Chapter 26: Preparing for the Next Move

The streets buzzed with life as Arc made his way toward the market. Vendors shouted, bargaining with customers, their stalls brimming with produce, meat, and trinkets. The ordinary bustle of civilian life felt almost surreal to him after the relentless combat and chaos of his recent missions.

He moved through the crowd effortlessly, his heightened perception mapping every movement around him with ease. Children ran between stalls, giggling. A pair of old men argued about the price of fish. Arc smiled faintly at the normalcy—this was a world he wanted to protect. A world he had fought for. But in the back of his mind, the memory of the abomination's overwhelming stats lingered like a shadow, reminding him just how precarious peace could be.

Stocking Up on Supplies

Arc scanned the market for necessities. He preferred to operate independently—no handlers, no mission briefs, just instinct and preparation. That meant gathering enough food, medical supplies, and tools to last him for at least a month. His enhanced strength allowed him to carry far more than a normal person, but he preferred to keep things lightweight, mobile.

At one stall, he picked up dried meat, rice, oats, and canned vegetables—simple, high-calorie foods that could sustain him during long stretches. Water purification tablets and electrolyte packets were thrown in for good measure. He moved on to a weapons vendor who sold black-market gear disguised as kitchen equipment. Arc made quick work of securing extra ammo for his handguns and a compact combat knife.

"You looking for something heavier?" the vendor asked, eyeing Arc's physique.

Arc shook his head. "I've got enough weight," he replied with a smirk, referencing his strength without revealing too much. The man chuckled nervously and quickly changed the subject.

Off to the Darkin Bank

With his supplies stowed neatly in his duffle bag, Arc made his way toward the city's outskirts, where the Darkin Bank operated in the shadows of legality. It was known as a sanctuary for mercenaries, off-the-grid operatives, and anyone who didn't want their money to be traced. Anonymous transactions, no questions asked. The kind of place that existed in the cracks between laws.

The bank's front was subtle: a dingy storefront with a fading sign advertising "Foreign Exchange Services." But inside, the air was thick with tension and whispered deals. The walls were lined with armed guards who made it clear that this was not a place for foolish mistakes.

Arc approached the teller—a pale, wiry man who looked like he hadn't seen the sun in years. His watery eyes flicked up as Arc placed his encrypted ID chip on the counter. The man didn't ask for names or credentials. He simply nodded and inserted the chip into a slot. The system hummed for a moment before displaying the balance on a discreet holo-screen.

The Balance Revealed

Arc's gaze fixed on the screen. The numbers stared back at him—a staggering 28.3 million credits. He tilted his head slightly, feeling both surprise and amusement bubble up. Where had all this money come from? Some of it, no doubt, was payment from old missions—covert jobs he had taken on before his evolution. But the bulk of it was likely hidden transfers, made by allies or factions who thought they could manipulate him with wealth.

He let out a quiet scoff. "Idiots."

Arc knew better than to be swayed by money, though it was a useful tool—especially in the kind of life he lived. With this amount, he could buy high-end tech, weapons, safehouses, and anything else he needed to stay ahead of whatever forces were coming for him.

The teller cleared his throat nervously, clearly uncomfortable under Arc's intense gaze. "Will you be making a withdrawal, sir?"

Arc thought for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Yes. Five hundred thousand in hard credits."

The teller's eyes widened slightly but said nothing. He nodded, processed the withdrawal, and handed Arc a heavy black case filled with credit chips. No paper trail. No traceable funds. Exactly what Arc needed.

A Sudden Realization

As Arc turned to leave, his mind wandered back to the abomination he had fought. That thing had been a monster beyond anything he'd ever encountered—and it had been weakened.

Now, with his stats tripled and his body stronger than ever, he should have felt unstoppable. But the truth gnawed at him: strength alone wouldn't be enough. He would need more than brute force to survive what lay ahead. He would need to evolve—not just his body, but his tactics, his mind, and his connections.

A Plan Begins to Take Shape

Back on the street, Arc blended seamlessly into the crowd, moving toward a secluded alley where he could take stock of everything he'd gathered. His duffle bag now contained both survival gear and the black case of credit chips. The tools of survival and domination. But he knew that tools were only as effective as the person wielding them.

His next move had to be perfect. If Delta's information was correct, there were more abominations—some even worse than the one he fought. They would be hunting him, just as he was hunting them. He needed more power. More options. And the only way to get them was to stay ahead of everyone else.

He flexed his hand, feeling the surge of strength ripple through his muscles. He could lift 1000 tons now—but his limit was still 1500. He knew that with every fight, every struggle, he would push closer to that ceiling—and beyond it.

A Quiet Resolve

Arc leaned against the cold wall of the alley, exhaling slowly. There was a lot to do—and little time to do it. He needed to track down Delta, find out more about the remaining abominations, and gather every resource he could before the next storm hit.

But first, he needed to rest. Even machines needed maintenance. He pulled out a ration bar, chewing slowly as his mind worked through potential scenarios. What if the abominations were evolving too? What if they weren't just mindless monsters, but something more? The thought sent a chill down his spine—but also sparked a dangerous excitement.

Because if the creatures were evolving, so would he. He would adapt faster, grow stronger, and outlast every single one of them.