Some say destiny does not exist, but Zach Stone facing off against Ed Elton Acepcion is viewable proof. Best friends and longtime companions, Stone and Acepcion have been Dueling against each other trying to improve their skill for years, now finally having a chance to prove it. They not only practiced with each other, but traveled and are even staying together this weekend. A bond stronger than the one these two have would be hard to find, and this Duel will test that.

Stone has chosen to sleeve up Nekroz while Acepcion’s weapon of choice for the weekend was Burning Abyss. Both have extensive mastery of their respective strategies, but who will come out on top? Tears were shed as players shuffled and presented their Decks. An exchange of good luck and a hand shake was made as well as the Duelists began to mentally prepare for the Duel of a lifetime.

Stone won the roll and choe for Acepcion to go first.

Duel One:

Acepcion snapped down Foolish Burial, using it to send Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss which then triggered to Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss next and overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He detached Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to send Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Breakthrough Skill to the Graveyard, then used Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He then followed it up by Special Summoning Barbar, Malkebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand and overlaying for a second copy of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He Set two to his back row and ended his turn, adding Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand during the End Phase via the effect of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Stone opened with Nekroz Kaleidoscope, Nekroz of Unicore, Nekroz Mirror, Torrential Tribute, and Reinforcement of the Army before he drew Nekroz Cycle for turn. Stone activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope and sent Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore. The Herald of the Arc Light triggered and Stone added Nekroz of Brionac, which he then ditched to add Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz to his hand. He activated the Nekroz Cycle, tributing Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz, to Special Summon Nekroz of Brionac from his Graveyard. The Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz activated and Stone added Nekroz of Trishula to his hand, but when he tried to activate Nekroz Mirror, Acepcion had Fiend Griefing shuffling back Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz and making it so Stone could not resolve the Ritual Spell! The Fiend Griefing sent Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to try to banish Nekroz of Brionac, but Stone stopped it with Nekroz of Trishula. He tried to activate the effect of Nekroz of Brionac but Acepcion had Skill Drain to stop it! Stone Set Torrential Tribute before he ended.

Acepcion detached materials from both copies of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending a flurry of cards to the Graveyard and triggering both a Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. The Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss got Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Deck, and the Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Special Summoned Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Those two were used as Synchro Materials for Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss, and Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Acepcion went to Battle Phase and declared an attack over Nekroz of Unicore with Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss, then moved to Main Phase 2 and then overlayed Downerd Magician over both of his Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in succession but Stone used Torrential Tribute on the second Summon! The whole Field but Skill Drain hit the Graveyard, causing two copies of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in addition to Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss to trigger. Acepcion added The Traveler and the Burning Abyss and Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand and drew a card, then Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Set two to his back row before he ended. He added Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand during the End Phase thanks to Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Stone drew Breakthrough Skill for turn and banished Nekroz of Brionac and Nekroz Cycle from his Graveyard to add Nekroz Cycle. He then banished Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz Mirror to add another Nekroz Mirror to his hand. He activated Reinforcement of the Army next, adding back that Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz that was shuffled back into the Deck earlier. When Stone tried to activate Nekroz Cycle Acepcion Flipped Mind Crush naming Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz and the game was over!

Both Duelists shared light banter as they moved to their Side Decks. Things were suddenly much less tense as if the two were simply Dueling for fun, but we all know the stakes are much higher here. Only one can advance to the Top 4 and the other will be left behind.

Stone chose for Acepcion to go first.

Duel Two:

Acepcion started with the Special Summon of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and then Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, detaching Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and sending a bunch of Spells and Traps to the Graveyard. He Set two to his back row.

Stone opened with Nekroz of Unicore, Nekroz of Clausolas, Nekroz of Brionac, Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands, and Denko Sekka before he drew Nekroz Kaleidoscope for turn. “Are you respecting Denko?” Stone asked. “No.” Replied Acepcion. Sadder words were never spoken as Denko Sekka hit the board and Stone began going off. He started with Nekroz Kaleidoscope into Nekroz of Unicore by sending Herald of the Arc Light which let him add Nekroz Cycle. He activated Nekroz of Brionac next to add Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz, then activated Nekroz Cycle to Special Summon Nekroz of Brionac and tribute Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz. The Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz triggered and Stone added Nekroz of Trishula to his hand. He then activated Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Mirror and activated it to Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula and Acepcion conceded!

An unfortunate mill followed by an absurdly strong opening backed by Denko Sekka allows Stone to completely decimate Acepcion in the second Duel. Things began to tense up again just as they both realized that this would be it: one final Duel.

Acepcion chose to go first.

Duel Three:

Acepcion started off with a Special Summoned Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and followed it up with a Special Summoned Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He detached three materials sending nothing relevant to the Graveyard, then Set two back row in addition to a Monster and ended.

Stone opened with Nekroz of Unicore, Nekroz of Valkyrus, Mystical Space Typhoon, Nekroz Mirror, and Royal Decree before he drew Nekroz Cycle for turn. Stone sat for a minute and chose to Set Royal Decree and Mystical Space Typhoon to his back row before he ended.

Acepcion drew for turn and detached Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending no relevant cards once again. Acepcion Flipped his Set Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Normal Summoned a Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He overlayed the two Cir for another Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then used its effect to send three cards to the Graveyard, including Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and triggered both the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss he detached and Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. The Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Special Summoned Barbar, Malkebranche of the Burning Abyss, and the Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Special Summoned Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He overlayed both of those Malebranches for a third copy of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, detaching Barbar, Malkebranche of the Burning Abyss and filling his Graveyard even more. The Barbar, Malkebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered and burnt Stone for 900 Life Points, allowing the three copies of 2500 ATK Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to finish him off!

And that was it! Both Duelists exploded from the table and exchanged an embrace, but only Ed Elton Acepcion will be advancing this weekend into the Top 4 of YCS Dallas.