Chapter 2: "The First Step to Conquering Hell"

Hell was a lot less fire and brimstone than Makoto expected.

Not that it was pleasant, of course. The air still stung his lungs, the sharp smell of sulfur making it hard to breathe, and the oppressive heat left him drenched in sweat. But the landscape itself was far more varied than the endless pits of lava he'd imagined from old paintings and stories.

Blackened canyons carved deep into the earth, jagged peaks jutted into a stormy crimson sky, and winding rivers of molten rock glowed faintly in the distance. Occasionally, he'd spot strange structures—stone fortresses covered in spikes, broken bridges suspended over nothingness, and ominous monoliths carved with symbols he couldn't begin to understand. The place felt ancient, like it had existed long before humans ever walked the Earth.

Makoto wasn't sure how much time had passed since he'd followed Justice. Minutes? Hours? It was impossible to tell without the sun—or any kind of clock—to mark the time.

"You doing okay back there, kid?" Justice's voice broke the silence, startling him.

Makoto blinked, realizing he'd fallen a few steps behind. Justice was walking with her hands stuffed into her pockets, her pace relaxed and confident despite the uneven terrain. She tilted her head slightly, as if she could see him perfectly through her sunglasses.

"Uh, y-yeah," Makoto said quickly, jogging to catch up. "I was just… trying to take it all in."

Justice grinned. "Pretty wild, huh? You're in the deep end now, kid. Hope you brought your floaties."

Makoto managed a weak laugh. "Yeah… I guess you could say that."

She chuckled, her boots crunching against the ground as she led him through a narrow gorge. "You're handling this better than most humans. Usually, they're either crying, screaming, or both by this point."

"I-I wouldn't say I'm handling it," Makoto admitted, clutching the amulet hanging around his neck. "I'm just… trying not to think about how I'm probably going to die down here."

Justice smirked. "Good strategy. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you might even make it out alive."

Makoto swallowed hard. "That's… not very comforting."

"Comfort's not part of the package deal, kid," Justice said with a shrug. "But hey, at least you've got me as your guide. That's worth something, right?"

Makoto hesitated, glancing at her. "Why are you helping me, anyway? You don't even know me."

Justice grinned wider, her teeth flashing. "What can I say? I like underdogs. And you? You've got that whole 'helpless but stubborn' vibe going on. It's kinda cute."

Makoto flushed, waving his hands frantically. "I-I'm not cute! I mean, I don't think I am, but—wait, that's not the point!" He shook his head, his voice rising in frustration. "Why does everyone keep calling me that?!"

Justice laughed, the sound echoing off the canyon walls. "You're all right, kid. I'm starting to see why the amulet picked you."

Makoto frowned, looking down at the strange object hanging from his neck. "What is this thing, anyway? Why does everyone keep saying it's so important?"

Justice tilted her head, her grin fading slightly. For the first time, she looked almost… serious.

"That thing?" She nodded toward the amulet. "It's not just important, kid. It's the key to Hell itself."

Makoto froze. "W-What do you mean?"

Justice stopped walking, turning to face him fully. "The amulet's been around for… well, longer than I have. And that's saying something. It's tied to the throne of Hell—whoever holds it is marked as a potential Conqueror. Someone who can unite the demons and claim the big seat at the top of the food chain."

Makoto's stomach dropped. "Conqueror? But I'm not—I don't even—"

Justice raised a hand, cutting him off. "Relax, kid. Nobody's expecting you to march in and take over tomorrow. The throne's been empty for ages, and most demons like it that way. No rules, no boss, just chaos. But now that you've got that thing…" She smirked. "Let's just say you're gonna make some waves."

Makoto stared at her, his mind reeling. "But… I don't want to conquer anything. I just want to go home."

Justice shrugged. "Too bad. The amulet chose you, and now you're stuck with it. So unless you want every demon in Hell breathing down your neck, you'd better figure out how to survive."

Makoto opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the ground beneath them rumbled.

Makoto stumbled, barely catching himself on a nearby rock as the earth shook violently. A deep, echoing roar filled the canyon, sending a chill down his spine.

Justice's grin returned, sharp and dangerous. "Looks like we've got company."

Makoto turned toward the source of the noise, his heart pounding. From the shadows of the gorge, a figure emerged—a tall, imposing demon with horns like jagged blades and a massive axe slung over its shoulder. Its crimson skin gleamed in the dim light, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Makoto with predatory intent.

"Well, well," the demon growled, its voice deep and gravelly. "What do we have here? A little human lost in my territory?"

Makoto froze, his legs refusing to move.

Justice leaned against a nearby rock, her expression casual. "Better say hi, kid. First impressions are important."

Makoto swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak. "H-Hi?"

The demon laughed, a low, menacing sound. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But if you think I'm letting you walk out of here alive…" It hefted its axe, the blade glinting wickedly. "You've got another thing coming."

Makoto's knees felt like they might give out. "Uh, Justice? A little help here?"

She smirked, crossing her arms. "Sorry, kid. This one's all you."

"All me?!" Makoto squeaked. "But I don't know how to fight!"

Justice tapped her sunglasses, her grin widening. "Then you'd better get creative. Remember what I said—luck's your best weapon."

The demon charged, its footsteps shaking the ground.

Makoto braced himself, gripping the amulet tightly. His mind raced, searching for a way out. There had to be something—anything—he could do to survive.

And then, just as the demon swung its axe, Makoto's foot slipped on a loose rock. He fell backward, the blade missing his head by inches and embedding itself in the ground.

Makoto blinked, his heart pounding. "That was… lucky."

Justice laughed. "Told you!"

The demon growled, yanking its weapon free. "You won't get lucky twice, human."

Makoto wasn't so sure about that.

To Be Continued…