Rise Of The Hoarder

“Haa… Haaa…” I struggled to rise.

My eyes darted across the filled and saw the half-eaten bodies of the Gifteds I had mercilessly slaughtered for the sake of my (G) Karma Points.

Was this the same feeling they had before their demise?

‘No! I’m not dying here!’ I gritted my teeth in annoyance, refusing to accept my loss after coming this far.

I simply had to figure out a way to win. No enemy was invincible!

‘Nothjng in my arsenal works, and I’ve nearly depleted my stockpile thanks to <Automatic Summon> acting on its own accord…’ I began analyzing.

I couldn’t use [Subspace] on her or any of her weapons—even down to her feathers!

Trust me, I tried.

There was also such a large gap in our physical abilities, so no matter what action I took, she could easily react to it. I also couldn’t escape because she just caught up to my movements and even overtook me.

My only saving grace was that the Angel, for some reason, was holding back. Her movements were easy to read, and it didn’t seem like she was making any effort in trying to kill me.

Her expression was cold, no, dead. It was as if she was a machine who moved according to predetermined patterns._.

“I can’t damage her, run from her, or absorb he—”

A thought isntantly flashed in my mind as I was about to make the last statement, making me to pause and stare at my opponent with an intense gaze.

‘Have I tried absorbing her by touching yet?’

There was no guarantee it would work, but at this point, what did I have to lose?

I had tried everything else but this. if I managed to get a hold of the opponent, then maybe…

‘Of course, I can’t just recklessly charge toward her!’

To he compeltely certain my desperate idea would work, I had to test it out. My eyes squinted as I watched my opponent overwhelm me with her brilliance, once again preparing another barrage of feathers.

For the first time, I anticipated her attack, pumping all the energy I had to my body.

If I didn’t react in time… it would mean certain death!

“Come!” A manical grin appeared on my face as I spat.

>FWOOOOSHHH<

The blizzard of feathers charged at me with full force as I heard them whir, sharply. The way the feathers had ripped through those concrete buildings earlier had told me that a single one could probably kill me.

Yet, here I was… facing dozens of them.

Still, I wiped the fear of death from my mind and focused on the targets.

‘Let’s go!’

I moved in a blur, surpassing my limits to meet up with the overhelming speed of the projectiles that made their way toward me.

>WHOOOSH<

My muscles and ligaments tore with every motion I took and I used <Healing> to fix them as quick as I could. Whether or not the Skill could keep up with the strain I put on my body was something I didn’t even want to consider!

I just had to keep moving.

Twirling powerfully like a whirlwind, I stretched my hands all around me, opening my body wide to capture as many of the feathers as I could, while wiming for the exact moment they would make contact.

The feathers were all over me—head to toe. Even if I was late by even a millisecond, they would rip through my body. Feeling the surface tension as each piercing projectiles landed on my skin, I acted in a hurry.

>WHUM!<

The instant I felt their stinging sensation, I activated my [Subspace], praying with every fiber of my being that my plan would work.

If it didn’t… I may have as well been screwed!

In a flash, all the projectiles vanished, immediately making their way into my storage unit.

I couldn’t explain the gasp of relief that enveloped me the moment it all disappeared, causing my body—which I had pushed to its limits—to collapse to the ground in a heavy thud.

‘I-it worked!’

I had no idea how, but the idea worked. While I didn’t have the chance to check my [Subspace] at the moment, I knew for a fact that all the feathers were within their allotted Slot!

“You… what did you do?” I heard the angelic voice sound from above me.

A more confident smile appeared on my face as I watched the winged lady make a somewhat conflicted face.

For the first time… her expression displayed emotion!

‘That’s it!’ My smile grew wider. ‘I’ve got her!’

Deciding not to waste any time to allow the enemy collect her thoughts, I took advantage of her stunned state and generated my invisible platforms, making my way to the air.

>WHOOOOSHH<

I kicked as hard as I could, propelling into the air even further as I dashed toward her.

>WHOOOOMMM!!!<

The angel, as expected, quickly recovered and gave a short glare as she watched me appraoch.

“It’s useless.”

More feathers descended, seeming to pierce my body. I had no strenght to dodge their speed at point-blank range, so the projectiles pierced me, rending my flesh into mincemeat… or so it seemed.

‘<Illusory Clones>’

I grinned with satisfaction, appearing behind my opponent in a flash as I aimed for her back.

“Wha—?” She noticed, tilting her head backward in response to the movements of the wind most likely caused by my sudden attempt to reach her.

‘Come on!!!’ I gritted my teeth and pushed myself even further.

Just a bit more… and I would touch her. Just a little further!

“Pointless!” The woman muttered.

Instantly, an invisible wave pushed me back to the ground, sending me flying at an unquantifiable speed.

>BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

I crashed to the ground like a meteor, shattering everything around me.

“Puack!!!” More blood escaped my mouth as I could barely gasp for breath with the impact nearly shattering my spine.

It felt so hot! Everything hurt all over me!

I felt like screaming and crying in pain, yet no sound came out of my mouth.

This unbearable agony and searing pain… it was evidence that I was still alive, but… deep down I knew that death was close by.

No, she was hovering right above me!