After obtaining the Orb, Kurogai didn't linger on Planet Morag. He immediately boarded his ship and set course for Planet Dar—the headquarters of the Nova Corps and one of the most technologically advanced worlds in the galaxy. Kurogai had a feeling he might find something worthwhile there.
More importantly, Dar was tied to the future of the Guardians of the Galaxy. And in Kurogai's case, it might also hold the kind of chaos and conflict necessary to awaken another ring of his Ultimate Eye.
The starship roared to life, quickly breaking away from Morag's orbit. But his journey didn't last long.
Without warning, a beam of energy tore through the air, slamming into the left wing of his ship. Alarms blared.
"Space pirates?" Kurogai narrowed his eyes as he scanned the source of the blast.
A massive vessel loomed ahead—far larger than his own. It wasn't alone either. Multiple ships flanked it in formation. A fleet.
He smirked and eased his throttle, slowing down deliberately.
As he expected, the enemy ships interpreted his deceleration as a sign of surrender. The lead vessel surged ahead, positioning itself directly in front of Kurogai's ship.
Then a communication link opened. A blue-skinned alien with a grating voice appeared on the screen.
"Creature inside the vessel, you've been surrounded by the mighty space pirate Lord Sedis! Surrender now, or face true terror!"
Kurogai studied the figure on the display. "Another Kree," he muttered, amused. "I seem to be running into a lot of you lately."
It wasn't surprising. The Kree Empire had its hands in every corner of the galaxy. Pirates, soldiers, enforcers—it was inevitable.
"Enough games. Open your hatch, or we'll blast our way in!" Sedis barked. Behind him, a group of armored figures began advancing, likely preparing to board.
Kurogai chuckled. "So they're after my ship. Too bad they chose the wrong target."
With a calm expression, he disengaged the locks and opened the hatch.
The boarding party stepped in, weapons drawn, clearly thinking they had the upper hand. Once they saw that Kurogai wasn't resisting, they lowered their guard and reported back to Sedis.
"Boss, we've secured the ship."
"Excellent! Bring the whole thing aboard."
A gaping port opened on the pirate mothership, pulling Kurogai's vessel inside with a powerful tractor beam.
Moments later, Kurogai was escorted to the command deck, where the blue-skinned Kree known as Sedis sat smugly atop a raised platform.
"Didn't expect to capture such a valuable piece today. That ship of yours will fetch a high price," Sedis said, eyeing him. "Now, tell me who you are. Anyone with a ship like that must have connections. Call your people. Let them come and pay your ransom."
Kurogai smiled and walked up to the table uninvited, picking up a fruit from a bowl and taking a bite. "Ransom? You should be more concerned about whether you'll survive the next few minutes."
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," Sedis growled. "But you're delusional if you think you can talk to me like that. Beat him until he understands his place!"
Sedis gave the order, but… nothing happened.
The guards remained motionless, blank-eyed.
"W-What?"
Sedis's face twisted in confusion, then panic.
Kurogai turned his head slowly, his crimson Geass Eye gleaming. "The moment your men saw me, they were already under my control."
"Y-You—!"
Sedis spun around, making a break for the exit.
But it was too late.
When he turned back, he was staring directly into Kurogai's glowing eyes.
"I'm not in the mood to waste energy on the likes of you," Kurogai said coldly. "Take your own life."
He turned his back and walked out of the chamber.
Behind him, Sedis reached out with trembling hands, grabbed a nearby plasma pistol, raised it to his own temple, and pulled the trigger.
Boom!
A crack of energy erupted. Blood spattered the walls. The Kree pirate crumpled to the floor, lifeless.
Kurogai paused just outside the captain's quarters.
A strange feeling surged through his body—like a subtle hum in the air, a pull from within his eye.
He turned back, staring at Sedis's corpse.
"Why… is the fourth ring reacting now?"
He frowned.
This wasn't the first time he had killed a Kree. Back on Earth, he'd incinerated two Kree soldiers with Amaterasu, and yet, there had been no reaction from the Ultimate Eye.
But this time… it was different.
"Let's see."
He closed his eyes briefly, allowing the Ultimate Eye's feedback to flow into his mind. Data. Energy patterns. Triggers.
His eyes snapped open a moment later.
"So that's it. Kree blood."
Sedis's suicide had spilled blood—real, physical blood—whereas the Kree he'd burned on Earth had been turned to ash before a drop could be shed.
The condition this time was blood. And Amaterasu, for all its power, had incinerated the evidence before it could be useful.
Kurogai shook his head, a dry smile tugging at his lips.
"Tch. What a rip-off."
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