First time installing Linux. After a few install issues (had to format drive from live env) and an issue with archinstall that I fixed by updating the script that seemed to be out of date on the image. I finished the install, removed the install media and rebooted but now it seems to get stuck right after the following line[ 6.118440] r8169 0000:01:00.0 enp1s0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control off

I understand this line just means my network is working, but I'm not sure what else to be looking for. I believe the hardware should all be in order, machine is a Beelink SER5 Pro, so I don't think that is the issue. I can't find anything else online and I've been stuck for a few hours now. I can continue past this and logging in with root gets me to the cmd line root@archlinux, startx doesn't seem to work either.

What guide did you use to install arch? You don't say what you put in your ~/.xinitrc

This is the wiki. Start here.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kde

Choosing arch as a first time experience with Linux may not be ideal. But if you are going to use it. Get used to searching the wiki for answers. That is how it is made to work. On purpose.