The sixth ring of Kurogai's Ring had reached perfection. Because of his previous experiences, this transformation was unusually calm. There was no trace of panic—only a composed awareness as the sixth ring manifested within his ultimate eye.
Monts later, the sixth pupil ring stabilized completely. The totem glowing faintly above Kurogai's forehead shimred with four luminous rings, and divine energy radiated from his body—so potent that it nearly pierced through his physical form.
To any ordinary person, Kurogai would have seed like a higher deity descending upon the world. The sheer density of divinity surrounding him was overwhelming.
"The second ring, the third, the fourth... and now the sixth," Kurogai murmured, his tone thoughtful. "Out of twelve rings, I've completed four. One-third of the entire Ultimate Eye. No wonder the divinity in my body grows thicker with each Ascension—it's becoming nearly inseparable from ."
He took a long breath. The realization brought satisfaction but not arrogance. Only the fourth ring had been completed years ago in deep space; the rest had taken shape recently. It wasn't luck—it was accumulation, the result of relentless preparation and patience.
Kurogai understood that perfectly. He didn't feel inflated or self-satisfied. These powers were earned, not gifted, and that knowledge grounded him.
"First, I'll get used to this new ability," he muttered, "then I'll begin studying the Tesseract."
Instead of rushing into experintation, Kurogai decided to stabilize his current power. His growth had accelerated drastically—too fast, even for him. Taking ti to adapt was essential.
He focused his gaze, and in an instant, his eyes blazed with scarlet energy. A crimson beam shot forward, tearing through the manor like a blade of light and splitting it cleanly in half. The destructive force echoed through the mirror dinsion, leaving devastation in its wake.
"Crimson Beam," Kurogai whispered, examining the trail of devastation left behind. The attack was precise, beautiful, and deadly.
He continued refining it—adjusting focus, output, and control—until the once-grand reflection of New York was reduced to ruins. Yet, within this mirrored space, none of it mattered. There were no living beings, no civilians to harm, no panic. He could unleash his power without restraint.
When the air finally stilled, Kurogai exhaled slowly. "Good. The new ability is under control. Now, the Tesseract."
He extended his hand, and a swirling distortion appeared beside him—the entrance to his personal dinsional vault. From within, he drew out a glowing cube that pulsed with cerulean light. The Tesseract radiated with cosmic brilliance, leaking pure energy that felt alive, divine even.
But it wasn't the cube itself that captured Kurogai's focus. It was what lay within—the Space Stone.
With a firm squeeze, the Tesseract shattered into fragnts, revealing a radiant blue gem that floated above his palm. Its light was pure, endless, and incomprehensibly powerful.
"There it is," he said softly, eyes reflecting its glow. "The Space Stone... one of the Infinity Stones."
A flicker of excitent crossed his usually calm expression. He rembered the overwhelming surge he'd experienced when he had absorbed the Power Stone before—how his strength had multiplied countless tis over. The temptation was undeniable.
He could feel it again now—his body yearning instinctively to consu the gem's energy, as if drawn by fate.
"The Power Stone gave strength," he whispered. "Then this one... will let master space itself."
Though, I can already manipulate space using Kamui, but it's different.
Without hesitation, Kurogai pressed the Space Stone to his chest.
The mont it touched him, blinding energy surged through his veins. His entire being trembled as the stone's raw power flooded into him, burning through every fiber of his existence.
"What... incredible power!" he gasped, feeling the might of a cosmic force trying to tear him apart from within. His body, reforged countless tis through past trials, still strained under the weight of it.
Space itself bent and warped around him. Energy waves rippled outward like a storm, engulfing the mirror version of New York in chaos. Had this not been a pocket dinsion, the real city would have been obliterated.
Kurogai gritted his teeth, enduring the torrent of cosmic energy as it rged with his essence. His aura expanded, and his surroundings quaked violently. The world twisted, folded, and finally—stilled.
When it was over, silence fell.
The Space Stone had vanished, absorbed completely into his being.
Kurogai opened his eyes—now shimring with deep cerulean light interwoven with crimson rings. Space itself seed to bend subtly around him as if acknowledging its new master.
He smiled faintly. "The power of space... is mine."
______
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