The trembling of the ground finally ceased.
After the terrifying sensation of vibration, as if the planet's core itself was wailing, faded away, there was a deathly silence.
Although the Avengers standing atop Stark Tower could not enjoy a God's-eye view like astronauts on a space station to look down upon the terrifying scar that now spanned the North American continent, even just looking west with the naked eye, they could see the shocking sight.
The previously undulating horizon was now abruptly severed. A massive chasm, tens of kilometers wide, emanating a faint smell of scorching and the residual glow of purple energy, stretched to the very limit of their vision, like a stroke fiercely carved into the earth by God holding a chisel.
Dust obscured the sun, forming a massive wall of earth that seemed to divide the sky in two.
That area had once been mountains, rivers, and forests. Now, there was only an abyss.
Truly bottomless—it was a depth of ten kilometers, reaching deep into Earth's crust, where they could faintly see the red glow of churning magma.
The shield in Steve's hand clattered onto the ground.
The World War II veteran, who had once faced the Red Skull and dared to charge a HYDRA base alone, now found his legs trembling uncontrollably as he stared at the fissure that looked like a path leading straight to hell.
This transcended the scope of warfare, it even transcended the scope of disaster.
This was a miracle, the handiwork of a demon, a forbidden zone utterly unattainable by mortals.
"This is... his power?"
Tony's face beneath his mask was ashen.
J.A.R.V.I.S. had stopped sounding alarms because no data model could possibly evaluate this level of destructive force.
His proud Iron Man suit seemed like a plastic toy in the hands of a baby who hadn't learned to walk yet, compared to this chasm.
If he weren't wearing the armor, he wouldn't even dare to look directly at the figure suspended in the air.
The one who suffered the biggest blow was none other than Thor.
He stared blankly to the west, his eyes, once filled with divine radiance, now filled with existential doubt.
As the Prince of Asgard, he had seen great things. He had seen the Bifrost Bridge blast the surface of a planet, and seen the Casket of Ancient Winters wielded by the Frost Giants freeze a world. But those were all accomplished using the power of artifacts.
Yet, the man before him had done this merely by waving his hand.
Even his father, Odin, in his prime, likely couldn't achieve this level of destruction without using Gungnir, could he?
"This mortal... no, this monster..." Thor muttered, his throat as dry as if he had swallowed sand.
"When did Midgard give birth to a being of this caliber?"
As for Loki, who was still sprawled on the ground?
He now wished he could bury himself in the cracks of the floorboards.
As a god who had once served under Thanos, he had seen the purple Titan in a rage.
Thanos was strong, despairingly strong. But his strength was that of a heavy, oppressive overlord.
However, the strength of the blonde Frieza before him was a pure, unreasonable evil, one that seemed to take pleasure in destruction.
'Stronger than Thanos... definitely stronger than Thanos!' Loki screamed internally.
He even started congratulating himself for backing down so quickly and for putting on the humiliating bodysuit.
If he had shown even a hint of backbone earlier, or hesitated for just one second, he would probably be filling that abyss right now.
High in the sky.
Frieza slowly retracted his right hand and gently blew on the non-existent dust on his fingertips.
He looked down at the group of utterly terrified superheroes, watching the mixture of shock, fear, and despair on their faces, and an ineffable sense of pleasure rose in his heart.
This was the thrill that power brought.
Nothing was more gratifying than watching a group of self-proclaimed protagonists tremble before the power of an absolute villain.
"Oh dear, my apologies."
Frieza slowly descended, hovering about three meters above their heads, looking down at them condescendingly.
He put on his elegant and unassuming smile once again, looking less like the person who had just parted Earth in two, and more like a gentleman who had accidentally broken a vase.
"I used a little too much force. It's been a while since I stretched my muscles, so my control over my power is naturally a bit rusty. I assume Earth's self-healing capabilities are quite good, yes?"
Self-healing capabilities, my ass!
You sliced open Earth's crust, do you expect it to grow back like a gecko's tail?
Tony ranted internally, but he dared not speak a word, not even daring to take a deep breath.
Frieza paid no attention to their silence. He turned, facing the helicopter that was still stubbornly circling, facing Christine's trembling camera lens.
He adjusted his tie and flashed the camera a perfect, captivating smile, one worthy of the cover of Time Magazine.
"To all the viewers around the world, what you just saw... consider it a little teaser for the opening ceremony of the Frieza Games."
"Now, I must reiterate the rules."
Frieza held up three slender fingers.
"Three days."
"I am only giving you three days."
"Three days from now, at Madison Square Garden, I will await your challengers."
"Whether it be the Avengers, the military, or those sorcerers and superhumans hiding in the remote mountains and forests..."
"As long as someone can defeat me in a move or two, I will leave."
As he spoke, the smile on Frieza's lips grew cold, and his scarlet eyes flickered with a chilling, heart-stopping light.
"But if, after three days, no one dares to show up, or if you lose, the ownership of this planet will be officially transferred to my name, Frieza."
"Of course, if anyone disagrees or tries to pull any boring little tricks..."
He pointed to the massive abyssal fissure in the distance, his tone as soft as if speaking sweet nothings. "I won't mind cleaning up the 'pests' around here."
"After all, if I want to convert this planet into a resort, I don't need so many humans who only generate garbage, do I?"
"Wiping out every human on this planet, for me, is just a wave of the hand."
Boom!
This single sentence, carried by the live broadcast signal, instantly detonated worldwide panic.
There was no anger, no protest.
Only fear.
Fear that was pure and absolute.
When a person threatens you with a knife, you respond with anger and the desire to fight back.
But when a god, who has just sliced open a continental plate right in front of you, smiles and tells you he is going to wipe out all of humanity, all that remains is despair and trembling.
In the helicopter, Christine's hands shook like someone with advanced Parkinson's, barely able to hold the microphone. She looked at the elegant devil, her teeth chattering.
"He... he's serious... he will really kill all of us..."
On the top floor of Stark Tower.
The Avengers felt a chill shoot straight from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads.
Wipe out all of humanity?
Madman! This was absolutely a complete and utter lunatic!
But the most terrifying thing was that this madman possessed the power to make good on his promise.
At this very moment.
Inside Frieza's mind, the system notification sounds went off frantically, like a sped-up, distorted video.
[Ding! Extreme global panic detected!]
[Fear Points +10!]
[Fear Points +10!]
[Fear Points +10!]
...
Seven billion people worldwide.
Even if only half the population saw the broadcast, and only one-tenth of those people generated fear, that was still an astronomical number.
The Fear Points counter in the background, which had previously been stuck in the billions, now shot up like a rocket.
2 billion... 5 billion... 8 billion... all in less than a minute.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Cumulative Fear Points has surpassed 10 billion!]
[Achievement unlocked: Junior Arch-Villain!]
[Unlock conditions met! Frieza Template (Second Form) is unlocking...]
Boom!!!
An aura even more terrifying and profound than before quietly awakened within Frieza's body.
Although he outwardly maintained his human form, deep within his soul, the terrifying power belonging to the Emperor of the Universe was undergoing a qualitative leap.
[Unlock successful!]
[Current Form: Frieza (First Form)]
[Power Level: 530,000 (Base)]
[Unlocked: Frieza (Second Form)]
[Power Level: 1,000,000+]
[Newly unlocked skills: Death Fork, Hyper Regeneration (limb reattachment level), Energy Sensing (no scouter needed)...]
[Next stage: Third Form]
[Unlock Condition: 500 billion Fear Points]
[Current cumulative Fear Points: 71 billion / 500 billion.]
One million Power Level!
This was the official data for Frieza's Second Form in Dragon Ball.
In that world where planets explode at the drop of a hat, this might only be a transitional form.
But in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where even the awakened Thor only possesses a power level of tens of thousands?
This was a true god.
Frieza closed his eyes, sensing the boundless power within him, like a vast ocean.
With just a thought, he could switch to the Second Form. That was the horrifying monster form, nearly three meters tall, with massive horns and bulging muscles.
Of course, he didn't plan to switch now. After all, this Italian custom-made suit was quite expensive, and tearing it would be a shame.
Besides, wasn't it far more amusing to maintain this human facade while watching these ants tremble beneath his tailored trousers?
"Hoo..."
Frieza slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and opened his eyes.
His scarlet eyes had become even more profound, as if they concealed two all-consuming black holes.
He glanced at the next goal on the system panel.
[Unlock Condition: 500 billion Fear Points]
[Current cumulative Fear Points: 71 billion / 500 billion]
"500 billion, is it..."
Frieza wasn't discouraged. Instead, he showed a satisfied smile.
Although the last wave harvested Fear Points from the entire world, it only brought in about 70 billion. After all, fear is something that has a shelf life.
To reach 500 billion, these methods alone probably wouldn't suffice. He needed this fear to ferment, to sink deep into their very bones.
The "Frieza Games" in three days would be the perfect catalyst.
"It seems I've collected enough interest for the day."
Frieza was in high spirits. He adjusted his cuff and swept his gaze over the Avengers, who were standing ready for battle, viewing them like toys that had lost their utility.
"Alright, the performance for today is over. Remember to attend the party in three days on time. I wouldn't want anyone to be absent."
Having said that, he turned around without even glancing behind him.
"Loki, let's go."
Loki, who had been lying on the ground feigning death, shuddered upon hearing the summons. He scrambled up immediately, ignoring his pain, and quickly trotted to Frieza's side.
"Yes, Master! I'm here!"
"Back to the company."
Frieza said flatly, then his tone shifted, becoming somewhat chilling.
"By the way, let's go back and settle some accounts."
Loki's steps faltered, and cold sweat instantly soaked his bodysuit.
Settle accounts?
"Earlier on the rooftop, I seemed to sense someone trying to stab me with a dagger?"
Frieza glanced at Loki with a half-smile, his expression like that of someone looking at an immature brat.
"You didn't actually think I couldn't move at the time, did you?"
Thud!
Loki's knees buckled, and he dropped onto the shattered glass shards, his face deathly pale.
"Master! I... I was planning to peel an apple for you! Truly! I saw you were tired from fighting and wanted to give you vitamins!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Frieza grabbed Loki by the back of his collar, and his body slowly ascended into the air.
"Then go back and spend the whole night 'peeling' apples for me. If the job isn't satisfactory..."
"I'll skin you and turn you into a new carpet."
Whoosh!
Frieza retrieved the Space Stone, and a pillar of purple light shot into the sky, carrying the wailing God of Mischief as they vanished beyond the Manhattan skyline.
Only the Avengers remained, exchanging glances of despair, along with a city plunged into endless terror.