#cyber angel benten | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hopefulstarfire · 1 year

Text

I wrote this snippet a little while ago and did some editing but ahaha I'm Unwell about these two all the time and this scene has been on replay in my head along with everything surrounding it and what comes after this so um yeah just enjoy. Be warned this is very depressing and Iris is at her wits end so uh yeah.

Iris draws her next card; Cyber Angel Izana. It's the ace in the hole in this match. She could sacrifice her Benten on the field and her Bountiful Artemis in her hand for a ritual summon. She could attack twice, getting rid of the two tokens on Alisters side of the field, while Idaten and Vrash took out the Sky Fortress Ziggurat and what was left of his life points.

She can end this here and now, and save herself.

He'd lose his soul. He wouldn't be able to march down the path she sees ahead of him; the self destruction, the willingness to do whatever it took to take out her brother, simply for his last name and his relation to one of the biggest monsters to the world had ever known. Maybe it would be a mercy to keep him from hurting himself, because it wouldn't give him the vengeance he so desperately wants, because the people he wants it against are gone and she made damned sure of that. It would keep them safe.

Yet she hesitates. Her hand won't move to play the Machine Angel Ritual she has; it trembles but will not budge. Her voice betrays her, catching in her throat and silencing her from calling out her play.

Her gaze locks onto him. The red burning in his silver eyes -- the ones that used to soften just looking at her, even if only for moments alone -- cut her deep in her soul. He stands tall and at his full height, unflinching and unwavering. He crosses his arms over his chest, the scowl never leaving. He's put on his mask -- if it's really a mask, if any part of the man she knew was even real -- and he won't budge.

She thinks of their times together; the hangouts at the bookstore, driving to their spot just outside of town and enjoying the quiet, the weekend get away to the cabin, them, just them. She thinks of the way his hand felt in hers, the warmth of being tangled up in his sheets on a rainy night and refusing to move, how his presence kept her calm, and his snarky attitude always brought a smile to her lips.

He's still the man she loves, even after all this. He's still the father of the baby she loved and lost.

Her heart aches.

The memories of the Big 5 flash through her mind, the determination to stop them and keep them from ever hurting her family again. They all went to great lengths to keep it happen, but the feeling of rage she felt as she bashed the computer to pieces after they escaped Noa's world, or telling the doctors there was no quality of life and to pull the plugs on them after the VR incident doesn't escape her.

She's had enough blood on her hands.

Iris is exhausted.

"Well? Come on," Alister snaps, his voice detached and cold. "We don't have all night, Iris. Make your move."

She can't.

Iris let's out a shaky breath, closing the cards up in her hand. Her gaze doesn't break from his. "I may not be able to save you from yourself, Alister," she says slowly, fighting hard to keep her voice even. "But I won't be the one to destroy you, either."

"What--"

Her hand finally moved and it hits the top of the Duel Disk without hesitation.

"You win."

#yugioh #ygo #my writing #trouvailleshipping #iris mcginnis #yugioh alister #amelda #tw baby loss #tw self sacrifice

4 notes · View notes

magpiejay1234 · 1 year

Text

So, Asuka’s Cyber Angels. Before we talk about them, we need to talk about the Cyber Girls first.

The original Cyber Girls were EARTH Warriors focused on Fusion, and Tribute Summoning. Their presence in the greater Cyber archetype was obviously a reference to Asuka’s connection to Ryo (this connection is reminded on Ryo’s end by Cyber Pharos, a later support for Cyber Dragons). Their designs, and effects were largely a homage to Mai’s Amazoness cards, which become relevant in the context of GX(Tania), and ARC-V (Tyler Sisters).

But everybody knows, after the duel with Titan, Asuka realizes Fusion is not the way to go, and adopts Titan’s Ritual Summoning to her own. Her Main Deck Cyber Angel is now based off retrains of early Fairy-Type monsters, with her new secondary mascot, Cyber Petit Angel, being a retrain of Anzu’s Petit Angel. And since she now cares about Judai now, her monsters shift to being references to Judai’s monsters, and cards instead of Ryo’s.

****

For Cyber Angels we need to need to divide them separate them into three groups, the GX ones, the ARC-V ones, and the post-ARC-V ones. The GX ones, and the ARC-V ones are largely based off Buddhist gods, whereas ARC-V ones are based off Hindu gods, since ARC-V already has tons of Buddhist references.

****

For GX ones:

**Cyber Angel Benten’s Kanji name, 弁天, Benten, references Benzaiten (shortened as Benten), the Japanese Buddhist version of the goddess Hindu goddess, Saraswati, consort of Brahman the creator god. The Kanji 弁 either means petal or speech (similar to Melodiouses’ naming pattern I guess?), and 天, ten, means heaven, but is used as the suffix for standard Kanji naming of Buddhist gods.

Benten’s effect’s reference is one of the most obvious. It is the same as Flame Wingman (and base, non-Pendulum Odd-Eyes Dragon), but with DEF instead of ATK.

**Cyber Angel Idaten’s Kanji name, 韋駄天, Idaten, references Idaten, the Japanese Buddhist version of Skanda, a bodhisattva that protects Buddhist temples. He is a presumably historical person who is venerated as if he is a god, without actually being one. Idaten is one of the genderbent Cyber Angels, and there is more to come. I don’t know what 韋, means in Japanese Kanji, it is almost always used in reference to Buddhism (though in Classic Chinese it means tanned leather), 駄 means of low quality, but also a packhorse, likely alluding to Idaten’s speed, and we already discussed 天, ten.

Idaten’s effect is a bit more obscure, it is based off Judai’s Skyscraper.

**Cyber Angel Dakini’s Kanji name, 荼吉尼, Dakini, references Dakiniten, the Japanese Buddhist version of Dakini, the female corpse eaters in Hinduism. The Kanji 荼 is used to transliterate Hindu terms, but on its own, it references Ixeridium dentatum (the flower reference again...), 吉, ki, means good luck, and 尼, ni means sister, but here it means Buddhist nun.

Dakini’s effect is probably the most obscure one, it is based off Elemental HERO Plasma Vice, and its ATK/DEF are 100 higher than Plasma Vice, which is supposed to represent that Asuka now surpasses Judai from the past, but Judai at the Season 4 is basically a demi-god, so...

***

As the final comments, the original GX Cyber Angels have more mechanical designs. The later Cyber Angels will have more organic designs. This is likely because original Cyber Angels are meant to be an updated reference to Buddhist self-mummification, with elements of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and The Six Million Dollar Man added in.

***

For ARC-V ones:

*Cyber Angel Vrash’s Kanji name is 美朱濡, Vishnu, references Vishnu, but as I posted earlier, this is a non-standard Kanji. 美, bi, means beautiful, 朱, shu, means vermillion, or red, 濡, nyu, means wet, but can euphumeristically mean sex. As I said in the previous post, this is likely not just a funny dirty joke (though congratulations for ARC-V team passing this sh*t pass the radar), but also references of Fusion used as a metaphor for sex in GX, and ARC-V a la Steven Universe.

Vrash’s statlines reference Judai’s Neos Wiseman, and Vishnu’s fused form with Lakshmi, Vaikuntha Kamalaja, is likely the connection with Yubel. Its Extra Deck monster destruction effect references the upper tier Neos Fusions (Chaos Neos, Storm Neos, Rainbow Neos), and its effect activation negation effect references White Night Dragon, Asuka’s boss monster from her brainwashed Duel against Judai in GX Season 2.

Vishnu is shown generally with a lotus (allusion to Yuzu’s Bloom Aria, and Yubel’s Samsara Lotus), and four arms (allusion to Mieru’s Tarotrei).

*Cyber Angel Natasha’s Kanji name, 那沙帝弥, Nasateiya, references Nasadiya sutta, though the monster itself references Kalki. The Kanji is non-standard. The Kanji 那, na, means what or which, and it is used in replacement of the Kanji 奈, which is used in Buddhist concept of Naraka(basically Hell), 沙, sa, either means sand, or one in 100 million, 帝, tei, means sovereign, but in the context of Yu-Gi-Oh! it means Monarch, and 弥, ya, means either go across/cover, widely, extensively, increasingly, or for a long time/forever. So it means something like “What does the Sand Monarch cover?” or “How long will Sand Monarch last?”, as I said before, the Sand Monarch here is likely Leo, since Duel Academia is a fortress built on a Pacific Island, his empire is literally, unironically built on sand.

Natasha’s LP drain effect is likely based off Judai’s Draining Shield, its attack negation effect is likely based off Negate Attack (abused by Judai back in GX), and the control switch effect is a likely reference to Judai’s Mirror Gate. Its statlines reference Judai’s lesser Level 5 Fusions.

Natasha’s artwork features a weird Valkyrie armor, either as a allusion to Siegfried’s Valkyries, or to Mai’s Dunames Dark Witch, or Yuzu’s Valkyrie monsters (Solo, Bloom Prima). Her mask is based off OG Supreme King’s Evil HERO Infernal Gainer’s mask, it is almost a perfect copy.

***

The ARC-V Cyber Angels don’t use standard Kanji, instead go for punny names. Their more organic designs also deviate from original Cyber Angels, though that is expected, since that is the case for all returning archetypes in ARC-V.

The main reason of existing here is because they were not printed back in GX era, so they got printed with the new support. But also Ben Kanji in Benten’s name likely created a connection with Yuzu’s Melodious, with the “sound is flowers” pun going there. As such, Asuka’s ARC-V monsters more closely resemble Melodiouses (and to lesser extent Mieru’s Prediction Princesses), than Ryo’s Cybers, or Judai’s Elemental HEROes.

Natasha’s design basis, Kalki, is also references Reira’s role in the ARC-V finale as the Kalki of Ray, in addition to reference of Asuka being Yuzu’s temporary salvation, and metafictional predecessor.

****

Post-ARC-V one:

*The only one here is Cyber Angel Izana’s Kanji name is 伊舎那, Ishana, is based off Hindu god Ishana (which is believed to be one of the avatars of Shiva), which is adopted in Japanese Buddhism as Ishanaten. Interestingly Izana’s design seem to be based off Ishana’s consort in Japanese Buddhism:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishana

Īśānī is Īśāna's consort. According to the Secret Storehouse Records (祕藏記) she is flesh white in color and wields a spear.

For why she is named as Izana, as a reference to Izanami/Izanagi in TCG:

According to the Ainōshō, there is a theory that this deity is synonymous with Pāpīyas as well as the Shinto deity Izanagi. The Jinnō Shōtōki also states that there is a theory that the names of Japan's primordial creator gods Izanagi and Izanami are the same as the Sanskrit names Īśāna and Īśānī.

The Kanji 伊, I, doesn’t mean anything on its own (though it means something like you or this in Classic Chinese), 舎, means house or inn, 那, na, is the same as above. So I guess it means something like “Is this your house?”, even though it is meant to be the classic transliteration of Ishana.

This card’s statlines, and effect is based off Idaten, though its multiple attack is based off Elemental HERO Wildedge. Interestingly, this card is more of a parallel to Serena’s Lunalight Leo Dancer, since it was released in same set as its reprint (Duelist Legend 4/Sisters of the Rose). Card destruction effects are based off Idaten, but they might also be inspired by Glow Neos, who also wields a spear.

***

Bonus speed round: Machine Angel cards and Ritual Sanctuary:

*Machine Angel Ritual’s Kanji name is 機械天使の儀式, Kikaitenshi no Gishki, which literally means Ritual of the Mechanical Angel. 機械, kikai refers to the Kanji name of Machine-Type, but literally means Mechanical/Tool, 天使, means tenshi, angel (as in the Fairy-Type), の, no, means of, 儀式, Gishki, means Ritual.

*Machine Angel Absolute Ritual’s Kanji name is 機械天使の絶対儀式, Kikaitensei no Zettaigishki, which literally Absolute Ritual of the Mechanical Angel. The only new Kanji is, 絶対, zettai.

*Incarnated Machine Angel’s Kanji name is 応身の機械天使, Oujin no Kikaitenshi, features 応身, which means nirmanakaya, a concept in Buddhism that means:

https://jisho.org/search/%E5%BF%9C%E8%BA%AB

nirmanakaya (response body, form taken by a buddha according to the capabilities of those who are to be saved)

So it can be translated as Mechanical Angel’s Response Body.

*Merciful Mahine Angel’s Kanji name is 慈悲深き機械天使, Jihibukaki Kikaitenshi, 慈悲深き is a corruption of 慈悲深い, jihibukaku, which means merciful. The suffix き, ki means past tense, so this means Formerly Merciful Mechanical Angel, because the artwork shows Izana in Buddha pose, so this is you, the player, encountering Izana in the Samsara cycle after death. 慈悲, Jihi, literally means compassion, but it refers to Buddhist concept of Karuna. 深, is read as bu here, but actually is spelled fu, and means deep (though it can be apparently read as shin, ie. death).

*Magnificent Machine Angel’s Kanji name is 荘厳なる機械天使, Sogon’naru Kikaitenshi. 荘厳, sogon, can mean grim, stern, sublime, or solem, and なる, means to attain or to become/transform. So it means something like Mechanical Angel Attaining Solemnity.

*Ritual Sanctuary’s Japanese name is 祝福の教会－リチューアル・チャーチ, Shukufuku no Hikai - Richuaru Chachi. The Katakana, リチューアル・チャーチ, is Ritual Church. 祝福, Shukufuku, literally means blessing, but specifically refers to blessings from God in Christianity, 教会, Hikai means church, but specifically refers to Christian Church. So it means something like Church of Holy Blessing - Ritual Church. Peak American Protestantism right here.

****

Other things of note:

*Integration of Shinto-Buddhist-Hindu gods might confuse you, but don’t worry, vast majority of major Shinto Gods are believed to be originating from Hindu Gods, with others being later Chinese additions. Local Gods are largely disconnected from this, though, obviously.

*Isao’s Idaten the Conqueror Star is written in Katakana (覇勝星イダテン, Hashousei Idaten, Victory Star Idaten, lit. Conqueror Victory Star Idaten). This Idaten is written in Hiragana.

*Something I didn’t talk about in the Melodious post, the ha/ka (flower) Kanji used in Melodious is also found in terms relating to ascension/Samsara cycle, which likely ties into whole “Eternal Recurrence” concept that ARC-V uses, which Nietsche adopted from Buddhism/Hinduism/Asian mythologies and their connection to Indo-European myths in general. Because you know, the pendulum swings and back forth, and a theatre play is repeated the same way always with slight differences etc. There is a lot more going on there, since that is the fundamental thesis statement of the show, this is going to be a recurring theme (ha!) in ARC-V related archetypes. (It is also present GX Season 3, and Aporia’s pieces, but both GX, and 5D’s reject circular time theory. ARC-V, on the hand, goes full ham with it.)

Edit: Miswriting, it is Mirror Gate, Mirror Wall is Mai’s card.

#shitposting #ygo random thoughts #ygo kanji names #cyber angel #asuka tenjoin #alexis rhodes

5 notes · View notes