Stark's words left Kurogai momentarily stunned. Of all the possibilities he had expected, Stark asking for superpowers wasn't one of them.

Kurogai had assumed that with the Iron Man suit at his disposal, Stark would never envy the powers others wielded. After all, his brilliance alone was enough to rival most so-called superhumans. He could build machines to fight gods. Yet Stark's gaze betrayed something else—something shaped by Kurogai's presence in his life.

Since the very beginning, before Stark had perfected his armor, Kurogai had been there. Stark had watched his power firsthand, had measured himself against it, and no matter how many times he upgraded his suits, the gap never seemed to close. That gnawing realization had finally sparked this desire—for something more than technology.

"Your mind is your superpower," Kurogai said evenly. "I'll return once you've developed the new element."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Stark momentarily frozen.

For a long while, Stark stared after him, then let out a low chuckle. "My brain is my superpower, huh? You know… that doesn't sound so bad."

He leaned back, his expression shifting into one of resolve. Kurogai's words had hit him harder than expected, clearing away the fog that had clouded his thoughts. Maybe he didn't need flashy abilities or genetic tampering. His genius had already given birth to Iron Man, and it could carry him even further. He didn't need superpowers—his mind could overcome them. His armor could rival any of them. That was his foundation, his identity.

Reinvigorated, Stark threw himself into his research with renewed energy. The palladium poisoning in his blood was growing worse by the day—he had no time to waste.

Elsewhere, events were unfolding beyond his knowledge.

At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Nick Fury sat at his desk, his single eye fixed on a dossier with uncharacteristic gravity. The file bore a single name: Kurogai Alexander Blackwood.

It wasn't just S.H.I.E.L.D. that had taken an interest. A formal request had come in from Wakanda—a nation that almost never reached outward—demanding action.

"The Blackwood kid again," Fury muttered, tapping the file. "What kind of mess did he stir up this time?"

Wakanda rarely issued official statements, let alone demands. For them to push the United States on a matter like this, the situation had to be dire. Fury didn't know the details, but he could guess. The losses must have been massive, possibly even permanent.

And he wasn't wrong. If Kurogai had been aware, he would have understood immediately. Shuri must have succeeded in reviving what had been frozen, and Wakanda's leaders had likely discovered the truth—that their once-rich vibranium mines had been drained. Entire reserves, gone. For a nation whose power rested on vibranium, the revelation was a devastating blow.

No wonder they wanted him hunted.

"Eyed One…" Fury muttered, using the codename some reports had given Kurogai. "Always pushing too far. But maybe not for much longer."

He leaned back in his chair, thinking. For years, he had tried to find a way to rein Kurogai in. Every attempt had failed. But with each setback, an idea had taken root. If one man was too dangerous to handle alone, then the solution was simple: a team.

A team strong enough to match anything—even Kurogai.

Fury had been quietly working toward that end, recruiting piece by piece. Now, only one final addition remained. Once that piece was in place, he was confident S.H.I.E.L.D. would finally have a way to balance the scales.

At that point, Kurogai wouldn't be untouchable anymore.

"Sir, do we need to take action?" Maria Hill asked, stepping into the room.

Fury closed the file, his face unreadable. "No. Not yet. We watch. That's all. Timing is everything, Hill. If we move too early, we lose our chance. Right now, we wait."

Hill nodded crisply. "Understood." She turned to leave, already moving to handle the other tasks on her desk.

Fury's gaze lingered on the closed dossier. His voice was quiet, but firm. "When the time comes, Blackwood… we'll be ready."