After Thor left, the atmosphere in the secret base didn't lighten much.
"We can't put all our eggs in one basket."
Steve looked out at the dim sky through the window, his resolute face etched with weariness, yet his eyes remained unyielding.
"Thor has gone to get reinforcements, so we need to get moving too."
He turned around, looking at the remaining tattered troops. "Although I've only recently emerged from the ice, and I'm still very unfamiliar with this world and don't have many friends, I do remember that S.H.I.E.L.D. has some sealed archives."
"Those who were once considered threats or unstable elements might now be our last resort."
Barton frowned. "Are you talking about those enhanced individuals classified as top secret? That's playing with fire."
"The whole Earth is already in a fire pit, what's there to fear about playing with fire?" Tony gripped a cup of cold coffee and took a large gulp, the bitterness sobering him up a little.
His fingers flew across the holographic projection he had called up.
"Captain's right. And I know more than just the archives."
Tony pulled up several top-secret files, prominently stamped with a few special symbols—one was a '4', and another was an 'X'.
"When I was hacking into Fury, that one-eyed man's private server—don't look at me like that, I don't believe you wouldn't want to see. I found some interesting things."
"Those four scientists from the Baxter Building. Although they've become a bit... well, strange due to their physical mutations, their minds are definitely sharp. Especially Reed Richards. While I don't admit he's smarter than me, he's certainly an expert in stretching."
Tony paused, then swiped to another image, which was a school located in Westchester.
"And this group of mutants. Professor Charles Xavier, rumored to possess the strongest brain. Perhaps he could give Frieza a lobotomy."
The Ancient One, who had been silent, nodded slightly, gently tapping her palm with her folded fan.
"Mr. Richards' wisdom in this dimension is commendable, and Professor Xavier's psychic powers also touch upon certain rules."
The Ancient One's gaze was profound. "This is the right direction. Wong and I will prepare dimension-sealing spells at the Sanctum. While it won't kill him, it might temporarily trap him."
"Good."
With a direction, some of the despair in everyone's eyes finally dissipated.
Tony quickly assigned tasks, "Banner, you go to the Baxter Building. You're a scientist, you'll have common ground with them."
"I'll go to the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. I hope I can convince that bald principal."
"Let's move, everyone."
...
Time flew by, and night fell.
Manhattan, top floor of the Frieza Tower.
It was brightly lit, with luxurious crystal chandeliers illuminating the hall as if it were daytime.
Frieza sat in the boss's chair, symbolizing supreme power, swirling a glass of crimson liquid in his hand—it was a 1982 Romanée-Conti.
Before him stood rows of applicants, each with different appearances and peculiar shapes.
These supervillains, who usually struck fear into the hearts of police and caused headaches for superheroes, now resembled a group of elementary school students waiting for their teacher to check their homework, all meek and not daring to breathe loudly.
Natasha, in her rather embarrassing combat suit, held a tablet, acting as the temporary HR manager.
"Next, Flint Marko, alias Sandman."
A burly man in a striped shirt stepped forward. Without a word, his body instantly disintegrated, turning into a swirling cloud of yellow sand, creating a sandstorm in the hall. Then, it reformed into a giant sand hammer, which slammed heavily onto the floor.
"My lord, I can turn into sand. Physical attacks are useless against me. I can bury those superheroes alive." Flint declared his loyalty in a booming voice.
Frieza gently waved his hand to disperse the dust in front of him, frowning slightly in distaste.
"You're making a mess of the whole room with dust. But this ability is quite good for a trapping pit."
"Barely acceptable, stand aside."
Flint was overjoyed and quickly retreated to the side.
"Next, Curt Connors, Lizard."
A large lizard in a lab coat crawled up, its severed arm instantly regrowing.
"Regeneration?"
Frieza glanced at it and said, "Hmm... good enough as a meat shield, at least more durable than those Chitauri grunts that shatter on impact. If I ever want grilled lizard tail, you can just grow a fresh one, not bad."
Curt shivered all over, but obediently moved to the approved section.
Next, Otto/Doctor Octopus, with his four mechanical tentacles on his back, walked up with an arrogant look.
"My lord, my intelligence and these tentacles..."
"Too ugly."
Frieza interrupted him directly, not even glancing at him. "A few broken metal claws dangling around your back, it's annoying to look at. And what's with that belly of yours? My legion doesn't recruit greasy middle-aged men. Get out."
Otto: ???
Before he could react, Loki, who had been waiting nearby for a long time, directly kicked him out.
"Next."
Aleksei/Rhino, with his heavy armor and thick skin, barely passed, classified as a porter.
Then, when Felicia/Black Cat and Emma Frost/White Queen stepped forward, Frieza's eyes visibly lit up.
Felicia wore a tight leather suit, her curves fully displayed.
Emma was noble and cold, her diamond-like skin shimmering under the lights.
"Does this even need an interview?"
Frieza waved his hand, a smile of pure artistic appreciation on his face.
"Directly approved. From now on, you'll be my personal secretaries number two and three. Such high-value talent is key to improving our corporate image. Oh ho ho ho..."
Subsequently, Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto floated into the room.
Even in this situation, this showman maintained his presence.
"Controlling magnetic fields?" Frieza sensed the energy surging within him.
"Not bad, in this city made of metal, your destructive power is equivalent to half a legion. Granted."
The subsequent Mysterio, Sabretooth, Bullseye, and Taskmaster, while their abilities were flashy, were merely high-level acrobats in Frieza's eyes. However, to make up the numbers, they were reluctantly accepted.
It wasn't until the last four individuals stepped forward that Frieza put down his wine glass, leaning slightly forward.
That was Apocalypse, the oldest mutant, with blue skin, exuding the gravitas of ancient Egypt.
Beside him were Azazel, who could teleport instantly, and the blue-skinned Nightcrawler.
There was also Sebastian Shaw, the Black King, dressed in a suit, capable of absorbing energy.
Looking at the appearance and abilities of these four, a lightning bolt flashed through Frieza's mind.
These colors... this ability configuration...
Isn't this the perfect Ginyu Force?
"Good! Excellent!"
Frieza clapped excitedly, his crimson eyes gleaming with the light of discovering a treasure.
"Apocalypse, your physique, your blue skin, you're practically a born Captain Ginyu."
"Sebastian, you can absorb energy and take a beating, you're Recoome."
"Nightcrawler, you are fast and can teleport, you're Burter."
"Azazel, with that red skin, who else could it be but Jeice?"
The more Frieza spoke, the more excited he became, standing up from his throne.
"As for Guldo..."
His gaze swept across the entire room, finally landing on Loki, who was wearing a tight suit and trying to maintain order.
Short? That's relative.
Weak? Compared to these guys, he was indeed a bit lacking.
Has superpowers (magic)? It matches.
"Loki, what are you waiting for? Get in line. From now on, you're the vice-captain."
Frieza waved his hand, directly defining this makeshift team.
"From today onwards, you five will be my most elite, most powerful, and most fashionable ace unit."
"I've already thought of the name, it's called the Ginyu Force."
"Come on. Now, immediately practice your entrance poses for me."
"Apocalypse, raise your hand higher. You're the captain, you need to have the captain's authority."
"Loki, don't be lazy. Your pose is the ugliest, squat lower."