Everyone froze as they stared at Kurogai Alexander Blackwood, seated high upon the iceberg. His presence alone was enough to silence them. The weight of his words carried a pressure that made even seasoned fighters shudder, a commanding aura forged through years of power and absolute will. None dared move without his permission.
Those who opposed him felt it most. His very presence radiated authority, pressing them down, forcing hesitation with sheer intimidation.
Stark, never one to keep quiet, was the first to break the silence. "You're terrifying when you get serious, Kurogai. What happened to you just being an observer?"
It was the first time he had seen such a cold, domineering side of Kurogai. In truth, Kurogai had only just returned from Wakanda, where he had shaken the entire nation singlehandedly. The weight of that encounter still clung to him, his aura sharp and chilling.
Kurogai chuckled softly. "Then perhaps you should just stay put and watch."
As quickly as it had come, the crushing pressure faded, leaving the group gasping quietly in relief. But the sweat dampening their backs reminded them all that it hadn't been an illusion.
"Everyone, hold your position," Nick Fury ordered. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents obeyed instantly, their weapons lowered but still ready. Professor Xavier directed the X-Men to stay put as well. None of them dared challenge the man before them.
Because of Kurogai alone, the combined force of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the X-Men had been brought to a standstill.
Inside the chamber, the battle had reached its peak. Johnny Storm—the Human Torch—was barely holding on, pressed hard by Ben Grimm, the Thing, and Victor von Doom. Susan Storm, desperate, silently wished that Kurogai would intervene.
"Stay down, Johnny!" Victor snarled, driving a brutal punch forward.
Before the blow could land, a blazing skeletal construct erupted into the arena, intercepting Victor's strike.
"That's enough," Kurogai said, stepping calmly into the battle circle. His eyes swept over the combatants with cold indifference. "This fight has gone far enough."
Victor's expression twisted with anger, but it was Ben Grimm who moved first, fury blazing in his stone-carved features.
"It's you!" Ben roared, charging forward. His massive fist slammed into Kurogai's fiery construct with a thunderous crack.
"That's right!" Victor bellowed, seizing the moment. "He's the one who did this to us. Together, Grimm—kill him!"
Electricity crackled across Victor's hands as he hurled a surge of energy directly at Kurogai.
The sudden alliance between Doom and the Thing stunned everyone. Their hatred burned hot, directed entirely at Kurogai.
This had been Victor's plan all along. From the moment he discovered his newfound power, his first thought had been to eliminate Kurogai, the man he feared most. Knowing he couldn't face him alone, Victor had lured Ben into his scheme with lies and resentment.
Johnny, however, was a lost cause. His pride in his fiery abilities made him impossible to sway, leaving Victor with no choice but to destroy him before turning on Kurogai. But now, with Kurogai standing before them, their rage had boiled over too soon.
Ben's hatred ran deepest. Victor had convinced him that Kurogai's mysterious plan was to blame for his transformation. To Ben, Kurogai had stolen his humanity, leaving him trapped in a monstrous form. The Thing's every strike carried that bitterness.
"You ruined my life!" Ben roared, hammering another colossal punch against Kurogai's shield.
"You're right," Victor sneered, hurling another wave of energy. "That's why he has to die!"
The two unleashed their full assault, but Kurogai stood unshaken. His fiery avatar absorbed the attacks without so much as a flicker. His eyes remained calm, almost bored.
Finally, he spoke.
"You both have spirit," Kurogai said slowly. "But you've overlooked one fatal truth: the gap between us."
His gaze hardened, the air thick with lethal intent.
"Before you fight an enemy, learn to measure the distance between your strength and theirs. Fail to do that, and your ambition becomes your death sentence."
As his words fell, Kurogai's eyes ignited, the kaleidoscopic glow of his power flaring to life. The blazing skeletal form surrounding him shifted, transforming. Flames stretched and twisted, muscle and sinew knitting across bone until a towering figure of fire and fury stood in its place.
Two massive flaming blades materialized in its hands.
With a single motion, Kurogai unleashed their wrath, the fiery titan's blades cutting downward in a storm of burning light.
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