Chapter 5: Hunting for a Challenge
Joshua cracked his knuckles as he stood on the rooftop, the cold Gotham air biting against his fur-covered arms. He was still in Gabumon X form—his go-to for stealth and speed. But tonight? He needed something bigger. Stronger.
The system check had made one thing clear: if he wanted to evolve, he needed tougher fights. Small-time drug dealers weren't enough anymore. He had to step up.
And he knew exactly where to start.
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Target: The Falcone Syndicate
Joshua had spent the last few days gathering intel. Gotham's criminal empire had multiple factions, but the Falcone family still controlled a major chunk of the city's underground. While Batman had crippled their power over the years, they weren't gone.
More importantly? They still ran high-end smuggling rings—drugs, weapons, and dirty money.
Joshua had located a key hub: an abandoned warehouse near the docks. Word on the street was that a major shipment was coming in tonight. He wasn't about to let that happen.
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The Approach
Perched on a rooftop across from the warehouse, Joshua counted at least fifteen guards outside—armed, well-equipped, and alert. Unlike the street thugs he had been dealing with, these guys had training.
He smirked. Good.
Joshua exhaled slowly, his claws flexing. Time to evolve.
His body glowed as he shifted forms. Agumon.
The transformation completed, and Joshua rolled his shoulders. Agumon's raw strength was exactly what he needed for a frontal assault.
Without hesitation, he leaped from the rooftop, landing with a loud THUD on the pavement below.
The guards snapped to attention, guns raising.
"The hell—?!"
Joshua grinned. "Yo."
Before they could react, he inhaled deep—and unleashed a roaring fireball.
"BABY FLAME!"
The blast exploded into the nearest guard, sending him flying backward as his clothes caught fire. The others scrambled, some firing, but Joshua was already moving.
BOOM.
He crashed into the closest thug, his clawed fist slamming into the man's chest like a wrecking ball. The impact sent him skidding across the ground, unconscious.
Gunfire rang out.
Joshua ducked, rolling forward before ripping a steel crate from the ground and hurling it like a battering ram. Three men went down instantly.
More guards rushed from the warehouse. He grinned.
Perfect.
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Pushing Limits
Joshua fought like a beast—fire and claws tearing through the battlefield.
One guy tried to flank him? A tail whip sent him crashing through a wooden pallet.
Another came in with a knife? Joshua grabbed his arm and dislocated it with a single twist.
A shotgun fired point-blank? He caught the barrel and crushed it in his grip.
The system pinged in his mind.
[Agumon Evolution Progress: 55% → 65%]
His grin widened. He could feel it. He was getting closer.
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The Boss Arrives
Before he could celebrate, the air shifted.
A new figure stepped out from the warehouse. Tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing an expensive suit. Salvatore 'Sal' Maroni.
Joshua's eyes narrowed. Maroni was one of the few crime lords who hadn't been completely wiped out by Batman. And now, he was standing right in front of him.
Maroni didn't look scared. If anything, he looked pissed.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Maroni growled.
Joshua smirked, still in Agumon form. "Just a guy cleaning house."
Maroni sighed and snapped his fingers. Six more men stepped out. Bigger. Stronger. More dangerous.
Enforcers.
Joshua exhaled. Finally. A real fight.
The system pinged again.
[Warning: High-threat enemies detected.]
[Evolution Potential Increased.]
Joshua grinned.
Let's see just how strong I can get.
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End of Chapter 5
Chapter 6: Trial by Fire
Joshua rolled his shoulders, his claws flexing as he stared down Maroni's enforcers. These weren't just hired guns.
They were bruisers, the kind of muscle Gotham's crime lords kept around for serious threats. Each one stood over six feet tall, their suits barely hiding the bulk of hardened street brawlers. Some had brass knuckles, others carried combat knives, and the biggest one—a bald brute with scars across his face—cracked his knuckles loud enough to be heard over the distant sirens.
Joshua grinned, still in Agumon form.
Finally. A real challenge.
Maroni sneered. "Tear him apart."
The first enforcer rushed in—a towering man built like a living battering ram.
Joshua sidestepped at the last second, feeling the wind as the brute's fist cracked the pavement where he had just been. Fast, but not fast enough.
Joshua's clawed foot slammed into the enforcer's knee.
CRACK!
A howl of pain erupted as the man collapsed, clutching his shattered leg.
But there was no time to celebrate—another enforcer lunged, swinging a steel pipe like a bat.
Joshua ducked low—the pipe whistled over his head—then surged forward with a brutal uppercut. His fist met the enforcer's ribs with bone-crunching force.
The man gasped, his body lifting off the ground before crashing into a crate.
Two down.
Joshua turned—just in time to see Scarface charging.
This one was different. Faster. Smarter. Meaner.
Joshua barely had time to react before a brass-knuckled fist slammed into his jaw.
WHAM!
Pain exploded through his skull, his vision flickering for a split second. His body skidded back, claws digging into the concrete to stop himself.
Scarface didn't let up—he was already on him again, throwing a vicious combination of jabs, hooks, and gut punches.
Joshua blocked most of them, but a rib-cracking body blow forced the air from his lungs.
Damn. This guy could fight.
The system pinged.
[Agumon Evolution Progress: 65% → 70%]
Joshua grinned despite the pain. This was exactly what he needed.
Scarface smirked. "Not so tough now, huh?"
Joshua spit out a bit of blood. Then, he lunged.
Scarface's eyes widened, but it was too late.
Joshua tanked a hook to the ribs, using the momentum to step inside the enforcer's guard. His clawed hands wrapped around Scarface's throat—then he slammed his head forward.
HEADBUTT.
CRACK!
Scarface stumbled, dazed.
Joshua capitalized. A brutal right hook to the jaw sent the enforcer sprawling.
The remaining enforcers hesitated. Their strongest guy just went down.
Joshua grinned through the pain. "What's wrong? Thought you were gonna tear me apart."
Maroni cursed. "Useless idiots—shoot him!"
The remaining goons drew their guns.
Joshua inhaled deep.
"BABY FLAME!"
A roaring fireball erupted from his mouth, engulfing the nearest enforcer. He screamed, dropping his gun as the flames ignited his sleeve.
Joshua dashed forward, closing the distance before they could fire again. His claws slashed through a gun barrel, molten metal dripping from the ruined weapon.
Another thug tried to run. Joshua pounced.
His foot slammed down on the thug's ankle, shattering it. The man crumpled, screaming.
Maroni staggered back, eyes wide with fear. "You… you freak—"
Joshua grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"You and your kind," Joshua growled, his golden eyes glowing. "You poison this city. But me?"
He pulled Maroni closer.
"I burn poison away."
The system pinged again.
[Agumon Evolution Progress: 70% → 75%]
Joshua's grin widened.
He was getting closer.
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End of Chapter 6