In this semifinal match, a feature match from Day 1 is repeated, with Alex Ahia of Hilo, Hawaii, playing against Ryan Hayakawa.

Ryan is one of two Team Comic Odyssey players in the Top 4, and his teammates are cheering him on. I asked the players how they were feeling about going into battle over the Doomcaliber Knight and they both replied with cautious enthusiasm.

“Glad I guess . . .” Alex said.

Ryan replied, “Pretty good.”

Game 1

Alex won the die roll and chose to play first.

He played Elemental Hero Prisma, and used it to send Gladiator Beast Bestiari to his graveyard. He then set one card to his back row and passed the turn.

Ryan set one monster and two cards to his back row and passed it back to Alex who then activated Prisma again, sending another Bestiari to his graveyard. He then set Gladiator Beast Laquari and Fused them to try for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus. Alex used his effect targeting one set back row card and the set monster on Ryan’s field, and Ryan chained Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, sending Gyzarus back to Alex’s Fusion deck. The destroyed set monster was Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive.

Ryan set one more card to each row, and then sent the turn back to Alex.

Alex summoned Prisma again, but Ryan had Bottomless Trap Hole, which removed it from play. Alex ended his turn.

Ryan flip summoned his set monster, Dekoichi, to draw a card, then used Destiny Draw to get even more cards in his hand. He attacked with Dekoichi, taking Alex to 6600.

Alex summoned Gladiator Beast Darius, but Ryan had Bottomless again. Alex, holding two Test Tigers, could only pass it back to Ryan, who attacked again, bringing Alex to 5200. Alex summoned Elemental Hero Stratos, getting another Prisma from his deck, then attacked Ryan’s Dekoichi with his Stratos, destroying it. Ryan played Mystical Space Typhoon on his turn, targeting Alex’s Enemy Controller, which Alex declined to chain. He then special summoned Dark Armed Dragon, and destroyed Alex’s Stratos, while Alex chained Bottomless Trap Hole, removing the Dragon from play. Ryan set a monster, and passed the turn.

Alex summoned his Prisma, sending Laquari to the graveyard, then special summoned Test Tiger, changing his Laquari out for a Gladiator Beast Darius, which then returned Bestiari to the field. He Fusion summoned Gyzarus, destroying Ryan’s set monster and attacking, tying the players in life points.

Alex then switched out his Gyzarus into Darius and Gladiator Beast Laquari, and Darius got another Laquari into play. He ended his turn there.

Ryan set another monster and passed the run back.

Alex special summoned another Test Tiger and activated it, changing his loose Laquari into Bestiari. He had some trouble figuring out his next action and took a minute to work it out on paper. Satisfied with his calculation, he then special summoned a third Test Tiger, and Fusion summoned Gyzarus with Bestiari and one of his Gladiator Beasts, and used Test Tiger with the other one to re-summon Darius. Ryan checked his count and saw it was over, and they shuffled up for game 2.

Game 2

Both players shuffled for game 2 quietly. Ryan chose to play first.

He started off with a set monster and one back row card. Alex had Reinforcement of the Army to search for Elemental Hero Prisma, then summoned Mystic Swordsman LV2, attacking and destroying Ryan’s set Dekoichi. He then set 2 back row cards and passed.

Ryan activated Prohibition, naming Gladiator Beast Bestiari. Alex had an end phase Dust Tornado to destroy it. He then summoned Gladiator Beast Laquari, but Ryan had Bottomless Trap Hole. Alex attacked then, dropping Ryan to 7100. He set another back row card and passed.

Ryan had his own Reinforcement of the Army to get him a Stratos, who he then summoned. Alex negated Stratos with Solemn Judgment, going to 4000. Ryan was visibly put off by this play, but didn’t let it shake him for long. He ended his turn.

Alex started off with Cold Wave, already checking his cards in hand (which were pretty good). Ryan considered this for a time, then chained Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Dark Armed Dragon, and targeting Alex’s set spell or trap. They resolved, and then Alex summoned Prisma, using it to send Bestiari to his graveyard. He then special summoned Test Tiger, and Ryan had to say, “Oh my god.” Alex brought out Gladiator Beast Secutor, attacking with it and the Swordsman, then switching Secutor out for Laquari and Darius. Darius brought back Bestiari, and contact Fusion followed, bringing out Gladiator Beast Heraklinos.

Ryan’s took some time to think on his turn. As Cold Wave was still active, he only passed it back with an empty field.

Alex counted up his monsters and played D.D. Warrior for the game and match.

Both players recognized that Alex’s hand had been incredible. Ryan explained that the Solemn Judgment negating his Stratos was the key play, as he needed to get Disk Commander to feed his Crush Card Virus as he had two Dark monsters in hand and Dark Armed Dragon waiting.

That made the finals Alex Ahia vs. Mario Matheu . . .