I was gonna mention this scene in my previous post but I wanted to give it more specific attention. Because I feel it goes overlooked. Z-Arc is depicted as sympathetic. Call it last minute or small if you want but this little moment of empathy from what is essentially one of Z-Arc’s reincarnations does affect Z-Arc. Deeply. Z-Arc, who is within baby Layra and at least has partial control at this point, bursts out crying in response to this:
This is clearly the first time anyone has understood Z-Arc. And it’s this duel, this realisation that Yuya fights for, that reforms Z-Arc and makes them not just smile (which was their goal) but laugh.
Z-Arc has a second chance as Layra, now remembering what it was they were fighting for in the first place and being able to smile again. As much as I wish it weren’t Layra of all characters, this is still a good ending for Z-Arc’s character. It works for me at least. Maybe Z-Arc didn’t get the recognition he deserved, but he got the recognition he needed.