Hector Heras is a repeat Day 2 Shonen Jump alum, and today he’s running a particularly fast version of Teleport Dark Armed, main decking Armageddon Knight to get that all-important first copy of Destiny Hero – Malicious into the graveyard. He’s a new recruit for Team Illusion, representatives of the famed B.R.A.D.’S Sportscards and Collectibles in Coral Springs, Florida.

But the real reason this feature match is taking place is his opponent: Bryon Mines is 6-0 with Lightsworn, packing innovative tech like Quillbolt Hedgehog. His deck’s raised a lot of eyebrows here onsite, and it’s about time we saw what he could do.

Heras won the roll and opened with Krebons, Emergency Teleport, Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, Crush Card Virus, Dark Armed Dragon, and Gold Sarcophagus. It was insanely good. He activated Sarcophagus to remove Monster Reborn from play and summoned Krebons.

Mines activated Solar Recharge, discarding Wulf, and sending two copies of Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress to the graveyard to draw two cards. He set one monster and ended. “Your turn.” Heras summoned Armageddon Knight! He sent Destiny Hero – Malicious to the graveyard with its effect, removed him to special summon another, then Synchro summoned with Krebons and Malicious to bring out Red Dragon Archfiend! He removed the other Malicious to bring out his third, and then played Emergency Teleport for another Krebons! He Synchro summoned again, this time bringing out Stardust Dragon. That left him with exactly three Dark monsters in his graveyard, and he special summoned Dark Armed Dragon and removed his third Malicious to try and destroy Mines’ set monster.

. . . But Mines discarded Herald of Orange Light and Celestia, Lightsworn Angel to negate Dark Armed Dragon’s effect and destroy it! Red Dragon, Stardust, and Armageddon Knight all attacked, blowing through Mines’ set Honest, and Heras set one spell or trap to end. Mines could only set a monster next turn.

Heras got his Monster Reborn from Gold Sarcophagus next turn, but didn’t need it. He attacked with all three monsters, hitting yet another Honest, and Mines was forced to scoop!

A surprise play of Herald of Orange Light shakes up Hector Heras, but does little to stop him from capturing the first duel! Both competitors side decked in record time; while Mines was eager to get a win, Heras was clearly eager to finish the match.  

Mines summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress and used her effect to send Necro Gardna, Gold Sarcophagus, and Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid to the graveyard. Heras activated Allure of Darkness, drew two cards, and removed Krebons from play to pay for it. He summoned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, attacked, and Mines had no Honest to fight back with! It cost Mines his Necro Gardna and Aurkus from his graveyard, and Lyla went down. Mines couldn’t use the Gardna since he was facing down Kycoo, a painful point of irony.

Mines summoned Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner next turn and tried to discard another copy to special summon her, but lost out to Heras’ D.D. Crow; Heras just had everything he needed. In the end phase Mines’ lone copy of Lumina sent Celestia, Necro Gardna, and Charge of the Light Brigade to the graveyard.

Emergency Teleport got Heras a copy of Psychic Commander from his deck, a card that wasn’t seeing much play here today despite its strength. He tributed it for Vanity’s Fiend, attacked over Lumina, and made a direct attack with Kycoo. He set one spell or trap, Mines played Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress on the turn that followed, blew away Solemn Judgment, and sent three more cards to the graveyard.

Vanity’s Fiend attacked Lyla next turn, and Kycoo made another direct attack. Its effect left only two different Lightsworn in the graveyard, one Lyla and two Lumina. Mines set a card to each zone and passed. His tricks just weren’t coming together.

Hector attacked next turn, but Mines flipped Crush Card Virus, tributing Necro Gardna! It cost Heras all of his on-field monsters save Krebons, and ripped Dark Armed Dragon from his hand. A direct attack with Krebons hit Mines for 1200 damage, and Mines could do nothing next turn. Heras dished out another 1200 damage with Krebons, then set a second spell or trap. Mines set a monster, lost it to Phoenix Wing Wind Blast in the end phase, and Heras discarded Malicious to pay for it.

He brought out another Malicious, summoned Stratos, and moments later it was all over. Mines’ innovative Lightsworn deck had fallen flat for the first time here today, and Hector Heras of Team Illusion moved on undefeated!