Earth-1610.
New York.
Smoke filled the air, but a joyful atmosphere permeated it.
"Ha! I knew this blue-skinned freak from the future couldn't take a beating!"
Ultimate Iron Man Antonio Stark opened his faceplate, revealing a slightly puffy face.
He held a bottle of whiskey he'd found somewhere, tilting his head back to take a big swig.
"To victory! Cheers!"
"Stark, be serious."
Ultimate Captain America Steve Rogers wiped blood from his shield, and though he was scolding, a smile was hard to hide from his lips.
"Kang has been dealt with, the timeline is safe. We've saved the world once again."
Around them were the members of the Ultimate Team.
Thor (a hippie environmentalist in this Universe) was swinging his hammer to summon rain to put out fires.
Black Widow (Monica Chang) was contacting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cleanup crew.
And high in the sky, Sentry Robert Reynolds floated silently. Golden sunlight bathed him, making him look like a true God.
He was the strongest force in this world, the anchor for everyone.
It was his tearing apart Kang's future warship in the previous battle that secured the victory.
"It's over." He murmured to himself, his strained nerves finally relaxing.
He prepared to descend, to enjoy his teammates' cheers, and perhaps snag a drink from Antonio.
However, at that very moment.
The sky, which had been gradually clearing, suddenly darkened.
It wasn't clouds covering the sun nor was it an eclipse. Instead, a deeper, more suffocating shadow instantly enveloped the entire New York City.
"Hmm? Is it going to rain? Thor, is your rain too heavy?" Antonio drunkenly looked up, letting out a hiccup.
But the next second, the wine bottle in his hand dropped to the ground with a 'snap,' shattering into pieces.
All the heroes, all the citizens, and even S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury, who had just arrived, all froze in place.
They stared blankly at the sky.
Beyond the atmosphere, space seemed to be violently torn apart by some great power.
Immediately after.
One... two... a hundred... ten thousand!
Dense, pure white colossal warships, like a swarm of white locusts, silently filled the entire sky.
They blotted out the sun, not even a sliver of sunlight could penetrate.
The oppressive presence of the massive fleet even seemed to increase the gravity on the ground by a few points.
And on the side of each battleship, a huge, purple character, unknown in this Universe, was emblazoned.
Frieza!
"What... what is this?"
Steve gripped his shield, his voice as dry as if he had swallowed sand.
"Is it Kang's reinforcements again?"
"No..."
Nick looked at the sky.
"This scale..."
"It's simply incomparable to Kang's time-manipulating tricks."
"This is an alien invasion."
Robert high in the sky had an unprecedentedly solemn expression.
As the strongest in this Universe, his perception far surpassed ordinary people. He could clearly feel it.
In the center of that massive fleet, aboard the most luxurious flagship, a terrifying aura, one that made his soul tremble, was slowly awakening.
That aura was incredibly strong, it surpassed any being he had ever seen.
Stronger than Kang!
Stronger than Galactus!
Even stronger than him!
"What kind of... monster is this?" He muttered to himself.
Just then, an elegant, clear, yet infinitely arrogant voice, penetrated the atmosphere and boomed across the entirety of Earth-1610.
"Hello to everyone of Earth, nice to meet you."
"I am the future landlord of this Universe, and your new Master."
"Frieza."
The flagship's hatch slowly opened and a man in a white suit with golden hair, seated in a golden egg-shaped pod, slowly floated out.
Because it was a new Universe, Frieza thought it would be more appropriate to greet them in human form.
Above the ruins of Manhattan, there was a deathly silence.
Only the Golden Egg-shaped Pod, hovering low, emitted a faint engine hum.
Frieza floated in front of the pod, one hand in his pocket.
His pristine white suit formed a stark contrast with the ravaged battlefield around him. Like a white lotus blooming in a garbage dump, elegant and out of place.
"Well..."
Frieza tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes sweeping over the group of superheroes below, who looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
His gaze finally settled on Antonio, clad in blue armor.
"Mr. Blue Tin Man."
"And that soldier without a helmet."
Frieza extended a slender finger and pointed a few times in the air.
"Nice to meet you. I feel it's necessary to reiterate the ownership of this place."
"This Planet, along with this Universe, has officially been acquired by the Frieza Force as of this second."
"I, Frieza, am your new landlord, and your only Emperor."
At this, Frieza's lips curled into an extremely benevolent smile.
"So, as the newly appointed Property Manager, I demand that you immediately lay down your weapons, kneel on the ground, and kiss my toes."
"As long as you behave obediently enough..."
Frieza spread his hands, looking utterly magnanimous.
"I might consider not crushing you into a pulp like that purple-armored trash just now."
As his words fell—
"Huh?"
Antonio was stunned for a moment, then let out a sarcastic chuckle.
He opened his faceplate, his somewhat bloated face filled with absurdity. "Landlord? Emperor?"
"Buddy, did you forget to take your medicine before leaving the house?"
Tony raised the bottle in his hand and shook it. "Or are you drunk too? Want me to sober you up?"
"Stark, cut the crap."
Next to him, Steve's face was cold, his shield creaking in his grip.
This old soldier, who wasn't particularly polite or civilized, had only pure killing intent in his eyes.
"No matter what alien trash you are, this is Earth, not your playground."
"If you don't want to die, get back to your spaceship."
Even Robert, who had been hovering in the air, radiating golden light, was now frowning deeply.
He felt it.
Within that man in the white suit, there was an unfathomably terrifying power.
But he couldn't retreat.
"Leave this place."
Robert's voice was deep, carrying an undeniable pressure.
"Otherwise, I will tear you to shreds."
Facing the threats of these natives, Frieza didn't get angry. On the contrary, he laughed even more heartily. His shoulders shook, and his laughter was high-pitched and piercing.
"Oh ho ho ho..."
"Are these the so-called superheroes?"
"Truly..."
Frieza shook his head, the amusement in his eyes instantly turning into cold contempt.
"A bunch of wild monkeys who don't know their place."
"I've given you a chance. Since you don't know how to cherish it..."
Frieza slowly raised his right hand and snapped his fingers crisply.
Snap!
"Then let my employees teach you what manners are."