After securing his ship within his Space, Kurogai made his way toward Logan.
Meanwhile, deep inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in the United States, the atmosphere in the scientific division had shifted. Dozens of researchers scrambled between terminals, eyes wide with alarm. Moments later, the division head rushed straight into the Director's office.
"Sir, we've got a situation," the man said urgently.
Nick Fury, seated calmly behind his desk, looked up with his usual cool.
"What kind of situation?" he asked flatly.
"A spacecraft just entered Earth's atmosphere… and landed."
Fury's brows furrowed. "Alien?"
"We're still analyzing, but… it's not that simple. We've already identified the pilot."
"Identified?" Fury stood. "You're telling me you know who was flying the ship?"
"Yes, sir. The cockpit was made of a transparent alloy. Our satellite imaging was able to confirm the pilot's face."
Fury's tone hardened. "Then tell me."
The researcher hesitated, then dropped the bomb.
"It's him, sir. The one with the heterochromatic eyes… the one who vanished years ago."
Nick Fury froze.
"You can't be serious."
The weight of that revelation hit like a sledgehammer.
Kurogai.
The same person who had wiped out entire Hydra strongholds without assistance. The reason half the Intelligence Division still had PTSD. The operative even S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't control.
"How long has it been?" Fury murmured. "He's been gone for years… don't tell me he's been in space this whole time."
"It looks like it," the researcher confirmed. "We ran the scans three times. No mistake. It's definitely him."
Fury sank back into his chair, rubbing his temple.
"Dammit… why now?" he muttered. "That kid's more trouble than the entire Council combined."
And he meant it. No one stirred chaos like Kurogai—not out of malice, but because the world simply wasn't prepared for what he could do.
While Fury braced himself for whatever storm Kurogai's return would bring, the man himself had already reached Logan.
---
Logan hated snowstorms, especially when they were paired with engine trouble. As his beat-up pickup rattled down a slippery forest road, something stepped into his path.
A lone figure in the middle of the street.
"Hey! Move it!" Logan shouted out the window.
The figure didn't move.
Then the man raised his head, smirking. "Long time no see, Logan."
Logan's jaw tightened. That voice. That face.
"You've gotta be kidding me. You little liar," he growled, stepping out of the truck.
Kurogai only chuckled. "You don't look happy to see me."
"Because I'm not," Logan snapped. "You told me to go to New York and find some Professor X. I looked everywhere. You know what I found? Nothing. Wasted months chasing shadows."
Kurogai blinked in surprise, then sighed.
That did make sense now.
Back when he last saw Logan, he'd told him to find Professor Charles Xavier. Under normal circumstances, the Professor's telepathy would've detected Logan's presence the moment he set foot in the city.
But something had disrupted that timeline.
Kurogai remembered now—the attack on the X-Mansion. During that event, Xavier's mind had been severely damaged in a mental battle with Kurogai himself. It was likely that during his recovery, Charles's telepathy was too unstable to pick up on Logan. The two must have barely missed each other.
Kurogai let out a slow breath. "I didn't know that happened. It's my fault."
Logan scoffed. "Damn right it is."
"Don't worry," Kurogai said calmly, walking toward the truck. "This time, you'll meet him."
Without waiting for permission, Kurogai opened the passenger door and climbed in.
"Hey, what the hell—!"
"Relax. I'm just hitching a ride," Kurogai said, settling into the seat.
He remembered what came next. According to his memories, Logan was about to encounter his brother—Sabretooth. The two were destined to clash, and Kurogai intended to witness it.
There was another reason too. Last time, when Kurogai visited the X-Mansion, he collected the blood of every mutant present. Except one—Sabretooth.
This time, he wouldn't miss that chance.
Logan glanced sideways. "You're not here to mess with me again, are you?"
Kurogai smirked. "Would I do that?"
"Yes," Logan replied without missing a beat. "Yes, you would."
Still, he didn't force Kurogai out of the truck. Maybe because he knew he couldn't. Years ago, he'd learned the hard way that Kurogai was in a league of his own.
And part of him still wanted answers.
Even if it meant driving through a blizzard with the most unpredictable mutant in the world.
---
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Sounds like a fair trade, a real win-win if you ask me.