As the golden light faded, the terrifying pressure that had smothered the entire Nine Realms vanished along with it.
Frieza reverted to his petite, pristine, streamlined final form. Though it lacked the eye-searing brilliance of his golden state, everyone present gazed at the white figure barely a meter and a half tall with even deeper awe than before.
They knew that inside that seemingly harmless shell lurked a monster capable of rebooting the Universe.
"Whew…"
"While that glittering gold really suits an Emperor like me, it's far too flashy and keeping that form up is a bit tiring."
He descended slowly, the tip of his toe settling atop the broken World-Ending Greatsword.
He looked down from on high at Hela, slumped on the ground in a daze.
"Hey, antler lady over there." Frieza's voice was light and cheerful.
"Odin's old stick-in-the-mud has gone off to hang from a tree."
"Right now, this mansion called Asgard is short one obedient butler."
Frieza extended a finger and tapped Hela's forehead from afar. "You've got a gloomy air—perfect for keeping order."
"So?"
"Any interest in signing a contract and becoming general manager of the Asgard branch of the Frieza Force?"
Hela slowly raised her head.
Eyes once incomparably proud now brimmed with complexity—shock, fear, and… a fervor hidden deep within.
She had lost.
Lost completely.
Even Odin, who had sealed her away in his prime, had been crushed by this man like an ant.
Resist?
That would be suicide.
And yet…
As Hela looked at Frieza, a strange thrill ran through her.
This was the mighty warrior she had dreamed of.
This was a true conqueror.
Compared to the hypocritical Odin, who in his twilight years preached only benevolence and morality, the demon before her—open in his desire and cruelty—suited her tastes far better.
"General manager?" Hela's voice was hoarse.
She stood, smoothing her disheveled hair. "Sounds a lot better than rotting in a dungeon."
"Clever woman."
Frieza snapped his fingers. "Loki! The contract!"
"Coming, Lord Frieza!"
Loki, who'd been playing dead in the distance, scampered over like a cat smelling fish. In his hands, he held the familiar soul contract, glowing with a faint green light.
"Here's your onboarding paperwork—sign it." Frieza didn't even glance at it.
Hela stared at the contract, sensing the modest magical aura radiating from it.
In the past, she could have torn it to shreds with a flick of her wrist. But now, she dared not.
The white figure was smiling at her, a flicker of violet dancing at his fingertip.
Without hesitation, Hela bit her finger and pressed a bloody thumbprint onto the parchment.
Buzz!
Soul bound.
"Excellent." Frieza nodded in satisfaction.
"Since you're one of us now, tidy the place up."
"Oh, and…"
He turned his gaze toward the distant south. There, a scorching, violent presence brimming with lust for destruction was stirring.
Muspelheim.
Surtur's stronghold.
"I hear some big fellow named Surtur keeps ranting about bringing Ragnarok and burning the whole place down?"
Frieza's brow creased in the disgusted look of a landlord told his tenant plans to set the building ablaze.
"That won't do. This is now my asset. An unstable heating system like that needs dismantling."
With that, Frieza looked at Thanos, who stood to one side, eyes blazing with longing.
"Thanos."
"I am here!"
Thanos stepped forward and dropped to one knee, armor clanging.
"You seemed to have a rough fight just now."
Frieza regarded him with a half-smile.
"Couldn't even beat a woman—makes me look bad."
Thanos lowered his head in shame. "I was incompetent."
"Forget it. A native god with home-field advantage—understandable." Frieza waved a hand, no blame in his tone.
"But as my Demolition Office Director, you can't be so weak."
"We still have seven more realms to collect rent from, so I'll graciously give you all an upgrade."
Frieza slowly raised his right hand. In his palm gathered a mass of purple so thick it seemed liquid.
It wasn't ordinary energy—it was the very essence of the boundless Ki within him.
"This… this is?!"
Thanos jerked his head up, violet eyes blazing with unprecedented light.
He could feel the terrifying power contained in that glow. That was a leap in the very essence of life.
"Open your mouth."
Frieza flicked his wrist.
Whoosh!
The ball of purple flame sank straight into Thanos's chest.
BOOM!!!
Thanos convulsed.
He felt every cell in his body burning, cheering, splitting apart and re-forming.
The already mighty Titan body evolved yet again under the wash of that power. His muscles grew tighter, a faint purple-gold sheen rippling across his skin.
His aura exploded—more than tenfold in an instant.
'So this is Lord Frieza's power?'
Thanos clenched his fists, trembling with excitement as he felt the surging force that could crush planets.
"Thank you for your grace, Lord Frieza."
"Don't thank me yet."
Frieza casually tossed out several smaller globes of light, which sank into Apocalypse, Erik and even Loki.
"Everyone gets a share."
"Now that you've taken the benefits, it's time to work."
Frieza pointed to the remaining dots on the star-chart.
"The ice blocks of Jotunheim, the dark elves of Svartalfheim, and whatever holy-men are left in Vanaheim…"
"Seven realms remain, apart from Earth."
"I'm giving you three days."
Frieza's gaze turned cold. "Whether you kill them all or turn them into slaves makes no difference."
"In three days, I want the banner of a unified Nine Realms planted on the highest peak of every planet."
"As for that fire-loving Surtur…"
Frieza looked at Thanos, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "Thanos, he's your trial."
"Your wish is my command!"
Empowered, Thanos's confidence soared. Even if the remaining seven realms ganged up on him, he'd charge in with his weapon.
"Ginyu Force! All units deploy!"
With a sweeping gesture worthy of a grand general, Thanos pointed ahead.
"Target—Muspelheim!"
Rumble!
Thousands of warships turned their prows toward the world of flame and lava.
—
Muspelheim.
It was a realm that burned for eternity.
Surtur sat upon his bone-white throne, idly twirling the massive twilight sword.
"Odin's aura… vanished?"
Flames flickered in puzzlement within Surtur's burning eyes.
"Asgard's defenses… breached?"
"Hahahaha!"
Surtur burst into wild laughter, magma dribbling from the corners of his lips.
"Could this be the moment foretold?"
"Has Ragnarok finally come?"
"My sword is already thirsty."
Just as he rose to fulfil his destiny of destroying Asgard—
Boom!
The fiery clouds overhead were torn apart and a colossal white flagship descended upon the scorched Earth, bringing boundless pressure.
Immediately after, a purple figure dropped from the sky and slammed to the ground before Surtur.
Thanos.
Wreathed in purple-gold flame, his blade gleamed blood-thirsty beneath the firelight.
"Who are you?!"
Surtur gripped his greatsword warily.
"I am the Demolition Office Director of the Frieza Force—Thanos." Thanos regarded the towering fire-monster coldly.
"This place is an illegal structure and poses a serious safety hazard. By Lord Frieza's order, we are now commencing forced demolition."
He raised his blade, its tip levelled at Surtur's brow. "Also, hand over your skull. Lord Frieza's lavatory needs a decoration."
"ROAR!!!"
"Impudent insect!"
Surtur raged.
He was the Fire Lord! The destined destroyer of worlds!
And someone dared claim his head for a toilet seat?!
"Burn to ash!"
BOOM!
The twilight sword came down in a torrent of flame.
Yet—
Clang!
Thanos caught the massive blade with a single hand. Purple-gold aura formed a shield, keeping the star-melting fires at bay.
"Is that all the heat you've got?" A contemptuous smile formed on Thanos's lips.
"Compared with the power Lord Frieza granted me, your fire can't even light a cigarette."
Bang!
Thanos punched.
Fueled by Frieza's Ki, his fist punched straight through Surtur's chest.
The flames died and the fire monarch fell.
Meanwhile—
Above the ruins of Asgard.
Seated in his hover-pod, Frieza sipped red wine and watched distant wars ignite, satisfied.
"Looks like these underlings are getting more useful. The Nine Realms will soon be mine."