"I want to collect all the remaining stones," Kurogai said with a quiet chuckle inside his manor, the faint light from the Space Stone reflecting in his eyes. "But unfortunately, I can't do it all myself."
He turned away from the window, dismissing the latest report from Kamar-Taj. He already knew what the Ancient One was planning, and in his mind, it was a fool's errand. Attempting to gather all Infinity Stones was an impossible task — even for her. Still, if she somehow managed to snatch a few and bring them back to Earth, that would save him a lot of trouble in the long run.
Let her try.
Kurogai had more immediate matters to attend to. "It'll take three days for Rogue to gather everything Doctor Octavius needs," he murmured. "That's enough time to see if anyone connected to Spider-Man might trigger another of my pupil rings."
He spoke to himself as he tapped his finger on the desk, a faint shimmer of magic flickering around him. The experiments he was running weren't limited to science — they involved forces far beyond human understanding.
"Rogue," he called through the telepathic link, his voice echoing softly. "I need information on Norman Osborn, Dr. Curt Connors, William Baker, Max Dillon, and the kid Spider-Man himself. Gather everything you can on them."
Each of those names carried weight in New York's underworld of science and chaos — men who had once stood as scientists or engineers before becoming something far worse: the Green Goblin, Lizard, Sandman, and Electro.
Of course, Kurogai wasn't sure if any of them would meet the strange criteria his pupil rings required, but he wasn't about to miss a potential opportunity. Even a small chance was better than none.
Before long, Rogue appeared at the door, holding a folder filled with data. "Kurogai, here's everything you asked for."
He took the folder with a nod. "Good work. You can handle the rest of your tasks."
As Rogue left, Kurogai flipped through the reports, scanning names, photos, and classified details pulled from government and private databases alike.
"Osborn's been sighted again," he muttered. "Always butting heads with Spider-Man… Connors and Baker are still active too. But Max Dillon — Electro — isn't worth the effort right now."
His eyes narrowed as he reached the section on Norman Osborn.
"The Goblin's serum… a prototype super-soldier formula. Crude, but potent."
Decision made, Kurogai stood and activated the Space Stone once again. A swirl of blue light enveloped him, and within a heartbeat, he was gone.
Moments later, he appeared atop the towering Oscorp skyscraper, the city lights stretching out below him. The cool night breeze brushed against his coat as he gazed down at the illuminated floors beneath.
"This is it," he whispered. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding, Norman."
He teleported again, silently appearing inside the building's restricted laboratory. Scientists and guards moved in the hallways nearby, but none of them noticed him; the Space Stone concealed his presence entirely.
Inside the lab, shelves of chemical solutions and prototypes gleamed under sterile white lights. His gaze settled on a set of cylindrical glass containers lined with a faint green liquid.
"This must be it."
Kurogai reached out, picking up one of the glass vials. He uncorked it and dipped his finger into the serum, feeling the faint pulse of unstable energy ripple against his skin.
"No reaction. The ultimate pupil isn't responding," he muttered, disappointment flickering across his face. "So it's not this one either."
He replaced the vial carefully. If the serum were that simple, he wouldn't have had to cross galaxies in search of real power.
Meanwhile, in a sleek office at the top of the building, an alarm began to blare. Norman Osborn — dressed in a tailored suit and reviewing financial projections — froze as a red light flashed across his monitors.
"What now?" he hissed, tapping the console. A security feed appeared, showing a lone young man standing calmly inside his private research lab, surrounded by his classified experiments.
Osborn's expression darkened. "You dare break into my facility?" His voice trembled with barely restrained rage. "No matter who you are, you won't leave alive."
His pupils flared bright green as he snatched up a small case of Oscorp tech. A metallic glider unfolded from within, and a sinister grin crept across his face. Moments later, he burst through the office door, rocketing toward the lab.
When the door slid open, Kurogai was still standing inside, unfazed. Osborn stormed in, fury burning behind his cold smile.
"Put that down!" he barked. "That's not something you can even comprehend, boy. You've broken into a private facility and stolen government-grade research. Give me your name, and maybe I'll consider letting you live."
Kurogai slowly turned, his calm gaze meeting Osborn's twisted one. "Tell me, Norman," he said evenly. "Do you know what happens when someone gains enough power that laws no longer apply to them?"
He paused. "They stop mattering."
Osborn froze, the flickering green glow in his eyes flaring brighter. "You… how do you know my name? My secret?"
"I know more than you think, Green Goblin."
Osborn's face contorted, the unstable serum within his veins reacting to his anger. "Who are you?! What's your purpose here?"
Kurogai didn't bother answering. He'd already seen what he needed. And as Osborn's rage boiled over, his body trembling with barely contained madness, Kurogai simply sighed.
"This might actually be interesting."
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