With eight Duelists left in the round, we had 4 Lightsworn, 2 Blackwing, 1 Twilight, and 1 DARK Norleras Deck still in contention. This round we’ll see Herman Herrera take his Blackwing – Vayu Deck against Paul Clarke’s Lightsworn Deck. The winner here would move on to the Top 4, where he would have two chances to take home a “Dark End Dragon.”

Clarke opened with “Charge of the Light Brigade,” sending “Gold Sarcophagus,” “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” and another Charge to the Graveyard to get “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” to his hand. He Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” discarded Aurkus, and Special Summoned Aurkus back with Lumina’s effect. He Set a card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone, and then sent “Foolish Burial,” “Solar Recharge,” “Beckoning Light,” “Threatening Roar,” and another Lumina to the Graveyard during the End Phase.

Herrera had a hand of “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn,” “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind,” “Mirror Force,” “Mystical Space Typhoon,” “Pot of Avarice,” and “Heavy Storm.” He activated “Heavy Storm” and Clark Chained “Trap Dustshoot”! Clarke sent Sirocco back to Herrera’s Deck.

Herrera Summoned Gale, attacked Lumina, and Clarke discarded “Honest” to destroy Gale. Herrera Set a card to his back row and ended. Clarke turned Aurkus to Defense Position, attacked with Lumina, and Set a monster. He sent “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin,” “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast,” “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior,” “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” to his Graveyard in the End Phase, Special Summoning Wulf.

Herrera Set a second card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone. Clarke activated “Cold Wave” next turn and Herrera had no response. Clarke sent a card to the top of his Deck, Special Summoned “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and Tuned Plaguespreader to Lumina to Synchro Summon “Magical Android.” He Flip Summoned “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter,” sent “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to the Graveyard with Ryko’s effect, and Herrera instantly conceded!

Paul Clarke takes full control over the first Duel and scores the win in just three turns! Herrera was under the gun, and had to win the second Duel just to stay alive in this tournament. Both competitors made extensive use of their Side Decks before starting Duel 2.

“I was not prepared for Vayu Turbo,” remarked Clarke, fiddling with a few copies of “Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror” he was considering rotating into his Main Deck. Herrera didn’t reply, deep in thought about how he was going to pull out the next two Duels. “Good luck,” offered Clarke.

“I’ll choose to go first,” announced Herrera. He was holding “Plaguespreader Zombie,” “Burial From a Different Dimension,” “Charge of the Light Brigade,” “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” “Card Trooper,” and “D.D. Crow.” He Set “Plaguespreader Zombie” and ended.

Clarke thought through his moves and seemed to run a few numbers in his head. He activated “Gold Sarcophagus,” removed “Judgment Dragon” from his Deck, and Set a monster. Herrera drew “Legendary Jujitsu Master,” Summoned “Card Trooper,” and sent “Charge of the Light Brigade,” “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind,” and “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness” to the Graveyard with Trooper’s effect. Trooper ran into “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter,” which destroyed “Plaguespreader Zombie,” sending “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” , Charge, and “Honest” to the Graveyard. Herrera finished his turn by Setting a card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone.

Clarke Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” attacked “Card Trooper” to destroy it (giving Herrera a draw with Trooper’s ability), and Clarke activated Lyla’s effect. Herrera Chained the targeted “Burial From a Different Dimension” to send the removed “Judgment Dragon” to Clarke’s Graveyard! Clarke would not be able to get his “Judgment Dragon” with the effect of “Gold Sarcophagus.” Clarke reeled at that, but Special Summoned “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” in the End Phase, after sending it to the Graveyard with Lyla’s effect.

Herrera activated “Charge of the Light Brigade,” sending “Call of the Haunted,” “Torrential Tribute,” and another “D.D. Crow” to his Graveyard to search for “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.” He had Ryko, “D.D. Crow,” “Dark Grepher,” “Light-Imprisoning Mirror,” Lyla, and “Legendary Jujitsu Master” in-hand. He Set a monster, Set another card, and ended. Clarke activated “Cold Wave”! Herrera Chained “Light-Imprisoning Mirror.”

He Summoned “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid,” attacked, and “Legendary Jujitsu Master’s” effect sent Aurkus back to the top of Clarke’s Deck. Clarke ended. Herrera Normal Summoned “Dark Grepher,” discarded “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor” to send “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn” to his Graveyard with Grepher’s effect, then placed a card on top of his Deck to Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie.” He removed Vayu and Sirocco, Special Summoned “Blackwing Armed Wing,” and Tuned “Plaguespreader Zombie” to it to Synchro Summon “Colossal Fighter.” It had 2900 ATK, and Herrera sent it after “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to destroy it. Grepher attacked Lyla, and the Duel stood at 6600 Life Points to 6700 with Herrera narrowly leading.

Clarke Summoned “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin,” attacked over “Dark Grepher,” and Set one card to his back row. Herrera attacked Jain with “Colossal Fighter” next turn, and Clarke was down to 5400 Life Points. Herrera Set a monster.

“Solar Recharge” let Clarke discard Aurkus to draw two cards, sending “Heavy Storm” and “Judgment Dragon” to the Graveyard – two of the cards he’d certainly hoped to draw since he was up against “Light-Imprisoning Mirror.” He Set a monster and ended.

Herrera attacked with “Colossal Fighter,” destroyed Clarke’s face-down “Necro Gardna,” and Herrera Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” Herrera activated “D.D. Crow’s” effect in the End Phase, stripping Clarke of “Necro Gardna.” Herrera Flip Summoned (yes, Flip Summoned!) “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” tried to move into his Battle Phase, and was stopped by “Threatening Roar.” He Set “Necro Gardna” and Lumina attacked into it next turn. Clarke Set another monster.

“Colossal Fighter” attacked Lumina next turn, dropping Clarke to 3000 Life Points. Lyla attacked his face-down “Necro Gardna,” destroying it, and Herrera Set another card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone. “Charge of the Light Brigade” sent another “Necro Gardna” to Clarke’s Graveyard, nabbing him Aurkus. Clarke Set a monster and ended.

“Colossal Fighter” attacked, “Necro Gardna” shut it down, and Herrera Set a monster instead of attacking with Lyla. Clarke sent “Plaguespreader Zombie” to his Graveyard with “Foolish Burial,” and Tributed his face-down Aurkus for “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel.” He sent his last card to his Deck to Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie,” Tuned it to Celestia, and cleared the field with “Black Rose Dragon”! Clarke had no cards left.

Herrera drew to three in hand, Set a card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone, and Clarke Summoned “Honest” next turn. He attacked, then returned “Honest” to his hand. Herrera activated “Allure of Darkness,” removed his “Dark Armed Dragon,” and Normal Summoned “Dimensional Alchemist.” He activated its effect, sent “Lightning Vortex” from the top of his Deck out of the game, and attacked for 1800 damage. Clarke Set a monster (likely “Honest”), and Herrera Special Summoned “Chaos Sorcerer” by removing Lyla and “D.D. Crow” from his Graveyard! He Normal Summoned “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer” and Clarke scooped!

Herman Herrera draws “Light-Imprisoning Mirror” and rides it all the way to victory, as Paul Clarke just can’t seem to find footing in the Duel! Both competitors made more extensive use of their Side Decks.

“That Mirror got me all game,” groaned Clarke as he shuffled up. The pressure was on. Clarke would have the advantage of going first in the third Duel, but needed to use his Side Deck really carefully to make the most of that. “Good luck again,” wished Clarke. “You too” replied Herrera, a bit more talkative now that he wasn’t down a Duel.

Clarke discarded “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” for “Solar Recharge,” drawing two cards and sending “Beckoning Light” and “Plaguespreader Zombie” to his Graveyard. He removed “Charge of the Light Brigade” with “Gold Sarcophagus,” then Set a card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone. A Set monster finished his turn.

Herrera drew and had “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind,” “Plaguespreader Zombie,” “Dimensional Alchemist,” “Dark Grepher,” “Burial From a Different Dimension,” and “Legendary Jujitsu Master.” He Summoned Alchemist, removed another Alchemist from his Deck with Alchemist’s effect, and attacked Clarke’s face-down “Necro Gardna” to destroy it. Clarke Set a monster – his only move next turn. Herrera drew “Dark Armed Dragon.”

He activated Alchemist’s effect again, this time removing “Armageddon Knight” from the game. He Normal Summoned “Dark Grepher,” discarded “Plaguespreader Zombie” for Grepher’s effect, and sent “Necro Gardna” to the Graveyard. Grepher attacked, but Clarke’s face-down monster was “Honest”! Neither of Herrera’s attackers could get through it. Herrera set Burial, and Clarke activated “Royal Decree” in Herrera’s End Phase.

Clarke drew, took his “Charge of the Light Brigade,” and sent “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior,” and “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” to the Graveyard to search his Deck for Lumina. He Summoned her, placed a card on top of his Deck to Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and discarded “Threatening Roar” to Special Summon Lyla with Lumina’s effect. He activated Lyla’s effect, and Herrera Chained “Necro Gardna’s” effect, then Chained “Burial From a Different Dimension” to send his Alchemist, “Armageddon Knight,” and Gardna back to his Graveyard. “Necro Gardna” would negate whatever Clarke’s next attack was.

He attacked with Lumina, the attack was negated, and “Goyo Guardian” attacked “Dark Grepher” – Herrera removed “Necro Gardna” to stop the attack. Clarke returned “Honest” to his hand, then activated a second “Gold Sarcophagus.” This time he removed “Judgment Dragon” from the game. He sent “Threatening Roar,” “Royal Decree,” and “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” to his Graveyard with Lumina’s effect.

Herrera discarded “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor” for Grepher’s effect, sending “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn” to the same destination from his Deck. He placed a card on top of his Deck to Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie,” had three DARKs in his Graveyard, and Special Summoned “Dark Armed Dragon”! He removed “Armageddon Knight” to destroy Lumina, removed Vayu and Sirocco to Special Summon “Blackwing Armed Wing,” and Tuned “Plaguespreader Zombie” to Grepher to Synchro Summon “Goyo Guardian.”

He Special Summoned “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind” next! He pumped up “Dimensional Alchemist’s” ATK, removed another DARK Attribute monster to clear the field with “Dark Armed Dragon,” and attacked with everything for game.

Herman Herrera moves on, and Vayu Turbo is in the Top 4!