Earth-616, the Main Universe.
New York, Avengers Tower.
Tony was preparing an espresso, frowning at the holographic screen in front of him.
On the screen, countless red-alert windows were flashing like mad.
"Friday, what the hell is going on?"
There was a touch of irritation in Tony's voice.
"Don't tell me some dimension-bored demon's looking for fun on Earth again?"
"If it's Dormammu or Mephisto, just send Strange and be done with it, right?"
"Sir, this situation… seems different."
For once, Friday's tone carried an almost human anxiety.
"The energy signature detected… isn't from a single dimensional incursion."
"It's more like..."
"The very walls of the Multiverse are being torn open by brute force."
BOOM!!!
Before the words finished leaving the speakers, a soul-shattering roar instantly thundered across the entire planet.
Not just New York, but London, Paris, Tokyo, Wakanda…
Every corner of Earth clearly heard that boom.
Immediately after, the sky split.
Not metaphorically.
It literally, physically cracked.
A spatial rift thousands of kilometers long, like the solitary eye of a waking god, ripped open beyond the atmosphere.
Deep within that fissure shimmered a heart-stopping seven-colored radiance..
"Dear God…"
Steve rushed to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The shield in his hand creaked as he stared at the horror overhead.
"What… is that thing?"
As the spatial tear stabilized, an enormous white armada poured through like a burst dam.
Over ten thousand ships blotted out the sky.
On every hull, stamped in purple, was a character unknown to this Universe but already a nightmare across the Multiverse: Frieza.
At the fleet's fore, aboard the flagship "emperor", a floating palace of opulence, a blond, blue-eyed man in a white suit lolled within a golden egg-shaped cockpit.
He swirled red wine, an elegant yet cruel smile on his lips, gazing down at the sapphire sphere below.
"Haa…"
Frieza inhaled deeply, intoxication on his face.
"Such fresh air."
"The scent of 'main character aura' here is so thick I could swallow it in one bite."
He turned to the subordinates barely containing themselves behind him.
Thanos in black-gold armor, exuding terror.
Apocalypse, one arm missing yet still ferocious.
Loki, toying with a pitch-black dagger.
...
"Gentlemen."
Frieza's voice, amplified by the Mind Stone, echoed in every member of the Frieza Force.
"Welcome to the Main Universe."
"This is the core of the Multiverse."
"Here gather the mightiest heroes and the greatest artifacts."
"And of course…"
Frieza's gaze sharpened.
"…the most delicious fear."
"Oh-ho-ho-ho…"
"Thanos!"
"I am here!"
Thanos stepped forward, purple eyes blazing with battle-lust.
In this new Universe, he sensed countless powerful auras, and the warrior inside him seethed.
"The Earthlings here look tougher than in the last few Universes."
Frieza pointed at the Avengers already mustering below.
"Go, give them a greeting."
"Tell them, the property management fee is due."
"As you command, Lord Frieza!"
With a savage grin, Thanos swept his blade in a wide arc.
"Ginyu Force! All units, attack!"
"Let these primitives learn what true despair is!"
Boom! Boom! Boom...
Several streaks of light plummeted like meteors into the plaza before Avengers Tower.
When the dust settled, Thanos, Apocalypse, Erik, Loki, Azazel, Sebastian…
Every top villain from parallel worlds stood like ravenous wolves, eyes locked on the Avengers.
"Who are you people?!" Steve demanded, raising his shield.
Behind him, Thor gripped Mjolnir, Tony's repulsors hummed fully charged, Hulk growled low, and Carol blazed with photonic energy.
Earth's strongest line of defense!
But before this dazzling lineup, Thanos merely curled his lip in disdain.
"Avengers?"
"Before Lord Frieza's legion, you're nothing but clowns in costumes."
He lifted a finger toward the white figure in the sky.
"Kneel! Submit to the great emperor of the universe, Lord Frieza!"
"Otherwise..."
"Die!"
"Arrogant!" Thor thundered, hurling Mjolnir.
Rumble!
Lightning roared straight for Thanos's face.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Thanos didn't even dodge. He simply raised his left hand, black aura sheathing the palm, and caught the flying hammer.
Crackle—
Raging lightning exploded in his grip, yet didn't scorch even a patch of skin.
"What?!"
Thor's eyes bulged, disbelief written across his face.
He caught the hammer bare-handed?
This was Mjolnir!
"Too weak."
Thanos flicked his wrist and the hammer shot back faster than it came, smashing into Thor's chest.
Bang!
Thor was flung away, crashing through several buildings.
"Attack!"
At Thanos's order, the Frieza Force surged like tigers freed from cages, plowing into the Avengers' ranks.
After Apocalypse grew gigantic, he pinned Hulk beneath a foot, seized the green arms and, in a contest of raw strength, crushed the raging beast.
"Roar! Hulk… hurts!"
Erik spread his arms and all metal across New York became a river of steel under his command.
Tony's nano-armor actually began to come apart under that magnetic assault.
"Jarvis! What's happening?!" Tony shouted in alarm.
"Sir, the opponent's magnetic field strength… incalculable! It's beyond the limits of physical law!"
Loki singled out Stephen.
Though this Universe's Stephen was formidable, against a Loki empowered by Frieza, those mystic shields were paper-thin.
"The magic I learned in hell is far more amusing than your little tricks."
Loki's black dagger slashed through space, every strike laced with lethal curses.
Crushing dominance!
A one-sided massacre!
The proud might of the Main Universe's Avengers proved helpless before these invaders from beyond.
High above.
Frieza watched the fight and idly stifled a yawn.
"So this is the Main Universe's level?"
"A bit disappointing, honestly."
He shook his head, gaze drifting farther afield.
There, even stronger presences were awakening.
The Panther God of Wakanda, the Sea God of Atlantis, even ancient deities hidden between dimensional seams.
"Oh?"
Frieza's eyes lit with interest.
"Looks like there are a few toys worth playing with."
"Since we're here, let's turn this place into my back garden."
Slowly, Frieza raised his right hand.
"But first, we clear away the trash."
Bzzzzzz——
A terrifying gravity wave instantly blanketed Earth.
Every superhero's knees buckled beneath that pressure and they knelt as one.
Even the Hulk and Carol couldn't defy the absolute will of the emperor of the universe.
"Now."
Frieza's voice sounded in every mind on the planet.
"Does anyone object to my rule?"
Silence.
Nothing but the wind.
Frieza nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. It seems everyone here knows their place."
"Then, wwelcome to Planet Frieza-00X!"
"Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho…"