Rise Of The Hoarder

“Raise your heads!” I said in a commanding tone.

The people at my mercy all did as I said and gazed upon me. My face was hidden underneath my mask, and my body was greatly exaggerated by the energy that flowed around me.

None of them even suspected for a second that I could be ‘Jeremy’, even though we had similar structures. Not only had they seen me die, or at least thought they did, my current state exuded power beyond their belief. Awe and respect filled their hearts more than suspicion.

“It’s not over yet.”

Looking at the woods beyond myself and the group, I laid my eyes on the incoming threat.

“You’re all in the way. I can save you all and preserve the lives of those beyond this border. Do you need me to help you?” I asked kindly.

The people look at me with surprised and disbelieving looks. To think someone would go that far for a stranger like them!

“Y-yes. Please help us!” Daniel pleaded on behalf of the people he represented.

It made me give a light chuckle. He now acted like a half-decent leader. Was it because the effects of <Rule> had disappeared?

“Alright then. I will transport you to a safe space where you’ll all be safe. By the time you open your eyes… It’ll all be over!” I told them in confidence.

They nodded quickly, simply happy to be able to survive the coming calamity. After taking out the humans I had captured earlier, I had freed up Slots within [Subspace]. However, by taking in the leftover equipment in the Camp, I had filled in some. Counting now, if I saved up a few Slots for emergencies, I had 31 Empty Slots to spare.

‘It’s a good thing the Demons killed a good amount of them before I saved them. The numbers of everyone in the Subjugation team has reduced well…’ My thoughts trailed as I counted them all.

However, they were still more than the slots I had left. Out of the seventy-five members we started with, removing me from the equation, we had seventy-four left. Twenty-four died in the second raid of the Hobgoblins, leaving fifty alive. Of the fifty that survived, over a dozen were killed in the recent mishap. Counting them as quickly as possible, the Gifteds before me were exactly 35.

‘We have four excesses!’

A large grin formed on my face, since this was all according to my calculations. Even if the survivors were enough to fit into [Subspace] I would still not allow them all in.

The reason was simple.

‘I need some as bait…’
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And so, I began tapping those I was willing to save, sending them into [Subspace]. The others watched as I did this in awe. One after the other, their comrades vanished from sight, yet none suspected a thing. Rather, they were impatient for their turn.

Welp, not everyone would get the chance though. Using my chart of priority, I took in Daniel, Tasha, Dave, and a few other useful people. I ignored Melissa, even though she called for my attention desperately.

After nearing the 31 Slot limit, a bright idea popped into my head and I decided to play a little game.

“A-argh!” I yelped, holding my head and staggering slightly.

The people expressed surprise by my reaction and wondered what was happening to me.

“I… I seem to have used up too much power in succession. I apologize, but I can only admit three more people.”

Pfft! That was bullshit, of course. With seven people left, if I wanted to I could take them all, but that would mean sacrificing my specially reserved Slots.

“A-ah, really?”

“We’re seven though!”

“What do we do now?”

Amid the confusion, the first one to figure out what needed to be done was none other than Melissa.

“P-please save me first, Masked Hero!” She blurted out shamelessly.

The instant everyone heard her say this, they glared at the selfish bitch and quickly voiced their cries for salvation.

“No, please pick me!”

“I have someone waiting for me back home! Please don’t leave me to die!”

“I’m the youngest here! I’m a minor, please I don’t want to die!”

They all spouted nonsense that could barely pass as excuses and expected me to favor them over the others. It was so funny that I nearly let out outbursts of laughter. However, I had been practicing well in controlling my emotions and had nearly gotten the hang of it.

“Calm yourselves, everyone. The enemy will soon be upon us!” I ordered silence.
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They instantly complied obediently, trembling at my voice. Their teary eyes pleaded for mercy in silence. However, I had already made up my mind.

Swiftly moving my fingers, I selected the ones to save, leaving Melissa and three others behind.

“E-eh?!” The poor girl yelped, looking surprised as though expecting a different outcome.

“No. Please, savior. Surely, you have enough energy to spare for one more person. I’ll do anything! Please!” She screamed, trying to draw near to me with her filthy body.

Well, she wasn’t half bad, and her proposal was tempting, but what of it? There was nothing she could offer me that I couldn’t take by force.

“I… can’t… I’ve run out of energy!” I pretended to huff.

Despair began to show in her eyes and more tears flowed. The others left behind also screamed and cried for help, trying to cling to me, but I swiftly evaded their desperate clutches.

“Pull yourselves together!” I snapped at them.

Pausing in their acts, they looked at me like robots following instructions.

“Just because I couldn’t take you to a protected space doesn’t mean I won’t protect you, okay? You just have to hang in there!”

>CRASH!<

More trees crashed and the rumblings of the ground became louder.

“EEEEKKKKKK!” The Gifteds squeaked in fright.

They were so easily flustered, which was the very reason I chose them to remain behind. Irritable, loud, fearful, noisy… those were the qualities I needed for my bait.

“You there!” I pointed at Melissa who was stunned by my sudden.

Thinking I had changed my mind about saving her, she propelled her body forward and looked at me with passionate eyes.

“Y-yes?”

“You have a barrier ability, correct? Shield everyone with your Gift.”

After all, things were going to get a little bumpy!