SSS-Rank Awakening: My Talent Multiplies Everything novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Sloth Castle.

After leaving the Grey Shamblers behind, Kael moved quickly through the castle corridors until he arrived at another massive archway.

The moment he stepped through it, his footsteps slowed.

Before him stood a Great Hall.

The chamber was enormous, easily rivaling a cathedral in size. Massive vaulted ceilings stretched high overhead, disappearing into shadows. Long banquet tables ran almost the entire length of the room, still arranged as if a feast had been interrupted moments ago rather than centuries.

Dust coated every surface.

Petrified food remained on tarnished plates, frozen in various stages of decay. Chairs sat pushed back at odd angles around the tables, creating the unsettling impression that everyone had simply stood up in the middle of their meal and vanished.

Kael remained at the entrance for several seconds, silently studying the room.

Then he noticed movement.

Without hesitation, he activated Absolute Verdict.

Information immediately appeared before him.

---

[Slothbound Knight]

Former castle guards abandoned but never forgot their duty, defending their post out of residual instinct.

Level: 36

HP: 9,000

Abilities:

Petrified Swing — A slow, telegraphed overhead strike that deals massive damage if it lands (x2.5 multiplier).

Rust Guard — Passive 20% physical damage reduction.

Leaden Step — When a Slothbound Knight takes more than 200 damage within 5 seconds, it enters a brief frenzy, increasing AGI by 50% for 8 seconds before slowing again.

Curse Aura — Standing within 2 meters for more than 6 seconds adds 1 stack of Drowsiness.

---

Kael’s gaze swept across the four armored figures patrolling the hall.

Each moved with slow, deliberate steps.

They looked ancient.

Their armor was rusted and their movements stiff.

Yet Kael wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate them.

A level thirty-six monster was not something to take lightly.

His attention shifted elsewhere.

There were other creatures lurking within the hall.

Again, he activated Absolute Verdict.

---

[Sloth Hound]

Mutated guard hound.

Level: 30

HP: 5,000

Abilities:

Still-Hunter — Completely ignores stationary targets. Locks onto moving targets exclusively.

Pounce — Gap-closer. 8-meter lunge that knocks targets prone for 2 seconds.

Pack Drag — If two or more hounds attack the same target, one will attempt to drag the target to the ground, immobilizing them for 4 seconds.

---

Three of them.

Large.

Lean.

Their bodies resembled dogs stretched beyond natural proportions.

Their eyes glowed faintly within the shadows.

Kael sighed.

"Great."

The Grey Shamblers had at least been slow enough to ignore.

These weren’t.

If he tried running past them, they would simply chase him through the hall.

Which meant there was only one option.

Fight.

"Let’s get this over with."

He stepped into the hall. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Immediately a notification appeared.

---

[You’ve entered the Great Hall.]

---

Kael barely had time to read it as the hall suddenly brightened.

The dusty chamber vanished.

In its place appeared a magnificent feast.

Hundreds of guests sat around the tables laughing and drinking. Music filled the air. Golden chandeliers illuminated the room. Fresh food covered every surface.

The scene felt real.

Dangerously real.

For a brief moment, Kael almost believed it.

Then the illusion shattered.

The feast vanished.

The decayed hall returned.

Another notification appeared.

---

[You have resisted Feast Mirage.]

---

Kael didn’t even get a chance to process what had happened.

Movement flashed in his peripheral vision.

One of the Slothbound Knights had somehow closed the distance during the illusion.

Its rusted greatsword was already descending.

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