Rise Of The Hoarder

It must have been when she asked me for light!

Insects were very small and versatile, especially flying ones. However, one thing they required was light for efficient mobility!

She needed bright enough light to fully navigate her movements and locate the openings of the Demons. After observing them for some time, most likely guessing where their organs would be located, Lara proceeded to destroy the Demons from the inside out.

“She should be capable of partial transformation… so it wouldn’t be difficult crushing their hearts from the inside…” I reasoned.

After considering all this, there was only one thing on my mind. Staring at Lara with an extremely captivated expression, my interest had reached its peak.

“That woman… she’s dangerous!”

“Uarghhhh!!! S-save us! Please!!! I-I don’t want to die!!!” The voices of several people burst out in desperation.

I watched as the Demons caught up to some of them, slashing through their feeble body and feeding on their flesh.

They fell one after the other, still clinging to the vain idea of hope.

‘If you don’t fight… you won’t live!’

Still, they kept retreating further away from the gate. I smiled, watching the sight. What could they possibly hope for in delaying the inevitable?

“Uargh!”

“Keukk!”

“S-save me…”

They fell, crushed by the Demons, sliced by them, eaten alive, crunched down to their bones. Each suffered miserable deaths. It was a little repulsive at first, but I endured.

‘So this is the fate I gave to Paul…’ My thoughts trailed.

If I had thought of it earlier, perhaps I could have simply kept him within [Subspace] and spared his life.

“No, it was necessary…” I argued against my weak logic.

There was no further use for his abilities. Since I would be getting better weapons soon, his limits in crafting enhanced weapons were incomparable to the new ones I would obtain.

He was too weak to fight, and I didn’t want him to take EXP at my own expense.

Plus, through what occurred, I learned something important. Rather, I came up with a theory. However, since I couldn’t prove it with him alone, I decided to simulate the ideal scenario again.

Screams filled the air, and less than a dozen Gifted remained at this point. I watched closely, seeing that one of them had reached the other end of the compound. His hands felt the wooden barrier made by the Demons and figured out everyone was trapped.

Their efforts were in vain! However, instead of despairing, the tired man began laughing maniacally.

“This… this is another gate! I found another gate!” He burst out.

My eyes bulged as I realized what he was referring to. The gate leading to the second compound of Demons, he was talking about that?!

‘That idiot!’ I slapped my hand hard on my face.

Still, there was nothing to be concerned about. The gate as well as the surrounding walls were super thick. No one at their level would be able to escape.

“Jeremy lied!”

“There’s another gate!”

“We have hope!”

The other Gifteds who were behind quickly picked up their pace and made for the gate. I caught Lara and Larry from the corner of my eye. They were deliberating whether or not to follow the crowd.

“What do you think?” Larry asked her.

“I think I’ll just observe for now. Besides, do you think that guy will let us leave so easily if he doesn’t intend it?” Lara smiled, pointing in my direction.

She had a point. Her reasoning made her even more of a threat than most. It made me wonder why she had decided to remain under Charles or foolishly follow Larry away from the Camp.

She should have been smart enough to realize that Larry was instigating everyone and offered no real hope. Was I overestimating her?

“That’s true. I wonder what that bastard is planning?” Larry seethed, glaring in my direction.

“I wonder…” Lara shrugged casually.

“Aren’t you mad at him? He lied to everyone and placed us in this mess!” Larry snapped at Lara.

Lara gave him a slightly disgusted expression, causing Larry to shrink back a little.

“And? Didn’t you do the same to us? Did you think I wasn’t aware of your plan, or at least a portion of it?” She said, narrowing her gaze.

“E-er-… I…” Larry was at a loss for words.

Somehow, the woman’s gaze seemed to intimidate him, even though his level was higher.

Lara sighed and shook her head slightly.

“I hate hypocrites the most, and I make sure I’m not one. I don’t intend to fault someone for doing everything in his capacity to survive. Everything he has done is most likely tied to his benefit. There’s no need to despise someone like that since you and I are doing the very same thing.”

Her words shook Larry… and even me! Who the hell was this woman, and why was her line of thinking so bizarre?!

Focusing my gaze on her, I read her Status Information.

[SYSTEM INFORMATION]

Name: Lara

Race: Human

Sex: Female

Level: 16

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

[End Of Information]

Oh? Her level was now a lot higher than previously. It must have been because she killed the Hobgoblin Tankers, just as I thought. The most interesting aspect about her was her Alignment… it was the same as mine.

Somehow, I felt we were kindred spirits. However, that could only mean that she was all the more dangerous.

If I couldn’t find a way to put her on a leash, I had no choice but to eliminate her!

Suddenly, I heard a loud shriek from the other end of the compound where everyone else was gathered.

“What’s this? Have the rest of the Hobs caught up to them?” I muttered, turning to their location.

But… I didn’t expect what I saw next!

“Uarghhh!!! More Demons!”

“Save me! Save me! Save me!”

“I don’t want to die!”

The people screamed as they were simultaneously killed by sharp projectiles piercing their entire body as well as heavy clubs crushing their flesh down to their bones.

My eyes bulged in shock. The unexpected had occurred!

The second gate… was open!