#quantum cube

[guidingliight]

I know I'm litterly 2 days late but this little memorial strip for Kazuki Takahashi took me forever to make. Enjoy~

The comic, and then some full pics of the slides. Also a little Atem/afterlife reference on the last pic!

We miss you Kazuki. You were a legend in our childhood. 💛

Also yes seto and mokuba gave him their little brother pendants ok I thought it would be a cute gift along with the quantum cube. ;-;

[ahhvernin]

Can we have a moment to think about Thief King Bakura holding the Quantum cube and then grabbing Aigami Diva's front and just demanding with every fiber of his being:

"WHAT. IS. THIS. MADE. OF?!?!?!"

[kaibabasonicos]

Theory/HC: the origin of the quantum cube

Sera calls the cube the eigth millenium item in DSOD, but (assuming mr Takahashi didn't mean to modify the original story) we know there were only seven items created from the massacre of Kul Elna. The items were created with shadow alchemy from (even more) ancient times and require human sacrifices, so we might say the cube was created through the same method, just at a different time and place.

All we definitely know about it is Shadi had it in his possession and then the Plana inherited it.

Shadi's identity and nature is also pretty vague - he is the spirit that Akhenamkhanen (Atem's father) sealed into the tablet and later saves Atem inside the recreation of his memories, he's also a human that takes orphans under his wings to form the Plana who Yami Bakura murders in young Ryou's body, but he also gives Pegasus the millenium eye and plays a shadow game against Yamiyu and friends in the earlier chapters.

Our relevant points are:

Atem's father sealed his spirit into the tablet that holds the millenium items in the past

He's in posession of the quantum cube five years prior to the events of the movie

Let's say Akhenamkhanen also trusted Shadi with the quantum cube before dying

The power of the quantum cube allows the Plana to travel through dimensions as well as manipulating the reality around them by altering collective consciousness. This is how Aigami is able to enter the school and have students remember him without ever meeting him.

Now, Takahashi made a deliberate creative choice when he excluded the characters' mothers from the narrative and their psychological journeys, but let's pretend for the sake of this post that it's weird how Atem's mother is never mentioned by anybody during memory world, and how he doesn't remember her.

And let's go ahead and propose mayhaps that memory was altered with the quantum cube and she played the role of the human sacrifice that shadow alchemy required.

However, the cube looks different from the other items - it's not made of gold except for the borders. The shadow alchemy converted human sacrifices into gold (a la philosopher's stone), so the fact that the cube is not made out of it might imply its creation used a different method.

The theory barely only works up to Akhenamkhanen's involvement, but I'll discuss why Atem's mother is relevant, human sacrifice or not (I'm just saying it would be funny in a Freudian way if that was the case, but regardless)

The quantum cube works, unsurprisingly, on quantum theory rules: the Plana possess higher levels of consciousness than other people, which allows them to manipulate reality through the cube. Quantum theory proposes that reality is altered by the will of consciousness - everything in our universe exists in a state of probabilities until the individual interacts with it, which produces a change.

This is basically like saying the moon only exists as the moon once you look up at it, when you're not looking it only exists as the probability of being a moon.

This has to do with the behavior of protons in certain experiments, but what we care about is that this borderline philosophical theory is pretty similar to Hindu beliefs. Physicists like Oppenheimer and Schrodinger (who made significant contributions to the field) were openly influenced by the ancient religious texts that serve as the foundation for Indian religions known as the Vedas - more specifically, the Upanishads, where Vedas’ core philosophy is concentrated.

The creation myth in the Vedas depicts a primordial being called Brahman who basically dissolves itself into everything in existence, therefore everything in existence is a lingering part of him. 

Brahman is understood as a universal consciousness or an omnipotent cosmic energy shared by every individual, though separated by the illusion that permeates the world, and every individual is a reflection of Brahman —which means each of these individuals possesses Brahman’s creative ability and makes every sentient being participant in the unfolding of reality.

The illusion that separates the individual from Brahman is referred to as Maya: the material world perceived through the senses. The individual’s mind is trapped in ignorance, so what they perceive is a projection of reality influenced by that ignorance. 

This means that the act of consciously perceiving an element of the world through this veil of illusion fragments that reality, the individual is prevented from observing what their mind doesn’t extract.

Essentially, the observer shapes the observed. Just like in quantum theory.

The quantum cube in DSOD belongs to the Plana, a group led by Diva who, despite not having his ethnicity addressed or made relevant for his arc or the plot, is surrounded with Hindu references:

His deck names deities and concepts

His japanese name (Aigami) means blue god - a funny reference to Hindu gods like Shiva or Krishna who are characteristically depicted with blue skin in art

His name (Diva) is an alternative spelling of the word daeva (god in sanskrit)

The romanized spelling of Plana in japanese might refer to either Prana (the energy of life in Hindu beliefs) or Purana (a series of religious texts - some of which discuss the existence of multiple realities)

The power of collective consciousness is directly tied to Brahman

The Plana's goal - ascending to a higher dimension - might be based on Hindu cosmology, where reality is divided into layers (the higher the better, the lower the worse) and the group intends to climb up to the layer above them or directly ascend to the highest one: the very plane of existence of Brahman

So we've established that the quantum cube is closely related to the purpose of using an entirely new system of beliefs as inspiration for the world building of the story. The rational explanation is that it supports the elements of quantum theory, the silly reason is to associate it with Atem's mother.

Besides mythology and philosophy, mr Takahashi also used history as inspiration for Atem's backstory - Tutankhamun is a central figure that shapes the narrative.

The father of one of Tutankhamun's possible mothers, Kiya, was the king of the Mitanni people and had very good relations with the royal family, so much so that multiple of the king's daughters became pharaoh wives, including Tut's father and grandfather's.

Though the Mitanni lived far away from India (near the Assyrians who later took down their kingdom) they had Indo-Iranian roots and continued worshiping Vedic gods, which means I can finally tie this back to the quantum cube being surrounded by Hindu/Vedic references.

Anyway I think it would be funny if the story took a sudden evangeliony turn into Freudian mommy issues territory with a dead and absent mother who haunts the narrative

It just looks suspicious that when Atem crosses over to the afterlife his loved ones are waiting for him (even the uncle who made a contract with satan to destroy the nation and made Atem seal his soul in the puzzle), everyone except his mum

[bakawitch]

Doodlings I did during today :P

[chrichri-chan-18-love]

Memory (Yandere Aigami/Diva x Reader)

Looking at your own hands, you wondered... how did you allow this to happen?

You weren’t sure.... you didn’t know what had happened. You only remember that you had been singing... the song didn’t really matter, it was just something that had been stuck in your mind for some reason. 

“That’s a very sweet voice.”

You stopped and turned to see who had said that. He was handsome... yet seemed odd. You nodded and wondered why a stranger had decided to approach you... thankfully there were a lot of people around so that was something that made you a little less anxious.

“Thank you, it’s nothing special. Just a song I heard.”

“I wasn’t talking about the song, I said that your voice was very sweet. Definetely something hard to forget.”

You didn’t know what to say. This guy was a bit weird and his compliments seemed to also carry a threat.

“I... should get going.”

“Oh! I’m sorry if what I said scared you... it’s just... I’ve never really heard someone sing so beautifully and I... well, I couldn’t really help but speak. I’m Aigami, it’s nice to meet you.”

He offered his hand and you looked at him suspiciously... there was something in those golden eyes that made you feel a deep, unexplainable fear.

“I’m sorry too but I really should get going.”

You didn’t try to seem polite nor did you care if he thought that you were a weirdo or something else. You just couldn’t understand why this person made you fear him when he had only complimented you.

If only you knew that this wasn’t the first time he had seen you. When he had first entered Domino City, he had felt a very strange but soothing feeling. Something gentle, sweet and so very warm... and then he saw you helping a little girl, you had a warm smile and a gentle, caring look. In his eyes your entire form was engulfed in the purest of lights. He decided that he wanted to see and learn more about you... his main plan were put on hold as he began following you. 

Every move you made, every sign of kindness you showed, even when you’d get angry, sad, scared... every expression was so a sight to behold in his eyes. He saw beauty in every expression you made, got captured by every word you said and was almost brought to his knees when you gazed behind you, as if searching for someone.

Perhaps you could feel him too.

Perhaps you had suffered in the past just like him... and even if you hadn’t, it was clear that something had made you sense him, seek him even for a few seconds... and that was enough for him.

Day after day, he began learning more about you, making sure that any enemy you had, wether you knew them or not was destroyed with the help of the Quantum Cube. You were a beautifull person, not just in appearance though, your soul was beautifull, your heart and personality were beautifull.

However as he kept an eye on you, he also went on with his original plan and didn’t forget the reason he had orginally entered the city. Thankfully, you had nothing to do with any of those he would have to destroy, it was a relief that didn’t last for long though. It wasn’t long before he saw a man trying to earn your favor, it was clear that he liked you and Diva had no intention of allowing someone to ruin you. All it took was you being alone for a few minutes before Diva made sure that the guy that had the nerve to try and get close to you had vanished for good.

He spent weeks watching from afar and admiring... but he knew that he couldn’t go on like this. He had to talk to you... he knew what you liked, he knew how to approach you... but then you began humming a tune... soon you began adding a few words and before long it was a melody, the song wasn’t something he really paid attention to... any song that you sang would be the best in the world... and before he knew it he had spoken his mind out loud, causing you to finally pay attention to him. And he loved it! Even when you left in a hurry, it didn’t matter, your fear didn’t matter... now, you knew who he was. You knew that he existed and that was good for now.

“Finally... I have a chance to win you... I swear that I’ll make you happy.”

You were sure that this Aigami was stalking you... you had been seeing him so often and every time that you met, he’d try to get closer, he’d try to make you stay with him... and every time, you’d just run away. It was also around that time when people around you began to dissapear. And there wasn’t any explaination about those dissapearances... and not only that... there were even people who didn’t even remember you or those that had vanished without a trace... and every time that happened, Aigami was there. Talking in a sickly sweet tone, telling you that everything was okay... that it could be because you were stressing over something too much. But you didn’t believe it for a second! You were certain that he had something to do with all that... so you decided to confront him about it.

“Why are you doing this to me?! What did I ever do to you?!”

Your anger and fear, your despair... these feeling hurt him more than they hurt you. He didn’t want you to be sad... but then again... Shadi had told him of the evil that existed within the Millennium items...perhaps these had something to do with your reaction, even being in the same area could definetely corrupt or hurt a person’s mind and body... and if the person doing it was the same one who had killed Shadi then you were in great danger.

“I’m not trying to hurt you, (Name). I’d never do that, I just want to protect you... I really want to keep you safe.”

“From what?! I didn’t ask you to do anything like that!”

“When you love someone, you try to make sure they are safe and well.”

“Love?”

Diva nodded and came closer to you, you began walking backwards until you hit a wall, there was nowhere you could run and hide. It was clear that this guy was crazy and that no matter what you told him, he’d find something that would twist it’s meaning and add to his delusion of a romance that was blooming between the two of you. Diva finally was inches away from you, his breath hot and heavy as he looked into your eyes, his smile was gentle but his gaze was filled with obsession and desire... it was terryfying.

“Yes, love... it might sound silly but it’s true. I never thought that I would ever fall in love... and then you appeared...”

He placed an arm on the wall and he then stuck his body on you before leaning forward and kissing you. The shock was so great that you could only stand and stare as moved his lips on your stoic ones. It lasted for a few minutes before he moved away.,.. his face showed the happiness and adoration. He took you by the hand and spoke in a sweet tone.

“I’ll help you forget the people that cause you pain... you’ll only remember me... and you’ll be happy and safe, we’ll be together for the rest of our lives.”

“Please... no... I’m begging you Aigaimi.”

“Oh! I almost forgot to tell you. My real name isn’t Aigami, it’s Diva. Since we’ll be together from now on, I should be honest with you.” He said and you began crying, Diva pulled you into a hug and cooed in your ear. It was fine, once you forgot that there had been others in your life, you’d never cry tears of sorrow or fear again. All you’d remember would be him, because all you needed and all you’d ever need, was him. 

[mpuzzlegirl]

I'm ridiculously happy with how the gold turned out on this!

[swingbakuraryou]

How is it that Ryou doesn’t have brain damage from the magical effects from the Millennium Ring, The Millennium Rod, and the bloody Quantum cube?

Series: It doesn’t hurt or really harms anyone, besides...look at all his friends! Who save him!

Fandom: He’s probably emotionally repressed with a cornucopia of issues. ADDRESS IT, YOU COWARDS!

[slifers-executive-writer]

After the events of Dark Side of Dimensions, Kaiba continues his journey to the afterlife in pursuit of a long awaited rematch with the Pharaoh. Little did he know that using the Quantum Cube would lead him and the world into great danger.

A trailer/sneak peek to a new project I’m working on. Please leave your reviews and/or comments. Feel free to also reblog and share with others who might be interested!