Unknown Room,
The chamber was pitch-black except for a single crystal lamp glowing faintly over a metal table. Chains rattled as a rabbit-beastmen woman—gagged, trembling, eyes swollen with tears—struggled uselessly against the bindings digging into her skin.
A dwarf stood beside her.
Short, broad, masked. His leather apron was stained with dried metal and blood. Tools—scalpels, syringes, rune-etched clamps, odd metallic coils—were perfectly organized around him, cold and silent.
In his hand was a thick syringe filled with a dark, iridescent liquid, shifting like molten shadow-metal.
He held her chin with a gloved hand.
"This one should work… the ratio feels correct this time."
Without hesitation, he plunged the syringe into her neck.
The instant the metal liquid entered her veins, the woman's body convulsed violently.
"MMhhh—MMHHH!!"
