Rise Of The Hoarder

The enemies laid before me couldn’t be compared to my previous foes in quantity. Not in the slightest.

Unlike the several thousand I had vanquished in the past, these were barely three thousand. Their small numbers made the entire compound spread out and seem barely occupied. If not for the wooden houses that decorated the vast plains as well as the dried meat being hung on the several stakes, the area would have seemed awfully empty.

However…

The quality of the Hobgoblins I saw was nothing like those I had encountered previously. Comparing the two was impossible. I didn’t see any Hobgoblin Tanker, Archer, Brawler, Warrior… no, those were all fodder compared to these beasts that stood opposing me.

The muscular green creatures, resembling orcs, rather than Hobs, had tattoos on their bodies, similar to the Hobgoblin Chief.

They were not as huge as the one I had defeated, though, neither did they have flowing hair or beards. However, their bodies were still much bigger than the other Hobgoblins in the same Grade. They also wore tattered undergarments to cover what would be described as one’s nether regions. I highly doubted that Demons had such organs, especially Hobgoblins, so I could only assume they were enchanted items.

These special monsters also donned gauntlets on both hands, and had ferocious looks that matched the bloodthirsty nature they exude.

Some even wielded weapons.

With my incredible eyesight, and my elevated state, it wasn’t impossible for me to take a glimpse at the Stats of the intimidating monsters that stood before me—numbering at least 2,000… maybe more.

[System Alert]

<Danger!> <Danger!>

[System Information]

– Name: Hobgoblin Chief

– Level: 80

– Race: Demon (Lesser) – Grade: 1

– Age: 102 Days

[Stats]

– HP: 10,000

– MP: 1,700

– Strength: 7,000

– Agility: 5,000

– Vitality: 11,000

– Intelligence: 450

[End Of Information]

This was the average Stat I saw among their ranks. Some possessed superior ones while others had inferior numbers, but not by much. In a sense, I had to battle having these figures in my head.

‘They’re not as impressive as the Chief, but these Hobgoblin Champions are quite monstrous!’

The most dangerous part of them was their numbers. I was initially saddened when I found only a few enemies here compared to the others, but that feeling had already vanished.

Worry began to replace my thoughts and anxiety crept in. Would I be able to handle these many with their superior numbers?

I shook off the uncertain ideas that weighed me down and focused more on the battle ahead of me.

The crowd growled and snorted, as though conversing with each other. I was certain they couldn’t see me, but what was this unease that just didn’t seem to leave my heart? Was it instinct, or…?

My eyes finally left the mob, if they could be called that, and darted to the furthest end of the compound, which I had avoided all this time. I had only one reason for doing so.

Warbling in its purplish-blue glow, stood the nine-foot gate that spread across for at least a distance of thirteen meters. The energy pouring out of it made my skin crawl and all the air on my body stood in reflex.

I unconsciously found myself swallowing hard at the sight. This was way bigger than the one I saw in my fight with the Hell Kobolds. I was mesmerized.

However…

However…

… The Gate wasn’t the only thing that was frightening! Rather, standing before the Gate was a much bigger problem, and I chose my words carefully as I thought about them.

My body trembled slightly as I finally pieced together the reason behind the five large houses and the final sixth house that stood out among the others.

They weren’t symbolic!

The beings who stood directly in front of the gate, and the one who sat at their center exuded what I could only describe as absolute dominance. All of them radiated the kind of authority that only Grade 2 Monsters could have—the overpowering strength that could make even someone like me to sweat profusely.

“Isn’t this too hardcore…?!” What sounded like my voice leaked from my lips.

The Demons there were the Hobgoblins who stood at the pinnacle of Hobgoblins. They numbered five, four standing and one who sat.

The four resembled the one I had killed not too long ago, the Hobgoblin Chief. Looking at their Status Information, I could see that they didn’t bear similarities in appearances only.

They were all Hobgoblin Chiefs!

They all wore distinct outfits, similar, but not quite the same as one another. They also didn’t look the same, and their accessories slightly differed.

One had a battle-ax. Another had a bead on one hand and what seemed like a chain made of bones wrapped around its neck. Its primitive outfit also resembled more of a cloak, rather than a caveman’s sash-like dress. Another wore gauntlets and boots that Seemed to be wrapped about with metal plates, but warbled and glowed in a rhythmic pattern that told common sense those accessories weren’t normal. The last of the Chiefs had a large blade, bigger than my whole body, stuck on his right hand. It had a bunch of daggers on the hip, but the blade seemed to be its primary weapon.

As though these four weren’t intimidating enough, the final being who sat on a wooden throne, that was big and sturdy enough to support its weight, gave off a totally different feel compared to every other Demon I had ever faced combined.

In short words, ‘It was built differently!’

It was adorned with ornaments. From a very prestigious cape, to a couple of beads around the neck, bracelets on one arm, and a scepter on the other.

It also had a helmet that was complimented with feathers of varying colors, and the tattoos on its body were white, not black like the others.

Its beard was longer than the others, and it was white too. It looked older, but by no means weaker. Muscles and fat wrapped around his bones to make it at least three feet taller than the other Chiefs.

Certainly, this guy was the Boss! There was no doubt about it.

It was the Boss… and as the monster titled its head and cocked it while rolling its eyes to look upward, I noticed something else.

This Demon… was looking directly at me—in my direction. I wasn’t hallucinating, I wasn’t imagining things!

The Hobgoblin who sat on the throne could see me!