Chapter 10: "Hell's Economy"
The next morning, Makoto woke up to the faint sound of grumbling.
Blinking groggily, he rubbed his eyes and sat up. Justice was leaning against the cracked wall near the window, rummaging through her jacket pockets with a frustrated look on her face. A small pile of coins—each one jagged, blackened, and glowing faintly red—lay scattered on the windowsill beside her.
"Uh… morning?" Makoto said hesitantly, still half-asleep.
Justice glanced over her shoulder, her sunglasses tilted slightly down her nose. "Morning, kid. Hope you're not too hungry, 'cause we've got a problem."
Makoto frowned, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "A problem? What kind of problem?"
Justice sighed, holding up one of the glowing coins. "This is all I've got left. And unless you're planning to eat rocks for breakfast, we're gonna need more of these."
Makoto stared at the coin, tilting his head. "Wait… this is Hell's money?"
"Bingo," Justice said, tossing the coin into the air and catching it. "We call 'em Infernal Shards. They're carved from the bones of the old rulers of Hell, back when this place actually had rules. Pretty valuable stuff—if you don't get scammed, anyway."
Makoto blinked. "Wait, bones? That's… kind of creepy."
Justice shrugged. "Eh, you get used to it."
Makoto sighed. "Okay, so… how do we get more of these Shards?"
Justice smirked, pushing off the wall. "Lucky for you, I know just the place. Get dressed, kid. We're going hunting."
After a quick breakfast of leftover glowing fruit (which Makoto had started to tolerate, if not enjoy), Justice led him to the outskirts of Vanth.
They arrived at a large, ominous building carved directly into the side of a jagged cliff. Its arched entrance was lined with glowing runes, and a weathered sign above the door read The Maw—Guild of the Beast Hunters.
"Beast hunters?" Makoto asked, staring up at the building.
"Yep," Justice said, grinning. "The Maw pays top Shard for monster parts—fangs, claws, pelts, you name it. Hell's full of nasty critters, and somebody's gotta keep 'em in check. Might as well get paid for it."
Makoto hesitated, glancing at the amulet hidden under his shirt. "I… don't think I'm cut out for monster hunting."
Justice clapped him on the back, nearly knocking the wind out of him. "Relax, kid. You've got me. Besides, it's not like we're taking on anything crazy. Just a little fetch quest, and we're golden."
The interior of the Maw was chaotic but strangely organized. The walls were lined with trophies—massive horns, glowing eyes preserved in jars, and even an entire skeletal wing hanging from the ceiling. Demons bustled about, some haggling over the value of monster parts while others sharpened weapons or poured over maps.
A large, muscular demon with one eye and a jagged scar across his face stood behind the counter, sorting through piles of what looked like contracts.
"Hey, Gorrik!" Justice called, striding up to the counter. "Got any easy jobs for a couple of broke adventurers?"
Gorrik looked up, raising an eyebrow. "You're broke again, Justice? I'm starting to think you enjoy being poor."
Justice grinned. "It keeps me humble."
Makoto stepped up beside her, fidgeting nervously as Gorrik's one eye fixed on him.
"What's with the human?" Gorrik asked, his voice rumbling like thunder.
"Don't worry about him," Justice said, waving a hand. "He's with me."
Gorrik snorted but didn't press the issue. He pulled out a battered scroll, slamming it onto the counter. "Got a job for you. Low-level beast nesting in the caves east of town. Bring back its horns, and I'll pay you 50 Shards."
Justice picked up the scroll, scanning it quickly. "Sounds easy enough. What kind of beast are we talking about?"
"Hellhound," Gorrik said, his tone casual. "Big one, though. Be careful."
Makoto's face went pale. "Hellhound? Like… the flaming, bloodthirsty kind of Hellhound?"
Justice grinned, slapping the scroll against his chest. "You're catching on, kid. Let's go."
The caves east of Vanth were as unsettling as Makoto expected. The walls glowed faintly with streaks of molten rock, and the air was thick with the distant sound of growls and snarls.
"This place is… terrifying," Makoto muttered, clutching the scroll like a lifeline.
Justice smirked, her hands tucked into her pockets. "Relax, kid. Hellhounds aren't that bad. Just don't let it bite your face off."
Makoto groaned. "You're not helping…"
As they ventured deeper into the cave, the growls grew louder. Makoto's heart pounded as they rounded a corner and came face-to-face with the beast.
The Hellhound was massive, its black fur crackling with flames and its eyes glowing like molten gold. It snarled, baring jagged teeth as it crouched, ready to pounce.
"Okay, kid," Justice said, cracking her knuckles. "Here's the plan: I distract it, you go for the horns. Easy, right?"
"Not even a little bit!" Makoto squeaked, but Justice was already charging.
Justice engaged the Hellhound head-on, dodging its fiery swipes with ease and delivering precise, bone-shattering punches. Meanwhile, Makoto tried to stay out of its way, his grip tightening on the amulet under his shirt.
There has to be a better way to do this…
As if responding to his thoughts, the amulet flared to life. Makoto yelped as it burned against his chest, the runes glowing brighter than ever.
"Makoto!" Justice shouted, glancing back at him. "What are you doing?!"
"I-I don't know!" Makoto stammered, clutching the amulet as a surge of energy coursed through him.
The Hellhound turned toward him, its molten eyes narrowing. Makoto stumbled back, his heart racing—until a beam of crimson light erupted from the amulet, striking the beast square in the chest.
The Hellhound howled, its flames flickering as the force of the blast sent it crashing into the wall. It collapsed in a heap, smoke rising from its charred fur.
Makoto stared, his hand still clutching the amulet. "Did I… do that?"
Justice whistled, walking over to the downed beast. "Not bad, kid. Looks like you're finally starting to tap into that thing's power."
Makoto blinked, shaking his head. "But… I didn't even mean to!"
Justice grinned, crouching to inspect the Hellhound's horns. "Doesn't matter. A win's a win."
Makoto sighed, his legs trembling. "I don't think I'm cut out for this…"
Justice stood, tossing one of the severed horns to him. "Sure you are. You just don't know it yet."
To Be Continued…