ARCH ANGEL - PILOT CHAPTER 1

In the sprawling, neon-lit shadows of Civitas City, where ambition clashes with corruption, Michael Tanner is a reluctant prodigy with a deadly secret.

It's 2040, and Michael is just another first-year student at Civitas Tech University-on the surface. But five years ago, an ordinary day shattered into chaos when a speeding cyber-car collided with his body, leaving a stranger's blood on his hands and Michael miraculously unscathed. The crash unlocked a hidden truth: Michael's DNA marks him as one of the world's rarest anomalies, with a physiology built to endure what should be lethal, a mind that processes the world at impossible speeds, and a strength that defies human limits.

As Michael grapples with the aftermath, the city's gleaming promises of progress are undermined by the shadows lurking beneath. Gangs thrive, and the law has lost its grip. While his father believes that Michael's abilities are a gift meant to protect the vulnerable, Michael struggles with the burden of expectations, haunted by the memory of the woman who died beside him, a reminder of how close he stands to the edge.

But in a place where predators rule the night, the question remains: is Michael destined to be a hero, a weapon, or something far darker? Torn between the desire to live a normal life and the call to use his powers, Michael finds himself drawn to the city's underbelly, where he must decide whether to become a force of justice-or give in to the hunger for vengeance that simmers beneath his skin.

In a city where hope is fragile and secrets hide behind every corner, Michael will discover that the line between hero and monster is thinner than he ever imagined.