Rise Of The Hoarder
Chapter 276 Difficult Choice

Perhaps Lara’s immunity to the Angel’s overwhelming pressure had something to do with [Subspace], or her continuous connection with me.

Regardless, I had to do something… and fast!

<Healing> was working, but it was too slow! The best thing for me to do was Level Up, but even then… what could I do if my opponent was stronger than me regardless!

If I took my focus off my opponent for even a second, it would spell my end. And so, even though I had temporarily prevented the winged lady’s assault on me, it wasn’t like I could deal any damage either.

As a result, both I and my opponent… were at an impasse.

How long would that last, though?

‘If she decides to cover Lara in the same golden sphere as she did for Lily, that’s the end for me. I currently have no strength left. Shit…’

No matter how hard I thought, there was no way out for me—even though Lara was currently holding the fort.

“Lara… looks like this is the end…” I smiled at the woman who stood a couple of inches from me.

Even though I was on the ground and she stood, Lara looked at me—deep into my eyes—and must have realized that I was serious.

She couldn’t understand much of the situation, but I was glad she was able to understand this much.

“I guess so. I knew it would end this way, though…” She smiled._.

I was weakened, severely so. She could take her chances and try to escape, she didn’t. Sure, it would do Lara no good since I owned her, but… why didn’t the woman even attempt to run away despite knowing what was coming.

“You… did…?” Was all I could say in response despite the rabid emotions growing within me.

She nodded.

I gulped hard as I saw her unnerved smile. The same smile she had when we first met… that weird expression as if she knew her place and wholeheartedly accepted what was to come.

“Looks like I was right, Jeremy. I knew this day would come.”

Her words struck a chord in my heart because I knew Lara spoke the truth. She had made mention of it several times, and her eyes often showed me the deep-seated fears the woman had been keeping. Yet, I dissuaded myself and blinded my eyes from seeing the inevitability of our relationship.

“I really… didn’t want it to end this way, Lara…” My choked voice trailed, but the woman didn’t change her expression.

For the first time, I didn’t know why but, I felt guilt—immense guilt.

Tears actually formed in my eyes and flowed down my face as my vision blurred even further. Even though I had wanted things to turn out differently with her, even though I finally found someone like me.

Why, then?

‘No. She’s not like me… is she?’

But, she was the closest anyone had ever gotten to me.

Her resolute eyes told me she was prepared, leaving me to make the call.

“I have… to do this!” I croaked, trying to render my last words to her.

“I’m… sorry. Truly…”

>WHOOOOSHH<

Instantly, I activated one of my Skills, <Summon Javelin>, and launched the projectile straight at my target.

The Angel was hovering above us, surprisingly docile for some reason—even though her annoyed expression told me otherwise.

The Javelin wasn’t directed at her, though.

>SPLOOOSHH!!!<

The spear hit the target, and blood spurted out in an instant.

A gaping hole was made as my weapon whirred through the corpse, digging into the ground as it broke apart.

The one who was hit fell lifelessly to the ground, already dead before her face touched the rocky surface of the earth. I watched, enveloped with more tears and throbbing emotions than I could hear.

Was it due to my weakness that the Titles I had were not functioning properly? Or maybe… the emotions were just too much to be suppressed.

Somehow, I felt it was the latter.

“Arghhhhhhhh!!!” I screamed in agony, feeling my heart bleeds as I stood on my feet.

My strength was restored and a [You Have Leveled Up] icon flashed in front of me.

More tears streamed down my face and I could feel my completely recovered body throbbing as a result of the recent loss burdening me.

A sense of guilt and heartbreak mixed into one. I hadn’t been certain back when we were together, but it was at the moment of Lara’s death that I finally realized…

… I loved her!

“You… what have you done?!” I heard a sharp gasp from above, lifting my head to see the Executioner widening her eyes in shock.

“Were you not comrades? Yet you killed her… so easily! Why?”

It seemed like the Angel could not fathom my decision.

Surely, to most, my actions would be synonymous with that of a mad man. Who would kill their only guarantee of survival, especially if that same person was the one they loved dearly?

Judging from the Angel’s glare, it seemed she considered things more from the emotional perspective, rather than the logical one—which was surprising considering my first impression of her was of an unfeeling machine.

Regardless, no matter the point of view a person looked at things, I made a stupid blunder.

All for what?

A Level increase—what would that do? Other than healing me, it would only boost my stats by a little margin. That wasn’t enough to give me the upper hand against my target.

Then why?

“You wouldn’t get it,” I said, smiling at my enemy.

The Angel appeared even more disgusted by my remark, though I sensed a tinge of curiosity oozing from her.

Wasting no time, I called upon my Subspace window.

[SUBSPACE]

Rank: C

Level: 1

Ability: Stores ‘Anything’ within a personal pocket dimension (Rank D – C)

Total Amount Of Slots: 1,000

Additional Ability:

~ Items Stored Within [Subspace] Remain In Suspended States (Rank E)

~ Items Can Be Summoned Over An Unlimited Distance, As Far As The Eye Can See. (Rank D)

~ Any Item (Non-Living) Can Be Taken Into [Subspace] Without The Need For Physical Contact. (Rank C)

~ Non-Physical Items (Non-Living) Can Be Registered By, And Taken Into [Subspace]. (Rank C)

<Edit>

[Additional Information]

A Gift that stores any ‘Any’ matter in compact slots located in a distinct pocket universe. The matter stored within this space can be retracted by choice. The size and additional capabilities increase upon growth.

[End Of Information]

I refused to take my eyes off the target while tapping on the <Edit> option.

My smile widened, despite the turmoil in my heart as I stared at my stunned opponent.

‘With this… I’ve already won!’