Rise Of The Hoarder

SHOP had three major functions

The Grand Store was one section where one bought items.

The Selling Area was the place where Gifteds sold their stuff to the System in exchange for Karma Points.

Then the Auction Zone was where Gifteds could put up their items for display and also see the items of other Gifteds who did the same. As a result, people could buy from other people in exchange for Karma Points or Specific Items.

Since it was all being monitored by the System… there was no room to swindle!

It was as a result of this feature, and the fact that Gifteds could use it with such ease, that would make everyone’s life in his hell just barely bearable. Food, clothing, items, whatever a person required could be found there!

However, one factor existed that nearly turned that hope into despair-Karma Points!

Karma Points, which were completely useless in Tutorials, were granted to Gifteds for completing tasks. For example, if a person killed his first Demon, or killed a whole bunch at once, Karma would be granted.

Of course, the further a person went, the more difficult it would be to obtain this currency. A person had to do more to earn their keep. In a sense, that sort of made the Apocalypse similar to modern society… the need for labor in exchange for compensation.

In the subsequent scenarios, it wouldn’t be strange for people to do basically anything for Karma Points. A battle for Karma, and so much more would be enacted. It was also possible to grant Karma Points to others through the System Interface, though I wondered why that wasn’t made in the System Update Announcements.

Perhaps it was a hidden feature, or the System wanted the Gifteds to use their common sense a little. Or, maybe…

My eyes showed a gleam of mischief and the grin I wore was now dark.

“Granting of points can be done forcefully or willingly. But, giving the state of th world, it’s a wonder if anyone would willingly fork over their only chance at survival…”_.

That made the answer obvious!

Karma Points gave access to many things that would be out of reach normally. It even made people stronger, so why would anyone give it away for free?

Still, all Systems had loophole and this was no exception. If a person resorted to violence and pushed someone to the brink of desperation, the victim would have no other choice than to hand over their Karma Points in exchange for their lives.

Bullies and Armed Robbers did it, so that same principle applied. Your Karma Points or your life? But, given the situation, it was a wonder which was more important.

Without Karma Points, living would be a bigger hell than necessary. I wondered what I would do if I was confronted with such a dilemma.

‘Pfftt, do I really need to mull it over?’

Simply taking the Karma Points of whoever was foolish enough to threaten me was enough! That was the kind of world I lived in.

[SYSTEM UPDATE]

~Additional Rewards Are Underway~

<Rewards Will Be Displayed Shortly>

“Uh? There’s more?” I muttered, staring at the System Window with disbelief.

[(G) REWARDS WILL NOW BE ALLOCATED]

My eyes bulged the moment I saw this.

What was I currently looking at? (G) Rewards? For me? Could this finally answer all the questions I had concerning the mysteries of the (G) System?

[SYSTEM REWARDS]

~The Title ‘(G) Candidate’ Has Been Given~

<Check More Details>

~(G) Factor Will Be Restored To 100~

~(G) Karma Points Will Be Increased To 10,000~

[Since You Did Not Exhaust Your (G) Essence, Additional Rewards Will Be Given To You]

~Additional Increase In Stats Will Be Given As A Bonus~

~Additional Karma Points Will Be Given As A Bonus~

[Due To The Satisfactory Route You Have Taken, You Have Met The Perfect Condition For Awakening]

~Your ‘Ultimate Job’ Will Now Be Given~

<ULTIMATE JOB: HOARDER>

~Exclusive Skill ‘The Hoarder’ Has Been Granted~

~Exclusive Title ‘The One Who Desires All’ Has Been Given~

~Job-Related Skills Have Improved Drastically~

[You Have Leveled Up]

“This is…”

I was left speechless by the sudden influx of information, but after slowly grasping my position, a smile leaked out of my dry lips.

I didn’t get any answers, but obtained a bunch of rewards instead! While they were all pretty sudden, I couldn’t help but feel appeased. Since I had so much to gloss over, I couldn’t keep my hands idle. I tapped on the ‘Hoarder’ Job that I had just obtained… though my thoughts still frolicked around the (G) Candidate Title I had.

<Ultimate Job: Hoarder>

An Exclusive Job only you possess thanks to your sheer drive to satiate your excessive needs. In addition to possessing an infinite storage space, you also have the means to obtain whatever you desire.

As a result, you are now eligible to possess everything!

[Job-Related Skill: The Hoarder]

<Skill Effect>

~You May Obtain Any Chosen Item From Your Target Within Their Inventory~

~All Items Within Your Storage Unit Can Be Edited, Merged, Controlled, and Freely Organized~

~Ability To Transport Any Item To Wherever You Desire, So Long As You Have Been There Before Or Know The Exact Location~

~Ability To Switch Places With Any Item Of Choice~

~You Are Immune From ‘Theft’ Or Stealing Of Any Kind~

[Domination Of Your Possession Is Absolute!]

My jaws nearly dropped. No, I was sure they did!

This was so overpowered that my brain began analyzing all the possibilities I could explore with it.

“With this… I can finally do it…”

The restrictions that shackled me were practically gone now… all thanks to being a Hoarder!

************

“U-urgh…” Lily slurred as she woke up from her deep sleep.

In her dream, she had seen a bunch of System Updates, and it was so lucid that the girl admitted to them being real.

Once she sat up properly, she realized that the terrain was completely different from what she last remembered. The girl was in a home, quiet and comfortable. Barely any light could be seen… and her voice echoed within.

“Where am I?” She muttered.

“Looks like you’re finally up.” A voice appeared as an individual emerged from the shadows.

Even if the room was dark, Lily could see the man perfectly. She wondered why. The stranger had white hair, and his eyes gleamed of crimson light. This young adult male had a perfect build and was also very good looking.

But, he had a dangerous aura hanging around him.

“W-who are you?”

She spurted out words in nervousness. Even though the man had a gentle smile on his face, and Lily remembered someone had saved her from something… her thoughts were too jumbled to make full sense of anything.

“It’s fine. Take it easy…” The gentle, but deep masculine voice said.

The girl felt herself calm down all of a sudden, and then watched the man as he approached her. Every step he took was purposeful… and his stride was elegant as well. He conducted himself with power and grace, and the white hair sitting atop his head flowed smoothly.

The smile on his face didn’t vanish even as he made his introduction.

“… My name is Paul. Nice to meet you.”

[END OF THE SECOND ARC]

<The Third Arc, ‘The Horsemen Of The Apocalypse’ Saga, Begins Soon!>

~Thanks For Reading~