16 year-old Justin Devletian hails from Orlando, Florida. A student, he works part-time at a card shop called Gathering Place Games. He’s running an aggressive Plant deck this weekend, packing Gigaplant and Tytannial, Princess of Camellias.

But he’s up against one of my top picks here today! Edgar Flores has four Day 2 showings in previous Shonen Jumps, and at 19 years of age he’s a veteran of the Shonen Jump circuit! Owner of the BK Greatness eBay store, Flores is piloting a huge, innovative Macro Cosmos deck built by Shane Scurry. The key card? None other than Rose, Warrior of Revenge! This was a terrible matchup for Devletian, whose dependence on graveyard presence would be severely threatened by remove-from-play cards.

Devletian won the roll and opened with Lonefire Blossom, summoning it and tributing it to get another copy. He activated its effect next, and then special summoned Gigaplant. Sending two Lonefires to the graveyard would leave him with at least one reliable target for Miracle Fertilizer, plus one to remove for Mark of the Rose. He set two cards to his back row to end his turn; it was a strong opening. 

Flores opened with Macro Cosmos, D.D. Survivor, Return from the Different Dimension, Bottomless Trap Hole, and Solemn Judgment, and drew to start his turn. He summoned D.D. Survivor, set two cards to his back row, and ended. “This is going to be my hardest challenge cause of that Macro Cosmos,” remarked Devletian. He normal summoned his Gigaplant, used its effect to special summon Tytannial, Princess of Camellias from his hand, and promptly lost her to Bottomless Trap Hole. Gigaplant attacked D.D. Survivor, Flores flipped Macro Cosmos, and Survivor was removed from play. Devletian set another spell or trap and Flores got back his Survivor. 

He summoned Rose, Warrior of Revenge next turn and Tuned her to D.D. Survivor to Synchro summon Thought Ruler Archfiend! The Archfiend attacked, Devletian flipped Dimensional Prison, and Flores paid 1000 life points to negate the Prison’s effect; Gigaplant went down in battle and was removed. Flores ended and brought Survivor back to the field again. He was fully committed to the field.

Devletian drew his third Lonefire Blossom, summoned it, and tributed it to special summon another Tytannial from his deck. She ran over Thought Ruler, Devletian set a third back row card again, and next turn Flores could do nothing but set his topdeck to his spell and trap zone. D.D. Survivor went to defense position and Tytannial destroyed it next turn — he came right back. The duel was at a standstill.

With his spell and trap zones all filled, Flores passed his next turn. Devletian activated Emergency Teleport from his hand next turn, Flores let it go, and Devletian summoned Krebons. He tributed it for Gigaplant, attacked with it to get D.D. Survivor out of the way, then made a direct attack for 2800 damage with Tytannial. Flores had just 3500 life points remaining, while Devletian had 7700.

Flores drew another copy of Solemn Judgment, adding it to his hand of Dimensional Fissure. Both were dead cards. He flipped Return from the Different Dimension, dropped to 1750 life points, and Devletian chained Solemn Judgment! Flores chained Dark Bribe and Devletian drew, having no response. Rose and Thought Ruler Archfiend returned to the field.

Flores Tuned Rose to D.D. Survivor again, and Synchro summoned Red Dragon Archfiend; he needed to get over that Tytannial. Thought Ruler attacked Gigaplant and Devletian responded with Book of Moon, turning Thought Ruler down! Red Dragon Archfiend then swung on Tytannial, and she was removed from play. It was ruled that Red Dragon Archfiend’s effect would not destroy the Thought Ruler. Flores set Solemn and brought back Survivor.

Devletian was up, and he activated Card of Safe Return. He sent Gigaplant to attack Thought Ruler, destroyed it, and he normal summoned Gigaplant in main phase 2. He brought out Lonefire Blossom, drew for Card of Safe Return, and tributed Lonefire to special summon another Gigaplant. A set spell or trap finished things out.

Flores drew Reinforcement of the Army and activated it, grabbing Rose, Warrior of Revenge from his deck! He summoned her, Synchro summoned yet again, and weighed his options: Thought Ruler Archfiend or Stardust Dragon. He shuffled between the two before deciding on Thought Ruler, sending it to attack Gigaplant. Red Dragon Archfiend attacked the second Gigaplant, the one that had been normal summoned, but Devletian discarded Spirit Reaper for Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, targeting Red Dragon Archfiend. Flores flipped Solemn Judgment, dropping to 875 life points, and Devletian lost his Gigaplant. He had just 2750 life points remaining.

Devletian activated Miracle Fertilizer next turn, bringing back his last Lonefire and drawing another card for it. He tributed it, searched his deck for Botanical Lion, and brought it out in attack position, and then flipped Emergency Teleport for another Krebons. He Synchro summoned Goyo Guardian, attacked Thought Ruler Archfiend, but couldn’t steal it because it was removed. He set one spell or trap card to finish his turn. It represented his last lifeline in this duel. 

Another Reinforcement of the Army got Flores another Rose next turn! With D.D. Survivor it got him another Red Dragon Archfiend, and when it attacked into Phoenix Wing Wind Blast Flores had another Solemn Judgment!  

Edgar Flores takes the first duel, pulling out of a surprisingly tough early game to Synchro summon four times with Rose, Warrior of Revenge! Both competitors did some extensive side decking.

Devletian got game 2 started with two set spell or trap cards and a set monster. “In your draw phase, I’ll flip Imperial Iron Wall.” Devletian activated it, a huge blow to Flores’ strategy! Flores set three cards to his spell and trap zone, set a monster, and ended.

Devletian flip summoned Botanical Lion and attacked, but ran straight into Gravekeeper’s Spy! Flores summoned another from his deck in defense position, and Devletian activated Lightning Vortex in main phase two, discarding Allure of Darkness to blow away both Spies. “I end.”  

Flores summoned Cyber Valley; he was holding Rose and Mind Control. Devletian summoned Krebons, attacked with Botanical Lion, and Flores tried to activate Cyber Valley’s effect — he realized one moment too late that Imperial Iron Wall would stop him from using Valley’s effect. Botanical Lion swung through it for 1900 damage, Krebons made a direct attack for 1200, and Flores was down to 4900 life points.

He set another spell or trap next turn and ended once again. Flores drew D.D. Survivor and spent some time considering his next move; he summoned him after about thirty seconds’ thought. He turned Colossal Fighter to defense and made two more attacks, reducing Devletian to 3000 life points through Krebons’ effect. “Go.”