 Ohba considered having Mello be the character who ultimately defeats Light . According to Ohba , after the disappearance of Sidoh , the writer " struggled " with Mello 's role . Ohba 's idea of Mello ultimately defeating Light and Near , being " the best " , was strong in his mind , but once Mello had " learned too much about the Death Note " , he had to kill him to " sustain the intensity of the story " . As a result , Ohba did not give Mello a " large role " at the conclusion of Death Note and instead had Mello negatively affect Light " indirectly " . Ohba gave Mello a " very plain " death , depicted in only one panel ; he felt that if Mello had perished " dramatically " it would reveal the truth behind his death . 
