(??? POV)

Darkness. It was all I saw. No matter where I turned, there was only darkness. I stood upon something, but it was just darkness.

I guess I finally learned where we go from Hell when we die. To this, eternal void.

Won't I go crazy?

Being stuck here...not being able to know what happened to them. I hope he kept them safe. That's all I asked.

But will I be able to survive sitting here, for the rest of eternity? In this blank void, stuck with only my thoughts?

"Hello." A light, feminine voice came from behind me. "Sorry for the wait, Madam Webb."

I turned around, being met with a robed person. The robe covered every part of them, except for their face where a skull sat and where their skeletal hands poked out, holding a clipboard and pen.

"I'm not Madam Webb...not anymore." Is after. "...you're a grim reaper, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am." The grim reaper stated. Their voice heavily contrasted their skeletal face, and I had to resist the urge to laugh.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around the infinite darkness.

"You could call this the waiting room, I suppose." The grim reaper stated.

"I see." I nodded. "Well...this is it, I suppose. Time to go."

"Not so fast." The grim reaper stated, and I swear I could hear a smile on her face. "You've helped many, and one of them bestowed a gift upon you."

The grim reaper walked up to me, lightly poking my chest. As they brought their hand away, a bright, red, orange, and yellow feather followed it.

"Faye." I gasped.

"I assume that's the name of the Phoenix which gifted you their feather." The grim reaper stated. "You see, a Phoenix can take a part of itself and place it into a person; giving them a once free ticket to a second life."

"What? But how?" I questioned in shock. "I didn't know that was..."

"Yes, it's a secret between us and the Phoenix." The grim reaper stated. "Not everybody can get a second life, so a Phoenix only gifts them to very special people."

"Incredible..." I gasped.

The grim reaper smiled...I think. "Yes, it is. And I think it was worth it, in this case. Death won't mind waiting a little longer for you. After all, everybody returns to Death."

"...thank you." I graciously smiled.

"You should thank that Faye, whenever you meet her again." The grim reaper stated.

I wish it was that simple. She died, which means I have to wait for her next reincarnation. And she doesn't regain her memories every reincarnation...

But I'll always be thankful.

"Make sure you don't waste this second opportunity." The grim reaper warned. "Not even another Phoenix feather will bring you back a third time."

"Noted." I nodded.

"I think you'll be fine though." The grim reaper stated. "You may be almost completely restarting, but you also have another gift here. A very, very special gift."

"What do you-?" I asked, before being cut off as the darkness somehow rumbled.

"It's time." She stated. "Your body has been resurrected, though with some slight changes. Enjoy."

"What's really you talking-?!" I screamed, before everything seemed to twist and turn as I fell down a dark hole.

And when I hit the bottom, I suddenly awoke to a red, spiky ceiling miles above me. It was the sky of Hell. I was back.

Holy shit.

I sat up, looking around. My clothes were ripped, however they still mostly covered me. At least the important points. I tried to bring my legs out, and they easily came out. It felt I was stretching unused muscles for the first time in years.

I sat on top of tons and tons of rubble. This had to be my school. Or at least, whatever was left of it. I hope that everybody made it out okay.

"Ugh...what the hell happened..." A female voice groaned. It sounded extremely close. Too close.

I jumped up, looking around. I couldn't find the source of that voice. Wasn't behind me, under, or above. I turned around in a whole circle, but I still couldn't see it!

"Jackson...are you alright?" The voice asked.

"Jackson?!" I exclaimed. "Who the hell are you?! Where are you?!"

"Oh shit!" The voice screamed. "Why are you here?! Where's Jackson?!"

"Answer my questions first!" I screamed.

The voice suddenly went quiet, before a worrying mantra filled my head. "This can't be happening, this can't be happening, this can't be happening, this can't be happening..."

"Tell me what's going on." I demanded.

"This is, uh...a long story. But I shouldn't be here." The voice stated.

"Who are you and where are you? Answer." I demanded once more.

"Okay, okay..." The voice sighed. "You don't have to yell. You can just think to me...I'm inside your head."

You're what?

"Inside your head." She stated once more.

Holy shit.

"Yes, I shouldn't be here." She added. "I have no idea why I'm here. I should be in Jackson's."

What do you mean by that?

"I'm the AI of the [System], an unique power that Jackson holds...but now it seems you do too, somehow." She stated. "You may call me Sally."

Alright Sally. When you say [System], do you mean those from those stories...?

"Yes, I do." Sally stated. "I'm surprised you know of them."

I've read many stories throughout my life. But I thought those were fake...

"Just say [System]." Sally informed. "It should pop up."

"Alright, [System]." I said.

A translucent screen suddenly popped up in front of me, surprising me.

[Beta System]

[Profile] [Inventory] [Lottery] [Shop] [Missions]

"Interesting..." Sally muttered. "It's not as fleshed out, mainly missing the harem features..."

The what now?

"Nothing." Sally stated. "Uh, try clicking on [Profile]."

I clicked on [Profile], being brought to a new screen.

[Profile]

Name: Destiny Webb Race: Arachnid SP: 100 Level: 1 Charm: Level 1 Strength: Level 1 Wisdom: Level 1 Agility: Level 1

"SP?" I questioned.

"Store Points." Sally stated. "Hm...your name is Destiny?"

Yes...though I haven't gone by that name in a long, long time. Not since I succeeded the role of Madam Webb. But I'm no longer in that role now...so you may call me Destiny.

"All right then, Destiny." Sally replied. "Check out the other tabs."

Clicking on [Inventory], I wasn't greeted with much.

[Inventory]

[Empty]

I don't know what I was expecting...

I then moved on to [Lottery].

A new screen popped up, showcasing a wheel of fortune. Some text was located to the right.

[Lottery]

1 Spin: [100 SP]

10 Spins: [1,000 SP]

No bonus for 10 spins? What a rip-off gacha.

"This is the [Lottery]." Sally stated. "By completing missions you unlock SP, and by gaining SP you can use it in the [Lottery] and [Shop], where you can gain various skills, items, and more."

If there's a [Shop], then what's the point of the [Lottery]?

"While the [Lottery] is a risk, it's good for the beginning as you could possibly unlock amazing things, while the [Shop] is slowly unlocked as you raise your level, so you have to reach a high level to buy amazing things." Sally explained.

Ah, I guess that makes since.

"That's why I would recommend using the [Lottery] now." Sally stated. "We are quite literally at rock bottom with nothing, and I don't think the [Shop] will contain anything to help."

Sound logic. However, let's check first.

[Shop]

[Sell] [Buy]

I can sell things?

"Not right now, you can't." Sally informed.

Okay, thanks a lot smart-ass.

I clicked onto [Buy].

Level 1 - Strength Boost 1 Hour - 50 AP EXP Boost 1 Hour - 50 AP Wisdom Boost 1 Hour - 50 AP

"Hm...seems to be the same..." Sally muttered to herself.

You're right, none of this is helpful right now. And I'm in quite a tight pinch. I need something in case we run into trouble.

I maneuvered back to the [Lottery] tab. I hesitated. I didn't like leaving my fate up to luck. I liked to make my own destiny. Maybe that's why my parents named me Destiny.

But I was in a situation that I needed some sort of protection, and I hoped that I could get it through this skill.

I finally clicked on 1 Spin, watching as my 100 SP went down the drain. I hope I don't become a gacha addict from this...

The wheel started to spin, before starting to slow down and landed onto something purple.

"Amazing!" Sally stated. "You got an Epic Skill. What luck..."

That sounds really good. How good is that?

"The ranks go from Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, to highest at Legendary." Sally stated.

Oh, that's good then. What is it?

"Epic Skill, [Hardened Skin]." Sally stated.

...what?

"Check your [Profile]." Sally suggested.

I moved back over to my [Profile], where now [Hardened Skin] was listed.

[Profile]

Name: Destiny Webb Race: Arachnid SP: 100 Level: 1 Charm: Level 1 Strength: Level 1 Wisdom: Level 1 Agility: Level 1

[Hardened Skin] Level 1 - Your skin is harder than the average person's, decreasing incoming damage. Prevents cuts from dull items.

This can be useful. I suppose if it gets stronger as it levels up.

"It does." Sally stated.

Then this can be great. If I can become impervious to knives and swords and any other sharp items, this could be incredibly useful since many use those here in Hell.

But now what? I need to find Jackson, Anna and John. But how?

"Maybe...try hitchhiking on Hell Highway?" Sally suggested. "I'm not sure."

Better than nothing, I suppose. But I'd rather not with this ripped-up outfit.

It was then I noticed a conveniently placed, slightly torn cloak. I placed it on, and it covered most of my body.

It looks like what Duncan was wearing before he ripped it off. Disgusting, but it's better than nothing.

I started on my trek to Hell Highway, and I noticed how I seemed to not be used to my body. Something was off.

I shrugged it off. I was able to find someone to hitchhike with, one of the few actually nice people here in Hell. He let me off at Lilith City, where he was heading anyways.

Nobody paid me any mind as I walked down the street in my cloak. I looked around, unsure of my goal. I wanted to find them, but first I needed food and things. Maybe I could obtain a job. Oh, I could go visit Twy. She'd help me.

"Breaking news!" A large screen on a skyscraper yelled, grabbing everybody's attention. We all looked up, wondering what was going on. The breaking news wasn't used often on the big screen.

"Luna Diabolos has taken on the mission to hunt down and arrest Jackson Walker, who has been charged with the murder of Madam Webb and her brother Duncan Diabolos!" The announcer from the scream yelled.

Oh god.

"Shit." Sally cursed.

I needed to hurry to Twy. But glancing into a window quickly changed my course of plans, as staring back at me wasn't Madam Webb.

Why was I a teenager again?!

A/N: Do you want MONSTER [Extras]?