On the sunlit streets of Monaco, Kurogai walked silently beside Dr. Bruce Banner, calmly observing the surroundings. They were awaiting the arrival of a man whose name held a reputation among intellectual circles: Reed Richards.
Soon enough, a thin man in a worn button-down shirt, carrying a scuffed leather briefcase, rushed toward them.
"Bruce!" Reed called out, eyes lighting up.
The two scientists embraced warmly. The sincerity in the moment made Kurogai instinctively take a step back, his expression unreadable.
This wasn't what he expected.
So, this was the famed Mr. Fantastic? Right now, he looked nothing like the future icon of the Fantastic Four. He appeared more like a tired, underappreciated professor than a groundbreaking physicist. His posture slouched slightly, his hair was disheveled, and his clothes spoke of someone with ideas far ahead of his funding.
"Reed, let me introduce someone," Banner said, turning to Kurogai. "This is Mr. Kurogai Blackwood, a powerful and... unconventional ally."
Kurogai and Reed exchanged an awkward but respectful nod. Then, the two scientists quickly dove into an animated conversation about Banner's condition, specifically the residual effects of gamma radiation and the challenges it posed for cellular stability.
Kurogai simply listened. Silently, he studied Reed Richards with careful eyes. Or rather, he observed the future Reed Richards—the man who, after a cosmic storm, would evolve into Mr. Fantastic. The event that would give rise to the Fantastic Four had yet to occur. And that was precisely why Kurogai was here.
Their transformation was triggered by exposure to a powerful cosmic storm during a space expedition—a phenomenon with surprising parallels to the gamma radiation that had altered Banner. The comparison intrigued Kurogai deeply.
But more importantly, this storyline—the very formation of the Fantastic Four—was ripe with potential. If Kurogai could catalyze it himself, perhaps it would awaken a new eye ring within him. That alone made this opportunity impossible to ignore.
"I'll analyze the data you've given me, Bruce," Reed said after some time. "If I uncover anything useful, I'll contact you immediately."
As Reed prepared to leave, Kurogai stepped forward, voice calm but deliberate.
"Dr. Richards," he said, "have you ever considered that the answer to unlocking the next stage of human evolution... might lie within the heart of a cosmic storm?"
Reed blinked, caught off guard.
"You believe that too?" he asked, eyes suddenly alight. "I've been working on that theory for years—but no one's ever taken it seriously."
"Of course I believe it," Kurogai replied smoothly. "In fact, I'm planning to launch a new initiative—a research project to explore this possibility. I intend to gather the brightest minds in the field and lead an expedition into the storm itself. The answers we seek won't be found on Earth."
Kurogai spoke with passion, but inside, his intent was purely strategic.
He didn't care about the research. He didn't care about the results.
He only cared about triggering the event.
If he could send Reed and the others into space—into that fated storm—he could engineer the birth of the Fantastic Four. That alone might lead him to the conditions required to activate another eye ring. If it succeeded, the rewards would be immense. And if not, he would have lost nothing but time.
In truth, Kurogai didn't know when the Fantastic Four storyline was originally meant to unfold, nor did he care. Because now, he would decide when it began.
After all, in the original timeline, the cosmic storm expedition was funded by Victor Von Doom—Doctor Doom himself. And Kurogai had no intention of rewriting that part. In fact, he welcomed Doom's involvement. Every strong narrative needed a strong antagonist.
By keeping the villain in play, he would ensure the stakes were real. Conflict accelerated growth, and more chaos meant more potential paths for evolution.
Of course, Doom would also be the one footing the bill. Kurogai had no intention of funding the space program himself. Let the egotistical monarch bear the costs. After all, why invest your own money when someone else's pride would do it for you?
"Thank you, Mr. Blackwood! You don't know what this means to me," Reed said, visibly moved. "For years, I've been laughed at, dismissed. But this… this could change everything!"
His voice cracked slightly with emotion. In this moment, Kurogai wasn't just offering funding—he was offering belief. For a man like Reed Richards, there was no greater gift.
"I believe in ambition," Kurogai said. "Give me your contact information. Once I return to the U.S. and begin preparations, I'll reach out."
Reed immediately fumbled through his pocket, handing over a card with his personal number scribbled in ink. He shook both their hands enthusiastically, then left—visibly energized, hopeful, and already sketching ideas in his head.
Once Reed had disappeared into the crowd, Banner turned toward Kurogai, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"You're really going through with this? You're going to launch a research expedition into a cosmic storm?"
"If that's what it takes to open the next door, then yes," Kurogai answered plainly.
Banner nodded thoughtfully. "If you need help, I'd be happy to contribute. I did a lot of gamma-based modeling back in the day that overlaps with some of what Reed was talking about. Maybe I can help streamline the equations."
Kurogai shook his head with a quiet smile.
"No, Dr. Banner. Your priority should be resolving your own situation. The storm will come whether you participate or not."
He didn't say it harshly—but his words were firm. He had no intention of involving Banner in something that was little more than a means to an end.
This entire venture wasn't about science. It was about strategy. About fate.
He would gather Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm—and Doom. He would reconstruct the circumstances that had once led to one of the most pivotal transformations in Marvel history.
___
Patreon.com/Zphyr_
Advanced chapters available on patreon.