"The sixth pupil ring is saturated. You can enhance it now. Do you wish to proceed?"
"Do it," Kurogai ordered firmly.
Without hesitation, the Ultimate Pupil activated. A surge of warmth rippled from the sixth ring, flowing directly into Kurogai's eyes. His vision blurred for a moment, before shifting—his irises slowly taking on a deeper brilliance.
Just then, a smoke grenade rolled across the floor, hissing as it erupted. The vibranium mine was instantly consumed by thick clouds, the air tainted with a sweet chemical undertone. Anyone unprotected would fall into unconsciousness within seconds.
This wasn't ordinary smoke—it was a potent sedative designed by Shuri herself. A single breath would have dropped most men to the ground.
But as the toxin tried to infiltrate his body, the Ultimate Physique stirred. A counter-current of energy surged within Kurogai, burning away the drug's influence. His body simply refused to bend to its effects.
Useless.
The sleeping gas couldn't touch him.
Meanwhile, a Wakandan strike team in gas masks stormed the mine. Moving with precision, they seized the king and his frozen guards, dragging them toward the exit without hesitation. Their mission was clear—rescue and retreat.
Kurogai, focused on his evolving power, made no attempt to stop them. His attention remained inward as the sixth ring reached its full potential.
Even so, fortune seemed to favor them. If Kurogai had been paying attention, the rescue squad would never have left with their king intact.
At the head of the team stood a warrior clad in sleek battle armor. His mask hid most of his expression, but the faint tightness in his jaw revealed his anger.
Prince T'Challa.
Moments ago, during negotiations, Kurogai's arrogance had ignited his fury. Now, as he watched the smoke swirl and the strange-eyed intruder falter, the thought clawed at him—strike now. If he acted in this moment, perhaps he could end this threat before it grew further.
But hesitation lingered. The danger was unknown, and Wakanda could not afford recklessness.
"Prince T'Challa, retreat!" one of his men urged.
T'Challa's fists clenched, but after a tense pause, he turned and withdrew with the others, vanishing into the smoke.
Moments later, Kurogai opened his eyes again. His irises now glowed with a dazzling amethyst hue, mirroring the brilliance of his right eye from before. The depth within them carried both mystery and menace.
"So this is the ability," he muttered, a faint smile touching his lips.
But when his gaze swept across the chamber, he realized the king and the guards were gone, and only faint trails of smoke lingered in the air. Narrowing his new eyes, he focused—and in an instant, time itself seemed to rewind. Visions unfolded before him like ripples in a river. He saw the Wakandan strike team. He saw their desperate rescue. He even saw T'Challa's hesitation, the flicker of a decision not taken.
"So Wakanda managed to pull them out. Interesting. And you, T'Challa… if you'd made your move, perhaps the Black Panther legacy would have ended here."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"This new ability will be useful. Let's put it to the test."
The amethyst light in his eyes pulsed. A dark shadow peeled away from his body, condensing into a perfect duplicate of himself. The figure stood solid, every detail exact.
"Falling Sakura Illusion…" Kurogai whispered.
It was an advanced pupil technique, known to weave both foresight and illusion. Where others conjured fragile mirages, Kurogai's version birthed physical doubles—short-lived, but tangible.
Though not permanent, the doppelganger was real enough for battle.
"Let's see how far you can go," Kurogai said, controlling the clone with a thought.
The doppelganger immediately turned its gaze toward the surveillance equipment hidden across the mine. With a single glare, frost spread across the monitors, encasing them in solid ice until they shattered in silence.
The Ice Domain—another gift of the sixth ring.
"As I suspected, the abilities of the same ring can be used together," Kurogai mused. "This one alone may be short-lived, but it will be enough."
His true body pressed his hand against the vibranium vein, continuing the steady harvest. Meanwhile, the duplicate stepped out of the mine, its task clear—deal with Wakanda.
"Even if this clone only holds the power of the sixth ring, it is more than enough," Kurogai said with certainty.
The clone marched into the shadows, leaving the real Kurogai behind to gather the precious metal undisturbed.
_____
Advanced chapters are available on Patreon.
Become a patron to gain access.
Patreon.com/Zphyr