Rise Of The Hoarder

My heart pounded as my head rang. It took all I had to stop myself from running away due to the immense pressure being emitted by the monster—by a creature far superior to me in nearly every way.

Still, due to this action that it took, I knew victory was in sight.

“Garuiak Guguak Laruik!!!” It bellowed unintelligible words which I ignored.

Lunging straight at the beast as everything around me turned into a blur, I raced and closed the distance between us in a flash.

>SWOOOSH!!!<

My tightly clenched fist sharply made for the Hobgoblin Cheif’s head as I ignored the raging heat emitted by the crimson aura that shrouded it.

>BAM!<

Surprisingly, I felt my body hit what I could only describe as a sturdy wall. Before I could reach the target, an invisible barrier blocked my path. It felt like a distortion in space that forcefully halted my movement and sent me back._.

“Gah!” I yelped as I felt my body sharply descend to the ground as a result of the unprecedented impact.

>BOOM!<

Shards of earth were sent flying. With a glare now on my face, I was a little pissed and surprised by the sudden development.

‘It has a force field Skill?!’ Was what registered in my mind as I saw the slight distortion in space manifest around the Hobgoblin Chief who grinned war to ear.

It really was getting serious with me!

A surge of emotions swept through my body and I increased the tempo of the energy flowering throughout my body, ready to break the invisible layer of the shield if necessary.

However, before I could make a move, the opponent quickly moved the hand holding its staff. The moment it did this, I became wary and took a defensive stance, wondering what it would do.

The Hobgoblin Chief now used both hands to tightly grip the seemingly wooden object and raise it high. I felt the air grow stale and tension build up. Sweat began pouring out of my body in expectation—what would this monster pull off now?!

>WHAM!<

Like a bolt of descending lightning, the Grade 2 Demon brought forth the staff and pierced the earth, causing a terrible quake that would probably spread for a mile. The ground trembled and I almost lost my footing as a result of the horrid attack.

“Guh!”

Wind blew across my face as I felt the heat emitted by the monster’s mana sting my skin. It became hard to see, but it would be suicide to take my eyes off my opponent for even a fraction of a second, so I kept my focus on it… even though it hurt like hell.

And boy, was I glad I did.

What happened next seemed like a mirage, no, a distorted image of some sort. It was as though I was staring at the restless surface of a pool of water. Just like how the image would fade and turn to mush as ripples disturbed the calm, clear sight on a surface, so was the occurrence I witnessed.

The Hobgoblin Chief suddenly became three after this distortion began clearing up. I saw three equally massive monsters appear before me. They all looked identical, all had fiery mana on their body, staff tightly stuck to their arms, and they all gave toothy grins at my confusion.

“Guriiok” I heard echoed voices of the three grotesque monsters speak in unison and yet another bizarre occurrence happened.

>VWUM!<

Sparking out of thin air came a ball of flames—Fireball! Not just one, but three fireballs appeared almost simultaneously. They rested above the head of each Hobgoblin Chief that presented themselves before me.

‘They’re more powerful than the other ones…’ I marveled, looking at the bigger, hotter, and far more intimidating version of the <Fireball> Skill I was used to.

Was this the difference between a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 using the same Skill?

I didn’t have time to answer the question as the three Fireballs were launched at me, also simultaneously. Of course, they posed no threat as I quickly took them into [Subspace], a feat that greatly surprised the three Hobgoblin Chiefs.

‘I didn’t want to show them my moves yet, but…’

If the monster resorted to far more powerful attacks, I had to respond equally, didn’t I? Using this logic, I stored up the Fireballs that would have dealt massive damage to me.

Three Hobgoblins made equally dumbfounded faces that morphed into rage at once. This alone educated me concerning the nature of my opponent’s trick.

“Of course, you’re not three… two are only illusions!” I grinned, staring at the one in the center who was most likely the culprit.

I was about to rush toward it when another thought sparked into my head and I quickly decided against it.

“GARUIIKKKK!!!” A distorted cry that combined the voices of the three Hobgoblins was sent forth, nearly paralyzing my ears.

More fireballs appeared, three, just like last time. I absorbed all three and ran from my location. Pushing my body toward the front, I was able to evade an invisible attack.

Yes, invisible!

As expected, a massive crack appeared on the ground where I had previously stood and the earth shattered instantly. That told me all I needed to know.

The moment I stepped away from the distant location I had maintained, the three Hobgoblins aimed to take advantage of my moment of weakness and launch attacks at me.

They moved their massive bodies and lunged their staff at me all at once. Smiling to myself, I ignored the three, as though they weren’t there at all, and kept my eyes fixed on an empty space, right beyond the one at the center.

“So, that’s it!” A laugh nearly burst out of my mouth as I made that statement.

>FWOOOOSHHH<

The Demons all dropped their staff to hit me in a flash. I remained transfixed on my position and their weapons all hit me. No, they seemed like they did. In actuality… nothing made contact with anything.

There was no wind, no pressure, no impact! The monsters that were merely illusions couldn’t do a single thing to me.

“Bingo!”

A sharp gleam in my eyes pierced the empty space I had been staring at for some time now and I used this chance to launch my counterattack!

>BOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<