It was a few days after Alex's duel with Sayer, and Yusei was working on repairing Alex's duel runner, which took a beating during his duel with Kalin. Meanwhile, Alex was still at the Arcadia Movement, and his control over his power was growing steadily with every passing day.

Alex: Hyper Psychic Blaster, attack!

His monster attacked and dropped his opponent's life points to 0.

Sayer: He's doing well.

Employee: Indeed sir. He is an exceptional duelist, and the amount of control he has over his power is growing every day.

The door to the duel field opened and Akiza entered and started talking to Alex before they left.

Employee: Sir, if I may ask, why did you have Alex stay with Akiza?

Sayer: Simple: They benefit from being around each other. They both know how it feels to be shunned for being different, and they make each other happy.

Employee: I see.

Akiza: You know, you've really come a long way since you got here.

Alex: Do you really think so?

Akiza: Absolutely. I'm so proud of you.

During Alex's stay at the Arcadia Movement, Akiza had been like an older sister to him.

Alex: Thanks Akiza.

Akiza: You're welcome.

Sayer: Akiza, Alex, it's good to see you both.

Alex: Hi Sayer.

Sayer: You've come a long way since you've arrived Alex, I'm impressed.

Alex: Thank you. I feel like you've really helped me get a handle on my powers.

Sayer: You're welcome.

Akiza: So did you need something Sayer?

Sayer: Yes. Alex, your parents called and they said they're coming to see you. They said they would be here in about ten minutes.

Alex: I can't wait to see them!

The three of them started heading for the elevator before Sayer stopped.

Alex: Is something wrong?

Sayer: I just need to take care of a small problem. I'll see you both later.

Alex: I wonder what that was about.

Akiza: I have no idea.

They got in the elevator and headed to their floor to get ready for Alex's parents. Meanwhile, Sayer headed down the hallway towards his office. He arrived and found what he was looking for, or rather, who he was looking for, namely Carly Carmine, who had gotten into Sayer's office and stumbled upon his secret room.

Sayer: Well, it looks like we have an intruder.

Carly: Sayer.

Sayer: And what would you be doing here?

Carly: I'm Carly Carmine, and I'm uncovering the truth behind your organization. I saw the file of the missing people. What did you do to them?

Sayer: Those were a series of isolated incidents, all of them accidents.

Carly started backing away from Sayer, terrified.

Sayer: At first I thought you were working for Goodwin, but judging by the expression on your face, I'm guessing you're just a reporter who's gotten in over her head. Either way, I'll make you a deal.

He picked up a spare duel disk he left laying in his office and threw it to her.

Carly: A duel?

Sayer: If you can defeat me, you get to leave scot-free, but if you lose, you can still leave, but you won't tell anyone about what you've seen here. Do we have a deal?

Carly: Alright, I accept.

Sayer: Good luck, you'll need it.

Both: Let's duel!

Sayer: 4000 LP

Carly: 4000 LP

Sayer: I'll go first, and I play Telekinetic Shocker in attack mode.

Level 4/Dark/Psychic

ATK 1700/DEF 700

Sayer: I can't attack on the first turn of the duel, so I'll let you go.

Carly: I draw. And I play Fortune Fairy Swee in attack mode.

Level 4/Water/Spellcaster

ATK & DEF 0

Carly: Next I play the Unacceptable Result quick-play spell. With it, since I summoned a Fortune Fairy monster, I can summon another one from my hand, like my Fortune Fairy Chee, which I'm playing in attack mode.

Level 6/Earth/Spellcaster

ATK & DEF 0

Carly: Now I play the spell Luck Loan. With it, I can summon a Fortune Fairy with a level lower than that of a Fortune Fairy on my field, so I play Fortune Fairy Hu.

Level 3/Wind/Spellcaster

ATK & DEF 0

Sayer: So you summoned three monsters with no attack or defense points? And here I was hoping for a real challenge.

Carly: I'm not as weak as you think. I play the continuous spell Miracle Stone. Now my Fortune Fairies gain 1000 attack points for each of them I have on the field. So with 3, they each gain 3000 attack points. Unfortunately, due to Miracle Stone's effect, they can't attack this turn, so I end my turn.

Sayer: Not bad. I draw. I summon Psychic Snail in attack mode.

Level 4/Earth/Psychic

ATK 1900/DEF 1200

Sayer: Next I play Emergency Teleport. This will allow me to summon a level 3 or lower psychic type monster from my hand or deck, but if it's still on the field at the end of this turn, it's banished.

Carly: That doesn't sound good.

Sayer: I summon the tuner monster Psychic Commander from my deck.

Level 3/Earth/Psychic

ATK 1400/DEF 800

Sayer: And now I play the Psychokinesis spell card. With it, since I control a psychic type monster, I can destroy any card on your field, but then I take 1000 points of damage, so your Miracle Stone is destroyed.

Carly: But without it, my Fortune Fairies have no attack points.

Sayer: 3000 LP

Sayer: Now Telekinetic Shocker attacks Fortune Fairy Chee.

Telekinetic Shocker rushed forward and punched Carly's monster, sending it flying backwards into the window, cracking it.

Carly: 2300 LP

Carly: What happened? The window cracked!

Sayer: That's the power of a psychic duelist. Now Psychic Snail, attack her Fortune Fairy Swee.

Psychic Snail fired a bolt of electricity from his antennae, sending Swee flying back, cracking the window further.

Carly: 400 LP

Sayer: Now Psychic Commander, attack.

Psychic Commander fired a blast from his cannon, knocking Carly's monster back, breaking the window.

Carly: 0 LP

Carly didn't know the window had broken and walked back from Sayer out of fear. Sayer saw she was about to fall and tried to warn her.

Sayer: Stop!

He rushed forward in an attempt to grab her, but Carly got scared and stepped back again, except her foot wasn't touching anything but the air. She lost her balance and fell out the window.

Sayer: No!

As Carly was falling, her mind started racing.

Carly: This can't be happening. All I wanted was to expose the truth about Misty's brother and the other people who disappeared, and now I'm falling from a building. And the worst part is, I'll never get to see Jack again, or even tell him how I really feel.

Sayer looked down and couldn't believe what just happened.

Sayer: This is all my fault. I can't believe this happened.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake as lightning flashed in the sky.

Sayer: What's going on?

Then, purple flames started popping up in the streets, spreading to create an exact copy of the Hummingbird Nazca Line that disappeared from South America earlier that week, and the Arcadia Movement lay right in the center of it. Once the earthquake stopped, Sayer walked to his desk and picked up his phone, dialing a number.

Sayer: I need a report on the damage, and evacuate the building.

That's when someone walked into Sayer's office.

Sayer: You need to get out of the building!

?: But I'm here to ask you for a rematch Sayer.

Sayer: Wait, Carly? Is that you?

A bolt of lightning flashed behind him, revealing that it was in fact Carly. Sayer dropped his phone in disbelief and stared at Carly.

Sayer: Okay. You're having a nervous breakdown. It's the stress of your job and the guilt about what happened to Carly, it's gotten to you.

Carly: Stop talking. I'm not some stress-induced hallucination, I'm real.

Sayer: But you fell. How could you have survived a fall from this high?

That's when the hummingbird Dark Signer Mark appeared on Carly's arm.

Carly: And they gave me a soft landing. It seems the Dark Signers are actively recruiting duelists to their cause, and unfortunately for you, they've chosen me.

Sayer: Carly, let's talk about this. What happened was an accident, and you can't believe how sorry I am.

Carly: Don't you lie to me!

She was then enveloped in a purple light. When the light faded, Carly was wearing the robes of a Dark Signer, only hers had orange stripes on them.

Carly: This is the beginning of the end for you.

Sayer: You're a Dark Signer.

Carly: Prepare yourself for the shadows.

Sayer: I guess I'm not getting out of this without a duel. Fine, I accept your challenge Carly.

Carly: And just so you know, you'll be facing me in a shadow duel.

Sayer: Fine. Maybe she'll snap out of this if she loses the duel.

Both: Let's duel!

Sayer: 4000 LP

Carly: 4000 LP

Sayer: I'll go first, and I summon the tuner monster Krebons in attack mode.

Level 2/Dark/Psychic

ATK 1200/DEF 400

Sayer: I'll follow that up by playing Emergency Teleport. I'm sure you remember this card from our last duel. I'll use it to summon Mind Protector in defense mode.

Level 3/Light/Psychic

ATK 0/DEF 2200

Sayer: And now I tune level 2 Krebons with level 3 Mind Protector to synchro summon Magical Android.

Level 5/Light/Psychic

ATK 2400/DEF 1700

Sayer: And due to her special ability, during each of my end phases, I gain 600 life points for each of the psychic type monsters on my field. I end my turn, so since I control 1 psychic type monster, I gain 600 life points.

Sayer: 4600 LP

Sayer: Alright, that gives me a strong monster and some more life points. I'll have to wait and see how Carly responds.

Carly: It's my turn. I play the field spell Future Vision. I'll follow that up by playing Fortune Lady Light in attack mode.

Level 1/Light/Spellcaster

ATK & DEF ?

Carly: You see, this card's attack and defense are equal to her level times 200, and her level increases by 1 during each of my standby phases.

Sayer: So your monster only has 200 attack points. It's no match for my Magical Android.

Carly: I'm not done yet. Next the effect of my Future Vision field spell activates. Whenever either of us normal summons a monster, that monster is removed from the game until our next standby phase.

Sayer: But now your field is wide open for me to attack you directly.

Carly: Not for long. Due to the effect of Fortune Lady Light, when she leaves my field, I can summon a Fortune Lady monster from my deck, so I play Fortune Lady Fire in attack mode.

Level 2/Fire/Spellcaster

ATK & DEF ?

Carly: This card's attack and defense are also equal to her level times 200, so since she's a level 2, her attack and defense are each 400.

Sayer: But it still doesn't stand a chance against my monster.

Carly: Which is why I activate her special ability. When she's summoned by the effect of a Fortune Lady monster, I can destroy one of your monsters and deal you damage equal to that monster's attack points.

Sayer: It does what?

Fortune Lady Fire launched a jet of flames at Magical Android, destroying her and sending Sayer flying against a wall.

Sayer: 2200 LP

Sayer: That attack was even more powerful than most of the duelists here.

Carly: Now you see the power of the shadows.

Sayer got to his feet and faced Carly.

Sayer: Power of the shadows or not, I'll win this duel and knock some sense into you.

Carly: We'll see about that. Fortune Lady Fire, attack him directly!

Her monster launched another stream of flames, knocking Sayer back against the wall again.

Sayer: 1800 LP

Carly: I place one card face-down and end my turn.

Meanwhile in another part of the building, Alex and Akiza were walking around looking for the other members.

Alex: Akiza, I'm getting worried.

Akiza: I'm sure everyone is okay.

?: But you won't be for long.

Alex and Akiza turned in the direction of the voice and saw someone walking towards them.

Akiza: Wait, aren't you Misty Tredwell?

Alex had heard of her. Apparently she was a famous model.

Misty: And you're Akiza Izinski, or would you prefer to be called "Black Rose"? Tell me, are you really a witch?

Alex: Leave Akiza alone! Just because she's different doesn't mean she's a witch or a monster!

Misty: If only you knew everything she's done, you wouldn't be defending her. I lost my brother because of her!

Akiza: What are you talking about? I don't even know your brother.

Misty: Enough lies. I want answers, and I want them now. He disappeared because of the Arcadia Movement, and I want him back.

Akiza: I already told you that I don't know.

Misty: Then we'll duel.

Alex: Leave Akiza alone and duel me!

Misty: Fine by me. Roman wants me to get you back anyway.

Alex: Roman? Then you're a-

Misty: Yes, I'm a Dark Signer.

She held up her arm, revealing a lizard mark before she was engulfed in a bright light, emerging wearing Dark Signer robes lined in green. Another earthquake went off, and purple flames shot up outside, this time creating a lizard symbol overlapping with the hummingbird symbol.

Alex: If that shaking keeps up, the whole building may come down.

Misty: I sense fear in you. You doubt your ability to succeed.

Akiza: Alex, let me duel her.

Alex: No. I have to do this. This is the only way I can get over my duel with Kalin. Get ready guys, we're about to face a Dark Signer.

Both: Let's do this!

Alex: 4000 LP

Misty: 4000 LP

A ring of purple energy then surrounded them, cutting Akiza off from Alex.

Alex: I'll go first. I play the continuous spell Supreme Castle Gate. This card gives me a few special privileges, one of which is activating the Supreme King's Castle field spell from my deck. Additionally, you can't stop me from fusion summoning my Evil Heroes, and when I succeed in fusion summoning one, I get to draw a card.

Misty: Is that all?

Alex: Afraid not. I play the spell Dark Fusion. I combine the Evil Heroes Flare Mage and Sky Slash to summon my favorite monster, my Evil HERO Inferno Wing!

Level 6/Fire/Fiend

ATK 2100/DEF 1200

Alex: Now the effects of Flare Mage and Castle Gate activate, so you take 600 points of damage and I draw 1 card.

Flare Mage appeared and launched a fireball at Misty, pushing her back.

Misty: 3400 LP

Misty: So you have the same powers as her.

Alex: I end my turn.

Misty: I draw. And I activate the Savage Colosseum field spell.

Alex: I already know how it works, so you don't have to explain.

Misty: Fine then. I play the continuous spell Field Barrier. Now neither of our field spells can be destroyed, but neither of us can activate a new field spell either.

Alex: Thanks for the added protection.

Misty: I wouldn't be thanking me just yet. Especially now that I'm summoning Reptilliane Gorgon in attack mode.

Level 3/Dark/Reptile

ATK & DEF 1400

Misty: Next I play the equip spell Molting Escape. With it, my monster can't be destroyed in battle once each turn, and every time this effect is used, my monster gains an additional 100 attack points. Now, attack his Inferno Wing.

Alex: Is she nuts? Inferno Wing, counterattack with Inferno Blast!

Gorgon charged at Inferno Wing, but she launched a blue fireball at it, repelling the attack.

Misty: 2700 LP

Misty: Due to the effect of Molting Escape, Gorgon isn't destroyed, and she gains 100 more attack points.

Gorgon: 1400-1500 ATK

Alex: Why would she deal herself so much damage just to raise her monster's attack points by 100?

Misty: One more thing. Due to my Gorgon's effect, your Inferno Wing's attack points become 0, and she can't change to defense mode.

Alex could hear Inferno Wing's wails as she turned to stone.

Inferno Wing: 2100-0 ATK

Alex: How dare you!

Misty: And now due to my field spell's effect, I gain 300 life points.

Misty: 3000 LP

Misty: You can't defeat me Alex. And once I'm done with you, Akiza is next.

Akiza: Misty, I don't know what happened to your brother, but I know that the Arcadia Movement wasn't responsible. It exists only to help people!

Misty: Cling to that desperate lie all you want, but I know the truth.

Alex: Even if the Arcadia Movement had something to do with your brother's disappearance, you have no reason to mad at Akiza for it.

Misty: I'm going to enjoy the moment you lose this duel, just like your dear friend Sayer is about to lose his shadow duel.

Alex: Sayer's dueling a Dark Signer?

Misty: I place one card face-down and end my turn.

To be continued...