Taking a break from the Ultimate Duelist Series – Winter Invitational Main Event, there are some pretty awesome Side Events going on. The most popular one currently is the Konami Bounty event, so not only do Duelists have the chance to win prizes from Konami employees, but random rules are announced during each Round that can throw a Duel into utter chaos! In the final Round of this tournament, we have chosen none other than the President of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. US to feature: Yasuyuki Yamaji. Yamaji-san is Dueling with Kozmos, and packing a bunch of sweet Premium Gold: Infinite Gold cards in his Deck. His opponent, Luis Castro, has chosen Atlantean Mermail for this event, trying to take advantage of its explosive power.

An announcement was made before the Round that if Yamaji-san loses, every participant will win a playmat! Can Castro defeat Yamaji-san with such a weight on his shoulders? Or will Yamaji-san get a chance to show the world his Dueling skills?

Yamaji-san won the roll and chose to go first.

It’s Time to Duel!

Duel One:

Yamaji-san started with a hand of Solemn Strike, Kozmo Dark Destroyer, Kozmo Dark Eclipser, Kozmo Strawman, and Kozmojo. But before he could play a single card, a special rule was announced and both Duelists got to draw the bottom card of their Deck! Yamaji-san drew Kozmo Farmgirl. He Normal Summoned Kozmo Tincan and Set both of his Traps to the Graveyard, and when he moved to End Phase he activated the effect of Kozmo Tincan to reveal Kozmo Dark Destroyer, Kozmo Sliprider, and Kozmo Forerunner. Ultimately, Kozmo Forerunner found its way to his hand before he activated the other effect of Kozmo Tincan to Special Summon Kozmo Forerunner. He ended his turn.

Castro drew for turn and tributed his opponent’s Kozmo Forerunner to Special Summon Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju. He activated Upstart Goblin next, granting Yamaji-san 1000 Life Points so that he could draw a card. But, before anything else happened, a new rule was announced! Both players were forced to discard their hands and draw the same number of cards. Yamaji-san drew Call of the Haunted, Kozmo DOG Fighter, and Kozmotown. Castro pressed on with Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince, but when he used its effect to send Atlantean Dragoons to the Graveyard, Yamaji-san negated its effect with Solemn Strike! Castro still got to add Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand, but before anything else happened there was another rule! Both Duelists were given the option of putting a Monster from their hand into play, but it was not considered a Summon. In addition, these Monsters could attack directly! Castro put Mermail Abyssturge while Yamaji-san put Kozmo DOG Fighter into play. Castro activated Mermail Abyssmegalo next, discarding two copies of Atlantean Heavy Infantry, to Special Summon the mighty Sea Serpent. Yamaji-san responded with Kozmojo, destroying his own Kozmo DOG Fighter to banish the opposing Mermail Abyssmegalo. Mermail Abyssmegalo still triggered, letting Castro add Abyss-scale of Mizuchi to his hand. Then, he activated Instant Fusion, Special Summoning Elder Entity Norden from his Extra Deck and using its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons. He overlayed both for Abyss Dweller, then activated its effect detaching Atlantean Dragoons. The Atlantean Dragoons triggered, and Castro added Deep Sea Diva to his hand. Then another rule was announced, and both Duelists were forced to banish both of their Graveyards! Castro activated Book of Moon to Flip down the opposing Kozmo, then equipped his Abyss-scale of Mizuchi to the Mermail Abyssturge. He destroyed the Set Kozmo Sliprider by battle with Abyss Dweller, then a direct attack with Mermail Abyssturge.

Castro Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva and activated its effect, prompting Yamaji-san to activate Maxx “C”. He drew Emergency Teleport as Castro Special Summoned Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince. Castro then used the effect of Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince to send Atlantean Dragoons. Both Dragoons and the Prince triggered, letting Castro add Mermail Abyssmegalo and Atlantean Marksman to his hand. He then discarded Atlantean Marksman along with another WATER to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo. Yamaji-san drew Emergency Teleport off of Maxx “C”. The Atlantean Marksman triggered and Castro attempted to destroy Yamaji-san’s Set Call of the Haunted, but Yamaji-san Chained it to Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider. Castro activated Mermail Abyssmegalo next, tributing Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince to give it an additional attack. Then the effect of Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince triggered, letting Castro Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons from his Graveyard. Yamaji-san drew Kozmo Farmgirl. He then overlayed Atlantean Dragoons with Mermail Abyssturge for Bahamut Shark! Yamaji-san drew Kozmojo. He activated the effect of Abyss Dweller next, and then moved to Battle Phase. Without a way to stop the onslaught, Yamaji-san conceded!

Castro showcases the explosive nature of Atlantean Mermail as he seizes the first Duel. Can Yamaji-san manage to win two Duels back to back? Or will Castro claim victory along with prizes for everyone?

Yamaji-san chose to go first.

Duel Two:

Yamaji-san opened with a hand of Call of the Haunted, Kozmo Dark Eclipser, Kozmo Tincan, Raigeki, and Kozmojo. He Normal Summoned Kozmo Tincan and used its effect during the End Phase to reveal Kozmo Dark Destroyer, Kozmo Forerunner, and Kozmo Sliprider. Ultimately, Kozmo Sliprider was added to Yamaji-san’s hand and the other two hit the Graveyard.

Castro drew and Normal Summoned Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince. However, in response to the Normal Summon, Yamaji-san responded with Kozmojo! Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince was banished but it still go its effect, sending Atlantean Dragoons to the Graveyard so that he could add Atlantean Marksman to his hand. Then the effect of Atlantean Dragoons triggered, letting Castro add Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand. He followed it up by discarding Atlantean Marksman and Atlantean Heavy Infantry to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo! He activated both the effect of Atlantean Marksman and Mermail Abyssmegalo, but Yamaji-san responded with Call of the Haunted to Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer! He used its effect to destroy the opposing Mermail Abyssmegalo, but it still searched Abyss-scale of the Mizuchi. Castro activated Salvage to add back Atlantean Marksman and Atlantean Heavy Infantry to his hand

Yamaji-san drew Kozmotown for turn. He activated it, then used the effect of Kozmotown to shuffle back Kozmo Dark Eclipser and Kozmo Sliprider to draw Kozmo Farmgirl and Kozmo Dark Eclipser. He used the other effect, Kozmotown to add back Kozmo Dark Destroyer at the cost of some Life Points. He then Normal Summoned Kozmo Farmgirl and declared a direct attack. After it dealt damage, he used its effect to add Kozmojo to his hand. He activated the effect of Kozmo Farmgirl next, banishing it to Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer. He declared a direct with Kozmo Dark Destroyer before he ended, but time was called.

Castro drew on turn one. He Set a Monster and ended his turn.

Yamaji-san drew Kozmo Dark Destroyer, now turn two. He activated the effect of Kozmotown and paid 300 Life Points to add back Kozmo Farmgirl, leaving him with 5900 Life Points to Castro’s 2500. He declared an attack with Kozmo Dark Destroyer over Castro’s Set Mermail Abysslinde, which prompted Castro to activate its effect and Special Summon Mermail Abysspike. He used its effect, ditching Atlantean Marksman, to add Mermail Abyssgunde to his hand. The Atlantean Marksman then triggered, and Yamaji-san lost his Set Kozmojo. He activated Raigeki next to clear away the Mermail Abysspike, and ended his turn.

Castro drew and Special Summoned Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord! Yamaji-san lost Kozmo Farmgirl and Kozmo Dark Eclipser from his hand to its effect. Castro activated Upstart Goblin next, granting Yamaji-san another 1000 Life Points so that he could draw a card. He activated Twin Twister next, ditching his in hand Mermail Abyssgunde to destroy Yamaji-san’s Kozmotown. Yamaji-san got to search Kozmo Dark Destroyer, while Castro Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo with Mermail Abyssgunde. Castro equipped it with Abyss-scale of Mizuchi and moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack with Mermail Abyssmegalo,destroying Yamaji-san’s Kozmo Dark Destroyer. Yamaji-san used its effect to Special Summon Kozmo Sliprider, then used the effect of Kozmo Sliprider to destroy Castro’s Abyss-scale of Mizuchi. Castro declared another attack with Mermail Abyssmegalo over Yamaji-san’s Kozmo Sliprider, which let him Special Summon Kozmoll Wickedwitch. Yamaji-san kicked into gear, next activating the effect of Kozmoll Wickedwitch to Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer from his hand! The Kozmo Dark Destroyer triggered and the Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord was destroyed! Without a way to deal Battle Damage the following turn, Castro conceded!

Things were about as tense as you could imagine! Yamaji-san claimed victory so that he could have one final Duel! This Duel will only last four turns, two each, because of time. Thus, whoever has higher Life Points at the end of the fourth turn will win the Duel. Can Castro steal a win to shower everyone in prizes? Or will Yamaji-san show off his Kozmo mastery and defeat the Atlantean Mermail menace?

Duel Three:

Yamaji-san started with Kozmo Goodwitch, Kozmoll Wickedwitch, Maxx “C”, Solemn Warning, and Kozmo Strawman. He Normal Summoned Kozmoll Wickedwitch and Set Solemn Warning before he ended his turn.

Castro drew and studied his hand while he thought, ultimately deciding to Normal Summon Neptabyss , the Atlantean Prince and use its effect. He sent Atlantean Dragoons to the Graveyard, then added Atlantean Marksman along with Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand. He then discarded Atlantean Marksman and Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his hand to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo, then triggering both to destroy Yamaji-san’s Set Solemn Warning and Kozmoll Wickedwitch. However, Yamaji-san responded with the effect of Kozmoll Wickedwitch to keep it around. Castro then discarded two more WATERs to Special Summon another copy of Mermail Abyssmegalo. He tributed his Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince to activate one of the Mermail Abyssmegalo effects, which also let him Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons from his Graveyard. He equipped Abyss-scale of the Mizuchi to the Mermail Abyssmegalo who could attack twice

Yamaji-san drew Raigeki! He activated it and destroyed the opposing Field before he Normal Summoned Kozmo Farmgirl! He declared an attack with Kozmo Farmgirl and used its effect to add Kozmo Dark Destroyer to his hand. He then declared an attack with Kozmo Sliprider, and then activated the effect of Kozmo Farmgirl banishing itself to Special Summon Kozmo Dark Destroyer! The effect of Kozmo Dark Destroyer activated and destroyed Kozmo Sliprider, allowing Yamaji-san to get one final Special Summon to end the Duel!

In a stunning victory with his back against the wall, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. US President Yasayuki Yamaji claims victory with his blinged out Kozmo Deck over Luis Castro’s Atlantean Mermails!