Chapter 3: Shadows of Despair

The next morning, Jax woke up, feeling a mix of restlessness and anger. He grumbled as he reluctantly slurped down his tasteless breakfast.

It was a nutrient-packed goo that passed for sustenance in this twisted place. He had to choke it down three times a day, just to keep himself going.

With a heavy sigh, Jax prepared himself for another day of struggle and left the outpost. He remembered yesterday's encounter with Fletcher.

That lunatic was driving him up the wall. Even after telling him that he kept being assigned to the areas that were already explored, Fletcher didn't listen. It was like he wanted him to fail. Jax couldn't understand what animosity does he have with him.

"And why did those fuckers get so upset when I asked permission to explore the further lands? Didn't they take captives for that purpose in the first place?" Jax was still confused at their abnormal reactions.

The Hive's insatiable appetite for resources and power was infamous across the wasteland. They never cared about playing fair. They'd stoop to any low, and use any means necessary to get what they desire.

Yet, when Jax presented an idea, Fletcher, one of their outpost leader, berated him for his incompetence. It made no damn sense.

Yet when he proposed such an idea, Fletcher berated him for his incompetence. This doesn't make any sense.

Thoughts raced through Jax's mind. Was Fletcher a spy from a rival faction? Or did he have some hidden agenda of his own? Whatever the case, Jax grew sick of pondering over it. All he cared about was his freedom, plain and simple.

"Those damn bastards think they can just slap a collar on me and turn me into their puppet," Jax muttered, his voice thick with anger and frustration

"Bunch of crazy-ass alien-worshipping lunatics!" Jax muttered, his frustration boiling over as he tightened his grip on the throttle.

"I can't let them keep me trapped like this," he vowed, determination flashing in his eyes. "I'll find a way to break free, no matter what it takes."

But as the hours dragged on without finding anything worthwhile all day, Jax's optimism started to wane. Hours of searching had turned up squat.

The pressure mounted, knowing that he needed a significant discovery to prevent Fletcher from triggering the explosive collar around his neck.

Just when the sinking sun mirrored his dwindling hope, something caught his eye in the distance. A massive ruin stood far on the horizon. Beckoning him with its mysterious allure.

He knew that it was getting late, but returning empty hands wasn't an option. Without a second thought, he revved the engine and picked up speed, zooming toward the decaying ruins.

The closer he got, the more he could see the sorry state of the structure. It was perched on top of a hill, its once proud form now reduced to a crumbling mess, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Jax's heart started racing with excitement. Abandoned ruins like this, remnants of a time long gone were famous for hiding precious treasures.

With skillful maneuvering, he expertly guided his bike up the rough terrain, determined not to let anything hinder his progress.

He hoped that this was an undiscovered ruin because if others had already swept this place, his chances of finding anything valuable would be slim to none.

As he reached the hill's summit, his eyes widened at the sight before him. The ruined structure stretched out magnificently. It was a testament to the grandeur of a bygone era.

Jax dismounted his bike and cautiously made his way toward the entrance. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside, his eyes scanning through the dimly lit darkness, searching for any signs of life or movement.

He had no clue what he would find here, but he was determined to explore every inch of the ruins until he uncovered something of value.

The thrill of adventure pumped through his veins, reigniting the fire that had made him choose the life of an explorer in the first place.

***

Jax explored the ruins. This structure was once a massive research facility, once filled with equipment and supplies. But now, it was barren and empty, the remnants of a civilization long gone.

Undeterred, Jax methodically combed through each room, his every move filled with purpose, his eyes straining to catch any glimmer of hope in the dimly lit corridors. Yet, despite his relentless efforts, he found nothing.

It was evident that this place had been thoroughly searched multiple times in the past, leaving behind nothing for him to find.

Jax's optimism waned, replaced by a feeling of despair. The leader's ominous warning lingered in his mind, intensifying the urgency of his situation.

Time was running out, and Jax couldn't afford another day of fruitless searching. The stakes were high, and his survival hung in the balance.

Driven by desperation, he combed through every inch of the facility, his eyes scanning for any sign of a breakthrough. And then, as if answering his plea, fate intervened.

Jax stumbled upon the central hall of the facility, a discovery that rekindled a glimmer of hope within him.

The hall had a distinct circular layout, its roof showing signs of decay like the rest of the dilapidated facility. Yet, amidst the ruins, something interesting caught Jax's attention, a massive crater at the heart of the hall.

Curiosity was piqued, and Jax's mind raced with questions. What had caused such a large crater? Could it be the result of a powerful explosion?

Approaching the edge of the crater cautiously, Jax peered down, his eyes scanning the depths for clues.

"Weird, this doesn't look like the aftermath of an explosion," he mused, his brow furrowing with curiosity.

"What is that?" something else caught his attention, a small metallic cube was resting on the ground at the center of the crater, casting a captivating gleam in the dim light. its presence contrasting sharply with the desolate surroundings.

Jax descended into the depths of the crater with cautious steps, making his way toward the cube. His senses tingled with a mix of intrigue and wariness, unsure of the origin or the purpose of this strange cube.

He stopped a few feet from the cube and examined it, his eyes tracing the intricate patterns and symbols that emitted a soft golden glow. Its sleek and polished surface defied familiarity, unlike anything he had ever seen.

Despite the unknown dangers it might possess, an inexplicable allure drew him closer. Jax couldn't help but sense that he was dealing with something that had the potential to be both extremely valuable or downright dangerous.

He started remembering the legends and tales of bold explorers who stumbled upon ancient relics—those lucky devils who harnessed the power of such artifacts, had become the founding members of some of the biggest factions.

Shaking his head to snap out of his daydream, Jax muttered to himself, "Alright, Jax, stay sharp," he muttered under his breath. "What in the world is this thing? And what secrets does it hold?"

Deep down, Jax knew this cube was no ordinary trinket. It was definitely something out of this world, and he had to get his hands on it before any other schmuck did.

Jax approached the cube with curiosity and caution, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest—a cocktail of excitement and a dash of fear.

There it lay, smack-dab in the middle of the crater, radiating a faint, inviting glow, as if it were whispering, "Come on, Jax, take a chance."

Taking a deep breath, Jax crouched down and carefully scooped up the cube with his bare hands. Its surface was cold and smooth against his palms.

Before he could examine it further, a surge of electricity coursed through his body, causing his hand to spasm in excruciating pain. It was as if a swarm of needles had invaded his skin. It was like thousands of needles had pierced his skin.

Gasping and writhing, Jax desperately tried to release the cube, but it was too late.

To his horror, the cube suddenly vibrated and underwent a bizarre transformation, it liquefied into an unknown substance that encased his wrist. And in front of his helpless eyes, it seeped into his skin, imprinting a mysterious tattoo on his wrist.

Jax's senses were mingled with fear and confusion as his mind raced to comprehend the bizarre turn of events.

What was this cube? Why did it react this way? Questions swirled in his head, but there was no time for answers.

Jax frantically tried to scrub off the peculiar tattoo. But the tattoo remained etched on his skin, no matter how hard he tried to scratch or remove it.

Panic surged through his veins, and he unleashed a barrage of curses, demanding answers. "What the fuck have you done to me?"

Jax had a bad experience with things forcefully attaching to his body. A similar incident flashed through his mind, the experience of being enslaved by the Hive.

Jax berated himself for succumbing to his insatiable greed. He knew better than to touch the unknown without careful investigation.

The weight of his foolishness and helplessness bore down on him, creating an overwhelming sense of despair.

Days of yearning for freedom, plotting revenge, the urgency to save his own life, and the longing to reunite with his family had blurred his judgment, causing him to forget the most fundamental rule his father had imparted to him

"An explorer never allows emotions to dictate their actions," Jax muttered to himself, a mix of sorrow and apology lacing his voice, "I'm sorry Dad... I've failed you."

Before he could complete his sentence, the tattoo started glowing with golden light. The light grew brighter and brighter, pulsing with otherworldly energy like it was about to explode.

Jax slumped down on the ground and laughed at his situation, thinking his fate might be linked to explosives until the very end.

"Guess it's time to say goodbye, huh? Farewell, Mom, Dad, and big sis, If there's an afterlife, I'll see you there," he whispered with a bittersweet smile.

Jax closed his eyes and braced himself. At this point, there was nothing he could do but surrender to his uncertain fate.

*Ding!~*

***

Gerald rode his motorcycle through the desolate wasteland, his rough and vicious demeanor evident in his very presence. A sinister grin stretched across his face, relishing in the thought of what lay ahead.

"Oh, this might just be Jax's last day on this sorry excuse for a world," Gerald chuckled, his laughter echoing through the barren landscape.

Gerald was Jax's superior. From the moment he joined his squad, Gerald couldn't stand him from the get-go. There was something about Jax that set Gerald on edge, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

As Jax effortlessly found valuable treasures as if they were mere pebbles, jealousy, and insecurity grew within him like a raging fire.

He was thankful for receiving a warning from a friend who held a high status in the outpost, Gerald knew that if Jax continued to outshine him, the Hive would dispose of him without a second thought.

Fear gripped Gerald's heart. Gerald had seen it happen to others countless times before.

He had worked tirelessly for years, slaving away to climb the ranks, and the mere thought of a young upstart surpassing him so effortlessly fueled his envy and jealousy, igniting a seething anger within him.

Gerald refused to become another forgotten casualty and a devious plan took shape in his mind.

Using his connections within the outpost, he strategically designated Jax to regions that had already been thoroughly scoured by other squads. It was a cunning scheme designed to render Jax's explorations utterly fruitless, guaranteeing he would never find anything valuable.

A wicked grin crept across Gerald's face as he reveled in the success of his scheme. The outpost leader was growing increasingly impatient with Jax's consistent string of failures, amplifying the pressure on Jax to deliver tangible results, and Gerald knew that Jax's days were numbered.

He reveled in the fact that they were just pawns in his plans, dancing to the tune of his manipulative strings.

As Gerald was lost in his thoughts, his eyes widened as he caught sight of a dazzling light in the distance. His heart raced with suspicion.

That light was coming from the very area he had intentionally assigned to Jax.

"Fuck! Did that son of a bitch find something again?" Gerald cursed under his breath, his cold eyes narrowing with determination.

He swiftly maneuvered his bike, heading straight toward the source of the light.

If Jax had obtained a valuable treasure, Gerald knew he couldn't let him take it back to the outpost. He was ready to go to any lengths, even if it meant killing Jax himself, and claiming whatever he had found.

"Wait for me, Jax. You might serve as the stepping stone to my well-deserved promotion," Gerald cackled with sinister glee, his laughter echoing through the wasteland as he accelerated his motorcycle to maximum speed.