Chapter 1: Awakening in Gotham
A sharp chill ran through the air as Joshua awoke in a dark alley, his head throbbing as if he'd just been hit by a truck. The stench of damp concrete and trash filled his nose, making him gag. He groaned, pushing himself up, his muscles aching as if they weren't his own. His clothes were different—rougher, worn—but his body… it felt strange. Stronger.
Then, suddenly, it happened.
A rush of information surged through his mind like a flood, nearly making him fall back.
[You have three forms available: Agumon, Gabumon X, and V-mon. Transformation is your choice. Moves must be learned through experience. No handouts. Adapt or die.]
Joshua's breathing slowed as the words settled in his mind.
"Three forms…" he muttered. He felt it—something inside him, waiting to be tapped into, raw power ready to be unleashed. But it wasn't automatic. The system wasn't here to hold his hand. He had to make the choice himself.
He exhaled, shaking his head. "No way… this can't be real."
Then he saw it.
A flickering streetlamp at the alley's entrance barely illuminated the cityscape beyond, but he recognized it instantly—gothic skyscrapers, looming gargoyles, and a massive billboard advertising Ace Chemicals.
His stomach dropped. He was in Gotham City.
"…Shit."
Panic threatened to creep in, but he forced it down. Panicking wouldn't help. Thinking would.
Before he could fully process his situation, a scream echoed through the alley.
Joshua's head snapped toward the sound. At the far end of the alley, two thugs cornered a young woman. One had a knife, the other was rummaging through her purse.
Classic Gotham.
His first instinct was to look away. This wasn't his problem, and stepping in without knowing how strong he was could get him killed. But something inside him rebelled against that thought. He had power now. Power he needed to understand.
And this? This was the perfect test.
Joshua inhaled deeply, reaching for that feeling—the raw potential inside him. He focused on one word. One name.
"Agumon."
The transformation hit instantly. Fire surged through his veins, his muscles tensed, and a golden light enveloped him. His body shrank slightly, but his strength multiplied. His hands morphed into sharp claws, his skin toughened into thick, golden scales, and his mouth felt powerful—capable of unleashing something fierce.
The thugs turned just in time to see the reptilian figure emerge from the shadows.
Joshua bared his sharp teeth in a grin. "Boo."
Their reaction was immediate.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" The knife-wielding thug stumbled back, eyes wide. His partner nearly dropped the purse in shock.
Joshua didn't give them time to react further. He lunged.
His claws raked across the first thug's arm, sending him crashing against the brick wall. The second thug bolted, but Joshua moved fast—faster than he thought possible. He grabbed the guy's collar and threw him into a dumpster with a loud CRASH.
The knife thug scrambled up, holding his bleeding arm. His eyes darted between Joshua and his fallen friend before he made the only logical choice—he ran.
Joshua watched him go, exhaling slowly. His body felt incredible. The strength, the speed—he was on another level entirely.
The woman stared at him, clutching her purse. "W-What are you?"
Joshua hesitated, then forced a grin. "Just a guy who hates criminals."
Before she could ask more questions, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
---
Survival in Gotham
Joshua returned to his human form once he was far enough away. He leaned against a wall, catching his breath.
"Okay… that was insane," he muttered. He clenched and unclenched his hands, still feeling the remnants of power from his transformation.
He had three forms. He could change at will. But he had no idea how to fight properly.
He needed to fix that. Fast.
And then there was another problem—money.
Gotham was dangerous, but it wasn't just the criminals or the capes that worried him. He had no ID, no home, and no cash. That meant no food, no shelter, and no resources. If he didn't figure something out soon, he'd end up starving on the streets.
He needed a plan.
He couldn't exactly get a normal job—not when he might have to fight lunatics in clown makeup at any moment. He could steal, sure, but that was a slippery slope. He didn't want to become another Gotham lowlife.
But if he played it smart, he could take money from people who wouldn't be missed.
Criminals.
Drug dealers. Gangs. The kind of people Batman wouldn't lose sleep over.
Joshua smirked. Now that sounded like a plan.
He exhaled and looked up at the Gotham skyline, the Bat-Signal still shining in the distance.
Step one: Get money.
Step two: Get stronger.
Step three: Survive.
And maybe, just maybe… Thrive.
---
End of Chapter 1
Chapter 2: Cleaning the Streets
The night was young, and Gotham's underbelly was alive with crime. Joshua stalked through the back alleys, his hood pulled low over his face. The sounds of the city surrounded him—distant sirens, drunken laughter, the occasional gunshot in the distance.
He had a plan now. Take from the worst, build himself up. And Gotham's drug trade? A gold mine.
---
First Target
Joshua had been observing for the past hour, keeping low, studying his prey. A group of low-level dealers operated out of a rundown convenience store in The Narrows. Five guys—three inside, two standing watch.
He needed a clean, fast approach. No flashy transformations in the open. Agumon was strong but obvious. He needed something more subtle for now.
Gabumon X.
A cold, blue aura surrounded him as his body shifted. His form grew leaner, fur covered his arms, and sharp claws extended from his fingers. His eyesight sharpened, night vision kicking in instantly. He flexed his hands. Yeah. This would do.
Joshua moved in.
The two lookouts barely had time to react before he struck. He lunged out of the shadows, slamming the first thug into the brick wall with a brutal THUD. The second turned, reaching for his waistband—gun.
Too slow.
Joshua's claws slashed forward, slicing through the man's wrist. He screamed, dropping the weapon. A brutal punch to the jaw sent him crumpling.
He exhaled. Two down. Three inside.
Joshua bent down and picked up the fallen gun. Not to use—just to get rid of it. He popped the clip, tossed it onto the rooftop, and kicked the empty piece of metal into the storm drain.
No guns. This was a fight.
He stepped inside.
The stink of cheap weed and sweat filled the air. Three thugs sat around a table, stacks of cash and plastic bags laid out in front of them.
One of them, a stocky guy with a scar across his cheek, looked up.
"Yo, who the f—"
Joshua didn't let him finish. He grabbed a metal chair and smashed it over the guy's head. Instant KO.
The other two scrambled—one reached for a baseball bat, the other for a knife. Joshua charged.
The bat came first, swinging toward his ribs. He ducked, grabbing the guy's wrist and yanking him forward. A knee to the stomach folded him in half, and a savage elbow to the back of the head sent him crashing to the ground.
The last guy lunged with the knife. Joshua let him get close—too close—then twisted, stepping inside his guard. His clawed hand shot up, grabbing the man's wrist. CRACK.
The knife clattered to the floor as the thug screamed, his wrist bent at an unnatural angle.
Joshua stepped back, eyes cold. "I could kill you right now."
The thug whimpered, holding his broken wrist.
"But I won't." Joshua crouched, staring him dead in the eye. "I want you to send a message. Tell every lowlife you work with—this city is mine now."
The thug nodded frantically. Joshua smirked and knocked him out with a clean right hook.
With the dealers unconscious, he took what he came for. Stacks of cash—easily a few grand.
Not bad for a night's work.
---
Expanding the Operation
Joshua didn't stop there.
For the next several nights, he hunted. Gotham was crawling with small-time dealers and gangsters who thought they were untouchable.
He hit stash houses, ambushed street corners, and disrupted shipments. Some fights were easy—low-level thugs who couldn't throw a decent punch. Others? Tougher. One guy had a taser. Another pulled a shotgun on him. That one had been close.
But every night, he got better. Stronger.
Agumon's form gave him raw power and fire, perfect for breaking down doors and scaring the hell out of people. Gabumon X made him fast, precise—lethal in close combat.
He hadn't even touched V-mon yet. Not until he mastered the first two.
And the money? It was flowing.
---
A Shadow in the Dark
Joshua sat on a rooftop, counting his earnings. Easily over $20,000 in just a few nights. Gotham's crime lords were bleeding, and he was thriving.
But he wasn't stupid. This kind of action would attract attention.
Not just from criminals.
He glanced toward the skyline, his eyes sharp. It was about time.
A shadow moved in the distance, flickering between rooftops. Fast, controlled. Moving with purpose.
Joshua smirked. Right on schedule.
He didn't panic. He didn't freeze. He expected this.
Batman had arrived.
And Joshua was ready.
End of Is chapter