Yu - Gi - Oh ! ZEXAL - Episode 020 " Roots of the Problem " , known as " Pitch - Black Numbers - Dark Yuma vs . Tetsuo " in the Japanese version , is the twentieth episode of the " Yu - Gi - Oh ! ZEXAL " anime . It first aired in Japan on August 22 , 2011 and in the United States on April 21 , 2012 . Summary . At the top of a building , Yuma and Astral are Dueling a man , while Tori and Bronk are watching . Yuma controls " " , and his opponent 3 " Giant Germ s " . The man overlays his three monsters to Xyz Summon " " . However , it only has 100 ATK , surprising all of them . Yuma gets excited , thinking it is an easy win now , and declares battle between " Utopia " and " Dark Mist " . Bronk and Astral both warn Yuma , but he still declares battle . " Utopia " succeeds in destroying " Dark Mist " , and wipes out his opponent ' s last remaining 1000 LP , winning the Duel . Yuma is happy to win , and Tori smiles , but Bronk looks unhappy , most likely because of Yuma ' s reckless attack . Astral absorbs " Number 96 " , and the memory regained is shown . In a view from space , cracks open on the Earth , and it explodes ( in the dub , the planet is only covered in purple lines ) . Yuma and Tori celebrate the victory , with Bronk watching in the back . While going home , Yuma boasts about his victory and obtaining another " Number " . Tori tells him to pipe down , and Bronk asks him about the recklessness of Utopia ' s attack . Yuma tells him it was fine , but Bronk heavily replies it wasn ' t . Yuma reacts saying he shouldn ' t worry , but Bronk grabs him . Yuma breaks loose and starts pinching Bronk , and Tori yells , telling them to stop . The next day , Yuma and Bronk ignore each other on various instances . Inside the Emperor ' s Key , Astral presents Number 96 to a gear from his hand , inside the ship . He recalls the vision he saw when obtaining Number 96 , and wonders what it means . Later , while lying on the school ' s roof , Yuma flashes back to the past , when a younger Yuma explains his ambition to his class . A young Bronk makes a comment about it , making the whole class laugh . Bronk also flashs back to those days , to the many Duels he and Yuma had , and Yuma ' s unbreakable spirit . However , despite them arguing during those Duels , they had a friendly rivalry , which Tori bore witness of . Later , in the present , Tori questions the reason for his argument with Bronk , and Astral asks if he really means what he said . Yuma says he did , however , Bronk was in fact right in front of him . Yuma goes after him when he walks away , but when he grabs Bronk ' s shoulder , Bronk swings his arm , knocking the Emperor ' s Key of its rope . Almost immediately , black slime drools from Yuma ' s Deck case , streaming up , and enveloping Astral , who becomes visible to Tori and Bronk . However , the light parts of Astral ' s body became dark and black , and shocks start appearing on Astral . The black streams continue to pump the black sludge into Astral from multiple angles . Bronk sees where the Emperor ' s Key landed after the blow , and picks it up . Astral , while still getting shocked and the dark sludge is still being pumped into him , seems to talk to someone , saying they ' re Number 96 . A voice from somewhere appears , and Astral ' s arms are being tilted up , with the sludge still being pumped into him . Astral screams out , and in a purple space , in Numbers - style , the number 96 appears . Number 96 is possessing Astral , while holding onto Yuma . The darkened Astral gives them a malicious look , but the real Astral tells Yuma to entrust Bronk with " " . Yuma asks why , but Astral tells him to just do it . Yuma manages to pull Utopia ' s card out of his Deck , and throws it towards Bronk , who catches it , looks at it , and is surprised he threw him " Utopia " . Astral then is completely possessed by Number 96 , who declares himself the strongest " Number " , and extends Astral ' s arm to grab " Utopia " back from Bronk ( 96 makes no claim of being the strongest in the dub . This , however , is prevented by the Emperor ' s Key , which creates a shield around Bronk . Tori asks if he is okay , which he confirms , but is worried about Yuma . Number 96 looks at Bronk angrily . The latter thinks about a way to save Yuma and Astral from Number 96 . Bronk tells him that if he wants Utopia , he should Duel him . Number 96 agrees , and lets Yuma free , deciding he ' ll use him as a puppet . Controlling Yuma ' s actions , the Duel starts , and Number 96 uses Yuma ' s Deck . During the Duel , Number 96 quickly Summons his own card , " Dark Mist " . However , it looks different than in Yuma ' s Duel against its original holder . 96 explains that this is Number 96 ' s , his own , true form . Number 96 actually uses its effects during the Duel , revealing it willingly manipulated its holder into losing in order to get to more " Number " cards . Bronk is able to Summon " Utopia " in a reaction to " Dark Mist " . The will - enforcing effect of the " Numbers " appears to take over Bronk , but he seems to be able to shake it off . Using the effects of Yuma ' s Deck after he enhanced it with cards from the Duel Sanctuary ' s secret Deck and some extra anti - Xyz cards , Number 96 obtains an edge over some of Bronk ' s moves . During the Duel , Astral manages to get in contact with Yuma . In a mysterious space , Astral is hanging , with his body slowly fading away . After Bronk finishes his turn , Yuma suddenly collapses , getting back up . He stands in a zombie - like stance , and Number 96 laughs , saying he now controls Yuma too . Number 96 ends up destroying " Utopia " relatively easy , and " Dark Mist " now has 3100 ATK . Yuma explains to 96 that he should be careful of Bronk ' s face - down card , as its most likely the card " Gearspring Exploder " , which , if used , could win Bronk the Duel at the moment . Not happy to hear it , Numbers 96 responds to this by activating the Quick - Play Spell Card " Xyz Cyclone " , to destroy " Gearspring Exploder " . Number 96 thanks Yuma for giving him warning about the facedown card . Bronk seems devastated by Yuma being under 96 ' s control and also the fact that he had sold him out , but flashes back to Yuma yelling he will never give up . He then continues the Duel with a combo between " Automatic Gearspring Machine " , " Gearspring Spirit " , " Gearspring Catapult " and a " Monster Reborn " - revived " Utopia " . Before Bronk defeats Number 96 Yuma starts snickering , and tells Bronk he did great . Number 96 is shocked to see that Yuma wasn ' t under his control at all , and Yuma explains it was a trick to make sure Bronk would still have his " Catapult " and " Automatic Machine " . Bronk , while declaring that he is " feeling the flow , " destroys " Dark Mist " with " Utopia " . He then tosses the Emperor ' s Key to Yuma , which releases Astral from the prison created by Number 96 . Astral appears in the sky , and re - absorbs Number 96 . Yuma and Bronk happily run to each other . Bronk gives Yuma " Utopia " back , while asking how he came up with the idea of tricking Number 96 . Judging from his reaction , Bronk figures it was Astral ' s plan , and the two get into an argument over it . Above them , Astral says Yuma and Bronk saved him . Looking at Number 96 ' s card , he figures there is something up with it . He asks if there were other memories like it . Featured Duels . Yuma Tsukumo vs . Number 96 ' s holder . " Duel is shown from an unspecified turn . " Yuma control s " " ( 4 / 2500 / 2000 , ORU : 2 ) in Attack Position , while Number 96 ' s holder controls three " Giant Germs " ( 2 / 1000 / 100 each ) and has 1000 LP . Number 96 ' s holder turn Number 96 ' s holder overlays his three " Giant Germs " in order to Xyz Summon " " ( 2 / 100 / 1000 , ORU : 3 ) in Attack Position . Yuma ' s turn " Utopia " attacks and destroys " Dark Mist " ( Number 96 ' s holder : 1000 → 0 LP ) . Bronk Stone vs . Number 96 . Turn 1 : Bronk Bronk draws " Aye - Iron " and subsequently Normal Summon s it ( 4 / 1600 / 1800 ) in Attack Position . He then activates " Spring Punch " and equips it to " Aye - Iron " . Now whenever " Aye - Iron " gains ATK , half of its ATK will be inflicted to Number 96 as damage , but Bronk will be forbidden from conducting his Battle Phase the turn this effect is activated . Bronk activate s the effect of " Aye - Iron " , increasing its ATK by 400 ( " Aye Iron " : 1600 → 2000 ATK ) and preventing it from attack ing this turn . The effect of " Spring Punch " activates ( Number 96 : 4000 → 3000 LP ) . Bronk activates " Gearspring Catapult " . Now during each of Bronk ' s Standby Phase s , this card will gain a Gearspring Counter . Bronk can then , during his Main Phase , remove a Gearspring Counter to increase the ATK of a monster he controls by 500 . Turn 2 : Number 96 Number 96 draws " Acorno " and subsequently Special Summon s it ( 1 / 200 / 400 ) in Attack Position by discard ing " Pinecono " . As " Pinecono " was sent from the hand to the Graveyard , Number 96 activates its effect to revive itself ( 1 / 400 / 200 ) in Attack Position . He then Normal Summons " Darklon " ( 1 / 100 / 100 ) in Attack Position . Since " Darklon " was Normal Summoned , Number 96 activates its effect to increase the Level of all monsters he controls by 1 ( " Acorno " , " Darklon " and " Pinecono " : 1 → 2 ) and change their Attribute s to DARK . Number 96 overlays " Acorno " , " Pinecono " and " Darklon " in order to Xyz Summon " " ( 2 / 100 / 1000 , ORU : 3 ) in Attack Position . " Dark Mist " attacks " Aye - Iron " . As " Dark Mist " is battling a monster , Number 96 activates its effect , detach ing an Overlay Unit ( " Dark Mist " : 3 → 2 ORU ) to halve the ATK of " Aye - Iron " and add it to that of " Dark Mist " ( " Aye - Iron " : 2000 → 1000 ATK , " Dark Mist " : 100 → 1100 ATK ) . " Dark Mist " destroys " Aye - Iron " ( Bronk : 4000 → 3900 LP ) . Number 96 Set s two cards . Turn 3 : Bronk Bronk draws . During the Standby Phase , " Gearspring Catapult " gains a Gearspring Counter . Bronk Normal Summons " Tin Goldfish " ( 4 / 800 / 2000 ) in Attack Position . He then activates " Iron Call " to revive " Aye - Iron " ( 4 / 1600 / 1800 ) in Defense Position ( as Bronk controls a Machine - type monster and the summoned monster is a Level 4 or below Machine - type monster ) . As Bronk controls exactly two face - up Machine - type monsters , he activates " Iron Draw " to draw two cards . He then overlays " Tin Goldfish " and " Aye - Iron " in order to Xyz Summon " " ( 4 / 2500 / 2000 , ORU : 2 ) in Attack Position . Bronk activates the effect of " Gearspring Catapult " to remove a Gearspring Counter and increase the ATK of " Utopia " by 500 ( " Utopia " : 2500 → 3000 ATK ) . " Utopia " attacks " Dark Mist " , but Number 96 activates the effect of " Dark Mist " in response ( " Dark Mist " : 2 → 1 ORU ) ( " Utopia " : 3000 → 1500 ATK , " Dark Mist " : 1100 → 2600 ATK ) . Bronk activates the effect of " Utopia " to detach an Overlay Unit ( " Utopia " : 2 → 1 ORU ) and negate the attack . As an attack between two Attack Position monsters was negated , Number 96 activates his face - down " Counterforce " to inflict damage to Bronk equal to the difference between their monsters ' ATK ( Bronk : 3900 → 2800 LP ) . Bronk activates " Automatic Gearspring Machine " , which gains two Gearspring Counters upon activation . Now during each of Bronk ' s Standby Phases , this card will gain a Gearspring Counter . He then may , during his Main Phase , send it to the Graveyard and move its Gearspring Counters to another card that can use them . Bronk Sets a card . Turn 4 : Number 96 Number 96 draws . " Dark Mist " attacks " Utopia " with Number 96 activating the effect of " Dark Mist " ( " Dark Mist " : 1 → 0 ORU ) ( " Utopia " : 1000 → 500 ATK , " Dark Mist " : 2600 → 3100 ATK ) . Bronk activates the effect of " Utopia " ( " Utopia " : 1 → 0 ORU ) to negate the attack , but Number 96 activates his face - down " Overlay Banish " , to negate the effect of " Utopia " as it was activated during the Battle Phase by detaching an Overlay Unit . " Dark Mist " then destroys " Utopia " ( Bronk : 2800 → 200 LP ) . At this moment , Number 96 plans on destroying " Gearspring Catapult " to prevent Bronk from increasing the ATK of any monsters he may summon during his next turn , but Yuma , pretending to be under Number 96 ' s influence , says that ' s not his plan and reveals that Bronk ' s face - down is " Gearspring Exploder " and explains that when Bronk , during his turn , has a Gearspring Counter placed on a card he controls , he can activate " Gearspring Exploder " to inflict 800 damage to Number 96 for each Gearspring Counter on his field , which will total to 3200 once it ' s Bronk ' s turn . Number 96 activates " Xyz Cyclone " to destroy Bronk ' s face - down " Gearspring Exploder " as a monster he controlled destroyed an Xyz Monster . Turn 5 : Bronk Bronk draws . During the Standby Phase , " Gearspring Catapult " and " Automatic Gearspring Machine " each gain a Gearspring Counter . Bronk removes three Gearspring Counters from the latter card in order to Special Summon " Gearspring Spirit " ( 8 / 100 / 100 ) from his hand in Attack Position via its own effect . He then activates the effect of " Gearspring Spirit " to decrease the ATK of " Dark Mist " to 0 ( " Dark Mist " : 3600 → 0 ATK ) until the End Phase . Bronk activates " Monster Reborn " to revive " Utopia " ( 4 / 2500 / 2000 ) in Attack Position . He then activates the effect of " Gearspring Catapult " by targeting " Utopia " ( " Utopia " : 2500 → 3000 ATK ) . " Utopia " attacks and destroys " Dark Mist " ( Number 96 : 3000 → 0 LP ) . Featured cards . The following cards appeared in this episode . Cards in italics debuted here .