"On your knees."
Frieza's voice was feather-light.
It was the tone of an aristocrat whispering to a clumsy servant who had spilled tea at a garden party.
Yet, those three words...
Amidst the dead silence of the Manhattan ruins, they were more deafening than any explosion that had come before.
High above, the terrifying silhouette of black and gold began to dim. Like a receding tide, the oppressive darkness that threatened to collapse dimensions gradually dissipated.
The light faded.
Frieza returned to his pristine, petite, bio-organically perfect Final Form. Even his white tail hung down lazily.
"Phew..."
Frieza lightly brushed off imaginary dust, his crimson eyes radiating a sense of profound boredom.
"Far too weak."
"Even your so-called 'strongest hero' was nothing more than a slightly more durable punching bag."
"As for the rest of you..."
Frieza tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the battered, blood-soaked members of the Ultimates below. His eyes were filled with disgust.
"You aren't even worthy of forcing me to maintain my Black Gold form."
"What a waste of effort."
On the ground, the Ultimate Captain America, Steve Rogers, was on one knee.
Not out of submission, but because his left femur had snapped during the last shockwave. He propped himself up with his spider-webbed shield, forcing his head up. His blue eyes burned with unyielding fury.
"Keep dreaming..."
Cap spat a mouthful of bloody saliva, his voice rasping like sandpaper.
"You can kill us."
"You can burn this world."
"But expecting us to bow to a monster like you?"
Cap gripped his shield tight, grinding his teeth as he squeezed out the words:
"Not until Hell freezes over!"
"That's right!"
In the debris nearby, Ultimate Iron Man, Tony Stark, swayed to his feet. His signature blue armor was wrecked, exposing wiring and raw skin.
"Pal, your paint job is shiny, I'll give you that."
Tony gasped for air, his snark remaining intact even at death's door.
"But your taste? It still sucks like a pile of alien garbage."
"You want to take over Earth?"
"You'll have to ask the repulsor in my hand if it agrees!"
Zzzzt...
The weak glow of the repulsor in Tony's palm was tiny in the darkness—insignificant, yet blindingly defiant.
Looking at these "hard bones" who were clearly at death's door yet still running their mouths, Frieza didn't get angry. He simply shook his head helplessly and sighed.
"Oh my, oh my..."
"Truly a troop of wild monkeys who don't know how to read the room."
Frieza stuck his hands in his pockets, barely sparing them another glance.
"Since you enjoy playing this boring 'hero' game so much, I'll indulge you."
He glanced over his shoulder at Thanos and the Ginyu Force, who were already itching for violence.
"Thanos."
"At your command!"
Thanos stomped forward, his massive purple frame casting a long shadow over the ruins.
"Dispose of this trash for me."
Frieza yawned, turning toward his golden hover-pod floating nearby.
"I'm fatigued. I'd rather not dirty my hands any further. And remember..."
"I want them alive."
"It would be a shame to break such fine collectibles."
Hearing the word "alive," a cruel glint flashed in Thanos's eyes.
"As you wish, Lord Frieza!"
He turned to face the broken heroes, swinging his massive double-bladed sword, creating a terrifying gust of wind.
"Listen up, maggots!"
"The Emperor has spoken!"
"Time to teach these arrogant locals a lesson!"
"Attack!!!"
Rumble—!!!
With Thanos's command, the Frieza Force, hungry for blood, surged like a tsunami, instantly flooding the battlefield.
"The one with the shield is mine!"
Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur) laughed maniacally as he grew in size. His massive blue foot stomped down toward Cap like a falling mountain.
"Let's see how hard your bones really are!"
"Cap, look out!"
Cap raised his shield to block. But this Apocalypse was powered by Frieza's Ki!
Bam!
A massive impact. Cap and his shield were stomped straight into the earth. The ground cracked, sending dust everywhere.
"Cough, cough..."
Cap coughed up blood, feeling like every bone in his body was shattered. Before he could crawl up, Apocalypse's giant hand snatched him up.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Apocalypse grinned, tightening his grip. The suffocation turned Cap's face a deep purple.
On the other side.
"Tin Man?"
Magneto (Erik Lensherr) looked at the resisting Iron Man with pure disdain.
"In this universe, you're still just useless scrap metal."
Hummm—!
The magnetic field shifted.
Tony watched in horror as his armor began to crush inward uncontrollably.
"Jarvis! Eject! Emergency release, now!" Tony screamed.
But it was too late.
Crunch! Crunch!
The sound of twisting metal was gut-wrenching. The hard alloy armor turned into a lethal torture device, digging deep into Tony's flesh.
"Arghhh—!"
Tony screamed as blood leaked through the seams of the suit.
"On your knees!"
Magneto pressed his hand down.
Thud!
Tony's knees slammed into the concrete. He couldn't stand up again.
As for the hippie-looking Thor, he was currently getting jumped by Loki, Azazel, and Taskmaster.
"Oh, brother. You look even stupider than the one in my world."
Loki's energy daggers left bloody slashes all over Thor.
"Without that hammer, you're just a mortal playing with sparklers!"
Schlck!
Loki stabbed a dagger through Thor's thigh, pinning him to the ground.
"Raaah!!"
Thor roared, trying to fight back, but Azazel teleported in and kicked him square in the jaw, knocking him out cold.
Defeat.
Total, crushing defeat.
Against these villains enhanced by Frieza, the exhausted Ultimates didn't stand a ghost of a chance.
Just in this moment of despair—
Zzzzt—!
Golden sparks bloomed in the center of the battlefield. A circular portal opened, and a figure in a red cloak rushed out, hands weaving signs.
"By the Sacred Sword of Vishanti!"
The newcomer shouted, conjuring a golden magic sword and thrusting it straight at Thanos!
It was this universe's Doctor Strange.
Although this Stephen Strange Jr. was a novice compared to the Sorcerer Supreme of the 616 Universe—frankly, a bit of a hack—he chose to step up when it mattered.
"For Earth!"
Strange's eyes shone with the resolve of a martyr.
However...
Facing this surprise magical ambush, Thanos didn't even turn his head. He simply swatted backward.
Clang!!!
His purple-gold tyrant blade blocked the magic sword with pinpoint accuracy.
"A wizard?"
Thanos turned around, his purple eyes filled with deep scorn.
"I've seen parlor tricks from Ebony Maw that were ten thousand times better than this."
"You think this cheap sleight of hand can hurt me?"
Boom!
Thanos's purple-gold aura erupted. The raw energy shockwave shattered the magic sword instantly.
"What?!"
Strange turned pale, frantically trying to switch spells.
"Bolts of Bal—"
"Shut your mouth!"
Thanos didn't give him time to cast. A massive purple hand punched through the magic shield and clamped around Strange's throat, lifting him like a baby chick.
"Gack..."
Strange struggled desperately. His Sling Ring clattered to the ground, and the portal snapped shut.
"Too weak."
Thanos shook his head, disappointed.
"This is the Sorcerer Supreme of this universe? He isn't even fit to guard the Emperor's door."
Bam!
Thanos slammed Strange into the ground, knocking the wind and blood out of him. He was out cold.
And with that, the Ultimates were wiped out.
Technology, mutation, godhood, magic... under the iron heel of the Frieza Force, it was all a joke.
"Hmm..."
High above, sitting in his hover-pod, Frieza looked down at the "corpses" strewn about. He yawned.
"Over already?"
"What a boring farce."
He slowly descended, landing in front of Thanos.
By now, all the superheroes had been gathered, bound by energy shackles and metal bands, and forced to kneel in a row.
Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Doctor Strange... these heroes, usually worshipped by millions, were now as pathetic as lambs waiting for the slaughter.
"Lord Frieza!"
Thanos knelt on one knee, reporting respectfully.
"All insurgents have been suppressed! We await your command!"
Frieza floated out of his pod, adjusting his collar. He walked over to Captain America, extended his foot, and lifted Cap's chin with the toe of his boot.
Looking at that face—bloody, yet still filled with hate—Frieza smiled.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
"Captain Rogers, you don't look much like a hero right now."
"You look more like a stray dog."
"Ptooey!"
Cap spat a glob of blood and phlegm at Frieza.
Hum!
An invisible wall of Ki blocked the filth. Frieza's eyes instantly went cold.
"I see you still haven't learned how to be a good slave."
He turned around, losing interest in looking at them. He had just thought of a much better idea. An idea to squeeze the last drop of fear out of this planet.
"Thanos."
Frieza's voice was cold and cruel.
"Take them away."
"Killing them is a waste. How can we throw away such perfect examples?"
Frieza pointed a finger at the sky.
"Build me some cages. Transparent energy ones."
"Put these so-called superheroes inside, one by one."
"And then..."
Frieza's lips curled into a demonic smile.
"Hang them in the sky. In geosynchronous orbit."
"I want everyone on this planet to look up and see their saviors displayed like animals in a zoo! I want them to watch with their own eyes as their 'hope' rots away!"
"24 hours a day! Global broadcast!"
"I want this to be the most 'beautiful' view this planet has ever seen!"
This tactic was psychological warfare at its peak. Compared to physical destruction, breaking the spirit of a civilization was the ultimate devastation.
"As you command, my Lord!"
A flash of admiration appeared in Thanos's eyes. As expected of the Emperor of the Universe. This was infinitely more sophisticated than just snapping his fingers!
"No! You can't do this!" Tony screamed in despair.
"You monster! You'll pay for this!" Cap struggled wildly.
But Frieza just kept his back to them, waving his hand dismissively.
"Take them. Don't disturb my view."
Following Frieza's order, several small tractor-beam ships flew down. Giant energy cages enveloped the heroes, and under the despairing gaze of the whole world, they slowly rose into the sky.
[Ding! Detected total collapse of faith in Ultimate Universe humanity!]
[Fear Value +5 Trillion!]
[Ding! Detected Heroic Will thoroughly shattered!]
[Fear Value +8 Trillion!]
...
Listening to the sweet, melodious chimes of the system, Frieza stood atop the ruins, watching the black dots disappear into the atmosphere.
His smile was elegant, calm, and utterly terrifying.
"Ohohoho..."
"It looks like we made a killing on this deal."