Ben shifted into gear.

  The two dog-sized scorpions were almost twenty meters away when a notification appeared above their heads.

  [Wasteland Scorpion Level 4]

  If it wasn’t for their size, they looked exactly like their counterparts on earth. He knew enough about them to establish they were native predators of the desert and wouldn’t hesitate to cause him serious damage.

  Not wanting to be a victim of their snippy claws and venomous sting, he momentarily thought about running them over. With his van being his only asset in that hellish landscape, he decided to save that for when things took a turn for the worse.

  With their telsons shooting back, he knew they were about to strike like vipers. When they came within attack range, Ben’s heart started beating like a heavy metal kickdrum, sinking into an ocean of stress.

  Come on, don’t get stuck!

  Even though he had changed his tires recently, they weren’t meant for off-roading. With the threat of getting stuck, he gently lifted the clutch and gave it some gas. The wheels spun briefly, flinging up sand on both sides before he started moving. Spinning the steering wheel, the van’s back end drifted around, almost clipping their claws. Once facing the other way, he counter-steered and hit the gas, pelting their faces.

  Thinking that was it, he was about to slow down but glanced at the side mirror. The giant dust cloud obscured his vision, and the moment he was about to slow, they leaped out, violently snipping their claws with murder on their minds.

  Oh, crap!

  Pressing harder on the gas, the tires spun again. The traction-control light flashed in the dash, limiting momentum. This feature was great on a normal road, but it would surely get him stuck in that random desert. Holding the button briefly, it switched off, and he accelerated again.

  Suddenly, one of the scorpions jumped like a grasshopper and shot towards his rear end. Luckily, he saw the entire thing and swerved out of the way, causing the creature to crash into the sand.

  Ben shook his head. “What the heck!”

  If they can do that, then there’s no telling what other abilities they have.

  The engine started roaring like a lion as it reached the higher rev range. It was telling him to shift up, but he knew the loss of traction from doing such a thing would cause him to enter an uncontrolled swerve. Luckily, he gained enough speed that their bodies vanished in the mirrors. The van had given him enough to leave them in the dust. A wave of frustration swept him as he felt more of them could be waiting anywhere behind the dunes.

  Taking some deep breaths, he calmed himself down. He never thought his ordinary day as a delivery driver would turn out like that.

  It's all because of that stupid parcel.

  Earlier that day, Ben started his morning as he usually did. The sky was mostly dark, with little early morning sunlight barely emerging from behind the cloud cover. The previous night's temperature had plummeted, causing the roads to become covered in a thin layer of frost. Typical of early winter in the north of England.

  He had arrived at the warehouse and was ready for another great day. The weather had never stopped him from looking his best and getting to work before all the other drivers. As usual, he waited for the gate to open. That would only happen once the night staff had finished organizing everything for the couriers. But he wasn’t bothered. Being early meant he could scan, load, and deliver the parcels before all the other drivers. Plus, he knew his customers would be happier and leave him positive feedback, earning him a nice bonus from the managers.

  Glancing at the time, he knew he still had some time to wait. Lucky for him, the driver's seat of his camper van was soft and comfortable. He grabbed his comb from the glove box and brushed his hair to make it look more presentable. It wasn’t super long, but it was just the right length where it sometimes needed to be touched up. When he was done, he looked down at his phone on his lap. The next chapter of his favorite web novel was open on the screen. As much as he wanted to pick it up and start reading, other thoughts distracted him.

  It had been almost five years since he turned eighteen. For his birthday gift, without warning, his parents had explained to him that he was a mistake and should never have been born. They had packed his things into garbage bags and piled them in the front yard before wishing him good luck. They even had the gall to slam the door in his face. Being homeless hadn't done him any favors. He had grown distant from all his relations. Even his girlfriend left him for someone else as he was forced to leave his education and find work. No matter what life threw at him, a fire within him wanted him to succeed no matter the cost.

  Luckily, he had found some light at the end of his dark tunnel. Before putting down a rent deposit for a house, he found his camper van parked in a hippie spot with a massive ‘FOR SALE’ sign on the windscreen. A pearl white paint job, the little Viking badge at the back, and the writing 'Valkyrie' made him fall in love with her. But the real steal was her four-wheel drive system, which allowed him to get off the road. Over the years, he converted her into a full-fledged home on wheels.

  Ah, Val. We’ve come so far, haven’t we?

  Smiling at his progress, Ben grabbed his thermos and sipped the warm tea. Then, suddenly, he noticed a pair of headlights emerging from behind the van. He recognized the shape and knew whose car they belonged to.

  He’s early today.

  Jimmy, the depot manager, parked his car behind the van. When momentarily, the gate started to slide open.

  Ben put down his phone on the holder and shifted Val into gear. He drove into the large parking lot before going to the closest spot near the loading shutter. Strangely, Jimmy had followed him, parked his car next to the van, and opened the window like he wanted to chat.

  Something’s up with him.

  Ben rolled his window down before giving Jimmy a nod, who sipped on his coffee cup.

  “How are you doing, Ben?” He placed his cup into one of the holders.

  As much as Ben wanted to tell him the truth about how the blistering cold had kept him awake most of the night, he didn’t like to burden other people with his problems. “Not bad, mate. How about you?” He smiled.

  “It's better now that I have some coffee. I have no idea how you sleep in that van when it’s so cold like this. And you still get to work before me.” Jimmy finished the sentence with a shiver, blowing into his hands and rubbing them together.

  “Ah, it’s alright. It gets easier after the first winter.” Ben glanced at the time, “You’re early today… Got some important meeting or something?”

  “Something like that.” Jimmy scratched his chin. "I had one of those abrupt phone calls in the morning. The CEO had sent one of those special parcels and wanted me to deliver it personally. Something's wrong. They usually have someone pick them up." He shook his head, "It’s too busy here, and I’m drowning in paperwork, so I won't be able to do it. I had a feeling you'd be here early, and you're the only driver I can trust around here to do a proper job. So, what do you say?"

  It wasn’t the first time Ben had been tasked with delivering a ‘special parcel.' These jobs were usually rare and involved items of significant value that the elites of society sent to each other. The previous time, he was paid a full day’s wage as compensation.

  Hmm. There’s no harm in making some extra cash.

  “I see that look on your face. Don’t worry. I’ll send cash into your account once you complete the job.”

  “Alright, that sounds fair enough.” Ben nodded, “We have a deal.”

  Another vehicle entering the parking lot caught Ben’s attention.

  Jimmy also twisted his neck to see who it could be, “I better get to the office. I’ll come by once you’re loaded. I heard about what happened yesterday when the other drivers shouted abuse at you. I’ve spoken to them, and if it happens again, you come to see me, alright? You’re my best driver, and I don’t want you going anywhere because of their bullyish behavior.”

  Ben smiled. “Ah, thanks for that, mate. You know, I’ve learned to ignore them. And don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.” He didn’t think he was better than anyone. He was just an average person who liked to work hard and do his job properly.

  “That’s what I like to hear. Alright, I’ll see you soon and get that package to you.” Jimmy finished with a nod. He rolled his window back up and moved his car toward the other end of the parking lot where the office staff parked. He noticed that the other car looked too expensive for someone working at the warehouse to own.

  Ben let out a huff of frustration as the memories of the previous day resurfaced. He had grown tired of the bullying he had received from some of the other drivers. He figured it was due to jealousy as he would always be offered extra work and overtime. This behavior resulted in him being called a manager's pet, and sometimes, they even made fun of him for living in his van.

  He pushed the thoughts away as the loading shutter started opening. Finally, he could fill his van and get out delivering.

  Ben stared at the parcel. It looked just like the others, and nothing was special about it.

  That’s odd. Normally, these have better packaging or a premium look, at the very least.

  The only exception was that it didn’t have a scannable barcode, as if they didn’t want it tracked. The address had been printed on a smaller label attached with melted, maroon-colored wax and stamped with a sigil. It did have tape around it that read, ‘Fragile, take care when handling.’ Glancing at the address, it was unfamiliar.

  “Remember, you need to send me a picture once the parcel has been delivered. Otherwise, we could be in hot shit.” Jimmy warned, passing it over.

  “Don’t worry, I always do a proper job.” Ben nodded, taking it.

  When his fingers touched the box, he felt a strange tingle in his hands. It was as if he were getting a minute electric shock, which almost caused him to drop it.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Be careful with that,” Jimmy muttered, shaking his head, “I need to get going… Just remember the picture.”

  Ben placed it on the passenger side seat, where it would be safe. He blamed the lack of sleep he had received the previous night and thought the shock could have been a hallucination.

  “What?” Ben mumbled, staring at his phone screen.

  It was time to deliver that parcel, and the navigation app showed him where the customer was. Having previously delivered parcels in that area, he knew it was a few miles from his usual area and would take some time. He figured it wouldn’t be too much of a problem. After all, he knew almost every street, nook, and cranny to get back on track.

  Alright, let’s not waste any more time!

  A short while later, he arrived at an old country road that cut through farm pastures when the stench of manure hit his nostrils like a freight train. The worst thing was that it was ill-maintained, with potholes and bumps everywhere, causing the van to bounce uncontrollably. Slowing down, he used his driving ability to navigate around the bad parts.

  Glancing at the navigation, he was about to miss the turn and sharply steered. The parcel fell and hit the footwell floor.

  Damn it!

  The fall wasn’t bad, so he didn’t pay much attention. Besides, he could pick it up and inspect it when he arrived at the address.

  The road itself continued for some time. The quality of the tarmacking was exceptional, and riding along it was smooth. Even the bushes and trees were neatly trimmed, making Ben think much money must have been spent on maintenance. The further he drove, the more trees appeared on either side, and the scenery shifted to a dense woodland. The terrain became hillier, and more bends started appearing.

  Ben figured there was little chance of other vehicles on a quiet road like that, so he gave his van more gas. That way, he could save time and get back to finishing the rest of his tour.

  Suddenly, a small figure sprang from the bushes as he approached a sharp bend. Slamming on the brakes, he was yanked forward, his seatbelt locking him in place so he didn't suffer a concussion on the steering wheel. His tires screeched to a halt as the smell of burning rubber and clutch filled his cabin.

  He was too late. A loud thud knocked the front bumper, and his butt bounced back in the seat as a curled-up fox rolled into the bushes ahead like a bowling ball.

  Oh crap!

  He was about to rush outside and see if he could do anything to help it when a weird, unfamiliar smell started filling the cabin.

  Rotten eggs? There’s no way a van can make a smell like that!

  Ben twisted his head and noticed reddish smoke from the footwell where the parcel had fallen earlier. “Damn it!” He yelled as he noticed it coming from the parcel. Fearing that the van could be set on fire, he opened the window and went to grab it. But the moment his hand touched it, that same electric feeling emerged, much stronger and pulsed throughout his entire body.

  “Urgh… what the hell is this thing?” He squirmed, covering his nose with his other hand.

  Both the smell and the feeling made him sick to his stomach, and he wanted nothing more than to launch it outside. The moment he rolled the window down, the smoke stopped. He felt relieved it was over but couldn’t take a chance if embers were still burning.

  A strange red glow emerged from a small rip in the corner of the box. Curiosity got the better of Ben, and he took a little peek to see what was inside. A strange object rested within. It was a black sphere with strange crimson symbols scattered along its surface. They gleamed in a neon-red hue similar to Christmas lights.

  That’s not normal!

  The symbols didn’t look like anything Ben had seen before, but their pointed ends made him think they could have been related to some satanic cult. His finger accidentally touched the object's surface before it gleamed brighter. More smoke bellowed out, springing in every direction.

  Not again!

  His body became covered, and within seconds, the cabin, too.

  [Engineer Seed Activated.]

  [The system is now being initialized.]

  The writing appeared in his vision like he was looking through an AR headset. It moved when he tilted his head, always staying in the most optimal position so he couldn’t miss anything. It felt like some crazy brain modification like the ones he had read about in the futuristic cyberpunk stories.

  [Initialization successful.]

  [Activating pre-loaded transportation command.]

  “What? No, no, no! Cancel that shit right now!” He yelled to no avail.

  More and more energy emerged from the sphere. There was so much of it that it had made its way outside till it surrounded the entire van. It started to spin around like a merry-go-round before everything started to fade.

  A shroud of ice-cold darkness surrounded Ben.

  It felt like he was trapped inside a pitch-black glacier, which was freezing enough to kill a man. But for some reason, he was still alive. His body was completely numb to the point he couldn’t even open his eyelids.

  Is this a dream or something? No way, a dream can’t last this long. I would have woken up by now. There’s more to it. Something is not right!

  He put his mind into reverse gear and recalled his memories before getting into that mess. Maybe there was a chance he could figure something out and escape that cold hell.

  Surely, I haven’t missed anything.

  He recalled the events leading up to the eternal darkness and concluded he could have done nothing to prevent it. The weird object in the parcel had activated itself.

  I wouldn’t have accepted the job if I knew what it could do! There must be something I’m missing here.

  One peculiar thing about the whole event was the strange writing displayed in his vision. There was something about a transportation command.

  Hmm. Hang on! The moment it appeared, I yelled to cancel it. It could have been too late to cancel the procedure, so it paused me in perpetual dark limbo. Whatever this system thing is, it could be connected to my mind. Maybe I can issue commands to it. It feels like a long shot, but worth a try.

  Alright! Continue the transportation command, please?

  Nothing happened.

  Just as he had given up all hope, the darkness shifted.

  Dots of light emerged in strange patterns, strengthening with each passing moment. The bigger ones also moved faster than the smaller ones. Suddenly, one of the dots began to increase in size exponentially. The closer it got, the more it started to resemble a star like Ben had seen in the science-fiction movies.

  Holy cow, I’m flying through space!

  The light from the star began to increase until it was too much to bear. As much as Ben wanted to close his eyes, he couldn’t. Just like his body, he wasn’t in control. The speed then began to slow. There was a change in the direction before he shot off again towards another constellation. The whole thing happened so fast that he would have missed it if he had blinked.

  He could only observe the procedure as it occurred several more times. It was like being on auto-pilot until he began to slow down. He arrived at another star, but this time, he was not moving towards it but rather to something smaller orbiting around it. The closer he got, the more it resembled a planet like Earth.

  A dark cloud surrounded Ben once more. It was filled with the same crimson energy he had seen coming out of the spherical object. A mixture of random feelings materialized in his head before overwhelming him.

  Ben awoke, sucking in a breath of air.

  [The transportation command was successful.]

  [The system is now being activated.]

  This time, The writing popped up on a neatly arranged blue table. Ben's jaw dropped at the sight of it; he didn't think this kind of thing was possible. This kind of technology was still years away, as even the best augmented reality goggles had to be worn to view the actual screens. When compared to the rest of his vision, it was crystal clear. The information it showed appeared to know his name and went on about some stats as if he were playing a role-playing game.

  Great. A Game system.

  His senses returned, but not in the way he wanted. His head began to ring like a church bell, and his stomach churned like a cement mixer. It seemed like he was about to puke all over his van.

  Oh, no, you don’t!

  Slamming his mouth shut, he held his breath and pushed the urge back down from where it had come from. When it had receded, he took a few breaths.

  Luckily, he passed out in the driver’s seat, and his head rested on the steering wheel. The numbness in his body also faded, and he realized something wasn’t right. His entire body was saturated with sweat, his clothing was soaked, and even his steering wheel had been covered.

  Eww!

  An unbearable heat swept across him as if he were sitting inside an industrial oven on the maximum setting. Even in heatwave weather, it had never been that hot in England. Fearing his van was on fire, he raised his head to see what was happening. His mouth dropped as wide as a whale.

  The orange glow of sky-high dunes slapped him in the face. No matter which direction he twisted his neck, he was surrounded by them. His van was parked in a central valley between them, preventing him from seeing further. He had been transported to a place resembling the Sahara Desert.

  Wait, I haven’t. Have I been isekaied?

  While realizing his situation, a gust blew across the dunes. Tiny particles of sand were flung over their tops and fell below, where another breeze blew them down across the area where the van was parked.

  “Oh, damn.” He muttered as it blew straight through his window. It would have been okay if it had been normal wind, but it wasn’t. The moment it brushed his skin, it felt like he was a foot away from the flames of a gas-fired barbeque. Fortunately, the layer of sweat on his skin evaporated as it took the brunt of the burns.

  Ben poked the window switch, not wanting that to happen again, but nothing happened. When he glanced at the dashboard, he realized the engine was off.

  It must have stalled when I hit the fox.

  With the temperature rising, he put on his thinking cap. He didn’t know exactly how long he had been unconscious, but it was enough time for the electronics to drain the battery. He went to twist the key to make sure, but there was nothing—not even a click. The chances of it being an engine problem were slim, as he had recently completed a full service and replaced any worn parts, including the starter motor. Everything seemed to point towards a dead battery.

  He noticed the area where he landed was the lowest between two large dunes. It was as flat as a pancake, ruling out a push start.

  A lightbulb suddenly lit up when he realized he had some leisure batteries in the back. They weren’t designed to start a vehicle but more so to run the electronics in his living area. The solar panels on the roof had been in the hot desert sun for some time, so he figured they would be well-charged and provide enough juice to get the van started.

  It’s worth a shot!

  Scurrying to the back, he glanced at the controller, which read ‘100%’. Then he found his tool bag, shuffled around inside it, and found a wrench with the correct socket to remove the battery connectors. Playing it safe, he hit the charge power kill switch to avoid sudden power surges and short circuits.

  Once the battery was out, he hurried to the front of the van, raised the hood, and connected everything with the jump leads he kept for emergencies. He waited a moment, then rushed to the steering wheel. After twisting the key, the engine sprayed a few times before humming.

  “Awesome.” Ben sighed in relief.

  He was then interrupted by two notifications.

  [Vehicle sub-system has been unlocked.]

  [Your vehicle, Valkyrie, is being integrated into the system.]

  What on earth is going on now?

  Ben wondered why this system had suddenly started integrating his van.

  Wait. Has my van been isekaied too?

  Frustrated, he pulled the window up and switched on the AC. It took a moment, but cold air started to fill the cabin, and he began to feel more relaxed. He was about to lean back on the seat to rest when another menu popped up. It appeared in front of the dashboard above his instrument cluster. It displayed stats related to the van and even knew its name.

  He wasn’t entirely sure what all this meant, but some information, like the condition and fuel level percentages, seemed helpful. However, they also reminded him he couldn’t get fuel and spare parts to fix his van while stuck in a random desert.

  I’ll have to cross those bridges when I get to them. First, I need to figure out where the hell I’m at.

  Glancing up, he noticed some movement in the corner of his eyes. His eyes darted to the top of the dune directly before him. Two dark figures emerged, momentarily obscured by the heat waves. Once they stood at the peak, he knew what they were.

  Giant freaking scorpions!