Rise Of The Hoarder

“GARUIIIIIKKKKKK!!!” The dozens of Hobgoblins began moving as they swarmed across Daniel’s body.

“N-no! No! Stay away!” The boy powerlessly screamed, squirming as they began clawing their way through his body.

Even though his arms and legs were broken, he still put on a desperate struggle as blood oozed from his body.

Strengthening himself with what would most likely be a Skill, Daniel fortified his defenses and summoned a blade to his mouth. He pushed his body and twisted it in order to cut off the Demons.

Unfortunately, when up against the sheer might of Hobgoblin Champions who weren’t holding anything back, his efforts were all in vain.

>SQUELCH!!!<

His body was penetrated and, in an instant, Daniel lost his right leg.

“Guarghhhhhh!!!”

“Guruiik Guru Garuik!” The monster who got the lucky pick grinned in amusement as it threw the lump of flesh into its mouth._.

I watched with a broad grin playing across my face, watching Daniel’s suffering, but also sighting Melissa from the corner of my eyes.

“D-Daniel! N-no!!!” She screamed, stretching out her hands, in what appeared to be an attempt to save him.

The moment the Demons heard her voice, their attention shifted to the young girl, and a few of them lunged at her.

‘She’s also registered as prey…’ I smirked.

Once Melissa seemed to realize the monsters would reach her in no time and completely violate her body before ripping it to shreds, she erected her barrier to defend herself.

The pink field automatically protected me too since I was within range, keeping us safe from the Hobgoblins’ onslaught.

“Garuiiik!!”

“Guurrrruaaakkk!!!”

“G-Guaaaaraakakakakaaaakk!!”

They snarled and growled, clawing and punching the pink barrier, but Melissa’s Gift was nearly absolute, and thanks to her elevated Level, even the constant pounding of the Demons couldn’t penetrate her defenses.

“Shit! Shit! I don’t want to die!” I heard her whimper in fear.

Even though her barrier protected her for now, how long would it last?

Tears welled up in her eyes and she tried turning her face to me, hoping for support. Unfortunately for her, since my earlier command still registered, she was forced to watch in misery, as the Hobs clawed at her barrier, and also the gory scene of Daniel struggling for his life.

“P-please h-help m-me…” She muttered, pleading with hesitation.

‘You’re asking me for assistance despite what I did to you? How shameless can a person be?’ I mused.

“Hmm? Me? Why? I basically said you’re on your own now. Besides… shouldn’t you be the one helping… him…?” I pointed at Daniel, the one who was currently suffering the most.

The girl couldn’t see me, but I knew she understood the implication of my words.

Her teary eyes bulged as she took in the sight of Daniel’s tearing flesh, his bleeding self, and how he groaned in pain as the Demons feasted on him.

We both watched as he kept staring in our direction, tears streaming down his eyes to mix with the blood on his face.

“P-please… h-help me… I-I’m… I’m s-s-so s-sorry!”

Of course, he wasn’t going to receive any remorse from me. If I was one so easily swayed by sentiments, my resolve for this wouldn’t be as strong.

Looking back, Daniel and I sort of bonded in the Subjugation mission. I had his back when the Camp members fried blaming him for his failure, and our conversation had been chill. To be honest, I truly respected the man he had become as well.

But… an eye for an eye! A tooth for a tooth! They made me suffer… now it was my turn.

“Won’t you help him?” I asked the shivering girl who couldn’t help but watch as her boyfriend was torn to shreds.

Only powerless tears came out of her eyes.

“He’s desperately asking for help, you know? He’ll die at this rate.”

My guilt-tripping words echoed, and I increased the volume so even Daniel could hear it where he lay.

“I-I can’t! The monsters will finish me off before I can help him. There’s no way!” She screamed.

Her line of thinking, albeit flawed, made sense to a degree. But, she wasn’t entirely correct. It was true that she was no match for the monsters, but even with her current capabilities, Melissa could still find a means to get to Daniel without dying.

By deactivating, activating, deactivating, and activating her voice Gift again and again as she transversed the distance, she would be able to block the monster’s assaults until she reached him.

Of course, I wasn’t expecting her to come out unscathed. Perhaps she would lose an arm alone if she was lucky, but she could still save her lover. Unfortunately for the poor boy who was dying… someone like Melissa only cared for herself.

“Even though Daniel actually rushed toward the group of monsters to create an opening for you to escape, you can’t do the same for him? You do realize that he couldn’t have defeated all of them alone, yet he took the risk. Are you saying you can’t do the same?”

My words seemed to stab her like daggers, but her body still wouldn’t budge.

No matter what I said, Melissa wasn’t going to step out of her barrier to save Daniel. I very much knew of this fact, but that was why I still egged her on.

‘This is your punishment, Daniel!’

He would die, watching as the one he loved and sacrificed everything for refused to risk her life to save him! That was the death I wanted to inflict upon my former bully!

“Guarrrrhhhh!!! Help me! J-Jeremy! Melissa! H-help me!!!” He suddenly screamed, roaring with what was most likely his last strength.

Finally, he lost all the kindness in his eyes and pure rage and entitlement took over. The fear of death, my actions, and Melissa’s betrayal must have awoken the true Daniel who had been asleep in his heroic husk all this while.

His eyes widened bitterly and his bloodied face cried out in pain and desperation.

“I don’t… I don’t want to die! Save me, you bastards! Jeremy, you little bastard! Melissa, you bitch! Save me! I don’t wanna di—”