"Any card—so long as it exists—has a power that is needed."

averie-anne:

GUYS. WHY DIDN’T THIS HIT ME BEFORE.

THEY’RE IN A VIRTUAL WORLD. ONLY THEIR MINDS ARE PRESENT, NOT THEIR BODIES.

AND YOU KNOW WHO ELSE HAS A MIND BUT NOT A BODY?

If you apply the hardware-software metaphor, it’s possible for Atem to be present in Noa’s virtual world even though his soul is attached to the puzzle. And seeing how the Big 5 can still separate themselves while sharing Tristan’s form…

THEN THAT MEANS ATEM COULD’VE SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM YUGI AT ANY TIME IN THIS ARC. SERIOUSLY.