Arc

* Anime
* Manga
* LN

**Arc** (アーク, *Āku*) later named as **Arc Lalatoya** (アーク・ララトイア, *Āku Raratoia*), is the main protagonist of *"Skeleton Knight in Another World"* series.

## Appearance

Arc's game avatar resembles a knight, clad in a silver full body armor toned with white and blue with a dark mantle that has a starry appearance as if it were cut out of a starry night sky. Arc is a very tall man of intimidating stature, standing at two meters. However, the most unique trait of his body is that underneath his armor is the body of an animated skeleton whose eye sockets shine with blue lights.

Later in the series, after he found a spring that could temporarily restore him to living flesh, It is revealed that Arc's 'default' character is that of a brown-skinned, muscular Dark Elf. He has long pointy ears, long, curly, raven-black hair, a strong jaw, and dark red eyes. Arc's elf appearance is considered handsome.

It is unknown what his (real life player) human form looks like.

## Personality

Arc is mostly a laid-back individual and a practical man. He enjoys exploring and traveling. Arc can be considered opportunistic as he is always looking to gain more money. Though this does not mean he is greedy. When a moral situation occurs before him, Arc is willing to stand for what is right. However, his skeleton form prevents him from feeling strong negative emotions. As an avid lover of video games, anime, and movies; Arc will sometimes reference them aloud or in his narration, such as understanding how Indiana Jones feels when exploring a cave, telling an Undead Chimera monster "I will show you the power of the Force!!", and once comparing an enemy to a certain cook from the Straw Hat's pirate crew. Despite being generally honorable, Arc can be quite a pervert, often leering at Ariane's chest.

## Background

A Japanese gamer who, after falling asleep playing an online game, finds himself trapped in his game avatar, seemingly transported to a different world.

In his real life profession it stated he was a freelance artist.

## Chronology

### Light Novel Volume 01

Upon awakening, a gamer finds himself in his avatar body that he uses in his online game. Going by a river he is shocked to discover that his facial appearance is that of a skeleton due to the customization skin he used. In unfamiliar territory, the gamer decides that it would be best to hide his appearance and search for inhabitants. He spies a band of bandits attacking a group at a distance. While contemplating whether or not to get involved, after he sees the bandits about to man handle two women, he springs to action, killing the men. The women introduce themselves as Lauren, a noblewoman, and Rita Farren, her maid. Introducing himself as Arc, the knight agrees to escort the two ladies to the town of Rubierute. Though he refuses a reward, to avoid meeting Lauren's father, Buckle, as it would cause complications should the noble ask to see his face, Rita gives him a copper passport to allow him easier passage through any city in the territory.

After selling several articles from the bandits for funds to a merchant, Arc decides to become a mercenary, thus he registers at the Rhoden Kingdom's Mercenary Guild. After subjugating three beasts to gain admission into the guild, Arc takes an assignment in Rita Village. He meets a young girl named Marca, his client and helps her collect herbs in the forest. The pair come across two Giant Basilisk, to which Arc slays to protect his charge, though the other escaped. And later upon returning to the village come across the Fanged Boar, which Arc also kills and offers its corpse to the village. In order to avoid creating panic amongst the villagers, he asks Marca to refrain from mentioning the Giant Basilisks.

A few days after returning to Rubierute, there is an uproar of a mercenary group known as Iron Fang slaying a Giant Basilisk. Though Arc knows they are taking credit for his deed, he allows to so as not to draw attention. The tale of the monster-slaying attracts the attention of Viscount Buckle, who questions the validity of their claim. Arc takes the opportunity to vouch for them stating he saw a pair of the creatures in the area which causes the lord and his knights to organize a party to slay the remaining monster.

Arc later travels to Diento and hears rumors that a band of mercenaries vanished near the base of the Calcutta Mountain Range. While doing some hunting in the forest, Arc is ambushed by a band of thieves, but he easily dispatches them. He finds the thieves based in a cave and slaughters the remaining men. Arc beings to salvage what goods he can take, and comes across a strange green fox creature in a cage. Taking pity on the creature, Arc releases it and heals its wounds inflicted upon it by the bandits. Rather than run free, the fox chooses to remain as Arc's side, to which Arc names it Ponta.

Arc and Ponta traveled together back to Diento and came across a lone figure by the Rydel River. Arc notices that the figure is an elf and decides to greet him. The elf surprised by Arc'a abrupt appearance readies to fight. Arc attempts to show his sincerity, though the elf doesn't trust the human knight, but eventually lowers his guard upon seeing Ponta. The elf explains that Ponta is a spirit beast and normally wouldn't approach humans. The elf explains he was searching for a group of captured elves before departing back into the forest.

Arc eventually reached Diento and the next day decided to explore the surrounding forest. He spied a pair of elves fighting against a band of kidnappers who had taken several elven children. While debating on whether or not to interfere, after the humans began to coerce the elves to stand down with the threat of harming the children, Arc acted and attacked the kidnappers. After the kidnappers were all killed, Arc proceeded to free the elves from the cage, but was stopped by the female elf who demanded why he should be trusted. The appearance of Ponta however alleviated her concerns and he was allowed to use his magic to heal and free the children from the Collars of Submission.

Arc takes a commission with the elves promising to help free their brethren in Diento. Working with the previous elf he met by the river, who is Danka, he and Ariane attack the warehouses containing the elves. To the trio's surprise, they find that the slavers have already been killed by an unknown party. Arc having been separated from the two elves meets a ninja while searching through the area. The beastman ninja at first attacks him, however, the appearance of Ponta by his side makes her pause and convince her that he is not an enemy. To help him free the captive elves in the city, the ninja provides Arc with a map of their locations.

After freeing two captive elves and transporting them to the outskirts of the city, Arianna invites Arc for additional contracts. He is hesitant to commit to a long-term contract due to his condition. Arc reveals to Arianna of his condition, and though she is shocked she notes him to be vastly different from a typical undead who agrees to introduce him to the elders.

### Light Novel Volume 02

Arc was taken to Lalatoya where he was introduced to Ariane's parents. Once they learned of his condition and also his unique teleportation abilities, Arc accepted the mission in helping Ariane locating seven missing elves that were still unaccounted for since the raid at Diento.

The first noble that they were sent to investigate was Fulish du Houvan in the town of Houvan. Whilst journeying through the human kingdom, Ariane heard rumors a pack of Haunted Wolves plaguing the area. Interested the female elf decided to make a detour in order claim the tails of the wolves for her sister’s wedding veil.

After procuring the tails near the Anetto Mountains, Arc briefly explored the surrounding forest where he found the remains of a convoy. All the members of the convoy were dead, but Arc experimenting with his revival magic managed to bring them back to life. To hide his involvement, the knight hid and allowed the humans to think they had been saved by divine intervention. Unknown to him the convoy he revived was Princess Yuriarna Merol Melissa Rhoden Olav and her followers who would then use their second chance to journey to continue to Grand Duchy of Limbult in order to open a diplomatic dialogue with the Great Canada Forest. Arc later met up with Ariane and together they used teleportation magic to return to Lalatoya to deliver the wolf tails as well as rest.

At the residence of Ariane's parents, the knight received permission to use the family's bath. Arc took off his armor, had Ponta join him in the bath and together they washed up in the water. Later while they dried themselves in the changing room Arc was brushing Ponta's fur when Ariane in only a towel came into the room. Since Arc was without his armor, Ariane freaked out thinking he was just another skeleton. When Ariane realized her mistake, she kicked the two out of the room in her embarrassment.

The next morning Arc and Ariane used Transport Gate to teleport back to the Anetto Mountains and headed south to Houvan. They found town to be heavily under guard and on the look out for an outside attack. To avoid the guards at the gate, the pair used Dimensional Step to sneak over the wall and into town. Their presence in the city did not go unnoticed by the local peasants, though they were avoided as they assumed Arc was a mercenary under the purse strings of the count. While walking through the streets, Arc and Ariane came across a scene where several guards were beating a young boy. Arc disgusted at the brutality intervened, his intimidating appearance scaring the guards and crowd away. Arc then attended to healing the boy, who's name was Shil, despite the latter's objection of being given charity. After some convincing Shil came to trust Arc and Ariane who he took to his sister Shia so that Arc could heal her. After they healed her and paid Shil, the boy learned that the two intended to raid the castle, which he advised not to. As they were adamant of sneaking into the castle, Shil brought them to Rabaught, the leader of the rebellion in Houvan.

After coming to an agreement to aid in the rebellion, Arc and Ariane waited with Shia and Shil until the revolution started. With the other rebels they breached the castle, and while the rest sought to loot the place, the pair managed to save the captive elf, who was nearly assaulted by some rogue rebels. The group then teleported out of town leaving it to its revolution.

## Abilities and Powers

Arc's avatar body was at the highest level of 255 due to his hardcore grinding. The weapons and equipment Arc has equipped are mythical grade, and his main occupation is Heavenly Knight, with the subclass Pope.

Since Arc is now in a different world outside of the game that his avatar comes from, he is able to use all the skills he learned from all his different jobs that he had to have in order to get the job Heavenly Knight, and those jobs are: Mage - Sorcerer - Summoner, - Warrior - Knight - Holy Knight, - Priest - Bishop - Pope.

Arc's body possesses immense physical strength. He is able to forcefully bend open iron bars without issue, send straight punches that release strong air pressure, punch holes in stone walls, punch massive holes into ships, and is also capable of strangling and manhandling large monsters with his bare hands, all without the aid of magic.

Arc has incredible kinetic vision.

As an elf, he has the ability to see spiritual magic, though to a lesser degree.

### Skills

* **Wyvern Strike/Flying Dragon Slash**: A sword attack that causes a beam of light to emit from the sword and is capable of slicing through several trees. Exclusive to Knight job.
* **Sword of Judgement**: A mid-tier battle skill that pierces the enemy.
* **Shield Bash**: It was one of the warrior class’s basic skills, meant to push enemies back.
* **Reanimation**: A skill from the Bishop class that is able to bring a person back to life but if the body is badly damaged then the person will just die again immediately.
* **Purification**: A skill able to dispel curse, damage, and purify undead.
* **Resurrection**: A skill that belongs to the high-level job pope, it can revive and fully charge the target's life force, but if the body is too damaged or the person has already been dead for a long period of time, then it won't work.
* **Execution**: A can be considered Targeted and Non-Targeted skill from the Holy Knight job; this is considered to be a top tiered skill.
* **Holy Light Sword Slash**: A single-target skill that conjures holy light energy in the form of a sword slash to do cutting and holy damage to a target.
* **Holy Protection**: A protection skill that can be used remotely.

#### Summons

* **Ifrit**
* **Sutekh**
* **Aion**

#### Holy Knight

* **Steadfast Seraphim of Judgment: Prophet Uriel**: Summons the Archangel Uriel
	+ **Meteor Ray Distortion: Meteorum Perditio**
* **Blazing Seraphim of Judgment: Executioner Michael**: Summons the Archangel Michael
	+ **Dance of Fiery Destruction: Autumn Flame Rondo**
	+ **Roar of the Celestial Phoenix: Caelum Phoenix Pieratto**
	+ **Executioner's Crimson Sword of Fire: Rubrum Flamm**

### Spells

* **Rock Bullet**: A spell from the job mage a rock the size of a fist will appear on the hand of the mage, the power of the spell depends on the mage.
* **Rock Fang**: A spell from the job sorcerer that creates spikes made of rock.
* **Lightning Downpour**: An AOE spell from the sorcerer job, that brings forth lightning strikes within the area of the caster.
* **Dimensional Step**: A spell that allows Arc to move instantaneously to a nearby location within sight.
* **Flame**: This allows the user to shoot a torrent of flames out from his/her hand like a flamethrower. Exclusive to Mage job.
* **Transfer Gate**: A long-distance spell that allows one to another location, so long as the user has a clear destination in mind. This is a Sorcerer support spell.
* **Heal**A skill that heals a person of their wounds.
* **Major Heal**: A more powerful version of Heal belonging to the Bishop class.
* **Dispel Curse**: Able to dispel curses up to a certain extent.
* **Flame Viper**
* **Fire Beretta**
* **Sacred Seal!**
* **Cross Advent**

## Relationships

### Ariane

One of the friends he made after awakening into his online game world. They met when Ariane clashed swords with him in an attempt to free the elven children, mistaking him for one of the slavers. They met again when the slavers took the elven children as hostages and surrounded her in order to capture her into submission. Arc thus came to her aid by using teleportation magic to protect the elven children.

At first, she was distrustful of him due to her low opinion of mankind from their abusive treatment of elves. However, her opinion of him improved as she was impressed when she saw the spirit creature, Ponta, on Arc, an indication of his kind nature. Moreover, he used anti-curse spell to remove the collars from the elven slaves and also healed them with magic, showing that he has no prejudice against the elves. She thereby tried to employ him as a mercenary for 10 elven gold coins, acknowledging his strength and abilities. As they were successful in their cooperation, she brought him to her village to continue employing him for future tasks. According to Arc, this hence marks the beginning of a "very long quest".

Arc deeply trusts Ariane and would do anything to help her, but sometimes he finds Ariane cruel when she describes him as a "walking disaster" or "battle maniac" which he does not retort, fully aware of his bad points. Nevertheless, Ariane still cared for Arc's well-being. She stayed by Arc's side for several days when he became comatose from experiencing all his pent-up negative emotions after his curse was temporarily lifted, from submerging himself in a curse purging hot spring. She was worried for him upon realizing that Arc was depressed and homesick.

The interactions between Ariane, her family, and several other characters seemed to imply that she has romantic feelings towards Arc. On the other hand, while Arc also exhibited hints of attraction towards Ariane, he is quite dense about Ariane's feelings toward him. He often receives sharp glares from her when he interacts nicely with other women. A glare from Ariane's is enough to provoke chills in Arc's spine.

### Ponta

Ponta is Arc’s spirit companion. It took a liking to the knight after he saved her from trappers and healed her. Since then, she has been inseparable from Arc, and has a preference for resting atop his helm or curled around his neck.

### Chiyome

Arc first meets Chiyome in Diento while trying to free elven children imprisoned in the red quarters. Chiyome initially mistook him for a slaver but quickly revises her judgment when she hears Arc calling her a"ninja" and when she sees Ponta on his shoulder. She correctly guessed he was there for the elves, and gave him the slave contracts found in a hidden space. They meet again in Olav where Chiyome asks for his help to free the beastmen slaves imprisoned by the Dekares faction. Trusting her, Arc shows Chiyome his teleportation magic, which helps drastically reduce the risks taken during the operation. Chiyome is impressed when she sees Arc more outraged and disgusted than her when they see the poor condition of the slaves; after freeing and secure them, Arc returns to the building and reduces it to ashes in mere seconds. It is only after the adventure in the East Revlon Empire that Chiyome joins Arc in his (mis)adventures with Ariane. Chiyome is extremely grateful to Arc when he helps her finds a new home for her people, and track down her lost brother (who turned out to have became undead). Chiyome seems to be far more tolerant of Arc's antics than Ariane and is very fond of his cooking, though she will lecture him when he goes too far. She trusts Arc so much that she very quickly decides it is safe to introduce him to Hanzo Hattori. Chiyome is described as rather stern and stoic, but she is often excited when Arc is around. It has been described that she perceives Arc almost like an older brother.

### Dillan

As Ariane's father and elven elder, Arc has the utmost respect for Dillan. It is him who, after learning Arc helped to free elven slaves, allows him to enter Lalatoya despite being told that Arc is a human (at first even Arc himself believed he was a human, albeit one cursed to appear like an undead skeleton). Dillan quickly understands that Arc would be a great asset for the elven cause and does not mind his curse. Arc very quickly becomes a resident of Lalatoya, and works only for the village (and sometimes the beastmen Jishin clan too). Dillan is extremely grateful to Arc for taking care of his second daughter and improving elven relations with human realms. After Arc's return from the Dragon's crown and confirming that he actually is a dark elf (even through his red eyes, black hairs and brown skin do not conform with the typical appearance of a dark elf of that world), Arc, at last, formally becomes a member of Lalatoya.

### Glenys

As Ariane's mother, Arc respects her tremendously as a cook and above all, as a fighter. In terms of swordsmanship, Glenys is one of the few people who can give Arc a run for his money. Glenys is happy to offer Arc advice such as how to improve his swordplay and often teases Ariane about him, showing support of their relationship. Having taken a measure of his personality, she can easily manipulate Arc, such as when she influences him to join Lalatoya in exchange for travel on a elven boat towards the south continent (due to Arc wanting buy tomatoes from there).

### Goemon

Is a beastman ninja, and acts as a muscle bro to Arc, they are really good friends.

### Shil

He is a young boy, when Arc first met him sil thought the arc was one of the Count's knights.

## Equipment

### Main Equipment

* Belenus Holy Armor
* Overcoat of the Night Sky
* Holy Shield of Teutates
* Holy Thunder Sword of Caladbolg

### Other Items

* Copper Passport
* Gourd
* Guild Card

## Trivia

* Arc loves eating tomatoes.
* Arc is a skilled artist. In the past, one of Arc's creations was displayed in multiple exhibits.
* His birthday is on June 29.
* Because Arc lived alone for many years, he has excellent cooking skills.
* Arc, self-admittedly, has a rather poor sense of direction which cost him cold glare or mockery from Ariane.
* In the Web Novel, Arc becomes an adventurer instead of a mercenary.
* In the anime, Arc meets Ariane after subjugating a bandit hideout, she sees him getting out and believes he is a kidnapper. In the manga and light novel, they meet when Ariane ambushes a convoy of enslaved children.
* Due to his condition as a skeleton, Arc does not feel strong emotions(mostly negative) and seems to be immune to the effects of alcohol.
* In the light novel, Arc takes advantage of the curse-lifting spring by placing some of the water inside a leather flask, allowing him to temporally take his elven form and take off his helmet whenever meeting new people, especially nobility.
* According to Felfi Visrotte, Arc reminds her of Evangeline, the first founder of Great Canada Forest, though it is noted that Arc is considerably more respectful than Eva.
* Many time Arc asks for himself if his meddling nature won't change the future too drastically before discarding his worries, unaware he completely changed the fate of many people around him and sometimes destiny of entire countries like Rhoden kingdom when he saves princess Yuriarna, or Nozhan kingdom with princess Riel, and at last the great Canada forest itself when he interferes with the holy Hilk kingdom. In the anime Ariane herself declares her meeting with Arc move her fate deeply (episode 3).
* One of the running gag in the manga implies Eevin, Ariane's older sister: each time Eevin's jealousy towards Arc is displayed the latte feels chills in his spine despite his skeleton nature questioning others around him if a skeleton can catch cold.
* Because of Arc's full body armor, people who meet him for the first time always mistake him for a knight.

## References

1. ↑ *Light Novel Volume 01 Prologue*
2. ↑ *Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 1: Journey to a Mysterious World*
3. ↑ *Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 2: The Wandering Mercenary*
4. ↑ *Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 1: To the Village of Elves*
5. ↑ *Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 2: In Pursuit of the Princess*
6. ↑ *Light Novel Volume 02 Side Story: Arc and Ponta's Bathtime Adventure*
7. ↑ *Light Novel Volume 03 Chapter 3: The Houvan Uprising*