Ethan’s Duality Martial Arts: Mid-Blade (mid-kick) shot toward the principal’s solar plexus at sonic speed—only to be blocked. The principal had countered with a cross-guard.

  “Have you forgotten?” the principal said. “I can copy your techniques. It’s been four years.

  The sight of the woman you loved changed beyond recognition must’ve driven you mad with rage. Understandable, I suppose.”

  He took a step back and slid on his sunglasses.

  “Still, your Exceed is troublesome. I’ll need to go on the defensive as well…”

  Before he could finish, a coin flicked by Ethan’s Duality Martial Arts: Sonic Bullet tore through the air at supersonic speed and hurtled toward the principal.

  Ethan’s eyes burned with a cold ruthlessness, fiercer even than when he killed the returning middle school teacher who had assaulted Ria.

  Victoria

  "The emergency transmission from the Gray Archives originated from beneath the St. Georgius Hall, Leader."

  Clara turned to Victoria and reported.

  It had been four years since the failed surprise attack on Lumen Dei Academy. Luna Nordix had been dismantled, its executives killed. Only Victoria, Ethan, and Clara remained.

  Today, Ethan had a separate assignment, so Victoria and Clara were handling the emergency alone.

  For Victoria, the fact that Clara and Ethan had survived and grown stronger was her only hope.

  "'Leader'? What's that about?"

  Victoria asked with a straight face as they moved.

  "Because… one day, I want you to revive Luna Nordix, Victoria. As its leader."

  Clara replied sincerely. Since Luna Nordix’s downfall, Clara had stopped crying, dedicating herself entirely to training in Duality Martial Arts and fulfilling missions for the Gray Archives. That unwavering resolve had become a source of solace for Victoria.

  The youngest of them all, Clara had found a way to move forward through despair.

  That alone gave Victoria the strength to keep going.

  "Someday… maybe," Victoria muttered, just as her face was about to soften into a smile—but her expression immediately hardened.

  The smell of blood was heavy in the air as they descended beneath the St. Georgius Hall, the source of the emergency signal.

  Victoria activated her Exceed, Pulseveil, but sensed nothing.

  Peering cautiously into the direction of the scent, she found Returners from the Gray Archives lying on the ground—throats slashed.

  “Clara…”

  Victoria opened her mouth to warn Clara—Be careful—but that’s when she noticed something was wrong.

  She couldn’t sense Clara’s emotions either.

  With a controlled Ether breathing technique, Victoria shifted into combat stance.

  From behind—A high-speed Duality Martial Arts: Silent Spike (a stabbing strike with fingertips) came flying in.

  Victoria evaded it and swept Clara’s legs out from under her.

  Clara didn’t resist the sweep, instead spinning mid-air and landing gracefully into a combat stance.

  “What’s your objective?” Victoria asked coldly.

  “To purge the remaining remnants of Luna Nordix, Victoria Sinclair. These people were sacrificed just to lure you here.”

  As the illusion unraveled, Clara’s face shifted—revealing the face of the Lumen Dei Academy principal.

  Victoria’s eyes turned icy cold.

  (He even mimicked Clara’s mannerisms… which means Clara is probably already… gone.)

  Anger, cruelty, and despair ignited within Victoria like an inferno.

  "You seem rather angry, but that’s perfectly fine," the principal said. "I can copy your techniques and power as well. The stronger they are, the better."

  He suddenly flicked a coin using Duality Martial Arts: Sonic Bullet, hurling it at sonic speed toward Victoria.

  VS Principal

  Ethan’s Sonic Bullet had been deflected by the principal’s spinning parry.

  (This is bad. He really has copied my techniques to my level.)

  As Ethan hesitated, searching for his next move—

  The principal countered with his own Sonic Bullet, fired with astonishing speed. Its trajectory was aimed directly at Ethan’s right eye and foot.

  Ethan quickly guarded his right eye with his forearm, attempting to deflect the coin using rotational force.

  But—

  The coin pierced his arm, shredding through muscle and spraying blood.

  (…!)

  Another coin slammed into his right foot, punching through the shoe’s armor and embedding into the sensitive top of his foot.

  As someone whose techniques were based on Taekwondo, damage to the instep of his dominant foot was catastrophic.

  (Copying? There’s no way—this Sonic Bullet is stronger than anything I’ve ever fired…)

  Gritting his teeth through the pain, Ethan readied his stance. The principal flowed toward him like water and unleashed Duality Martial Arts: Head Hunt.

  It was a lethal knifehand strike. Ethan tried to counter it with Breaker Block—a technique that simultaneously blocks and counters with an arm-breaking punch.

  But—

  Ethan’s strike missed entirely. The principal had predicted Breaker Block’s trajectory, and his knifehand landed cleanly on Ethan’s left arm.

  There was no time to wince in pain. The next instant, the principal’s Abyss Strike (groin kick) landed with brutal precision.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Even with a groin protector, the pain was excruciating.

  “Guhhhhhh!!”

  Ethan leapt back with Mid-Blade to create distance.

  (Copying!? These are fifth-dan level attacks! That move was dirty—just like my sister’s fighting style!)

  Holding his spinning, confused head, Ethan realized: only his strongest move could turn this around.

  If this kept up, he would fall sooner or later.

  (Still… I’m not done yet. I couldn’t defeat him last time. This time… I will!)

  Ethan focused on Ether breathing.

  This technique was his ultimate move—Duality Martial Arts: Reaper's Chain, a deadly sequence:

  Abyss Strike → Mid-Blade → Judgment Fang (a neck-breaking kick) → Crater Drop (a skull-crushing heel drop).

  He felt the Ether empower his wounded body, and launched the opening move: Abyss Strike.

  But—

  It was casually blocked by the principal’s knee.

  Ethan’s heart sank in despair. He was ready to die.

  (Sorry, Ria… I couldn’t even save you. Looks like I’ll die here… Please… wake up somehow…)

  His supporting leg was swept out from under him.

  As Ethan fell, the principal brought his heel down toward Ethan’s throat with a lethal killing blow.

  Victoria

  The principal before her would be eliminated—efficiently and without hesitation.

  Victoria fired Sonic Bullet, aiming to damage his legs. It landed easily—too easily, in fact. That gave her pause.

  (If it were me, I wouldn’t try to block that—I’d read the trajectory and dodge. Even if he can copy techniques, is it all just monkey-see-monkey-do?)

  Her feint-assisted Abyss Strike also landed as expected. Watching the principal grimace in pain, Victoria saw the faces of her lost comrades—Beatrice, Emma, Maya—flash through her mind.

  She couldn’t save them. But at the very least, this man would be sent to hell.

  While fighting, Victoria continued using her Exceed, Pulseveil. What she sensed from the principal was troubling—a chaotic swirl of emotions: panic, familial affection, fear, rage, and pain.

  Then, the principal lashed out with a desperate kick—Abyss Strike.

  (A technique meant for male opponents… Why would he use that on me? Just what did he copy?)

  Victoria swept him to the ground with ease and noticed something strange.

  (Copying? His technique level is around 3rd-dan in Duality Martial Arts. He’s clearly weaker than me. But…)

  (These emotions I’m sensing… the sorrow of someone having someone precious defiled? Could this scum really feel such things?)

  As she performed a heel drop, another thought struck her.

  (This… feels like training with Ethan. That low kick just now—was that the opening move of Reaper’s Chain?)

  She adjusted the strike just slightly, narrowly avoiding the principal’s throat, and drove her heel into the floor.

  (The chances are high—I’ve been caught in an enemy trap…!)

  Victoria activated her Exceed: Echoveil.

  Echoveil not only let her peer into others’ memories, but also allowed her to share her own—like telepathy. Both functions required the other’s permission.

  Touching the shoulder of the collapsed principal with her foot, she focused her thoughts.

  ("I am Victoria. Who are you? What are you seeing right now?")

  “…Sister… I’m going to be killed by the principal. Run… You can’t beat him alone…”

  The man beneath her responded in a grave voice.

  (…What is the principal doing right now, Ethan?)

  “He’s got his foot on my shoulder. Just silently staring at me.”

  (No way… Then Ethan, use Veritas Chain on him. Ask who he really is. That’s the quickest way.)

  “…I don’t really get it, but understood. Who are you?”

  Ethan activated his Exceed: Veritas Chain. His gray eyes began to glow.

  The principal, who had claimed earlier he would defend against such abilities, removed his sunglasses and looked Ethan directly in the eye.

  “…I am…”

  What came next was a voice that should’ve been impossible—Victoria’s voice, coming from the principal’s mouth.

  In the next moment, the principal’s appearance changed.

  “I am Victoria Sinclair. Ethan, I’m your sister.”

  “What the hell!?”

  The Victoria who had infiltrated Lumen Dei Academy four years ago now stood before them.

  The illusion around both Victoria and Ethan shattered like glass, and the underground scenery they’d been seeing disappeared.

  Victoria stepped back from Ethan and crouched beside him.

  “I nearly killed you for real… I’m sorry, Ethan.”

  “So it was you, sis… You’re way too strong… But the real problem is—where is he?”

  Ethan checked his wristphone. The time matched the real world.

  (So… we’ve been implanted with false memories. That Exceed of his is a serious threat.)

  Before them now was the grim reality—the corpse disposal chamber beneath the cathedral, where Clara had once been buried.

  What stretched out before Victoria and Ethan was the underground catacomb of the cathedral—

  the very corpse disposal site where Clara had once been buried.

  “Of all places... here?” Ethan sighed. “You picking up anything, sis?”

  (…Quiet. Everything we see and hear might be compromised. Something’s interfering—I can’t sense anything clearly.)

  Victoria responded via Pulseveil, cautious and composed.

  A fraction of a second later, her body jolted violently.

  Blood spilled from her mouth.

  An arrow had pierced her from back to chest.

  Then, from the soil before them, countless arms burst forth.

  Victoria dropped to one knee, struggling to endure the pain as blood dripped from her mouth.

  (I didn’t hear the bowstring… Just as I thought—my senses are being manipulated… What do I do…?)

  At the Theater

  When Beatrice came to, she found herself inside a movie theater ticket booth.

  There were no staff or patrons. Movie posters lined the walls.

  But strangely, every poster had the lead actress’s face slashed out—as if with a blade.

  (How crude… and I actually liked this movie. Whoever did this must hold a deep grudge.)

  As she cautiously walked through the booth, she saw a man approaching from the front—massive, around 190 cm tall.

  Their eyes met naturally.

  “Well, well. Welcome to our theater. A pleasure to meet you. I’m Kirill Valga of Myrkrsvalinn. And you are?”

  His greeting was unusually polite.

  Which only deepened the unease Beatrice felt.

  “Beatrice Rein, of Luna Nordix. It’s convenient that I get to face a member of Myrkrsvalinn directly like this.”

  She responded flatly.

  Kirill let out a sneering chuckle at the word “convenient.”

  “Convenient? You’re underestimating me, sweetheart. You know what happens to women who disrespect men like that? They die in agony.”

  “Kirill Valga, was it? Are you only good at running your mouth? I hate drawn-out banter. Let’s get started.”

  Beatrice elegantly extended her fingers and relaxed her stance.

  “Why is it that women are always so eager to walk straight into hell? Very well then… Exceed: Reenactment.”

  The space around Beatrice twisted, warping as if time itself were reversing.

  Suddenly, she found herself inside a movie screen.

  A memory—one of the worst in her life.

  (No…! He’s taking me back to that time!?)

  “Now then, let’s enjoy the show. Watching you spiral into madness will be exquisite.”

  Kirill drew the cursed sword Gram, sat down in one of the theater seats, and smiled with pleasure.

  At the Zoo

  Maya realized she was inside a steel cage at night—inside a zoo.

  A ten-meter square cube of reinforced steel.

  No spectators. But Ezekiel was there.

  His upper body was bare, and both his arms had already transformed into four anacondas.

  A stench of blood and musk drifted into Maya’s nostrils.

  “I’m so glad you came, Maya. I’ve waited for this day, the day we could finally express our love.”

  Ezekiel spoke with the calm demeanor of a preacher before his congregation.

  When Maya stayed silent, he continued.

  “But love comes with pain. True love is only found after surpassing that pain. I must punish you—but understand, it’s all for love.”

  “Stop defiling the word love. What suits you is karma.”

  Maya said no more.

  Her only concern was Emma, whom she had left behind.

  For Emma’s sake, she had already resolved to eliminate Ezekiel and return.

  She closed the distance instantly with a shadow step.

  “That won’t do. Ignoring divine love is grounds for punishment!”

  Two of the anacondas lunged at high speed. Their movements were far more agile than when Beatrice had trained her.

  They bared their fangs and came at Maya from both sides in a pincer attack.

  Maya’s shadow step faltered for just an instant.

  At the same moment, both anaconda heads were severed and fell to the floor.

  (Duality Martial Arts: Head Hunt)

  “Let’s end this, Ezekiel.”

  Maya said coldly.

  (That scent…?)

  Amidst the stench of Ezekiel and the anacondas, Maya suddenly caught a whiff of something familiar—

  a scent she once loved.

  (No… it can’t be…)

  A terrible premonition surged through her.

  One of the two remaining anacondas writhed upward, staring down at her.

  Its face… was no longer that of a snake.

  It was Sophia’s.

  “Long time no see, Maya. I’m so happy we could meet again like this.”

  It was unmistakably Sophia’s voice.

  A chill raced down Maya’s spine. The tone, the expression, the inflection—

  everything was exactly as it had been when Sophia was alive.

  “At first, I hated being turned into this… thing.

  But the more time I spent with Teacher, the more… pleasure I felt.

  So…”

  Maya felt her strength leaving her body. Standing upright was already a struggle.

  “I want to make love to you, Maya. I know you’ll understand me—because you’ve always wanted the same.”

  “That’s a lie…! You’re not Sophia!”

  Maya managed to shout, just barely recovering her etheric breath.

  But—

  The severed anaconda at her feet suddenly regenerated and sank its fangs into her ankle, injecting a paralyzing venom.

  “AAAAAAAHHHH!”

  Maya collapsed in agony.

  “Well then,” came Ezekiel’s twisted voice.

  “It’s time for your punishment.”

  Ezekiel curled his lips into a smile, his face twisted in ecstasy.

  Thank you for reading Chapter 17: The Battle Begins.

  This chapter was one of the most difficult and emotionally intense I’ve written so far.

  Each of them is battling a shadow of themselves—distorted by guilt, loss, and trauma.

  Lemongirl – Yet another brutal chapter, following the last.

  If you have words of encouragement for Victoria, I’d love to hear them!

  Assa131 – If you’ve made it this far, let me know:

  Which antagonist left the strongest impression on you?

  Your support helps this tale reach new readers—those who resonate with its light and darkness alike.

  check out my Substack article here:

  https://open.substack.com/pub/knishi2050/p/why-i-wrote-hells-returners?r=5wfkgu&utm_medium=ios)

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