Deus ex Machina by definition is when some new event, character, ability, or object solves a seemingly unsolvable problem in a sudden, unexpected way. Why am I repeating this? Cause some people don’t know the definition and call Ray and the En cards a Deus ex Machina so lets prove that false.
New Character
Ray was introduced in the sameepisodeasZarc. And she’s fully introduced the very nextepisode. She’s as new of a character as Zarc who she beats so she doesn’t fit in this way. And for the people saying Zarc’s influence was felt earlier, that’s wrong if anything Ray’s influence was felt earlier. We only saw Zarc’s influence in episode 37 when we saw the signs of Ray in episode 7.
New Ability or Object
Some people might be mad that the En cards beat Zarc BUT we’ve seen their influence LONG AGO when Yuzu’s bracelet teleported Yuto when Yuya arrived. The show and the fandom focused on her bracelet’s ability for so long that some people wanted Yuzu to stay away from the “plot” thus showing that Ray’s powers have been around since the start of the show. And if you claim to say the En cards are asspulls, the reveal that the En cardsARETHE BRACELETS thus the En cards having the power to stop Zarc has not only been part of the show since the start BUT it makes sense since Yuzu’s Bracelet has long since prevented the Dragon Boys from meeting and fusing.
New Event
The episode that formally introduces Ray shows her BEATINGZARC. So her beating Zarc again was NEVER and has NEVER been a new event. Similarly Ray has been active in-universe since episode 131 a good NINE episodes before Ray came back to defeat Zarc and she was around even after Reira lost to Reiji so Ray also didn’t just come back out of nowhere to save the day, she’s always been there.
Thus as you can see by Ray DOESN’T fit any definition of a Deus ex Machina and any idiot that thinks she does … please read/watch or play other media.
I like how you can hear Zarc’s voice turn into Yuya, Yuto, Yugo and Yuri’s voices at the end. And just how they’re showing who’s the good guy and bad guy. Zarc’s face is shrouded by darkness while Ray’s is illuminated by light. Simple but effective
Yuya having the dubious "honor" of being Zarc's favorite is somehow hilarious to me? I'm just imagining the bracelet girls going to Ray and asking, "Hey, who's your favorite reincarnation?" and Ray responds, "I don't have a favorite. You're all equally special to me." Meanwhile, the Yu boys go ask Zarc, "Hey who's-" and Zarc, not looking up from what's he's doing, replies, "Yuya."