Prologue

The forest was still, the early morning mist hanging low like a shroud over the thick underbrush. Birds had just begun their morning song, but the usual serenity was disrupted by the rustling of leaves and the groan of a young boy.

With sharp, piercing blue eyes, his hair was a stark silver, cut in a neat, slightly tousled style that framed his face with an almost ethereal quality.

He lay sprawled on the forest floor, weariness and confusion clouding his expression. He sat up slowly and looked around.

Towering trees surrounded him, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that filtered the early sunlight into soft beams.

"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples.

"Urgh!?"

He suddenly clutched his head in pain and sprawled back on the ground. Memories of school, friends, and everyday life fought for dominance in his mind. He remembered mundane things like math homework and watching anime in his free time.

But these memories clashed violently with another set. More vivid and intense.

"w-What is this...!? Argh!"

Memories of power, darkness, and a relentless quest for strength and—

—VENGEANCE!

Images of a towering figure clad in a dark coat, wielding a katana with precision and ruthlessness.

The boy was confused, memories clashing in his mind, one of an ordinary person and the other—

"Vergil…" he whispered.

—a Demon.

.....

....

...

..

.

In the dimly lit Batcave, the only sounds were the soft hum of the Batcomputer and the distant dripping of water.

Batman sat at his control console, eyes narrowed at the screen. He replayed the video footage from yesterday for what felt like the hundredth time. The grainy footage showed a dark alleyway and a woman clutching a small child.

"p-Please! Stay Back!"

And across from them—

Scrrrrrrrahhhhhhhh!!

—was an insect-like creature from hell.

Its grotesque, insectoid form loomed menacingly, its chitinous exoskeleton glistening in the dim light. An elongated head bore multiple glowing, beady eyes fixed on the woman and child with a pang of predatory hunger. Its mandibles clicked together, eager to rend flesh, and its sharp, spindly limbs, ending in vicious claws, scraped the ground as it moved closer.

The woman's eyes widened in terror as the creature advanced, its gaze locked on her and the child.

"No…Please!… Someone Help!" Her voice cracked with desperation.

The Empusa hissed, its mandibles opening and closing rapidly as it prepared to strike.

Then in an instant—

WHOOOSH

A blur of movement too fast to be seen. One second, the creature was whole and just advancing, and the next, its body was bisected cleanly from the middle.

THUD

The two halves slid apart and crumpled to the ground lifeless.

Batman paused the footage, leaning back in his chair. He had seen many incredible things in his time, but this... This was something else entirely.

"Slow it down," Batman ordered.

He rewound the video, stepping through it frame by frame, but the attack was nearly invisible even then. Until finally...

"Pause." Batman commanded, leaning closer to the screen.

"Zoom."

The image magnified, revealing a faint blur behind the demonic creature.

"Play," he said, anticipation lacing his voice.

The blur moved swiftly through the screen, slicing through the creature. Batman's eyes narrowed further as the scene unfolded. The creature fell, bisected cleanly, the blur continuing its trajectory before disappearing.

Batman released a sigh.

"Any news yet, Master Bruce?"

Alfred's voice cut through the silence as he appeared beside Batman. The faithful butler and confidant had been at Bruce Wayne's— the true identity of Batman's—side through countless mysteries and dangers.

Batman removed his cowl, revealing a face marked by weariness and concern.

"Another dead end," he muttered, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.

"These events have been occurring across the US for the past month," Batman continued, his voice tinged with concern. "Yet we know nothing about these creatures—what they are, where they originate, or why they're appearing."

Alfred nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"And this blur? Have you any theories on what it could be?"

"It's fast, incredibly fast. Too fast for the naked eye to see."

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "It's possible that it could be another speedster... but, there lies the question."

Bruce pressed a button, showcasing multiple incidents, as grotesque creatures appeared on the screen, some possessing similar features to the insect-like creature while others varied.

An undead wielding a scythe, lizard monsters, giant bats, and many more.

"From these incidents, there was one thing all of them had in common."

CREAAA-

RAHH-

HISSSSS-

There was no warning. No visible attack.

Slowly, Batman slowed down the footage until he could no longer, as Alfred observed closely, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

"The blur," he deduced, his tone thoughtful yet cautious.

All the footage showed a blur appearing a moment just before the creatures were bisected.

"Indeed."

Batman nodded grimly.

"Someone-... or something was hunting these creatures."

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