While Burning Abyss Phantom Knights have captured a massive 24 seats in the Top 64, the Day 2 field is wildly varied from there.  For instance, Marck Antonio Caceres Gajardo from Santiago, Chile is playing Mermails, the only Duelist in the Top 64 running the Deck.  His opponent is Alejandro Vega Ascarrunz from Cochapamba, Bolivia, playing Extra Deck Monarchs.  Caceres was effectively taking a lone wolf off-the-radar rogue Deck against the most decorated strategy in the format.  Let’s see what happens.

Ascarrunz opened Day 2 with Brilliant Fusion, Special Summoning Gem-Knight Seraphinite and sending Gem-Knight Lazuli with Jack’s Knight to his Graveyard, using Lazuli to add Jack’s Knight to his hand.  He Tributed Seraphinite for Jack’s Knight, then Tributed Jack’s Knight away for Erebus the Underworld Monarch, sending The Prime Monarch and Pantheism of the Monarchs to his Graveyard to send Caceres’ Raigeki back to his Deck.  He banished Pantheism for its effect, revealing two Prime Monarchs and The Monarchs Stormforth from his Deck.  Caceres gave him a Prime Monarch and Ascarrunz.  He discarded it for Pantheism to draw two cards.

Caceres had Instant Fusion; Mermail Abyssgunde; Mermail Abyssteus; Atlantean Heavy Infantry; and the kicker, Deep Sea Diva!  He Summoned Infantry, followed up with Diva, and Special Summoned Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince from his Deck.  Caceres used Neptabyss’ ability to send Atlantean Dragoons to his Graveyard from his Deck, getting Atlantean Heavy Infantry and Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He revealed Abyssmegalo, yarding Atlantean Dragoons and Atlantean Heavy Infantry to Special Summon it.  He ordered the resulting Chain as Dragoons Chain Link 1, Infantry Chain Link 2, and Abyssmegalo Chain Link 3; he searched his Deck for Abyss-scale of the Mizuchi, destroyed Erebus with Infantry’s effect, and searched Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord!   He had three WATER monsters in his Graveyard and needed five total to Special Summon Moulinglacia.

Caceres Tuned Deep Sea Diva to Neptabyss to Synchro Summon Tatsunoko, giving him the five WATERS in his Graveyard for Moulinglacia.  Ascarrunz banished one Prime Monarch to Special Summon his second in defense mode, effectively bracing for impact.  Caceres Special Summoned Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, discarding Majesty’s Fiend and Gem-Knight Lazuli from Ascarrunz’s hand.  That triggered Lazuli, getting him back Jack’s Knight!  Not bad, actually, but this Duel was over anyways.  

Caceres Tributed Atlantean Heavy Infantry to Mermail Abyssmegalo to let it attack twice with its effect, and destroyed The Prime Monarch with Infantry’s ability.  Faced with a field of Tatsunoko, Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, and a double-attacking Mermail Abyssmegalo, Ascarrunz conceded!

Marco Antonio Caceres Gajardo hits the opening hand Deep Sea Diva that makes Mermails so deadly, and combos off unopposed to ravage his opponent in mere moments!  Ascarrunz would need to Side Deck in some monster effect negation to keep that from happening again.  If he didn’t have something adequate to side in for this match-up, this could just be a quick trip to the Top 32 for Caceres.  Ascarrunz decided to play second.

Caceres had Aqua Spirit; Mermail Abysspike; Chain Disappearance; Abyss-sphere; and Mermail Abysslinde.  He Set Abysslinde, Disappearance and Abyss-sphere.

Ascarrunz activated Tenacity of the Monarchs, revealing Erebus the Underworld Monarch to search his Deck for The Monarchs Stormforth.  He activated it, Tributing away Caceres’ Abysslinde for Majesty’s Fiend!  He attacked directly with it, dropping Caceres to 5600 Life Points.

Caceres drew Deep Sea Diva, but it wasn’t going to be useful if he couldn’t get rid of that Majesty’s Fiend.  He flipped Abyss-sphere, Special Summoning Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck.  Caceres used it to run over the Majesty’s Fiend and moved to Main Phase 2, Normal Summoning Deep Sea Diva: Ascarrunz dropped Maxx “C” and Caceres just shrugged, Special Summoning Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince to send Atlantean Dragoons to his Graveyard.  That got him Mermail Abyssmegalo and another Atlantean Dragoons to finish out his turn.

Ascarrunz Summoned Eidos the Underworld Squire and Caceres responded with Chain Disappearance, banishing it from the field and revealing another copy from Ascarrunz’s hand.  Caceres took the opportunity to look through his opponent’s Deck, verifying there wasn’t a third copy and making special note of the cards he figured Ascarrunz had Side Decked in against him.  Smart guy.  He handed Ascarrunz his Deck back and Ascarrunz ended his turn; there was nothing else he could do.

Caceres drew Mermail Abyssteus.  He revealed it and Special Summoned it by tossing Atlantean Dragoons to the Graveyard. Caceres searched Mermail Abyssgunde and Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, then Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo tossing Abyssgunde and Abysspike.  He searched Abyss-scale of the Mizuchi with Abyssmegalo, and revived Mermail Abyssleed with Abyssgunde’s effect!

Ascarrunz had nothing to stop the onslaught and offered the handshake!  Marco Antonio Caceres Gajardo makes quick work of his Top 64 Match, and is headed straight to the Top 32.  An impressive showing for the Chilean, and the only Mermail Duelist in Day 2!