In the depths of space, aboard a massive warship drifting among the stars, a towering purple figure sat upon a throne of black metal. His expression was grim, his presence oppressive. This was Thanos, the overlord of the universe.
But at this moment, Thanos' mood was far from calm. A wave of dark energy rippled across the chamber, his sheer power seeping into the air. The Scepter of the Mind, resting beside him, had once again begun to vibrate and shine with an unnatural light.
He understood the meaning instantly. Another Infinity Stone had been disturbed.
Two Infinity Stones reacting in such a short time—he didn't need to think further. It could only mean one thing: someone else was collecting them.
His deep voice thundered across the room.
"Ebony Maw, come to me."
Moments later, a thin, pale figure entered the throne room, bowing low before his master. His calm demeanor couldn't hide the tension behind his words.
"My lord, you summoned me?"
Thanos leaned forward, resting his chin on one massive fist.
"Report. What progress have you made on the Infinity Stones?"
Ebony Maw clasped his hands together respectfully.
"My king, we have obtained new intelligence. One of the stones has been located."
Thanos' eyes glowed faintly.
"Not enough. I want all of them found. Immediately. Someone else dares to collect what is mine—find them before they do."
His voice exploded like a shockwave, the sound alone cracking the stone floor beneath his throne. The sheer force sent tremors through the chamber. His rage was unmistakable.
Ebony Maw bowed deeper, cold sweat running down his temples.
"Yes, my lord. I'll double our efforts at once."
Without hesitation, he turned and hurried from the throne room. Outside, he exhaled shakily. The oppressive pressure that filled the chamber had nearly crushed him. But he had no time to rest; Thanos' command left no room for failure.
"Cull Obsidian! Proxima Midnight!" Ebony Maw's voice echoed down the corridor.
"Prepare yourselves. We have a new mission."
Soon, a hulking warrior carrying a massive war axe appeared beside him, followed by a lithe woman armed with a gleaming spear. Both bowed slightly, awaiting orders.
"What is it this time?" Proxima Midnight asked, her sharp eyes narrowing. "You look as though the king's temper has burned a hole through you."
Ebony Maw didn't waste time.
"The Mind Stone's signal flared again. Another Infinity Stone has been claimed by someone unknown. The king is furious. We must locate the remaining Stones immediately."
Cull Obsidian's deep voice rumbled through the hall.
"The universe is vast. Without a clear lead, we'll be chasing shadows."
"I already have a lead," Ebony Maw said. "The Tesseract—the Space Stone—was once found on Earth decades ago. If one stone has surfaced there, others may have as well."
Proxima Midnight smirked. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's bring them all back to the king."
Cull Obsidian slammed his weapon down onto the deck, the impact leaving a deep dent in the metal floor.
"For Thanos," he growled.
Ebony Maw nodded. "For Thanos."
Moments later, a smaller ship separated from the massive dreadnought, its engines igniting in a swirl of blue light. The craft turned toward the distant planet called Earth, slicing through the void of space like a blade.
Back on Earth, Kurogai knew nothing of the cosmic storm he had stirred.
By absorbing two Infinity Stones in succession, he had unknowingly drawn the attention of the Mad Titan himself. Thanos' wrath now rippled through the stars, setting his servants into motion.
But for now, Kurogai rested in quiet solitude at his secluded manor.
His recent breakthrough had pushed his powers to new heights. He had completed the sixth Pupil Ring, achieving a level of mastery few could comprehend. The Infinity Stone he'd absorbed pulsed faintly within him, harmonizing with his inner energy.
It had been a monumental gain.
Instead of rushing forward recklessly, Kurogai chose to pause and reflect—to assess the full extent of his abilities.
"Six Pupil Rings unlocked," he muttered under his breath. "Four perfected. Six remain... and their conditions are still unclear."
His eyes flickered as he sat in silence, deep in thought.
The twelve Pupil Rings—each one a manifestation of a unique ocular power—were the essence of his strength.
So far, he had fully mastered four of them: the Magic Eye, the Sharingan, the Byakugan, and the Pupil of the Phantom Cat.
Two more had been awakened but remained incomplete: the Eye of Geass and the Chrono Eye.
"The fifth ring, the Chrono Eye, will perfect itself with enough endurance and pressure," Kurogai reasoned. "It just needs time. But the first ring—the Eye of Geass—" He sighed softly, leaning back against his chair. "That one's the real problem."
He remembered how the Eye of Geass had once saved him during his weakest days. It granted him control when chaos reigned. Yet now, its growth had stalled. Its evolution depended not on combat or energy—but on emotion.
And that was exactly what he'd lost over time.
As his power grew, his emotions dulled. His calm had become absolute; his heart, unshaken even by danger. The very quality that made him formidable now held him back.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Too strong for my own good, huh?"
He stared out the window, the moonlight casting long shadows across the room. Beyond that peaceful light, the universe was already moving against him—Thanos' servants hurtling toward Earth, guided by their master's fury.
But Kurogai didn't know that yet.
And perhaps, even if he did, it wouldn't change a thing.
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