Supreme Beings of Azeroth

The problems faced by Ainz's empire were multiplying like mushrooms after a rainstorm. The Dark Iron sabotage teams had become an unrelenting thorn in Nazarick's side, their tactics evolving from simple destruction to alarmingly creative terrorism. They weren't just blowing up forges anymore - no, these stunted lunatics were now weaponizing fire elementals, setting entire sections of Janvidr ablaze with hellish chemicals that clung to bark and flesh alike. At this rate, Ainz found himself seriously debating whether he should just exterminate the troublesome dwarves altogether rather than wasting precious resources on a long-term occupation strategy.

Of course, there was the original plan; slowly assimilate them, integrate them into Nazarick's war machine, and fold them into a grand empire.

But at this point, he was beginning to wonder if their only real value lay in testing how long it would take for entire species to go extinct when facing Nazarick's full force. But before he could even draft a proper "Reasons to Wipe Out the Dark Iron" list, other problems clawed at his attention.

The situation in Redridge was deteriorating faster than a goblin's credibility in a business deal. The gnolls, once nothing more than scattered mangy nuisances, had suddenly stopped acting like the usual rabid trash heaps they were known to be. Now, they were growing restless and openly ignoring the orders of their orc handlers. Worse still, they had a singular leader - a brutal warlord named Yowler - and creating a troublesomely strong army that was terrorizing both the orc fortifications and human settlements in the region.

The real problem was their numbers. Nazarick's forces were outnumbered one to twenty; more and more resources needed to be allocated to crushing this uprising; otherwise, the gnolls would continue gnawing away at his control like termites in a rotting ship. Then there was some unsavory goblin company slithering into the mix, setting up harvest operations under the cover of forged documents that even managed to fool some of Nazarick's more simple-minded minions like the orcs and the trolls. The moment one such cell was discovered and destroyed, the small green creatures scattered away like cockroaches, only for the survivors to resurface somewhere else with a fresh pile of contracts.

The animal problem was still as prevalent as before as if there was something wrong with forests Ainz had created. It was as if something deep within the land itself rejected its unnatural origins, and none of his subordinates could pinpoint the exact problem.

Perhaps the most unexpected logistical nightmare was a severe shortage of dragons.

Despite the rapid growth and maturation rates of his scaled war assets, dragons still took years to reach full strength. And while almost every female of breeding age was currently pregnant and about to lay eggs, there were simply not enough adults to handle the overwhelming amount of empire-building tasks being placed on them.

Onyxia, in particular, had remained stubbornly mateless, prioritizing her political maneuvers and ongoing operation in Stormwind over ensuring the next generation of scaled horrors.

Ainz, in a rare moment of introspective irony, found himself understanding the struggles of overworked administrators everywhere. He was essentially trying to build a thriving empire, but instead of competent subordinates, he had to deal with sabotaging dwarves, rebellious gnolls, treacherous goblins, malfunctioning nature, and a dragon maternity crisis.

At present, Ainz and Buku found themselves dealing with yet another urgent matter - the proposed expansion of the spire to prepare nurseries for the next generations of dragons.

Seated upon their respective thrones, they listened as Edwin animatedly explained logistical and workforce issues unfolding before them.

"This isn't just a building project," Edwin stressed, his fingers tapping against a floating blueprint scroll. "We're talking about reinforcing the entire Spire to support the sheer weight and environmental needs of hundreds of growing dragons. The stonework alone is an issue, not to mention feeding them, training them, and ensuring they don't just… start fighting each other to death in adolescence."

Ainz nodded, his skeletal fingers idly tapping against the armrest of his throne, though his true focus was split between note-taking and doodling in his notebook. Buku, on the other hand, was multitasking on a whole different level-half-listening while enjoying a lavish lunch from a platter held by one of her handmaidens.

"Okay," she said, swallowing a bite of what looked like some kind of exotic roast, "so, let me get this straight; we need bigger, sturdier nesting grounds, more food, and an entire infrastructure dedicated to making sure the next generation doesn't eat each other before they reach basic sapience?"

Edwin exhaled heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That's… an oversimplification, but yes, my lady."

Buku speared another piece of meat with a clawed fork, popping it into her mouth before muttering, "Sounds like every noble family."

Ainz almost snorted-not that he could, but the sentiment was there.

"Alright," Ainz said, sitting straighter, "let's break this down - materials, workforce, and a timeframe. Edwin, how long would it take to expand the Spire without compromising its structural integrity?"

Edwin rubbed his temples. "Given the sheer scale of the modifications? We'd need at least a year for a proper foundation-"

"Unacceptable," Ainz cut in smoothly. "We don't have a year."

Edwin sighed. "Then we'll need… nontraditional solutions."

Buku raised a brow. "Nontraditional?"

Edwin hesitated before clearing his throat. "Have you considered… using Dark Iron Golems? Those metal monstrosities go through stone like butter. If we could capture and reprogram some they could be irreplaceable."

Ainz tapped his fingers together thoughtfully. "Hmm… golems. That could work if it is possible to reprogram them. The problem is dwarves are not letting their engineers anywhere near the front lines, likely in fear of us capturing and controlling them."

"I'll note it as an option but not a go-to plan for now." Edwin nodded

Ainz sighed, staring down at his half-finished doodle of a chibi Onyxia breathing fire at a very smug-looking goblin. One crisis at a time.

"Speaking of Golems, did you talk with Icuzz about possible mechanical solutions?" Ainz inquired.

Edwin, swaying slightly, exhaled through his nose before answering, "Not yet. From what I heard, it will take weeks just to set up the laboratory, and even if he comes up with a solution on the spot, it would take months to build anything useful. It would require setting back other projects by months. We could… use captured dwarves as a slave force." His voice was even, but exhaustion dripped from it like ink bleeding into parchment.

Ainz tilted his head slightly, "I prefer to avoid creating a precedent of slave labor if possible. I could create skeletons for the task instead."

Ainz inwardly sighed, 'Edwin looks like he is about to collapse. I need to find a replacement for Defias leader position posthaste.'

The living in this world had a strong aversion to the undead, and that was saying something considering their enthusiasm for bloodshed, war, and political backstabbing. Even hardened criminals, the kind who thought nothing of working captives to death in mines, would recoil at the idea of reanimated corpses or summoned skeletons and zombies swinging a pickaxe next to them.

"If his Imperial Majesty wishes, I will make arrangements to use an undead workforce." Edwin bowed, almost falling face-first into the carpet.

"Good then-" Ainz stopped as a gate once again opened in the throne room, with Onyxia stepping through the void backward and dragging a human boy with her.

'That's the child king of Stormwind,' he recognized the blonde child. Ainz glanced toward Buku, who hastily stopped eating and waved her handmaiden away.

Meanwhile, Onyxia spun on her heel in a perfect, practiced motion, dragging the frightened boy forward with one clawed hand her current form was a mix between a human and a dragon with her eyes now catlike yellow, her hands turned into claws, pair of leathery wings sprouting form her back and her mouth field with rows of sharp teeth. The boy stood straight despite the circumstances and put on a brave face.

Ainz had to admit: impressive. Most adults would be screaming or groveling by now.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Onyxia announced, straightening proudly, her wings twitching slightly. "Varian knew of my true identity. I had to retreat, but I took leverage and promised to send a delegation to open an official diplomatic channel."

Leverage. Right.

Ainz's nonexistent heart gave a metaphorical sigh. This was not how diplomacy was supposed to work. He opened his mouth, prepared to explain why kidnapping foreign royalty was generally frowned upon in negotiations, but Buku got there first.

"Let the boy go," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "The last thing we need is to harm him right now." Buku just let out a resigned sigh, getting used to Onyxia somehow doing the correct thing in a very suboptimal way and kidnapping the Crown Prince of Stormwind.

Onyxia blinked, then shrugged, as if she had simply forgotten she was holding the heir to Stormwind like a sack of grain, "Of course." She released her grip. "Anduin, meet Emperor Ainz Ooal Gown and Empress Buku Ooal Gown."

Anduin adjusted his posture instantly, stepping forward with controlled grace, like he had rehearsed this exact scenario a hundred times in his mind. He placed his hand over his heart and dipped his head slightly enough to show courtesy, not submission. "Prince Anduin Vrynn, heir to the crown of Stormwind. I presume I am being taken as a hostage?"

Buku immediately noticed the faint, flickering shimmer around Anduin's body- a holy shield, weak but present, whispering of his connection to the Light.

'Ah. So, the boy has potential.'

"I think 'guest' would be a more suitable term," Buku said smoothly, her lips curving into a reassuring smile. "We have no intention of hurting you." She glanced at Ainz expectantly. Her husband would know how to resolve this situation.

Then, she noticed a thin red line running across the boy's neck - a minor wound, perhaps from Onyxia's less-than-gentle approach. She casually waved her hand, casting a light healing spell. A golden light pulsed outward, dissolving into the boy's skin like morning sunlight melting away frost.

Anduin's eyes widened as he instinctively pressed a hand to the now-healed spot. His lips parted slightly, whispering, "The light listens to your prayers."

Buku's grin widened. Oh, this was going to be fun.

"Oh no, dear prince," she chuckled, eyes glinting with something between amusement and superiority, "I do not beg the light; I command it."

The boy stiffened, and for the first time since being dragged into this mess, his royal composure cracked. His youthful curiosity won over his wariness. "You command it?" he repeated, awe coloring his voice. "How?"

"I, like my husband, am a Supreme Being," Buku explained, letting the weight of those words settle into the air. "Forces such as light are nothing more than tools at our disposal. We do not plead. We do not kneel. We do not grovel. The light bends to our will, as does the darkness, the elements, and even death itself."

"I see. What will happen to me now?"

"We will bring you back home soon enough," Buku assured him.

Ainz nodded, "Indeed. Onyxia, prepare the dragon guard, Buku and I will go to Stormwind personally to resolve this issue."

At that command, Onyxia bowed her head slightly and grinned—a look that on a human might have been friendly, but on a dragon, bore far too many teeth. "The Wyrms will be ready."

Ainz, meanwhile, tapped his bony fingers against the armrest of his throne, his thoughts running at speeds far surpassing those of a human. For the most of his life, he had no one who cared for him, nor did he care for anyone on a deeper level. But he understood one truth as absolute; all reason goes out when someone you love is in danger.

With the crown prince before him, he knew things would only grow more complicated. Anduin's father, back in Stormwind, already had reasons to march his armies toward Nazarick. If he were in Varian's place, he would not hesitate to raze cities, wage bloody war, or drown the world in conflict if it meant retrieving his son. Nazarick was looking at not only one but two wars simultaneously potentially becoming a global conflict, and if Earth's history had taught him anything, world wars needed to be avoided at all costs.

Ainz sighed internally. Of course, wiping out their enemies was an option, but he had no interest in ruling over ash and ruins devoid of life. Their power was better kept as an unspoken threat- a nuclear arsenal - serving as a deterrent more than a means to an end.

It reminded him of an old-world power from long before the technological marvels of the 22nd century. A nation whose sheer military dominance had kept the world in check without ever needing to fully deploy it. The United States.

Ainz had never been much of a history buff back in his human days. His knowledge of the real world had always revolved around corporate drudgery and escapism into Yggdrasil. But now, standing as the undisputed ruler of an empire, he wished he had studied more about how that old superpower balanced dominance with diplomacy.

They had fleets spanning the globe, nuclear weapons that could turn cities to dust, and the ability to wage war on any enemy without ever setting foot on their soil. And yet, they hadn't always needed to. Just the knowledge of their might had been enough to force nations into uneasy cooperation.

That was what he needed Nazarick to become. An empire so overwhelmingly powerful that war was never an option. 'If I had taken a greater interest in history back then, I might have had a better framework to apply now…' he lamented.

Buku suddenly perked up. Ainz knew that look.

"Oh, I'm coming with you. We are showing off, right?" she announced

Ainz gave a slow, deliberate nod. "Yes, I believe we need to make sure everyone understands how erroneous it would be to fight Nazarick."

He rose from his throne, summoning his staff in one smooth motion.

"Oh, in that case, I'll spice up my look as well." Buku grew more excited. Ainz barely refrained from sighing out loud. She was getting into her roleplaying mindset.

This was going to be a spectacle.

Editing by NabeisWaifu

Proofreading by fvvck, IAMTHEPLOKOKIOPO, IAM THE STRING CUTTER.

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