Chapter 1: "Luck of the Draw"

Makoto Naegi wasn't the type of person who went looking for adventure.

He liked simple things. A quiet life, good friends, and maybe, someday, a peaceful future. He wasn't someone who sought out danger or excitement, much less portals to other dimensions.

But, as usual, trouble had found him anyway.

It started as an ordinary day at Hope's Peak Academy. The kind of day that didn't promise anything beyond the usual: listening to Kyoko's sharp observations, dodging Sayaka's occasional teasing, and praying Byakuya didn't humiliate him in front of the entire class. When a teacher had asked him to clean out an old storage room near the science labs, he'd gone willingly, figuring it was a chance to avoid awkward small talk.

That's where he found it.

The amulet.

It sat on a dusty shelf, surrounded by broken glass beakers and piles of yellowed papers. Even under the dim flicker of the overhead light, it seemed to glow faintly, its surface carved with jagged, intricate runes that pulsed as if alive.

Makoto tilted his head. "Huh. What's this doing here?"

His hand moved toward it almost instinctively. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, the room seemed to shudder. The air grew heavy, thick with an unnatural heat. His vision blurred, and before he could let go, the amulet blazed with light.

Then the floor disappeared beneath him.

Makoto hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. He groaned, rolling onto his back as sharp rocks dug into his palms. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the swirling red sky above him, lightning crackling through thick clouds of black smoke.

"Wh… where am I?" he muttered, pushing himself up on trembling arms.

The world around him was unlike anything he'd ever seen. He stood on a jagged plain of scorched stone, the ground split open in deep fissures that glowed with molten heat. In the distance, rivers of lava snaked through valleys of blackened rock, their fiery currents casting flickering light across massive, twisted towers that loomed against the horizon.

The air was stifling, thick with the sulfurous smell of ash and something faintly metallic. Every breath burned his throat.

"This has to be a dream," he whispered, his voice shaking. "Or… maybe I'm dead?" He swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. "No, no, don't think like that. Just… stay calm. There's got to be a logical explanation…"

A low, guttural growl rumbled behind him.

Makoto froze, his heart leaping into his throat. Slowly, he turned his head.

A pair of glowing red eyes stared back at him from the shadows of a crumbling archway. They blinked, narrowing as the creature stepped into the light. It was massive—easily twice his height—with a hunched, muscular frame covered in cracked, obsidian-like skin. Its claws scraped the ground as it advanced, its jagged teeth bared in a snarl.

Makoto stumbled back, nearly tripping over his own feet. "O-Okay, so maybe I am dead—"

The beast roared, cutting him off.

Makoto turned and ran.

He didn't know where he was going, only that he needed to put as much distance as possible between himself and whatever that was. His shoes skidded on loose gravel as he sprinted across the uneven terrain, dodging jagged rocks and pools of bubbling lava.

"Why does this keep happening to me?!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the canyon walls.

The beast's snarls grew louder behind him, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Makoto's lungs burned as he pushed himself to run faster, his mind racing. There had to be a way out. Some way to escape.

Up ahead, he spotted something unusual: a stone altar, its surface engraved with the same kind of runes that decorated the amulet still clutched in his hand.

Makoto didn't have time to think. The beast was closing in, its hot breath practically on his neck. Desperation drove him forward, and he leapt onto the altar just as the creature lunged.

The moment his feet touched the runes, the air around him crackled with energy. A sudden burst of light erupted from the altar, forcing the beast to recoil with a pained howl. Makoto shielded his eyes as the runes glowed brighter, their patterns shifting and twisting as if alive.

When the light faded, the beast was gone.

Makoto lowered his arms cautiously, his heart still hammering in his chest. The altar beneath him was now silent, the runes dim and lifeless.

"What… just happened?" he muttered, staring at the amulet.

A voice answered, casual and playful.

"Not bad, mortal. You've got some guts."

Makoto yelped, spinning around. His eyes darted across the rocky terrain until he spotted her: a figure sitting cross-legged on a jagged boulder, leaning back as if she didn't have a care in the world.

She was striking in a way that made Makoto pause. Her short, silver hair caught the faint glow of the molten cracks beneath them, and her white eyes—hidden behind a pair of sleek sunglasses—tilted toward him as though she could see right through him. She wore a sharp, sleeveless black jacket, fingerless gloves, and boots scuffed from use, giving her the look of someone who knew how to handle herself in a fight.

Her grin was wide, mischievous, and entirely too confident for Makoto's comfort.

"Relax, kid. You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, her voice light and teasing.

"W-Who are you?" Makoto stammered.

The woman hopped down from her perch with practiced ease, landing gracefully despite the uneven ground. She tucked her hands into her pockets, tilting her head slightly in his direction. "Justice. Former High Prosecutor of Hell. At your service." She gave a mock bow, her grin never fading.

"Justice?" Makoto blinked. "Wait, like… the Justice? The concept of justice?"

Justice laughed, the sound rich and unrestrained. "Man, you humans always make it sound so dramatic. I'm just me, kid. But thanks for the ego boost."

Makoto hesitated, his eyes flicking to her sunglasses. "Uh… are you… blind?"

Justice grinned wider. "Sharp observation. Yep, can't see a thing." She tapped her sunglasses with one finger. "But don't worry—I don't need eyes to know you're shaking in your shoes right now."

Makoto flushed, taking a step back. "I-I'm not shaking! I'm just… confused. And terrified. And—"

"Lost," Justice finished for him, her grin softening slightly. "Yeah, I figured that part out. You're not exactly blending in." She gestured vaguely at his school uniform. "Let me guess: you touched something you shouldn't have, and now you're stuck here."

Makoto blinked. "How did you—?"

"It's always the same story with you humans," Justice said with a chuckle. "You find some ancient artifact, get all curious, and the next thing you know, poof! You're in Hell. Happens all the time."

Makoto looked down at the amulet in his hand. "So… this is Hell?"

"Bingo." Justice clapped her hands together. "Congrats, kid! You're the proud owner of a one-way ticket to the underworld."

Makoto's stomach sank. "But I don't belong here! I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Doesn't matter," Justice said with a shrug. "The amulet doesn't care about stuff like that. It picks who it picks." Her grin returned, sharp and teasing. "And lucky you, it picked you."

Makoto frowned. "Picked me for what?"

Justice tilted her head, as if considering her answer. "Hmm… how do I put this? You're basically Hell's new problem child." She jabbed a finger at the amulet. "That little trinket of yours? It's got some serious mojo. Enough to make every demon in this place sit up and pay attention."

Makoto's grip on the amulet tightened. "Why would it pick me? I'm just a normal guy!"

Justice laughed again. "Kid, if you think you're normal, you're either lying or in denial. Nobody 'normal' ends up down here." She gave him a once-over, her grin turning slightly curious. "You've got a weird vibe about you. Can't put my finger on it, but I like it."

Makoto flushed, waving his hands frantically. "I-I don't have a vibe! I'm just trying to survive here!"

Justice smirked, leaning in slightly. "Well, you're off to a decent start. That altar trick you pulled? Not bad for a rookie." She straightened up, cracking her knuckles. "But if you're planning to stick around, you'll need more than dumb luck to survive."

Makoto swallowed hard. "Stick around? No way. I need to find a way out of here!"

Justice's grin widened. "Good luck with that, kid. Nobody gets out of Hell without jumping through a few hoops first." She turned, gesturing for him to follow. "Come on. You've got a lot to learn if you don't want to end up demon chow."

Makoto hesitated, glancing back at the altar. His mind raced with questions, but he knew he didn't have much of a choice. With a deep breath, he hurried after her.

"Wait," he called. "Where are we going?"

Justice glanced over her shoulder, her white eyes glinting behind her sunglasses. "To meet the first of your new friends, of course."

Makoto paled. "Why do I feel like that's a bad thing?"

Justice just laughed.

To Be Continued…