[The Great Tomb of Nazarick - The Throne Hall]
"Ainz-sama."
Demiurge adjusted his glasses, the firelight reflecting in the lenses. "Our human vassal has sent word. He has discovered a complete dragon skeleton. He asks if we require him to seize it."
On the Throne of Kings, Ainz Ooal Gown leaned forward. The red flames in his eye sockets burned brighter. In the game of YGGDRASIL, dragon bones were common crafting materials. The Tomb was littered with them. But in this new world, resources were scarce. A complete skeleton of a True Dragon? That was a treasure trove of high-tier data crystals and scrolls.
"A complete skeleton..." Ainz mused, his voice deep and thoughtful. "That would provide us with materials for at least 7th-tier scrolls. We cannot ignore this."
He scanned the gathered NPCs. "Yuri Alpha. Narberal Gamma."
Two maids stepped forward from the line of the Pleiades. Yuri Alpha, the Dullahan, adjusted her glasses. She looked like a strict schoolteacher. Narberal Gamma, the Doppelganger, stood with cold indifference.
"You two will handle this," Ainz commanded. "Yuri, you are Captain. Keep a leash on Narberal. Do not let her cause unnecessary trouble. Sebas Tian will remain on standby in the area for support."
"Understood, Ainz-sama," Yuri bowed deeply. Narberal simply nodded, her eyes devoid of warmth.
Demiurge turned to the magical screen. "Kingpin," Demiurge's voice dripped with authority. "Bring the Dragon Bone back to Nazarick intact. Lord Ainz has dispatched two assistants. Success is the only option. Nazarick has no place for failures."
A magic circle flared.
[The Wilson Building - Kingpin's Office]
The air in the office warped. Purple light flooded the room, followed by the smell of ozone. When the light faded, two women stood on the Persian rug. They wore maid uniforms—frilled aprons, headpieces, the whole cliché.
Bullseye, leaning against the wall, let out a snort of laughter. "So," Bullseye sneered, twirling a playing card. "They sent the cleaning crew? Just two women?"
Narberal Gamma slowly turned her head. Her eyes narrowed. "Insect."
She raised a finger.
[Tier 3 Magic: Lightning]
CRACK-BOOM.
A bolt of blue-white electricity erupted from her fingertip. It struck Bullseye squarely in the chest. The assassin didn't even scream. He convulsed, smoke pouring from his ears, and collapsed to the floor, eyes rolled back in his head.
"Narberal!" Yuri shouted, grabbing her sister's wrist. "Control yourself!"
"He insulted Nazarick," Narberal stated flatly. "He is trash."
Yuri sighed, massaging her temples. She turned to Kingpin, adjusting her glasses. "Apologies, Mr. Fisk. My sister has... a temper."
Kingpin looked at his top assassin, who was currently twitching on the floor, smelling of burnt hair. He looked back at the maid who had summoned lightning with a flick of her finger.
"No need to apologize," Kingpin said smoothly. "He was rude. Please, ladies... make yourselves at home."
"Ladies..." Narberal muttered, a look of disgust crossing her face. "Don't group me with humans."
"Enough," Yuri warned. "We are here for the Dragon Bone. Take us to the site."
[The Tomb of the Dragon - Inner Sanctum]
Inside the bronze palace, the excavation was underway. Hand laborers swarmed over the massive fossilized ribs, carefully dismantling the skeleton piece by piece. It was grueling work, but the prize was immortality.
"My Lord!" a laborer shouted from the base of the spine. "There's something here!"
Sowanda rushed over. At the foot of the massive throne, nestled between the dragon's claws, sat a Bronze Bottle. It was ancient, covered in sealing scripts. Sowanda's eyes widened. The dragon had died protecting this. The entire tomb was built around this single object.
"Beautiful," Sowanda whispered. He reached out.
"Don't touch it!" Alexandra warned from the doorway. "We don't know what it is!"
Sowanda ignored her. Greed overtook caution. He grabbed the bottle.
CLICK.
The moment the bottle left the pedestal, the sound of grinding gears echoed through the chamber. On the periphery of the room, the thousands of Bronze Soldiers jerked to life. Their eyes, previously dark, flared with crimson light.
CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.
"Intruders..." a mechanical voice hissed from thousands of mouths. "Die."
The massacre began instantly. The bronze statues moved with terrifying speed. Halberds swung, decapitating Hand laborers. Swords thrust through chests. Bullets ricocheted uselessly off their metal bodies.
"Retreat!" Alexandra screamed. "Get out!"
Three figures burst out of the inner sanctum, sprinting for their lives. Sowanda clutched the bronze bottle to his chest. Alexandra and Fongji ran beside him, dust and blood coating their expensive suits. Behind them, the screams of their men were cut short by the crunch of metal on bone.
"Quick!" Alexandra shouted to the guards at the main gate. "Close the doors! CLOSE THEM!"
The heavy bronze doors groaned, slowly swinging shut.
BAM.
A bronze fist punched through the closing gap, denting the metal. But the doors slammed shut just in time, the lock engaging with a heavy thud. Madame Gao, waiting outside, looked at the terrified Fingers.
"What happened?" Gao demanded. "Where is the bone?"
"We lost it," Fongji gasped, collapsing on the floor. "The statues... they came alive."
Gao's face turned pale. "You triggered the traps?" She looked at Sowanda. She saw the bottle in his hands.
"You idiot!" Gao hissed, stepping forward. "You sacrificed the Dragon Bone for a trinket? What have you done!"
Sowanda looked up, his eyes manic. He held the bottle up to the light. He could feel the energy radiating from it. It wasn't just Chi. It was something older. Something hungrier.
"This isn't a trinket, Gao," Sowanda whispered. "Inside this bottle... is the soul of the Dragon."
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