Round 9 Feature Match: Shinobu Imazu versus Ivan Cortez
Eight rounds of Swiss have passed, and one round remains in Day 1. Shinobu Imazu and Ivan Cortez both currently have 6-2 records, and are Dueling against one another for a shot at making it to Day 2. Imazu is using a Mermail Deck, while Cortez is piloting Harpies. Both Decks have been popular this weekend, but only one of them can prevail in this Feature Match. It’s time to Duel!
Duel One
Cortez Set a monster and Set 2 cards to his back row.
Imazu started off Duel 1 with Maxx “C”, Atlantean Marksman, Atlantean Dragoons, 2 copies of Atlantean Heavy Infantry, and Mermail Abysslinde. He Set Mermail Abysslinde and passed.
Cortez discarded Harpie Queen to add Harpies’ Hunting Ground from his Deck to his hand. Next, he discarded Cyber Harpie Lady to activate Hysteric Party. Imazu Chained Maxx “C” to draw a card when Cortez Special Summoned Cyber Harpie Lady and Harpie Queen from his Graveyard. Next, Cortez combined Cyber Harpie Lady with Harpie Queen to Xyz Summon Lightning Chidori, allowing Imazu to draw another card off of Maxx “C”. Cortez used his Chidori’s effect to send Imazu’s face-down Abysslinde to the bottom of his Deck, and then Flip Summoned Blackwing – Zephyros the Elite. He attacked directly with Zephyros and Lightning Chidori to drop Imazu down to 4500 Life Points. Cortez Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.
Imazu Summoned Mermail Abysspike and activated its effect by discarding Atlantean Dragoons. He added Atlantean Marksman to his hand with the effect of Abysspike and added Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand with the effect of his Dragoons. Next, he discarded 2 Marksmen to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo and used his Marksmen’s effects to target Cortez’s face-down back rows for destruction. Cortez Chained Torrential Tribute to wipe the field, and Imazu added Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand with the effect of Abyssmegalo. Imazu Set Abyss-sphere and Abyss-squall before ending his turn.
Cortez activated Harpies’ Hunting Ground and then Normal Summoned Harpie Channeler. He used his Hunting Ground’s effect to try to destroy Abyss-sphere, but Imazu Chained it to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck. Abyss-sphere and Mermail Abysslinde were sent to the Graveyard, and Imazu Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike from his Deck with Abysslinde’s effect. He discarded Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his hand to activate Abysspike’s effect and add Mermail Abyssgunde from his Deck to his hand. Cortez returned Hysteric Party to his hand to Special Summon Zephyros from his Graveyard by giving up 400 Life Points and then attacked over Abysspike with his 1800 ATK Zephyros to destroy it. He Set Hysteric Party before passing.
Imazu activated Abyss-squall next turn, Special Summoning Mermail Abysspike, Mermail Abyssmegalo, and Mermail Abysslinde from his Graveyard in Defense Position. He discarded Mermail Abyssgunde from his hand to activate Abysspike’s effect, even though its effect was negated, and then Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike from his Graveyard with the effect of Mermail Abyssgunde. Next, he combined both of his Abysspikes to Xyz Summon Bahamut Shark in Attack Position and Normal Summoned Mermail Abysslinde. He attacked Zephyros with Mermail Abysslinde and Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck in Attack Position when his Mermail Abysslinde was destroyed. Next, Bahamut Shark attacked and destroyed Zephyros, dropping Cortez down to 6800 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Imazu combined Mermail Abyssmegalo with Mermail Abyssleed to Xyz Summon Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, and detached an Xyz Material to Special Summon 2 Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens to the field. He Tributed 1 of them to destroy a face-down Hysteric Sign and then detached an Xyz Material from Bahamut Shark to Special Summon Mermail Abysstrite from his Extra Deck in Defense Position.
Cortez Set a card to his back row and passed.
Imazu attacked directly with Bahamut Shark and Dracossack to drop Cortez down to 1600 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, he detached an Xyz Material from Bahamut Shark to Special Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon in Attack Position. He Set a back row before ending his turn. Cortez activated Hysteric Party in his End Phase, and Special Summoned 3 Harpies from his Graveyard. He used the effect of his Hunting Ground to target Imazu’s newly Set Mystical Space Typhoon for destruction, but Imazu Chained Torrential Tribute to clear the field of everything except for his Dracossack!
Cortez drew a card on his next turn and conceded, unable to take down Dracossack!
Shinobu Imazu takes down Ivan Cortez’s Harpies with his Mermails in Duel 1! Ivan Cortez will be going first in Duel 2!
Duel Two
Cortez started off Duel 2 by activating Hysteric Sign to add Elegant Egotist from his Deck to his hand. Next, he Summoned Harpie Channeler and activated Elegant Egotist to Special Summon Cyber Harpie Lady from his Deck. Cortez Set 3 cards to his back row and then combined Cyber Harpie Lady with Harpie Channeler to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller.
Imazu opened up Duel 2 with Mermail Abyssgunde, Mermail Abysspike, Abyss-squall, Salvage, and 2 copies of Atlantean Heavy Infantry. He Set Atlantean Heavy Infantry and then ended his turn.
Cortez attacked Imazu’s face-down Atlantean Heavy Infantry with Abyss Dweller to destroy it and then ended his turn.
Imazu drew another Atlantean Heavy Infantry on his next turn. He Summoned Mermail Abysspike and activated its effect by discarding Atlantean Heavy Infantry. Cortez Chained the effect of Abyss Dweller to stop Atlantean Heavy Infantry’s effect, and then Chained Mistake to stop Mermail Abysspike from adding a card to Imazu’s hand.
Cortez Summoned Cyber Harpie Lady next turn. He attacked Mermail Abysspike with his Harpie to destroy it, and then attacked directly with Abyss Dweller.
Imazu drew Abyss-sphere and Set it.
Cortez attacked directly with Abyss Dweller, and Imazu activated Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck in Defense Position. Cortez entered his second Main Phase and then activated Dimensional Fissure. In his End Phase, Mermail Abysslinde was banished after Abyss-sphere went to the Graveyard.
Imazu drew Mermail Abyssteus next turn. “There’s no way I can Salvage this Duel,” Imazu said while activating Salvage. He immediately conceded, unable to take down Abyss Dweller, Mistake, and Dimensional Fissure.
Ivan Cortez completely shuts down Shinobu Imazu’s Deck with Abyss Dweller, Mistake, and Dimensional Fissure to win Duel 2 and push the Match to a final Duel!
Duel Three
Imazu opened up Duel 3 with Atlantean Dragoons, Mystical Space Typhoon, Mermail Abyssgunde, Deep Sea Diva, Abyss-sphere, and Mermail Abyssmegalo. He discarded Atlantean Dragoons and Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo from his hand and then used the effects of his Abyssmegalo and his Dragoons to add Mermail Abyssteus and Abyss-squall from his Deck to his hand. Neither player realized that Imazu can’t search for Abyssteus with the effect of Atlantean Dragoons, since Atlantean Dragoons can only get Sea Serpent Monsters and Abyssteus is an Aqua monster. Next, Imazu discarded Deep Sea Diva to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus from his hand, and used the effect of Mermail Abyssteus to add Mermail Abyssgunde from his Deck to his hand. Imazu combined Mermail Abyssteus with Mermail Abyssmegalo next, in order to Xyz Summon Mermail Abyssgaios. He Set 3 cards to his back row before ending his turn.
Cortez Set 3 cards to his back row and Set a monster.
Imazu drew Mystical Space Typhoon next turn. He attacked Cortez’s face-down monster with Abyssgaios, revealing Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo. Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo was destroyed in battle, and took down Abyssgaios with its effect. Imazu Set Mystical Space Typhoon before ending his turn.
Cortez Set a card to his back row and then Summoned Cardcar D. He Tributed it to draw 2 cards and end his turn. Imazu activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Cortez’s newly Set Hysteric Party in Cortez’s End Phase. Next, while still in Cortez’s End Phase, he activated Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck in Attack Position.
Imazu activated Abyss-squall on his next turn, Special Summoning Mermail Abyssteus, Mermail Abyssmegalo, and Mermail Abyssgunde from his Graveyard in Defense Position. He combined Mermail Abyssteus with Mermail Abyssmegalo to Xyz Summon Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, and then detached an Xyz Material from it to Special Summon 2 Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens to the field. Next, he combined Mermail Abyssgunde with Mermail Abysslinde to Xyz Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon, and detached Mermail Abysslinde from it to increase its ATK by 500. Imazu Tributed a Mecha Phantom Beast Token to try to destroy one of Cortez’s back rows, but Cortez Chained Fiendish Chain to negate Dracossack’s effect. Number 17: Leviathan Dragon attacked Cortez directly next, dropping him down to 5500 Life Points.
Cortez Summoned Harpie Channeler next turn and discarded Harpies’ Hunting Ground to Special Summon Harpie’s Pet Dragon from his Deck! This increased Channeler’s Level to 7, so Cortez combined his Pet Dragon with his Channeler to Xyz Summon Number 11: Big Eye! He detached an Xyz Material from Number 11: Big Eye to take control of Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, and then Tributed Dracossack to destroy Number 17: Leviathan Dragon with his Dracossack’s effect. Cortez Set a card to his back row before ending his turn. Imazu destroyed his Abyss-sphere in the End Phase and then activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Cortez’s newly Set Mistake.
Imazu discarded Mermail Abyssgunde and Mermail Abysslinde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo. He added Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand with the effect of his Abyssmegalo and Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Graveyard with the effect of Mermail Abyssgunde. Next, he combined both Abyssmegalos to Xyz Summon Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack in Defense Position, and detached an Xyz Material from it to Special Summon 2 more Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens. He Tributed 1 of them to try to destroy Number 11: Big Eye; but Cortez flipped Fiendish Chain to negate Dracossack’s effect.
Cortez detached an Xyz Material from Big Eye to take control of Dracossack and then Tributed Dracossack to destroy Imazu’s face-down Abyss-sphere. Imazu Chained the Abyss-sphere, but Cortez Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy the Abyss-sphere.
Imazu drew a card and passed.
Cortez attacked and destroyed a Token. He Set a card to his back row and then passed.
Imazu drew Overworked and Set it. Cortez flipped Hysteric Party in his End Phase, discarding Hysteric Sign and Special Summoning Harpie Channeler from his Graveyard. Cortez promptly conceded, knowing that Cortez would be adding 3 more Harpies from his Deck to his hand in the End Phase with the effect of Hysteric Sign.
Ivan Cortez is moving on to Day 2 with his Harpie Deck!
