One of Bruce's Many Bases –
Cold air drifted through the upper levels of Gotham's cloud-piercing skyline, seeping into the abandoned penthouse and brushing against Bruce Wayne's exposed skin as he stitched up the wounds from another long night. The room was dim, lit only by the pale glow of multiple monitors arranged before him. Footage flickered across the screens, each displaying images of a man clad in knight-like armor wielding a massive black broadsword—the same man who had broken into Bruce's base just a few days prior.
The criminals had given him a name. Dead Knight.
Two days ago, the vigilante had dismantled a forgery ring linked to Black Mask. Bruce's fingers paused as the final stitch tightened. He leaned back, muscles aching, and exhaled slowly. This new player in Gotham was dangerous—calculating, powerful, and operating in complete anonymity.
He looked back at the monitors, narrowing his eyes at the imposing figure frozen mid-action.
"This 'Dead Knight' could become a problem," Bruce muttered under his breath. "I need to find out who he is."
Meanwhile…
Ethan walked calmly through the nighttime streets of Gotham, blending in with the city's faceless crowds. Despite having recently acquired over half a million dollars from the forgery ring, he had taken a legitimate job. Money wasn't the issue—it was about building a sustainable, invisible life beneath Gotham's ever-watchful gaze.
The job was simple enough.
Soon, the looming architecture of the Gotham Public Library appeared before him, old but elegant. Inside, students mingled among the shelves, immersed in quiet conversation or focused study. Some carried books in their arms, others lounged on the benches outside, enjoying the rare moment of peace Gotham occasionally allowed.
Ethan stepped inside, the smell of aged paper and polished wood greeting him like an old friend. He offered a small wave to the librarian behind the counter.
She was striking—young, with pale skin and jet-black hair cascading over a black coat. Had she worn different clothes, she might've passed for a gothic fashion model. Her name was Elizabeth, though she insisted everyone call her Elly.
She glanced up from the book in her hands and smiled softly, accepting his greeting with the calm demeanor of someone who had seen the world and chose stillness over storm.
"Glad to finally have an assistant," she said, her voice melodic but tinged with irony. "These old bones aren't going to last much longer."
Ethan smirked. "You don't look older than me."
"Exactly," she replied, her smile deepening.
Ethan had secured a position as a library assistant—a role that served as both a legitimate job and an effective cover. The forged documents he created were flawless, virtually indistinguishable from genuine credentials.
His days were filled with the rhythm of routine. He stacked shelves, delved into both fiction and non-fiction titles, gently reminded visitors to keep quiet—a task he particularly enjoyed—and helped patrons find their next literary adventure.
As the evening settled over Gotham, casting long shadows through the tall windows of the library, Ethan climbed to the second floor. He stood by a large, arched window overlooking the dusky cityscape. He cracked open an energy drink, the can hissing faintly as the first taste hit his tongue.
Outside, crows and ravens soared across the skyline, their silhouettes etched against the fading light. In Gotham, this was no strange sight. In fact, it felt… fitting.
Suddenly, without so much as a whisper of movement, Elly appeared beside him.
She didn't startle him. She confounded him.
'I didn't even sense her,' Ethan thought with a mild chill.
His enhanced perception—one of the many mysterious abilities he had gained since becoming Dead Knight—had become second nature. He could detect hostility, danger, even faint emotional traces. Yet Elly was… blank. No signature. No warning. Like a ghost.
It wasn't the first time this had happened. Sometimes, his senses would overload; other times, they dulled. He had come to suspect his powers were still maturing, their full extent yet untapped.
Elly leaned against the window beside him, her eyes also on the sky.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" she said quietly, almost reverently.
Ethan followed her gaze. "The crows?"
"And ravens," she added, her smile mysterious. "They belong to the corvidae family—some of the most intelligent birds on the planet."
"I know," Ethan added.
He was a sceintist obsessed with life in his past life after all.
Animals were part of that. Infact, he actually spawned a 3 year plan to save various endangered Corvidae.
They truly are magnificent birds.
She paused for a moment before continuing, almost as if slipping into a trance.
"People underestimate them. Crows and ravens can recognize human faces, remember insults, and even teach each other who to avoid."
"I owned two crows actually,when I was little." Ethan informed.
"I had to make them stop bringing me shiny objects the stole!"
Ellu nodded.
"Well,they've been known to bring gifts to those they trust. Some cultures revere them as messengers between worlds."
Ethan nodded as he drank his energy drink.
He was a scientist in the past after all,he had to listen to his colleagues talk for hours over stupid stuff they were obsessed with. Elly's obsession was fascinating at least.
"But I think they're misunderstood. They don't herald doom.They..."
"You really like them,huh?" Ethan remarked.
"Yes." she said. Most people would feel akward but she said that as he was engrosses in bird watching.
At night-
The Dead Knight stood on the roof of the Gotham Public Library.
The old tiles stood strong even under hjs weight which he had checked.
320 lbs.
Much more than his normal weight.
He jumped down.
He made his way to his base as he patrolled the streets.
The occasional robbers,thugs were prowling the streets as usual.
But,he quickly took care of them.
Ethan made his way to the warehouse by the Gotham River.
The rusted warehouse looked almost haunted in the cold and dark embrace of the night's shadows.
The moon hung high,painting a cinematic picture.
He walked inside.
His armour slipping of and dematerializing into particles in thin air.
He had taken one of the large computers from the forgery base and placed it here.
Nobody comes here and he had already placed CCTV cameras everywhere linked to his helmet that would alert him if they detected a heat signature. He also had it installed into the computer.
Ethan quickly turned on the computer and sat on the chair
He checked on his investment status.
He had invested into various companies that screamed of potential when a certain company caught his eye.
The Lazarus Corporation.
That name was interesting as that name was related to The League of Assassins and so it was related to Ra's Al Ghul.
The Demon.
'...Intruders...' Ethan acknowledged as the computer gave the alarm.
He quickly turned around and stood from the chair.
He walked outside and didn't see anybody.
Onlu footprints on the ground.
But,there was a box on the ground.
Ethan stepped back and formed Tge Dead Knight armour before he handled the box as it could have been an explosive. While he can regenerate he would rathee not waste time doing it.
He quickly took the box and opened it.
"....Hehehehaaa!!," he laughed.
"Was wondering when I was going to be in this type of situation." he said.
Inside the box was the death mask of Matthew Stafford.
"These bastards...if they really killed him they must have killed many other people like this as well. And used this tactic to intimidate many people."
Ethan didn't like the idea of killing. He could kill if the situation demanded it but would rather punish the criminal and put them in jail for a long time than kill them. The Wonder Woman method.
But,the idea that the people who killed a criminal like Matthew Stafford probably killed many innocent people as well.....that angered him.
And he knew who could have done this.
"Black.Mask."