Jotunheim, Realm of the Frost Giants.
This place was covered in blizzards all year round; cold was the only melody here.
RUMBLE————!!!
A massive white battleship broke through the ice layer, hovering above the Frost Throne.
Thanos, draped in purple-gold Ki, descended from the sky like an unstoppable demon god.
On the double-edged tyrant warblade in his hand, the scorching magma blood of Surtur still dripped, landing on the ice with sizzling sounds.
Before him were tens of thousands of shivering Frost Giants.
And the once insufferably arrogant King Laufey.
"This is the so-called cold?"
Thanos looked around indifferently.
In those purple eyes, there was no pity, only calculation of mission progress.
"Compared to the King's cold gaze, the temperature here is as warm as a hot spring."
"You... Who are you?!"
Laufey raised the ice spike in his hand tremblingly.
"Someone from Asgard? No, you don't have that disgusting stench of Odin on you!"
"Who I am is not important."
Thanos took a step forward. The glacier beneath his feet instantly cracked with countless fissures, extending all the way to Laufey's feet.
"What is important is that your rent is due."
Thanos grinned, revealing a hideous smile full of capitalist aura learned from Frieza.
"By order of King Frieza, asset liquidation is being conducted on the Nine Realms."
"I give you two choices."
Thanos held up two thick fingers.
"First, sign a contract of servitude, become glorious miners, and dig out all those rare metals underground for me."
"Second..."
Thanos swung the warblade in his hand violently. A purple blade beam instantly shaved off the top of an iceberg in the distance.
"Become ice sculptures to decorate the King's backyard."
Watching that mountain peak being shaved flat instantly, the ice spike in Laufey's hand fell to the ground with a clatter.
This was power.
Absolute power that gave people not even the thought of resistance.
"We... We will mine!"
Laufey knelt, and other Frost Giants also knelt one after another.
"Very good."
Thanos nodded with satisfaction and pressed the communicator by his ear.
"Reporting to the King. Jotunheim, reception complete."
---
Similar scenes played out successively in Vanaheim, Alfheim, and Svartalfheim.
Possessing the Ki granted by Frieza, plus those ten thousand battleships capable of leveling galaxies.
The Ginyu Force led by Thanos was simply a group of thugs rushing into a kindergarten.
The so-called Nine Realms?
In front of absolute strength, they didn't even make a splash.
In less than two days.
Except for the ruined Asgard and Planet Frieza 001.
The remaining seven realms all had that flag printed with the purple "Fu" character planted on them.
---
Asgard, atop the ruined Golden Palace.
Frieza still sat in that golden hover pod.
Holding a glass of ten-thousand-year-old divine brew dug out from Odin's private cellar.
He watched the coordinate points on the holographic star map turning from red to green one by one, his mood excellent.
"Ohohoho..."
"As expected of the talent this Emperor set his eyes on; Director Thanos is indeed competent."
Frieza took a sip of wine, his gaze turning to the deeper space even further away.
There, was the Large Magellanic Cloud.
The territory of the Kree Empire.
At this moment, Kree Empire Homeworld — Hala.
Inside the hall of the Supreme Intelligence, dead silence reigned.
Those Kree Accusers, usually high and mighty, priding themselves as an advanced cosmic civilization.
Were now watching the footage of the Nine Realms falling on the screen, faces pale as if mourning their parents.
That was the Nine Realms!
Odin's territory, which even their Kree Empire dared not provoke easily!
Actually completely annexed by that guy named Frieza in just a few days?
Even Surtur, known as undying, was killed? Even Frost Giants went to mine?
"Supreme Intelligence..."
An Accuser asked with a trembling voice:
"We... what should we do? According to calculations, their next target is very likely to be..."
"In this universe, survival is the first priority."
The massive green face of the Supreme Intelligence appeared on the screen, voice mechanical and cold.
But if listened to carefully, one could seemingly hear a trace of fear?
"Send a congratulatory message to the Frieza Group."
The Supreme Intelligence, after billions of calculations, finally reached a conclusion.
"And attach an 'Interstellar Mutual Aid Agreement,' stating we are willing to provide technical support and resource sharing, as long as he doesn't come to conquer us."
"Also, destroy all records of that idiot Ronan. Say he was a temporary worker, and his personal actions have nothing to do with the Kree Empire!"
---
Ruins of Asgard.
Frieza seemed to sense something, a playful smile curling his lips.
"Oh my, my. It seems some rats are already getting scared."
He slowly floated out of the hover pod.
"Since everyone is paying so much attention here..."
"Then this Emperor should also deliver an acceptance speech."
Hum—!
Frieza raised his hand, and the light of the Mind Stone instantly amplified his spiritual power.
Through some indescribable means of cosmic broadcasting.
His voice, in that instant.
Crossed the distance of light-years, exploding over every planet in the galaxy possessing higher intelligent civilization!
"Citizens of the universe, good evening."
Frieza's voice was soft, elegant.
"I am Frieza."
"The future master of this starry sky, and your sole creditor."
Frieza hovered at the top of the World Tree.
Beneath his feet was the ruined Asgard, behind him the mighty white fleet.
"I am happy to inform everyone of good news."
"The Nine Realms, this area once held by that stubborn old man Odin."
"Is now officially renamed—Frieza Galaxy Development Zone 001."
"Every planet, every speck of dust, even every ray of light here, is now this Emperor's private property."
At this point, Frieza's tone turned abruptly cold.
"Therefore..."
"If anyone present wants to come to this development zone for tourism, business, or just passing through."
"Please remember to go to the Earth Office to apply for a pass and pay the toll in full."
"If anyone dares to intrude without permission, or has any improper thoughts about this Emperor's assets..."
"The moon and the satellites of Xandar are the best examples."
"I assume everyone here is smart and won't do things that make it difficult for this Emperor, right?"
"Ohohoho..."
Laughter fell.
The entire galaxy fell into a deathly silence.
No civilization dared to make a sound at this moment, not even daring to breathe loudly.
This was deterrence.
This was the prestige of a Galactic Emperor!
Frieza retracted his hand with satisfaction, watching the Fear Points soaring again on the system panel, his mood reaching the peak of pleasure.
"Not bad, this advertisement was very effective."
"It seems unlocking the next form isn't far off."
However.
Just as Frieza was about to turn back to the spaceship to enjoy a massage from Natasha.
A strange, massive, suffocating hunger suddenly came from the depths of the distant starry sky.
That wasn't ordinary hunger.
It was a greed and emptiness as if wanting to devour all things, chew up the entire universe and swallow it.
"Hm?"
Frieza stopped, turning around abruptly.
His scarlet eyes stared dead at the void above Asgard.
The originally dazzling starry sky suddenly darkened.
As if a massive black cloth had blocked all light.
Immediately after.
Two points of purple light, dazzling like stars, lit up in the darkness.
Those were eyes.
A pair of eyes huge enough to overlook a galaxy!
And beneath those eyes.
A giant wearing a purple helmet and dark red armor, whose size was indescribable in words.
Was piloting a circular ship larger than a planet, slowly breaking through space, descending into the orbit of Asgard!
Galactus!
"Smells good..."
An ancient, vicissitudinous voice, seemingly from the beginning of the universe, echoed through the entire Nine Realms.
In that voice, there was uncontrollable appetite.
"Such pure energy..."
Galactus's massive head lowered slightly, gaze locking onto Frieza hovering above the ruins of Asgard.
Or rather, locking onto the vast ocean of Ki within Frieza's body.
"This planet... and this little one..."
Galactus extended a hand large enough to cover a continent, slowly grabbing towards Frieza.
"Looks very delicious."
"Since I'm here, then be my dinner."