Smoke was still slowly rising above the ruins.
The sickening smell of char, mixed with the lingering scent of blood, had become the only keynote of this city, once known as the "Lighthouse of Galactic Civilization."
In the sky.
A command ship, magnificent in design and representing the highest authority of the Nova Empire, shakily descended onto the scarred plaza.
The hatch opened.
There was no honor guard as in the past, nor were there flowers or applause.
Irani Rael, the Iron Lady who commanded hundreds of billions of people and dominated the Galaxy, now looked like a gambler who had just lost all her family fortune.
She walked down hesitantly, her golden uniform, which symbolized supreme power, seeming ironic and glaring against the corpses scattered everywhere.
"Oh dear…"
Frieza stood with his hands in his pockets atop a pile of spaceship wreckage. His pristine white suit shimmered under the light of the star, displaying a delicate, porcelain-like luster.
Although he was only about 1.85 meters tall, in the eyes of the Irani, he was more colossal and suffocating than the largest Celestials in the Universe.
"You've come down already, Nova Prime?" Frieza tilted his head, his crimson eyes full of mockery.
"I thought you would hide in that metal shell, crying and screaming for your mother."
"Hahaha!"
Apocalypse, Erik, and the others standing behind Frieza cooperated by letting out harsh, mocking laughter.
Loki, in particular, laughed the loudest. After all, seeing someone of higher status fall to the dust was the favorite routine of an amusement God like him.
Irani's body trembled violently. If this were before, even if Ronan the Accuser of the Kree dared to speak to her like this, she would have unhesitatingly locked him in the Abyss Prison to reflect for ten thousand years.
But now…
She glanced at the satellite fragments still plummeting from the sky.
That was a display of this devil's power, and the Sword of Damocles hanging over Xandar.
"Hoo…"
Irani let out a long, heavy breath, as if exhaling all the pride of her life.
She took heavy steps, moving closer to Frieza, one step at a time.
Then—
Under the desperate gaze of countless surviving Xandar people, her knees buckled.
Thud!
She fell heavily to her knees, kneeling before the devil who had destroyed her army. Her head was bowed deeply, almost touching the ground.
"Lord F-Frieza the Emperor."
Her voice was dry, hoarse, and filled with endless humiliation.
"The Nova Empire… surrenders to you."
This kneel was not just the bending of knees. It was the breaking of the spine of the entire Nova civilization.
[Ding! Detected that the Nova Prime has completely abandoned her dignity! Fear Points +100 billion!]
Listening to the system prompt, Frieza felt incredibly satisfied.
It was like drinking a glass of cold drink in the summer—refreshing and uplifting.
But this was not enough.
As the Universe's real estate developer, when taking over an unfinished building, he had to completely crush the original owner's psychological defense line to ensure better management later, right?
"Hmm, your attitude is quite proper." Frieza nodded, showing a seemingly benevolent smile.
"But…"
He slowly extended his right foot and gently raised it in front of Irani.
"Since you are admitting fault, you must show some sincerity."
"As the newly appointed cleaning supervisor, or rather, the toilet scrubber, helping the boss clean his shoes should be part of your duty, shouldn't it?"
This sentence was like a thunderclap, making Irani's head buzz.
Kiss… kissing his foot?!
She was the Nova Prime!
Even death would not make her endure this humiliation!
She abruptly raised her head, a flash of determined rage in her eyes.
"You…"
"Hmm?"
Frieza raised an eyebrow. "What? Unwilling?"
"Then I'll just have to blow up this planet and find a more obedient Planet to be No. 002."
"The Universe is vast, and there are plenty of obedient dogs."
This immediately extinguished the small spark of backbone the Irani had just ignited, like stomping out a cigarette butt.
Looking at the burning ruins around her, and the trembling civilians in the distance, the rage in Irani's eyes instantly died out, replaced by an ash-like despair.
If she didn't do this, everyone would die.
For survival, what the hell is dignity?
"I… I am willing…"
Two lines of humiliating tears streamed down her cheeks.
Under the gaze of all, this once high and mighty Nova Prime slowly approached the leather shoe like a humble dog.
Then, she lightly kissed it.
Snap.
This was the sound of countless Xandar people's hearts breaking. It was also the sound of their will to resist completely collapsing.
[Ding! Detected catastrophic psychological collapse across the entire civilization! Fear Points +200 billion!]
Frieza watched this scene, feeling no discomfort, but rather thinking it was only natural.
That's right.
The weak should know their place.
"Not bad. Although the technique is a bit rusty, I have received your sincerity."
Frieza withdrew his foot and disdainfully wiped it on the grass.
In truth, he just wanted to humiliate her. He would find it disgusting to have an old woman holding his foot all the time.
"Alright, stop kneeling. It's an eyesore." Frieza waved his hand.
"From now on, hand over all administrative authority, resource passwords, and fleet control of this Planet."
After speaking, he snapped his fingers.
"Charles."
Charles, who had been sitting in his wheelchair acting as a backdrop, slowly wheeled himself forward. His eyes were still vacant, but his efficiency was extremely high.
"Your subordinate is here."
"Go and have a good chat with this former ruler."
Frieza pointed to his head. "You need to ensure that everyone here, starting tomorrow, has only the word 'loyalty' in their minds."
"Understood, Lord Frieza."
Charles's powerful psychic ability instantly activated, enveloping Irani.
No interrogation was needed, no documents required.
Before the greatest mind on Earth, Irani's pitiful secrets were laid bare, as if she were naked.
The handover ceremony was simple and brutal.
Ten minutes later.
Frieza swaggered into the Nova Corps headquarters building. He plopped down on the Commander's chair, which represented supreme authority, and crossed his legs.
Comfortable!
This chair was much better than that hard wooden one on Earth. It even had an automatic massage function?
This is the treatment the emperor of the universe should have.
Just then, Apocalypse quietly walked over. He glanced at Charles, who was busy brainwashing the aliens in the distance, his blue face filled with displeasure and grievance.
"Lord Frieza …"
Apocalypse rubbed his hands, saying cautiously, "I don't quite understand. We took down this Planet, and I was at the forefront just now."
"Why… why hand it over to that cripple Charles to manage?"
"Wouldn't it be better to give the administrative power to me than to him? I was a Pharaoh in Egypt before, too."
Frieza slightly lifted his eyelids, and glanced at the big, foolish guy.
Of course, he knew what Apocalypse was thinking.
Vying for favor.
He had seen too many of these petty squabbles among subordinates.
"Idiot."
Frieza picked up an unknown alien fruit from the table, took a bite, and juice splattered.
"My Captain Apocalypse."
Frieza extended a finger and tapped Apocalypse's smooth forehead. "Do you think managing a Planet is child's play?"
"There are billions of people here, tens of thousands of languages, and complex technological systems."
"You manage it?"
"Besides killing everyone who disobeys, or building a few pyramids to bury yourself in, what else can you do?"
Apocalypse was speechless, his face turning a deep blue.
"Furthermore…"
Frieza stood up, patted Apocalypse's broad shoulder, and earnestly painted a grand vision, "You are my number one general, the face of the Frieza Force."
"To have high-level combat power like you stuck here managing logistics and collecting property fees, wouldn't that be a waste of talent?"
"Your stage is the sea of stars."
"Once the ships are built, I will take you to conquer the Kree Empire, fight the Skrulls, and even crush Thanos's head."
"When that time comes, won't there be plenty of territory for you to manage?"
These words made Apocalypse's blood boil, and tears nearly welled up in his eyes.
Lord Frieza values me this much.
I am the man destined to conquer the Universe.
I knew it, how could that cripple Charles compare to me?
"I understand."
Apocalypse knelt on one knee, his voice booming. "I will definitely kill all enemies for Lord Frieza and win the entire Universe for you."
Looking at Apocalypse, who was once again full of energy and foolishness, Frieza nodded in satisfaction. "That's the spirit."
"Go now, and sweep up the trash that hasn't been cleaned yet. I am tired and need to rest for a while."