This matchup would pit two of Texas’s greatest duelists against each other. Billy Brake has three Shonen Jump Championship Day 2’s under his belt, and Ryan Spicer has the same number. They’re teammates and friends, both dueling on behalf of Kamikaze Krew, so this was a bittersweet pairing.
“Make sure you put that I’m playing Ryan’s deck,” laughed Brake. “I’m gonna feel terrible if I win!”
“Oh well, seriously: let’s go.”
“I hate you!” yelled Brake with a grin. “I’m just kidding. Good luck.” These two friends shook hands and Brake opened the first duel.
He did so with a set card to each zone. “Go ahead.” Spicer set four cards to his back row, summoned Gladiator Beast Bestiari, then attacked Brake’s set Bestiari. Brake’s was destroyed, and Spicer tagged out his Bestiari for Gladiator Beast Laquari. “I’m not Dustshooting you,” assured Spicer. Brake set a monster, ended, and next turn Spicer played Elemental Hero Prisma to pitch Bestiari to his graveyard. He sent Prisma and Laquari back to his deck, destroyed Brake’s Waboku (which was chained) and Morphing Jar with Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, then attacked for no damage to tag out. He special summoned Laquari and Gladiator Beast Darius from his deck, but when he tried to bring back Bestiari with Darius’ effect Brake chained D.D. Crow. Spicer wouldn’t be getting to Gladiator Beast Heraklinos this turn.
Brake summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, activated its effect to reveal Heraklinos, and sent Gladiator Beast Laquari to the graveyard. He special summoned Test Tiger and tributed it, but Spicer chained Book of Moon to turn its target face down! Brake passed with nothing but the face-down Prisma on his field.
Spicer summoned another Laquari next turn, attacked Prisma with one Gladiator, and then made direct attacks with the other two. He then contact Fused all three for Heraklinos in main phase 2. Spicer ended and play was back to Brake.
He set a monster yet again, and Heraklinos smashed it next turn: Gladiator Beast Hoplomus. Brake set a card to each zone and Heraklinos attacked again, this time destroying Gladiator Beast Secutor. Spicer summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, activated its effect with priority, and when Brake flipped Bottomless Trap Hole Spicer negated it by discarding for Heraklinos. Prisma attacked into Brake’s face-down Spirit Reaper, Shrink destroyed it, and Heraklinos attacked directly! Brake was scooping up a turn later.
Two identical decks go head-to-head, but Spicer triumphs with superior luck. Both duelists did some serious side decking.
“I really didn’t think I was going to play you this early,” remarked Brake, as he switched cards in and out of his main deck.
“What are you talking about?” grinned Spicer. “It’s really late!” More side decking ensued. “Well, I guess this gives us something to talk about on the car ride home.”
Brake opened the second duel with a card to each zone. Spicer activated Reinforcement of the Army, searched for Elemental Hero Stratos, summoned him, activated his search effect, and Brake had no response. Stratos let Spicer get Elemental Hero Prisma. “That’s a Jujitsu Master, isn’t it?” Not quite. Stratos attacked and revealed Brake’s face-down monster to be Sangan. It fetched him Test Tiger, and Spicer set a spell or trap to finish his turn.
“Summon Prisma,” announced Brake. He activated its effect, sent Bestiari to the graveyard, and traded away Prisma with Test Tiger. That got him Darius, which in turn fetched Gladiator Beast Bestiari. He contact Fused both for Gyzarus, but when he targeted both of Spicer’s cards Spicer flipped My Body As A Shield! Stratos remained on the field. Brake tried to bring back Monster Reborn, but Spicer played D.D. Crow! “You got me,” admitted Brake, ending his turn.
Spicer pressed for damage next turn, summoning Laquari. Brake flipped Torrential Tribute, but another My Body from Spicer negated it! Stratos and Laquari attacked for 3600 damage total, and Spicer set one card to his back row. Brake was holding Shrink, and tried to press Bestiari over Spicer’s Laquari, but ran straight into Mirror Force. He set two cards to end.
Spicer attacked with both his monsters, but ate Mirror Force from Brake! He set a spell or trap and ended. Brake set one more card to his back row, ended, and Spicer summoned Elemental Hero Prisma. He activated its effect to send Bestiari to his graveyard, and when Brake chained Bottomless Trap Hole Spicer saved his Prisma with Book of Moon. He set one card to his spell and trap zone and ended.
Brake summoned Bestiari, but Spicer flipped Solemn Judgment. He flip summoned Prisma, didn’t activate its effect with priority, but moments later used its effect to send Laquari to the graveyard. He special summoned Test Tiger, tributed it, sent Prisma back to his deck, and brought out Darius. Bestiari came up from the graveyard, Spicer contact Fused for Gyzarus, and Gyzarus destroyed Brake’s set Dimensional Prison! Gyzarus made a direct attack and Spicer tagged it out for two Darius. That let him bring out two copies of Laquari, and he Fused the two of them and a Darius for Gladiator Beast Heraklinos. He had one card in hand and two monsters to Brake’s lone in-hand card.
Brake set two cards to his back row. Spicer attacked with Heraklinos, and Brake flipped Mystical Space Typhoon to target his own Shrink. He chained the Shrink, targeted Heraklinos, and Spicer negated it even though it was pointless anyway. Heraklinos and Darius struck for game, finishing the match!
Ryan Spicer moves on with a 6-1 record, three matches away from Day 2!