With Odin behind him, Kurogai wasted no more time. Space rippled around his form as he invoked his mastery of dimensional movement. In an instant, he vanished from Odin's sight, leaving only a faint distortion of air behind.

The curse of the Resentful Eye still lingered, its bindings etched into Odin's very being. Kurogai trusted the All-Father would never risk defying it. In truth, he had never cared much about whether Odin would spread word of what had transpired. At first, he had even entertained the idea of letting the news spread as a warning to others. But Odin's measured response, his refusal to escalate, had shifted Kurogai's perspective.

If even the All-Father of Asgard had chosen discretion, then so would he. For now, his newfound divinity was a secret best kept.

Odin, left alone in the magic library, let out a long breath. His old body ached from the strain of resisting Kurogai's aura. He knew how close Asgard had come to ruin. To clash with one newly born of true divinity would have reduced the golden realm to ashes. Even in his prime, Odin doubted victory would have come without terrible cost.

"Father, are you well?" Thor's voice echoed from outside the great hall, his concern sharp. He and the warriors of Asgard had felt the suffocating weight earlier, and the moment it lifted, they had rushed forward.

"Enter," Odin commanded.

Thor and the Einherjar strode in, only to find the All-Father sitting heavily upon his throne, his face pale and lined with exhaustion.

"Father, what happened here? Was it an enemy?" Thor's voice carried urgency, his hands tightening around Mjolnir's handle.

"It is over," Odin replied firmly, though his tone was weary. "There are no enemies. Do not trouble yourself further."

Thor frowned, clearly unconvinced. He could see the toll upon his father, yet Odin's words left no space for argument.

"It was nothing more than a remnant—an old problem left by one of our ancestors in the magic library. It has now been dealt with," Odin said at last, fabricating a reason. He would not reveal the truth. "Thor, calm the people. Let none dwell on this. Asgard remains safe."

Thor hesitated, but finally nodded. "As you command, Father."

He departed with the warriors, though the weight of doubt lingered in his eyes. Odin sat back against the throne, closing his one good eye, his thoughts consumed by what he had just witnessed. A true god had been born in Asgard—and it was not of his bloodline.

Far away, a desert under Midgard's sky shimmered with light. The sand split open as a vast magic circle etched itself into reality. Its glyphs flared brightly before collapsing inward, condensing to reveal a single figure stepping out from the heart of the array.

"Asgardian spellcraft… impressive," Kurogai murmured as he emerged. "To cross the Nine Realms with such precision, without faltering once."

The last fragments of light faded, revealing his tall frame, crimson eyes gleaming faintly. He stood in silence for a moment, the weight of what he had accomplished sinking in.

"This venture was worth it," he said at last. "My goal has been met. The second pupil ring is perfected."

The words carried a quiet satisfaction. Not only had he advanced his studies, he had ascended further than even he expected. Two rings now burned with perfection within the totem of the Ultimate Pupil. That alone justified his time in Asgard.

But he had no intention of dwelling. His work was not finished.

"Next," Kurogai whispered, "I need to return to the base. Jean and the others should have results by now."

Before Thor's arrival on Earth, Kurogai had begun a new project: genetic transformation experiments, using resources he had subtly extracted from S.H.I.E.L.D. With Jean leading the effort, and Skye tasked with retrieving death row prisoners for live trials, the foundations had been laid. By now, weeks had passed. There should be progress—perhaps even breakthroughs.

With a twist of his hand, he tore open a portal, stepping into the familiar corridor of the orbital base.

But what met his eyes was not the orderly hum of research.

The air shook with explosions. Flames licked across shattered consoles. Sirens screamed throughout the base, their red glow casting long shadows across scorched steel walls. Kurogai's sharp senses immediately caught the pulse of hostile energy. Mutated signatures, unstable and wild, flickered in every direction.

His jaw tightened. This was no controlled experiment.

Figures moved in the chaos, some human, others twisted by strange abilities. They clashed violently with security drones, tearing through reinforced doors and hurling blasts of power across the labs. The entire facility was in uproar.

Kurogai's voice was calm, but his eyes glinted with dangerous fire.

"Something went wrong."

He stepped forward into the maelstrom, crimson eyes glowing as the power of the Ultimate Pupil stirred.

The base—his creation—was at war.

____

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