Lacy Castolenia from Lumberton, Texas and Ruben Penaranda from Miami, Florida are both currently 4-0 at YCS Houston. Castolenia has played in a few YCS events in the past, and says that this weekend she’s doing the best she has ever done. Now, she’s up against the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME World Championship Ruben Penaranda! Castolenia is using a Kashtira Deck, while Penaranda is piloting a Ryzeal Deck. This could be a tough matchup for Castolenia, since Ryzeal Decks are able to make lots of powerful plays without accessing cards in the Graveyard; but Castolenia will be giving this Duel her all in order to try to defeat the World Champion. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Castolenia opened up Duel 1 with Dimension Shifter, Kashtira Preparations, Dimensional Fissure, and 2 copies of Kashtira Riseheart.

She activated the effect of Shifter in the Draw Phase and then Normal Summoned Riseheart. She activated its effect by banishing Kashtira Fenrir from her Deck, banishing the top 3 cards of Penaranda’s Deck face-down and increasing Riseheart’s Level to 7. She Set the Preparations and then ended her turn with no further play.

Penaranda drew a card and Castolenia flipped Kashtira Preparations. Penaranda activated Seventh Tachyon by revealing Number 104: Masquerade from his Extra Deck. He added Ice Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand and then returned a card from his hand to his Deck. Next, he Normal Summoned Ice Ryzeal and activated its effect. Castolenia Chained Preparations to Special Summon Kashtira Fenrir, and Penaranda Special Summoned Ext Ryzeal from his Deck. He used the effect of Ext to add Sword Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand and then used Ice and Ext as Xyz Materials to Summon Ryzeal Duo Drive. He attacked Fenrir with Duo Drive to destroy Fenrir and destroy it, and then used Duo Drive’s effect in Main Phase 2. He detached both Xyz Materials from it – banishing them – to add Ryzeal Cross and Ryzeal Ext from his Deck to his hand. He Special Summoned Sword from his hand next and used its effect to add Ice Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand. Next, he Special Summoned Node Ryzeal and activated Ryzeal Cross. He combined Node with Sword to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Detonator and then Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Castolenia drew Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and then activated the effect of Preparations to try to Special Summon a monster; but Penaranda Chained Detonator’s effect to destroy the Preparations. Next, Castolenia activated Dimensional Fissure. She activated the effect of Kashtira Riseheart in her hand to Special Summon it, and then banished Kashtiratheosis from her Deck to activate its on-field effect. Its Level increased to 7 and Penaranda banished the top 3 cards of his Deck face-down. Castolenia used the effect of Kashtiratheosis to return her banished Fenrir to her hand. She combined her two copies of Riseheart to Xyz Summon Dark Armed, the Dragon of Annihilation and detached an Xyz Material from it to activate its effect targeting Detonator. Penaranda Chained Detonator’s effect to destroy Dimensional Fissure and then the Detonator was destroyed, and Castolenia banished a Riseheart from her Graveyard. She used the effect of Dark Armed again to destroy Cross and banish another Riseheart from her Graveyard. In Main Phase 2 she Summoned Super Starslayer TY-PHON – Sky Crisis by using Dark Armed as an Xyz Material and used TY-PHON’s effect to return Duo Drive to Penaranda’s Extra Deck.

Penaranda Normal Summoned Ice Ryzeal and activated its effect. Castolenia Chained Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to try to negate it, but Penaranda flipped Crossout Designator declaring Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring! He banished a copy of Ash Blossom from his Deck to negate Castolenia’s Ash Blossom. He Special Summoned Ext with Ice’s effect and then activated Triple Tactics Talent to return the Fenrir in Castolenia’s hand to her Deck. Penaranda combined Ice and Ext to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Detonator and then attacked Typhon to destroy it. He Set a card to his back row and then ended his turn.

Castolenia drew Infinite Impermanence and Set it across from Penaranda’s face-down card.

Penaranda attacked directly with Detonator to drop Castolenia down to 4500 Life Points and then Set a card to his back row.

Castolenia drew Fenrir and Special Summoned it! She attacked Detonator and tried to use Fenrir’s effect to banish Detonator face-down, but Penaranda flipped Infinite Impermanence to negate Fenrir’s effect and it destroyed itself in battle!

Penaranda attacked directly with Detonator again on his next turn, dropping Castolenia down to 900 Life Points.

Castolenia drew Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and conceded, unable to defeat Penaranda’s Ryzeal Detonator.

Ruben Penaranda wins the first Duel of the Match with his Ryzeal Deck!

Duel Two

Castolenia opened up Duel 2 with Kashtira Fenrir, Infinite Impermanence, Dimensional Fissure, Kashtira Birth, and Pressured Planet Wraitsoth. She activated Pressured Planet Wraitsoth, but lost out on its effect to Ash Blossom. Next, she activated Dimensional Fissure. She Special Summoned Kashtira Fenrir from her hand next, and used its effect to add Kashtira Riseheart from her Deck to her hand. She activated its effect in her hand to Special Summon it and then activated its on-field effect by banishing a Kashtira Unicorn from her Deck. She banished the top 3 cards of Penaranda’s Deck face-down and increased the Riseheart’s Level to 7. Next, she activated Kashtira Birth and used its effect to Special Summon Kashtira Unicorn. She used Unicorn’s effect to add Kashtiratheosis from her Deck to her hand and then activated the Kashtiratheosis targeting Riseheart. She Special Summoned Kashtira Ogre from her Deck and used its effect to add Kashtira Preparations from her Deck to her hand. She Set 2 cards face-down and then ended her turn.

Penaranda drew a card and Castolenia flipped Preparations. Penaranda Chained Infinite Impermanence, targeting Fenrir to negate its effects.

Next, Penaranda activated Bonfire to add Ice Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned it and activated its effect to Special Summon Ext Ryzeal from his Deck. He activated the effect of Ext in a new Chain, and Castolenia Chained Unicorn’s effect to banish Evilswarm Exciton Knight from Penaranda’s Extra Deck. Penaranda added Sword Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand with the effect of Ext. Penaranda Special Summoned Sword from his hand and used its effect to add Ice from his Deck to his hand. In a new Chain, Castolenia used the effect of Ogre to banish Ice Ryzeal from the top of Penaranda’s Deck. Penaranda activated Seventh Tachyon by revealing Number 103: Ragnazero from his Extra Deck and added Surfacing Big Jaws from his Deck to his hand before returning a card from his hand back to his Deck. He Special Summoned the Big Jaws and activated its effect, but lost out to Castolenia’s Infinite Impermanence. Next, Penaranda combined Ext with Surfacing Big Jaws to Summon Number 103: Ragnazero. He combined Ice with Sword to Summon Detonator next, and used Detonator’s effect to attach an Ash Blossom from his Graveyard to it as an Xyz Material. Next, Penaranda used the effect of Ragnazero by detaching Big Jaws to destroy Fenrir and draw a card. He entered his Battle Phase next. He attacked Unicorn with Detonator to destroy it, and then attacked Ogre with Ragnazero to destroy it. In Main Phase 2, Penaranda used Triple Tactics Talent to draw 2 cards. He Set a card to his back row and then ended his turn.

Castolenia drew another Pressured Planet Wraitsoth and then used Riseheart as an Xyz Material to Summon TY-PHON. She entered her Battle Phase and attacked Detonator with TY-PHON since TY-PHON had 3200 ATK as a result of Wraitsoth’s effect; but Penaranda used Ragnazero’s effect to destroy TY-PHON and draw a card!

Penaranda Normal Summoned Ice Ryzeal and activated its effect. Castolenia Chained the effect of Preparations to Special Summon Kashtira Ogre from banishment. Penaranda Special Summoned Sword Ryzeal with the effect of Ice. Next, Penaranda combined Sword and Ice to Xyz Summon Light Dragon @Ignister. He used its effect to destroy Ogre, and then direct attacks from Ragnazero, Light Dragon, and Detonator wiped out all of Castolenia’s Life Points!

Ruben Penaranda secures the 2-0 victory with his Ryzeal Deck to advance with a 5-0 record at YCS Houston!