Rise Of The Hoarder

>FWOOOOSHHH<

My legs crushed the battered ground beneath me as I once again sprang into action and charged at the impossibly colossal excuse for a Hobgoblin.

The monster, expecting I would have lost some of my nerve, appeared surprised by my sudden action and gave a slightly accorded expression to the emotion. It didn’t plan on staying still, though.

Roaring in what seemed to be a champion’s cry, it stretched its unoccupied hand and aimed to crush me with sheer might.

I expected this, though.

Quickly summoning platforms for me to climb on, I made way higher and reached the Hobgoblin’s face. Once again, I brandished my hand and made a tightly clenched fist.

>SWOOOOSHHHH!!!<

>BOOOOOOMMMMM!<_.

The impact pushed me back, but, just like before, I had no problem twisting in the air and landing.

Due to the imbalance caused by the Hobgoblin Chief suddenly thrusting its arm at me for a straight blow, my sudden hit caused it to stagger even more than previously. But, it wasn’t enough to send it crashing down as it dug its feet into the earth and gave a solid stance in defiance.

My eyes focused on the Demon’s emotion and stills saw a full HP. It boggled the mind, but I couldn’t conclude for sure without exchanging a few more blows.

“RARHHHHHH!!!” The beast roared at me in slight annoyance—the same kind a human would display at a bug that ceaselessly disturbed it.

This time, with my eyes focused on the prize, I sent a few Demon Cores to the mouth of the beast, causing it to erupt in no time.

>BOOOOOMMM!!!<

It exploded, causing smoke to proceed from the monster’s mouth. As the mist cleared, I saw scorched marks clearly imprinted on the Hobgoblin’s body, but there was still no reduction in its HP.

‘I’ve been staring at it for some time now, even when the blast happened… nothing changed!’

Even if it was healing, or if the damage caused was merely a fraction, a slight reduction would be seen. Considering how keen my senses had become, there was no way I could have missed any of that.

This only meant one thing!

‘It isn’t taking any damage!’

Or rather, it appeared it wasn’t.

A smile formed on my face as I put a few things together and formed a string of theories that would most likely prove true. The monster’s seemingly infinite pool of HP had to be the result of a Skill. The illusory strike had to be a Skill too.

However, considering the fact that it hadn’t used its illusory Skill to finish me off or used other Skills it was sure to possess meant that the Skill it was using had a limit.

As for a way to bypass it, I didn’t have one at the moment. No matter what I thought of, it wouldn’t do much good. I could be filled by the illusion and be dealt a critical hit and it was possible that I wouldn’t make a dent in the monster’s health throughout our exchange.

Still… I was slowly seeing my path to victory!

If I couldn’t predict its attacks, it only meant one thing… I had to strike first!

As the one with the higher Agility, that wouldn’t be a problem.

Launching myself from my location, I ensured my body was in perfect harmony with my thoughts and charged at the monster to deal relentless attacks on it until it had gotten enough.

The earth trembled as a result of our clash. I could feel each blow I gave the monster send shock throughout my body. Its skin was tough and hot to the touch.

My body kept being blown back as a result of the clash between my mana and the Demons’. Though, with the way I dealt damage, it was clear that it was receiving the brunt of the impact, not me.

I didn’t stop, even though it seemed hopeless. I kept attacking, refusing to let it completely charge up its attack or brandish its lone staff.

The monster’s face slowly transformed. From an arrogant gleam to an annoyed expression… until it finally became that of slight apprehension. I could tell that the beast was changing its assessment of me.

I was nothing more than an inferior being to it—a weakling. However, to its astonishment, this weakling kept pestering it so much that it couldn’t help but give away its emotion.

It was only for a moment, but I saw its eyes depicting fear—a fear of the possibility that I could win.

“GARUIIIIIKKKKKK!!!” It was at this moment that the Hobgoblin Chief let out an enraged cry that pushed me backward, despite my firm stance.

It was as though the intelligent monster had reverted to savagery. No, it wasn’t exactly so… but, I could sense a form of primal pressure that it didn’t emit before. People called it all sorts of things, but I recognized it quite well.

“You’re finally getting serious, eh?” I grinned, though beads of sweat dripped from my face.

I had been a pain in its arse for so long that the Hobgoblin Chief was finally ready to face me for real.

Was I supposed to feel honored? Nope, not in the slightest. Unlike it, I didn’t have any intention of using all of my might in this battle.

No matter how serious a person could be, they could never completely show all they have to an opponent—except for a single scenario.

There was only one reason why anyone would display their full strength to another… and that is when they are driven into a corner!

Desperation was the name of the game!

As such, there was no need for me to feel comforted in honor for any reason. The one who was getting desperate was the alleged superior creature.

Rather than feel graced by the sudden change in atmosphere, there could only be one emotion I could find rising uncontrollably from my depths.

Absolute confidence!

The moment it got flustered was the moment I became assured of my triumph.

“This is the final phase. I’ll say it once again… CLENCH YOUR TEETH!”