Buzz—
As the snap echoed, the hatch of the largest flagship, the Emperor, opened with a roar in the sky.
Several figures, exuding terrifying auras, fell like meteorites.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
The ground trembled violently, and dust billowed.
"My little ones! Come out and greet our guests!" Frieza commanded indifferently.
As the dust cleared, it revealed a line of figures wearing neat, uniform white and purple tight-fitting combat suits.
Although the clothes looked a bit comical (especially the pointed shoulder pads), the terrifying oppressive feeling that assailed them made the hearts of all the heroes present stop.
"Roar!!!"
Standing on the far left was a purple giant, two and a half meters tall, with muscles bulging like rocks all over his body.
Thanos!
He held his iconic double-edged blade, and his purple face was filled with brutality.
"I command! Those who do not kneel, die!"
"Tha... Thanos?!"
Nick's single eye widened suddenly, and his gun almost dropped to the ground.
In this Universe, Thanos was also a notorious warmonger.
How could he be here?
And wearing such... circus clown-like clothes?
Before they could fully process this shock—
"Hmph, is this the new world we are to conquer?" An aged yet magnetic voice rang out.
Standing beside Thanos was an old man wearing a red helmet and a purple cape.
Magneto, Erik Lehnsherr!
He clasped his hands together, and countless steel bars from the surrounding ruins instantly floated up, forming a giant dragon behind him.
"Magneto?!"
Wolverine Logan of the Ultimates crawled out of the ruins, his eyes nearly popping out when he saw that face.
"How is this possible?! Didn't this old madman disappear in the last great war?"
"And... how could he listen to that boy?"
In this Universe, Erik had launched the "Ultimatum," submerging New York and killing countless people—a Super Criminal.
He was the nightmare of all heroes.
Now, this nightmare was standing behind that man like a bodyguard?
But this wasn't what made the heroes of the original Universe collapse the most.
"Oh dear, although the air here isn't great, it's still the scent of Earth." A voice with a playful laugh sounded.
Loki, toying with two energy daggers in his hands, walked out with elegant steps.
"Brother, long time no see." Loki waved at Thor holding a hammer.
"Loki?!" Thor was dumbfounded.
His brother, who had always wanted to destroy the world and was incomparably arrogant, was now also wearing those shameful tight suits?
And judging by his appearance, he seemed to be as respectful as a dog to that man in the white suit?
"What... what exactly is going on?" Steve felt his brain wasn't quite keeping up.
Thanos, Erik, Loki... and that blue-skinned Monster (Apocalypse), and that red-skinned demon (Azazel).
These guys, each of whom could be a final boss in this Universe, were now... all subordinates of Frieza?
And judging by their positions and expressions, that genuine awe and obedience definitely weren't faked.
"My god..."
Antonio gulped, his drunkenness instantly sobering by more than half.
He looked at Frieza, who was floating above all the villains, with a calm expression.
An unprecedented fear crawled up his spine to his scalp.
To be able to tame these unruly monsters into such a state, what kind of monster was this man named Frieza?
"What? So moved to see old acquaintances that you're speechless?"
Frieza looked at the dumbfounded heroes below, the smile on his lips growing brighter.
He stretched out his hand, like a collector introducing his collection to guests.
"Let me introduce you."
"This is my Frieza Force."
"And also the Demolition Team specialized in forced evictions for disobedient hold-outs."
Frieza's eyes suddenly turned cold.
"Now."
"I will ask one last time."
"Will you kneel and sign the deed, or will my employees help you loosen your bones?"
"Thanos."
"At your command!"
Thanos stepped forward, his killing intent soaring.
"Tell them what happens if they don't obey."
Thanos bared his teeth, revealing a cruel, sinister grin. "There is only one outcome. That is..."
"To become dust in the Universe."
Boom!
As Thanos's words sounded, Apocalypse, Erik, Loki, and the others behind him simultaneously erupted with terrifying auras.
That was power enhanced by Frieza's Ki. Absolute power capable of crushing any hero in this Universe.
"Turn into... cosmic dust?"
Antonio swirled the now-empty bottle, flicked it onto the rubble, and listened to the crisp shatter.
Even through his blue faceplate and a haze of alcohol, those razor-sharp eyes remained fixed on the purple titan ahead.
"Hey, big guy."
Tony's voice carried that trademark arrogance, grating and mocking.
"That get-up of yours..."
He pointed at Thanos's white-and-purple battle suit with its jagged shoulder pads.
"Did you buy it wholesale from some circus?"
"I like purple too, but that combo is raping my eyeballs."
"Planning to laugh us to death so you can inherit Earth?"
As he spoke, Tony subtly signed behind his back.
It was the cue for S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury—activate the orbital hammer, "Mjolnir Protocol."
Facing the naked insult, a muscle twitched on Thanos's violet face.
In the old days, he would have split this clueless tin man in half. But now, he was an executive of the Frieza Force and corporate image mattered.
"Ignorant insect." Thanos snorted, no anger in his gaze, only the pity one shows the dead.
"You have no idea what this uniform represents."
"It is Lord Frieza's gift, a symbol of power."
"And you lot..."
He raised the double-edge blade, its point aimed at Tony's throat.
"...don't even qualify to wear it as slaves without passing the exam."
"Enough talk!"
A roar cut Thanos short.
Steve stepped forward.
Without his cowl, that iron-hard face carried the bloodlust of a World War II veteran.
"I don't give a damn about your corporation or that pale freak floating overhead." He tightened his grip on the shield.
"This is the United States!"
"This is Earth!"
"You want us on our knees? Want our deed to the planet?"
Steve spat blood, eyes as fierce as a cornered beast.
"Then step over my corpse!"
"Just like that bastard Kang!"
The air froze.