Crackle, crackle.

Monkyspanner's fur bristled all over his body. Each strand surged with energy, standing on end as his golden pelt blazed like a star. His pupils turned to pure gold, eyes burning with a light that seemed to pierce through the void.

A golden aurora cloaked him, while blue sparks raced across his fur, flooding his body with unstoppable power.

Lightning made of light itself swept outward, shaking the dimension.

The sheer, overwhelming energy rattled the heavens and the earth. At that moment—Monkyspanner stood as the mightiest being in this space.

This was his final, hidden trump card—one no one had expected.

The hidden race Vegetable's ultimate skill: [Super Ape Ascension].

With its activation, every negative status vanished. Every strike now carried a golden aura, cutting through defenses as if they were paper. His entire being ignited, explosively amplifying his stats and combat power.

The skill had three stages—each stage pushing him higher, his light, aura, and sparks multiplying to terrifying levels. But the price was steep: each activation devoured massive chunks of HP and MP, while consuming his racial levels. Though levels could be regained through experience, regaining hidden classes demanded far greater effort than ordinary ones. It was a skill no sane warrior would use lightly.

And yet, Monkyspanner had saved this last breath of strength, feigning defeat until he was bound—just for this moment.

For this one chance!

He had read his enemies' intentions well. They wanted him alive, wanted to bend his loyalty through magic. Most likely through the Tenth-Tier spell Dominate Mind. That was why he had waited for the instant their vigilance would falter—the moment the leader, Ainz, would personally cast the spell.

This was the moment I was waiting for!

All defenses dropped. The commander stood seemingly unguarded. That was the instant Monkyspanner unleashed his life's greatest strike, his final, supreme blow, straight at Ainz.

The guardians rushed to defend—but they were too slow. His empowered movements eclipsed them all.

"DIIIIE!!!"

His golden radiance consumed the space. Even the guardians faltered, their reactions too late. Even Ainz himself stood frozen as Monkyspanner's fist, blazing like the sun, hurtled toward his masked face.

Belatedly, attacks lashed at him. He threw aside his sacred treasures—Ruyi Jingu Bang and the Adamant Bracelets—to buy time. Even barehanded, this would be enough.

Everything he had, he poured into that strike.

Gods of Shinshi! People of Dragon's Dream! Grant me your strength!

Blood boiled, life force surged, and all of it poured into his clenched fist. His blow, carrying the brilliance of the sun, drove toward Ainz.

The world roared—

KRAAAAAASH!!!

But Monkyspanner never saw the blade that pierced him.

"—What?!"

From behind Ainz, a black halberd thrust forward, impaling his chest.

"Gahh!"

Monkyspanner coughed blood, his body shuddering. His golden aura flickered.

"You wretched ape!" Albedo's voice rang cold and furious. "How dare you raise your filthy hand against Ainz-sama, who bestowed his grace upon you? Know your place!"

The black-armored Guardian, who had never left Ainz's side nor lowered her vigilance for even a breath, had struck. Her weapon, the [True Ginnunga Gap], had shifted form into a bardiche that tore through his chest, shredding his insides with merciless force.

Already weakened by the cost of Super Ape Ascension, Monkyspanner had no strength left. The wound was fatal.

Blood gushed, golden sparks scattered, and his radiant light faded. Kneeling, eyes dimming, he exhaled one last sigh.

"Ah… so easy… huh…"

He had hoped for his final strike to land, to at least mark the enemy leader. But in the end, he had failed.

And yet—

Not bad… not bad at all.

It wasn't the death he wished for, not beside his Creator. But dying in a battle so fierce, so desperate, against overwhelming odds—there was honor in that.

Even if he hadn't struck the killing blow, he had at least defied their intent. He would die with his spirit intact, unbroken.

Crackle, crackle.

Monkyspanner's fur bristled, each strand standing on end, charged with the last remnants of life. His golden pelt glowed faintly, though the brilliance was fading fast. As he stared at the dumbfounded enemies before him, a fragment of memory surfaced—

One hundred and fifty years ago, in the days when Shinshi was thrown into chaos and still struggling to recover, the Twelve had debated ways to awaken their God.

Among the proposals was a grim idea: What if they sacrificed the chosen? If the God's blessed children were slain, might their deaths ripple through the divine connection and stir Him from His slumber?

But the thought was cast aside. One did not recklessly disturb a god's rest, nor could they justify murdering His chosen under the guise of "experimentation."

Another proposal suggested using the shrine maiden's powers, her miracles perhaps enough to rouse Him. Yet this too was denied—it was no different than sacrificing the faithful. Other ideas arose, but all were struck down for the same reason.

And yet, now of all times, that memory returned to him.

As his consciousness ebbed, Monkyspanner prayed:

If the God awakens… then may He save Shinshi from this peril.

—Thud!

His HP finally reached zero. Monkyspanner's colossal simian form began to turn to gray dust, crumbling away into nothing. Only the clatter of his treasured weapons and relics remained, falling lifelessly to the ground.

And at that very same moment—

Deep in the darkness of a vast cavern, warning chimes echoed.

[Warning: Guild-affiliated NPC is under attack by an enemy guild.]

Scarlet panels flared, one after another, their glow briefly illuminating the vastness of what they intruded upon. With each flash, glimpses of something immense were revealed—something that nearly filled the grand temple chamber.

A colossal form, sleek yet armored in scales harder than steel. From its head jutted several twisted horns, and beneath them, fissures like great cracks—cracks that opened wider still, revealing they were eyes.

The red warnings pulsed before the creature's sealed gaze.

[Warning: Guild-affiliated NPC is under attack by an enemy guild.]

[Warning: Guild-affiliated NPC is under attack by an enemy guild.]

[Warning: Guild-affiliated NPC is under attack by an enemy guild.]

The sound repeated, and with each insistent chime, the scarlet glow seeped deeper through the beast's heavy eyelids.

The massive lids twitched.

And then, at last—

BEEEEEP—

[Warning: Guild-affiliated NPC has been slain.]

[Notice: To revive a fallen NPC, you must pay an amount proportional to its level. Caution! Revived NPCs will lose all equipped items.]

With the long alarm tone, the enormous eyelids opened fully. A pair of vast golden eyes shone, each split by a narrow slit of burning crimson.

"…What… is this situation?"

After two hundred years of slumber in this other world, the World Dragon—Ouroboros Dragon— finally awoke.

*****************

*****************

If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.

Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Vanity01