The all-powerful right-hand man—that title suited Kurogai Blackwood well. Because of Rogue, the mischievous mutant girl who could absorb the powers of others, he had stumbled upon something extraordinary. Now that she had discovered the secret of permanent possession, her abilities had become truly terrifying.
But in the Marvel universe, overwhelming power was hardly unique. Apocalypse himself possessed countless abilities and centuries of knowledge, yet even he was not invincible. A single surge of the Phoenix Force had been enough to bring him down.
Rogue's ability was strong, certainly—enough to make her formidable—but still short of the highest tier of cosmic entities. For her, however, it was more than enough. It gave her strength, independence, and the satisfaction of standing on her own.
"Rogue," Kurogai said calmly, his tone both guiding and firm, "you don't need to rush to absorb more powers. First, stabilize the ones you already have. That's what matters most right now. And when you do choose whose abilities to take, be selective. Take only what truly serves you."
She nodded, listening intently as she recovered from her last strain. Once she was steady, Kurogai allowed her to absorb the powers of Mystique. The ability to transform into anyone at will fascinated him—it could play a role far larger than simple disguise. In hindsight, he was glad he had not killed Mystique earlier.
During the period Rogue trained with her new abilities, Kurogai visited Jean Grey to check on her progress.
"Jean, I need to speak with you," he called, his presence commanding as always.
Jean wasn't surprised to see him—his sudden appearances were something she had long since grown accustomed to. Still, she was curious about his intentions. She followed him obediently to the containment wing, only to stop short when she noticed Rogue waiting there.
"Professor Grey," Rogue said quietly, a little embarrassed. She still respected Jean and knew the complicated history between her and Kurogai. Standing beside him now, Rogue felt awkward, almost guilty, as though she had overstepped.
"Rogue?" Jean blinked, then turned to Kurogai with a sharp look. "What's going on here?"
Her tone carried more irritation than surprise. She had anticipated a degree of exclusivity, but his failure to mention it annoyed her. Still, she knew him well enough not to expect true exclusivity. What troubled her more was why he had brought Rogue here.
"I'm creating something new," Kurogai said evenly, his voice carrying quiet weight. "An organization. And I want you to be part of it."
Jean's expression shifted. She knew he had hinted at this before, but now it was clear he was serious.
"An organization?" she repeated, her voice thoughtful. "Then I'll start preparing—gathering the research files, structuring a team, handling logistics—"
But Kurogai shook his head. "No. Not yet. I'm only gathering the closest people around me. No outsiders. No bureaucracy. This is about trust, not paperwork."
Jean paused, then gave a short nod. "Alright. I understand."
Without another word, Kurogai opened a portal of shimmering light and led Jean and Rogue through it. They emerged inside a building—a familiar safehouse he had once provided to Wanda Maximoff and her brother.
"Just the three of us?" Jean asked, glancing around curiously.
"Patience," Kurogai said, his lips curling into the faintest of smirks. "The others are on their way."
As if on cue, two golden auras lit up the room, and from them stepped two figures. One wore a crimson robe, hair the same deep shade of red—Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. Beside her stood another woman clad in black, Skye, a woman whose connection to Kurogai was clear by the way her eyes lit up upon seeing him.
"This is…?" Jean tilted her head, recognizing Wanda immediately but unsure of Skye.
"Wanda," Skye greeted warmly, then turned to Kurogai, her voice bright with excitement. "You finally called us together. I knew this day was coming."
"Skye?" Wanda's brow furrowed. "Kurogai… what exactly is happening here?"
The tension was thick, but also expectant. Each of them had crossed paths before, if not directly, then through stories and shared allies. None of this felt accidental.
Kurogai looked at the women gathered before him, his expression calm, yet his words carried weight like steel.
"I called you here for one reason. From this day forward, I will establish an organization—and you will be its core."
His voice lingered in the air like a promise, a declaration that the future was already shifting.
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