Just as Frieza was preparing to take his men into space to find Thanos...
Directly ahead of him.
A massive spaceship, shaped like an inverted donut, suddenly appeared.
It blocked out the sun, casting a colossal shadow.
Beneath that shadow, two figures descended slowly using anti-gravity devices, eventually hovering at the same level as Frieza.
The one on the left was slender and noseless, with greyish-white skin clinging tightly to his bones, looking like an elegant desiccated corpse.
He wore a refined cleric's robe, hands clasped over his abdomen, his eyes exuding an arrogance that seemed to see through life and death.
Ebony Maw.
The strategist among Thanos's Black Order, and also the most dangerous wizard.
Beside him stood a monster as large as a mountain, wielding a gigantic mechanical chain hammer.
His hideous face and tyrannical aura were enough to shatter the courage of ordinary people with just a glance.
Black Dwarf.
This combination of brains and brawn, representing the will of the Mad Titan, had descended upon the newly renamed Planet 002.
"Ahem..."
Ebony Maw coughed lightly twice.
He didn't look at the big blue guy beside him.
His murky eyes were locked dead on Frieza, who was sitting in the hover pod.
"Although I do not know who you are, sir."
Ebony Maw's voice was raspy and magnetic, carrying an uncomfortable sense of preaching.
"I must remind you that you have just committed an unforgivable error."
He extended a withered finger, pointing to the empty space above their heads.
"I am the humblest servant of the great Titan, Thanos."
"We have crossed the sea of stars to ascertain one thing."
"That power capable of instantly erasing celestial bodies..."
Ebony Maw narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny and interrogation.
"Was it your doing?"
Facing this question, which would terrify the galaxy.
Frieza, sitting in his hover pod, merely yawned out of boredom.
"Oh my, my..."
"Are guests nowadays so rude?"
"Instead of handing over a business card first, you question me right off the bat?"
A cruel smile curled Frieza's lips.
"That's right, I did it."
"Why? Do I need to report to a pack of stray dogs that popped out of nowhere..."
"Just for clearing a few pebbles from my own backyard?"
The muscles on Ebony Maw's calm face twitched slightly.
Stray dogs?
In this universe, no one dared use such words to describe Thanos's envoys!
"Arrogance."
Ebony Maw spat out the word coldly.
But he didn't attack immediately. Instead, he stared thoughtfully at Frieza.
"It seems you do not realize who you are speaking to."
Suppressing his killing intent, Ebony Maw probed:
"Possessing such pure destructive power. Sir, presumably you have already obtained the legendary Power Stone?"
Aside from the Power Stone, he couldn't think of anything else that could cause such instantaneous annihilation.
If the Power Stone was truly in this person's hands, things would become tricky.
"Power Stone?"
Frieza paused for a moment.
Then, as if hearing an extremely funny joke, he clutched his stomach and laughed.
"Ohohoho..."
"Hahahaha!"
"You frogs in the well, your imagination is so poor it's heartbreaking."
Frieza wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye, looking at Ebony Maw with pity.
"To deal with tiny pebbles a few thousand kilometers in diameter, I need an Infinity Stone?"
"This Emperor could poke them to pieces with his toes, okay?"
At this point, Frieza paused, a playful glint flashing in his eyes.
"However..."
"Since you mentioned the Power Stone."
"This Emperor does recall something."
Frieza extended a finger and tapped his chin gently.
"Although I don't have that purple rock right now, I do know where it is."
"I was planning to go to that planet, Vormir, to pick it up in a couple of days."
Hearing this, Ebony Maw's pupils contracted instantly.
Vormir!
This intelligence matched the clues they possessed perfectly!
This guy really knew the whereabouts of the Power Stone! (Note: In MCU, Soul Stone is on Vormir, Power Stone is on Morag/Xandar. The character might be confusing them or intentionally misleading, or the fanfic changed locations. Based on context, Frieza might just be playing with them).
"Hand it over!"
The silent Black Dwarf finally couldn't hold back.
He let out a beast-like roar, swinging the mechanical chain hammer in his hand, whipping up a gale.
"Tell us the specific coordinates! Or take us there!"
Ebony Maw also took a step forward, telekinesis surging around him. Even at a thousand meters in the air, his robes fluttered without wind.
"This concerns the balance of the universe, sir."
"I advise you to cooperate, otherwise..."
"Otherwise?"
Frieza interrupted him.
The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a suffocating coldness.
Those scarlet eyes held an indifference like looking at a dead man.
"Otherwise what?"
"You animals who don't understand human speech."
"Did this Emperor not speak clearly enough just now?"
"That is my thing."
"Do you bandits with a death wish intend to rob a Galactic Emperor?!"
A terrifying aura erupted from Frieza's body.
"ROAR!!"
How could the hot-tempered Black Dwarf tolerate such an attitude?
He roared, the chain hammer in his hand shooting out instantly, heading straight for Frieza's head!
"Die!"
Facing this heavy blow.
Frieza didn't even raise his hand. He simply pressed a button on the side of the hover pod.
Zzz—!
A layer of light red energy shield, like an inverted bowl, rose instantly, sealing the cockpit.
"This kind of dirty work isn't worth this Emperor's personal effort."
Just the moment before the chain hammer hit the shield.
"INSOLENCE!!!"
A furious roar exploded from the side.
Apocalypse, En Sabah Nur, who had been standing beside Frieza like a bodyguard, moved.
Burning rage was in his eyes.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
A chance to show his face, express loyalty, and prove his value in front of the new boss!
If he couldn't even stop these two guys who looked dim-witted...
How could he, Apocalypse, mix in the Frieza Legion? How could he be the captain of this Ginyu Force?!
"Dare to disrespect the King! I think you're tired of living!"
Veins bulged on Apocalypse's blue face. He suddenly extended both hands and clenched at the incoming chain hammer in the void.
HUM—!
Terrifying telekinesis erupted instantly, locking onto the massive mechanical hammer.
CREAK!
The chain hammer was forced to stop in mid-air, emitting ear-piercing sounds of twisting metal due to the clash of two forces.
"Huh?!"
Black Dwarf was stunned. He didn't expect this blue-skinned guy to have such strength.
He yanked the chain violently, trying to retract his weapon.
"Trying to run? Not so easy!"
Apocalypse grinned hideously.
"Get... over here!"
BOOM!
Apocalypse held nothing back, his body instantly swelling in the wind!
Gigantification!
In just the blink of an eye, he turned into a blue giant tens of meters tall, like a descending demon god.
His massive palm ignored Black Dwarf's resistance, grabbed the chain of the hammer, and yanked hard!
Whoosh—!
The massive Black Dwarf was actually pulled off balance by this monstrous strength, dragged towards Apocalypse like a kite.
"This is the power of Earth's strongest mutant! Tremble! Alien scum!"
Apocalypse clenched his other hand into a fist, carrying power enough to shatter mountains, and smashed it ruthlessly at the incoming Black Dwarf!
"ROAR!"
Black Dwarf was tough too. He forcibly adjusted his posture in mid-air and thrust his shield forward.
BANG!!!
Fist met shield.
A deafening explosion burst in mid-air.
The terrifying shockwave swept in all directions, even scattering the clouds below.
Although Apocalypse was huge, Black Dwarf was Thanos's number one tank, with terrifyingly high body density.
This clash was evenly matched!
Both retreated a distance backwards simultaneously.
"Got some strength!"
Apocalypse shook his somewhat numb wrist, the battle intent in his eyes growing stronger.
"AGAIN!!"
The two big guys instantly tangled together, flesh hitting flesh, fighting until the sky fell and the earth cracked.
Meanwhile.
Ebony Maw frowned slightly watching his companion being tied down.
He didn't expect such a high-level powerhouse on this remote planet.
However...
He turned his head, his sinister eyes looking back at Frieza in the hover pod.
"Since your bodyguard is occupied..."
Ebony Maw raised his hands gracefully, the surrounding air beginning to flow with his will.
Countless metal fragments rose from the city below, converging behind him into several hideous steel dragons.
"Then now, you are all alone."
"I will take you back to Lord Thanos. I imagine he will have ways to pry open your mouth."
Watching this scene, Frieza didn't panic.
Instead, he looked like he was watching a clown performance, a mocking smile curling his lips.
"All alone?"
"Ohohoho..."
"Are you unaware that this Emperor has an entire Special Forces team and a Legion?"
Before his voice fell.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Several sounds of breaking air rang out abruptly.
"Ginyu Force! Arriving!"
Accompanying a loud slogan.
Loki, Magneto, Sebastian Shaw, Juggernaut.
These guys wearing white and purple tight suits finally arrived!
"Dare to touch my Master?!"
Loki twirled two daggers in his hands.
"Have you asked me, Vice-Captain Ginyu Loki, yet?!"