Supreme Arc C4 First Encounter

Five more years had elapsed, and Arc now stood as a seven-year-old boy in the eyes of the world.

Although Arc harbored the certainty that he had spent at least a year traversing the cosmos within the craft, this knowledge remained his alone. His adoptive parents, Lekos and Lara, remained oblivious to this fact. Arc speculated that the spacecraft might have possessed technology to halt or decelerate his aging process during the journey. This would explain why he appeared to be merely days old when Lekos discovered him in the crater.

***

The morning sun streamed through the windows, illuminating the bustling household. Arc stood in the hallway, his backpack slung over one shoulder, a look of mild exasperation on his face.

"Arc! Arc! We're finally going to school together!" Eve's voice rang out, brimming with excitement.

Arc turned, his expression a mix of amusement and mild exasperation. "Eve, you're practically bouncing off the walls."

Eve's bottom lip jutted out in a playful pout. She gave Arc a gentle shove. "What? Would you prefer I throw a tantrum instead?"

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Arc lightly flicked her forehead. "Nah, just tone it down a notch. You're making my ears ring."

"Ugh!" Eve stomped her foot, but a smile tugged at her lips. "You're always such a grump! I'm telling Grandpa on you!"

Arc shook his head, chuckling softly as he watched Eve dash towards the living room, her pigtails bouncing with each step.

As the years unfolded, Arc's unique nature became increasingly apparent. Despite his youthful appearance, he found himself possessing strength that surpassed not only his peers but many adults as well. This discovery led him to quietly ponder if his otherworldly origins were the source of this power, much like how the various human subspecies of this world exhibited their own distinct traits.

Arc entered the living room, greeted by the beaming faces of Lekos and Lara. Their eyes sparkled with pride as they took in the sight of Arc and Eve in their new school uniforms.

"There you are, Arc! Time for a family photo!" Lekos exclaimed, swooping in to lift Arc as if he were still a toddler.

Arc's face scrunched up in mild protest, a mix of embarrassment and resignation crossing his features. Lekos, however, remained oblivious to Arc's discomfort, his enthusiasm unwavering.

One of the household servants stood ready with a camera, poised to capture this milestone moment. The family gathered in the center of the room, a tableau of excitement and anticipation.

As the camera flashed, Arc's expression was a complex blend of emotions - the reluctant seven-year-old on the surface, masking the old soul within.

***

In the depths of the forest near Hope Village, a clandestine gathering took place. Figures cloaked in dark robes and masks huddled around a central figure - a young man in his early twenties, incongruously dressed in a high school uniform. His black hair framed piercing red eyes that gleamed with excitement.

"Today marks the beginning of our first real-world mission!" the young man proclaimed, his voice carrying through the clearing. "We're taking our progress beyond the realm of video games and into reality itself!"

A chorus of cheers erupted from the assembled crowd.

"We're ready for our first raid, Lord Loser!" one voice called out.

Another chimed in, "Lead the way, Lord Loser! We'll follow you anywhere!"

The man known as "Lord Loser" threw his head back in laughter. "Easy there, folks. I may be maxed out in 'Hero vs. Villain' online, but this is the real deal. We've got to stay focused."

His arm extended, finger pointing towards the distant silhouette of Hope Village. "That's our target. Today, we set our plan in motion."

The forest clearing erupted with dissenting voices.

"What? That boring village?"

"Let's hit the city instead!"

"Why there? It's no fun at all!"

Loser's face contorted with frustration. "Silence!" he barked.

The group fell quiet, all eyes on their leader.

"Do you have any idea what you're suggesting?" Loser's voice dripped with condescension. "We're newbies in the game of 'real life online'!"

One robed figure dared to speak up. "But Lord Loser, that village will be too easy for us!"

Loser shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "Remember, in any game, we start small." He raised a finger, tsking as he pointed at one of his followers. "Tell me, how did you begin as a villain in 'Hero vs. Villain'?"

The group exchanged uncertain glances before the singled-out member answered hesitantly, "We... we started in the weakest city?"

"Exactly!" Loser exclaimed triumphantly. "The Villain Gamers League will begin with that village! It's perfectly positioned - not too close to the city, giving us ample escape time. And my intel suggests their police force is laughable. In gaming terms, we're setting the difficulty to 'easy mode'!"

The robed figures murmured among themselves, their initial skepticism giving way to agreement as Loser's twisted logic sank in.

The forest clearing erupted with excitement as Loser's words ignited the group's fervor.

Loser's eyes gleamed with manic enthusiasm. "Haha! Today, we prove to the world that we're not just skilled in some 'trash game' called real life!" His voice rose to a crescendo. "We'll show them that for us gamers, life is just another server to dominate!"

The robed figures leaned in, hanging on every word.

"Let's show those normies what we're truly capable of!" Loser shouted, his fist punching the air.

A thunderous cheer erupted from the group. "Woah!" They pumped their fists in unison, caught up in the fervor of Loser's misguided speech.

***

Lekos and Lara beamed at Arc and Eve, their eyes filled with a mixture of pride and nostalgia.

"Now, listen carefully," Lekos began, his voice warm but firm. "You're both smart enough to find your way to school in our village. Walking there yourselves will teach you about our community, help you become more independent, and give you a chance to meet other children along the way."

Arc and Eve nodded solemnly. "Understood, grandpa," they chorused.

Lara's smile widened. "Do your very best at school, you two!"

Moments later, the children stepped through the mansion's gate, their small figures receding down the path.

As they disappeared from view, Lara turned to Lekos, worry creasing her brow. "Are you certain it's safe for them to walk alone?"

Lekos chuckled softly. "You coddle them too much, my dear. Let them have this taste of independence." His eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "Besides, I've arranged for some of our men to follow at a discreet distance. Just in case."

***

As Arc and Eve made their way down the village path, their conversation flowed easily between them.

"What do you think our classmates will be like?" Eve's voice bubbled with excitement.

Arc, his expression one of mild disinterest, stroked his chin thoughtfully before responding. "Probably just a bunch of kids like us."

Eve's face fell slightly. "Really? You don't think there'll be anyone..." She gestured towards Arc's pointed ears, "...different, like you?"

Arc's eyebrows raised slightly. "Oh, you're wondering if there might be other races in our class?"

Their discussion continued, Eve's enthusiasm contrasting with Arc's more measured responses. Suddenly, Arc froze mid-step, his head turning sharply to the side. His pointed ears twitched almost imperceptibly, picking up a sound imperceptible to normal human hearing.

Eve, noticing Arc's sudden alertness, followed his gaze with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Arc? What is it? Did you hear something?"

Arc's eyes narrowed as he focused on the distant sound, his body tense with sudden wariness.

Arc's eyes suddenly widened with urgency. "You go on to school without me!" he blurted out to Eve, and before she could respond, he was already sprinting away.

"Wait, Arc!" Eve's voice called out, her small hand reaching futilely after him. She attempted to give chase, her shorter legs pumping furiously, but Arc's speed was beyond her capacity to match.

Left behind, Eve's face scrunched up in frustration and hurt. Her eyes welled with tears as she stomped her foot in disappointment.

Meanwhile, Arc raced towards the source of the disturbance, his keen hearing guiding him. As he approached, the scene unfolded before him: a dozen individuals inside the village bank, brandishing modified weapons and terrorizing civilians.

A young man in a high school uniform emerged from the bank, clutching bags presumably filled with loot. He gestured to his accomplices, seemingly preparing for their escape. However, the wail of police sirens cut through the air as law enforcement arrived on the scene.

Undeterred, the group stood their ground. The uniformed leader, clearly in charge, raised a modified gun and grabbed a civilian, using them as a human shield. The standoff intensified, with innocent lives hanging in the balance.

Arc observed the scene from a hidden vantage point, his mind racing to formulate a plan of action.

Arc's mind raced, analyzing the situation with a clarity that belied his young age. His eyes locked onto the leader in the high school uniform, recognizing him as the primary threat with his gun and hostage.

Memories of similar situations from his past life flashed through Arc's mind, but he quickly dismissed them. He was no longer equipped with an arsenal of weapons; now, he was just a child, albeit one with strength beyond his years.

A glint caught Arc's eye - a small pebble at his feet. He scooped it up, his gaze intensifying as he focused on the leader. Arc's eyes seemed to zoom in, calculating distance, wind resistance, and trajectory in a split second.

With a flick of his wrist, almost too fast to follow, Arc launched the pebble. It whistled through the air, striking the leader's gun-wielding wrist with pinpoint accuracy.

The impact was immediate. The leader yelped in pain, his grip on the weapon loosening involuntarily. In that split second of distraction, the hostage seized his chance. He twisted free, grabbing the gun from the stunned leader's hand.

***

Loser's eyes widened in shock as the situation spiraled out of his control. His voice, tinged with panic, cut through the chaos. "Retreat! Now!"

In a coordinated move that spoke of rehearsal, Loser and his accomplices reached into their pockets. Before the police could react, a cascade of small objects hit the ground.

Smoke erupted from the thrown devices, quickly engulfing the area in a thick, obscuring haze. Shouts of confusion from both police and bystanders filled the air.

The acrid smoke stung eyes and throats, creating a momentary sensory blackout. Police officers stumbled, trying to maintain their positions while coughing and squinting through the dense cloud.

As quickly as it had appeared, the smoke began to dissipate, carried away by the gentle breeze. But as visibility returned, so did the realization that Loser and his gang had vanished.

Where moments ago there had been armed criminals, now there was only empty space, leaving behind bewildered law enforcement and relieved, if shaken, civilians.

***

Arc's eyes narrowed, his keen senses alert. With a slight twitch, his gaze snapped to the side, focusing on the grass beside him.

There, materializing as if from thin air, stood the criminals. Arc remained perfectly still, his presence unnoticed by the group.

"Hehe, cough!" The leader's voice, slightly strained, broke the silence. "Good thing we have these escape tools. And that small distance teleportation device came in handy."

Arc listened intently as angry voices rose from the group.

"Handy? What the hell happened back there? How did you lose your grip on the gun?"

"We had to waste a precious one-time teleportation device because you screwed up, Loser!"

"You're such a noob!"

The barrage of criticism directed at their leader, apparently named Loser, continued unabated.

Loser's voice carried a defensive tone as he tried to explain, "I don't know. Something hit my wrist."

As the tension within the group escalated, Arc remained motionless, his keen senses absorbing every detail of the unfolding drama.

"Quit your excuses, noob!" One of the robed figures spat out.

In a flash, Loser's arm extended, his gun pointed directly at the dissenter. A muffled pop broke the air, and the robed man crumpled to the ground. The others recoiled in shock, their gasps barely audible.

Loser's voice cut through the stunned silence. "Now... anyone else want to complain?"

The group remained deathly quiet.

"Remember why you're here," Loser continued, his tone icy. "Your weapons, your tools, your devices - all of it comes from the money I've earned. No one questions how I use it, understood?"

Murmurs of reluctant agreement rippled through the group.

As Loser's cold gaze swept over his subordinates, Arc shifted slightly, trying to get a better view. His foot came down on a dry twig, producing a sharp, unmistakable crack.

The sound shattered the tense silence. Loser and his gang whirled towards Arc's hiding spot, their eyes searching for the source of the noise.