The Dread's exact origins are unknown due to it being classified by the Dread as a 'trade secret' but here's what we do know...

-The Dread built a colony in the early previous season on Earth. They were mysterious beings who would cut peoples heads off in the middle of the night before fleeing to the icey mountains. Thus they were called the Dread. Their true names are unknown.

-The Dread used genetic engineering to make Bioslaves on Earth. The Bioslaves appear to do farming for the Dread.

-The Dread first made contact with humanity in Early 2023. Early human contact resulted in the Dread chopping off human heads after no provocation.

-The Dread lurk throughout Earth and were also spotted at the End of Time. We don't know how they survive to the End of Time but we suspect they'll be a eternal threat.

-The Dread Executives appear to have started some sort of company in the End of Time and are trading with their past ancestors for some unknown reason, all the Dread appear to organize like a corporation but in reality they're a pheremon based hive mind.

-The Dread appear to be vegitarian. So it's unknown why they choose to chop off heads since they don't appear to eat them.

-Humans were able to trade with the Dread without actually talking. This trade was done through sign language.

-This is when we discovered the Dread have a natural capitalistic instinct as well as a ability to understand people despite them not speaking.

-Humans traded rare heads that the Dread could not easily acquire themselves. In exchange we received access to the end of time where fascinating elytrian and shulker technology is easily acquired.