When Kurogai Blackwood opened his eyes, they gleamed like flawless crystals, sharp and clear as polished gems. A new power pulsed within them, one born of the vibranium he had consumed.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself. "There's movement in Wakanda. T'Challa has understood my message. Not bad."
Through his enhanced vision, he observed the siblings, T'Challa and Shuri, plotting their next move. He understood their intentions instantly, but he dismissed them with a quiet chuckle, refocusing on his evolving eyes.
The first ability he gained was clairvoyant sight—an ocular power that granted far-reaching perception and partial transparency, letting him pierce obstacles and distance alike. To Kurogai, however, this was little more than a redundancy. His other ocular techniques already allowed similar feats, and his true powers far surpassed this gift. Still, it held one advantage: when he projected a temporary doppelgänger, the clone could now perceive its surroundings with clarity instead of stumbling blind. That made the ability worth keeping.
He closed his eyes once more, feeling the second surge ignite. When he opened them again, his vision shifted dramatically. Every movement around him seemed sharper, patterns of intent traced like glowing lines before his eyes.
"Predictive insight," Kurogai muttered. He instantly understood. This was a combat-focused power—by observing the flow of energy and the subtle cues of an enemy, he could anticipate their actions before they occurred. It was not revolutionary for him; his existing ocular abilities already granted similar perception. But when combined with his clones, this would allow them to strike more effectively, bridging the weakness they once carried.
The true prizes, however, remained the Ice Sculpture Domain and the Falling Sakura Mirage, powers he had unlocked earlier. The freezing field gave him overwhelming control, and the illusion technique allowed him to create short-lived doubles. Until now, his clones had been fragile, unable to carry the might of his greater abilities. With the addition of clairvoyance and predictive sight, even his shadows could now fight with some measure of strength.
"Not a bad harvest," he said at last. "But Wakanda's mine is empty. There's nothing left here for me."
His task complete, Kurogai summoned a shimmering portal and stepped through, leaving the frozen nation behind. Whatever chaos followed—the iceberg, the despair of Wakanda's people—that would be T'Challa and Shuri's burden.
The portal deposited him in New York, at the gates of Wilson Fisk's former manor. The estate was quieter than before, guarded only by disciplined sentries at its perimeter. After Kurogai had bent Kingpin to his will, Fisk had abandoned the mansion, turning it into a safehouse for Kurogai's operations. Now, it was overseen by his trusted subordinate—Rogue, the southern mutant girl he had placed in charge of intelligence.
As he entered, Rogue rushed to meet him, her expression lighting up with a rare smile. "Kurogai, you're back! Did everything go as planned?"
Her tone carried both relief and excitement, though Kurogai raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. She had sensed his arrival even before he revealed himself. Few could do that.
"I met someone recently with a heightened sense of smell," Rogue explained quickly, reading his expression. "I… borrowed that gift. That's how I felt you the moment you stepped inside. You've been gone so long—I was worried."
Kurogai allowed himself a small smile. Her growth pleased him. "It's done. Wakanda's purpose has been fulfilled. But enough about me. How have you been holding this place?"
Rogue straightened, eager to report. "New York is under our watch. I've been expanding the intelligence web, piece by piece. No corner of the city is hidden from us anymore. But…" Her eyes narrowed. "Some strange things have been happening lately."
Kurogai leaned forward slightly. "Strange?"
"Yes. During the past few weeks, unusual figures have appeared in the city. People with powers. A man made of stone, another with a body of metal, and one who burns like living fire. They've clashed with each other more than once, causing chaos in the streets."
Her words hung heavy in the air. Kurogai's crystalline eyes shimmered faintly, curiosity igniting in their depths.
"Stone, metal, fire…" he murmured. "It seems New York has birthed new players."
And for the first time since leaving Wakanda, he felt the pull of intrigue once more.
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