Chapter 25: Gathering the Storm

Arc's thoughts lingered on the children's laughter and Mrs. Vimal's kind words as he made his way through the streets. The orphanage had offered a momentary reprieve, a glimpse of the humanity still clinging to him. But peace was fleeting. The storm within had begun to stir, pulling him back into the reality of his mission.

His newly evolved body hummed with untapped power. The numbers in his status panel flashed across his mind—310 Strength, 1200 Mana, and a perception that felt like he could see through the very air itself. Yet there was an unsettling itch beneath it all, a constant whisper telling him that this wasn't enough. His fight with the abomination had proven it. Even after being weakened for centuries, the creature had nearly killed him.

As Arc walked, his fists clenched involuntarily, and the anger simmering beneath his surface began to bubble up. What had those scientists done to his father? Who were they to create something so monstrous? His muscles tightened with frustration. He needed answers, and he needed them soon.

The world was shifting, and if Arc didn't move with it, he would be left behind—and crushed.

An Unexpected Call

A vibration in his pocket pulled him from his thoughts. Arc pulled out a sleek black earpiece and slipped it into place. A distorted voice buzzed through the connection.

"Arc... It's time."

He knew the voice instantly—Delta, his only real contact left from the inside. They had been allies once, but now she was little more than a ghost feeding him fragments of the truth. If Delta was calling, it meant something big was happening.

"The chamber," Arc said, voice low, as he ducked into an alley to avoid prying eyes. "I destroyed it. The abomination's gone."

Delta's laugh was bitter, cutting through the static. "Gone? You really think it's that easy?"

Arc's blood ran cold. "Explain."

"The creature you fought—what you saw—was just the beginning. There's more. A lot more. And they know about you now."

He felt his pulse spike. More creatures like the one he fought? If that abomination had nearly killed him in its weakened state, what would a fully powered version look like?

"Where are they?" Arc growled.

Delta's voice dropped to a whisper. "You don't want to know. But trust me... They'll find you first."

The Calm Before the Chaos

Arc cut the call and slipped the earpiece back into his pocket. His heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained calm. He had learned long ago how to bury fear and uncertainty deep inside, locking them away until there was no trace of weakness left.

The night air felt heavy, almost suffocating, but it sharpened his senses. Every flicker of light, every shadow in the alley, felt like it carried hidden meaning. The city was alive in ways most people couldn't see—but Arc's new perception could. It was like being plugged into a network of unspoken truths, whispers from the edges of the world that danced just beyond reach.

He forced himself to focus. He couldn't afford distractions. Not now, not when everything hinged on what came next.

Arc headed to an underground gym—a brutal, hidden place where men and women trained in silence, far from the polished mirrors and air-conditioned luxury of modern fitness centers. This was where fighters went to bleed. Where warriors carved strength from pain.

Testing the New Limits

Arc didn't bother changing. The weighted equipment in the gym was laughable compared to what he had tested earlier. Plates meant to challenge peak athletes felt like plastic in his hands, and even the heaviest machinery provided little more than a warm-up.

He moved to the open mats, where fighters practiced different martial arts—Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and techniques even Arc didn't recognize.

The man running the gym, an ex-military brute named Kade, gave him a nod. Kade knew better than to ask questions. Arc wasn't there to socialize.

He stepped onto the mat. His muscles coiled like springs, ready to explode into motion. He needed to fight—not just to test his strength, but to sharpen his instincts. Combat was his true element, where he felt the most alive. And now, with his enhanced abilities, he was curious to see just how far he could push himself.

"Who's next?" he asked, his voice a low challenge.

A towering man stepped forward, his face scarred and expression unreadable. He cracked his knuckles. "I've heard about you. Let's see if the rumors are true."

Arc didn't respond. He moved—fast. Faster than the man expected, faster than anyone in the room could follow. His fist connected with the fighter's ribs before the man even had time to blink, sending him sprawling across the mat.

But it wasn't enough. Arc wanted more.

Adapting on the Fly

The next opponent came at him with a flurry of strikes—a blend of Muay Thai kicks and grappling techniques. Arc's mind raced, analyzing the attack patterns even as his body moved instinctively to counter them. Every second he fought, he grew sharper, more fluid. His body wasn't just strong—it was learning.

A Jiu-Jitsu grappler tried to wrap him in a chokehold. Arc shifted his weight, reversing the hold and pinning the man in one seamless motion. The techniques weren't just familiar—they felt natural, as if his body had absorbed them through sheer instinct.

He realized something then: The longer he fought, the stronger he became. His skills weren't just static—they were evolving, just like his body.

Kade gave him a cautious look from the sidelines. "You're not human," he muttered under his breath.

Arc cracked his neck, feeling the rush of adrenaline buzz through him. "Not anymore."

Reflection Amid the Chaos

Later, when the gym emptied out, Arc sat on the mat, his chest rising and falling steadily. He had fought six opponents in total, each more skilled than the last, and defeated them all without breaking a sweat.

But the victories felt hollow. There was no joy in the fight—only a relentless need to grow, to evolve. He didn't fight for sport or glory. He fought because he had to.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind drifting back to the orphanage and the children's laughter. There were things worth protecting in this world, and he would not let them be taken from him.

His parents were gone, but their legacy lived on—through him. And as long as he drew breath, he would honor that legacy.

Arc rose to his feet, feeling the strength of his evolved body hum beneath the surface. He had rested. He had healed. And now, it was time to move forward.

A New Mission Awaits

As Arc left the gym, the earpiece in his pocket vibrated again. Delta's voice came through, urgent and sharp.

"They've found you. Get ready."

Arc smiled, a dark grin spreading across his face. Good.

"Let them come."

He cracked his knuckles, the unknown flame inside him burning brighter than ever.