
[ Introduction Arc ]
Location: Gotham City
Time: 11:45 AM, Sunday
Date: March 18, 20xx
Raven waited for Tendo as she finished eating. She was still worried for him despite knowing how strong and capable he was. The thought of more people dying because of her placed heavy pressure on her. She then heard the door open and saw Tendo walking as if he simply went to take a smoke break.
"Told you it won't take long." He said sitting down and continued to eat his meal.
"Were you worried?" Tendo asked while Raven felt relieved but kept her emotion from being revealed."
Raven waited for Tendo as she finished eating. She barely tasted the food this time, her appetite dulled by the unease twisting in her chest. The restaurant felt too small, too quiet, every passing second stretching longer than the last. Despite everything she had seen him do, worry gnawed at her relentlessly.
People always get hurt because of me…
The thought pressed down on her heart like a weight. No matter how strong he seemed, no matter how confident he acted, the outcome was always the same—others paid the price for being near her.
The door finally opened.
Raven looked up instantly.
Tendo walked back inside as casually as if he had stepped out for a breath of fresh air, adjusting his jacket and scarf with unhurried movements. No injuries. No signs of strain. Just that same infuriatingly calm expression.
"Told you it wouldn't take long," he said, taking his seat and picking up his chopsticks as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Raven exhaled quietly, tension she hadn't realized she was holding finally easing from her shoulders.
"Were you worried?" Tendo asked, glancing at her sideways while continuing to eat.
"I was… but seeing you don't have any bruises or scratches shows that you're truly capable," Raven admitted quietly, her voice softer than before. It was the first time she allowed herself to acknowledge it—Tendo wasn't just confident, he was genuinely strong. Strong enough that, maybe, he wouldn't break as easily as everyone else who had tried to help her.
"Told you," Tendo replied calmly. "Just like how the sun rises in the east and sets in the west—my victory is simply a law of this world."
Raven stared at him, her fingers twitching as an overwhelming urge to smack him upside the head flared up. Unbelievable… His arrogance was almost offensive.
And yet—
She paused.
Through her empathic senses, she felt it clearly. There was no bravado, no insecurity, no attempt to impress her. He wasn't boasting.
He genuinely believed every word he said.
"…You're impossible," Raven muttered, looking away as she crossed her arms.
Tendo only hummed in response, continuing to eat as though stating an absolute truth required no further discussion.
"I'm sure that won't bite you later," Raven said dryly.
Tendo shrugged, entirely unbothered. "If it does, I'll simply bite back harder."
Raven sighed, then glanced at him again, curiosity overcoming her irritation. "Tell me… how did the fight go?"
"It was nothing special," Tendo replied casually, taking another bite of his spicy curry as if it were mild. "Though the demons have started developing the ability to Clock Up."
Raven blinked. "…Clock up?"
She searched her memory, then her eyes widened slightly. "Wait. That's when you move super fast, isn't it?"
Her expression drained of color as the implication hit her.
"If my father can create demons that can move like that…" Raven whispered, her fingers tightening against the edge of the table. Images of endless pursuit, of inescapable speed, flashed through her mind.
"Then running away won't matter anymore."
Tendo glanced at her, noting the subtle shift in her aura—the creeping fear she was trying to suppress. He swallowed his bite calmly and set his chopsticks down.
"Relax," he said evenly. "They were crude imitations. Fast, yes—but sloppy."
Raven looked back at him, still tense. "You're saying that like it's nothing."
"It is nothing," Tendo replied, meeting her gaze without hesitation. "Speed alone doesn't decide a battle. The one who rules time is the one who understands it."
For a moment, Raven simply stared at him. Demons capable of moving at unbelievable speed while being monstrously strong was a terrifying enemy to face.
…And yet against her better judgment, a small part of her felt reassured.
Time passed, and the two eventually returned home to rest. The city, however, did anything but rest.
By nightfall, the official debut of Kamen Rider Kabuto had spread through Gotham like wildfire. Screens lit up in apartments, diners, police precincts, and bars as every major news outlet interrupted their regular programming.
"Folks, I've got a bit of good news for everyone—something that's sure to appeal to just about everyone," a news anchor said with an uncharacteristically wide grin.
"It appears that our city now has a hero of its own."
The broadcast cut to shaky footage taken from a police cruiser dashcam and a civilian phone—red and silver armor moving faster than the eye could track, demons exploding in bursts of blue flame.
"Calling himself Kamen Rider Kabuto!" the reporter announced enthusiastically.
Another segment immediately followed.
"And get this—some are already calling him a rival to the Scarlet Speedster himself," the reporter continued, half-joking, half-awed. "Apparently, Flash may now have some competition for the title of fastest man alive."
The footage replayed again, slowed down frame by frame, yet Kabuto still appeared as little more than a crimson blur weaving through frozen demons.
Back at the house, the television played softly in the background.
Raven watched from the couch, arms wrapped around herself, her expression conflicted. Relief, concern, and disbelief all churned within her as she saw Tendo—Kabuto—on the screen.
"…You've attracted a lot of attention," she said quietly.
From the kitchen, Tendo's voice came back calm and unfazed.
"Fame is merely a side effect of walking the path of Heaven."
Raven glanced toward him, then back to the screen, her thoughts heavy.
If even Gotham noticed him this quickly…
Then her father would too.
And somewhere far beyond Earth, something ancient and hateful was surely smiling.
Trigon witnessed it all through a vast, jagged window of arcane energy—an opening that allowed him to observe Earth from his hellish domain. The image of Gotham flickered within it, replaying the broadcast again and again: a crimson blur, frozen demons, absolute domination.
For a moment, silence reigned.
Then Trigon smiled.
It was not the smile of amusement, but of interest.
"So… a mortal," he rumbled, his four glowing eyes narrowing as they followed Kabuto's movements with predatory focus.
"And not a fragile one."
The air around him trembled as his presence alone warped the scorched landscape of his realm. Clawed fingers pressed against the barrier of the window, leaving cracks of dark energy spiderwebbing across its surface.
"You may win this time, human," Trigon growled, his voice layered with countless echoes.
"Savor this fleeting moment of victory."
His grin widened, filled with promise rather than anger.
"For when I finally tear open a path to your reality…" His eyes burned brighter, flames dancing within them.
"You will be the first to die by my hands."
Laughter thundered across the dimension—deep, cruel, and filled with anticipation—as visions of Kabuto broken and bleeding flashed through Trigon's mind.
Meanwhile, Deep beneath Wayne Manor, the Batcave hummed with activity.
Banks of monitors illuminated the cavern in cold blue and white light, each screen replaying the same event from different angles—police dashcams, civilian footage, traffic cameras, and Gotham's own surveillance grid. A red-and-silver blur moved through frozen frames, demons exploding into blue flames, officers staring in stunned disbelief.

Batman stood motionless before the screens, arms crossed, cowl shadowing his expression.
"Kamen Rider Kabuto," Alfred's voice echoed calmly through the cave as he approached with a tablet in hand.

"Quite the dramatic entrance, I must say. Saved several officers, neutralized a demonic incursion, and vanished before anyone could so much as say thank you properly."
Batman slowed the footage down further. Even frame-by-frame, Kabuto's movements were unnervingly precise.
"Speed beyond metahuman norms," Bruce said.
"Not magic-based. It is not any technology I recognize either. Combat instincts suggest extensive training."
Alfred allowed himself a small smile. "Still, from what I can see, he did save lives. Gotham could certainly use more of that."
Batman didn't respond immediately. Instead, he cycled through the reports and footage from the police scanners—calls about civilians fleeing, officers under attack, and strange energy readings at the sites of the incident.
"These demons… they aren't from any known criminal organization, and there's no clear pattern yet," he murmured, frowning. "Random attacks. No leads on their origin or why they appeared."
Alfred tilted his head. "So, we're dealing with a phenomenon without a source or explanation."
"Yes," Batman replied, voice tight.
"Unknown power, unknown motives. Anyone that strong operating in Gotham is a potential threat—regardless of their intentions."
He minimized the demon footage and focused on Kabuto's profile again. A wireframe model began assembling itself, notes appearing alongside it.
"Theres too many mysteries surrounding hi. His allegiance remains unknown. The same goes with his limits and agenda," Batman continued.
"I can't risk underestimating him."
Alfred raised an eyebrow. "So you're preparing contingencies for a man who just saved your city?"
Batman's eyes never left the screen. "I prepare contingencies for everyone."
A pause followed, broken only by the low rumble of the cave.
"…Still," Alfred added thoughtfully, "there was something rather confident about him. Almost reassuring."
Batman watched Kabuto vanish in a distortion of time, red scarf fluttering in defiance of physics.
"Confidence like that," Bruce said quietly.
"Either means he knows exactly what he's facing… or he hasn't met something that can stop him yet."
As Batman sifted through data, scanning for any anomaly or lead on the recent attacks, a figure entered the Batcave.
The silhouette was unmistakable—a woman, her presence commanding. Golden light reflected off the Bat-symbol embossed on her chest, while a cowl with pointed ears masked her face. A flowing cape hung from her shoulders, and a utility belt with carefully arranged pouches cinched her waist. Every movement was precise, deliberate, like a predator stepping into its domain.
"Ah, Mistress Cain. What a pleasant surprise," Alfred greeted warmly.
The figure moved forward and slowly removed her mask, revealing a young woman with sharp, calculating eyes. Cassandra Cain—adopted sister of Tendo Souji—stood before them.

"Cassandra. Are you here to give your report?" Batman asked.
Cassandra nodded and spoke in her calm, measured tone.
"I managed to find some information regarding the recent reports, Batman," she began, her eyes scanning the monitors.
"It seems the Black Masks have been holding a special meeting with Cadmus."
Batman's gaze sharpened. "Cadmus? Are they behind this?"
Cassandra shook her head slightly.
"Not directly, but the Black Masks have been supplying them with human trafficking victims… as test subjects." Her voice grew quieter, almost somber.
"Even with this information… the evidence isn't strong enough to bring Cadmus down legally."
Batman remained silent for a moment, processing the implications, his eyes narrowing.
"So, we have knowledge of their actions," he finally said. "but no leverage to stop them."
Cassandra tilted her head slightly. "What about Barbara? Has she managed to gain anything from her side of the investigation?"
Batman's expression remained unreadable behind the cowl. "She's still working on it. She needs more time to gather everything."
Cassandra nodded, understanding. "I should head back home then… my brother might start worrying if I'm gone too long."
Alfred chuckled softly, maintaining his usual composed tone. "Ah, the perils of brotherly attachment. Do take care, Miss Cain, but don't let your concern distract you from your duties."
Cassandra allowed herself the smallest of smiles. "Of course, Alfred."
Batman gave a curt nod, letting her leave, and immediately returned his focus to the screens, eyes narrowing as he analyzed the reports before him.
Cassandra's eyes drifted toward one of the monitors, where a paused video showed a red-and-silver armored figure—Kabuto—standing calmly among the wreckage, his red scarf fluttering even in the still frame.
She furrowed her brow. "What… is going on here?" she asked, her voice cautious but curious.
Batman didn't look away from the screen. "There's a new vigilante on the loose. He appeared during the recent demon attacks. I'm still trying to determine his abilities, his motives… and whether he's a threat or an ally."
Cassandra studied the figure more closely. Something about him seemed… familiar. A faint sense of recognition tugged at her instincts.
"I don't know why," she murmured, almost to herself,
"But I feel like I've seen him before… or at least something about him feels familiar."
Batman didn't respond, his gaze sharp, analyzing every detail of Kabuto's posture, armor, and movements, while Cassandra continued to watch silently, the unease of recognition lingering in her mind.