At the top of Stark Tower, Kurogai emerged from the void, his figure stabilizing as he landed lightly on the glass surface of the rooftop.
"Welcome, Mr. Blackwood. It's been some time. Have you been well?"
A polite, distinctly British voice greeted him—Jarvis, Tony Stark's AI butler, who had instantly recognized his energy signature upon arrival.
"Long time no see, Jarvis," Kurogai replied with a faint smile. "I'll be staying here for a few days—to experience how the rich live."
His tone carried amusement more than interest. Truthfully, luxury had long lost its appeal to him. With his abilities, he could recreate every material indulgence in existence if he wished. But he'd grown past that. For now, this was simply a convenient place to wait—for Loki to make his next move.
"Mr. Stark has already informed me," Jarvis responded. "The entire Stark Tower is open to you. Would you like a guided tour?"
Kurogai chuckled softly. "Stark is generous, I'll give him that. But no, I'll stay on the top floor. This view is more than enough."
Jarvis acknowledged with his usual composure, and the conversation ended. Alone, Kurogai glanced around, mildly impressed. Stark's penthouse was extravagant even by billionaire standards—rare wines lined the shelves, and advanced tech devices blinked quietly around the room. With a small shrug, he decided to indulge a little. There was no harm in enjoying the moment.
Meanwhile, high above the clouds, a massive S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier rumbled through the sky. The air was thick with gunfire and chaos as alarms blared throughout the ship.
Loki stood at the center of it all, scepter in hand, a cold smirk on his face. Opposite him, the newly assembled Avengers fought with coordinated fury—though still learning to trust one another.
Loki needed specific materials to construct a device capable of opening a space portal. And where else could such resources be found if not on a S.H.I.E.L.D. carrier? The God of Mischief had come prepared, determined to sabotage this so-called "Avengers Initiative" before it could become a threat to him.
In the midst of the battle, thunder cracked across the sky. A flash of lightning struck the deck, and Thor landed with a roar, Mjolnir in hand.
He had followed Loki's magical trail—one his brother had conveniently left behind, likely on purpose. And now, the two sons of Asgard faced each other once again.
But chaos has a way of spreading fast. The Hulk, enraged and uncontrollable, turned his fury on Thor himself. The deck became a battlefield of gods and monsters.
By the time the smoke cleared, Loki had vanished—Hawkeye and several agents under his control had fled with the materials he needed.
"Damn you, Loki!" Thor shouted furiously once the truth became clear. "You used me—to fight mortals who had no quarrel with me!"
Despite his rage, Thor's voice held regret. Loki had always been this way, weaving lies and half-truths, manipulating everyone around him. But this time, Thor swore, he would bring his brother back—by any means necessary.
"Thor," Nick Fury interjected, stepping forward. "We both want the same thing—you to take Loki back to Asgard, and us to stop him from tearing Earth apart. I suggest we work together."
The sincerity in Fury's tone left no room for argument. Their goals aligned, and cooperation was the only logical choice. Thor studied him for a moment, then nodded firmly.
"Very well. We shall work together."
With that alliance sealed, both sides began coordinating their efforts to track Loki's movements.
"Where would Loki go next?" Fury muttered, frowning as he reviewed satellite data. "What's his real objective?"
Stark, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up. "Maybe we can ask Kurogai. If anyone knows what's coming, it's him."
At the mention of the name, Thor's eyes lit up in recognition.
"You know Kurogai?!" he exclaimed. "You are his companions?"
The others turned toward him instantly. It wasn't often Thor reacted like that.
"You know him, Thor?" Fury asked, curiosity written all over his face. "We've been trying to figure out who he really is. What can you tell us?"
Thor's expression softened into something between respect and awe.
"In my eyes," he said solemnly, "Kurogai Alexander Blackwood is the strongest human I've ever met—perhaps even stronger than the Sorcerer Supreme himself."
The room fell silent. Even Stark looked up, genuinely taken aback.
_____
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