Frieza Tower, Top-Level Laboratory.
A massive holographic projection unit was humming.
Countless bubble-like universe models floated gently in the air, rising and sinking. Each bubble refracted bizarre and motley scenes from within.
"My Lord, please take a look."
Reed Richards, hunched over, carefully swiped across the console.
Ever since witnessing Frieza blow up a Celestial with a single punch, this former Mr. Fantastic hadn't been able to stand up straight.
"After filtering out dead universes with no signs of life, as well as low-level universes still in primitive ages..."
"There are currently three candidate targets that meet your criteria for 'high-value real estate'."
Reed's trembling finger tapped on a red bubble.
Hum!
The image instantly magnified.
It was a world filled with smoke and the fires of war.
"Designation: Earth-2149. The Zombie Universe."
"The superheroes there have been infected by a virus. They possess undead characteristics and are filled with... hunger."
"Tch."
Frieza, sitting in his executive chair and swirling a glass of red wine, frowned with disgust.
"A rotten-tail project."
"A bunch of rotting corpses that only know how to eat. They can't help me repair spaceships, nor can they provide high-quality Fear (since their brains are broken)."
"A place reeking of such foul stench... I wouldn't take it even if you gave it to me for free. It's a waste of space."
"Next."
Reed nodded hurriedly and switched to the next image.
"Designation: Earth-838."
"This universe is ruled by an organization called the 'Illuminati.' Technology is highly advanced, and..."
"Too boring."
Frieza yawned, his crimson eyes showing not a ripple of interest.
"A group of self-righteous hypocrites who hold a meeting just to discuss lunch? No thanks."
"Although there's some profit to be made, dismantling such an orderly place doesn't give me enough of a kick."
"Anything else?"
"Yes! There is one more!"
Reed took a deep breath and clicked on the final coordinate.
Designation: Earth-1610.
The Ultimate Universe.
In the image, a scarred and battered New York City appeared.
Although ruined, it was filled with a wild, savage vitality.
And in the center of the image, a group of superheroes in varying costumes stood atop the ruins, cheering in celebration.
Under their feet lay the corpse of a man in purple armor and a blue mask—Kang the Conqueror.
"Oh?"
Frieza's eyes lit up slightly.
He put down his wine glass, leaned forward, and examined the people in the image with interest.
That Iron Man in blue armor looked even more irritable than the Tony of his own world.
That Captain America without a mask, looking fierce and holding a severed arm of his enemy.
Most importantly.
Hovering behind the crowd was a long-haired man draped in a yellow cape, his entire body radiating a golden glow.
That aura...
Even across the dimensional barrier, Frieza could sense a familiar, delightful scent of a strong fighter.
"Who is that Goldilocks?"
Frieza extended a finger and pointed at the man in the image.
"Reporting to My Lord."
Tony Stark (Resurrected Version), standing to the side, glanced at the screen and spoke with a complex expression:
"According to data analysis, that is the Robert Reynolds of that universe. Codename: 'Sentry'."
"Unlike the junkie in our world, the version in this universe seems much more stable. And much more powerful."
"Sentry, is it?"
The smile on Frieza's lips widened gradually, becoming elegant yet cruel.
"Stable is good."
"The more stable the mind, the more delicious the Fear Points produced when it finally breaks, don't you think?"
He glanced again at the smoking ruins of that world.
And at those heroes, exhausted but with eyes shining with that foolish hope of "We won."
"Just finished a tough battle?"
"Immersed in the joy and relaxation of victory?"
"My, my..."
Frieza stood up and adjusted the collar of his pristine white suit.
"Isn't this the perfect time to make an entrance?"
"The drama of instantly falling from the peak of hope into the abyss of despair..."
"Is this Emperor's favorite show."
"This is the one!"
Frieza waved his hand, making the decision.
"I have taken a fancy to this plot of land!"
"Notify Thanos. Tell him to bring his fleet, and that bunch of rice buckets called the Ginyu Force."
"We are going to deliver a big gift to our new neighbors!"
"Oh ho ho ho..."
...
The Multiverse, Earth-1610.
New York.
Smoke filled the air, but the atmosphere was brimming with joy.
"Ha! I knew this blue-skinned freak from the future couldn't take a punch!"
Ultimate Iron Man, Antonio Stark, opened his faceplate to reveal a slightly puffy face.
He held a bottle of whiskey he'd picked up from who-knows-where and took a huge swig.
"To victory! Cheers!"
"Stark, be serious."
Ultimate Captain America, Steve Rogers, wiped the blood from his shield. Though he was scolding, he couldn't hide the smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Kang has been dealt with. The timeline is secure."
"We saved the world. Again."
Around them were the members of the Ultimates.
Thor (a hippie environmentalist in this universe) was swinging his hammer to summon rain to put out the fires.
Black Widow (Monica Chang) was contacting SHIELD's cleanup crews.
And high in the sky.
Sentry, Robert Reynolds, hovered quietly.
Golden sunlight bathed his body, making him look like a true god.
He was the strongest force in this world, the reassurance for everyone.
In the battle just now, it was he who tore apart Kang's future battleship with his bare hands, cementing the victory.
"It's over."
Sentry whispered to himself, his tense nerves finally relaxing.
He prepared to descend to enjoy the cheers of his teammates, and maybe see if he could bum a drink off Stark.
However.
In that very moment.
The sky, which had been gradually clearing, suddenly darkened.
It wasn't dark clouds blocking the sun.
Nor was it an eclipse.
It was a deeper, more suffocating shadow that instantly enveloped the entire city of New York.
"Hm? Is it going to rain? Thor, isn't this rain a bit too heavy?"
Tony looked up drunkenly and hiccuped.
But the next second.
Crash!
The bottle in his hand fell to the ground and shattered.
All the heroes, all the citizens, and even Nick Fury who had just arrived...
Froze in place.
They stared blankly up at the sky.
Outside the atmosphere.
Space seemed to be torn apart by some great force.
Immediately following.
One ship... two ships... a hundred ships... ten thousand ships!
A dense swarm of colossal, pure white warships, like a plague of white locusts, silently filled the entire sky!
They blotted out the sun!
Not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate!
The oppressive mass of the fleet seemed to increase the gravity on the ground itself.
And on the side of every warship.
Was printed a huge, purple Chinese character that no one in this universe recognized—
"福" (Fu - Fortune/Frieza)
"What... What is that?"
Cap gripped his shield tight, his voice dry as if he had swallowed sand.
"More of Kang's reinforcements?"
"No..."
Nick Fury looked at the sky.
"This scale..."
"It's not something Kang's little time tricks can compare to."
"This is an alien invasion!"
High in the sky, Sentry's face became graver than ever before.
As the strongest in this universe, his perception was far beyond ordinary people.
He could clearly feel it.
In the center of that massive fleet, on that most luxurious flagship...
A terrified aura, strong enough to make his soul tremble, was slowly awakening.
That aura was stronger than any existence he had ever seen!
Stronger than Kang!
Stronger than Galactus!
Even stronger than himself!
"Where the hell... did this monster come from?"
Sentry muttered.
Just then.
An elegant, crisp voice, filled with infinite arrogance.
Pierced through the atmosphere and exploded over the skies of Earth-1610.
"People of Earth, Minna-san (Everyone), nice to meet you."
"I am the future landlord of this multiverse, and your new master."
"Frieza."
The hatch of the flagship slowly opened.
A man wearing a white suit with golden hair, sitting in a golden egg-shaped hover pod, slowly floated out.
Since it was a new universe, Frieza felt it was more appropriate to greet them in his Human Form.