"How is this possible? He took down Doc Ock in a single second… that kind of power is insane! And how did that ice even appear?"
Spider-Man froze in disbelief, his mask hiding the shock on his face as he stared at the scene before him. He knew better than anyone how difficult Doctor Octopus could be. During their earlier clash, he'd barely managed to hold his own—those mechanical arms were too fast, too strong, and built from a near-indestructible alloy. Breaking them was almost impossible.
Yet now, the young man who had appeared out of nowhere—Kurogai—had neutralized Octavius in the blink of an eye. One moment, the villain was rampaging through the city; the next, he stood frozen solid inside a glimmering block of ice. The sheer difference in power left Spider-Man speechless.
Kurogai didn't spare him a glance. The boy's mind was elsewhere. His goal wasn't to show off or interfere with Spider-Man's battle—it was to capture Doctor Octopus. With a calm motion, Kurogai touched the frozen sculpture and activated the Space Stone's energy. In an instant, both he and the ice-encased villain vanished in a burst of blue light.
"Wait—what the hell just happened?!"
"Where did they go?"
"The octopus guy—he's gone! And that weird dude too!"
The crowd and Spider-Man scanned the wrecked street, but the two were gone.
Far from the chaos, Kurogai reappeared in an abandoned building on the outskirts of New York.
"Wake up."
He flicked his hand, dropping the icy sculpture onto the dusty floor. With a sharp gesture, the frost cracked and dissolved, releasing Doctor Octopus from his frozen prison. The scientist gasped for breath, his limbs trembling. His metal tentacles reacted instantly, stabbing into the ground and pulling him several meters back from Kurogai.
"Who are you?" Octavius demanded, panting heavily. "And that power… how could you freeze me like that?"
Kurogai folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "You don't need to know who I am. You're conducting an experiment, aren't you? How's the progress?"
The doctor's eyes narrowed. "What's your angle? Are you here to stop me? Because I'll tell you now—I won't let anyone interfere with my work." The tentacles around him clanged together, ready to strike at the slightest threat.
Kurogai smiled faintly. "Relax. I'm not here to stop you. In fact, I'm here to help you finish it."
Octavius froze, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Help me? You expect me to believe that? Everyone thinks I'm insane, a criminal—why would you want to help me?"
Kurogai tilted his head. "Let's just say your research interests me. I want to see the results for myself. So, I'll provide whatever materials you're missing. You focus on completing the experiment."
The doctor hesitated. His rational mind screamed that this stranger couldn't be trusted—but his scientific curiosity overrode his doubt. "You're serious?"
"Completely."
After a long pause, Octavius exhaled. "Fine. If you're lying, you'll regret it. I need…" He began listing off the components, alloys, and energy regulators required for his fusion project.
As the doctor spoke, Kurogai conjured a glowing sigil in midair—a phonographic spell, capturing every word and detail. When the list was complete, he whispered, "Rogue, collect these materials."
The sigil pulsed, then shot out of the building in a streak of violet light, heading toward Kurogai's estate, where Rogue was waiting.
Moments later, her voice echoed telepathically in his mind. "Got it. Give me three days."
"Perfect," Kurogai replied aloud. "You'll have everything you need in three days, Doctor. I expect results."
He raised his hand again, blue energy swirling around his palm as the power of the Space Stone reactivated. "Don't disappoint me."
Before Octavius could respond, Kurogai vanished in a shimmer of light, leaving the scientist standing alone amidst the wreckage of the old building.
The doctor stared at the space where his mysterious benefactor had stood. "Three days…" he muttered. "If he's telling the truth, I can finish my work. Maybe… maybe this time, no one will stop me."
He hurried out, his tentacles carrying him across the city. Whether Kurogai was a friend or a devil in disguise, Octavius didn't care—so long as he could complete his experiment.
Meanwhile, back at his manor, Kurogai reappeared in a quiet study lined with arcane tomes and Stark-level tech. He took a seat, his eyes half-closed as he focused on the flow of telepathic energy.
A familiar voice—Wanda Maximoff's—spoke softly in his mind.
Kurogai, there's movement at Kamar-Taj. The Ancient One has sensed another Infinity Stone and is preparing to act.
Kurogai smirked. "So, the Ancient One's making her move. Collecting the remaining Stones before anyone else can. Smart… but not unexpected."
He leaned back, letting the faint glow of the Space Stone in his hand cast blue reflections across the room.
"Unfortunately," he murmured, "the rest won't come so easily."
He knew exactly where each remaining Infinity Stone was—who held them, and what kind of power he'd have to face to claim them. The Time Stone was safe within Kamar-Taj's walls, the Reality Stone hidden across realms, and the Soul Stone's location still shrouded in mystery.
Even with all his power, Kurogai understood one thing clearly: nothing about this path would be simple.
He chuckled quietly to himself. "Still… it wouldn't be fun if it were."
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