called "shadow games" inside this tomb, in order words, he will be the one doing the games leading them to the hidden treasure, you can tell in the panel when he says he is not interested in the treasure, you can tell he is bit suspicious of the grave robbers escorting him...you see the one who have been silent, the one his right side is hiding something prepared for Sugoroku...


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Blog news and suggestions

Blog News:

I am almost finished re-reading for the second time (I said first I would re-read twice), going to re-read the ceremonial duel in a while (in one hour and half or two), then I put bookmarks on the pages I considered most important, scan them, edit them from pages to panels I consider important, I do edit on Photoshop (I use this software a lot not just for this, wallpapers, avatars, etc).
Usually this process takes 1 day and while writing the draft takes longer, but this time will be a little different, since I want to do it justice, the process explained above will be the longer this time, because the format for this arc will be each volume will be divided in 2 or 3 or 4 parts/posts, depending on the intensity and information, it will still have plot summary+key points.


Suggestions about the manga series:

I found something that might be helpful to those who may not have enough money, in case thinking that collecting 38 volumes would take long or don't have enough space for it, I'm sure many of you know about 3 in 1 volumes editions for Yu-Gi-Oh! (it's basically 3 volumes of a manga series in one book), but there is usually the problem about the shipping costs when buying online, so what if I told you I know a online bookstore that sells worldwide with no shipping costs and is usually cheap?

If you're from Europe and the european country currency is → € , then you're in for a treat, each of the 3 in 1 costs around 10-14€ (to give you a scale, but in the website if you use a different currency, you can change without paying) , so far there is 11 volumes of these "3 in 1", volume 12 will come out next month, 7th November 2017, the last one being volume 13 will be out in 10th February 2018.

Book Depository: Yu-Gi-Oh! 3-in-1 Editions

The only one downside from this online bookstore is that sometimes takes a bit of time, the maximum 1 month for the delivery to arrive (I think it happens in special occasions like the holidays and stuff), the fastest has been 1 week and 1 day for me at least, lately it has been 1 week and 2 weeks (the most common time it takes to arrive).

If you intend to buy it from this online bookstore, I have some advices to give you:
- to properly count when it arrives, don't include the business days, you have to pay attention to two emails, "the order confirmation" and "your order is on it's way", is the last one you have to count to 1 week or two onward (do not include weekends since there is countries where mails doesn't come on Saturdays);

- sometimes you pay VAT, but max is 2€ and minimum is less than 1€, but since they give you the price with the VAT before even buying, so do not worry and free shipping...;

-In each envelope they always offer you a bookmark from the website.

Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 12 (Epilogue of Battle City)

Now it has reached the end of Battle City and Duelist Section of the manga series too, next up is...Millenium World.
Speaking of Millenium World Arc, this one will be done in a bit of different progress format since I will be covering 7 volumes and is heavy plot focus, so I intend to re-read twice the last 7 volumes, so it will take while for when the first post about this arc to be published...


Plot Summary:

After being announced Dark Yugi as the victor of the duel, the gang congratulate Dark Yugi, the Ishtar family have an important reunion and conversation about their current situation and future onward, while this happens, Kaiba himself congratulates Dark Yugi too and Mokuba takes the chance to remind them about the ante-rule, Marik gives the Ra god card to Dark Yugi and finally fulfil his last duty as the heir of his clan of the tomb guardians by showing the carvings in his back (the revelation of the location of the pharaoh's memories) and gives his own millenium item (the Rod) and then Bakura's Ring and informs Dark Yugi that his friends who were under his penalty games will come back conscious (Ryou Bakura and Mai) together with the main villain Yami Bakura...After this, Kaiba announces that the Duel Tower will self-destruct in one hour, so they hurry up to the Battle Ship and find Ryou and Mai already awaken (while pulling a little prank on Jounouchi)...
With 20 minutes missing, Kaiba's employees aren't finding the Kaiba brothers while themselves are getting ready to leave but differently from the others, when it misses few minutes, the Battle Ship takes off...while Alcatraz is self-destructing and the Battle Ship already a bit ahead but worried about Kaiba...then islater revealed that they are flying on a fighter plane, surprising almost everyone...while Kaiba brothers are going to America, the others are coming back to Domino City...Battle City ends with Dark Yugi and Jounouchi about to start their duel in the streets of the city...


Key Points:

 

While the gang went to congratulate Dark Yugi, in this scene inside his own thoughts by thanking his friends and his cards, then that he owes to all of them, he is someone who relies on emotional support a little too much, he's not mentioning Yugi here, who he owes the most and Kaiba, but since he already thanked Yugi twice during the duel, there was no need, as for Kaiba...will be approached a little more ahead in this post...

There is other part of this scene I would like to point out is when Dark Yugi asks Anzu if she has her own mind back, this is the first time we see him actually initiate it with Anzu, since in their dynamic is usually vice-versa, I only say this because he never asked when it came to Ryou being controlled by Yami Bakura even though they can tell, but sometimes Yami Bakura can hide it well, what I mean with this is that currently Dark Yugi sees her as a closer friend (before the "date" event, he was a little distant when talking to her) not to the same extent and comfortability he has with Yugi and Jounouchi but is getting there.

If you want to continue read click "read more" bellow:

Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 11 (Dark Yugi/Yugi VS Yami Marik Part 2/2)

At last, we're in the last volume and the last part of this insane long duel, then next post is the epilogue of battle city, we're almost over the "Duelist" section of the manga series (the last volume technically of "Duelist"), Volume Duelist 24 (in japanese print volume 31), I'm feeling a bit excited, this posts has been really slow on being published for being longer, even the breaks...



Plot Summary:

After the revelation of the special conditions of the duel to those who are watching, Dark Yugi and Yugi are still determined to save Marik and Marik himself wondering why they are hesitating in order to find a way to save not only Yugi but Marik too...there is some discussion between Yugi and Dark Yugi come up with an idea in how to defeat only Yami Marik and saving Marik...
The plan is almost about to work but there is one problem, Ra special ability when the player fuses with Ra to take away the LP into ATK points until leaving 1 LP left for the player and Marik not having enough willpower to live, Dark Yugi and Yugi hesitates because the risk is very high, but the situation changes when Rishid arrives at the top of the Duel Tower after he woke up, he speaks to Marik by inspiring him to help restore Marik's willpower with enough to survive Yugi and Dark Yugi next attack, possibly weaken Yami Marik, Dark Yugi putting his faith on Marik to survive his attack, he gives the blow that decides Marik's fate, after the attack, Marik survived and their positions have been switched, Marik became the main player and Yami Marik being the "sacrifice", with only 1 LP left, Marik decided to surrender the duel, with this Yami Marik is gone, Dark Yugi and Yugi officially won the duel.


Key Points:

 

Marik does feel guilty not just about his father's death, put putting revenge on people who didn't deserved it, he is implying the pharaoh in truth that it didn't comes from Pharaoh idea or anything, also he is very moved that they're actually trying to save him and defeat only Yami Marik.
Now this is when it comes one of my favourite scenes of the series and my favourite of this duel, Yugi is advising when they have to focus and not give up of finding or creating a solution for this problem...


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 10 (Dark Yugi/Yugi VS Yami Marik Part 1/2)

Now we're going to make the transition from volume duelist 23 to 24 (japanese print is volume 30 to 31).
I have finally reached the last duel of Battle City to be seen and read and being the last one before we enter the Memory World Arc, this duel like Dark Yugi VS Kaiba, it will be divided in two parts because it could take the full volume to have this one duel...is that long...
The summary is be a little long while the key points will be less than the previous post, but it's still long...
It will take awhile to get through this duel, not only because is divided in two parts, the number of focused panels is bigger, but even after the duel, there is still the epilogue (you can count that it will be long as well).



Plot Summary:

The duel begins with Yami Marik turn, but before he starts the first turn, he makes the duel into a shadow game, he shows Mai inside a pyramid of glass being consumed by darkness, Dark Yugi seeing this, he panics a little and Yami Marik reveals that this shadow game uses "human sacrifices", in this case the vessels (Yugi being the spirit of the pharaoh host and Main Marik being the one who created Yami Marik inside his subconscious), so if the player loses LP, depending on the amount of lost LP, parts of their body will be consumed to the darkness...when it reaches 0, they die.
The first part of this duel, Yami Marik constantly has the advantage and informs the mysterious disappearance of Ryou Bakura was caused by him, sometimes Dark Yugi can turn the tables, while both Dark Yugi and Yugi try to figure out in how to save Marik and targeting only Yami Marik.
Throughout the duel, other events happens, when the duel is getting dangerous for Marik himself, he is reaching a point being very close to disappear being all that left is his split personality, so Marik makes an effort to speak to Rishid telepathically while Rishid being in coma and revealing his sacrifice that he is willing to make to pay for his mistakes and apologizes to Rishid...as to what is left of main Marik leaves Rishid's room, sometime later, Rishid awakens, Marik gains control of Anzu to inform Dark Yugi about his decision and reveals to the spectators who can't see the shadow game about the special conditions inside this shadow game...


Key Points:

 

I have to say, this shadow game is of the highest level and dangerous too, that is kinda shocking at first... but is more to the characters, specially the ones who are experiencing it as Dark Yugi and Yugi case...

The way Yugi reacts being used as "human sacrifice" is very curious because he is shocked and asks:

"Wh-what's going on...?"

At first one would think Yugi wasn't watching, remember Dark Yugi was shocked and concerned too, worried and panicking a little, Yugi is questioning why he is part of the shadow game when usually he isn't except the ones he said he wanted to fight (monster world and against pegasus), Yugi was not expecting this neither was Dark Yugi, it's clear this isn't the usual shadow game...

What's interesting to note here is that the price in this shadow games is slightly similar to when Yami Marik fought Yami Bakura, based on their life points, the body starts to disappear, this time around is the players have the same kind as the common players not chosen by millenium items, but is the sacrifice get through with their body disappearing, the vessels, so this is "hardcore" shadow game and seems to be painful too...at first we think is Dark Yugi and Yugi who are going through this...

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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 9 (Duel Tower Break Part 2)

Currently this little project is on volume duelist 23 (volume 30 in japanese print), now it's a break, but even this break before the duel between Dark Yugi and Yami Marik will be long, small summary but the key points... are long as well.

Plot Summary:

After Kaiba vs Dark Yugi duel is over with Dark Yugi winning, there is some discussion between them, what aided Dark Yugi to victory and Kaiba to his loss...Kaiba still feeling slightly irritated and bit down...and starts to leave and Dark Yugi realises that his friends were already for sometime, because Jounouchi didn't want them to disturb the duel so Dark Yugi wouldn't lose concentration, as they celebrate their victory but also wary for the next duel being against Yami Marik as Jounouchi warns Dark Yugi that Yami Marik is truly a sadistic opponent to the point is dangerous.
At the same time happens, Kaiba is about to leave the Duel Tower to activate the detonator to destroy the man-made island in two hours to give enough time for when the duel is over to leave the Akcatraz before it self-destructs and Ishizu is there waiting, both have a long conversation, Ishizu trying to persuade Kaiba to help Dark Yugi/Yugi in defeating Yami Marik, somehow he is convinced but not totally on Ishizu effort but a certain decision she makes if her brother can't be saved...

Key Points:

I have several views about this, this panel is expressing the main reason of why Kaiba lost, due to Kaiba attitude in winning based on negative emotions such anger, hatred and obsession, those emotions won't get you anywhere and clouds your judgement not just about games but life too.

However it always bugs me in stories like these usually seems to mean, you win because you were right and lost for being wrong, you know, black and white, but in Yu-Gi-Oh! is not really the case, just sometimes is the case, in this duel for example, it doesn't really what you usually see, it's like the duel between Dark Yugi and Kaiba in Duelist Kingdom, none of them were right being more desperate to win and afraid to lose but weren't wrong either fighting for loved ones, it explores moral conduct, dilemmas and emotions from a competitive perspective.

Dark Yugi's tendencies with his self-righteousness, he hold views a bit of black and white when it came to competition before, as he gradually learn and grown as an individual, in this panel does seem he is seeing things black and white, as I go further in the key points, you'll see it's not the case.

 

Kaiba is incredibly dramatic, it's okay Kaiba, you might not be crowned as king of duelists but you can be crowned as Drama King, it's more fitting...

In all seriousness, Kaiba does have a tendency in taking things too far, specially with his obsession, he does easily get carried away with his emotions, even more than Jounouchi, which is saying something, specially negative emotions mixed with his competitive trait, just isn't healthy, it would lead him to his fall sooner or later, this defeat will be important for him to learn something important...


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 8 (Dark Yugi VS Kaiba Part 2/2)

Now we're reaching the last part of this duel and make the transition to the next volume, Volume Duelist 22 to 23 (Japanese Print 29 to 30), now we're one volume away from going to Memory World Arc, it's definitively getting closer.
Now the posts publishing speed is coming back to normal, thank goodness...this post took so long to write (the summary may be small, but the key points aren't).


Plot Summary:

Kaiba and Dark Yugi still reflecting on the visions and coming to their own conclusions, the back and forth between them starts and both of them discuss about the vision and more, it reaches the point when it seems Kaiba is taking the lead, Dark Yugi driven to a corner...Jounouchi spirit appears behind him and given him an advice, that Dark Yugi and Yugi has given to Jounouchi before...Dark Yugi becomes inspired again, right after this, Jounouchi recovers from his clinical death condition, he is perfectly fine, even physically (remember it was mental damage, not physical damage), the gang are relieved he is alive and both will go to the top of Duel Tower to watch the rest of the duel, again Kaiba and Dark Yugi have a important talk about Kaiba's views...and ends in Dark Yugi victory.

(the summary is small, but there is many key points).



Key Points:

 

This scene, it's Dark Yugi slowly confirming and transitioning to acknowledge he is an entity and identity of his own, being separated as a consciousness of his own, differentiating from Yugi's own consciousness too (I think from here on out, he won't take credit of Yugi's decisions), becoming more determined in recovering his memories.

Kaiba's reflective thoughts are highly amusing sometimes, specially under mystical circumstances for what he has a sceptical attitude with, the flaw in Kaiba and probably most people who have such or similar attitude, such the sceptical and believers or religious have similar reactions and perceptions such being occult or magic or supernatural is something with no logical explanation, however where it differs is the attitude and chosen mindset, believers is being something beyond human comprehension, while scepticals is if there is no explanation, it doesn't exist and is just product of our own imaginations.

Due to Kaiba upbringing of high education from his foster father Gozaburo, his circumstances, naturally an individualist has grown to be sceptical, he is sceptical about trust too except for Mokuba, so he is struggling, to some extent he is right, it is an illusion but from someone's memory of this event, the memory is real but in shape of an illusionary world, from the looks of it, but there is more to it than that.


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 7 (Dark Yugi VS Kaiba Part 1/2)

As it insinuates in the title, this duel will be covered in two posts, because the events it happens during this duel is huge, last time I did with a duel of this scale was Dark Yugi and Yugi VS Pegasus (the difference is it was all in one post, back then I did say to myself, next time something like this happens, it will be in two parts), so there.
This duel is pretty long, the entire duel could fit in one volume if it could, but in this duel, the transition to the next volume comes in part two...that's how long it is...so we will be staying yet in Volume duelist 22 (Volume 29 in japanese print).
It took long to publish, lots of interventions...

Plot Summary:

After the little talk, Kaiba finding the site for their "ultimate duel" is too drab, so he activates a virtual stage, then they start their duel with lot of back and forth by testing each other and see who will be summoning their god cards first...When their god card are both in the field, it can be seen from the distance inside the battle ship of how huge these monsters cards are in size, Ishizu is watching while being at Rishid's side, Honda noticing, he grabs Jounouchi and holds him and puts him on angle so Jounouchi head is facing the window, in case he wakes up and sees this, as this happens, the ECG moved a little...
While Dark Yugi and Kaiba are in a position when both god cards are equal in power and attack at the same time making a huge blast and with this the Millenium Rod starts glowing on it's own plus the Millenium Puzzle, so Kaiba and Dark Yugi have an out of body experience, watching a memory of the pharaoh and the priest, almost everything looks destroyed, you see a priest looking a lot like Kaiba speaking to the Pharaoh, who looks almost exactly as Dark Yugi and both start summoning their ace monsters from the stone slabs, the vision ends, both of them are back with shocked expressions while holding their breaths from the intense experience, emphasising the importance of their duel was always meant to happen.



Key Points:

 

Kaiba really loves to go big...specially when it comes to his rival, created a virtual stage just dedicated to their duel to decide who will be "the ultimate duelist" -.-", good grief with this guy but serves to show how hyped he is for this duel in particular, so the site of the top of the duel tower is only too drab for their duel...not for others, his standards are so ridiculous...
It's clear to see where he sought inspiration, based in Rome Colosseum on the gladiators times.

Dark Yugi is getting hyped as well, figuratively thinking as what represents sword and shield, I do mostly agree, until it reaches pride, my usual problem with pride, well they are very intense characters when it comes to convictions and competition...(Kaiba is mostly intense in general).


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Unboxing : Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Side of Dimensions DVD (Manga UK)

Sorry for taking so long to show this...it did arrive in 9th June from Amazon...

The quality is ok, from my smartphone, sorry for being, um, stretched...  I have forgotten to point something that I noticed only later after I have done the video, you can actually remove the cover, with the backside having Kaiba and his "alternative Blue Eyes White Dragon" and frontside being the cover and back cover (I'll scan it after I'm done with the Manga and start moving to Dark Side of Dimensions).

 

Before finishing this post, I would like to confirm to you that the subtitles are pretty fine and has with the characters original names and everything (I don't know about the english dub, but because I find it cringy, I didn't go check it. But I really like the cover, it's very nice, I don't about the Obelisk card though, so it will remain inside the DVD, wish would have been "Mahado" card, oh well.

To end this post, "Thoughts and Observations" about Dark Yugi VS Kaiba, will be divided in two posts/parts, take some time to be published, specially Part 1, since I still have visitors at my home.

See Ya Next Post!

Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 6 ( Duel Tower Break Part 1 )

This time around is the rare occasion when a break makes the transition between two volumes instead of the duels making the transition, so we're going from volume duelist 21 to 22 (in japanese print is 28-29), which means 2 volumes to go before we enter the Memory World Arc...this "break" will be unexpectedly long...be aware.
Once again, it took a bit of time 😒 for the same reasons stated in the previous post, the next post will take time too...

Plot Summary:

The last summary post ended with Jounouchi losing consciousness, friends and Jounouchi's sister shocked and in distraught finding out that he isn't breathing, later they take to the medical room in Battle Ship, and not having any reaction, in other words, clinically dead...Shizuka was crying, Honda not believing himself , Anzu was shocked and depressed, Ishizu being comforting to Shizuka, Dark Yugi is so deeply shocked that he is in a contemplative state of mind and tries to find sometime alone to sort his emotions and thoughts in deciding what to do now, suddenly ...as he is reflecting and feeling indecisive, suddenly he feels Jounouchi's presence at his side and this presence disappears, then the millenium tauk given by Ishizu which was supposed to be weakened after her duel with Kaiba starts glowing and shows a vision of a future after the tournament he sees himself preparing to duel against Jounouchi...this vision has given him hope to keep fighting and moving forward.
Dark Yugi comes back to Jounouchi's medical room and puts Jounouchi's duel disk on his arm, who hasn't given up on him yet and is aware Jounouchi is fighting too, as he walks away on the way to his fight with Kaiba, Anzu feeling distressed about the current circumstances about their friends (Mai, Ryou and Jounouchi) follows Dark Yugi and both have a very important talk, when Dark Yugi reaches the top of the Duel Tower, Kaiba still waiting for their duel and have a little discussion, their duel is about to start.


Key Points:

 

For everyone is a shock seeing Jounouchi unconscious, specially friends scared for his life due to the penalty game being death...even Yami Marik is shocked but not for the same reasons as the others...Kaiba may look expressionless but looking at his eyes...hmmm is not shock...

The art in this aftermath is quite impressive, I love the work from Takahashi on this break.

How rude 😠 ! and conceited plus arrogant, the major flaws of Marik's personality right there, his realisation of almost losing to Jounouchi makes him throw up a little... but then again treating Jounouchi as if he is a peasant and himself as if part of some nobility, I think that kind of mindset is the disgusting one, Jounouchi may not be born a natural for this kind of things, but he worked hard for it and earn it.


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 5 ( Yami Marik VS Jounouchi )

So we have reached Yami Marik VS Jounouchi, volume duelist 21 (in Japanese print is volume 28), wow...Memory World doesn't look so far off now.

The post itself will be long due to the importance of this duel, sorry for taking this long, lots of relatives coming and go simultaneously...


Plot Summary:

After they reached the top of the Duel Tower, the match between Yami Marik and Jounouchi will start shortly, there is some talk between Kaiba, Dark Yugi and Jounouchi about the following match...

The duel starts with Jounouchi first, when comes Yami Marik's turn, the shadow game will begin, there are some discussion and responses to this, right off the bat, Jounouchi starts to experience the same kind of torture in the ears Mai got it through, feeling more motivated to defeat Yami Marik.
Jounouchi gets to fight back against Yami Marik moves and the shadow game, so there is plenty back and forth with some Jounouchi comical flavour.
For two times Jounouchi was very close to winning against Yami Marik, mostly because he underestimated Jounouchi, the first time after with Jinzo turn on the tables on Jounouchi's favour and lastly because of the attack from Ra god card in phoenix mode to destroy all the monsters in the field and the shadow game, takes it's toll on Jounouchi's mental resistance, somehow Jounouchi can stand up slightly and has vision of the finals if he could stand up to the end of the duel, Jounouchi summons subconsciously "Gearfried the Iron Knight", when he almost sent his monster to attack directly Yami Marik, Jounouchi loses consciousness.


Key Points:

 

According to Yu-Gi-Oh! lore, normal people can't truly control a god card much less the Ra god card unless those who were chosen by the millenium items and tomb guardians, Divine attributes cards in this lore are special kinds of cards who chose their wielders ( reminder: the Nordic Gods in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, in its lore they're Divine attributes cards while outside of anime, in other words, OCG, they have different attributes being Dark, Light and Earth), I do disagree with the way Kaiba is phrasing of Jounouchi not being worth to touch a god card, I don't think these kinds of cards doesn't pick their wielders by their worth exactly, but more by connection and resonance, besides Jounouchi has a different kind of value, who doesn't need to be treated like a special snowflake like the gods cards are and do...

I think Kaiba can be a little hyperbolic when comes to games (or most of the time, xD), Ra god card special effects surpasses mortal thought...so over the top, but I do agree is overpowered.


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 4 ( Battle Royale )

Now starting the transition from volume duelist 20 to 21 (27 to 28 in Japanese print), It's about the battle royale happening to decide the matchup of the semi-finals, so I will focus on "true duelist" subject and it's influence on Jounouchi's character development plus slightly on Dark Yugi, Kaiba very little...this post will be a little big.


Plot Summary:

The judge starts explaining the rules of this battle royale and how influences the order of the matches and the matchups, basically if the player uses good strategy, they can choose the opponent they wish to fight.

There is a lot of back and forth in the battle royale, Kaiba focusing on attacking Yami Marik and Jounouchi so he can fight with Dark Yugi first before Yami Marik (because of Ra god card), Yami Marik is somewhat indifferent but will focus on Dark Yugi due to main Marik have wanted to kill him for so long, Dark Yugi is Jounouchi but displays in an overprotective manner, while Jounouchi is facing a dilemma between his promise with Dark Yugi/Yugi and saving Mai, through Kaiba provocations to Jounouchi and Dark Yugi, Jounouchi made his decision on focusing Yami Marik.
When Dark Yugi sees Jounouchi at a disadvantage, he feels undecided who to attack in order to keep his promise with Jounouchi until Jounouchi himself interrupts and tells him what he have learned so far and convince Dark Yugi to attack him and is aware he is the one who is at the most disadvantageous situation, with this it goes on Yami Marik going first in the gondola, then Jounouchi who sacrificed himself to be second to climb the gondola, lastly Kaiba and Dark Yugi.



Key Points:

I'm a little surprised that Anzu didn't notice, but Honda is unusual to say such a sharp fact, I can assume he understands about the overall on the subject of competitions, also he is quite right because the other two, Kaiba and Yami Marik will help Dark Yugi since Dark Yugi tends to be the centre of attention and interest among competitors and also the competitor can choose who they want to duel with or choose an opponent who they have a better chance of winning, so it's pretty much a big mind game as Honda says.

 

Jounouchi feels he is in a dilemma to choose between his first opponent to be Dark Yugi in order to keep his promise and Yami Marik to save Mai, to me is a bit difficult to understand why is a dilemma, because the two mentioned burdens doesn't hold the same weight, I would be okay if it did hold similar weights, but the truth, in this case, it doesn't, someone's life to save ( be it a friend or a stranger ) should be top priority over a promise with a friend...someone will unintentionally "help" cast away Jounouchi's doubts...


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 3 (Finals Destination: Alcatraz Island)

This will be the last post covering volume duelist 20 (vol.27 in Japanese print) alone, next post will be this volume and the next volume covering the Battle Royale.
In this post, Dark Yugi and Yugi plus Kaiba will have a lot of focus, so be ready, the plot summary will be small but the post itself there is plenty to approach in detail.


Plot Summary:

While Ishizu is helping Marik in saving Rishid, Kaiba is still analysing and studying in order to find and create methods to overcome Ra god card, Mokuba is concerned about Kaiba still not having started to sleep and discuss with his brother about where the finals will be held in a man-built island full of high-tech called Alcatraz Island, previously built and owned by Gozaburo Kaiba, the stepfather of the Kaiba siblings and previous president of Kaiba Corporation...
Yami Marik comes back to Rishid medical room and discovers Rishid is gone, meaning Marik through Anzu and Ishizu saved Rishid and hidden him on time from Yami Marik.
As the night still going, Yugi is having some difficulties to sleep and reaches the corridor of the two souls rooms between his and the millenium puzzle, Yugi is sensing something strange from Dark Yugi's room soul, it's the first time he is entering his room, he finds out that Dark Yugi's room soul is a maze and is deeply impressed by his room soul, Yugi hears Dark Yugi's voice from behind surprising him and moreover start discussing about Dark Yugi's soul room being a maze...and someone is eavesdropping their conversation...
As they're closer to reach Alcatraz, the night is over and the participants and cheering squad starts waking up, Kaiba claims to himself that he found a way to overcome Ra god card...
When they arrive Alcatraz Island and in front of them there is a tower which Kaiba named as Duel Tower, Kaiba reveals some details about his past related to Gozaburo Kaiba and Alcatraz Island, the participants and the gang walk towards the tower to see how the order and the matches will be decided.



Key Points:

In the same manner that was in previous posts showing moments of Kaiba vigorously studying and analysing Ra god card, even though Kaiba is very talented, extremely intelligent, you could even say, a prodigy but he is a hard worker and very dedicated to his goals, he is a very single-minded individual, which explains why he is intense about most things.

 

In these panels reveals what Kaiba Corporation previously was before becoming a game company, it was a company related to military equipment with a purpose of creating militaristic technology, Kaiba Seto, destroyed the former company to rise from it in order to create a new one, the kind which is linked to what he loves, games.
Mokuba mentions the Duel Tower which Kaiba built on Alcatraz Island as a symbol of  Kaiba Seto's decision of making as his own kind of company when he took over KaibaCorp...


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 2 (Yami Marik VS Yami Bakura and Marik)

Even though this duel isn't a tournament official duel of the finals, it's still not a selection of matches or the main matches.
I'll still be covering the same volume, vol. duelist 20 (vol.27 in Japanese print), there will be a little less focus on the duel, except maybe for the god card Ra, this will be a small post.


Plot Summary:

The Shadow Duel (as they like to call it) between Yami Marik and Yami Bakura is about to start, the rules in this shadow game are by each life point you lose, your body and soul are consumed into the darkness...
The duel dynamics, there is plenty back and forth since is between very skilled players, Yami Bakura is very close to win again, Yami Marik turns his tables around with the most powerful special power of Ra, Yami Bakura is defeated and leaves with a message related to what he truly is...while the main Marik being in such desperate situation when the part of himself was in Ryou Bakura disappeared, he came back to the part of him still in Anzu to ask his older sister for help to save Rishid from Yami Marik.


Key Points:

 

According to what Yami Marik is saying, there are special kinds of shadow games for those chosen by the millenium items...a millenium shadow duel (makes a cool name), if you think about the one Dark Yugi fought with Pegasus are these specials kinds as well, even though the duel between Dark Yugi and Yami Bakura is the only exception so far of not having a shadow game...even though they're both spirits sealed in the millenium items...

 

Again I'll say it, it's curious seeing two important villains to the plot clashing against one another, the other funny thing is that they're both sadistic and have the same kind of tastes when it comes to a thrilling game and both are excited for this kind of duel, their dynamics are very entertaining.


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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.27-31 Part 1 (Prologue of the Semi-Finals)

Okay, I have finally reached the finals of Battle City, it feels closer to the Memory World Arc now, I'll be covering 5 volumes from here on out, volume duelist 20-24 (in Japanese print is volume 27-31), I think these volumes will be a little challenging for me, since the main duels of the finals are long, specially Dark Yugi VS Kaiba and Dark Yugi/Yugi VS Yami Marik.
To make a proper prolog of the finals, this post will deal with the aftermath of the story of the tragedy of the Ishtar family.

Plot Summary:

After Ishizu told the tragic story of her family, everyone has a bit of talk about the future duels that coming the next day and it's revealed that when Ishizu lost to Kaiba, the powers of the millenium tauk was weakened since Kaiba changed the future result of the duel, the gang were shocked and impressed, Ishizu gives her millenium item to Yugi and confirms to him a part of the conditions of the vessel of the pharaoh and now she did her part in accomplishing her mission as a tomb guardian.
While the gang goes to their rooms, Anzu catches up to Ishizu to ask an important question to get an answer she is suspicious of...after this there is some conversation between Yugi and Dark Yugi before Yugi sleeps.

Yami Marik prepares himself to kill Rishid but suddenly his arm which he was using doesn't move because of the Millenium Ring power and reveals that Yami Bakura is back but accompanied by the Main Marik to stop Yami Marik in general and from killing Rishid, they challenge Yami Marik to a duel in form of a shadow game...before the duel starts there is a small discussion between Yami Marik and Main Marik.


Key Points:

This particular scene, it confirms the gang hasn't told anything to Yugi or Dark Yugi about Mai's condition, the ones who know is Anzu and Jounouchi, they probably haven't told the other two(Yugi and Dark Yugi) to not put them in a pressure, since they do tend to take responsibilities, especially Dark Yugi to save everyone.

Also, we see Jounouchi made a decision to be himself this time to save his friend, to not put this kind of responsibility on Yugi/Dark Yugi, and a part of him probably feels responsible for thinking that his dream has hurt her feelings.

 

This scene bugs me a little, the beginning of this section of panels, when Jounouchi tells Yugi that he hasn't forgotten their promise (to the both of them), Yugi's response is where it starts to bug me, even though I love his character (mind you, he is one of my favourites) and wish to become more independent, getting stronger, still has some low self-esteem issues which I'm fine with because he is progressing mostly on his problems, but seems there is a block for him to evolve further...

"Yup! Battle City isn't over until we have a real duel! The other me is looking forward too!"

This phrase can give multiple interpretations, so it's a little weird, there is a bit of selfish wish on clinging in referring to Dark Yugi as "the other me", even though he and the gang is well aware he is an entity of his own, he could refer to him as "spirit of the puzzle" or "puzzle spirit", maybe it feels too troublesome and want to keep this way while he is a vessel until he gets his memories and remembers his real name, there are other possible additional meanings as well, that being Jounouchi will duel against them separately, which is very likely, it's pretty normal Yugi speak on behalf of Dark Yugi and himself separately like this as participants and duelist, of course, Dark Yugi is attentively listening.

Shizuka, you can see she is a bit mischievous and likes to tease her brother a little like the gang, if you look at it, the ones who likes to tease Jounouchi the most are Kaiba (obviously), Mai, Anzu, Honda, Ryou Bakura and a little from Dark Yugi (in the ending of Duelist Kingdom arc when he insinuates he wants to duel against him in a teasing manner) and Shizuka, it seems Yugi is the only one who doesn't tease him, actually Yugi doesn't generally tease anyone due to his personality.



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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.20-26 Part 17 (The Tragedy of the Family Ishtar)

This is the epilogue of the semifinals, since is mostly about the family Ishtar's backstory from Ishizu perspective, I thought the title I given above would be more fitting for this post in particular.
I'm still covering volume duelist 19 (26 in japanese print), but will be the last post about these 7 volumes I have been covering, after this post I will be covering the last 5 volumes duelist and is  primarily about the finals of Battle City (then after will be the very tough and exciting for me to write about, Millenium World/Memory World Story Arc).
I find quite surprising how much I had to write about this one volume, but volume duelist 20 will be similar with 3 posts to cover, then at the end of volume duelist 20 will have a duel transition between 2 volumes again and the following volumes until volume duelist 24 (volume 31 in japanese print).


Plot Summary:

The previous post ended with Kaiba's victory and Ishizu learning from her defeat, since the last duel of the semi-finals is over, they will have a break and to sleep, while the Battle Ship taking them to their next destination, the gang decides to check up on Mai, when they reach the entrance of Mai's room, Ishizu appears to them asking if she could join them since Yami Marik left her in critical condition, there is discussion about the events in the semi-finals, driving Ishizu to tell the tragic story of her family from her perspective...

It begins with Ishizu explaining some of the traditions of the heir of the main family of the tomb guardians in protecting the location of pharaoh's memories and the millenium items, one of them being the heir can't go to the outside world, forced to live underneath until is presented to the pharaoh about the location on his back...
One year after the rite of the tomb guardians, the 11 year old Marik begs Ishizu authorisation to accompany him to the outside world for a small amount of time behind their father's back, Rishid support Marik in effort to convince her that he will look out for in preventing their father to discover their walk in the town close by...they finally persuade her.
The plan in the beginning seems to be working, Marik and Ishizu are walking around town, Ishizu is still concerned that their father might discover and feels is time for them to go and they meet a mysterious man whose name they don't know with Ankh necklace and wearing a turban (Shadi), he speaks to them like a prophet about the fate of the tomb guardians...Ishizu recognising this man has a millenium item and knows about the tomb guardians, Marik being still a child is curious and sharp about the man, she starts worrying in panic, she tries hurry them up to go home...
When they arrive at home, Ishizu finds in the entrance there was trap planted to let their father know if they disobeyed them...Ishizu grows more worried and scared and finds Rishid has been taken with Marik's room in a mess, they find their father harshly and physically torture Rishid in attempt to the death as punishment and tells his children they will be punished after he is done with Rishid...
When their father thinks he has killed Rishid (when he lost consciousness), Yami Marik comes out and says thanks for getting rid of Rishid, picks up the millenium Rod, refusing to obey his father, uses the Rod power to imobilize his father and then his sister Ishizu and Yami Marik kills their father, when he puts their father's skin back (where it has also the same scars as Marik has on his back) over Rishid's back, Rishid starts to wake up, Yami Marik retreats back to Marik, Marik not conscious of his split personality doesn't know what happened and he is shocked seeing his father dead and the mysterious man (Shadi) appears again and claiming that it was the soul of the pharaoh who drove to his death...



Key Points:

Ishizu is picturing who is the most likely to save her brother, if you look at the panel at how she is displaying a image of who she thinks can save her brother, from small to bigger chances, she thinks Dark Yugi is the most likely to save him, I find interesting that she emphasises Jounouchi a little more than Kaiba, probably due to them being more good-natured than Kaiba, she can only pray and put faith in them.

 

Kaiba may act reserved, he is reserved in some aspects but he is very expressive of his ideals and his competitive trait, Dark Yugi on the other hand, he is very reserved, rarely takes initiative unless necessary or deeply wishes for something (when is touched on his sense of justice, protective nature or wishes to duel against someone very much such as Kaiba, Jounouchi and Mai - remember he wished her best to win to her before her match, it's extremely rare for him to go to the person and say this), this scene may look like they're fated rivals, Kaiba is the one who sees this way more strongly and single-mindedly, he wants to fight Dark Yugi only, while Dark Yugi is more evolved in this part, he sees Jounouchi and Mai as rivals, friendly rivals, he hopes for Kaiba to be the same way, bit by bit he is seeing Yugi as rival too, similar way he has with Kaiba.

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Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.20-26 Part 16 (Kaiba VS Ishizu)

This post will be mostly standard size, I am still covering volume duelist 19 (volume 26 in japanese print)
There will be a bit of duel focus, but more towards Ishizu and Kaiba character development plus the plot progressing and a bit of the lore of Yu-Gi-Oh!.


Plot Summary:

The duel looks like is Kaiba in the lead but then in the end due to Ishizu's millenium tauk and special kind of strategy which makes it hard for the player to predict, since isn't visible, Kaiba uses deck destruction combo, however is later revealed being a trap by Ishizu which makes Kaiba's and Ishizu's decks and graveyards switching positions, putting Kaiba be the one in huge trouble almost feeling discouraged but Dark Yugi gives some encouragement and somehow he turn it around by succeeding in summoning Obelisk even though was sneakily encouraged by Ishizu with a trap spelled on Obelisk once it would attack, it would destroy itself together with Kaiba life points, when Kaiba was about to launch an attack while having an sharp intuition something very bad will happen if he attacks with Obelisk...Millenium Rod acted on it's own glowing and gives to the one truly chosen by the Rod, Kaiba, a out of body experience by seeing a memory of the millenium Rod that is connected to Kaiba, he sees a man in egyptian clothes on his knees holding a woman in his arms and feeling strangely sad, as if sensing the defeat that is coming if he attacks with Obelisk, suggesting to summon and attack with Blue Eyes, Kaiba trusts this vision and follows it's suggestion, he summons Blue-Eyes White Dragon, shocking everyone, specially Ishizu since it wasn't in her future vision shown by the millenium Tauk.
Kaiba changed the future by a hair with a little help from the memory of the millenium Rod and won the duel and Ishizu accepting her defeat gracefully and tells Kaiba she learnt something from her defeat and the duel itself.



Key Points:

Anzu knowing how powerful millenium items and real they are due to their experience with them, Jounouchi has the funniest reaction to what Anzu said, it's somewhat relatable, we have moments of this kind of indecisions when comes to plans and investments.

Dark Yugi knows Millenium Tauk is real due to his neew enemy has the last millenium item prediction and is very well aware that Millenium Items are powerful magical artefacts that is best to keep vigilant...
Mokuba's reaction, is a bit curious, due to his experience being in a soul prison from Pegasus's Millenium Eye and the penalty game by Dark Yugi from the millenium puzzle, watched the rest of the duel in person of Yami Marik VS Mai, so we see he is vigilant and conscious Kaiba is fighting someone with a Millenium Item while analysing the Ra Card.

Since Ishizu always wear most of the duel a neutral expression and has a formal, calm and composed posture,  making it hard to guess what is she planning and her dueling style is unusual too, being that at first she really doesn't reveal it right off the bat her style, making it harder to predict and guess, she is a player you have to be careful from the beginning, you see from Kaiba and Dark Yugi reactions that she has the qualities of a player who is hard to decipher.

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My First Impressions of Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Side of Dimesions (SPOILER FREE)

I won't write any details not even what happened in the story, you have the synopsis around the internet, this just what I think about the movie in general and to how much extends to the main story in general of Yu-Gi-Oh!
I watched in japanese with english subtitles, around the internet but I will buy the DVD licensed by Manga UK...
I think the movie was quite amazing but it has it's drawbacks which left me a little disappointed and left a bit more to be desired.
The story was pretty much the best part of the movie, to anyone who have watched the anime japanese version with subtitles will get the gist of the story in general, but the ones who read the manga of the series on the other hand, the experience of the movie will be extended, the movie is definitely is the expansion of the story of the manga as it been advertised, you can really see and feel the vibe that it was Kazuki Takahashi telling the story, it's to be assured is his style as well.

Now the duels, they were great except how they ended...
Character development felt unfinished, specially for Kaiba (his over the top personality is hilarious but his narrow-mindset pisses me off).
The ending was good but...it was what made things feel and left unfinished.

The spoiler version will be in "Thoughts and Observations", since is the expansion of the manga together with the one-shot Transcend Game, It will be then when I go in detail after I'm done with the manga, since I will reference a lot of my posts about the manga in Movie Thoughts and Observations.

Thoughts&Observations | Mangá Vol.20-26 Part 15 (Battle Ship Break Part 3)

I will focus on two things in this post, Jounouchi and the reveal of the eighth duelist...
This post will be quite small, even the summary, covering volume Duelist 19 (volume 26 in japanese print) for 3 posts, this one and the next two (Ishizu VS Kaiba and The Tragedy of Family Ishtar), then will go to the finals, we're getting closer to the end of Battle City Arc.

*/: I mean Dark Yugi and Yugi , it takes long and the html goes weird when I do this: "&"

Plot Summary:

While Dark Yugi/Yugi* are unconscious (It's still Yugi's body that was hit), Yami Marik asks the referee to declare him the winner since he won the duel, after is done, Yami Marik goes to Mai, Jounouchi in effort to stop him and can't move by Yami Marik through his millenium rod claiming he will deal with Yugi (in general) when they have their shadow game and continues to move closer to Mai to give her penalty game from the shadow game.
The Penalty Game Yami Marik gives to Mai is inside her mind with Hawai-like place in a beach and Mai's self imprisoned inside a hourglass with a god card blocking something from flowing down, when he removes the card, some weird scorpion shaped creatures with an eye symbol on top starts flowing over Mai, Yami Marik tells her she will have a slow death, in 24 hours she will die...and he leaves.
The moment Yami Marik left Mai's mind, shadow game is lifted, Mai falls, immediately losing consciousness with her eyes open...Jounouchi noticing Yami Marik put Mai under a Penalty Game and asks what he did to her, Yami Marik replies if he himself isn't killed or defeated in 24 hours, Mai will die, Jounouchi feeling angry and claims he will defeat Yami Marik.

Dark Yugi/Yugi  recovers consciousness and asks if Mai is okay, Jounouchi replied Yami Marik put her under a penalty game however didn't say it's details, so Dark Yugi and Yugi doesn't know about the 24 hours time limit to save her...and Mai was sent under medical care.
Kaiba gets himself ready for his duel in the Duel Arena waiting for his opponent in the Semi-Finals...the eighth duelist revealing itself to the other contestants and spectators being... Ishizu Ishtar.



Key Points:

I find this scene kinda funny, you can tell the judge was a bit disturbed by what he just saw, even Yami Marik had to remind him to announce the winner being him.

 

This is the next setup for Jounouchi character development and improvement on his skills and he got for the first time the scent of facing the power of a millenium item individually while in general he experienced for the first time was in group.
As for Dark Yugi unconscious when is Yugi's body...one would think, if Yugi's body hit to a point it would knock someone unconscious, because it was Dark Yugi taking over, it would switch to Yugi, but it didn't, it applies to Yugi as well since it was his body...

What Yami Marik is creating a setup in this story arc, Yami Marik VS Dark Yugi and their duel will be a special kind of shadow game and the last one...Yami Marik states because Jounouchi doesn't wield a millenium item or connected to them, so he doesn't see him as a threat.

Anzu being very conscious and aware that Yami Marik is very dangerous, also having a good intuition can sense he is quite twisted, she is feeling protective and concerned for both Yugi and Dark Yugi, she knows Yugi's tendency to be selfless, someone who is selfless usually gets to be the most hurt, now Dark Yugi is following his example mixing with his protective nature with selflessness, you see she worries a lot when she sees people making selfless actions.

 

There is some interesting details to note just in this panel, Takahashi-sensei puts some interesting attention to detail in a symbolic manner, Yami Marik states this space is inside deep in her mind, it indicates the millenium Rod is similar to the power of millenium Ankh, the differences are the access in different spaces of the individual self, the Rod gives the access to the mind and manipulate it, while the Ankh is access to someone's room soul and manipulate it's room, but the process is what makes it similar.
Mai's mind reflects her lifestyle and the past she left behind, at the top of the hourglass you see Casino references from the time representing her former job as a Casino Dealer and at the bottom you see a tropical beach with a sloop in it's background, mirroring her love to travel and specially to tropical places, with no buildings, she likes calm and relaxing places plus the sea along with a little adventure.


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