Smoke still rose slowly over the ruins.
The nauseating smell of burning, mixed with the stench of blood that had not yet dissipated, became the only undertone of this city that was once called the "Beacon of Galactic Civilization."
In the sky.
A gorgeously designed command ship, representing the highest authority of the Nova Empire, landed tremblingly on the devastated plaza.
The hatch opened.
There was no honor guard, no flowers, no applause.
Nova Prime Irani Rael, the Iron Lady who commanded hundreds of billions of people and shook the galaxy, now looked like a gambler who had just lost her entire fortune.
She walked down with staggering steps. Her golden uniform, symbolizing supreme power, looked so ironic and glaring against the backdrop of corpses everywhere.
"Oh my, my..."
Frieza stood with his hands in his pockets atop a pile of spaceship wreckage.
His pristine white suit shone with a luster as fine as porcelain under the starlight.
Although he was only about 1.85 meters tall, in the eyes of the Nova Prime, he was more majestic and suffocating than the largest Celestial in the universe.
"Coming down already? Prime."
Frieza tilted his head, his scarlet eyes full of mockery.
"I thought you'd hide in that metal shell, crying for your mommy."
"Hahaha!"
Standing behind Frieza, Apocalypse, Magneto, and the others let out harsh, cooperative laughter.
Especially Loki, who laughed the loudest.
After all, seeing someone of higher status fall into the dust was a favorite pastime for a God of Mischief like him.
Nova Prime's body trembled violently.
In the past, even if Ronan the Accuser of the Kree dared to speak to her like this, she would have unhesitatingly locked him in the Kyln prison to reflect for ten thousand years.
But now...
She glanced at the falling satellite debris in the sky.
That was the display of this demon's power, and the Sword of Damocles hanging over Xandar's head.
"Phew..."
Irani Rael exhaled a long breath of turbid air, as if breathing out her life's pride.
With heavy steps, she walked, step by step, until she stood before Frieza.
Then.
Under the desperate gazes of countless surviving Xandarians around them.
The Prime's knees went soft.
Thud!
She knelt heavily on the ground, kneeling before the demon who destroyed her army.
Her head bowed deeply, almost touching the ground.
"Em... Emperor Frieza."
Her voice was dry, hoarse, carrying endless humiliation.
"The Nova Empire... submits to you."
This kneel was not just the bending of knees.
It was the breaking of the backbone of the entire Nova civilization.
[Ding! Detected Nova Prime has completely abandoned her dignity! Fear Points +1 Trillion!]
Hearing the system notification, Frieza felt incredibly refreshed.
Like drinking an ice-cold cola in summer—cool to the heart, spirit soaring.
But this wasn't enough.
As a cosmic real estate developer, when taking over a failed project...
You have to completely crush the original owner's psychological defenses to make management easier later, right?
"Mmh, your attitude is quite proper."
Frieza nodded, a seemingly benevolent smile on his face.
"However..."
He slowly extended his right foot, lifting it gently in front of Nova Prime.
"Since you are admitting your mistake, you must show some sincerity."
"As the newly appointed cleaning supervisor—aka the toilet cleaner."
"Helping the boss clean his shoes should be part of your duties, right?"
This sentence was like a thunderclap, leaving Nova Prime's head buzzing.
K... Kiss his foot?!
She was the Nova Prime! The Queen commanding billions of stars!
Even if she died, she couldn't accept such an insult!
She looked up sharply, a flash of determined anger in her eyes.
"You..."
"Hm?"
Frieza raised an eyebrow.
"What? Unwilling?"
"Then I'll just have to blow up this planet and find an obedient one to be Planet 002."
"The universe is big, after all. Obedient dogs are everywhere."
This single sentence stomped out the spark of backbone Nova Prime had just ignited, like extinguishing a cigarette butt.
Looking at the burning ruins around her, looking at the shivering civilians in the distance.
The anger in Irani Rael's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by ash-like despair.
If she didn't do this, everyone would die.
For survival.
Dignity was nothing!
"I... I am willing..."
Two streams of humiliated tears slid down her cheeks.
Under the gaze of the public, the once high-and-mighty Queen slowly approached the leather shoe like a humble dog.
Then, she gently kissed it.
Crack.
That was the sound of countless Xandarians' hearts breaking.
It was also the sound of their will to resist collapsing completely.
[Ding! Detected the entire civilization has suffered a catastrophic psychological collapse! Fear Points +2 Trillion!]
Watching this scene, Frieza felt no discomfort; instead, he felt it was only natural.
That's how it should be.
The weak should have the awareness of the weak.
"Not bad. Although your technique is a bit rusty, this Emperor accepts the sentiment."
Frieza retracted his foot, rubbing it disdainfully on the grass.
Actually, he just wanted to humiliate her. If he really let an old woman hug his foot for too long, he'd find it disgusting too.
"Alright, stop kneeling. It's an eyesore."
Frieza waved his hand.
"From now on, hand over all administrative authority, resource codes, and fleet control of this planet."
After speaking, he snapped his fingers.
"Charles!"
Professor X, who had been sitting in his wheelchair acting as a background prop, slowly wheeled himself out.
His eyes were still hollow, but his efficiency was extremely high.
"Subordinate is here."
"Go, have a good chat with this former Prime."
Frieza pointed to his head.
"I want to ensure that starting tomorrow, everyone here has only one word in their brain: Loyalty."
"Understood, my King."
Charles's powerful psychic force activated instantly, enveloping Nova Prime.
No torture needed, no documents required.
In front of Earth's strongest brain, Nova Prime's pitiful secrets were as naked as if she were stripped bare.
The handover ceremony was simple and crude.
Ten minutes later.
Frieza had swaggered into the Nova Corps headquarters building.
He plopped down onto the commander's seat representing supreme power and crossed his legs.
Comfortable!
This chair was much better than those hard wooden chairs on Earth; it even had an automatic massage function?
This was the treatment a Galactic Emperor should have!
Just then.
The big blue guy, Apocalypse, quietly sidled up.
He glanced at Charles, who was busy brainwashing aliens in the distance, his blue face written with displeasure and grievance.
"My King..."
Apocalypse rubbed his hands together, asking cautiously:
"Your subordinate doesn't quite understand."
"We clearly conquered this planet, and I was the one charging at the front just now."
"Why... why hand over management to that cripple Charles?"
"Wouldn't it be better to give administrative power to me? I used to be a Pharaoh in Egypt!"
Hearing this, Frieza raised his eyelids slightly and glanced at the big fool.
He certainly knew what Apocalypse was thinking.
Fighting for favor.
King Frieza had seen plenty of these petty schemes between subordinates.
"Foolish."
Frieza picked up an unknown alien fruit from the table and took a bite, juice splashing everywhere.
"My Captain Apocalypse."
Frieza extended a finger and tapped Apocalypse's bald forehead.
"Do you think managing a planet is playing house?"
"There are tens of billions of people here, tens of thousands of languages, and complex technological systems."
"Let you manage it?"
"Besides killing everyone who disobeys, or building a few pyramids to bury yourself in, what else can you do?"
Apocalypse was struck speechless, his face turning a deep blue.
"And..."
Frieza stood up, patted Apocalypse's broad shoulder, and earnestly painted a big picture for him:
"You are this Emperor's number one general, the face of the Frieza Legion!"
"Letting a high-end combatant like you hole up here managing logistics and collecting property fees—isn't that a waste of talent?"
"Your stage is the sea of stars!"
"Once the spaceships are built, this Emperor will take you to conquer the Kree Empire, beat up the Skrulls, and even crush that Purple Potato's head!"
"When that time comes, are you afraid there won't be territory for you to manage?"
These words made Apocalypse's blood boil, tears almost falling from his eyes.
So the King values me so much!
So I am the man who is going to conquer the universe!
I knew it! How could that cripple Charles compare to me!
"Subordinate understands!"
Apocalypse knelt on one knee, his voice resonant:
"Subordinate will kill all enemies for the King! I will conquer the entire universe for you!"
Looking at Apocalypse, who was once again full of motivation and foolishness, Frieza nodded with satisfaction.
"That's the spirit."
"Go on, sweep up the trash that hasn't been cleaned yet."
"This Emperor is tired and needs to rest for a while."