Spectacular fireworks bloomed in the dead silence of deep space, the final lament of the Chitauri mothership.
But it wasn't enough.
Although the "Brain" had been physically formatted, the sheer number of Chitauri escort fleets remaining in this star system was still staggering.
Like a swarm of worker bees that had lost their queen's command, after a brief moment of paralysis, they relied solely on the biological weapons' killing instinct, launching an aimless, suicidal charge toward the golden figure radiating terrifying energy—Frieza.
Countless dark blue energy beams poured down like a torrential storm, instantly engulfing the figure dressed in the expensive suit.
Boom... Boom...
Fire and light consumed everything.
Yet, when the smoke cleared, Frieza remained suspended in the vacuum, without so much as a single wrinkle on his suit. His dazzling golden hair gently swayed in the residual energy shockwaves, as if the barrage that could have flattened an entire city was nothing more than a gentle breeze across his face.
"Tsk, what a rude welcoming gift."
Frieza didn't even bother to brush off the nonexistent dust. He looked at the dense fleet before him, which resembled a plague of locusts, and a flicker of bored weariness crossed his eyes.
"Attacks of this caliber aren't even good enough to scratch an itch."
"Very well. Since you are so eager to join your mothership, I shall be merciful and grant you passage."
Frieza slowly raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and a point of dazzling crimson light instantly condensed at the tip.
Although the light was small, it seemed to contain the terrifying power capable of destroying stars.
Barrage Death Beam!
Shhh—!
The next second, countless crimson Death Beams shot out from his fingertip like a torrential downpour.
The rays were so fast they exceeded the limits of visual perception, carving arcs of death through the vacuum. Each beam precisely pierced one, or even several, Chitauri ships.
There was no resistance, no pause.
The Leviathans, renowned for their sturdy armor, were like paper before the Death Beam, instantly pierced, detonated, and reduced to cosmic dust.
RUMBLE—
A continuous chain of explosions formed a sea of fire across the cosmos.
Frieza was like an elegant conductor, his fingertips dancing as he orchestrated a symphony of destruction.
[Ding! Destroyed Chitauri escort vessel, Fear Points +500!]
[Ding! Destroyed Leviathan, Fear Points +1000!]
[Ding! Chitauri Commander detected experiencing extreme fear, Fear Points +2000!]
...
Listening to the pleasant, cash-register-like chime in his mind, the smile on Frieza's lips grew wider.
"Oh ho ho ho... that's the spirit. Even biological weapons can feel fear when faced with absolute power, can't they?"
Nearby, inside one of the surviving command ships.
The Chitauri leader responsible for commanding the fleet was clutching its head, emitting a piercing shriek as it stared at the demonic figure on the screen. Its already diminished capacity for reason was now completely overwhelmed by pure terror.
"Monster! That's a monster! Retreat! Someone inform Lord Thanos immediately!"
Unfortunately, before its signal could be transmitted, a purple beam arrived, vaporizing the leader along with the entire vessel.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, atop Stark Tower.
The enormous spatial wormhole remained open, resembling an eye peering into the cosmos.
Although the Avengers on the ground were firmly planted on Earth, they could still glimpse a corner of the events unfolding in space through that massive blue aperture.
In that moment, it was as if the entire city of Manhattan had been put on mute.
Steve looked up, his Vibranium shield hanging uselessly by his side. His eyes, which had witnessed the cruelty of countless wars, were now filled only with bewilderment and profound shock.
He had seen battle and bombings, but he had never seen a single person—a man who looked like a playboy—massacre an alien fleet in space, all by himself.
The feeling was akin to watching a mythological deity punish humanity.
"This... how is this even possible?" Steve mumbled to himself, feeling his entire worldview crumble.
In the nearby wreckage, Tony, who had just pried himself out of a wall, had a face as white as a sheet beneath his faceplate.
J.A.R.V.I.S. was sounding frantic alarms. "Sir, I am detecting extremely high energy level reactions! That energy signature... it exceeds the readings at the epicenter of a nuclear blast! If he were to unleash that kind of attack on Earth's surface, New York... no, the entire East Coast might simply cease to exist."
Tony gulped, watching the golden figure setting off fireworks in the sky, and for the first time, he felt a profound sense of helplessness regarding the concept of "power."
"J.A.R.V.I.S., is this the real estate mogul you mentioned? I think he wants to buy the entire universe just to tear it down."
As for Thor, the God of Thunder, his grip on Mjolnir tightened, then loosened, then tightened again. His instinct screamed at him to fight, but his rational mind warned him that the being above was more dangerous than any monster he had encountered in the Nine Realms.
"Even my father in his prime... he would probably only be this powerful." Thor said, his gaze heavy.
While the people on the ground were still questioning reality.
In space, Frieza had finished his cleanup operation.
The once dense Chitauri fleet had been reduced to a heap of floating space debris.
"Hmph... a little workout. Feels quite good."
Frieza straightened his collar and checked the system panel.
[Fear Points: 1 Billion]
"Oh, one billion already? It seems this little trip into space was quite worthwhile. Although I'm still a ways off from the ten billion needed to unlock the Second Form, I've managed to complete one-tenth of the minor objective."
Frieza nodded in satisfaction, then cast his gaze toward the Earth below.
Down there, a certain little blue darling was waiting for him to retrieve it.
"It's time to go back and collect the rent."
Whoosh!
The golden figure transformed into a streak of light, instantly passing through the spatial wormhole and reappearing atop Stark Tower.
The moment his feet touched the ground, an invisible sense of oppression made the air on the already ravaged rooftop grow heavy and dense.
By this time, the Avengers had begun arriving on the rooftop in succession.
Gazing at the man who was completely unharmed, whose hair wasn't even out of place, everyone's emotions were intensely complicated.
"Uh... well, your actions were a bit excessive just now..." Tony was the first to break the silence.
He opened his faceplate, revealing a forced smile. "But regardless, you saved New York, and perhaps Earth. Thanks, pal."
"That's right." Steve also stepped forward.
Although he remained vigilant, his tone held a measure of respect. "While your methods... were somewhat extreme, we still thank you for eliminating the invaders."
Natasha and Barton nodded in acknowledgment.
In their view, while Frieza's actions were bizarre and his power terrifying, he was the one who sent the nuclear bomb up at the critical moment and casually annihilated the aliens' home base.
By all appearances, he was an ally, wasn't he?
Especially Tony, whose mind was racing, wondering if he could recruit this man, who claimed to be in real estate, into the Avengers? Or at least establish some kind of technical partnership?
"Thanks?"
Frieza turned around, his gaze sweeping over the slightly battered group of superheroes, the curve of his lips conveying undisguised contempt.
"I have no need for your cheap gratitude. That stuff can't even be exchanged for a single cent at the bank."
He didn't even bother to look them in the eye, walking straight toward the spatial device that was still running.
The Tesseract lay quietly inside, emitting an enticing glow.
"This thing dirtied my building. As compensation, it now belongs to me."