In the center of the massive ring-shaped device, a chaotic vortex was slowly rotating. Like an insatiable one-eyed gaze, it peered into the far reaches of the dimensions.
The laboratory was deathly silent. There was only the low hum of operating equipment and Tony's heavy breathing.
"Oh my."
Frieza stood before the vortex, his crimson eyes reflecting the multicolored turbulence of space-time.
"Is this the door to a new world? It looks a bit crude, doesn't it?"
He turned his head and glanced at Tony and Reed, who were slumped in front of the control console.
"Mr. Stark, Mr. Richards."
"I trust your technology very much."
"But..."
A playful smile formed at the corner of Frieza's lips.
"Just to be safe, I'll go inspect the property myself. After all, if my legion were sent to some garbage dump, it would be quite embarrassing."
Having said that, Frieza did not hesitate. He took elegant and arrogant steps.
With one step, he crossed into the chaotic vortex.
Buzz—
Space distorted and his figure vanished.
Dizziness?
Nonexistent.
For Frieza, who possessed the power of the Infinity Stones, crossing the barriers of dimensions was as simple as pushing open his own bedroom door.
The next second, that nauseating sensation of space-time pulling disappeared.
In its place was a damp smell, mixed with coal smoke, moldy newspapers, and cheap alcohol.
"Cough, cough..."
Frieza instinctively raised his hand and waved it in front of his nose, his brow immediately furrowing.
"What kind of hellhole is this? The air quality is trash."
He slowly opened his eyes, taking in this new world.
The sky was grey, with a light drizzle falling. Narrow streets surrounded him, with yellowed posters stuck to old brick walls.
Those walking on the road were not brightly dressed modern people, nor were they strange-looking aliens.
Instead, they were a group of "ancients" in dark trench coats and bowler hats, looking hurried.
Vintage cars drove over the flooded road, their horns blaring.
In the distance, the shouts of a newsboy could even be heard.
"Extra! Extra! The Great Depression continues! The stock market has crashed again!"
Is this... Earth?
And Earth in the 1930s?
"Tsk."
Frieza floated in mid-air, looking down at the muddy streets with a look of disgust.
"This is the so-called parallel Universe?"
He activated his super-vision, instantly scanning the entire Planet.
No Iron Man, no high-tech S.H.I.E.L.D. carriers.
Only backward industry and a depressed economy.
And those few so-called "superheroes" hiding in the shadows, playing detective games with revolvers.
Weak.
Far too weak.
So weak that it didn't even evoke the slightest desire for conquest.
"This kind of backwater..."
Frieza shook his head, the red light in his eyes dimming slightly.
"It doesn't even have the qualification to be a foot-washing maid for me."
"What would be the point of conquering this place?"
"To help them with poverty alleviation?"
"I'm not a philanthropist."
This kind of low-level civilization had neither high technology to plunder nor powerful beings to provide fear points.
Even the resources on this planet seemed meager.
It was practically an "unfinished building" in the real estate world.
"Boring."
Frieza didn't want to stay for even a second longer. He raised his hand, and the Space Stone flashed slightly.
Buzz!
The portal behind him opened once more.
Frieza turned around without a hint of nostalgia and stepped back into the void...
Over the next few minutes, the light of the portal flashed several times. Each time, the white figure would disappear and then quickly return with a look of disgust.
The second time, he went to a world full of zombies.
When Frieza returned, he was still brushing dust off his shoulders.
"Disgusting. It's full of the stench of rotting corpses."
"That kind of rotting meat that only knows how to bite doesn't even have the value of being a slave."
"I don't want my legion to become a group of the walking dead."
The third time, he went to a world that seemed to be made entirely of water.
"So soggy."
"I hate water the most, that's where fish live."
The fourth time... the fifth time...
Finally, after conducting a dozen consecutive "inspections," Frieza's figure stepped out of the vortex for the last time.
At this moment, his face was filled with boredom and weariness.
Like a noblewoman who had spent all day at the mall without finding a single piece of clothing she liked.
"Close it."
Frieza waved his hand casually and sat back in his comfortable executive chair.
"Mr. Stark, Mr. Richards."
"Although there's nothing wrong with your machine, the quality of these Universes is simply too poor."
Tony froze for a moment, his hand trembling as he pressed the shut-off button.
Buzz...
The terrifying vortex slowly dissipated, and the laboratory returned to peace.
Tony looked at Frieza, and a ridiculous sense of relief actually welled up in his heart.
This demon actually gave up on invading because he thought those Universes were too shabby?
"Lord Frieza..."
Reed asked cautiously, his voice extremely humble, "Then... this device?"
"Keep it for now."
Frieza yawned, leaning lazily against the back of his chair.
"Although what I've seen so far are all junk properties, who's to say we won't find a few decent high-end neighborhoods later?"
"Like some place with an Illuminati or an Infinity Ultron."
"Only the land there would be worthy of my status."
Having said that, Frieza glanced at the starry sky outside the window.
Although the flames of war there had subsided, reconstruction would still take a long time.
Thanos was leading his people in a Great Purge across the entire Universe. That meant physically destroying disobedient civilizations and turning the obedient ones into production lines. This would take time.
"Forget it."
Frieza stood up and stretched. His perfect body curves stretched under the light, emitting a suffocating sense of pressure.
"Looking at this trivial renovation work too much is annoying. I am weary."
He turned around and beckoned to Natasha and Maria, who had been waiting at the door.
"Let's go."
"Back to my island."
"I'm going to take a beauty sleep."
"This sleep..."
Frieza narrowed his eyes, a meaningful smile on his lips.
"I expect to sleep until Thanos has completely cleaned up this Universe."
"When I wake up, I hope he can provide me with a satisfactory financial report."