Xandar, High Command Center.
In front of a massive holographic screen.
Nova Prime Irani Rael, usually known for her dignified and calm demeanor, now had a face twisted by extreme rage.
On the screen, the Capital Plaza, once a symbol of civilization and peace, had turned into a slaughterhouse.
Limbs were scattered everywhere; blood flowed like rivers.
The Nova Guards, the pride of her empire, were being torn apart like fragile paper dolls in front of that group of "Earthling thugs" in tight suits.
Especially that blue giant!
He was practically a tireless meat grinder!
"Preposterous... simply preposterous!"
Nova Prime slammed her hand onto the console, her knuckles turning white from the force.
"We are the Nova Empire! We are the beacon of advanced civilization in the galaxy!"
"Since when do a bunch of wild monkeys from a backward planet like Terra get to defecate on our doorstep?!"
Humiliation!
This was a naked humiliation of the Nova Empire's ten thousand years of glory!
"Prime! The enemy's energy readings are rising continuously! Our scanners cannot analyze the energy levels of the leader in the white suit!" an adjutant reported with a trembling voice, forehead slick with cold sweat.
"I don't care who he is! And I don't care how much energy he has!"
Nova Prime turned around, the fire in her eyes almost spilling out.
"Pass down my order!"
"Initiate Level One War Status!"
"Mobilize all battleships on the Nova homeworld! I want the sky blotted out by our ships!"
"And..."
Nova Prime took a deep breath, seemingly making a difficult decision.
"Deploy Richard Rider!"
"Tell him, at all costs, crush these lunatics into powder!!"
---
Above the Capital Plaza.
Frieza remained suspended in mid-air, maintaining his leisurely posture with both hands in his pockets.
He looked up slightly, noticing the light in the sky suddenly dimming.
It wasn't dark clouds.
It was spaceships.
Densely packed, thousands upon thousands of eight-pointed star-shaped Nova battleships filled the entire sky like a plague of locusts.
The roar of their combined engines made the very atmosphere tremble.
And at the very forefront of that endless armada.
A golden meteor tore through the sky.
It was a man in black and gold armor, his helmet flashing with dazzling starlight.
The legend of the Nova Corps, the super soldier possessing the Nova Force—Richard Rider!
"Oh?"
Frieza raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest finally flashing in his scarlet eyes.
"It seems after beating the little ones, a slightly bigger one has finally arrived."
"This spectacle... it almost looks like a proper welcome for a Galactic Emperor."
PEW PEW PEW PEW—!!!
In the sky, tens of thousands of battleships opened fire simultaneously!
Countless thick yellow energy beams wove together into a net of firepower capable of destroying heaven and earth.
It covered the sky and earth, blanketing the Frieza Corps below.
Among them, at least several hundred main cannon beams were locked dead onto Frieza himself!
"Master, look out!!!"
A roar filled with loyalty (and a desire to show off) suddenly rang out.
Just as those beams were about to touch the hem of Frieza's expensive suit.
BOOM!!!
A massive blue figure blocked in front of Frieza like he had teleported.
It was Apocalypse!
The giant who had just been rampaging was now acting as the sturdiest shield.
He spread his arms, the mutant energy inside him erupting madly to form a massive blue force field.
SIZZLE—!
Countless energy beams bombarded the shield, kicking up ripples and sparks all over the sky.
Apocalypse gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, his feet grinding two deep pits into the plaza floor.
But he didn't take a single step back!
"Hmph! Mere scrap metal dares to harm the King?!"
A fierce light flashed in Apocalypse's eyes.
He suddenly extended a massive palm and clenched it viciously at the vanguard ships that had tried to snipe Frieza.
HUM!
Molecular manipulation activated!
Those battleships made of high-strength alloy were instantly squeezed by an invisible giant hand.
CRUNCH! BANG!
They were crushed directly into balls of scrap metal, then exploded into brilliant fireworks in the air.
Having done all this, Apocalypse immediately put away his ferocious expression.
He turned around, his massive body trying its best to hunch over. With a face piled high with a fawning smile, he said to the tiny white figure:
"My King! Are you alright?"
"The dust was a bit heavy; your subordinate was worried it might dirty your clothes."
Frieza looked at the giant blue face in front of him, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.
"Not bad."
"Apocalypse, your reaction speed is much faster than it was on Earth."
"It seems a change of environment has sharpened your brain a bit."
Hearing this praise, Apocalypse was overjoyed.
Worth it!
Face-tanking the main cannons was totally worth it!
As long as he could leave an impression of being "loyal and capable" in the King's heart, wouldn't he get a couple of extra star systems when the spoils were divided later?
"It is my honor to serve you!"
Apocalypse roared loudly, his voice vibrating the surrounding glass.
"However..." Frieza changed the subject, casting his gaze toward the swarm of battleships still arriving in the sky.
"There seem to be more and more flies."
"Although this Emperor doesn't mind a little noise, this much racket is starting to affect my mood."
Apocalypse understood instantly.
The boss thinks the progress is too slow!
"Please rest assured, my King! Your subordinate will shut them up right now!"
Apocalypse turned around to face the sky full of fleets. The fawning look vanished instantly, replaced by endless tyranny.
But glancing at the sheer density of the enemy, he couldn't help but furrow his brow.
There were too many.
If he had to crush them one by one, how long would that take?
If he kept the King waiting, his performance bonus would be docked!
Thinking of this, Apocalypse's gaze fell on Magneto and Professor X below.
"Erik! Charles!"
Apocalypse's voice exploded like rolling thunder.
"Stop watching the show!"
"Didn't you hear the King say it's too noisy?!"
"It's metal! Look at all that metal! Erik, isn't this your home turf?!"
Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr, hovered in mid-air. Looking at the sky full of battleships, his eyes had long since revealed a greedy light.
"Hmph, I don't need you to remind me, big guy."
Erik slowly raised his hands, the surrounding magnetic field beginning to agitate wildly.
"This is simply... heaven."
However, the Nova Corps battleships all had energy shields.
And there were simply too many. It would be a bit straining for him to clear the field instantly on his own.
"Charles!"
Apocalypse looked at the bald old man in the wheelchair.
"Time to work!"
"Turn those guys flying the ships into vegetables!"
Professor X, Charles Xavier, was sitting quietly at the edge of the battlefield.
Hearing Apocalypse's call, he slowly raised his head.
Those eyes, once full of wisdom and kindness, were now dead gray.
On Earth, he had betrayed his beliefs for survival.
Now, here...
Killing aliens shouldn't count as a crime, right?
"I understand."
Charles's voice was soft, yet it transmitted clearly into everyone's mind via telepathy.
He extended two fingers and pressed them gently against his temple.
HUM—!!!
A massive, invisible psychic storm instantly swept upward into the sky with him as the center!
This wasn't for control, nor for communication.
This was for—paralysis!
In the sky.
Tens of thousands of Nova pilots, who were frantically pouring down fire, suddenly felt like their brains had been hit by a heavy hammer!
"Argh—!"
Screams rose and fell across the comms channels.
In just an instant.
All the pilots rolled their eyes back, their consciousness forcibly cut off, turning them into drooling vegetables!
Without pilots to control them, the sky full of fighters instantly became headless flies. Even their energy shields began to flicker and die.
"Now!"
Magneto's eyes burst with intense light.
He had been waiting for this moment!
"ALL OF YOU... COME DOWN!!!"
Magneto yanked his hands downward violently, as if grabbing the curtain of the entire sky.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE—
A terrifying magnetic field erupted!
Tens of thousands of uncontrolled battleships, under the irresistible magnetic pull, were forcibly steered off course.
They collided, squeezed, and twisted against each other!
It was as if countless invisible giant hands were kneading these precise war machines like playdough!
CRUNCH! CREAK!
The sound of twisting metal resounded through the clouds.
Under the shocked gazes of everyone present.
The fleet that had blotted out the sun was forcibly crushed together.
It turned into a gigantic ball of scrap metal, kilometers in diameter!
It hovered over the city, blocking out the sun!
"Ohohoho..."
Watching this scene, Frieza couldn't help but let out a laugh of admiration.
"Now that's what I call professional."
"It seems this Emperor's eye for talent is excellent. These employees are becoming more and more useful."
---