Rise Of The Hoarder

“That’s the least of your problem, buddy.” My voice leaked out in amusement.

I was fond of talking to myself so this wasn’t strange. However, out of habit, I had spoken— forgetting the person who sat beside me. She had heard my snarky remark.

“Hahaha…” Lara chuckled slightly, responding to my words.

I was a little, no, very surprised by this reaction. Even though she had done quite a lot to make me consider her strange, who would laugh at an awful statement while another man writhed in agony— close to death.

Apparently, Lara would.

“Arghhh! Please save me! Please! I’ll do anything! Please!!!”

His screams irritated my ears, once again dragging me from my deep thoughts and back to his bloodied flesh.

The Hobgoblin took its time to approach Larry’s legless body, appearing to grin in excitement. From the creature’s expression, it was enjoying this quite well.

‘I wondered why it didn’t just use its Claw spikes to finish Larry off moments ago. So, this monster also knows the thrill of a hunt!’ I smiled in amusement._.

Unlike before, the Demon was in charge of its prey— not the other way around. It was the instinct of every living being to drown in the pleasure of superiority and dominance.

Even though the Demon would meet its end sooner or later, I figured it was entertaining that the beast also got a good taste of despair from another living being.

Larry’s scream rang in the air once again as the Hobgoblin pressed one of its claws into his body. Squishing flesh could be heard from my distance.

“Arghhhh! Help me! It hurts! It hurts! I don’t want to die! Please help me!” Larry screamed.

Realizing that Lana was silent even after hearing the man’s cry for help, my curiosity about her sparked once again.

“Don’t you want to help him?”

My question surprised me, but I was just too flustered by her unnaturally cold attitude toward a fellow human in need of assistance. Larry was going to die, truly!

“Why should I? It benefits me in no way…” She simply whispered, giving a distant look.

I could tell that she spoke the truth. But this confused me even further. If that was the case— and Lara only cared about herself first and foremost, why did she decide to join the deserters? She must have been aware of Larry’s schemes.

‘I suppose I’ll have to ask her once this is all over…’

“Pweasshh! H-helk mmeee! Sshavee m-ee!”

Larry’s voice was now distorted as the demon pierced him with another claw.

The Hobgoblin (Advanced Warrior), raised Larry’s powerless body, as though displaying it to fully appreciate the bloody form of helpless prey.

I had one image pop into my mind once I saw this— a kebab!

Larry looked like he was meat on a stick. The blood and partial intestines that poured out were like the sauce added to the meat to produce a juicy taste. Perhaps this Demon thought so as well, considering it was resorting to this means.

“Pwweashhh… I’ll… dooo.. a-anyshiinn…”

>CHOMP!<

The Demon instantly interrupted Larry’s final plea for help by biting off his head. Blood sprayed from his neck and his body went cold. Having no strength left to resist the creature— not that there was much in the first place, Larry’s body was no more than a lump of meat that the Demon enjoyed to its fullest.

“Okay, that’s enough… he’s dead,” I mumbled, sending a couple of my weapons at the Hobgoblin.

>WHOOOSH!!!<

In a flash, the multiple daggers pierced various parts of the Demon, killing it instantly. The Demon fell in Larry’s pool of blood and sent his remains flying as it crashed— turning into dust.

At least, I could say I avenged Larry. That was a benevolent act. If I had sent the monster back into [Subspace], then there was no way to distinguish which of the Hobgoblins ate Larry. This way, I put an end to the chain of hatred.

It was funny how the whole thing played out, or perhaps it was just me. By human standards, only one word would be able to describe me well… a psychopath.

“Meh, the System says I’m okay,” I mumbled under my breath.

And the System was never wrong!

“We should get down now…”

Following my words, I descended to the ground while Lara turned into a bug and once flew downward. Seeing her morph back so fluidly, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a limit to her Gift. As a shapeshifter, her growth was nearly endless.

I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to give away my thoughts— though it was too late since Lara had already sensed me looking in her direction.

The young woman gave a short smile and shrugged, making me feel like I was being played. From a distant corner of her eye though, I could see caution and fear toward me embedded therein.

‘Looks like one of the objectives has been achieved…’

I had two agendas when I sent Larry to his death. One was to inspire fear within Lara. Once she witnessed my ruthlessness and ability to decide the fate of someone far superior to her in terms of Levels, there was no way she would take me lightly— though it didn’t seem like she ever did.

The second reason was what I decided to check next.

“Status Window”

Responding to my command, the System displayed my information. I didn’t bother checking anything else, since I had already seen how strong I had gotten. My eyes went straight to a particular spot.

[.]

– Karma Points: 2,130

– (G) Karma Points: 155

[.]

My Karma Points had taken a boost— a good thing, but that wasn’t my goal. A wide grin formed on my face as I witnessed the growth in (G) Karma Points.

I had 50 (G) Karma Points prior to Larry’s death. It has increased by 105, a great sum. As expected, high-leveled Gifteds produced more (G) Karma Points.

‘That’s it! I have to make sure the Subjugation team members level up like crazy!’