Deep in the cosmos, at the edge of the Andromeda Galaxy.
This was Taros IV, the temporary homeworld of the Skrull Empire.
As the race most adept at disguise and infiltration in the universe, the Skrulls were renowned for their cunning and secrecy.
But today.
Their secrecy had become the biggest joke of all.
BOOM————!!!
A colossal warship, pure white and emblazoned with a purple "Frieza" emblem, brutally smashed through Taros IV's atmospheric defense grid.
Immediately following.
A dense swarm of white landing pods rained down from the sky like a torrential storm.
"Hide?"
"Where exactly do you think you can hide?"
In the sky, Thanos hovered at the bow of the flagship.
He crossed his arms, his purple eyes flickering with cold streams of data.
It was a tactical visor enhanced by the Power Stone's circuitry.
In his field of vision.
The Ki of every living being on this planet was as visible as a bonfire in the dark.
Whether they disguised themselves as rocks, trees, or refugees of the Nova Corps...
In the face of that unique and faint life energy, there was no place to hide.
"Over there. Three thousand meters underground. That nest of green rats."
Thanos extended a finger and tapped the air lightly.
"Apocalypse."
"Here! Director!"
Apocalypse, En Sabah Nur, walked out from behind with a savage grin on his face.
He wore his signature tight combat suit, purple-gold aura surging over his blue muscles.
"Leave it to me!"
"I will drag these little bugs who love playing hide-and-seek out one by one and crush them!"
BOOM!
Apocalypse plummeted violently.
He didn't use any fancy techniques.
Instead, he turned himself into a blue meteor and smashed ruthlessly directly above the Skrull underground bunker!
The earth cracked!
Tectonic plates shifted!
The Skrull royal family members, hiding deep underground and shivering in fear, felt the sky above them collapse.
Then, a blue hand that blotted out the sun roughly tore open the crust and grabbed them like earthworms.
"This is the so-called Skrull Empire?"
Apocalypse held the Skrull Emperor by the neck, looking at the alien's shifting face with utter disgust.
"Too weak."
"Not even qualified to be my punching bag."
"Pack them all up. Send them to Planet 004 to mine!"
...
Meanwhile.
Shi'ar Empire, Throneworld, Chandilar.
This was the entity with the largest territory and strongest military force among the three great empires of the galaxy.
At this moment, Gladiator, the Praetor of the Imperial Guard and known as one of the strongest warriors in the universe, was hovering above the palace.
He stared furiously at the old man in the ridiculous tight suit in front of him.
"Who are you?!"
"How dare you invade the great Shi'ar Empire!"
Gladiator's confidence was swelling. His power derived from his confidence. As long as he believed he could win, he was practically invincible.
"Who am I?"
Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr, elegantly adjusted his red helmet.
He looked at the alien muscleman with the mohawk hairstyle before him, a contemptuous smile curling on his lips.
"I am a member of the Ginyu Force, under the Frieza Legion."
"And the property manager here to receive this real estate."
"Real estate?!"
Gladiator laughed in extreme anger. "The Shi'ar Empire has never been conquered! Not in the past, and not in the future!"
"Die!"
BOOM!
Gladiator moved.
His speed was as fast as lightning. With his confidence bursting, his strength at this moment was enough to shatter an asteroid.
However.
Faced with this unstoppable strike.
Magneto merely raised a hand slowly.
"Confidence is a good thing."
"But in the face of an absolute gap in power, confidence..."
"Is stupidity."
HUMMM————!!!
A terrifying magnetic field erupted instantly. But this wasn't just magnetism.
Under the enhancement of the Ki bestowed by Frieza, Magneto's ability had undergone a qualitative change.
It was—Unified Field Control!
"Kneel!"
Magneto pressed his palm down sharply.
Gladiator, who had been charging aggressively, suddenly felt the gravity of the entire universe pressing down on his spine.
That unrivaled pressure shattered his confidence instantly.
Confidence collapsed, power vanished.
Thud!
The strongest spear of the Shi'ar Empire knelt before Magneto without a shred of dignity, his knees shattering.
"How... how is this possible..."
Gladiator's eyes were unfocused, his worldview crumbling.
"Nothing is impossible."
Magneto turned around, looking at the prosperous palace full of metal structures below.
A flash of fanaticism passed through his eyes.
"Because our Boss..."
"Is a God!"
...
In just half a month.
The chaotic and noisy galaxy fell completely silent.
Skrull, Shi'ar, Badoon...
One by one, advanced civilizations that once resonated through the cosmos either submitted or were obliterated under the iron hooves of the Frieza Legion.
There was no reasoning.
There was no room for negotiation.
Frieza had only one rule—
Hand over all resources and accept unified management, or disappear from the star map.
As for those planets that were beaten to a pulp...
Thanos displayed his efficiency and ruthlessness as the "Director of the Demolition Office."
"The ecological environment of this planet is destroyed?"
Thanos stood in the orbit of a burning wasteland planet, looking at the devastation below.
"Repairing it is a waste of time."
"Since it no longer has residential value..."
He waved his hand indifferently.
"Then just blow it up."
"Extract the remaining mineral core and ship it back to Planet 001 as construction material."
RUMBLE——!
The main cannons of thousands of warships fired in unison.
A planet that had just been conquered turned into a brilliant firework in the universe.
The so-called "cleaning up."
In Thanos's understanding, meant physically eliminating everything imperfect, damaged, or unsightly.
Leaving only those perfect, valuable assets.
This was called—Optimization and Restructuring.
...
Earth, Frieza Planet 001.
Long Island Manor.
The afternoon sun lazily sprinkled on the lawn.
Frieza slowly opened his eyes and sat up from the luxurious large bed.
This sleep had been very comfortable.
No annoying flies buzzing around, no self-righteous heroes causing trouble.
"Phew..."
Frieza stretched.
"How long did I sleep?"
He glanced at the wall clock and sensed the changes on Earth through his Ki.
"Half a month?"
"Just the right amount of time."
"Master, you are awake."
Natasha and Sharon, who had been guarding the bedside, immediately knelt and handed over warm towels and mouthwash.
Frieza took the towel and wiped his face.
"Are Thanos and the others back?"
"Answering Master, Lord Thanos and Lord Apocalypse have been waiting in the downstairs hall for a long time," Natasha replied respectfully.
"Oh?"
Frieza raised an eyebrow, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.
"It seems they didn't disappoint this Emperor's expectations."
"Let's go. Let's see what good news these wage earners have brought back for me."
...
First Floor Hall.
The originally spacious area was now piled high with various rare treasures.
These were tributes from civilizations across the universe.
Thanos and Apocalypse, wearing their signature white-and-purple combat suits, knelt on one knee, heads bowed deeply.
Even though they were now overlords who could make the galaxy tremble with a stomp of their feet...
In front of the figure slowly walking down the stairs...
They were still as humble as two rabbits meeting a lion.
"Great King!"
The two shouted in unison, their voices filled with fanatical worship.
Wearing a bathrobe and holding a glass of red wine, Frieza leisurely walked to the sofa and sat down.
"Speak."
Frieza took a sip of wine, his eyes lazy.
"How is the universe cleanup going?"
"And those so-called resistance forces, have they been dealt with?"
Thanos looked up, a proud smile on his purple face.
"Reporting to the Great King!"
"All 137 known advanced civilizations in the galaxy have completed asset liquidation and acquisition."
"Among them, twelve civilizations attempted to resist."
Thanos paused, his tone becoming chilling.
"I have followed your instructions and completely formatted their homeworlds, turning them into cosmic mines."
"As for the others..."
"The Shi'ar Imperial family has collectively signed lifetime labor contracts and is currently responsible for landscape pruning on Planet 003 (the ruins of Asgard)."
"The Skrulls have been incorporated into the Intelligence Department, responsible for monitoring public opinion across the universe."
"This universe now..."
Thanos spread his arms, as if embracing the truth.
"You can't even find a single illegal meteorite!"
"All shipping lanes, all resource points, all life-bearing planets are under the absolute control of the Frieza Group!"
"Very good."
Frieza nodded with satisfaction and put down his wine glass.
"Although the methods were a bit crude."
"I am very satisfied with the result."
Frieza stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Looking at the world outside, which had become thoroughly orderly but also dead silent.
A trace of boredom flashed in his eyes.
"This universe..."
"No longer holds any value worthy of my action."
"Even the Fear Points..."
Frieza glanced at the System Panel.
Although they were still growing slowly, that explosive thrill was gone.
It was like a game he had gotten tired of playing.
"Since this level is cleared."
Frieza turned around, the flames of greed reigniting in his crimson eyes.
He looked at Reed Richards in his white lab coat, who had been silent on the side.
And Tony Stark, whose face had "I want to die" written all over it.
"So..."
"That door to the Multiverse."
"It should be ready by now, yes?"
"This Emperor can't wait to go harvest the new leek fields."
"Oh ho ho ho..."