"Transfer procedures?"
Ronan's grip on his war-hammer tightened convulsively.
He stared at the ranks of kneeling revenant soldiers, at the way their knees had actually dented the alloy deck.
A feeling called fear slithered up his spine like a viper.
"Who are you?!"
Ronan spat the words through clenched teeth, his black-painted face twisted in a vicious snarl.
"If you hold the Space Stone, you must be a power in this Universe. But why humiliate the great Accuser of the Kree?"
"What do you want?!"
Faced with Ronan's blustering, hollow bravado, Frieza merely yawned in boredom, even using his pinky to pick his ear.
"Tsk tsk…"
"You backwater primitives ask the same tedious question every time." Frieza shook his head in mild exasperation.
"Since you've asked so sincerely, I will graciously tell you one more time."
Frieza lifted his chin slightly, crimson eyes gleaming with matchless arrogance. "I am the future Master of this Universe."
"You may call me Emperor of the universe, or respectfully address me as Lord Frieza."
"Lord… Frieza?"
Ronan froze.
He scoured the Kree Empire's databanks in his mind, even dredging up ancient legends.
There was no such person!
"Nonsense!"
Ronan laughed in fury, thrusting his battle-hammer straight at Frieza.
"Some wannabe emperor of the universe!"
"Under these stars, only the mighty Kree Empire may claim dominion!"
"Even that mad Titan Thanos dares not be so arrogant!"
"Oh?"
At the mention of Thanos, Frieza's lips curved in an amused smile.
"Thanos, huh…"
"That boy's very obedient these days."
Frieza spread his hands, speaking with utmost seriousness, "He's now my Director of Universal Demolition Office. He's diligently building starships for me on Planet Frieza-002."
"What?!"
Thanos?
The terrifying overlord who forced even him to yield and hunt Infinity Stones?
Serving this boy? As some demolition director?
"Absurd—utterly ridiculous!"
Ronan felt his intelligence had been insulted.
"You're toying with me! Thanos would never bow to an unknown wretch like you!"
Ronan cast aside that eerie force-field suppression. He raised his weapon high, violet energy swirling madly around the hammerhead.
These soldiers might kneel, but he, Ronan, was the Accuser of the Kree Empire. He wielded the Universal Weapon, capable of altering matter itself.
He refused to believe this poser could withstand him.
"Die!"
Boom!
Ronan leapt, his war-hammer crashing toward Frieza's skull with world-shattering force.
Violet shockwaves screamed through the air.
In the face of this thunderous strike, Frieza's smile only widened, brighter than ever. It was the smile of a hunter watching prey charge straight into the crosshairs.
"What a pity, Mr. Ronan."
Frieza stood motionless, merely lifting his right hand and extending a finger.
"Originally, I quite enjoy collecting talent. Your ship, your fleet—I rather liked them."
"However…"
Frieza's gaze turned ice-cold in an instant. "The moment you gained a shred of power, you thought of betrayal—an ingrate through and through."
"Keeping you in the company would be a ticking time bomb."
"In that case…"
Fsssh—
A pinpoint of violet light blossomed at his fingertip.
"Please die."
Pfft!
The violet beam pierced the proud energy field of Ronan's war-hammer like a hot knife through butter.
And then, before the Universal Weapon could even graze a hair on Frieza's head, the beam lanced straight through Ronan's chest. It swelled and detonated in the same instant.
BOOOOM!
Ronan, still airborne, didn't even have time to scream. He was instantly blasted into a crimson mist by the terrifying surge of energy.
The Universal Weapon itself shattered into countless shards that clattered across the deck.
The once-feared Accuser who had made whole planets tremble was swatted like a fly aboard his own flagship.
The kneeling revenant soldiers quaked, not daring to raise their heads.
Too terrifying!
What kind of monster was this?!
"Hoo…"
Frieza blew lightly on his finger, then waved the air in disgust to disperse the metallic reek of blood.
"Really now, you've dirtied the floor. This is my new asset, you know."
Frieza stepped over the bloodstain, strode onto and dropped into the Commander's seat.
A bit hard, not quite worthy of the emperor of the universe's posterior but the feeling of looking down from on high was rather nice.
Frieza crossed his legs, crimson eyes sweeping the trembling Kree soldiers below.
"Hey, you there."
He casually pointed to a soldier whose insignia looked slightly higher.
"Want to live?"
The soldier shuddered and began kowtowing so hard his forehead clanged against the deck.
"Yes! Yes! Spare us, Lord! We only want to live!"
The rest chorused agreement, terrified of being singled out by this death god.
"Excellent."
Frieza nodded approvingly, a smile on his face.
"I like people who know which way the wind blows. Since you want to live, things are simple."
"Congratulations—your bankrupt outfit has been wholly acquired by the glorious Frieza Force."
"From this moment on, you are proud employees of Frieza Force."
With a sweeping gesture Frieza declared, "Now, who here can pilot this rust bucket? Step forward."
Several operators shakily raised their hands.
"Good."
Frieza snapped his fingers.
"At once, without delay, set the course."
"Destination—Planet Frieza 002, formerly known as Xandar."
"Take this Dark Aster and every last escort frigate there."
"Understood?"
"Yes!!!"
All the soldiers roared in unison.