When the Kree soldiers attacked earlier, Kurogai had already noticed the recording device in the Kree commander's hand. From that moment, he understood their intention—they were trying to uncover his true capabilities.
Because of his cautious nature, very few Kree ever survived encounters with him. And even when they did, none had seen him use his full range of powers. The Kree Empire, having failed to grasp the extent of his abilities, was now trying to probe him using the vanguard forces.
That's precisely why Kurogai played along. He avoided using any of his more exotic powers, relying solely on the eerie scythe he had recently acquired. Paired with his Byakugan, he made it seem as though he was simply a highly skilled close-combat fighter, not someone wielding supernatural or cosmic-level abilities.
At first, he genuinely wanted to test the scythe's strength. This battle presented a convenient opportunity. But once he realized the Kree's intent, he adapted—committing to the scythe alone, giving the impression that his strength came from sheer technique.
Kurogai understood that revealing too many of his more enigmatic powers—such as Amaterasu or Geass—might frighten the Kree into retreat. That would ruin his plan to lure them in for a larger trap. He needed them to think they could win.
"I hope what I just showed didn't scare them off," Kurogai muttered, storing the bloodthirsty scythe inside his Kamui dimension. "It would be a shame if they don't show up."
He then began preparing the battlefield.
At one site, he activated a barrier-type enchantment—not the most powerful kind, but effective enough. Though it wouldn't stop a large fleet, it could prevent anyone from escaping. Anyone foolish enough to land on this planet would not be leaving.
---
Meanwhile, deep in space, ten massive fleets were rapidly approaching Planet Norwell.
This coalition had been assembled by ten noble houses of the Kree Empire. Each noble brought a war fleet, and each vessel carried roughly a thousand soldiers. In total, a force of ten thousand highly equipped Kree warriors was en route.
In an era of interstellar warfare, a single pilot could control a powerful starfighter, so fielding ten thousand soldiers in person was a significant commitment. The scale alone demonstrated how seriously the Kree took this matter.
At the center of the lead battleship sat a massive round table with ten seats, all occupied by high-ranking Kree nobles. They watched, in silence, the footage transmitted by the vanguard unit—the battle against Kurogai.
The video continued until the signal cut out, and the screen went black. For a few seconds, no one spoke.
"That's it? He doesn't seem all that dangerous," one noble finally said, breaking the silence. "He just looks like a slightly stronger human. Why are we overreacting?"
"Agreed," another chimed in. "He's powerful, sure. But not unstoppable. I can't believe this is the guy who's supposedly wiped out so many of our forces."
"From what I saw, he might have better-than-average combat ability, but definitely not enough to justify this level of concern."
"He eliminated a few hundred Kree soldiers, yes, but we've brought ten thousand. And our soldiers are well-equipped with the latest combat technology. He won't stand a chance."
Initially, the Kree nobles had felt uneasy about confronting the infamous "Kree Hunter." But after watching the battle footage, their tension seemed to ease. Some were even beginning to scoff at the threat.
Then, a calm but sharp voice cut through the complacency.
"But have any of you considered this—what if we haven't actually seen his real power yet? What if he was holding back?"
The others turned to face the speaker: Korath the Pursuer, a battle-hardened Kree with a reputation for sharp instincts and combat experience.
Unlike the others, Korath had not been convinced by the footage. Something about Kurogai's performance felt too clean, too measured. He wasn't fighting as if he was desperate. It was more like... he was demonstrating.
A cold silence followed.
Korath's words hung in the air, and none of the nobles responded right away. But the seed of doubt had been planted. If Kurogai had indeed been toying with their forces, then they were dealing with someone far more dangerous than they assumed.
"What's there to be afraid of?" a booming voice finally snapped everyone out of their quiet panic.
A tall Kree at the center of the table leaned forward, his deep, gravelly voice cutting through the room. "Anyone who slaughters our people like that will pay. I will break him myself, tear him apart, and grind his bones beneath my feet."
His presence alone changed the mood. The other nobles straightened in their seats, emboldened.
"Of course! With Lord Ronan leading us, what could possibly go wrong?"
"We won't even need to lift a finger. Ronan the Accuser will crush him!"
The mood shifted from apprehension to pride. The Kree now rallied behind their most formidable champion—Ronan the Accuser, whose name commanded respect throughout the galaxy.
His presence alone reassured the nobles. His power was legendary. Surely, no matter what Kurogai was hiding, Ronan could crush it.
"Do you understand now, Korath?" Ronan said, his voice like iron. "You don't need to worry. Because I am here, and I don't lose."
Korath remained silent for a long moment before replying quietly, "I hope you're right."
---
Become a patron to get access to chapters in advance on all my works.
Patreon.com/Zphyr_