Chapter 4: Battle of Doubt and Hope

Jax heard a bell, a clear and loud sound that seemed to come from inside his head. He flinched and quickly stood up, looking around cautiously.

The blinding glow emanating from the tattoo had vanished, leaving Jax in a state of astonishment. Contrary to his expectations, there were no explosions, and he appeared to be unharmed, at least for the time being.

Before Jax could even process what was going on, a voice echoed inside his head.

*Loading!*

Startled, Jax spun around, frantically searching for the source of the sound. However, there was nothing to be found except the remnants of the forgotten world.

Feeling uneasy about these strange events, he gathered his courage and inquired, "Who are you?" His voice quivered slightly, revealing his inner turmoil, a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Suddenly, a transparent screen materialized in front of his eyes, catching him off guard. A wave of dizziness washed over him, causing him to stumble momentarily.

Jax's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Whoa!" He blinked and rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things and the sight before him would disappear.

However, the persistent screen remained and many notifications started popping up in rapid succession.

[ Dimensional Access System (DAS) Successfully Activated! ]

[ Analyzing the quantum signature... ]

[ Confirmed... ]

[ Integrating... ]

[ Detected Race: Human (Mortal)... ]

[ Generating unique user ID... ]

[ Connecting to DAS network... ]

[ Connecting to Dimensional Marketplace... ]

[ Loading the system information... ]

[ Loading the terms and conditions... ]

[ Loading the main menu... ]

[ Linking the personal inventory... ]

[ Loading... ]

...

..

.

Jax leaned against the wall to steady himself. He felt something shifting in his body, or maybe deeper than that, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"What the hell is going on?" he muttered, disbelief dripping from his words.

Based on Jax's limited knowledge of the wasteland, no faction he knew of possessed the technological capabilities necessary for such extraordinary feats.

The realization that someone or something had this kind of power sent shivers down his spine. It was way creepier than anything he'd encountered in those treacherous unknown territories of the wasteland.

Is this some legendary ancient treasure? Did I screw up big time by picking it up? Or maybe I've finally gone completely bonkers? Jax bombarded himself with questions, trying hard to keep his emotions in check. None of this made any sense to him.

Meanwhile, the relentless flow of notifications continued without stopping. Amidst his lingering dizziness, Jax noticed a bunch of new messages on the floating screen.

[ Initial Setup Completed ]

[ Welcome To The Dimensional Access System:

- Your signature has been quantum-linked to the Dimensional Access System.

- You have been assigned a unique ID and a dimensional wallet with 100 credits as a welcoming bonus.

- You can access the Dimensional Marketplace using the floating interface. This interface can be summoned by thinking about it in your mind. The screen is only visible to the user.

- You can now store or receive your goods in your personal inventory, which currently has a max capacity of 10 slots. ]

Jax always took pride in his ability to read and write multiple languages. It was a skill passed down to him by his father and one of the reasons why Hive had accepted him as their explorer.

But right now, he was scratching his head, struggling to make sense of the words on the floating screen.

It felt like he was a caveman suddenly thrown into some crazy advanced virtual game. The screen was filled with a bunch of unfamiliar words that he had never even heard before.

[ Basic Information: ]

- Experience the ultimate interdimensional journey, connected through the most secure network in existence.

- Gain access to the "Dimensional Marketplace," where countless users from different dimensions and worlds converge. Each brings its unique culture, technologies, and magics...

- Engage in buying, selling, or trading goods with other users, spanning from essential commodities like food and water to rare relics and mythical artifacts...

- Exchange services or skills, ranging from teaching, healing, and fighting, to espionage...

- Join or create groups with like-minded users who share your interests, goals, or values on our Interdimensional Social Gathering Network (ISGN)...

- These represent just a fraction of the extensive range of features available. Progress and unlock new capabilities by earning origin points.

- Level up your profile by completing quests, participating in events, and enhancing your reputation within the marketplace.

- Click NEXT for further details.

Jax's mind was blown! What the heck is this? Is it some kind of prank or a diabolical trap?

"Am I tripping on mutant mushrooms or something?" Jax chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. But deep down, he knew there was more to it.

The intense pain he experienced earlier, the mysterious bells in his head, the glowing tattoo, and now this mind-blowing interface hovering right in front of him, everything felt like a surreal puzzle that he couldn't wrap his head around.

"ITC? DAS? Dimensions? Seriously, what the actual fuck is going on?" He scratched his head in utter confusion.

Sure, he had come across tales of parallel dimensions and alternate worlds in some old books, but he always brushed them off as pure nonsense.

Yet, here it was, right before his eyes, a mysterious screen offering him access to realms that went beyond his wildest dreams.

He had heard stories about lucky sons of guns stumbling upon powerful relics from ancient civilizations, which completely changed their lives. Some of them even became the founders and leaders of mighty factions.

But the stuff he was seeing on the screen was on another level. It was like stepping into a whole new universe with infinite possibilities. Everything was too good to be true.

Before diving in, he needed to understand his current situation. He had already lost his last shot at finding anything that could fancy Fletcher's interests. He was literally on death's door.

Could this be my golden ticket out of this mess? Jax thought as he touched the explosive collar on his neck.

A surge of anger and frustration washed over him as Jax remembered his hardships. He felt like a suffocating caged animal. He couldn't afford to make a wrong move.

Emotions clashed inside him. On one hand, he burned with anger and thirst for revenge against those who had forced him into this hellish existence and to make them pay for their actions.

He craved to break free and create a world where he can stand tall, become a force to be reckoned with, where he hold the power, to live above all. No longer at the mercy of others, no longer a pawn in their games.

A world where his loved ones can bask in a life of comfort and safety, shielded from the hardships of this unforgiving existence. He wanted to seize control over his own fate and his intuition was telling him that this was his opportunity, his chance to achieve his goals.

But on the other hand, he couldn't ignore the nagging doubt, he had encountered enough deception and trickery in his life that he couldn't just trust something that he couldn't understand fully. Things were rarely as simple as they seemed in this world.

Jax's mind was a chaotic mess. His ambition and curiosity clashed with skepticism and caution. Becoming an explorer was a reflection of his hunger for new discoveries and his willingness to take risks. But now, faced with this mysterious system, he couldn't decide his next move.

"Should I even mess with this thing?" Jax pondered out loud, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He still couldn't believe what he was seeing.

It was like his whole world had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye. One moment he was rummaging through the rubble, and the next he was offered a glimpse into a realm of infinite possibilities.

Part of his mind was warning him that there was more to it than meets the eye, but the system's claims were too enticing to ignore, even if it meant taking risks.

What if there's a glimpse of truth in it? Maybe... just maybe, there's a chance for something different. Something that isn't just surviving day by day.

Taking a deep breath, Jax tried to calm his racing thoughts. "What's the worst that could happen at this point?" he muttered to himself.

He was practically on death row anyways, so why not give it a shot? It had to be better than getting blown to bits by that psycho Fletcher, right? Jax couldn't help but smirk at the grim irony.

He doesn't know what would happen to him if he start using this system. Would he truly gain his freedom, or would he simply become a slave to a different master? What was their motive in offering him this opportunity?

Jax had many questions in his mind. He had learned the hard way that nothing in this world came without a price. His father's words echoed in his memory, "In this world, every choice carries consequences, whether intended or unforeseen."

Could there be consequences to using this system? Like a punch in the face, a bullet to the head, or blown up into pieces? Jax wondered half-jokingly.

Thoughts of his father began to clear away the fear and confusion that had clouded his mind. His father was his ultimate hero, the embodiment of an exceptional explorer, brave, strong, and wise.

At times, his father's words seemed to sail over Jax's head, leaving him bored. But as he grew older and embarked on his own explorations, he began to grasp the profound wisdom behind those words.

These words hold the key to navigating this treacherous wasteland and making sense of the difficult choices in front of him.

Fragments of his father's wisdom started to resurface in Jax's mind, like puzzle pieces coming together.

"Remember Jax, the answers always may not be in the straightforward explanations. Sometimes, it is the path itself that reveals the secrets of the destination."

His father had always encouraged Jax to explore the unknowns even when his mother gave him the stink eye. She didn't want Jax to follow the same path as his old man, but Jax never paid much mind to her protests.

His curious personality, the hunger for knowledge and power, the thrill of unearthing forgotten relics and uncovering ancient technologies, Jax had a long list of reasons to justify his actions.

His father's lessons on caution and boldness reverberated in his mind. "Don't be a fool, Jax," his father had warned. "Verify, scrutinize, and question. But don't let doubt paralyze you either. Take risks, son, follow that gut feeling burning inside you and balance your rationality and intuition like a boss." Those words were etched into Jax's soul.

Though Jax hadn't seen him for years, his words were always guiding his steps through the labyrinth of uncertainty.

The fire within him burned away the fear and confusion, leaving behind newfound confidence and resolve.

Jax couldn't help but laugh at his own indecisiveness. "Took me long enough to make up my damn mind," he said with a wry smile.

He used to think he had it all figured out, that he was a top-notch explorer who knew how to handle any situation. But the reality of being caught by the Hive had given him a valuable lesson.

For someone who prided himself on his knowledge and exploration skills, this whole ordeal had been a humbling experience. It shattered his illusions of mastery and reminded him of his own limitations.

"Well, no use dwelling on my past screw-ups," Jax muttered. He had made up his mind to give it a shot, to see where this rabbit hole led.

With curiosity pulsing through his veins, Jax touched his finger on the glowing "NEXT" word on the screen.