dc with power of digimon

Chapter 30: The Monster in the Shadows

(POV – Gotham's Criminal Underworld)

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A Meeting of Fear and Paranoia

Deep within Gotham's criminal underbelly, where only the most feared crime lords and syndicate leaders gathered, a rare emergency meeting had been called.

The location? An abandoned vault beneath an old bank, reinforced with steel walls and protected by armed guards. This was a place where deals were made, rivalries were settled, and fortunes were exchanged in blood.

But tonight? Fear ruled the room.

Not because of Batman.

They had spent years learning how to work around the Bat—understanding his patterns, his limits, and his rules. They feared him, yes, but Batman was still human.

What they were dealing with now?

Something worse.

A monster had appeared in Gotham.

And for the first time in years, the city's criminal elite felt powerless.

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The Footage That Changed Everything

The room was silent as a projector played grainy footage on a large screen. The footage had been retrieved from a now-destroyed Black Mask warehouse.

At first, it showed what seemed to be a typical Batman raid.

Gunfire erupted.

Shadows moved.

Men screamed.

Then—a blur of blue shot across the screen.

A small creature, barely waist-high to a grown man, armored and fast, weaving through bullets like a phantom. Its fists glowed with raw energy, and when it punched, the impact sent fully armed men crashing into steel crates.

The room watching the footage remained silent as they saw the first form.

Then—the second appeared.

A dark-furred, wolf-like beast, its glowing red eyes piercing through the shadows. It moved like a predator, stalking its prey before lunging with brutal efficiency.

One of Black Mask's enforcers swallowed hard as they watched the beast lift a man with ease, slamming him into the pavement so hard that the concrete cracked beneath his body.

Then—the worst part.

The third transformation.

The screen shook violently as something massive appeared.

A towering, orange-scaled creature nearly 20 feet tall, its muscular tail smashing through steel walls like paper. Its deep blue eyes burned with intelligence as it surveyed the battlefield.

Then—it roared.

The sound shook the cameras as a stream of fire erupted from its jaws, engulfing the warehouse in a fiery storm.

The screen flickered before the footage cut out.

Silence.

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Shock and Horror

The crime bosses sat frozen in their seats.

The projector clicked off.

Nobody spoke.

Then, a nervous chuckle broke the silence.

Penguin's second-in-command, a man known as Victor Connelly, forced a dry laugh. "Tell me this is a joke."

A Black Mask lieutenant, his face pale, shook his head. "It's real."

Another crime lord, representing Gotham's old mafia families, whispered, "That thing… changes form?"

A Falcone enforcer, his voice hoarse, muttered, "It's a goddamn demon."

More whispers followed.

"It fights alongside Batman."

"It's stronger than anything we've seen."

"How do you kill something like that?"

For the first time in Gotham's history, its criminals weren't planning their next score.

They were planning how to survive.

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Theories and Panic

The crime bosses desperately searched for explanations.

"It's some experiment Batman created."

"WayneTech developed something they shouldn't have."

"It's a supernatural creature Batman made a deal with."

"Batman got tired of playing by the rules and finally created a monster."

Each theory was more terrifying than the last.

Penguin, seated at the head of the table, finally spoke, gripping his umbrella tightly. "Let's assume it's not some government project." He leaned forward, his cold eyes scanning the room. "Let's assume it's something else."

A representative from an overseas assassin guild spoke quietly. "If it is not human, and not created by science… then we may already be dead."

The room fell silent once again.

Because deep down, they all felt the same thing.

This wasn't just another problem to solve.

This was something beyond their control.

And for the first time in Gotham's history, the underworld admitted they were outmatched.

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The Bounty

But criminals were nothing if not opportunistic.

Penguin, ever the businessman, suddenly grinned.

"We can't fight it."

His words hung in the air.

Then, after a pause, he added:

"But we can put a price on it."

The room shifted.

Eyes lit up.

Black Mask's right-hand man smirked. "Five million for information. Ten million for whoever kills it."

Then, with a wicked grin, he added:

"And twenty million to whoever brings it in alive."

The underworld moved fast.

Hitmen were called.

Mercenaries took interest.

Old enemies of Batman emerged from hiding.

International assassins turned their eyes toward Gotham.

Within hours, the bounty spread like wildfire.

Gotham's worst had a new target.

They weren't just fighting Batman anymore.

They were hunting the monster that fought beside him.

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Watching from the Shadows…

But unknown to them all, someone else was listening.

Perched on a rooftop, hidden within the night, a figure watched the crime lords panic.

A pair of sharp blue eyes gleamed under the moonlight.

A smirk formed.

Joshua chuckled softly. "A bounty? Now this is getting interesting."

Because while Gotham's criminals thought they were hunting a monster…

They had no idea that the monster was already hunting them.

Chapter 31: Progress and Playfulness

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Morning in Wayne Manor: A Warrior's Growth

Golden sunlight spilled through the towering windows of Wayne Manor, illuminating the grand bedroom where Joshua lay sprawled across his bed. The warmth of the morning rays teased him awake, but he remained still for a moment, listening.

The house was quiet. Too quiet.

Joshua blinked a few times, his sharp mind slowly coming to life as he sat up. His muscles ached—a dull but satisfying pain that came from a night spent fighting Gotham's worst. His body was adapting. His Digimon forms were evolving alongside him, but… he still wasn't there yet.

With a slow breath, he focused, and in an instant—

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System Status: Measuring His Growth

A translucent interface materialized before his eyes, filled with data that only he could see. Unlike the boxed system screens from before, the new format flowed naturally, almost like a holographic blueprint etched into the air. It was as if the system itself had evolved, refining its presentation.

[Current Digimon Forms – Progress & Analysis]

V-mon – Level 1 (Progress: 87% → Next Unlock: Vee Headbutt Mastery)

Garurumon X – Level 2 (Progress: 36% → Next Unlock: Howling Blaster Precision)

Greymon – Level 2 (Progress: 29% → Next Unlock: Defense Upgrade – Hardened Scales)

Joshua frowned, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his knee as he analyzed the data.

V-mon was still at Level 1.

Despite all the action last night, he hadn't quite pushed it far enough. A mere 13% left until he unlocked its next ability. So close.

Garurumon X and Greymon were already well into Level 2, meaning they had started their real growth, but V-mon? It was lagging behind.

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Refining His Battle Plan

Joshua's eyes narrowed as he evaluated his strengths and weaknesses.

His V-mon form was a powerhouse in short bursts, but the problem was endurance. Compared to his other forms, it struggled with prolonged fights. That had to change.

V-mon's Training Priorities:

Break through Level 1 (Unlock Vee Headbutt Mastery)

Enhance endurance to keep up with longer battles.

Improve footwork and dodging—raw power meant nothing if he got hit.

Strengthen close-combat techniques—punching, counters, and grapples.

Garurumon X's Priorities:

Refine stealth movements—move like a shadow, strike like a predator.

Boost agility and reaction speed—he needed to counter enemy attacks faster.

Perfect Howling Blaster—increase accuracy, reduce wasted energy.

Greymon's Priorities:

Control destruction—his raw power was impressive, but collateral damage wasn't an option.

Upgrade defense—bullets weren't an issue, but explosions? Different story.

Sharpen Mega Flame's focus—maximize damage without wasted energy.

Joshua sighed, rubbing his temple.

There was a lot to work on.

But Gotham?

It had no idea what was coming.

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Breakfast With the Bat

His stomach growled, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Grumbling under his breath, he rolled out of bed, tossing on a black hoodie and sweatpants before heading downstairs.

Wayne Manor's halls were eerily silent, except for the faint clicking of Alfred's footsteps in the distance. When he reached the dining hall, he found Bruce Wayne sitting at the massive oak table, casually sipping his morning coffee while scanning a newspaper.

A plate of toast, eggs, and bacon sat untouched in front of him—a meal prepared more for appearance than actual consumption.

Joshua slid into a chair, grabbing a slice of toast.

Bruce didn't look up. "You're up early."

Joshua smirked, taking a bite. "Didn't sleep much. Spent some time thinking about my progress."

Bruce finally lowered the newspaper, his sharp blue eyes meeting Joshua's.

"And?"

Joshua chewed thoughtfully before responding.

"V-mon's falling behind. I need to work on endurance and close-range combat."

Bruce nodded slightly. "Good. Recognizing your weaknesses is the first step toward fixing them."

Joshua rolled his eyes. Classic Batman response.

Just then, Alfred arrived, setting a fresh plate in front of him with his usual calm demeanor.

"Master Joshua, I do hope you'll consume a proper meal before throwing yourself into another night of 'urban diplomacy.' Even monsters require nutrition."

Joshua grinned. "Alfred, that's the most elegant way anyone's ever called me a monster."

Alfred gave a small, knowing smile. "Merely an observation, sir."

Bruce took another sip of his coffee. "If you're serious about improving, I want to see it firsthand. Meet me in the Batcave after breakfast."

Joshua smirked.

A test?

Now that sounded interesting.

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Meanwhile: Gotham's Underworld in Panic

The criminal underworld was in chaos.

Rumors were spreading fast, whispered in back alleys and dimly lit hideouts.

Batman had a new sidekick.

But unlike the Robins of the past, this one was… different.

Unnatural.

Some called it a beast, others a shapeshifter, and a few whispered that Batman had finally snapped and unleashed a demon on Gotham.

Every gang, every crime boss, every lowlife thug wanted the same answer—

What the hell was it?

And more importantly…

How do you kill something that isn't human?

The answer?

They didn't know.

And that terrified them.

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The Game Had Just Begun

Back in Wayne Manor, Joshua leaned back in his chair, finishing off his breakfast with a satisfied sigh.

He had training to do. Criminals to crush. And a certain redhead to keep entertained at school.

A slow grin stretched across his face.

Today was going to be fun.

End of Chapter