Hayden drew his next card, looking over the field. "When you destroyed my monsters, lad…I thought maybe I was wrong. Maybe ya couldn't play this game like it was a Role Play. Maybe that strategy just doesn't work. But then…" He held up a card. "I realized that this game is just like it…Aye lad, just like it. Because just like a video game…there is always a cheat code. I activate Pot of Avarice, returning 5 monster to my deck from my graveyard, resetting the game. And next I will draw two cards." Hayden chuckled as he looked over his new hand. "And with every restart, comes a chance to chance to change your fortunes. I will first summon the Skilled Dark Magician to the field. But don't get use to him brother, because I am going to use another cheat, and transform my magician into something more. I activate Magical Dimension!" As he spoke, an iron maiden appeared, locking the Skilled Dark Magician within its structure. "I will now transform me Magician, leveling him up not once, but twice brother. Behold, the all-powerful Dark Magician of Chaos!"

The lights in the arena dimmed as one of the most powerful spellcasters in the game of duel monsters appeared, hovering above Hayden, eyes locked upon the Italian Duelists. His black hair hung straight down his back, his horned helm flashing in the muted light as he descended onto the field.

"And now, I will use my spell card's second effect, destroy one card on the field, like your Saturn!" The Iron Maiden appeared once more, capturing the Agent of Judgment and shattering it with ease. "More so, I will now use my Magician's effect. When I recruit him to my team, I get back one spell card from my graveyard."

"We are about to see Vera be knocked out." Alexander said calmly. "Hayden was smart to take out Marco's monster. The Agent of Judgment would have defended Vera if Hayden had gone for Vera's Archlord Venus. Now, there is nothing she can do to stop it." Prof. Milo shook his head. "Amazing. He played perfectly"

"Magician of Chaos, attack the Archlord Venus with Chaos Magic Blast!" The magician twirled his staff, energy glowing a dark red as it gathered to the tip. After a moment, the magician slamming his staff into the ground, sending the attack directly at Vera and her monster, destroying Venus with ease. Vera screamed, flying back and landing hard against the wall of the arena. (Vera-0000)

"Vera!" Marco screamed.

"Marco…" She said weakly. "You do not need to worry about your princess now. Please…defeat them."

Marco slowly turned back to Hayden, a golden fire bursting from his skin. "You will pay for that, Signor. I will destroy you for what you did to my Vera."

&&&

Samantha watched as Banner sank to his knees, explaining to Jaden why he had done what he had done. The Greek duelist did not bat an eye as he told his sob story, about the Sacred Beasts and all that rubbish.

As Banner finished, he glanced into the shadows, locking his gaze with Samantha. Giving her a slight smile, Samantha didn't react as she flicked her weapon. From the top of the shaft a whip of dark energy lashed out, quicker then the eye could see, striking the figure that had once been Banner and reducing him to ashes.

Standing up, Samantha made her way back up to the main part of the dorm, to insure that Jaden and his friends did not decide to go exploring.

&&&

"Enough talk, luv." Cassandra said, drawing her next card. "I will set this card, then I will separate my 'eavy Mech Support Platform from me Barrel Dragon. Now, let's see if I can spring the trap. 'eavy mech, attack!" the union machine flew directly at Marco striking his down to the ground. "And Barrel Dragon, the same!" Marco grunted as his body rolled back, the attacks raining down upon him. (Marco-2200)

"The Shadow Rider will have a hard time of it now." Bastion said. "Anything he plays will be attack by Hayden, leaving him open for Candace. Luck seems to be on their side, this time."

"Luck has nothing to do with this." Zane said. "Hayden and Candace are playing a tight game. Their skill level has improved greatly since we last saw them duel. Many people at the academy would have trouble facing them now."

"I still say its luck."

"And you will always say it because you are so hardheaded." Zane snapped, losing his cool. Bastion was silent after that, startled by the Kaiser's harsh words.

"My turn." Marco said, drawing. "I will summon Sangan to field in attack mode. Am I mad? Is that what you ask? How could I play such a weak monster in attack mode? It is because I know what card you just played, bella. And I plan to use it. Activate Trap: Reverse of the Reserve! This card allows me to activate your trap as my own, reveal the card: CRUSH CARD!"

Sure enough, Cassandra's card flipped up, revealing the Crush Card Virus Trap.

"He knew!" Arliss shouted. "How did that boy know?!?"

"You mean, you don't know?" Nessa exclaimed.

"Not a clue, darlin'."

"I knew the instant you separated your Barrel Dragon from the Support Platform. The only reason to do that was to activate the Crush Card. Only now, it will infect you! Crush Card, I sacrifice Sangan to activate your effect! Infect Cassandra Lockehart's deck!"

"NO!" Cassandra screamed, watching in horror as her Barrel Dragon roared, rusting away and turning to dust. Similarly, her duel disk began to scream, warning her of the virus.

"because Sangan was sent to the graveyard, I can select one monster from my deck and add it to my end. But, there is still one final move I must make…against the man that dared attack my Vera. I call upon the weapons of the heaven, the Swords of Revealing Light!" Hayden could only watch as the swords dropped, locking his Dark Magician of Chaos in place. "I will end my turn."

"Why did he do that?" Dhmitri asked. "Why not take out the Dark Magician of Chaos? I thought he was mad at Hayden."

"He is." Alex said. "So he will make Hayden pay…eye for an eye."

"Huh?"

"Cassandra. Hayden is going to have to watch as Marco takes out Cassandra."

Hayden passed, unable to do anything about the swords of revealing light. Cassandra drew next, and only shifted her Heavy Mech to defense in a weak attempt to protect her lifepoints.

"My turn." Marco said, drawing. "Perfect. I will reactivate once more the Sanctuary in the Sky! And then, I will summon a new Agent of Renewal – Pluto to the field!" As he placed the cards down, the stronghold and the dark angel appeared on his side of the field. "And using my Pluto's special ability, I will summon back to the field my Saturn!" Joining Pluto, the regal fairy nodded as it turned towards Cassandra. "Now my agents, attack Cassandra and her Heavy Mech: Renewing Edge and Ring of Judgment!" Pluto leapt into the air, slicing the machine in two, while Saturn sent his rings right at Cassandra, ensnaring her and squeezing much of the life from her.

"Hey! Let Cass go and face me!" Hayden shouted.

"No." Marco said. "You must watch as your girlfriend suffers at my hands." (Cassandra-700)

"Son of a bitch…" Nessa snarled, stepping forward to deal with the duelist that dared hurt her daughter. Arliss caught her and pulled her back.

"No…not yet, darlin'. Hayden is the only one that can deal with him at the moment. Let him try."

The Scotsmen in question was enraged, watching as Cassandra struggled to her feet. The blast had taken a lot out of her, and there was little he could do. The Swords of Revealing Light locked his monster down, and wouldn't let his magician protect Cassandra.

She was doomed, and they all knew it.

Marco's turn came again after Cassandra set one monster in defense. "This is the end, bella. My apologies…normally I would attack the boy, but he attacked my Vera…and I will repay him in kind. Pluto…Saturn…finish her!" The agents nodded, leaping into battle and shattering the Heavy Mech that Cassandra had set. With one final ring from Saturn, Cassandra fell to her knees. "So ends her." (Cassandra-0000)

Hayden snarled. "You will pay, brother…I'll see ta that." The Scotsman passes, knowing he had to wait two more turns before he could make good on his promise.

Marco drew a card, and looking over his hand. 'mmm…that will come in handy. A risk, but I willing to take it. It will be the only way to defeat his Dark magician of Chaos. But…I must wait. Perhaps another avenue is open. I will not dare use this card until the gods demand it.' Turning back to the duel, Marco held out his hand. "I will use my Pluto's special ability to return my first Pluto back to the field. And, I will end my turn. Come at me…my forces will break your attacks like waves against the shore."

"What is he talking about?" Nessa asked.

"Marco has set up a powerful wall. Hayden ain't destroyin' any of his monsters without them returnin' to the field next turn thanks to those double Plutos. And with Sanctuary in the Sky, he gets no damage. Hayden has ta get another monster on the field to destroy both them Plutos, and then hope Marco doesn't have a way to bring them back."

"So, there is a chance?"

"There's always a chance, darlin'." Arliss replied. 'And if I know Hayden, he's gonna show us just how much of one.'

Hayden looked over his cards. "I think it's time I dealt with your agents. You've built up your own team, Marco, but brother, you ain't going to be able to have them stand up to this: I will first add Double Coston to my team. But he will not stay for long, becuase I will reuse the power of the Monster Gate to bring out a new monster…" Hayden's eyes lit up when the first monster in his deck appeared. "Perfect. I will recruit an old friend: The Dark Magician Girl!" Behind Hayden, the female mage appeared, joining the Dark Magician of Chaos. "Next I will use this relic: The Sage's Stone, allowing me to special summon the Dark Magician to the field!" The third magician joined his brother and sister on the field, standing tall and ready.

"Three Magicians?" Bastion exclaimed. "He was able to get thereof the most powerful spellcasters on the field! How could the little lech do that?"

"I think we will learn that there are many things Hayden McGregor can do." Zane said.

"Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, and Dark Magician of Chaos, attack and destroy the agents! Dark Magic, Dark Flame, and Chaos Magic attacks!" Hayden exclaimed, his three mages letting loose their attacks. Marco turned his head as his fairies exploded one after the other, leaving his field empty. "Next turn, I will finish your off, Marco. And then you will wish you had never come to this island and challenged us. I set one card and end my turn."

Marco nodded. 'So the gods command me to use this card…but will I be able to live with the results?' Setting one card and one monster in defense, Marco ended his turn. "This will be your last turn, Signor."

"It's good you've accepted defeat, lad." Hayden said. "Because this will end you once and for all. I will first add the Magician's Valkyria to my team. Next, I will use my Call of the Haunted trap card to revive my Skilled Dark Magician."

"5 magicians!?" Dhmitri exclaimed. "Hayden defiantly wants to make sure he finished Marco off."

"That he does…" Alex said, distracted. 'But why do I get the feeling that Marco Giovanni has something up his sleeve.'

"Dark Magician, attack Marco's face down monster!" Hayden commanded, watching as the Dark Magic attack shattered a Hysteric Fairy. "And now, Dark Magician of Chaos, attack Marco directly and end this game! Chaos Magic Blast!"

The Magician of Chaos spun his wand, gathering the force of light and darkness together for one final attack. Marco stood ready, head held high as the Magician released his blast right at him.

'May the gods have mercy.' Marco thought, watching as the Sanctuary in the Sky shuddered, flames bursting from its main tower. "I activate the trap card: THE FALL OF ROME!" As he spoke, the trap flipped up, revealing the Sanctuary of the Sky crashing to the ground, destroying the Coliseum. "This trap can only be activated when The Rise of Rome and The Glory of Rome have been played. When you would take the last of my lifepoints, this card negates your attack and destroys everything that lies on the field. Now my trap…wipe the field clean."

A beam of light shot from the card into the sky, only for a second one to strike back down upon them all. Magicians of all sorts screamed as they exploded in the white light of heaven, while the Sanctuary in the Sky burned to ashes, leaving Hayden and Marco standing on the field…alone.

"He took out everything." Nessa whispered. "Everything Hayden set up…"

"Gone." Arliss whispered. "I've never seen such a powerful attack. Who is this duelist?"

"Who indeed?" Nessa asked.

"HAYDEN!" Cassandra called out. "HAYDEN, ARE YOU OK?"

Hayden was on his knees, staring down at his empty field. "My entire team…gone…just like that. He took them all out as if they were nothing."

Marco looked down at Hayden, his emotions unreadable. "Such is the will of the gods. They have decreed your loss, for whatever reason. They demanded this duel, and now they demand this: I use my Fall of Rome's special ability: I can search my deck for one monster and one spell card and add them too my hand."

"So the Fall of Rome is a combination of the Rise and Glory of Rome." Arliss said. "One that relies upon both to have already been played. A powerful card…and one I doubt few could have seen comin'."

"Are you saying Hayden has no hope?"

"That remains to be seen…" Arliss said, but deep down, he knew that this would be the final move of the game.

"Do you think Hayden can come back from this?" Dhmitri asked.

Alexander Milo shook his head. "Could you? If your greatest monsters were destroyed in one grand attack…could you, Dhmitri?"

The boy's silence answered that question.

"Continue to watch the duel." Alexander said, looking down at his cellphone. Noticing the message, he quickly began to stand up. "I will return."

"Where are you going?" Dhmitri asked.

"No where…I need to take a walk, that is all." With that, he was gone, hurrying out of the arena.

"A foolish mistake." Bastion said. "He should never…"

"WOULD YOU SHUT UP BASTION!" Cassandra snarled from the field. "Who invited your overrated arse anyway? Just shut your gob and leave dueling to the people that know 'ow to do it proper like."

"Why you inconsiderate little trollop." Bastion snapped. "It is enough that you go cavorting with those fools Arliss and Nessa, but you dare talk back to me! When my father finds out about this…"

"What, he'll hit me again?" Cassandra shouted.

"Don't use that tone when talking about my father…"

Arliss pulled off Shadow Star from his neck, ready to throw. "If you think of threatenin' my daughter again…"

"You'll do what…"

"I think he's asking for a beating…" Nessa said, cracking her knuckles.

"I have half a mind…"

BANG!

Everyone grew quiet. Vera had risen to her feet, her handgun pointed in the air. "If another person speaks, I will shoot them. Is that understood?" The Italian duelist turned to her lover. "Marco…finish this duel now. These stupid little people are below us, and I do not wish to deal with them…" She glared at Bastion. "Especially the fat one up there."

"Fat?" Bastion asked, trying to ignore the snickers from the Rare Hunters. Vera went for her gun, but Marco waved her off.

"Enough…you are right…let me end this." Marco held up a card. "To start, I will call upon the gods, to send me aid now, in this moment. Bring forth the Agent of Power – Mars to the field!" A deep, fast war march played as the planet Mars appeared, the purplish red-winged angel appeared beside Marco. "Normally, in order for Mars to be of any use, I must already have the higher lifepoints, and the Sanctuary giving him power. But, I have just the card that will render that point moot. I sacrifice my Agent of Power, elevating him to his highest form: The Archlord Mars – God of War!"

Mars let out a bellow as the music went faster, beating drums and war trumpets sounding as the angel transformed. In the agent's place stood the 6 winged archlord, dressed in black full body armor and holding a war hammer the size of his body. His purple hair hung down his back, his eyes glowing darkly as he tested his weapon. The Archlord rose in the air, staring out at the arena. (Angel/Level 7/ Attack:2000/Def: 0)

"My Mars' new effect is a devastating one. You see, he can add the difference between our lifepoints to his attack points…even if you have more lp then I do." As he spoke, Mars sent down a blast of energy at the two, drawing upon Marco and Hayden's remaining lifepoints. As he did so, the Archlord began to grow larger, until he stood almost 20 feet tall. (Attack:6600)

"There is more." Marco said. "I will now activate the spell card I took using my Fall of Rome trap: Legionnaire Force!" The spell appeared on the field, depicting Mars leading a group of Roman soldiers into battle. "This spell allows me to sacrifice any number of my lifepoints equal to 1000 to summon a Legionnaire Soldier Token to the field. I choose to sacrifice 2000 lifepoints, summoning to 2 Soldiers."

As he spoke, the card flashed, and two Roman soldiers marched onto the field, dressed in red tunics with gold breastplates, the sign for Mars upon their chests. (Marco-200)

"And because I decreased my lifepoints, the gap between us increases, and my Mars' attack grows!" Mars let out a bellow as he grew larger, to over 25 feet tall, towering over all those in the arena. (Attack:8600)

"My God…" Nessa whispered. "It's gigantic."

"Archlord Mars, finish the duel now. Attack Hayden directly with your Hammer of War!" Letting out a cry that shook the arena, the archlord swung his great hammer, slamming it down onto Hayden. The Scotsman let out a final cry of pain as he was thrown back, crashing to a wall and falling unconscious. Marco nodded as his monsters faded. "Thus ends the duel."

&&&

"No, no, no!" James shouted, flipping through the pages Shepard had just printed off. "NO! This can't be right…it just…" He turned towards Shepard waving the file in one hand and the gun in the other. "Where is the real file!?!"

"That…that is Alex's file. He graduated from the University of Michigan…."

"NO!" James shouted, throwing the file into the wall. "I know he isn't Alexander Milo! I know he isn't a teacher! I know he didn't graduate from Michigan!" He clutched his head, anger radiating off of him. "Why are you protecting him, Shepard….tell me why you are protecting him!"

"I am not…"

"LIAR!" James screamed, turning his gun right at Shepard's head. "TELL ME WHO ALEXANDER MILO IS, NOW!" His hand shook and Shepard closed his eyes. "TELL ME…"

A gunshot rang out.

The glass behind Shepard shattered.

The gun in James' hand fell to the ground.

Shepard slowly opened his eyes, looking up into James'. The Professor looked confused, in a daze, as he reached down and touched the blood that was now oozing out of the wound in his chest. He began to turn, looking over his shoulder, letting out a groan as another shot was fired and he fell to the ground….

…revealing Alexander Milo in the doorway, his own gun pointed right where James had been.

Moving swiftly, Alex strode towards the fallen body, and without thought, fired two shots right into James' forehead.

"Are you alright Chancellor?" He asked calmly.

&&&

Hayden lay flat on his back, eyes close, as a wisp of smoke rose from his chest. In an instant Cassandra was next to him, clutching his head in her hands as she stroked his hair. Nessa knelt by her daughter, checking over the young man's vitals. Arliss glared at Marco as stepped between him and his family.

"Take another step closer and I'll personally remove your head from your shoulders, boy." Arliss threatened. "No one hurts one of my hunters."

Marco raised his gun. "You will die before you can throw your weapon."

"We have more then that at our disposal…" Nessa warned, eyes flashing as she tried to invade Marco's mind.

Instead, she came against a great wall, shocked that she could not penetrate his mental defenses. Pushing harder, Nessa suddenly had a vision of a great figure in white, throwing a punch right at her.

"AAAAAAAA!" She screamed, flying back. She twitched in agony as Arliss ran to her side.

"Nessa…" He turned from his fiancé to find Marco and Vera gone. "DAMN IT!" He snarled. "GET BACK HERE, YOU YELLOW BELLIED COWARD!"

It was at that moment at Samantha marched into the arena, ignoring the startled looks she received from Zane and Bastion. Coming before Arliss, she looked down at him, her eyes blank.

"Banner betrayed us." She said simply, her voice monotone and listless. "He wanted us out of the dorm so he could duel Jaden Yuki there. He had already beaten Alexis and Chazz."

"Are they alright?" Zane asked.

Samantha did not respond.

"Samantha, who won the duel?" Arliss asked, stroking Nessa's forehead. His Dark Queen whimpered, leaning into his touch.

"Jaden Yuki. He possesses all 7 keys." Samantha said. "Banner….has been taken care off."

Arliss nodded. "Good…good. Samantha, go get Hayden. I want you to carry him back to the dorm…we must care for our injured."

"What has happened to her?" Bastion asked, watching as Samantha Ciro picked up Hayden and followed after Arliss, who held Nessa bridal style. Cassandra followed beside Sam, stroking Hayden's hair.

"They turned her." Dhmitri said. "Just as Professor Milo said they would." Shaking his head, he turned and left the arena, of to find his mentor and deliver the news.

&&&

"Alexander…" Shepard whispered, his voice hoarse. "What…"

Alex put his gun back in he holster that lay hidden in his cord blazer. "Maybe I should explain." He held out his hand, helping the shaken Chancellor to his feet and over to his desk chair. Alex moved around to the other side of the desk, standing tall before him. "My name is Alexander Milo. But I am not a dueling professor as I led you to believe. I am an agent with the United States Government."

Shepard stared at him.

"I know it is hard to believe, Chancellor Shepard, but it is the truth. I was sent here along with my wife to investigate strange activity on this island, namely the Rare Hunters. We have reason to believe that they are trying to create some sort of computer virus that will hack into the KaibaCorp network. They plan to use this to blackmail Seto Kaiba for billions. They call it their endgame."

"Dear God…"

Alex nodded. "I posed as a teacher here so I could investigate Arliss…unfortunately, he and his group were able to take my wife."

"…Samantha?"

Alex closed his eyes. "Yes. I know she has been brainwashed by them…and is serving as Arliss' lieutenant. I have been working this last week to prepare storming their dorm to get her back…but then…"

Shepard looked down at James' fallen body. "Prof. Stilton…was he…"

"His name is Arlen Lockehart. He is…was…Arliss Lockehart's older brother. Arliss placed him here as a sleeper, to infiltrate the academy. I believe he planned to kill all the teachers and be promoted to Chancellor." Alex shook his head. "There is more…I had noticed some strange activity a few weeks ago, and followed Arlen. I discovered that he had managed to attack a young man living under the academy…"

"Belowski…" Shepard whispered. "no…"

"Yes…I managed to save boys life…he is hospital in Domino. He can attest that James attacked him." Alexander looked down as James' form. "Thank God I arrived here in time…he most likely was looking to make you his next victim."

"He was demanding your file…"

Alexander nodded. "Arlen Lockehart is the most cunning assassin the world has known. He most likely figured out that there was a government agent on the island and sought to eliminate him." Prof. Milo smirked. "A fitting end to such a troublemaker."

Shepard nodded licking his lips. The day had been so trying, and now with this news… "What now, Agent Milo?"

"No, call me Professor. I can not leave this island until the Rare Hunter threat is put down." Alex paused, before leaning forward. "And I believe you can help me with that, Chancellor."

Next Time On GX: Hunters- With the death of James Stilton, things have been put into motions that can not be stopped. Alexander Milo begins his plot to take back his wife and destroy the Hunters, and regain control of the academy. But when dealing with Arliss Lockehart, nothing is as it seemed. And Arlen Lockehart has one final trick to play.