Dealing with the wreckage of the first ship would have taken far too much time. Instead, Kurogai chose the simpler solution—he pulled another spacecraft from his private collection.
During his journeys across the stars, he had gathered many vessels. Originally, they were meant to serve as the backbone of a future force. But now, one would serve as his new experimental base. With a thought, he retrieved a pristine ship from his spatial vault and began transferring vital instruments and research data aboard. The process was faster, cleaner, and avoided the headache of salvaging the ruined craft.
As the scientists settled into their work, Jean Grey approached him, carrying a set of reports. Her expression was serious.
"Kurogai, I need to brief you on the experiment."
He nodded slightly. "Go on."
"The results with human subjects differ from the trials on animals. The mutations in humans manifest more aggressively, with powers leaning toward destructive capabilities. But overall, the stability is far greater than expected. Once the transformation is complete, their abilities hold steady without collapsing."
Jean paused, then added, "However, the process takes longer. Unlike Magneto's earlier transformation, which happened almost instantly, these require a buffer of about a week. That means we can reliably produce a batch of transformed mutants every seven days."
Kurogai considered this, then inclined his head. "Understood. Keep the process stable. I'll handle the next step—finding new candidates. More death row prisoners, more material for your experiments."
The certainty in his tone left no doubt. He had already decided—these altered mutants would be the stepping stones to strengthen his Pupil Rings. He left Jean and Skye to manage the details and stepped through a shimmering portal. His destination was Earth.
The golden ring of a sorcerer's gateway spiraled open inside a manor in New York. Kurogai emerged, his footsteps echoing against the polished floors. This was the estate where Rogue and Susan Storm waited.
"I'm back," he called.
Two figures rushed toward him almost immediately. Rogue and Susan's eyes lit up the moment they saw him.
"Welcome home, Kurogai!"
They embraced him tightly, relief and warmth flooding their features. For a moment, he allowed himself to simply enjoy their presence. The universe, with all its dangers, could wait.
After some time together, they returned to the manor's hall. Conversation quickly shifted back to business.
"Kurogai," Rogue said, her tone eager. "I've gathered all the special metals you asked for. They're stored here in the manor. Do you want to see them?"
His crimson eyes brightened. "Excellent. Show me."
He had nearly forgotten the request he had made before leaving—special metals from across Earth. Materials that might resonate with the higher evolutions of his eyes. If not for Rogue's reminder, the matter might have slipped his mind until much later.
Rogue and Susan led him through the manor to a heavily secured warehouse. The reinforced doors opened with a mechanical groan, revealing stacks of crates and containment chambers. Inside were metals of every hue—some gleaming, some volatile, a few so toxic they were sealed beneath thick glass.
"These alloys are rare, each with its own history," Rogue explained as she walked him past the rows. "This one, a gold-titanium composite, is used in U.S. military satellites. Ninety-nine percent gold, one percent titanium…"
But Kurogai barely heard the explanations. His gaze swept over the collection, his mind focused on a single question—would any of these resonate with the Sixth Pupil Ring?
One by one, he examined the samples. Most were dismissed instantly. They were exotic, yes, but ultimately unimpressive before his eyes. None carried the essence he was searching for.
Then he stopped.
At the very end of the chamber, encased beneath a protective glass, lay a final specimen. The moment he approached, the Sixth Ring stirred. His eyes sharpened, the faint pulse of resonance unmistakable.
At last—he had found it.
A metal that could answer the call of the Sixth Pupil Ring. A metal as rare and vital as vibranium itself.