Kurogai Blackwood did not tolerate threats. When the military men dared to bark orders at him, his patience snapped like a bowstring. Without hesitation, he summoned Susanoo, its massive form radiating with unearthly fire. The construct drew its bow, and a blazing arrow streaked across the sky.
The projectile struck a military aircraft before it could even veer away.
Boom!
The explosion lit the sky in orange flames, metal fragments scattering like sparks in the wind. The wreck plummeted, smashing into the ground and erupting into a roaring inferno.
"Kurogai, that was military property. You should be careful."
Tony Stark's voice carried both exasperation and resignation. He had long since learned that reasoning with Kurogai was as useless as shouting into a storm. All he could do was warn him, his hands raised in a helpless shrug.
Kurogai ignored the rebuke, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Enough. We'll speak again when you're ready to negotiate the terms of exchanging the blade."
With that, he reached into his coat, retrieved a small trinket, and imbued it with an arcane induction sigil. He tossed it toward Stark casually, as if discarding a coin.
Before leaving, however, Kurogai stretched out his hand. Reality warped around him as he used Kamui to imprison the Abomination. Initially, he hadn't intended to take the creature, but the arrogance of the military had sealed their fate. He would not leave them with any weapon they could misuse.
"Dr. Banner, we're leaving."
A portal shimmered open, golden edges rippling like liquid light.
Banner, still shaken from the chaos, nodded quickly. "Right. I'm coming." He hurried to Kurogai's side, stepping into the dimensional gateway.
As they vanished, Stark stood in the aftermath, blinking against the flames and smoke. A swarm of reporters rushed forward, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust like spears toward his face.
"Mr. Stark! What do you make of the incident we just witnessed?"
"Mr. Stark, were you here to save us from disaster?"
"Do you know the identity of that dangerous figure?"
The cacophony pressed in on him, eager faces demanding answers.
Stark flashed his trademark grin, ever the showman. "Relax, one question at a time! Obviously, yes, I'm a hero. As for that guy—well, I don't have all the details. But from what I saw, I'd say he's some mysterious hero too. One who does good without leaving his name."
The crowd ate it up. Stark, basking in the spotlight, gave just enough to keep the mystery alive without betraying Kurogai's identity. It wasn't fear that kept him quiet—it was respect.
By the time the reporters dispersed, the chaos had cooled. But Kurogai himself no longer cared.
He and Banner had already reappeared within the manor of Wilson Fisk.
"Dr. Banner," Kurogai said firmly, "I suggest you remain in the States for now. Stay here if you like. If you need anything, speak with Fisk. Otherwise, I have other matters to handle."
Banner inclined his head. "I understand. You've done a lot. I'll manage from here."
Satisfied, Kurogai turned to Fisk, issued a few brief instructions, then cloaked himself in golden light and vanished once again.
In a modest home across town, Susan Storm sat on the couch, her hands folded nervously. Her younger brother, Jonathan, paced the living room with restless energy, his excitement barely contained.
"Sis, do you really think he'll come back? That guy—do you think he meant what he said?" Jonathan's eyes gleamed, like a child waiting for a magician to return.
Susan sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Jonathan, you've asked me seven times. I don't know. And honestly, we'd be better off staying far away from people like him."
At first, she too had been captivated by Kurogai's overwhelming presence—the energy, the power that bent reality itself. But now that she'd had time to think, fear had taken hold. Those forces weren't just impressive, they were catastrophic.
The Abomination, the towering flame giants, even Kurogai himself—any one of them could erase her and her brother without a second thought. Her instincts screamed that it was too dangerous to be close to them.
Jonathan, however, was entranced. "But he promised he'd come back. He has to! And did you see what he could do? A giant of fire, slicing through anything with a single swing—come on, Susan, that's incredible! I want power like that. Don't you?"
Her tone sharpened. "Don't even think about it. He and us—we're from different worlds."
She was about to continue when the air in the room shimmered. A golden halo formed, its light stretching across the floor. From it, a tall figure emerged, cloaked in power.
Kurogai Alexander Blackwood had returned.
Jonathan froze, his jaw dropping before he let out a high-pitched shout. "I knew it! You're my idol, seriously! You're amazing!" He nearly bounced in place, his excitement spilling over.
Susan, however, remained wary. Her gaze locked on Kurogai's, cautious and probing. "Why are you here? What's your true purpose?"
He stepped forward, his voice calm but direct. "You already know, Susan. You've thought about it for days. Now it's time to give me an answer."
Jonathan blinked between them, utterly confused. "Wait, what? What are you two even talking about?"
Kurogai's eyes never left Susan. "I invited her to join a plan. A greater design. She hasn't decided yet."
Jonathan's mind jumped to the only thing he truly cared about. "This plan… does it make people as powerful as you?"
Kurogai allowed himself a faint smile. "It's possible."
Jonathan's excitement spiked again, his fists clenched in thrill. Susan, however, felt the weight of the choice pressing down harder than ever.