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Was the plan to revive Nemesis just a retcon?

Doji - Going after L-Drago… and Dr. Ziggurat creating Spiral Force. So then, everything that we did before was all part of our ultimate goal, of reviving the God of Destruction, Nemesis. Pluto - And the one controlling Hades Inc. from behind the scenes was I, the descendant of King Hades himself! Kyoya - What’s going on? Madoka - So everything that has happened has all been connected to revive... Gingka - ...the God of Destruction. Episode 134

Introduction

If you watched the Metal Saga, you might think that this exchange is relatively strange and makes little sense, as it appears the two events (L-Drago and Spiral Force) have very little connection to the revival of Nemesis. Not only that, but the goals of Doji and Ziggurat seem to be different from the one stated in this conversation: Doji wanted to power up and use Ryuga and L-Drago to control the world, and Ziggurat wished to sell Spiral Force and influence the world through his inventions.

Now, does that mean this is a retcon? Not necessarily. I wanted to analyze what we know about the Hades cult members, the prophecy of Nemesis, and the different events of MFB, and then propose hypotheses and explanations that might make more sense of the claim that “everything is connected” to the revival of Nemesis.

Facts:

Doji and Ziggurat are corrupt men who want to use the power of Beys for their own benefit.

Doji is a liar, a manipulator, and likes to please his master (whoever they are).

Doji was sent to retrieve L-Drago by Ziggurat and Pluto: in episode 87, Ziggurat refers to "us" when talking about the L-Drago plan and "I" when he speaks about his personal goals, hinting that another person was involved.

Doji and Ziggurat had their own personal goals that came into conflict with another purpose (possibly the revival of Nemesis). Still in episode 87, Ziggurat said that Doji "lost sight of the true goal" and then goes on to describe his ambitions of taking control of society using Beyblade.

We don’t know what they intended to do with L-Drago: Ryo theorizes that Hades Inc. wanted to use it as an energy source.

Pluto is obsessed with King Hades’s prophecy and wants it to be accomplished.

The Hades cult knows how the legendary Blader will be chosen (four seasons and solar system).

Hades’s prophecy is: "A new light will become a new pit of darkness. When that time comes the true destruction will begin." Dynamis said that: "When a dazzling glow lights up the earth from the heavens, a new star fragment will arrive and awaken a great power."

Dynamis is able to more or less read the future by looking at the sky. He was able to predict/calculate the date of the arrival of the star fragment.

Pluto seems to have supernatural powers as well and often looks at the sky.

Pluto thinks King Hades wanted the destruction of the world:

"I don’t know how you define good and evil… but my excitable young friend, we only want to correct the history that Zeus changed. [...] King Hades tried to use the power of the Black Sun, hidden within Nemesis to guide the entire world toward the proper future. [...] If being destroyed by the God of Destruction was to be the world's fate, then that was what King Hades desired." — Pluto, episode 134

Nemesis has absorbed the power of corrupt people using the power of Beys:

"Gingka - So people who want to use the power of the star fragment for evil, like Doji and Ziggurat, have always existed, am I right? Dynamis - And each time the battle between good and evil is fought again, Nemesis has been secretly absorbing the power of those evildoers and preparing for its own revival." — Episode 123

Hypothesis 1: Translation mistake

I originally thought it could be the result of a bad translation. Maybe the true translation actually says something that doesn’t impact the show continuity as much. However, I quickly found out it wasn’t the case. In most dubs I watched, Doji said the same thing that he did in the English dub:

Spanish (original and translated):

"La búsqueda de L-Drago y la fuerza espiral creada por el doctor Ziggurat. En resumen, todo lo que hicimos antes era parte de nuestro objetivo final: el renacimiento del dios de la destrucción, Némesis."

"The search for L-Drago and the Spiral Force created by Dr. Ziggurat. In summary, everything we did before was part of our ultimate goal: the revival of the God of Destruction, Nemesis."

French (original and translated):

"Quand nous recherchions L-Drago, et lorsque le docteur Ziggurat a créé l'énergie spirale, tout ça, tout ce que nous avons fait auparavant faisait partie d’un même plan qui nous permettra de ressusciter le dieu de la destruction, Nemesis."

"When we were searching for L-Drago, and when Dr. Ziggurat created the Spiral Force, all of that, everything we did before, was part of the same plan that will allow us to resurrect the God of Destruction, Nemesis."

Japanese (translation, take it with a grain of salt):

"Back when we were trying to get our hands on L-Drago… when Dr. Ziggurat created the Spiral Energy... Yes, all our objectives were focused on reviving the God of Destruction."

All versions clearly connect previous actions—searching for L-Drago and Spiral Force creation—as parts of a single overarching goal: reviving Nemesis.

Hypothesis 2: L-Drago and Tempo were substitute

The idea is that instead of reviving Nemesis, to fulfill what Pluto perceived as King Hades's wish of destroying the world he wanted to use a another bey.

Strengths: It ties all three events together without impacting the goals of Doji and Ziggurat. Considering their corrupt nature, they could have simply double-crossed Pluto and the cult to get what they wanted. Doji said to Ryuga that he was a "fool to believe that you [Ryuga] could [...] have been any sort of replacement for [...] Rago."

Weaknesses: This theory contradicts the idea of the events actually happening for the sake of Nemesis’s revival. It would only have accomplished part of the prophecy (the destruction of the world). The Spiral Force was stable and didn't immediately threaten to destroy the world until Ryuga blasted Hades City. Doji's words to Ryuga could be only about Doji who, in Fusion, personally wanted to replace Ryuga with Rago in order to have a less destructive version of Nemesis. It could also have been provocation.

Hypothesis 3: Pluto can see the future

This hypothesis is based on the fact that Pluto would be able to predict the steps needed to revive Nemesis, which would explain why those events are linked together—they were, after all, necessary to lead to the revival of Nemesis.

Strengths: Pluto is the descendant of King Hades, who made a prophecy that almost happened. Pluto seems to have supernatural powers, and Dynamis also has some foresight abilities, so why not him as well? It justifies the fact that Pluto would be behind Hades Inc. as the mastermind. If you think about it, the events of Fusion and Masters lead to Nemesis’s resurrection: L-Drago was revived, and this led to Battle Bladers, which itself laid the ground for the World Championship, which allowed Ziggurat to create Tempo and the Spiral Force. The light of the Spiral Force that Pegasus brought into space gave the light of the prophecy. In addition, by keeping Doji by his side, Pluto had a way to influence Ryuga (one of the Legendary Bladers of the Four Seasons that can make Zeus’s Barrier) to complete Nemesis.

Weaknesses: It has never been confirmed that Pluto indeed had such power. The only time he shows supernatural abilities is because Dynamis wears the collar of his ancestor. In addition, building a master plan on foresight alone seems like narrative convenience, and it alone doesn't erase the fact that Doji and Ziggurat's plans have little in common with each other. They seemingly betray the cult, and those plans have a somewhat loose connection and impact on Nemesis’s revival. If Pluto has foresight, then it must be really precise and convenient.

Hypothesis 4: Pluto is a fanatic and let Doji and Ziggurat do what they wanted.

The idea is that the events aren't actually connected, but Pluto, being delusional and obsessed with the prophecy, sees them as such—because that's how a religious fanatic works, seeing meaning where there may be none. Pluto had a specific, unknown goal for L-Drago, but Doji, being corrupt, did what he did in Fusion for his own benefit. The same goes for Ziggurat in Masters. Pluto saw these plans as necessary steps for the revival of Nemesis because his whole life is dedicated to King Hades’s prophecy. So, he believes everything he does will lead to this outcome—and he isn’t entirely wrong, because Nemesis absorbs power from evildoers, so at least it becomes stronger. This is probably why he uses corrupted men like Ziggurat and Doji: he knows they will feed Nemesis power. He probably knows they could betray him, but it will be meaningless since the prophecy is absolute and will become true.

The idea of Pluto being a fanatic and obsessed about the prophecy is shown in how he reacts after Kenta beats him, and also in how he deified his ancestor—when in reality, Hades was more or less a prehistoric Ziggurat.

Then why would Doji say that “everything is connected”? Probably because Pluto told him that’s how he sees things, and Doji, being a yes-man, took this reality as his own and told it to Gingka to destabilize them. In addition, it is solely Doji, and not Pluto, who says everything is connected; Doji could very well be lying at the moment just to please Pluto.

Strengths: It doesn't contradict any previous events. It is actually a theory that fits well with the personality of each character. Furthermore, the plan and explanation don't rely on supernatural explanations but on corruption and fanaticism, which seems more interesting.

Weaknesses: This theory relies heavily on Pluto being delusional and on the personality of his associates. In addition, events like L-Drago’s retrieval and the Spiral Force’s creation don't really fit so neatly into Nemesis’s revival, making it feel like a convenient excuse rather than a solid plan. It also doesn't specify what the original use of L-Drago would have been.

Hypothesis 5: Pluto used Doji and Ziggurat to empower Nemesis

The theory is based almost entirely on the revelation Dynamis makes in Episode 123. Each time a corrupt person tries to use a bey for their benefit, a battle ensues and Nemesis can absorb energy to grow stronger. I believe that Pluto and his cult, perhaps even before the start of the story, used corrupted individuals similar to Ziggurat and Doji, giving them the tools to realize their ambitions so they could feed Nemesis energy. This would not directly help the God of Destruction revive, but it would make it stronger once its revival was complete (at least this is how I understood it). And, as I said, for Pluto, the prophecy is fated to happen. Finally, Pluto could obviously have revealed all this to Doji.

Strengths: This doesn’t contradict the timeline. It gives a good subtext of evil being nurtured by evil people. It helps to connect the two plans. The sense of the sentence is preserved because giving energy to Nemesis would be part of the plan, not the entire plan itself.

Weakness: It overrelies on what Dynamis said in one episode.

Conclusion

The plan to revive Nemesis can seem like a retcon, and in some ways, it does appear to be one. Though with some mental gymnastics, you can identify some possibilities that could justify Doji's claim of everything being connected. Maybe he is lying, maybe Pluto can see the future, or maybe it was all part of a plan to give Nemesis more power. The problem is not so much the claim that everything is connected; it’s that the villains never really explain how, and the protagonists never question it, even when there are obvious continuity problems.

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the summer toby died,,,

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Cerberus

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Imagine if team Excalibur also dressed in stereotypical closing.

There's no enough appreciation for how weird are the European bladers.

They have secret tournaments (even their bladers DJ don't know about it) and they battle in little costumes in historical sites. I bet they do that all the time. Each meeting has a different theme.

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Why Team Star Breaker Is Such an Effective Antagonist Group?

Team Star Breaker, composed of Zeo Abyss, Jack, Damian Hart and Dr. Ziggurat, is the final team Gan Gan Galaxy must face to achieve their goal of winning the World Championship. Despite appearing in less episodes than the Dark Nebula organization, it is one of the most iconic antagonist groups in the series. Its effectiveness comes from several key strengths: the team is a quartet of distinct individuals rather than a faceless collective, it serves as the ultimate obstacle in the tournament, and Star Breaker share notable parallels with Gan Gan Galaxy, especially between individual members.

A Group of Individuals

Team Starbreaker has the advantage of being composed of only four members, which—unlike larger antagonist groups such as the Dark Nebula in Metal Fusion or the Cult of Nemesis—makes it easier for each individual to stand out. This is especially true considering they weren't introduced too late or rushed into the story. All four members were first seen in episode 87, with Zeo properly introduced in episode 85.

What is interesting is that the members of the team have significantly different goals:

Zeo wants Toby to be cured.

Jack is driven by his obsession with art and likely joined the academy to become stronger.

Damian simply follows Ziggurat’s orders and is focused on winning.

Ziggurat, wants to use beyblade for profit and financial gain.

The only thing uniting these four is their shared desire for victory. For the three Bladers, they are also connected by the fact that they are compatible with the Arrangement System.

In contrast, other teams in the World Championship are often more unified in purpose:

Wang Hu Zhong aims to win and honor the legacy of the Beylin Temple.

Lovushka shares the collective dream of going into space.

Wild Fang had some internal differences—Nile was more focused on the championship, while Kyoya, as usual, was fixated on defeating Gingka—but those priorities didn’t conflict.

Excalibur is united around Julian.

The Garcias want to escape poverty.

Another common trait in many teams is the presence of a strong, charismatic leader whom the other members are loyal or subservient to. This often causes supporting characters to fade into the background and be defined mostly by their team affiliation—examples include Mei-Mei, Sophie and Wales, Enzo, Ian, and Selen. For most of them, there isn’t much to say beyond the fact that they’re part of a team.

This is not the case for Jack, Zeo, and Damian, whose individual motivations and personalities are clearly defined and set them apart:

Zeo has a personal history with Masamune.

Jack is known for his obsession with art.

Damian has his iconic special move.

Moreover, Damian doesn’t really fit the role of a traditional leader. While he may be the strongest Blader on the team, he doesn’t offer advices like Dashan nor does he command the others like Julian. In fact, Ziggurat can be seen as the de facto leader of Starbreaker. He assigns each member a specific role and treats them as valuable assets. As such, the absence of a dominant leader figure actually allows the team members to shine individually. There is no Ryuga or Rago who overshadows everyone else and draws all the attention.

The Ultimate Obstacle

An antagonist becomes much more compelling when real stakes are involved. In this case, the prize is the Beyblade World Championship. Team Starbreaker is the final team that Gan Gan Galaxy must face to claim the title, making them the ultimate obstacle.

Throughout Metal Masters, we’ve followed Gan Gan Galaxy—their growth, the joyful moments, and the many trials they’ve overcome. As the protagonists, it’s only natural for the audience to support them. In contrast, Team Starbreaker is made up of individuals who rely on technology and artificial enhancement to become stronger. One of their members even brutally attacked Yu and Tsubasa, putting them into comas. These actions reinforce the audience’s loyalty to Gan Gan Galaxy.

However, these villainous actions don’t come out of nowhere. As the tournament progresses, each opposing team becomes increasingly antagonistic:

Wang Hu Zhong was prideful but respectful.

Lovushka was friendly despite cheating, though they were manipulated by their coach.

Wild Fang shared Gan Gan Galaxy’s values but seriously threatened their victory, especially Kyoya, who was determined to beat Gingka.

Excalibur was openly arrogant, and Julian aimed to use the tournament for fame and profit.

The Garcias were outright cheaters who also injured Yu.

By comparison, Team Starbreaker emerges as the most villainous group: they cheat, use artificial power, act with violence, and are part of a system (Hades Inc.) that wants exploit Beyblade for profit. Their arrogance and willingness to harm others push them far beyond previous opponents.

Interestingly, Starbreaker also has at least one element from every other team:

Like Wang Hu Zhong, they are part of a formal in-universe organization (HD Academy and Beylin Temple).

Like Lovushka, they rely on science to cheat and are manipulated by an older manager with glasses (Ziggurat and Anton).

Like Wild Fang, a key member has a personal rivalry with someone on Gan Gan Galaxy (Zeo vs. Masamune and Kyoya vs. Gingka).

Like Excalibur, they are arrogant, and like Julian, Ziggurat aims to use Beyblade for money.

Like the Garcias, they are violent and cheaters.

All of this makes Team Starbreaker the ultimate obstacle and final villainous force in the tournament. They are, in a sense, “made” from elements of every team Gan Gan Galaxy has faced before.

A Dark Reflection

Team Star Breaker also works well as an antagonistic group because it reflects its opposite team, Gan Gan Galaxy. As previously pointed out, Star Breaker is a collection of individuals with different goals. Therefore, they aren't a real team. Gan Gan Galaxy is the opposite: all five members built deep bonds with each other. They trained, ate, slept, and traveled around the world together. We also see them communicate and form special relationships with one another.

Star Breaker members use the Arrangement System, while Gan Gan Galaxy's members become stronger through consistent training. They all love Beyblade and have fun with it, which is not the case for their opponents, whose objectives are not primarily to win the championship. Even for Zeo, his priority is Toby’s safety.

When it comes to individual members, there are many parallels—some characters even reflect multiple members of the opposite team:

Zeo and Yu Tendo

Both have similar hairstyles.

Both use Beyblades with the Flame fusion wheel, featuring inanimate-object motifs.

Both joined an evil organization for a friend—Yu to stay with Ryuga, and Zeo to save Toby with Ziggurat’s help.

Both were betrayed by that organization before eventually joining the heroes.

However, while Yu is naturally talented and held a privileged position in the Dark Nebula, Zeo was weaker than his friends and constantly threatened by Ziggurat.

Both had rivalries with Masamune.

Jack and Tsubasa

Both use bird-themed Beyblades.

Both had a battle with Ryuga that negatively affected them.

Jack was brainwashed by the Arrangement System, which led to a personality shift. Tsubasa was consumed by the dark power and also became a different person under its influence.

They appear to be the oldest members of their respective teams.

Their personalities contrast: Tsubasa is calm, introverted, and strategic, while Jack is talkative, sadistic, unstable, and focused on making art during a battle rather than strategy.

Jack and Gingka

Both of their Beys heavily features wings with their special moves involving feathers and air.

Both have red hair.

Both were tasked with retrieving Ryuga/L-Drago and lost to him.

Their views on Ryuga shifted: Gingka originally hated him (especially due to his father’s "death") but came to see him as a rival. Jack seemingly had a good opinion on Ryuga as a way to do art, but after losing to him, he developed a strong dislike to him.

Their Beyblade philosophies are opposites: Gingka wants to battle for fun and accepts any challenger, while Jack only values the beauty of a battle and selects opponents based on style.

Damian and Gingka

Gingka truly loves and values Beyblade—it has always been part of his life. Damian, in contrast, only cares about it because of the Arrangement System and the belief tht he is the chosen one.

Damian is arrogant and sadistic, while Gingka is kind and empathetic.

Damian follows Ziggurat's orders and live in a tightly controlled environment, whereas Gingka made his own choices.

Even their Beyblades reflect opposing themes:

Hell Kerbecs represents Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld.

Galaxy Pegasus represents the winged horse Pegasus, who flew to Mount Olympus.

Damian and Masamune

Both give themselves grand titles—"Number One" and "The Chosen One."

Both are quite arrogant.

In their first appearances, they interrupted Tsubasa and Yu during training or a match.

Kerbecs resembles a larger, more heavily built version of Ray Striker.

In conclusion, Team Star Breaker serves as the perfect final antagonist to close both the World Championship and Metal Masters. They are iconic villains in their own right, thanks to their distinct battle styles and direct opposition to the heroes. More than just the strongest team, they represent the culmination of every challenge Gan Gan Galaxy faced.

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I agree with you—characters like Yuki or Aguma barely had time to react to the prophecy. Yuki just accepted the fact that his power comes from being a descendant of some important Blader. It was just disappointing.

As for Gingka winning against Nemesis, I think it makes sense—he's the protagonist, plus the final scene where everyone gives him their power is cool. However, you bring up a good point: the Legendary Bladers, especially the Solar System Bladers, can appear a little useless because of that.

i do think probably my biggest issue with fury is how like. they really don’t think very hard about the idea of the legendary bladers. like, okay there’s a LOT of potential things to go into here. how might different people react to being one of god’s specialest little guys? how would these reactions conflict with eachother and the prophecy? how reliable even is this information, and are these people REALLY the only ones who can stop nemesis?

fury does atleast go into the viewpoint of those who aren’t chosen, though, but it’s… not very encouraging, to say the least. like ok so my thoughts on this were mostly spurred on by some discussion from the other day, cause… no, i don’t think fury is at all critical of the concept of legendary bladers.

like, okay, i’m gonna preface this by saying king was ABSOLUTELY in the right here. or atleast… he should’ve been.

despite someone for once ACTUALLY OBJECTING to the idea of needing to gather these legendary bladers, everyone is still going along with that line of thinking. he’s never actually proven to be right. because like it or not, this is just the way things are. it doesn’t matter how hard you work.

except… hold on. there’s a catch. so i was partway through writing this post, right? and then i realize NOBODY FUCKING MATTERS NONE OF THE LEGENDARY BLADERS DID SHIT EXCEPT FOR WHO DO YOU FUCKING THINK, IT’S GINGA HAGANE

they’ve played us all for FOOLS. no matter who you are unless you’re GINGA HAGANE you are just the supporting cast. nothing matters. tumblr the site hates me and wants me to die because i wanted to put a video in this post.

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I once had the same idea. I guess he's like a combination of almost all parts of the UK: he's the representative of England, he wears blue and white (which are Scotland's colors), and his name is Wales.

This is definitely a character I wish we knew more about, so I’ll gladly adopt and share your headcanon.

spreading my scottish wales agenda because why is he the rep of england when he looks like that

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Some characters as kids: Madoka, Kyoya, Wales, Jack, Chris and Rago.

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Hi, I saw a video on how good MFB was but was pulled back when Gingka, once again, gets no real respect. It's kind of hard to find your place in the Fandom when a sizable (or loud minority) potion just bashes the main character like that. Gingka might not have as many flaws as Kenta or Kyoya (he doesn't need them) and as far as relatablility goes, Gingka is plenty relatable, we can perfectly understand him and empathize with his decisions most, if not all the time. It's kind of exhausting really, how do you deal with this, since you seem to not dislike him?

Hello. Thanks for your question.

I agree with you. Gingka is a pretty relatable character, and while relatability doesn't automatically make a character good or bad, it does help us connect with him.

Personally, I really like Gingka. I think he's a great fit as the main protagonist for Metal Fight Beyblade.

When it comes to dealing with people who don’t like him, I would say I just respectfully share my opinion. Personally, I haven’t interacted with many people who strongly dislike Gingka, so I’m not sure what to tell you. Though I would say everyone can have their own opinion.

I guess the negative opinions come from a few things—like how his voice in the English dub can be a bit annoying, that some people think his wins are mostly due to "plot armor," or that he doesn't have much character development in Masters. These are some of the criticisms I've seen. So if you encounter that, you could just respond by pointing out that they can watch the Japanese dub, that he trained all his childhood in Koma Village (which is known as the village of Beyblade), that he has natural talent, and that in Masters, he was able to enjoy Beyblade in a less tense framework, act like the kid he is, thanks to Masamune and he also had to act as a member of a team.

I know some fans have very strong opinions, particularly regarding a certain character whose name begins with an R, so in general, I just ignore them.

I hope I could answer your question.

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Mayblade Day 28: Unpopular character

King Indus

King Indus III is a minor character in Beyblade Metal Fury who briefly battled Ryuga in episode 109, Kenta's Determination.

He is an interesting case, considering he has a good Bey: Ray Gasher 100MF. In addition, he seems to be the only Gasher holder who doesn't use disloyal tactics to win. After all, he won his village's tournament five times in a row. He also wasn't scared of Ryuga.

Among the 88 constellations, one is named Indus, the Indian, which apparently represents an unclear indigenous people. So it would have been an opportunity to make an Indus-themed Beyblade. I guess the writers compensated by adding the name to his special move.

He is said to have been born the same night a star fell from the sky and received the title of Legendary Blader.

This is actually quite pleasant, as the writers continue building legends around stars and how people in the Metal Fight universe seem to place great importance on them.

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In a symbolic way, it makes a lot of sense for Johannes to be Pluto’s trusted servant:

The lynx, in mythology, is often associated with supernatural eyesight. The name of the Lynx constellation was apparently chosen because its stars are so faint that only someone with the vision of a lynx could see them.

Hades, on the other hand, is said to possess a special helmet that grants invisibility to anyone who wears it.

So, the lynx’s ability to see what is hidden and Hades’ power to hide form a perfect pair.

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Young Zeo with Metal Masters's color scheme.

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Mayblade Day 16: Purple

Purple is a color that can symbolize many things: power, ambition, royalty and nobility, mystery, and even spirituality.

It is interesting to note that in every season, a major villain has a purple aura and beast.

Considering Ryuga, Damian, Rago, and Kira are all very arrogant and powerful bladers, this is quite fitting.

Note that all three top members of the Hades cult—Rago, Pluto, and Daidoji—were closely tied to this color: Daidoji had his purple suit, Rago’s clothes were predominantly purple, and Pluto had purple hair.

Purple is also linked to religion and the Catholic Church, as it is a color worn by cardinals. Furthermore, purple has often been associated with villains, darkness, and evil, since it is a darker color, so it is fitting that the servants of Nemesis are associated with this color.

We also saw that Daidoji is an ambitious person who lives in a rather luxurious way. So purple fits him very well, since it was an expensive color in antiquity and the medieval era, and is thus tied to luxury.

Finally, I would also mention Tsubasa and Dynamis, whose beys are purple. Zeus/Jupiter is the king of the gods, and the eagle is his symbolic animal. Considering the color is linked to royalty and power as well, it makes a lot of sense.

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doodling a randomly selected mfb character every day for Mayblade

Day 7 - Wales !!

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Mayblade Day 7: Hope

In the final match of the World Championship, Gingka faces Damian, whose special move, Hades Gate, allows him to send his opponent into a version of hell that he controls.

Time and time again, Gingka is beaten down and bound in chains, but each time, he stands up and fights back.

In the end, he triumphantly escapes the hellish dimension on the back of Pegasus.

This is a metaphor that gives hope. It shows that even when we’re faced with the darkest circumstances, if we don’t give up or give in to despair, we can still make it to the other side. It might be a classic shonen theme, but I think the visuals are really powerful.

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Mayblade Day 6: Science

An Overview of the Arrangement System

General Context

The Arrangement System is a way to artificially enhance a blader's abilities. It was created by Dr. Ziggurat and was a major plot point in the last part of Beyblade Metal Masters. The system takes the shape of a pod into which someone has to enter. Only four characters have been shown to be able to use this power: Zeo Abyss, Jack, Damian Hart, and Faust (Toby's alternate persona). I wanted to discuss the details surrounding this invention of Ziggurat—namely, what could be the principle of the machine, what are the effects and side effects, who is compatible and why.

Principle

We know that Ziggurat is a neurologist, a brain expert. The mind is also brought up a lot when it comes to his system since both it and the body are apparently connected to the machine. It can even give data to help design the best Bey for the user and help monitor heart rate and the synchronization between the blader and their Bey. The process begins when the blader goes inside the pod, which closes, metal rods then come closer to the person, and lights turn on.

Considering all this, maybe the machine stimulates the neuronal system—after all, neurons are connected to motion. I think the term "stimulus" is appropriate because it has been seen that Star Breaker needs to repeatedly take Arrangement in order to maintain their power. It is also notable that the biggest side effect of the Arrangement is a change in personality, something directly linked to the brain.

Effects and Side Effects

The system's biggest purpose was to create stronger bladers, and considering Zeo's sudden improvement even though he was only partially compatible, it’s effective. Ziggurat, as said by Ryusei, is capable thanks to the Arrangement of bringing "100% of one's ability" using science instead of training.

The first side effect, which ties in with compatibility, is the inability for some people to withstand the effects of the Arrangement, resulting in "physical and mental damage."

A second side effect is personality change: the subject becomes more aggressive and agitated, they might even develop new interests or an entirely new personality altogether.

The third side effect is physical change, notably through lighter and sometimes longer hair, a change in eye color (for Faust), and an overall more mature/villainous looking face.

Once again, we see the association between physical and mental dimensions in the effects.

Compatibility

The issue of compatibility is rather interesting, considering the three members of Team Star Breaker have little in common except this.

First, the problem with compatibility lies in two different areas. The first is that some people can't withstand the power the Arrangement gives them. The second is that it appears some have difficulty withstanding the system itself. For example, Zeo wasn't able to reach 100% completion, though he was able to use Byxis’s power just fine without suffering any injuries.

Secondly, to understand why some people are compatible, we need to remember that the system brings out hidden potential. This explains why Ziggurat massively recruited weak bladers like Zeo and Jack. The theory is that their weakness came from the fact that they didn’t realize their full potential, instead of having no talent. This might explain why Zeo has difficulty withstanding the system—because he trained hard for many years. Even though the results weren’t as good as for Masamune or Toby, he still improved.

In the case of Damian, considering his flashback in which he gazes, a little puzzled, at a Bey like it’s the first time he sees one, I think it’s not too far-fetched to assume he never played Beyblade before going into an Arrangement. This means 0% of his potential was previously awakened, so the Arrangement could do all the work.

For Toby, the idea is that since he was hospitalized for a long time, his body became weaker. Even after feeling better, he was still in a wheelchair. He would probably have to do some rehabilitation. Considering physical form is important in MFB to be a good blader, his performance might have taken a hit.

Conclusion

Though the Arrangement is still mysterious, we know that Ziggurat used his knowledge of the human brain to create a machine that can make people stronger with no effort—though not everyone is compatible, and those who are can suffer drastic changes in their body and personality, almost like they aged prematurely. This, in a way, symbolizes the innocence that the doctor has stolen from his test subjects. The idea that the system is more compatible with weaker bladers or people physically weaker is more etheric than anything, but I believe it can help justify why Ziggurat was targeting Toby and how he would know he would be compatible.

Even today, the human brain hides secrets from researchers. To think that someone as greedy and unscrupulous as Ziggurat would decipher its secrets or even play with them is truly terrifying.