Rise Of The Hoarder

"U-uh…?!" My thoughts echoed in the darkness.r

I'm not dead? What is going on right now?r

I was all alone in the dark room, seeing an endless void around me.r

Nothing was in sight, except one which faced my surprised face.r

A window that glowed golden before me.r

"T-this is…?!"r

[System Alert]r

<You Have Exceeded The Level Requirement>r

<Job Slot Has Been Opened>r

<Please Select Your Job>r

-tWill You Proceed?r

[Yes] [No]r

[.]r

A job? Oh yeah… now that I think of it, there was that option in my Status Window.r

It has been empty so far, though.r

This most likely meant that I could finally choose one, right?r

"Let's see what this is all about…" I said, still in a daze.r

Tapping on [Yes], a fresh set of words appeared before me, displaying a list.r

[Primary Job List]r

[Please Select Your Job]r

<Brawler>r

-tUses bare hands to fight, dealing powerful damage to foes. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved into a higher class.r

<Knight>r

-tUses several weapons to fight, several weapon-based skills are involved. Depending on proficiency, can be evolved to a higher class.r

<Archer>r

-tShoots projectiles from a long distance. Uses long-range weapons and firing skills. Senses and other related abilities increase. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved into a higher class.r

<Forger>r

-tCreates various materials and items by using base objects and drops. Monsters drop more items and raw materials for forgery, and smithing-related skills are given. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved to a higher class.r

<Mage>r

-tUses spells to deal damage, having various elemental-related skills. Using basic elements, they can cause various effects. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved to a higher class.r

<Thief>r

-tUses sneaky tactics and abilities to gain the edge against others. Steals items and objects from opponents and marks every item in possession. Able to store and retract any items currently owned and obtain related skills. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved to a higher class.r

<Berserker>r

-tUses rage and raw destructive power to pummel opponents. Has high vitality and indomitability. The longer a battle is prolonged, the greater the power output. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved to a higher class.r

<Priest>r

-tUses holy power, divine powers of the gods. Can use healing, buffs, and protection to defend oneself and allies. Based on proficiency it can be evolved into a higher class.r

<Scholar>r

-tPossesses knowledge and information. Has the privilege of seeing more information on monsters, objects, and other things in the world. Can also see more information about fellow Gifteds. High intelligence and retention. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved into a higher class.r

<Tamer>r

-tAble to enlist the aid of Demons through contracts. These Demons are bound by the specific contract, and so is the Gifted. Based on proficiency, it can be evolved into a higher class.r

~More Information Will Be Available For The Job Selected~r

[Please Select Your Job]r

"Ah…"r

Mumbling to myself, I critically examined the list, taking countless factors into consideration.r

Many of the Jobs were attractive and suited me perfectly, but each of them had downsides that I couldn't ignore.r

Plus, it didn't state whether the Jobs can be changed at a later time. From my experience in games and fantasy novels, that is hardly the case.r

I can't mess up here… any choice I make will be extremely vital to my survival and my life from now on out… if I will have one.r

Going through the list once again, my eyes caught something.r

"This is… could it mean?!" I gasped.r

Possibilities ran through my head until I finally made up my mind.r

My hands decisively reached for the icon as I tapped on it.r

[You Have Selected Your Job]r

~ Current Job(Primary): <Thief>r

[Congratulations]r

~ You Have Unlocked Your MP Bar.~r

~You Have A Starting Amount Of 200 MP~r

~Job Title <Thief> and MP Will Be Recorded In Your Status Window~r

I watched the new notifications with eagerness.r

This was honestly the best choice for me. And the reasons for that… will soon be revealed.r

[You Have Gotten 3 New Skills]r

~ Skill 1: <Steal>r

-tAbility to randomly obtain anything equipped from an opponent. It could be a 'Skill', 'Weapon', 'Attire', etc. Things obtained are subject to the Levels of the user and target.r

~ Skill 2: <Store>r

-tAbility to keep possessed items in a special storage unit. The items in the user's possession are all marked with the user's signature. The user can also bring forth any of its stored items whenever he wishes.r

~ Skill 3: <Recall>r

Ability to call back possessed item to the storage upon the user's discretion or after an elapsed period of time. (Current Time-Lapse Allocated: 1 hour)r

Yes! These are all useful skills! Just as I wanted. But…r

[System Update]r

-tUser's 'Gift' and Skill <Store> have similar properties and functions. For efficiency, these two will be merged.r

~Do You Want To Proceed?~r

[Yes] [No]r

"Yes, of course!" I said excitedly, widening my eyes in expectation for what would come next.r

[Merging Successful!]r

~[Subspace] Has Increased Its Storage Capacity to 100 Slots.~r

~Special Qualities Have Been Given To All Possessions Of The User Through Subspace.~r

~ Slots Have Been Memorized.~r

~ The Skill, <Store> Has Been Changed Into The Skill <Summon>~r

<Summon>r

-tCan call upon any item of possession stored within [Subspace].r

[System Update]r

-tSkill <Recall> Has Synced With [Subspace].r

[You Have Leveled Up]r

[You Will Now Regain Consciousness]r

[.]r

A bright light suddenly shone, causing my head to buzz in response. As I felt myself get pulled up into reality, a smile formed on my face. No, rather it was a large grin.r

My vision returned, and I resumed the scene I was in. The Hell Kobold (King) was already in front of me. Its sharp claws were raised above its head as it prepared to descend it on me, ripping it to shreds.r

But I was not going to allow that.r

A grin of amusement appeared on my face, and even though my body still felt sluggish, I wasn't worried. Because…r

"<Recall>…"r

All my weapons scattered on the ground within the underground area shone and instantly vanished.r

However, those were not the only ones who experienced this. All the ones I expended above me, everything returned. I couldn't explain it, but I could vividly feel every one of my weapons returning to my [Subspace].r

In an instant, my arsenal was chock full.r

And at that moment, I brought them all out using my second Job-related skill which had merged with [Subspace].r

Finally, I could do the thing I always wanted to do.r

"… <Summon>!"r

Several of my weapons instantly launched toward the massive Demon. In their hundreds, they poured out, damaging it, no matter how little.r

With a seemingly endless barrage of weapons, the King was forced to take steps backward. Using <Recall> and <Summon>, I made an unstoppable force of blades, bringing out and returning my items as I launched them.r

"Even if they are like pebbles to you… they must still sting!" I grinned.r

After retreating a few steps, the King became agitated and growled in impatience.r

"ROARRRRR!!" It sounded in rage.r

A red aura surrounded it, provided by the 'MP' it had. All the blades I summoned which had been dealing little damage to it bounced off its enhanced skin, having no effect on the monster now.r

"It's protecting itself, uh?"r

Noticing this, I recalled my weapons back to [Subspace]. However, this was already within my expectations.r

"I've been waiting for this…" I grinned.r

While the monster roared.r

Now that I have finally gotten a job, I possess one of the most vital elements for survival.r

MP!r

"<Summon>"r

Instantly, all my Demon Cores appeared at the mouth of the roaring Demon, rushing down its throat while it still opened it.r

When using <Roar>, which is a 'Buff' Skill, the Demon is motionless for a while. A perfect opportunity for me to achieve this.r

"It was a close call, but… it's my win!"r

As the Demon Cores all entered its stomach, the duration of the monster's skill ended and it shut its jaws tight, glaring at me.r

Proceeding to launch its assault on my powerless form, it attempted to dash toward me.r

However…r

"Gurrruuuukkkk?!!!!"r

A puzzled expression appeared on its face, morphing into shock and then pain.r

"Guarrrruuulkkk!!!!"r

Its body started expanding, and a glowing light radiated from within its belly.r

"Guruuuuu-!!!"r

Before it could complete its final bellow of pain, the expanding demon finally popped in a loud explosion.r

>BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<r

The loud detonation shook the room as pieces of burned meat splattered everywhere, along with boiling blood.r

As I watched the eruption and the monster's head roll toward me, I couldn't help but give a sadistic smile.r

"It looks like I win!"r