The Fourth Ring was maxed out.
Kurogai hadn't anticipated this outcome. His previous Eye Rings had become increasingly difficult to upgrade as they progressed, to the point where reaching maximum level felt nearly impossible. But now, the Fourth Ring had reached completion—something he had never expected.
Then again, it made sense. Over the past year, he'd killed countless Kree. He had even gone as far as attacking a Kree homeworld. The amount of Kree blood he had absorbed was immeasurable.
"With this, I can use the Byakugan's full power without any restriction," Kurogai muttered, a faint smile touching his lips. "That's what matters most."
The upgrade of the Byakugan had followed a path similar to the Sharingan—unlocking new powers incrementally. But now, with the Ring at full saturation, that slow progression no longer applied. Every Byakugan ability was now at his disposal, unrestricted and perfected.
"Ultimate Eye, fully upgrade the Fourth Ring—Byakugan," he commanded silently.
At once, Kurogai felt a surge of immense power awaken within him, flowing from the Ultimate Eye and channeling into his own. The energy coursed through his veins, spreading across his body, reinforcing and refining it. It wasn't just his eyes evolving—his entire body was being reshaped.
The Ultimate Eye wasn't just upgrading. It was transforming the vessel that carried it.
Kurogai's body underwent a dramatic change.
And as he entered this transformative state, something else occurred—something he didn't immediately notice.
A glowing ring slowly emerged from his forehead, hovering just above his skin. The Fourth Ring. Intricate symbols lit up along its surface, glowing faintly, like a forgotten god relighting its divine spark.
Unlike the dormant Rings around it, the Fourth Ring radiated life. It pulsed with an aura of rebirth.
One-twelfth of the Ultimate Eye had been fully activated. And this single twelfth ignited a profound change. The Eye became more ancient, more powerful. It pulsed with timeless energy—a blend of sacred and unholy forces.
It was not purely divine, nor purely demonic. But the blend gave it an incomprehensible depth, a haunting majesty.
The radiance soon faded back into the Ultimate Eye, and the surge of emotion vanished like a passing dream.
Kurogai opened his eyes.
They were no longer the pure white of the Byakugan. Now, they shimmered with a light blue brilliance, glowing like sacred embers, as if a galaxy had been born within them.
The Tenseigan.
Through this final upgrade, the Byakugan had ascended to the Tenseigan. Not only did it preserve every prior ability, but it added terrifying new ones—abilities exclusive to this legendary evolution. And now, they belonged to Kurogai.
He glanced around. Everything felt...visible. Tangible. Predictable. As if the entire universe had fallen under his control.
He felt like a god.
"You bastard, how dare you destroy my ship?! You'll pay for this!" a thunderous voice shouted from behind.
Kurogai turned calmly to see the source.
It was Ronan the Accuser—towering, furious, battered, and very much alive. He gripped his mighty warhammer tightly, his eyes burning with rage. Though he'd barely escaped the earlier black-flame sword strike, he'd done so in a disgraceful, near-death state.
Now, his hatred toward Kurogai was absolute.
"You destroyed my fleet! You killed my people!" Ronan roared, pointing his hammer at him. "I'll crush you myself!"
Kurogai didn't flinch. "Ronan the Accuser? Your title means nothing to me," he said coldly. The light blue glow in his eyes intensified, pressing down with invisible force. "Whatever power you believe you have—it's already obsolete."
"You arrogant insect!" Ronan bellowed, unleashing the full force of the Universal Weapon.
The hammer shimmered with dark cosmic energy as Ronan charged, swinging it with enough force to split mountains. This was no ordinary blow—Ronan's hammer, forged through advanced Kree technology, was a weapon of legend. It could manipulate matter, harness cosmic energy, and unleash devastation on a planetary scale.
This strike was filled with wrath. If it landed, not only would Kurogai be vaporized, but even Knowhere—the ancient celestial head beneath their feet—would feel the blow.
But Kurogai remained unmoved.
His gaze remained calm, detached—as if watching a child throw a tantrum.
"Tenseigan... Let's test what you can really do."
Several golden orbs formed in front of him, glowing with radiant energy. As they converged, the surrounding air began to crackle.
Kurogai raised his hand and directed the orbs forward. The energy twisted into a brilliant, slicing arc—a blade of light too fast, too sharp, too precise to counter.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
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