After wrapping up his conversation with the Ancient One, Kurogai left Skye, Wanda, and Pietro in the care of Kamar-Taj. Their reluctance to part was natural, but after some reassurance, Kurogai turned and stepped through a golden portal, leaving the sanctuary behind.
He didn't depart for space right away.
There were still preparations to be made—more supplies to gather. Though his Kamui Dimension already held a substantial cache, he was heading into deep space, and he didn't intend to return for quite some time. He needed to be thorough.
Several days passed.
Kurogai reappeared in a remote wasteland. Within the Kamui Dimension, his stockpile had grown into something vast—enough food, resources, tools, and contingencies to survive in the cold expanse of space for decades if necessary.
With a wave of his hand, Kurogai summoned two Kree spacecraft from his dimensional pocket. Using the knowledge he had extracted from the captured Kree soldiers, he powered up one of them.
Boom.
The ship's engine roared to life, lifting off the ground in an instant. It fought against Earth's gravity, ascending faster and faster until the blue sky gave way to the boundless night above.
Hovering in orbit, Kurogai stood inside the ship's command deck and stared out the panoramic viewport.
"So this is space... boundless, radiant, overwhelming."
Even though he had seen stars on television and in simulation chambers, nothing compared to standing before the endless galaxy, with Earth shrinking behind him. The real thing carried a weight no broadcast could replicate.
"Time to map out my route."
He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing.
"First priority—the Phoenix. I need to find a location far from Earth to release its energy, something that'll draw the attention of Thanos and the Goddess of Death. But that doesn't need to happen immediately. I'll treat that as the final leg of this journey."
Though Thanos's forces were actively searching the stars, the universe was unfathomably vast. Even with all his power, the Mad Titan wouldn't find Earth quickly. That bought Kurogai time.
"My second goal is the Ultimate Eye. There must be another way to unlock the next ring."
Some of Marvel's most pivotal events had occurred in deep space. If he was lucky, perhaps he'd stumble into one of them—and if he was smart, he'd know how to harness that opportunity when it came.
"The best place to begin... is Knowhere."
A small smirk touched his lips.
Knowhere wasn't just an outlaw haven. It was home to Taneleer Tivan, the Collector, and a crossroads for smugglers, mercenaries, and cosmic criminals. Lawless, unpredictable, dangerous—just how Kurogai liked it.
"No law means power is everything. I'll fit right in."
Kurogai stepped up to the control panel and set the ship's coordinates. Fortunately, the Kree navigation system already had Knowhere in its database. With a few adjustments, the ship entered auto-navigation mode, allowing him to rest and think during the voyage.
---
The trip was uneventful. No pirates. No patrols. Just the silent hum of space and the slow drift of stars.
Eventually, his ship entered Knowhere's orbit and touched down on one of its many docking platforms.
As the hatch opened, two green-skinned aliens stepped forward. They wore old battle armor and had weapons holstered at their sides.
"Landing fee," one of them barked. "Pay up."
Kurogai didn't respond.
"You new here or just stupid? This is Knowhere. You land here, you pay. Or you lose your ship."
"Hmm," Kurogai murmured, voice flat. "What if I don't pay?"
They looked at each other and laughed.
"You must be new."
"And dumb."
One reached for his weapon, the other grinning as he circled around.
Kurogai didn't move. He was done wasting time.
"Stop moving," he said, his Geass Eye activating. "You will answer my questions and won't make a single move unless I allow it."
Their minds were crushed under the weight of his command. Both froze where they stood, the smirks wiped from their faces, their expressions now blank and obedient.
"Yes, sir," they said in unison.
Kurogai stepped forward, examining the lawless edge of the city as he spoke.
"Give me the current state of Knowhere. Who's in charge? What groups are here? Any recent activity?"
The two began reporting everything they knew. Smuggling rings. Mercenary guilds. Rumors of celestial relics. It was a flood of information—and Kurogai absorbed every bit of it.
Once satisfied, he turned away.
"You've served your purpose."
With a flick of his fingers, black flames of Amaterasu engulfed them. The two never had a chance to scream.
He activated Kamui, storing the Kree ship within his dimension. Leaving it exposed here would only invite unnecessary attention.
Then, with a shimmer, he vanished—blending into Knowhere's bustling crowds.
---
Later, Kurogai emerged in a different district, now wearing sleek, tech-heavy gear scavenged and modified from several vendors. His new outfit was fitted with advanced systems and weaponry, blending in perfectly with local adventurers.
With the illusion techniques of the Sharingan and the mental manipulation of his Geass, gathering supplies was child's play.
While some tools were unnecessary for him personally, the advanced alien tech could prove useful back on Earth—especially for those he cared about.
Kurogai moved forward, disappearing into Knowhere's shadows, already planning his next move.
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