The golden light faded.
That terrifying pressure, which had weighed down the entire Nine Realms until they could barely breathe, also receded.
Frieza reverted to that petite, pristine white, streamlined Final Form.
Although without the blinding visual impact of the Golden Form.
Everyone present, looking at this white figure only about 1.6 meters tall, held even more awe in their eyes than before.
Because they knew.
Inside this seemingly harmless shell, hid a monster capable of rebooting the universe.
"Phew..."
"Although that glittery golden color fits this Emperor's status well."
"It's too dazzling."
"And maintaining that form for too long is slightly tiring."
He descended slowly, his toes touching the broken World-Ender Greatsword.
Looking down from above at Hela, the Goddess of Death, who sat paralyzed on the ground with a dazed expression.
"Hey, Ms. Antlers over there."
Frieza's voice was light and cheerful.
"That stubborn old man Odin has already gone to hang on a tree."
"Now, this mansion named 'Asgard' is missing an obedient butler."
Frieza extended a finger and tapped Hela's forehead from a distance.
"I see your temperament is quite gloomy, very suitable for keeping order."
"How about it?"
"Interested in signing a contract to become the General Manager of the Frieza Group's Asgard Branch?"
Hela slowly raised her head.
In those eyes that were once insufferably arrogant, complex emotions were written.
Shock, fear, and... a trace of fanaticism hidden deep within.
She lost.
Lost thoroughly.
Even Odin, who had sealed her away at his peak, was crushed by this man like an ant.
Resist?
That would be seeking death.
And...
Looking at Frieza, Hela felt an inexplicable thrill surge in her heart.
This was the powerhouse she had dreamed of!
This was a true conqueror!
Compared to Odin, that hypocrite who only preached benevolence and morality in his later years, this demon who undisguisedly displayed desire and cruelty suited her taste much better!
"General Manager?"
Hela's voice was hoarse. She stood up from the ground, adjusting her messy hair.
"Sounds... seemingly much better than being locked in a dungeon."
"Smart woman."
Frieza snapped his fingers.
"Loki! Contract!"
"Coming! My King!"
Loki, who had been hiding in the distance playing dead, now ran over fawningly like a cat smelling fish.
Holding that familiar soul contract emitting a faint green glow in his hands.
"This is the onboarding procedure, sign it."
Frieza didn't even look, speaking directly.
Hela looked at the contract, sensing the not-so-strong magical fluctuation on it.
If it were before, she could tear this kind of thing to shreds casually.
But now, she didn't dare.
Because that white figure was looking at her with a smile, purple light dancing at his fingertips.
Without any hesitation.
Hela bit her finger and pressed her handprint heavily onto the parchment.
Hum!
Soul bound.
"Very good."
Frieza nodded with satisfaction.
"Since you're one of us now, clean up the house."
"Additionally..."
Frieza turned around, looking towards the distant south.
There, a scorching, irritable aura filled with the desire for destruction was stirring.
Muspelheim.
The lair of Surtur the Fire Giant.
"I hear there's a big guy called Surtur here who yells all day about causing Ragnarok and burning this place down?"
Frieza frowned slightly, wearing the disgusted expression of a landlord hearing a tenant wants to commit arson.
"That won't do."
"This house is my asset now."
"This unstable heating system should be dismantled."
With that, Frieza looked at Thanos standing aside, whose eyes were filled with longing.
"Thanos."
"Subordinate is here!"
Thanos stepped forward, kneeling on one knee, his armor clanking.
"I saw you fighting quite hard just now."
Frieza looked at him with a faint smile.
"Can't even beat a woman; that's a bit embarrassing for this Emperor."
Thanos lowered his head, ashamed.
"Subordinate is incompetent..."
"Forget it, after all, she's a local god here; having some home-field advantage is normal."
Frieza waved his hand, not intending to blame him.
"However, as my Director of Demolition, being too weak won't do."
"Since there are seven more realms to collect rent from, I'll be merciful and give you guys an upgrade."
Frieza slowly raised his right hand.
In his palm, a ball of purple Ki so dense it couldn't dissolve began to condense.
That wasn't ordinary energy.
That was the essence of the vast ocean of Ki within his body!
"Th... This is?!"
Thanos looked up sharply, unprecedented brilliance erupting in his purple eyes.
He could feel the terrifying power contained in that ball of light!
That was a leap in life level!
"Open your mouth."
Frieza waved his hand casually.
Whoosh!
The ball of purple Ki shot directly into Thanos's chest.
BOOM————!!!
Thanos shuddered violently.
He felt every cell in his body burning, cheering, splitting, and recombining!
His already incredibly tough Titan physique, under the scouring of this power, actually evolved again!
His muscles became tighter, a layer of purple-gold luster faintly appearing on his skin.
His aura instantly surged more than tenfold!
"Is this the King's power?!"
Thanos clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him that seemed capable of crushing planets, trembling with excitement.
"Thank you for the gift, my King!!"
"Don't thank me yet."
Frieza casually threw out a few smaller balls of light, which sank into the bodies of Apocalypse, Magneto, and even Loki respectively.
"Rain and dew for everyone."
"Since you took the benefits, you have to work."
Frieza pointed to the remaining few points of light on the star map.
"The ice cubes of Jotunheim, the dark elves of Svartalfheim, and that whatever god-stick Vanaheim..."
"Except Earth, the remaining seven realms."
"I give you three days."
Frieza's gaze became cold.
"Whether you kill them all or turn them into slaves."
"Three days later, I want to see the flag of the united Nine Realms planted on the highest peak of every planet!"
"As for that fire-playing Surtur..."
Frieza looked at Thanos, a cruel smile curling his lips.
"Thanos, that is your trial."
"AS YOU COMMAND!!!"
Thanos, having been strengthened, was now bursting with confidence.
Not to mention one Fire Giant, even if the remaining seven realms came at him all together, he would dare to hack through them with his double-edged blade!
"Ginyu Force! All out attack!"
Thanos waved his large hand, displaying quite the general's demeanor.
"Target—Muspelheim!"
Rumble—!
Thousands of battleships turned their bows, advancing towards that world filled with fire and lava.
---
Muspelheim.
This was a world of eternal burning.
The massive Fire Giant Surtur sat on his bone throne, playing with the huge Twilight Sword in his hand.
"Odin's aura... disappeared?"
A trace of doubt flashed in Surtur's flaming eyes.
"Asgard's defense is also broken?"
"Hahahaha!"
Surtur suddenly laughed wildly, lava flowing from the corner of his mouth.
"Could this be the moment in the prophecy?"
"Ragnarok! Is it finally coming?!"
"My greatsword is already thirsty!"
Just as he was about to get up to fulfill that destiny of destroying Asgard.
Hum—!
The cloud layer of fire in the sky was suddenly torn apart.
A massive white flagship, carrying endless oppression, descended upon this scorched earth.
Immediately after.
A purple figure fell from the sky, smashing heavily in front of Surtur.
Thanos.
At this moment, he radiated purple-gold Ki, the tyrant warblade in his hand flashing with bloodthirsty cold light under the firelight.
"Who are you?!"
Surtur gripped his greatsword alertly.
"I am the Frieza Legion, Director of Demolition, Thanos."
Thanos looked coldly at this massive fire monster.
"By order of the King."
"This place is classified as an illegal structure, possessing serious safety hazards."
"Now, we are conducting a mandatory demolition of this place."
Thanos raised his warblade, tip pointing straight at Surtur's forehead.
"Also, hand over your skull."
"The King's toilet is missing a decoration."
"ROAR!!! Arrogant insect!!"
Surtur was enraged.
He was the King of Fire! An existence destined to destroy the world!
Someone actually dared to say they wanted to use his head as a toilet seat?!
"Burn to ashes for me!"
BOOM!
The Twilight Sword slashed down with monstrous flames.
However.
Clang!
Thanos caught this giant sword with just one hand.
Purple-gold Ki acted like a shield, blocking all the flames hot enough to melt stars.
"Is this all the heat you have?"
A sneer curled Thanos's lips.
"Compared to the power granted by the King..."
"Your fire can't even light a cigarette!"
Bang!
Thanos punched out.
Carrying the Ki granted by Frieza, this punch punched directly through Surtur's chest!
The fire extinguished.
A monarch of fire, fallen just like that.
---
Meanwhile.
Above the ruins of Asgard.
Frieza sat in the hover pod, watching the fires of war lighting up in the distance, and took a satisfied sip of red wine.
"It seems these subordinates are becoming easier to use."
"The Nine Realms will soon be mine."