Deep in the Universe, in a dimensional space beyond material boundaries.
There is no time here, no space, only pure concepts and rules flow.
Buzz—
Starlight converges, and the Nebula flows.
Four grand figures, too massive to be observed by the naked eye, manifested in this void.
Eternity.
His body is the star map of the entire Universe, countless galaxies are born and extinguished within him.
Infinity.
She is the concretization of space, her golden radiance representing endless dimensions.
Oblivion.
He is the incarnation of nothingness, the opposite of all existence.
And Death.
The goddess draped in a black cloak with only a skeletal face.
Of the five cornerstones of the Universe, one was missing. That position originally belonged to Galactus.
But now, that position was empty, not even a trace of energy residue remained.
This wasn't just losing a companion. It meant that a corner of the Universe's foundation had collapsed.
"Galactus... has disappeared."
Eternity's voice was grand and deep, as if countless galaxies were vibrating simultaneously.
"Not just Galactus."
Infinity's golden phantom trembled slightly, her tone laced with an unconcealable panic.
"The Celestials... an entire combat sequence, ten of them."
"In less than a second, they were completely erased."
"Without even a chance to return to the World Forge."
"It was by that mortal... Frieza."
At the mention of this name, these four existences representing the highest rules of the Universe actually fell into silence simultaneously.
Fear.
That was an emotion they had never experienced in hundreds of millions of years. But now, this emotion was like a virus.
Following their network of rules, it spread to every corner of the entire Universe.
"He has the six Infinity Stones in his hand."
In the empty eye sockets of Death, ghostly fire flickered.
"Moreover, his own power is a terrifying energy sufficient to tear reality apart and even rewrite definitions."
"He is a variable, a giant bug capable of causing the entire Universe to restart."
Oblivion spoke coldly, the surrounding void shattering piece by piece due to his anger.
"If we don't stop him, we, too, will die."
These words tore away their last layer of pretense.
They weren't worried about the safety of the Universe. They were worried about whether they could keep their seats on their divine thrones.
That fellow named Frieza had too big an appetite. He treated Planets as real estate and civilizations as slaves.
If he was allowed to keep going like this, would this Universe still be their Universe?
Wouldn't it become a private enterprise of the Frieza Force?
"We must act." Eternity made a decision.
"But he possesses the Infinity Stones. With just us, the chances of winning... are hard to say."
"Then go find the judge."
"Go find that existence representing the supreme will."
"Apply for a Universe-level sanction!"
...
The gap in the multiverse, the Land of Judgment.
There is no color here, no direction.
Only a golden giant, massive enough to hold an entire single Universe in his hand, quietly floats in the void.
He has three faces.
Representing Equity, Necessity, and Vengeance respectively.
The top of his head is not covered, symbolizing that above him is the only supreme one (OAA).
The Living Tribunal.
The highest judge of the multiverse, a supreme existence second only to OAA.
Buzz——
Four streaks of light cut through the void, they were the four great gods arriving to complain. Before the Living Tribunal, they were as small as four specks of dust.
"Living Tribunal."
Eternity spoke first, his tone humble to the extreme.
"In Universe 616, an extremely serious rule-breaking event has occurred."
"A mortal named Frieza, by stealing the Infinity Stones, has obtained power that breaks the balance."
"He killed Galactus and erased the Celestials."
"He is attempting to turn the entire Universe into his private property."
"This seriously violates the Basic Law of Cosmic Operation."
"We request the Tribunal to hand down judgment, strip him of his power, and erase him from existence."
The four lowered their heads together, waiting for the Living Tribunal's ruling.
In their view, this was practically a done deal. After all, Frieza had gone too far, practically challenging the bottom line of the entire cosmic system.
However, time passed minute by minute and that massive golden giant still kept his eyes closed, his three faces showing no expression.
Just as the gods were feeling uneasy—
BOOM!!!
The Living Tribunal's voice boomed directly in the depths of their consciousness.
"Dismissed."
A simple word.
Yet it was like a heavy hammer, smashing fiercely against their chests.
"Wha... What?!"
Eternity looked up in disbelief.
"Dismissed? But he killed Galactus! He destroyed the balance!"
The middle face of the Living Tribunal, the face representing Equity, slowly opened its eyes. In that gaze, there was no anger, no pity. Only absolute, chilling indifference.
"Balance?"
The Living Tribunal's voice was as cold as a machine.
"Survival of the fittest, that is the most fundamental balance of the Universe."
"The individual named Frieza has not borrowed power from any external dimensions, nor has he introduced threats from outside the multiverse."
"What he uses, whether it be Ki or the Infinity Stones, are all powers permitted to exist within the rules of this Universe."
"Since it is power within the rules, if he defeats you and replaces you, then that is the new rule."
The Living Tribunal's three faces turned simultaneously, looking down at the four gods.
"The so-called emperor of the universe, the so-called rule, is merely an asset reorganization in the process of cosmic evolution."
"As long as he does not attempt to destroy the structure of the multiverse, as long as he does not attempt to challenge the authority of the One Above All, this is legal."
"The Tribunal shall not interfere."
These words sounded high-sounding, but translated, they meant: He seized the territory with his own ability and killed with his own ability, why should I care?
If you can't beat him, that's because you're weak, don't bother me.
"But... but..."
Death still wanted to say something.
Buzz!
An irresistible repulsive force instantly erupted.
"Withdraw."
The Living Tribunal closed his eyes and fell back into slumber.
The four gods were blasted out of the Land of Judgment by this force, returning to that dead cosmic space.
Silence.
A suffocating silence.
The four big bosses of the Universe now looked at each other, their faces incredibly grim.
They had been abandoned by the highest law enforcement agency.
"Is this the so-called Equity?"
Oblivion let out a cold laugh, the surrounding space constantly collapsing due to his emotional fluctuations.
"To put it bluntly, he thinks that as long as Frieza doesn't tear down this building, he can mess around inside however he wants, right?"
"Since the judge won't handle it..."
Infinity's figure began to expand, a resolute killing intent leaking from the golden light.
"Then we can only enforce the law ourselves."
"That's right."
Eternity's massive body began to shrink, eventually condensing into a more solid and dangerous form.
"We cannot sit and wait for death."
"Frieza's current target is the material realm, but soon, he will reach his hand into the conceptual realm, toward our authority."
"Once he fully digests the power of the six Infinity Stones, we really will only be able to be his employees."
In Death's empty eye sockets, the ghostly fire burned as if it were substantial.