"Jeremy!" Paul called out, his voice echoing with a mixture of frustration and rage. "What are you doing here?"

He was seeing everything that he had imagined evaporate before his eyes and he could do nothing about it.

~WHISHHHHHH!~

The masked figure descended slowly, landing gracefully before them. Jeremy’s mask concealed any expression, but Paul could sense the smugness radiating from him.

Even though he had an enhanced casual outfit on and not his former suit, he couldn’t let go of his mask so he had made another to replace the first.

He suddenly started laughing out loud for no apparent reason. His laughter was a cold one that rang out harshly and sent shivers up the spine of those that heard it as they knew what he was capable of.

The team of leaders just looked at each other unsure of what to do. After a while, the laughter died down gradually and they waited for him to speak.

"Well, well, if it isn’t the Guildmaster and his merry band," Jeremy said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You’ve done well to get this far, but I’m afraid this is where your journey ends."

Paul clenched his fists, feeling the tension rise among his group. He was now sweating considerably as he tried to keep his emotions in check but he had already lost his steeze.

"We’ve come too far to be stopped now. What do you want, Jeremy?"

Jeremy laughed once more, the sound cold and mocking. "Want? Oh, Paul, it’s not about what I want. It’s about what you can’t have. I have won this round essentially incase you haven’t noticed."

Lilith stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "We’re not here to play games, Jeremy. Step aside."

Jeremy tilted his head, seemingly amused. "Ah, Lilith, always the fierce one. But I’m afraid I can’t do that. You guys can turn back since there’s no point again."

Steven moved closer to Paul, his voice low as he addressed the Guildmaster. "There’s still some hours left until the last countdown ends, so we can fight Jeremy and take him down once and for all. We can’t let him intimidate us. We have the numbers. We can overpower him since we’re the strongest people left on Earth. He is only one person."

Paul nodded, feeling a surge of resolve. Steven was right, they still had time so if they took Jeremy down, they’d still be considered winners.

"Jeremy, this ends here. We’re not leaving without solving the Fifth Mystery and we’re killing you while we’re at it. Your evil has come to an end."

Jeremy’s eyes narrowed behind his mask. "Very well, Guildmaster. Let’s see if you and your Alliance are as strong as you think. It’s clear that you never learn from your earlier mistakes. You are never beating me in intelligence or strength."

The air crackled with tension as both sides prepared for a confrontation.

Paul knew that this was the defining moment. They had come too far and faced too many challenges to back down now.

He was scared inwardly because their earlier confrontations didn’t always go as planned and he had always lost.

He had his people with him now so there was no avoiding it this time, he had no choice than to face his fear.

"Everyone, get ready," Paul commanded, his voice steady. "This is our chance. Stay focused and stick together."

"Nearly all of you have never fought the Hoarder before so let me give you a clear objective. Fight to kill him, don’t fight to incapacitate him or whatever. If the Hoarder gets a chance, he’s killing you without mercy, that’s how he operates. Don’t treat this as if you’re fighting another gifted, this is a demon."

Above him, Jeremy giggled as he heard the address of the Guildmaster. His super hearing made it clear to him.

"Surely I’m not that bad, Paul. Give me a break. Tell them to go all out against me too, they owe it to themselves to go out bravely. I expect nothing less..."

With a loud roar, they all charged at the Hoarder before he was done talking. Steven led them in the front.

He didn’t flinch at all despite the incoming wave aiming to kill him.

If they could see his face, they would have seen him grinning wildly as though he was seeing something funny.

Suddenly Steven disappeared from their midst to the surprise of the people running behind him.

Jeremy had used his [SWALLOW] skill to absorb him into his subspace. As they drew nearer, he released him back to the others, the brave team leader was now unrecognizable as he had become a mangled corpse.

DIEEEEEEE!!!!

The team leaders echoed as they were now more determined to kill the Hoarder and avenge their comrade.

Jeremy then used [MANAGEMENT] skill to construct a large metal box which came out of thin air and trapped the charging mass.

Faint screams were heard from the box as it got smaller and they were slowly squeezed to death.

The whole fight hadn’t even taken three minutes and he hadn’t moved from where he stood. It was a one sided massacre.

The whole place was bathed in blood as Jeremy had killed everyone except Lillith and Paul.

"Lillith stay behind me, he would have to get through me first before he touches you."

Paul was shocked at how easily it had ended. Jeremy had grown to something indomitable since he had last seen him.

Suddenly he felt a weapon pierce his back and he looked back to see Lillith driving a sword into his back all the way to the hilt.

"Lillith?" He asked not believing his eyes as his legs gave way and he went down on all fours from the pain.

"Could Jeremy also have shape shifting abilities," Paul pondered, he suspected that the dagger was serrated due to his weak state.

He looked up to see Jeremy removing his mask and advancing towards him with a wide grin.

He realized what it meant. It had truly been Lillith that had stabbed him.

"You bastard, get out of her head. You used mind control to make her do your wish."

"No I didn’t. She’s acting on her own. You already lost to me a long time ago. She has been my mole ever since I attacked your Headquarters a while back, she has just been biding her time and waiting for my orders."