Chapter 1: The Start

We all know the story of the Dark Knight - Batman. We see the same story within different parts of the multiverse either from the positive or the dark but all have the same similarities and differences between them. Anything is possible in the multiverse and some rare worlds, some of them can have Bruce Wayne never became Batman.

How does Gotham become? What happens? Well, sometimes chaos or nothing at all but this time, something very unique and rare was going to happen. One shall start the groundwork of changing the very City of Sin into something else. And one day, the world itself as well.

Sometimes, a fallen city needs an angel to help.

Gotham City

"Shit...shit...shit...shit, shit, shit, SHIT!" A young man shouted, cursing up a storm at what he discovered and happening to him.

The young man was just walking in his hometown in Alaska, visiting some family members that wanted to say hello or show off their wealth. He hated that and didn't go at all but instead went to a comic costume party for an early Halloween party. He went and dress up as Azrael, the classic one from Knightfall DC issues before becoming Batman. Yeah, he was a big fan of DC comics, sometimes the films, and enjoy his favorite being Batman himself, that dark hero who has no powers but one man can make a big difference in a city that lost a great amount of hope. Restoring that said lost hope and bring fear onto those in power & corrupted.

However and before heading to the comic party, while driving his car, the young man whose version changed and everything around him as well. He found himself not in Alaska anymore and right into a familiar street of a certain city. His ride got trashed by some punks in a sports car and before they could shout at him, they became terrified and run for the hills.

This confused the young man greatly until it came clear to him when he saw his reaction in an old shop mirror before him. He saw himself wearing a white outfit with chest armor on his shoulders, gauntlets with razor blades on the sides, leg armored boots, white pants, a black belt, and sword stealth on his right hip which the said sword was something of a knight with the said blade was pure red, a white mask on his face with red eyes, and a red mark on the said face mask. Lastly a long white cape with red on the inside.

This was Michael Wilhelm, wearing an Azrael attire and somewhere in Gotham City - DC World.

Michael knows he needs to get off the streets before someone from law enforcement. If a big if, he was in Gotham, then he can't go or have the cops see him dress like this. They are not big fans of mask vigilantes and need to get moving.

Michael frowned and saw that the fire escape leading up the rooftop was pretty old but had little choice, to be honest.

"Well, here we go. If I break my bones, I might wake up from this dream. Again a bit if," Michael thought as he slowly started to climb onto the fire escape and go upwards to the rooftop.

Due to the rust and being old, the whole fire escape started to fall apart and caused the visitor to fall down to the floor but something happened as the said visitor regained himself. As he was falling, he gripped onto a metal pull and started to spin, launching upwards to the rooftop and landed on his feet with such acrobatics & agility without even harming himself.

Michael blinked in surprise, speechless and in awe of what he just did. He didn't have these acrobatic skills back home nor the agility to recover from a fall like that. He rose up on his feet and shook his awe state of mind, needing to focus and wonder what the hell is going on. And that's another thing.

"When I got overwhelmed like from the car crash and reflection moments ago, some outside force just calm me down. This is real...not a dream or illusion of something from drugs or drinks. I feel like one of those characters from an isekai anime," Michael thought, going into deep thought and thinking logically about his situation.

He watched some anime and respect the Japanese style but anyway.

"Also is my mind changing as well along with my body? I could never do any acrobatics and agility before. Or feel my body stronger now. These are some of the strangest things I have been through," Michael thought before sighing out loud and calming down while thinking more.

"Okay. I am in Gotham, check. Having these strange peak conditions human abilities and such, check. Changes happening to me, check. Yep, I got transported into the DC world and have no idea where to go from here. Wait...Gotham! That's right," Michael thought before a genius idea strike up.

If Michael was in Gotham, then maybe he could find a phone and get the attention of Batman or Bruce Wayne. Maybe he can help him as this is Batman after all. A big maybe but can be worth the risk and get some good help. He was going to need to get information and a phone book from a library. Let's see if the nearest library is nearby and test more of his new abilities.

Small Time Skip

After testing some more of his peak human condition there are some limits due to his stamina not fully catching up with his new abilities. Michael was able to travel from rooftop to rooftop to find the library he was searching for. He was amazed more by his speed, agility, and acrobatics when heading to the location he needed to go. He was also glad that he had a lockpick to unlock the vents on the rooftop and entered the building while turning the alarms off. He wasn't all glad of breaking into a building and stealing some things in order to access find information but it was just this once and was reasonable.

Michael used a computer at first before doing the phone book and typed sources of information on Wayne first if a phone number pops up. He kept reading the titles of different things on Wayne who to his surprise found some troubling ones as he kept searching. Like a lot of good help in hospitals for children, energy protection, no more weapon making, R&D projects rising up, and so on.

Granted the company Wayne Family does that but it seems much more like Bruce had more time to do that. It was strange and Michael kept doing his research, much more now.

Michael then typed in Batman or The Batman, better safe than sorry but to his total shock and horror at what he was finding. Nothing, nothing on about Batman or any rumors about the said Bat. Like nothing exists, like Batman does not exist, and no rumors at all.

"No, no, no, no. Check again. Crime Alley," Michael said, searching Crime Alley and see if Thomas & Martha Wayne were killed on that faithful day.

However, to his shock and deep surprise, there was no murder at Crime Alley. Only a thug with a gun was arrested for nearly attacking the Wayne Family and the cop on the scene had cuffed the man. That cop is Jim Gordon and had changed things, unknowingly completely for the worse in Gotham now. From a certain point of view.

"A world without Batman? It's like one of my worst nightmares come to life or those in similar agreements. My god...," Michael thought, feeling completely hopeless and lost now like he had nowhere or one to go to now. No one to help him now.

Michael was about ready to rip his mask off and cry in deep sadness but something happened and would completely change his mindset at this moment. A big black bat crashed through the window and surprised the young man.

"Bat...," Michael almost said the full name but stopped himself as he watched the bat fly around him, circling him to get his attention.

The young man kept watching the bat until it landed on top of the computer and wings covering the screen. He then fall onto his knees, feeling a bit weak but suddenly felt this deep strength and change within him. He reached up, gripping the edge of his mask and fully taking it off, hood as well, to have a better view of what he was seeing before him.

Michael was a young man in his late teens with this rare color of white or silver hair now, he use to have blonde hair but became like that due to the sun or some unknown reason. His eyes were pure yellow and slit like a cat.

The silver-haired teen reached outwards with his right hand and pet the bat, which surprisingly didn't react badly to him but was welcome and was a sign to him. A big sign that sparked a deep inspiration and awe shock.

"Of course...I see now...Gotham would always need that protector of the night, a silent guardian, a watchful protector. I understand," Michael said like the bat was a person or something magical which wasn't impossible but anyway.

Michael allowed the bat to land in his right hand and crawled up to his shoulder while enjoying the warmth. He smiled a bit and saw that the little guy was going to be a good friend to him in a long run. He didn't know how he came to this world or what he would do then but now he knows what he must do and need to get ready.

"I shall become the Bat...for Gotham and her people. I would do it," Michael said out loud, before putting his hood and mask back on for the time being, which this night might be his last time of wearing Azrael attire. He had a feeling that his bat would be more badass and awesome soon.

Today marks the day of the rise of Gotham's new protector in a familiar shape and form but different in the hands of a young man. We shall see how this goes down.