Planet Frieza 002, Legion Plaza.
Countless soldiers of the Frieza Force had gathered here.
Tens of thousands of warships hung in the sky, blotting out the sun.
The instant the blue gateway opened in the sky, a terror great enough to crush stars descended.
Boom!
Every soldier, mechanical life-form and organic alike, buckled at the knees and knelt in perfect unison beneath that presence.
"Hail the triumphant return of Lord Frieza!!!"
The thunderous roar shook the world.
Under the gaze of the multitude, Frieza's black figure strode slowly from the portal, four chains in hand, like a hunter dragging his trophies.
Behind him, the Four Cosmic Deities were dragged across the ground—bloody, broken, wretched.
At that moment, the entire plaza fell into deathly silence, then erupted a frenzy of awe and terror.
A titan whose body seemed woven from starlight!
A skeleton wreathed in the aura of death!
Though they had been made flesh and lay half-dead, the lingering divine pressure still made every soul on the field tremble.
"That's… the very fabric of the Universe?!" Thanos knelt at the very front, his violet pupils contracting violently.
As a former overlord privy to cosmic secrets, he recognized the four at a glance.
Eternity! Infinity! Death! Oblivion!
The legendary four pillars that upheld the cosmos—myths among myths!
And now… they were led like dogs in Frieza's hand?
"Lord Frieza is divine!"
Thanos's voice shook and he smashed his forehead to the ground, unaware blood had begun to flow.
This was his master!
The emperor to whom he swore fealty!
Even the Universe itself lay beneath his heel!
"Oh-ho-ho-ho…"
Frieza looked upon the stunned, twisted faces below and laughed in delight.
With a casual wave—
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Four Cosmic Deities were flung onto the plaza.
"Thanos."
Frieza's voice regained its elegant magnetism, yet to all ears it was holy decree.
"I am present!"
Thanos scurried forward on his knees to the foot of the platform, posture utterly humble.
"Lord Frieza, are… are you injured?"
"Injured?"
Frieza arched a brow, glancing at his pristine black skin.
"From these feeble old things?"
"They aren't even worthy to pedicure me."
He pointed to the four former gods clinging to life upon the platform.
"Listen, Thanos."
"My little trip has yielded decent fruit. These four, though poor fighters, look rather unique."
"I want you to build the largest exhibition hall in the Universe right here, at the very center of this plaza."
Frieza's eyes sparkled with mischievous glee. "Lock them inside specially made transparent cages. Put up plaques with their names and former titles."
"I want every employee, every slave in this cosmos to come and visit."
"Let them see…"
Frieza leaned in slowly toward Thanos, his voice low and frigid.
"This is the price of defying my will."
"No matter who it is."
"Even the laws of the Universe are no exception."
Thanos shuddered, the fanaticism in his eyes nearly igniting.
Displaying gods like monkeys in a zoo?
What arrogance! What blasphemy!
But such is the glory of the Frieza Force.
"As you command, Lord Frieza!"
Thanos roared, "I will build the strongest, clearest cage! All the Universe shall witness your divine might!"
Frieza nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent."
"Also, don't forget to charge admission. I never make a losing deal."
With those trivialities settled, Frieza did not linger in the plaza.
Voom!
He released the suffocating Black form, reverting to the petite, pristine, streamlined final form.
Though his aura was now restrained, the life-level oppression he exuded remained undiminished.
With elegant steps, Frieza returned to his lavish top-floor office.
"Hah..."
He sank into the soft executive chair, and Natasha dutifully presented a chilled glass of red wine.
Frieza took a sip, gazing at the bustling scene outside the window, his eyes gradually growing distant.
"Single Universe..." He murmured, fingers drumming the desk.
"There are no opponents left."
Even the Four Cosmic Deities had been turned into specimens.
Even the Celestials had been swept away like trash.
This single Universe designated 616 of the MCU had become his private estate.
With a single thought, he could reboot the entire Universe.
"But..."
Frieza set down the glass, and within those scarlet eyes, there was no contentment, only a greedier craving flashed.
"It's not enough."
"Far from enough."
He knew well that the Marvel World was far grander than this lone Universe.
Beyond this Universe lay countless parallel Universes, and the so-called Multiverse, even the Omniverse that towers above all.
Though he was already mighty, he could sense that against true Multiversal or Omniversal beings, his present power was still rather thin.
"The Black form is strong but before OAA, it's probably just a slightly sturdier ant, isn't it?"
Frieza disliked being an ant. If he was to be anything, he would be the one holding the magnifying glass.
"I must grow stronger."
He clenched his fist, eyes blazing with ambition.
"Black is only the beginning."
"I recall that in the system..."
Frieza closed his eyes and summoned the long-unseen system panel.
Deep within that lengthy list, several heart-stopping forms gleamed seductively.
[Diamond Form]—Unlock requirement: 100 Sextillion Fear points!
[Infinite Miracle Form]—Unlock requirement: Unknown!
"Diamond..."
Frieza licked his lips.
"Sounds hard and valuable."
"Once I unlock that form, even the Living Tribunal will have his head ripped off for me to kick around."
But harvesting Fear points from this single Universe clearly could not meet that astronomical demand.
"Seems I'll need to pay other Universes a visit."
His gaze pierced the void, as if seeing countless parallel Universes beckoning.
So many plots of land still undeveloped!
So many gardens of leeks awaiting harvest!
"Besides..."
Frieza drew the six Infinity Stones from his pocket.
"Relying solely on these rocks is a bit low-class."
"I hear there are far better things in this Multiverse."
"Like that..."
He rummaged through his Marvel knowledge base.
"Ultimate Nullifier?"
"They say one press can wipe entire timelines clean."
"And the Heart of the Universe?"
"Rumor calls it a super-relic that can erase even OAA."
A voracious grin curved Frieza's lips.
"Since I have arrived, all those things are mine."
"Whether they have owners or not, whatever catches my eye becomes my asset."
Frieza rose and strode to the floor-to-ceiling window, arms outstretched, as though to embrace the entire Multiverse.
"Tremble, Multiverse."
"Are you ready to welcome your new landlord?"
"Oh ho ho ho..."