We’re moving onto Round 2 here at the North America World Championship Qualifier! For this round’s Feature Match, it’s a battle of old versus new. On one hand, we have Steven Jeffrey Barris, playing a Deck that combines cards from the Tenpai Dragon, Fiendsmith, and Bystial themes! On the other hand, Genesis Francisco Gadioma is playing the Orcust Mitsurugi Deck, featuring two new Orcust Link Monsters that made their debut in Battles of Legend: Monster Mayhem. Which one of the Duelists will advance to the next round with an undefeated record? Let’s find out! It’s time to Duel! 

Duel 1

Barris won the die roll and chose to go first! He opened with Branded Regained, Tenpai Dragon Fadra, Mulcharmy Fuwalos, Tenpai Dragon Paidra, and Nibiru, the Primal Being. He started by Normal Summoning Paidra and activating its effect to Set Sangen Summoning from his Deck. He then activated Summoning, and activated its effect to search for Tenpai Dragon Chundra and discard Fuwalos. On resolution, Gadioma activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird! Afterward, Barris Special Summoned Chundra, then used Chundra and Paidra to Link Summon Hieratic Seal of the Heavenly Spheres and ended his turn. 

Gadioma started by Normal Summoning Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji and activated its effect to search for Mitsurugi Ritual. Next, he activated Ritual, Tributing Saji from his field and Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi from his hand to Ritual Summon Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi from his Deck! He activated Kusanagi’s effect to add Mitsurugi Ritual back to hand and Murakumo’s effect to destroy all monsters on Barris’ side of the field. Here, Barris attempted to activate the effect of Hieratic Seal, Tributing it, but Gadioma responded with Called by the Grave! Gadioma entered the Battle Phase and attacked Barris’ Life Points directly with Murakumo, then ended his turn. 

Barris drew Droll & Lock Bird for turn! He activated the effect of Sangen Summoning, searching for Tenpai Dragon Genroku and discarding Nibiru, then activated Genroku’s effect to Special Summon it from his hand. He Tributed Genroku to Special Summon another Paidra from his Deck. Gadioma Chained the effect of Murakumo, forcing Barris to discard Branded Regained in order to resolve Paidra’s effect to search for Sangen Kaimen. Barris then Normal Summoned Fadra and Special Summoned Chundra from the Graveyard and entered the Battle Phase. 

Barris used Chundra to attack Murakumo, then activated Chundra’s effect to Special Summon another Genroku from the Deck. He attacked Murakumo with Paidra and Chundro, then activated Chundra’s effect, using Chundra and Genroku to Synchro Summon Sangenpai Bident Dragion. He activated Bident’s effect, Special Summoning Chundra from the Graveyard, then activated Paidra’s effect, using Paidra and Bident to Synchro Summon Sangenpai Transcendent Dragion! He Special Summoned back the Bident, then activated Fadra’s effect, using Fadra and Bident to Synchro Summon Trident Dragion! Finally, he activated Trident’s effect, destroying Summoning and Chundra. He used effect of the destroyed Summoning to double the Attack Points of Trident, and attacked Gadioma 3 times with Trident Dragion to win the first Duel!

Duel 2

Barris’ opening hand consisted of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Nibiru, the Primal Being, Lightning Storm, Fabled Lurrie, and Tenpai Dragon Fadra. 

Gadioma started his turn by activating the effect of Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi, but Barris Chained the effect of Ash Blossom! Gadioma then Normal Summoned Orcust Harp Horror, and used it to Link Summon Galatea-i, the Orcust Automaton. He activated Galatea-i’s effect, discarding Habakiri and searching for Orcustrated Babel, then activated Babel. Next, he banished Harp to Special Summon Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight from his Deck and send Orcust Knightmare to the Graveyard. He used Girsu and Galatea-i to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, then activated Galatea’s effect to return Harp to the Deck and Set Orcust Crescendo. 

Next, Gadioma activated Mitsurugi Prayers, Tributing Habakiri from his hand and searching for another Habakiri, then activated the effect of the Tributed Habakiri to search for Mitsurugi Ritual. He activated Ritual, Tributing Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi and Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji from his Deck to Ritual Summon Habakiri, then used Kusanagi and Saji’s effects to add Ritual and another copy of Prayers to his hand. He activated Ritual again, Tributing Habakiri from the field to Special Summon Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi from the Deck. Gadioma used Galatea to Xyz Summon Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, then used Dingirsu and Murakumo to Link Summon I:P Masquerena! He Special Summoned Galatea-i from the Graveyard by Banishing Girsu from his Graveyard, then Set a card to his backrow. Before he could end his turn, however, Barris activated the effect of Nibiru, the Primal Being! Gadioma still ended his turn. 

Barris drew Mulcharmy Fuwalos for turn! During the Standby Phase, Gadioma Special Summoned Galatea-i from the Graveyard by banishing Galatea, wanting to get an Orcust Link Monster onto the field so that he could activate Crescendo. Barris proceeded straight to the Battle Phase, attempting to attack Galatea-i with Nibiru, but Gadioma activated Mitsurugi Prayers, Special Summoning Murakumo from the Graveyard and destroying Barris’ Nibiru. In Main Phase 2, Barris activated Lightning Storm, but Gadioma responded with Orcust Crescendo, negating it! Barris then Normal Summoned Fabled Lurrie. Here, Gadioma activated the effect of Orcust Knightmare, sending Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to the Graveyard, threatening to Special Summon back Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star from the Graveyard.. Barris used Lurrie to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, but when he activated its effect, it was met by the effect of Gadioma’s Ash Blossom! With no other ways to push through Gadioma’s board, Barris conceded the second Duel. 

Duel 3

Barris’ opening hand contained Solemn Strike, Nibiru, the Primal Being, Artifact Lancea, Bystial Magnamhut, and Mulcharmy Fuwalos. During the Standby Phase, Gadioma activated the effect of Mulcharmy Purulia! However, Barris simply Set a card to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Gadioma started his turn by activating Harpie’s Feather Duster, destroying the face-down Solemn Strike! Next, he activated the effect of Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi, but Barris Chained the effect of Fuwalos. Gadioma summoned and then Tributed Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji, allowing him to search for Mitsurugi Ritual, as Barris drew The Bystial Lubellion. Next, Gadioma activated Mitsurugi Ritual, Tributing Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Aramasa from his Deck and Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi from his hand to Ritual Summon Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi. He added Mitsurugi Ritual from his Graveyard back to his hand and searched for another copy of Habakiri. He then activated Mitsurugi Ritual again, Tributing the Habakiri from his hand to Special Summon Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi from the Deck, searching for Mitsurugi Prayers as Barris drew Tenpai Dragon Paidra. 

Gadioma then entered the Battle Phase. Barris activated the effect of Bystial Magnamhut, attempting to banish Gadioma’s Kusanagi from the Graveyard, but Gadioma responded by activating Mitsurugi Prayers, Tributing Murakumo, searching for another Habakiri, and Special Summoning back the Kusanagi. Gadioma activated the effect of the Tributed Murakumo, searching for another Prayers and then Special Summoning it back, and attacked Barris’ Life Points directly with Habakiri and Murakumo. In Main Phase 2, Gadioma used Murakumo and Habakiri to Xyz Summon The Zombie Vampire, and Barris drew another copy of Artifact Lancea. However, in response to the summon, Garris activated the effect of Nibiru, the Primal Being, Tributing the Zombie before Gadioma could activate its effect! Gadioma Set two cards to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Barris drew Sangen Summoning for turn! He started his turn by activating Summoning, then Normal Summoned Tenpai Dragon Paidra and searching for Sangen Kaimen. On resolution, Gadioma activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird, and Barris Chained the Sangen Kaimen to search for Tenpai Dragon Chundra. Next, Barris attempted to Special Summon Chundra from his hand, but Gadioma Chained Dominus Impulse! Barris used Nibiru and Chundra to Link Summon Moon of the Closed Heaven. Here, Barris activated Prayers, intending to Special Summon Murakumo and destroy Moon, but Barris Chained the effect of Bystial Magnamhut, banishing Murakumo from the Graveyard! Gadioma resolved Prayers to Special Summon Kusanagi and and add the banished Murakumo back to hand. 

Next, Barris used Moon to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem. He activated Requiem’s effect, Tributing it to Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears from the Deck and send Fiendsmith Engraver to the Graveyard. Barris then used Lacrima and Magnamhut to Synchro Summon Chaos Angel and activated its effect to banish Kusanagi! He Special Summoned Engraver from the Graveyard by returning Moon to the Extra Deck, equipped Engraver with Requiem, then used Engraver’s effect to send the Primal Being Token to the Graveyard. He entered the Battle Phase and attacked Gadioma’s Life Points directly with Chaos Angel and Engraver, then ended his turn. 

Gadioma evaluated the game state and realized that he did not have the resources to deal with Barris’ Chaos Angel, as it was both unaffected by monster effects and could not be destroyed by battle. He conceded the final Duel.

Barris is moving onto the next round here at the NAWCQ with an undefeated record!