After defeating Vargus, Arc knew he needed a moment to reset—not just physically but mentally. The battles he fought weren't just against abominations but also against his own doubts. He was evolving, becoming something beyond human, yet with each transformation, a piece of his humanity felt left behind.
Now, the road called him to his next destination: the Ghost Town of Texas. A place of myths, whispered secrets, and ancient horrors, tucked away from maps and forgotten by most. Something was pulling him there—something deep inside, like a memory or premonition he couldn't quite grasp.
The Road to the Forgotten
The drive to the ghost town was long and silent, with the sky shifting from blazing blue to the dusky hues of twilight. Arc's car cruised along empty highways, cutting through desolate fields and crumbling towns that felt as though time had forgotten them.
As the miles rolled by, Arc's thoughts wandered back to the orphanage—the place he had visited earlier to honor his parents. He remembered the children's faces: curious, bright-eyed, unaware of the horrors lurking in the world. His parents had donated to that orphanage every year, and Arc felt compelled to continue their legacy.
It had been strange—something as mundane as visiting a bank, counting his funds, and ensuring the children would be taken care of—felt more grounding than any battle. It reminded him that despite the chaos and evolution, he still had things worth protecting.
The Ghost Town Beckons
Arc reached the outskirts of the ghost town just as night fell. A cold breeze swept across the cracked roads, carrying the scent of dust and decay. In the distance, the skeletal remains of old saloons and hotels loomed like silent sentinels. Faded signs creaked in the wind, and broken windows reflected the pale moonlight.
He parked the car at the edge of town and stepped into the darkness. There was something eerily peaceful about the place, as if it had been waiting for him. The silence wasn't empty—it was pregnant with tension, like a coiled spring about to snap.
Arc's senses flared. Every shadow, every gust of wind, felt like it carried a secret. He had fought abominations, assassins, and beasts that defied logic, but this place was different. It was alive in its own strange way—a place that had stories it wasn't ready to tell just yet.
Strange Discoveries
As Arc walked deeper into the ghost town, he noticed strange markings on the walls of abandoned buildings—symbols and glyphs he didn't recognize. They weren't random. They told a story.
The patterns were intricate, interlocking like pieces of a puzzle. He traced a hand over one of the symbols, feeling the worn grooves beneath his fingers. His mind, sharper now thanks to his evolution, tried to piece together their meaning. It felt ancient, like the story of something long forgotten... or deliberately hidden.
Then, he heard it—a faint rustling sound coming from the old hotel at the center of town. Something was there, waiting.
Arc's muscles tensed. His enhanced perception kicked in, mapping the layout of the building in his mind. Every step, every creak, every flutter of air—it all told him that whatever was inside was no ordinary threat.
The Encounter Begins
Arc pushed open the splintered door of the hotel and stepped inside. The air was thick, as if the room itself was holding its breath. Moonlight filtered through cracked windows, casting long shadows across the room. And then he saw it—movement in the darkness.
A low, rumbling growl echoed from the far corner. Arc's eyes sharpened, and his hand instinctively drifted toward the gun at his hip.
Out of the shadows stepped a beast—twice the size of a man, with jagged, bone-like protrusions jutting from its back. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence, and its mouth curled into a snarl, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Arc's heart skipped a beat. He knew instantly what this was: another failed experiment, one of the many horrors left behind by secret research programs. But this one was different—older, more dangerous, and far more cunning.
The Beast and the Truth
The creature snarled, circling Arc like a predator sizing up its prey. It moved with an eerie fluidity, almost like a wild animal, but there was something... human about it.
Arc's mind raced. This wasn't just a monster—it was an abomination born from both science and something else. The markings on the walls suddenly made sense. The town had been a testing ground—a place where creatures like this were made and then sealed away, forgotten by time.
But now, it had awoken. And it wasn't just hungry—it was angry.
The beast lunged, faster than Arc had anticipated. He barely had time to dodge, the creature's claws slicing through the air where he had just stood. Arc rolled to the side and drew his weapon, firing off a quick burst.
The bullets hit their mark, but the beast barely flinched. Its skin absorbed the impact like a sponge, and its movements only grew more frenzied. Arc cursed under his breath. This wasn't going to be easy.
Adaptation in Combat
The fight raged through the old hotel, shattering walls and sending furniture flying. Arc's body moved on instinct, adapting to the beast's attacks with every passing second.
He switched between martial arts styles, each movement fluid and deliberate. A Muay Thai elbow strike. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu grapple. Every blow was calculated, every step designed to wear the creature down.
But the beast was relentless. It fought like an animal—feral, unpredictable, and utterly without fear. Its claws slashed through the air with deadly precision, forcing Arc to stay on the defensive.
Then, something clicked. The longer Arc fought, the stronger he became. His body adapted to the creature's movements, learning from every attack, every dodge. His muscles felt lighter, his strikes more precise.
For the first time, the beast hesitated. It could sense the shift—it was no longer hunting prey. It was fighting an equal.
The Evolution Continues
Arc felt the change within him, a strange warmth spreading through his body. His evolution wasn't just physical—it was mental, a fusion of instincts and knowledge from countless battles. He wasn't just fighting to survive—he was growing stronger with every moment.
He leapt forward, catching the beast off guard with a devastating roundhouse kick to the ribs. The creature stumbled, and Arc followed up with a rapid series of strikes, each one landing with bone-shattering force.
The beast roared, thrashing wildly, but it was no use. Arc had already adapted to its patterns, learned its weaknesses. With a final, earth-shaking blow, he sent the creature crashing through the wall and into the street outside.
A Hollow Victory?
Arc stood over the fallen beast, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The creature lay still, its body broken and bleeding. But even as it lay there, something about the fight didn't sit right with him.
This was just the beginning. There were more secrets buried in this town, more horrors waiting to be uncovered. And Arc knew that if he wanted to survive—if he wanted to truly evolve—he couldn't stop here.
The ghost town still had stories to tell. And Arc was ready to listen.