Rise Of The Hoarder

My enemy had far superior Stats compared to mine. Currently, my Status Window looked like this—

[STATUS INFORMATION]

– Name: Jeremy Lewis

– Level: 281 – Exp: 11.52%

– Race: Human

[JOB]

(Primary Job) Thief

(Secondly Job): <Trickster>

– Age: 16 Years

– Sex: Male

– Height: 5″ 3. – Weight: 115 pounds

– Alignment: Chaotic Neutral_.

– Karma Points: 2,130

– (G) Karma Points: 155

[Stats]

– HP: 14,150/14,150

– MP: 3,896/3,896

– Strength: 2,860 (520)

– Agility: 14,350 (412)

– Vitality: 14,150 (130)

– Intelligence: 42,650 (910)

– (G) Factor: 60

– Gift: [Subspace]

– Items Equipped: None

– Allies: None

[Additional Information]

A human with the last Gift. Possesses the interest of God.

[End Of Information]

Compared to my Stats, the opponent had a pretty scary set.

From my knowledge, one <Danger!> Signal meant the likelihood of severe harm, or even death. The opponent could possess lesser Stats, but as long as they could kill you, the sign showed up.

When it became two, that meant the Level and Stats of your opponent were higher. It also meant a greater likelihood of danger, but it still didn’t prove that the threat was insurmountable. Just as it was possible for a lower Stat Demon to kill a higher Stat Gifted, the opposite also applied.

Finally, once the System showed three <Danger!>, It only meant one thing… the situation was hopeless!

There was a limit to the possibility of a weaker being defeating a more powerful one. In the face of immeasurable power, there was no way a lesser foe could win.

If I met a Demon who was attributed two Danger signs, my instincts would instantly tell me to run. So far, my instincts were silent, though.

Why?

This was a fight I could win!

“Garauiik… Hurik Fruiik Lawiuuik Mik.” Distorted words proceeded from the mouth of rhe Hobgoblin Chief as it growled.

My ears picked up its disgusting voice and nothing more. Still, judging from its expression and the snort it gave, I could sense that it was trying to communicate something to me.

‘Most likely condescending words…’ I smirked.

This monster had intelligence, not as high as mine, but way higher than normal. It was able to sense the difference in our strength and determine I couldn’t kill it as easily as I did the others.

‘Now I understand why no actions were made from the inner compounds even when I slaughtered the small fries…’

No matter the number of deaths dealt with the Hobgoblins, none of the stronger monsters took direct action. They must have been confident in their ability to subdue me if I ever made it this far.

To them, the lesser kinds were no more than expendable. The fact that they were not affected by the <Hunger> Status Condition meant that they engaged in cannibalism.

Compared to them, the Kobolds seemed like a more honorable race. Still, it didn’t matter much. Hobgoblins, Kobolds, they were all the same, weren’t they?

In the end, Demons are enemies!

>FWOOOOSH< I dashed forward the moment I settled on that thought.

Seeing as I closed the distance between the both of us in mere moments, the Demon instantly took guard.

‘I have the advantage in Agility and Intelligence! It has the upper hand in HP, MP, Strength, Vitality!’

Any reasonable person would consider this lopsided battle to be incredibly dangerous and refuse to risk any injuries. However, as experience had taught me, Stats weren’t everything.

With the right Skills, it was possible to defeat an opponent even if they were stronger!

“<Muscularity>. <Aura>. <Iron Skin>. <Mana Control>.”

These Skills would be more than enough… for now. For a beast of such terrifying magnitude to be stationed here, it only meant there were more in the last area. I had to save up a majority of my firepower for them. Plus, it would be quite useful for me if I fought this monster without resorting to much tricks. This was the best way to learn!

“Let’s do this!” I yelled, brandishing my hands and tightening them into clenched fists.

My body was covered in a red aura which mixed in with the blue color of my mana that was released due to <Mana Control>. Sparks of colliding energy burst forth, creating what resembled purple hue.

My muscles became strengthened due to my buff Skills and my defenses were fortified. In response to my display, the Hobgoblin Chief did not disappoint.

Its body glowed like metal and intense crimson energy covered it. From where I stood, it looked like a soaring inferno that caused my skin to crawl slightly.

Even in my heightened state, I still felt such pressure. No, maybe it was because I was in an elevated state. Only the strong could quite understand the depths of their opponent’s power.

Just like I had boosted my abilities, my for did the same. It was a shame its Status Window didn’t reveal by how much.

“Grauiiii!!!” It roared, sending chills down my spine.

It was probably a debuff skill that instilled fear. Fortunately, my Stats weren’t too low to be caught in such an obvious trap. In the same vein, I couldn’t affect it with debuffs too, and even if I couldn’t last too long since its resistance was way higher than mine.

In a flash, the Demon swung the staff that it gripped ever so tightly and gave a horizontal slash. Quickly sensing the imminent danger that approached me, I put a great deal of energy into my legs, causing the very ground to crack and part ways.

>BOOOOOMMM!!!<

My body lunged into the air at a far greater velocity than the swing, allowing me to avoid a direct hit.

>SWOOOOOOOSHHHHH!!!<

The very air seemed to part ways as the staff distorted the space beneath me. I let out a gasp, feeling a surge of wind blow as a result of the pressure.

However, this much wasn’t enough for me to lose my composure.

Summoning a sturdy desk from [Subspace], I pressed my body on it and used it as a foothold to launch toward the Demon.

>WHOOOSH<

The moment I did this, the platform I used vanished and I had gained enough momentum to rush at the Chief’s face.

Having a faster Agility Stat meant the first hit was guaranteed to be mine.

“Clench your teeth!”