Chapter 13: Shadows of Doubt
Commissioner Gordon's POV
The rooftop of the Gotham City Police Department was silent, save for the distant hum of traffic and the rhythmic sound of raindrops pattering against the concrete. The Bat-Signal cast a ghostly glow over the city, cutting through the darkness like a beacon of defiance.
James Gordon stood with his arms crossed, his trench coat billowing slightly in the cold night air. His mind was racing, replaying the reports, the crime scene footage, and the disturbing discovery that had changed everything.
It wasn't a monster. It was a man.
And yet, despite all of Batman's resources, his infamous ability to uncover the hidden, even he didn't know who this thing was.
That scared Gordon more than he wanted to admit.
A familiar rasp broke the silence.
"You've been busy."
Gordon turned, his sharp eyes meeting the shadowed figure standing at the edge of the rooftop. Batman's presence was always unsettling—like a ghost appearing from nowhere—but tonight, it was different.
Gordon wasn't just dealing with some costumed criminal or another lunatic terrorizing Gotham.
This was unknown territory.
"I was about to say the same thing to you," Gordon replied, his voice laced with suspicion. "You already knew, didn't you?"
Batman didn't respond immediately. His cape shifted as he stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Gordon's.
"I suspected," Batman admitted. "I saw it before. It's fast, strategic. It doesn't kill. But it doesn't hesitate to hurt."
Gordon frowned. "So, you've encountered it before. And let me guess—you didn't bother telling me?"
Batman tilted his head slightly, his unreadable expression betraying nothing. "I didn't have confirmation."
Gordon scoffed, running a hand through his graying hair. "Dammit, Batman. I have officers panicking. Witnesses describing some fire-breathing beast tearing through gang operations like a war machine. And now—" He pointed toward a stack of files on a nearby crate. "Now we have evidence that this thing is human."
He let that sit for a moment, watching for any flicker of reaction from the Dark Knight.
Batman's silence was deafening.
---
The Shocking Discovery
Earlier that night, Gordon had been reviewing security footage retrieved from one of the crime scenes. Most of it was useless—blurry images, static interference, and terrified gangsters firing blindly at shadows.
But then, one frame stood out.
A figure, hunched over, covered in scales and fur—mid-transformation.
It was shifting. Changing.
And beneath all that monstrous exterior, for just a brief second—
There was a human face.
The forensics team ran an analysis. The skeletal structure changed. Muscles expanded, contracted. This wasn't just a mutant, a metahuman, or some bio-engineered weapon.
This was something completely different.
Something even Batman had never seen before.
---
Back to the Rooftop
"You're telling me," Gordon said, his voice low, measured, "that you have no idea who he is?"
Batman didn't look away. "No."
Gordon exhaled sharply. That answer did nothing to ease his nerves.
"The way it moves, the way it fights," Batman continued, almost as if thinking aloud. "It's trained. It understands combat. It learns." His gaze narrowed. "And it's not reckless."
Gordon shook his head. "This thing dismantled five gang operations in one night. That's not 'not reckless.' That's a damn declaration of war."
Batman was quiet for a moment before he responded.
"Gotham's underworld just met a new player," he said, stepping back toward the shadows. "We need to find out what he wants—before someone else does."
Gordon clenched his jaw. He hated that Batman was right.
As much as the unknown terrified him, what scared him more was what would happen if Gotham's worst criminals realized this creature wasn't hunting them by accident.
It was choosing its targets.
And the moment the wrong people started paying attention, things would escalate fast.
Gordon's grip tightened around the folder in his hands. "And if we can't?"
Batman didn't answer. He just vanished into the darkness.
Leaving Gordon alone with a city full of unanswered questions.
---
End of Chapter 13
Chapter 14: A Morning of Revelations
Joshua's POV
The dim glow of morning light seeped through the hotel curtains, casting long shadows across the room. Joshua lay in bed, eyes open, staring at the ceiling as the memories of the previous night replayed in his mind.
Five gangs taken down. Millions in stolen cash. A growing reputation in Gotham's underworld.
But more importantly—Batman and the GCPD knew he existed now.
With a deep breath, Joshua sat up, stretching his sore muscles before summoning the System Interface. The familiar blue digital screen flickered into existence in front of him.
---
[System Status]
Digimon Forms:
Agumon (Base Form)
Gabumon X (Unlocked)
V-mon (Unlocked)
---
[Progress Check]
→ Agumon
Strength: Noticeable increase. Physical strikes hit harder, claws can now tear through metal.
Speed: Moderate growth. Able to react faster in combat, though still not at peak performance.
Fire Manipulation: Increased efficiency. Fire breath is hotter, more concentrated, and can be maintained longer without strain.
Combat Skills: Improved instinctual battle sense. Dodging and countering feel more natural.
→ Gabumon X
Durability: Significantly enhanced. Can tank multiple gunshots and keep moving.
Ice Abilities: Basic mastery. Freezing attacks are sharper, projectiles can now be launched at higher speeds.
Stealth: Improved natural camouflage at night. Can remain undetected unless someone is actively looking.
Speed: Faster than Agumon, though not at full potential yet.
→ V-mon
Strength: Close-combat power has increased. Punches are destructive, capable of breaking through reinforced walls.
Speed: Best of the three forms so far. Agility and reaction time are at peak human levels.
Stamina: Can fight for longer periods without exhaustion.
Special Moves: Energy-based attacks are starting to develop, but still need refinement.
---
Joshua smirked. Good progress. Each form was getting stronger, but he still had a long way to go.
Now, onto the next step.
Finding out what Bruce Wayne knows.
---
Arrival at Wayne Manor
Joshua changed into casual attire—something simple but presentable—and took a cab toward Gotham's wealthiest district. The ride was smooth, but his mind was racing.
Bruce Wayne was Batman.
He had whispered that fact the night before, and from the way Batman had reacted, it was clear he hadn't expected it.
Now, it was time to confirm if Bruce would acknowledge it or try to pretend otherwise.
After nearly thirty minutes of travel, the cab pulled up at the massive iron gates of Wayne Manor. The mansion itself loomed beyond, a gothic architectural marvel nestled in the outskirts of Gotham, surrounded by acres of forest.
Joshua stepped out, adjusted his jacket, and walked up to the intercom. With a smirk, he pressed the button.
A few seconds later, a refined British voice answered.
"Wayne Manor. How may I help you?"
Joshua leaned forward. "Tell Bruce I'm here to talk."
A pause.
"I'm afraid Master Wayne is currently unavailable."
Joshua chuckled. "He'll want to see me. Just tell him... the 'monster' from last night is at his doorstep."
Silence.
Then—
Click.
The gates slowly began to open.
Joshua walked forward with confidence. Now things were about to get interesting.
---
Bruce Wayne's POV
Inside Wayne Manor, Bruce stood near the large window of his study, watching as his unexpected guest made his way up the path.
It was him.
The creature from last night. The one that wasn't just a monster—but a man.
Bruce's jaw tightened slightly. He had spent the entire morning analyzing the footage, breaking down the fight patterns, and cross-referencing anything that remotely matched the abilities this thing displayed.
Nothing.
No records. No existing metahuman profiles. Not even a connection to the League of Shadows, LexCorp experiments, or any supernatural forces he had encountered before.
This was something new.
And now, it was walking up to his front door.
He knows.
Bruce had spent years hiding his double life, but last night, the creature had whispered his secret.
"I know your secret."
Now, he was here, in broad daylight, standing at Wayne Manor like a regular visitor.
Bruce turned away from the window as Alfred entered the study.
"Shall I prepare tea, sir?" the butler asked, his expression unreadable.
Bruce exhaled. "No. Just let him in."
Alfred nodded, heading toward the front entrance while Bruce sat down in his leather chair, steepling his fingers.
The door opened.
Joshua stepped inside.
For a moment, there was silence as the two men locked eyes.
One was a billionaire with a secret. The other? A walking enigma who had shaken Gotham's underworld in just a few nights.
Finally, Joshua grinned.
"You looked better in the cowl, Bruce."
Bruce remained expressionless. "And you looked less human last night."
Joshua chuckled, stepping forward. "I figured we should talk. Face to face. No masks, no growling intimidation tactics. Just a conversation."
Bruce leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying Joshua carefully.
"Alright," he said, voice calm. "Talk."
---
End of Chapter 14